From Coach to Connection

I’ve always believed that stories live in unexpected places — and sometimes, they show up in the seat next to you on a plane.

When Adam Erwin boarded a post-9/11 flight, his heart was heavy with suspicion. It was the first time he’d felt disconnected from his natural curiosity about people. But then something shifted. A seatmate with a visible condition caught his attention, and instead of looking away, Adam leaned in. What he heard from the man’s wife changed everything. That single conversation sparked Lessons from Coach — a project that eventually led him to fly across the country interviewing strangers, one aisle seat at a time.

Adam’s story is really about presence.

About looking past the noise and noticing someone in front of you.

It's about turning everyday moments into opportunities for empathy, reflection, and real connection — the kind that rewires your soul a little bit.

Some takeaways I’m sitting with:

• Fear makes us look for danger. Curiosity invites connection.

• The most meaningful conversations often happen when we’re not performing.

• Intentional kindness isn't about grand gestures — it's about showing up for someone when they didn’t expect it.

• The habits we model (even the quiet ones) ripple in ways we may never see.

Adam’s mission is simple: help people see the value in the person next to them.
And honestly, what a beautiful way to live.

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If something in this one stuck with you, reply and tell me what you're sitting with.
I’d love to hear from you.

– Matt

PS: During a recent long weekend trip, I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to simply be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.

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