I’m turning in early tonight in order to catch a 6:45 a.m. train into New York City tomorrow for Internet week. Conferences and meetups are my favorite thing in the world. I know how comfortable it is to sit in your jammies and network online, but believe me when I tell you the rush I get from talking to people face to face is a hundred times more powerful than that which I receive online.
Last year I missed the keynote luncheon at BlogWorld because I spent the entire two hours in the hallway out in front of the luncheon talking with people. I sort of made my way there but every time I took a few steps I met more people I knew or wanted to know. And you know what? I didn’t mind at all. I don’t go to conferences to eat.
All of my most important connections are those that happened in person. Yes, I know I say that everyone you meet online is a potential friend, collaborator or client –and I still believe that to be true. However, every connection that I made online and took offline turned out to be a rewarding experience. That’s why I don’t mind getting dressed and getting out and meeting people. It’s why I don’t just do business via email or Skype. I know that by taking the time to meet with people I’m building more trust and cementing relationships. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to rush out and get an office job, but it does mean that I don’t mind putting on a little lipstick and heading to NYC for the day to meet the people I work with and people I would like to work with.
Do you attend conferences? Tell us about the positives.
