Playbook

Curated breakfast

75-90 min curated breakfast for 8-20 people. Highest signal-to-noise of any format — small enough that everyone speaks, focused enough that conversations go deep. Hard to scale, easy to make memorable.

Timeline

T-30

›Pick the topic. Phrase it as a provocation, not a survey question.
›Identify the 12-15 names you most want around the table.

T-14

›Send personal invitations. Don't email-blast for breakfasts — it kills the cachet.
›Confirm venue (private dining room, never a public restaurant table).

T-7

›Send a 1-paragraph 'agenda' to confirmed attendees — what to think about beforehand.
›Plan a 2-minute opening that names the question + sets ground rules (Chatham House if needed).

day-of

›Arrive 20 min early. Eat something — you'll be talking, not eating.
›Open with the question, go around the table for 60 seconds each, then open.
›Watch the clock — wrap at 90 min sharp. The point is they leave wanting more.

Common mistakes

Inviting too many. 20 is the absolute cap; 10-12 is ideal.
Not enforcing a question. Breakfasts drift fast without an anchor.
Letting it run over. The 'I have to run' moment kills the energy — end strong.

FAQ

Public restaurant or private room?+

Private room, every time. Public breakfasts lose the candor.

Should I record?+

Default: no. Chatham House Rule by default; attendees can quote ideas but not attributions.

Ready to draft?

Use the curated breakfast format on the draft form — the side panel pre-fills with this playbook's checklist + timeline.

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