Would you take the seat?

Reservation for one…

Picture this: the host leads you to a table, sets down two menus, and tells you your guest will be joining shortly. You don’t know who it is, but you know this — they’re one of the most influential people of the last century.

The kind of name you’ve heard in history books, news clips or late-night debates.

Maybe they’ll arrive in a tailored suit, maybe in prison clothes.

Maybe they’ll walk in smiling, or maybe with a stare that makes you squirm.

They could be the kind of person who sparks revolutions, or the kind who sparks trouble.

Heroes, villains, visionaries, firebrands — influence doesn’t come in just one flavor.

Some guests will be easy to talk to. They’ll crack a joke, tell a story, maybe even make you laugh. Others? You’ll spend the whole meal wondering if you should call for the check early. But either way, you’ll remember it — because influence, whether inspiring or infuriating, never leaves you neutral.

Here’s the twist…

You don’t get to pick who shows up.

Each week, we’ll drop hints, tease their story, and then reveal the face sitting across from you. Sometimes you’ll nod in admiration. Sometimes you’ll roll your eyes. Sometimes you’ll argue with yourself about how you feel.

Because that’s the thing about influence — it’s messy, complicated, and worth paying attention to. And when the bill comes due, the question isn’t just “Would you take the dinner invite?”

It’s “What would you walk away with if you did?”

Pull up a chair. The first guest arrives soon.