Speaking to College Kids Makes Your Blood Flow

WOW! I am pumped up after speaking for an hour to a group of 12 Umass students in the cafe. I got a call last week from a professor teaching the journalism course, ‘writing for the web.’ So I agreed to have them come for coffee.

Two carloads of assorted college seniors (mostly boys) came into the cafe, but only two wanted any coffee. The prof cajoled them and offered to pay, and then they took seats. I launched into a discussion of the topics for their personal websites.

“Hockey blog,” said one. “How to get along with your roommates,” said another, “The New Umass dorms being built.” I commented and gave them my take on their subjects and then the subject turned to how GoNOMAD.com makes money…and how I got to owning it and what we have planned for the next five years. Then we talked about web businesses, books and the future of publishing in print.

The group assembled in the cafe and customers were a bit surprised to have to walk a gauntlet of students en route to the counter. But hey, lively discussion and discourse have always been hallmarks of the cafe.