So part of the coffee shop advice is true. Even if you feel it’s superficial to start. There’s actually a lot to be said for “fake it until you make it” type socialization. Showing up regularly at the same place, be kind to the staff, learn their names, and little by little you’ll find you start recognizing other regulars and the you. It’s okay for connections to start out not super real or deep, it still works those social muscles out. After that it’s just time investment.
Right? The scooters are only in the sidewalks because the cars actively make the roads dangerous for them. But here we are in a place that supposedly hates cars defending them against a very useful replacement for a huge amount of people.
I’m in a similar boat. The only major issue I’ve found people are likely to run into is mass IP blocks from MS/Google. Where do you host it? Cloud provider these days or colo type place?
I finally ended up going to a larger mail service (paid, but free) that just provides an outgoing smtp relay for me. Even on a busy month I send far below the 1k emails they require before they start charging, and their servers IP ranges aren’t blanket blocked by the Google’s of the world.
I always feel like folks who are using LinkedIn as actual social media where they post are doing it wrong. It’s useful for one specific thing and as soon as you start posting your daily thoughts or whatever then the whole thing falls apart.
The point is this isn’t a quick thing. Go long enough in an environment as a regular and you’ll feel safer and more able to open up.
But if you’re going to argue with the advice provided then why ask?