by IkeaMike » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:31 am
I'm going to speak a bit about both Bravo and Expedia.
Back when I was living in Vegas a few years ago, Bravo came out to meet up with his family and he posted on Myspace (yes, it was still bigger than FB at this point) that he was heading to Vegas. I contacted him and said I was living out there now. So, he and I made plans to quickly meet up and grab a bite. Well that quick bite turned in to hours of hanging out and just bullshitting. It was like chilling with an old friend. Natural and easy. He is amazing at what he does, but what impressed me the most was that he can simply chill out and just be himself and not be in PUA mode at all times. In other words, he's a regular dude. We parted ways that afternoon and kept in touch via FB and text for the next two and a half years.
Well he let me know that he was coming to Philly for a one on one coaching session and made it a point to meet up at some time on his trip. Due to the rigorous training schedule he had for Expedia it wound up being a few hours before his return flight when we met up. I was bartending the brunch shift at a REALLY cool bar in Philly and Bravo and Expedia show up. Bravo and I man hug and just start talking as though not a moment has passed since we last chilled.
Expedia and I start chatting up a bit and I make the guys a few classic cocktails and KingOfAces shows up. Now, KOA and I have been FB friends for a little bit and have also talked online but have never met before this day. Make him a cocktail and get all three guys a decent meal.
It was as though it was four friends catching up on old times. Really. There was no awkwardness, or looking for the right thing to say to prove something. We were just four buddies chilling out, having a drink. Yes I'm allowed to drink on the job. A nice little perk.
Comes time for Bravo to catch his flight and we all grab a pic before the final farewells. But I know that if any one of us ever visited Phoenix, Bravo would extend a warm welcome and be more than happy to head out for a night of hanging out.
On to Expedia. I really didn't get much of a chance to talk with him during brunch as I was working and trying to catch up a bit with Bravo. So he and I exchanged numbers and made plans to hang out this week. Tuesday we met up for lunch and some drinks. He never had oysters before, and I LOVE oysters, so I had him meet me at this really cool oyster bar in Philly. He didn't even hesitate to try one of my oysters...and it turns out he loves them!
I know the bartenders in most of the cool bars in Philly and am always comp'd at least one or two drinks. Well, we got separate tabs and the bartender wound up comping one of Expedia's drinks too. Very cool. Then we headed to a little hipster bar (which I'm not really a fan of hipsters) that my friend Remee bartends on Tuesdays. She's a looker too. Had three drinks and paid for one. Boom!
Then we headed over to a really chill cigar bar and grabbed an Armagnac and a few cigars. We kicked back in the lounge area. Expedia is a real cool dude and seems full of life.
One key thing that I remember him saying to me while we were having oysters was this "It feels weird to be sitting here and not approaching. I feel like I want to approach everyone."
Now, that is a HUGE statement from a kid who, just a few days ago, had major approach anxiety. He's about to turn 22 and I'm really quite jealous of him, as I never had a mentor like Bravo when I was at such a formidable age. Hell, it wasn't until I was 33 that The Game even came out. So yeah, Expedia is gonna be just fine and excel in whatever he does. His willingness to try new things puts him miles ahead of 99.9% of people his age and older and will help him develop true and lasting relationships with people. I'm glad to have met him this weekend and hope to hang out with him again real soon.
That is a testament to Bravo and how he can change your frame of thinking in just 48 hours.
Kudos to Bravo for his knowledge and teaching abilities. Kudos to Expedia for willing to be a blank canvas for Bravo and to take it all in stride.
But mostly I'm glad that Bravo, Expedia and KOA are real, down to earth guys who you can develop real friendships with.
Glad to be a friend to the three of you.
Mike