I've been following the Tweets, blogs and videos from the SXSW conference, green with envy. It's been a year since I've attended or worked a large conference or trade show. After four years of averaging 7-8 conferences a year I did not think I'd miss conference travel, but I was wrong. Call me crazy, but the from set-up to tear-down, the time spent face-to-face with clients, business associates, friends, and new contacts just can't be replaced. The communication I followed from SXSW confirmed that no matter how much we all love social media tools, we still need to connect on a social human level. Social media is simply an extension of that human connection.
Fortunately, last night in Blacksburg, I was able to meet my need to connect on a social human level that was reminiscent of what happens at a conference. At dinner, four of my friends, who were not close friends with each other (for some, it was their first meeting), came together to exchange ideas, make new contacts, and learn from one another. Our gathering was more like South meets Northwest since one woman hailed from Orgeon.
Fueled by good food (Italian) and wine (Chianti) from Sal's, we covered topics ranging from Twitter to triathlons, blogging to business, and fun to fund raising. Just like at the end of a conference, I came away, renewed and energized by these smart women, entrepreneurs and directors in their own right, who filled me with a list of ideas to explore, people to contact, and topics to write about. All very good stuff and my trip home only took 10 minutes!
Intellegent women talking and working to help provide opportunities for each other is one of the best business models out there. No kavetching...no whining...but lots of "can do", "shall do", "will do".
Posted by: Gail B. | 03/18/2009 at 11:11 AM