Motivation, humor, and honesty from a man actively dodging a midlife crisis so you can too.
I make my living on stages in front of thousands of people.
And I'm an introvert.
I can isolate like it's my job.
Which is funny for a guy who spent years on camera in TV.
Who speaks for a living.
Who helps people turn their experience into keynotes that get them paid.
But put me in a room where I'm not on stage? Where I'm just...there?
I don't know what to do with my hands.
It's easier not to go.
Recently I caught myself in a pattern.
Responding to texts but not calling.
Connecting online but not in person.
Doing lots of work but not with people.
I was isolating.
So I made a decision.
I bought a ticket to a conference.
Not to speak. To sit in the audience.
It wasn't cheap. Ticket. Flight. Hotel. Meals.
Time away from my family when I already spend plenty of time on the road.
Still I went.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made this year.
At the conference, I met people I'd only known online.
Had real conversations. Heard about their work. Told them about mine.
There were awkward moments.
I still didn't know what to do with my hands.
Just because you're good at something professionally doesn't mean you're good at it in real life.
But the cool thing is that showing up has led to phone calls, meetings, and some collaborations.
People who knew me online now know me in real life.
Ideas and learnings I wouldn't have had sitting at home.
In the 5 P’s framework I wrote about, this is clear:
People are your multipliers.
Screens let you stay connected, but growth happens in rooms.
In real conversations. With eye contact.
People can't help you if they don't know what you're working on.
And they can't know if you never show up.
In the AI age, analog connection (aka IRL) is your leverage.
That’s why connection is a key part of The 1-Day Method.
Reintroducing yourself doesn't mean you need to buy a plane ticket.
Maybe it's a local meetup. A dinner. A coffee.
You just have to get in the room.
Someone out there needs to meet the person you've become.
Antonio
PS: On this note, I’m thinking about hosting a meetup or small event in Los Angeles. If this is something you’d be interested in attending, respond to this email.
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