Your Inspirational Barista Can’t Wait To Meet You!
I remember the exact day — March 12, 2020. The COVID-19 lockdown had begun in Florida and my business was effectively pushed into a neutral position. All of the live conferences I had been scheduled to appear at were canceled and my speaking engagements went up in smoke… poof! I was scared, unsure of what this would all mean, and lacking any plan where I could pivot to drive revenue back into my business. I knew I had to adapt or my business would not survive.
Through all of the chaos and uncertainty, I knew I couldn’t face this new territory alone and I knew it was going to take a lot of coffee.
I had a dream of pulling a few people together into a coffee shop designed in a virtual setting so we could just talk through the unchartered waters we all were in at the same time. Sure, it sounded like a great idea but I had no idea how it would play out because I had never done it before. I knew nothing about running a coffee shop chat, let alone in a virtual setting.
Then, on March 24, 2020, my virtual coffee shop opened its doors — Coffee with Kelly was serving!
Now, every Monday and Friday from 8am - 9am I open the Zoom room for anyone who wants to come and have conversation, coffee, and community. No agenda and no script, just authentic conversations wrapped around what each of us are feeling and experiencing as this changed world continues to unfold.
I have always practiced a ritual of writing an inspirational “word of the day” on the side of my Starbucks cup ever since I can remember.
Consequently, I decided I would incorporate this into the virtual coffee shop and let the word of the day guide our discussion for that day. There has never been a charge to attend, and my mission was to offer a safe place that was positive and supportive for anyone who needed it.
Looking back now, just five months after the grand opening of Coffee with Kelly, a group that started with six people that showed up for the first coffee date, to just over 80 who came last week to share a cup of coffee and connect in the virtual coffee shop environment.
What once started as an invite through a link via Zoom has turned into a community of hope, authentic conversations, personal growth, friendships, and true resilience of the human spirit.
I never imagined myself running a coffee shop, but what was started by one has become a team of inspirational virtual baristas who keep coming back to reunite together and support each other through whatever we are faced with on so many levels. This includes job searches, being a parent right now, staying sane when we can’t travel, and how companies are handling back to work, just to name a few.
We have witnessed many transformations inside the coffee shop, watched friends find jobs, overcome health obstacles, some turned fear into strength…humanity at its best. We don’t care about job titles, income ranges, ages, or where you came from. We care about building connections and serving one another.
So as I look back on how this all started and where it is all going, I want to take this opportunity to personally invite you to Coffee with Kelly. If you ever feel as if you are not valued or heard, this is the place for you to stop on in and be a part of this community. Whether it is just to listen to the stories that are shared or to share your own story, I am confident you will leave feeling fulfilled in your own way.
Action item for today: Register yourself and bring a friend here and make sure you mention it’s your first time so we can welcome you. If the coffee shop is ever full and you need fulfillment, just send me a note and I will personally make sure you get a seat at the table.
With Love & Coffee,
Kelly