Spent $12 on a coffee for a stranger at the airport and it came back around

I was stuck on a long delay and bought a coffee for the stressed-looking guy next to me, which led to a great conversation (and he ended up being a client for a small side project I do). Anyone have a similar story where a small gesture paid off unexpectedly?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_campbell461mo ago

Tbh I like what milesbailey said about not expecting anything back. That's the real key. It's not some secret business plan, it's just being a person. Honestly I've found it works best when you're not even trying to talk after, you just hand it over and go back to your book. The weird thing is, that makes people more likely to actually start a real chat because there's zero pressure.

milesbailey1mo ago

Honestly, it's a good habit to get into. I always try to buy a coffee or a snack for someone who looks like they're having a rough travel day. It doesn't need to be a big deal, just a simple offer. The key is to not expect anything back. Most times you just get a thank you and that's it, which is fine. But sometimes, like your story, it starts a real talk and you find out you have common ground. I met my current accountant that way, just chatting at a gate.

rubysingh1mo ago

It's a small way to fight back against how cold and separate public life can feel sometimes.