“Welcome!” Clarence said to him. “Preena said you needed to be here.”
He almost hadn’t come tonight. Walking into a roomful of strangers was never at the top of his list of ideal ways to spend an evening. As an introvert, the daily interaction at work forced his capacity to the max. It wasn’t just the client calls and presentations, it was all the unwritten expectations of “team building” and socializing that drained him.
Privately, he’d also wondered if it would be weird. Would someone ask him about his chakras, or expect him to say he was thankful about being in debt and close to homelessness? Worse, what if they asked him to share his business ideas? He didn’t have any!
But in the end, he’d kept his promise to Preena and went along with her after work. At least his debit card wouldn’t be declined, since the meeting was free. And it’s good that he did, because what happened next marked the beginning of a transformation. Years later, he’d look back and reflect on how this one casual decision had changed his life forever.
It started with the coffee. Clarence was into it. Really into it. In his early fifties, he was fit and active, with the energy of a younger man and a keen sense of self-discipline that had carried over from a stint in the military decades earlier. His dark brown eyes lit up as he told the group about the origin of this week’s brew.
Jake liked coffee as much as anyone else. He bought a latte most mornings and would grab a cup or two later in the day from the office machine. But he wasn’t sure he’d ever tasted coffee this good before. It was delicious. It was also strong.
The others in the group were equally enthusiastic. “I don’t get much sleep on Thursday nights,” said Adrian, a lanky Asian guy sitting next to him. “But I’m not sure it’s just the coffee. I always leave with ideas bouncing around in my head.”
“Is there a decaf option?” Jake asked.
“Clarence doesn’t believe in decaf.” That was from Preena, who’d introduced Jake to the group. When they finished work earlier, they slurped down a quick bowl of noodles and drove to a coworking space that served as the meeting point.
“Alright, everyone!” Clarence took control of the room. Although he was soft-spoken, there was something about the way he carried himself that caused everyone around him to pay attention when he was talking. It was a gentle, yet effective, style of leadership.
“I’m glad you like the coffee,” he said. “This is one of my favorite new blends. But let’s get down to business. Before we jump in, Jake, welcome to the Third Way. We’re always happy to have new folks with us.”
“At least if you’re willing to work,” said Jo, a woman who spoke with an accent he couldn’t quite place.
“Well, that’s true,” agreed Clarence. “We don’t want any spectators. Everyone is here because they want to make extra money in a smart way. The best way to learn how to do that is to jump right in.”
“Adrian, can you explain the purpose of the group? Jake, I’ll send you a digital copy of our manifesto after the meeting, but let’s make sure you have the quick version first.”
“Sure,” Adrian said. “It’s pretty simple. Like Clarence said, everyone here wants to make more money. And we want to do it without just getting another job. In other words, we’re all trying to start a business of some kind.
“Each of us has a different reason for why this is important. Me, for example . . . I’ve been working in finance for fifteen years, and I’m ready for a change. I’d really like to go full-time with a mobile app I’ve been building. But I also have a family to support, so I can’t just quit my job without a safety net. I’m hoping to build up the income over the next year, and then take the leap.”
Marta, a middle-aged Filipino woman, jumped in. “My goal is different. I really like my job. I do neuroscience research at the university, and I enjoy mentoring grad students.”
Jake nodded as she went on.
“I’m not trying to go all in, but at the same time, I love being able to get paid more than once. Last month I earned an extra $1,500 by doing test-prep coaching. I can’t live off $1,500 a month in California, and I make a lot more than that at my job . . . but still, there’s something about that money that just feels different.”
“It’s because you made it on your own,” said Jo, and everyone agreed.
“Anyway,” Adrian said, “the reasons why we’re each here tend to vary, but the goal is the same. We all want to create a moneymaking asset for ourselves—kind of like some people do with buying rental properties, but without spending much money or going into debt.”
“And one more thing,” interjected Celia, who had started to tell Jake about her travel website before the meeting started. “Everything we do is based around a simple principle. Right, everyone?”
They all nodded. “That principle is . . .”
“YOU CAN DO MORE THAN YOU THINK,” several people spoke at once.
Clarence smiled. “Indeed, that’s the most important principle of all! Okay, thanks for the summary. It’s also important that everyone is as open and honest as possible. We talk about real stuff here, including being transparent about any mistakes we make. Now shall we jump into story time?”
Jake raised his hand. “Just one question. This all sounds really great . . . but why is it called the Third Way?”
“You’re right, I guess we didn’t discuss that.” Clarence paused. “Jake, let’s plan to talk a bit more later so you have the whole story. The short version is that we’re using a model that’s different from the old, traditional way of starting a business. It’s also distinct from what companies do in the so-called startup world, so that’s why we call it the Third Way.”
He sat back down and looked around the room. “But just like with everything else, you’ll probably learn more by doing than talking. So who’s first?”
* * *
—
Celia spoke up. “I’ll go first. I’ve got an update about Hotel Highlight.” The group turned to look at her.
“I’ve made a lot more progress since last week. I want to create a travel blog for women that focuses on boutique hotel reviews. I know this market well, and I don’t think any current mainstream publication really meets their needs.”
“Sounds good,” said Clarence. “And remind us . . . how will it make money?”
“Through affiliate commissions. When users click through to make a booking at a hotel I recommend, I’ll earn a small fee. It’s not a lot per booking, but if I get enough users making enough bookings, it can add up.”