Sep 27, 2008 | blog
Events are fun. Events are just meetups with a bit of structure. As I’ve been hosting social media breakfasts here in Minneapolis & St. Paul, I’ve been thinking a bit about what makes these types of events worth attending, what makes them special.
It’s really the people that attend. Folks from many different industries, genres, interests, and backgrounds make up the mix. The varied group is a sampling of the total social media population that we interact with online. This group is made up of the early adopters of their respective industries. They lead the way and help guide their industries or groups in the use and exploration of these new ideas and technologies.
Events are also great places to network. With such varied participants, people get a chance to meet and greet. They get to talk with people they may want to (or need to!) do business with. It’s a chance for folks to build their network in the offline world and be able to do that most important aspect of networking. Look someone in the eye, get a firm handshake, and really evaluate them in person.
It does matter. Especially for local events where you need to have that network of folks that you’ll work with or look out for. You share your community with them. Your kids grow up in the same environment and what each of you do and how you participate matters to the outcome of it all. It matters.
Another aspect is simply meeting people who do the same things you do. Explore the same spaces you do. You can learn a lot, not just from each other, but from talking about how you do things. It triggers new ways of thinking of things, opens new doors to everyone involved. That induces change, and change is an exciting ingredient in life.
Sep 20, 2008 | happiness
Sitting by the lake, watching it shimmer and move in the afternoon of a perfect Autumn day.
Sep 12, 2008 | happiness
Looking at this wide wonderful world and realizing that our opportunities our just as wide and wonderful.
Sep 11, 2008 | blog
Looking forward to the next Social Media Breakfast? So are we! We’ll be meeting at the Best Buy headquarters in Richfield, MN again this time and will welcome the co-founder of Blue Shirt Nation, Gary Koelling who’s going to share some stories and background on Best Buy social media initiatives like BSN, Gift Tag and so on.
We’ll also talk about social media “Purists” vs. “Corporatists” in the enterprise, take a quick look at the SMBMSP social media site on Ning, and hear from ThreeVolts about web video. We’ll see you there!
Agenda:
- Gary Koelling, co-founder of Best Buy’s BlueShirtNation will talk about BSN and GiftTag
- Group question: Social Media “Purists” vs. the “Corporatists” in the enterprise. What’s your take?
- Three Volts will talk about web video and it’s use by companies
- Conferences – Who’s going and why (BlogWorld Expo, DEMO, Defrag, SXSW)
- Local event/meetup update – what’s coming up & details on SMBMSP8.
- Announcement: We have a bacon sponsor!!!
Breakfast sponsored by:
Chat:
http://www.meebo.com/room/smbmsp/
I’m hoping his works for the remotes and us behind a firewall at SMB – any other ideas or suggestions?
Video:
http://www.mogulus.com/smpmsp
Please note that we’re using the Meebo chat listed above rather than the embedded Mogulus chat. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Social Media Breakfast & Social Media Club
Local conversations, with national connections!
Aug 27, 2008 | blog
What are you doing right now? Are you moving forward, stagnating or slipping backward? Why wait to launch your biz, your idea, your brand? Why wait to spend time with your family or call your parents back?
There’s no better time than the present to do something.
Right now you could be:
- Building something new
- Spending time with your kids
- Finishing a project
- Outside
- Helping a friend in need
- Building a website
- Mowing the grass
- Working on a community project
- Reaching out to someone
- Stimulating the economy
- Supporting your local charities
- Practicing your golf swing
- Taking responsibility
- Yielding to pedestrians
- Taking your family on vacation
- Applying for that position or job you want
- Visiting a elderly relative
- Taking the stairs
- Finishing several projects
- Saving money
- Getting away from the computer for awhile
- Fishing
- Building your personal brand
- Returning that phone call
- Taking steps to become the person you want to be
What I really want to convey is the reality that there is no better time to do something for yourself, your family, your community, your country, or the world than right now.
Inspired by Van Halen’s Right Now
Photo credit: Pat Rioux
