Dear friends—

There’s a story below—and first let me share an invite for my latest creative conversation and Q&A, happening next Friday:

What Is It That Friends Are For?
Friday, November 6 (9 a.m. PT, 10 a.m. MT, 11 a.m. CT, noon ET)
Complimentary, 1 hour, online via Zoom

Bring your questions about friendship, and bring a friend.

Learn more, register now, and spread the word.

***

Okay, story time:

This summer my family and I made a lightning visit to Bainbridge Island, outside of Seattle.

Our first morning there, I met with a former coaching client and took a walk by the shore.

We circled back to our cars and crossed paths with standup paddleboarders returning to theirs.

My former client knew one of them, we started talking, and it turned out that they were members of a tight-knit men’s group that had been meeting for years.

The guys didn’t just paddleboard—they talked, processed, mourned, celebrated, and made lasting plans and commitments together.

I’d say more—but the organizer, Josh Crandall, and several members will be at our Zoom next Friday, so join us then.

And I have a friend group story of my own.

***

For close to a decade, I’ve met quarterly with two friends: Roe Erin and Katie Koga.

We meet for two hours at someone’s house, a cafe, or the public library.

The first 15 minutes, we do a round of “news and goods”—each sharing one new thing and one good thing in our life.

The next 90 minutes, we share whatever is going on for us for a half hour each, with time at the end for the other two to respond supportively.

Last, we each set and express a one-line intention for the next three months, pick a date for the next meeting, and put it on the calendar.

That’s it.

Four times a year for almost ten years.

***

A lot happens in ten years.

Births.

Deaths.

Breakdowns.

Breakthroughs.

New jobs.

New homes.

Love.

Life.

***

A lot also happens in “just” three months.

I’m never not astonished by how much Roe and Katie have lived through or created.

And, often, by how whatever seemed so pressing when I set my intention now is old news.

Repeated nearly 40 times, our time together has been my longest-lasting, most reliable experience—and engine—of transformation.

***

Gatherings like this are sometimes called a “life group.”

Yet I didn’t know that term until we were, like, six years in.

It was something Roe and Katie and I started on our own, enjoyed and benefited from, and simply chose to keep going.

Hearing about it, you might think I do this because I’m a coach.

In fact, it’s the opposite.

I’m a coach because I did this.

And keeping at it has helped each of us change careers—and pretty much everything else in life—several times.

***

At least that’s my take.

I’m curious what Roe and Katie would say.

And I’ll get to ask them.

Because they’ll be front and center on the Friday Zoom, too.

Join us, hear and share stories, and offer and receive inspiration and support.

Viva Dionne Warwick—

Jeremy