The Power of 20

In March 2019, I skipped my Friday classes so I could leave a day early for spring break. Little did I know I was skipping my last day of in-person classes at the University of Minnesota–Duluth that I would ever have.

Between March 2019 and December 2020, I took 54 credits and wrapped up a 3.5-year college experience with a 22-credit semester (PHEW). 

In October 2020,  just a few months before I would submit my final exam ever, I walked downstairs into our family room and sat next to my dad. Without really thinking about it, I blurted out, “Am I supposed to have a job lined up?”

He looked at me, shook his head no, and told me about a mentor who once gave him the advice: whenever you’re between jobs or feeling uninspired, set up 20 coffee dates. Meet with friends, old colleagues, people who inspire you, or even someone whose work you simply think is cool. Talk about projects, ideas, life updates, and lessons learned. There’s no asking for a job, just finding your spark.

I looked at him and, without skipping a beat, said, “That sounds great. I have nothing going on… I’m going to do it in 20 states.”

In December, I created this site as a place to document my journey. I made a plan for the first few people I wanted to visit, and by January 2021, my car was packed and I hit the road.

My goal was simple: talk to 20 people in 20 states.

There were no scripted questions, no “right” people to seek out, and — my favorite part — no return date. I wanted real conversations. I wanted to learn what inspired people, how they got where they are, and what they wished they’d known when they were 21.

From these conversations, my road trip blogs were born. 

When I came home, the trip kept showing up in my life,  in the people I met, in the places I came to understand, and in the stories I’d nearly forgotten. It reignited my love for people and the meaningful relationships we’re capable of creating.

Even as time passed after unpacking my car and settling back into everyday life, the trip continued to teach me. It gave me perspective, insight, and wisdom, and it taught me to let go.

I learned what it meant to be interested instead of interesting, and it set me free.

This journey showed me the impact 20 people could have on my life, or anyone else’s, and it was more powerful than I ever could have imagined.