What a trusted introduction makes possible
LeeAnn Moody and I walked a little more than a 5K together on the Belmont University campus, her alma mater. The introduction came from Jonathan Flack at PwC, who was absolutely right that we needed to meet.
It took about three minutes to know why.
The conversation moved quickly past surface level. Family was part of it early. LeeAnn talked about her two boys. I shared stories about my kids and grandson, who happens to be close in age to her youngest. Those parallels grounded the conversation immediately.
We traded stories about influence. I shared one about my grandmother and the way she balanced unconditional love with very clear expectations. LeeAnn shared a moment about her son being asked how often he hears encouraging words from his mom. His answer: "Every day."
That told me all I needed to know about who she is.
As we walked the campus, we stopped by the bell tower for a picture. I asked a woman nearby to take it, and within seconds she turned to LeeAnn and said, "I know you." A reminder that the world is smaller than we think, especially when someone has been showing up in it for years.
What stayed with me afterward:
Trusted introductions change the starting point. When two people both trust the person who connected them, the conversation starts with belief on both sides.
Honesty moves a conversation into the actual substance. Relationships tend to follow at the same pace.
Energy and curiosity unlock stories. When someone is engaged and non-judgmental, it creates the space where the real stories come out.
Meaningful conversations are discovered, not scripted. In coaching and in life, the strongest insights come when people uncover them themselves. This aligns with what I find most meaningful in this work: helping someone see what was already there, and then do something with it.
I walked away grateful for the introduction and the conversation. It was a reminder that surrounding yourself with thoughtful people who want to make a small difference in the world is one of the best investments you can make.
Afterward, I sent LeeAnn a song that captured how I felt coming out of the walk: "Louder Than Words" from Tick, Tick... Boom! Sometimes that's the only way to thank someone properly.
Who in your network is overdue for an introduction to someone you trust?
