Do Talk with Strangers

A few weeks ago I was invited to join in a networking organization called LUNCH CLUB . When I accepted the invitation I had no clue what as exactly going to happen. What types of people might I meet?  The first 45 minutes conversation I had was with a lovely woman who is in public health and happens to know quite a lot about the COVID-19 data and more interesting the vaccine trial data. She was full of information and got me excited for the roll out months before "approval" from the FDA. When I got the introduction email for me and Alex in the Philippines for Friday at 8pm EST and 9am  there, I wondered what we might talk about.  I sat at the computer at 7:50pm and looked for the link and launched Google Calendar and then Google Meet and waited. Then there was a new face on the screen, a younger man who was excited as it was early morning and he was concerned that he had slept late and was not on exactly on time. We started some seemingly idle chit-chat on the weather in ...

When I lived in New York City, I lived on East 26th Street between Lexington and Third avenues. There are really two things this area is known for. The first is being by Baruch University (also not far from Bellevue Hospital for the New Amsterdam fans out there). The second is being called "Little India" as there are many wonderful Indian restaurants, a few speciality grocery stores and Textile shop which sold imported fabrics and even made Saris! There were so many wonderful shops and restaurants that the city even created designated TAXI relief areas on Lexington so the many Indian, Pakistani and Bangladesh drivers could stop for meals and grocery needs!  The owner of the Textile shop was someone so warm and wonderful, I would refer to her as "My Indian Grandmother" because her eyes lite up every time I would see her in the neighborhood or stop in her store. She actually had two store fronts near each other. Then one day, one of the two shops with a bigger windo...

Sometimes phone calls are ways to talk with strangers! As an Arbonne consultant, several years ago I bought an ad on the interent that geolocates me where people are looking for sales reps from different network marketing companies, it is called FindSalesRep. And sometimes I get clients from it. Sometimes I get someone I can not help because they need something quickly in a town I am actually not in. Today was one of those days, however it was another Arbonne consultant seeking support. The conversation went somewhat like this: "Hi Julie, this is Kimberly and I am also an Arbonne consultant! I am drive cross country and we are out WEST and heading into Billings, Montana tonight. We have been trying to find other Arbonne consultant who would let up pop-up our tent in their backyard for the night. We should be in around 9pm and out by 9am. Could we stay in your yard?" "Hi Kimberly! Yes I am an Arbonne consultant, however I am not in Billings, Montana. You reached me thro...

Written Two years ago in 2018: Thursday night I was a vendor at a pop-up fundraiser with East End Entrepreneurs at Roman Bistro. We were gathering to support a local non-profit called For Good Pittsburgh, who help lift girls and women in the Braddock community (and beyond). The evening was lovely as there were great conversations with people about Arbonne, about their needs of new skincare or nutrition products. And even wonderful chats on yoga, connections I could help make and welcoming a woman new to Pittsburgh into my circle. Yet the night ended in a way that I could not have prepared for. It ended with a conversation with the waitress. The waitress is knew, by taking a look at her, was older than I am, not sure by how much, but likely 10+ years. I offered he some samples I had of things in my bag that honestly, we don't even sell right now. I gave them as a gift of gratitude for helping so much throughout the night. I gave them as I knew they were note items she could pu...

As the month is coming to an end, I am reflecting on the conversations I have had this month. The people I have met and the ways our lives have intertwined. One of the things I do best, that I do naturally and effortlessly is share connections. A great example was on Sunday at the Yoga Expo when I met Michelle Dalnoky, the franchisee and publisher of the magazine Natural Awakenings in the Pittsburgh area. We connected on many levels, and I gave her several names of people who might be good advertisers or resources for stories. Or the lady that I met on Saturday at the Home Show at Monroeville Convention center who really needed someone to listen and pamper her just a little more. The gift of an Re9 sample set was enough to bring her to tears as she just needed to be seen, heard and loved on.