We have these conversations on twitter in a 140 characters or less, but do you really know who they are? At PCWM, I finally got to meet the "rockstars" from twitter that I follow and converse with. And let me tell you, meeting them in person cannot be described in a 140 characters! I attended podcamp with one thing in mind, to meet and connect with like minded people.
I am a 25 year old entrepreneur, and I enjoyed talking, learning, and having fun with the social media veterans. I spent a majority of the time with my friend @CatherineBaum (twitter name) and we both came to realize, we were the youngest people there. Why was that?
Out of all of my friends, @CatherineBaum and I are the only active members on twitter. I have great friends, but we are not on the same page of social mediaism. Out of 1,000 of my Facebook friends, maybe 10 have twitter? They think that social media is just Facebook, boy are they wrong. Have they never heard of "the Power Trio", which was named to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? I have friends who are in real estate, own their own restaurants, love meeting new people and are very creative. They don't see the possibilities that twitter has. Twitter led me to Podcamp Western MA. PCWM was a great because I got to meet like minded people who, in turn ended up being more like me than I thought.
So the day of PCWM2 (2/6/10), I had arrived late, really late. I had gotten there at 1:50 and sat in the lobby while I waited for the next session. There I met @mmpartee and @lesleylambert, who come up to me and pretty much knew who I was, and I knew who they were... but we have never met! Now as I was talking to both of them, one thing was a common conversation holder, "Someone really wants to meet you". I turned around thinking they were talking to someone behind me. "Who really wants to meet me?" I thought. When I realized someone actually wanted to meet me, I laughed. I didn't get it. So as @lesleylambert is walking away, the door next to me swings open, "Are you Alfonso, @theCSAgency?". "Yes", i said frighteningly. It was @JulianneKrutka. She overheard @lesleylambert and I speaking, and raced over to me. She is this 5 foot firecracker and I felt like I've known her for a long time. She instantly showed me her business cards. She has been following my 365 Creative Tips and wanted show me that she has been taking my advice. First I thought, someone is actually reading my blog? Then I quickly put my game face on and went over why I think they are good valid ideas, and she agreed with me.
So the session I chose to go to was Podcast 101 & 102. I sat in the room, and within a span of five minutes, everyone on my Twitter feed was talking about the "Round Table" discussion. So I quickly left the Podcast session and joined the Round Table. It was a great way to see how these people met (which they did at the first PCWM!), and how social media works for them. During the session, I was thinking, "I wish some of my friends were here". I wished they were there, not for keeping me company, but for the opportunities for them to meet these great people.
That is what is bothering me. I attended this event to make connections, and learn more about the familiar faces. Isn't running your own business all about making connections? Isn't LIFE about making connections? I feel that the younger generation totally missed the bus on PCWM because of the chance to make great connections. PCWM is no way a client retrieval program, or a job fair, but it is a place to make connections.
So why didn't more people my age group go? For me, I think it is because they don't understand how to even use Facebook, Twitter, and even LinkedIn the right way. Everyone and their mother (except mine! [thank god]) has a Facebook account now. But what I realized is that no one screens what they say on Facebook. "WTF" this and "UGH" that. On Twitter, you have to make the most of what you say in 140 characters. So (most) people cut out the mumbo jumbo "WTFs" and "UGHs".
I think Facebook was great, during my college years when it was allowed to only college students. It was a great way to friends to stay connected, even though they went to other schools. Now that everyone can get on Facebook, the beginning users of Facebook, still think that they are in college and don't screen or think before they post on a wall or post a incriminating picture. My age group has got to learn that they have got to grow up, and get out of that college "let's post all our wasted pictures" phase. Social media is a great way to expand your network, meet new people, and obtain new opportunities.
Now back to PCWM. There, I learned a lot. I learned about using the tools before me in the right way, and picked up some new techniques as well. I also learned about careers I didn't even know existed! I learned how to efficiently use my Twitter page, Facebook page, and LinkedIn.
I had a great time at the after party as well. I finally got a chance to catch up with an online friend of mine, @stinkycakes. I also got a chance to speak with @RedHeadedDivaK, @writerjax, @Copperorchid, and several others. I also reconnected with @JulianneKrutka, @mmpartee, and @lesleylambert and had great conversations with everyone.
So to everyone I met at Podcamp WesternMA II, thank you. Thanks for having an open mind. Thanks for having great conversations with me. Thank you for teaching me a thing or two. And thank you for introducing me to other groups, like TweetUp Western Ma.
I believe everyone had a great time because everyone kept an open mind. The best part was that I realized everyone had their "5 people I have to meet" list, I'm glad I wasn't alone!
So when's PCWM3?
