The Last Morning Huddle

Please join me tomorrow for the last Morning Huddle. Ever. Only on Zoom.

I know.

This is a huge change for Huddlers and for me.

For the past five years, I’ve been dutifully at my post—live on Zoom (or YouTube) at 10 am every single Friday since the COVID quarantine began. In fact, in these five years I probably missed about five Morning Huddles. It was that important to me, to be there. I was there through all my time at NANA, and through my time in the Mayor’s Office, through actual thick and thin. The Morning Huddle persisted.

The Morning Huddle taught me that it had an energy all its own because it harbored in its heart a powerful idea: bring people together and appeal to their better angels; connect them to each other, and to the resources and the people who can change the game for them. In so doing, become a purveyor of hope, inspiration, and a sense of agency, and, of course, the powerful conviction that—come what may—we are up to the challenge because we are inextricably connected to each other and are at our finest when we work together.

The Morning Huddle was never a webinar; it was not merely an online class; and it was surely not another boring Zoom call, or influencer livestream. And everyone was invited. Yes! Everyone was welcome and they were free to speak and share contrasting points of view. I never hogged the mic. Actually, I always looked to pass the mic to others. The Morning Huddle was an exhibit of the power of connectedness and real community building. We always kept it real. That’s what I’m most proud of.

And it was very successful for those 2,500+ people who at one time or another, Huddled with us during the Huddle’s 5-year run. Including you!

Businesses stayed open during COVID because of The Morning Huddle, got their PPP funds even when others told them to forget about it. Many business owners accessed thousands of dollars in grant opportunities, connections, partnerships, resources and more—because they were Huddlers.

And mind you—we were DEI from DAY 1.

That's because in building the Huddle, I often thought of the Greek demigod, Prometheus. He was the guy with the audacity to steal fire from the Gods so he could give it to humanity. Fire, of course, being a symbol for knowledge, wisdom and civilization. Though we often forget, the FIRE is not with the leaders, politicians, or would-be Kings. The FIRE is with the people.

The Morning Huddle was exhibit A in people power.

Humble, always. But powerful nonetheless.

I tried to show you how great you are; and how great you can be.

But alas, everything in life runs its course. The Morning Huddle is not dying, mind you. Death is an illusion. The Morning Huddle is simply changing form. I am turning it into a resourceful, pre-recorded podcast focused on helping solopreneurs and microbusiness owners start and grow the business of their dreams. It will be a private podcast available only to subscribers of my online publication—STRIVER Confidential.

I invite you to join me there where the celebration continues and the eternal flame of community burns on.

It’s free. You're hereby invited.

That said, I have one final ask.

Will you please Huddle with us tomorrow, one last time?

Will you join us and share your inspiring Morning Huddle story?

I hope to see you on Zoom for a final exercise in real community-building.