Archive for the ‘Networking’ Category
And chew bubblegum
Sunday, September 27th, 2009I moved to Lansing May 16, just over four months ago. There are plenty of things I have been missing about living in Marquette, but I knew there were all sorts of things to look forward to while moving to Lansing. And though I have yet to find the best chicken nachos in Lansing, I feel that I’ve done pretty well in the last four months.
Ignite Lansing
Photo courtesy of CaptAngryPants on Flickr
Friday night I had the opportunity speak at Ignite Lansing at the Temple Building in Old Town. It was the best night of my life in two years, hands down. The night that was so great two years ago was the night of September 8, in Chicago, which was my last night outside of Michigan before finishing up my Hometown Invasion Tour.
Think about this, 450 people packed into an old run down club, but the club is now full of production lights, a stage, and the most innovative, creative, and progressive people in Lansing. They all gathered on Friday night to hear ideas, share ideas, give encouragement, and take place in what I thought was the greatest event I’ve ever participated in.
My topic was titled, “How to kick ass and chew bubblegum”. The line was made popular in a 1988 alien thrille movie titled They Live, and then further popularized in the video game Duke Nukem 3d. Basically, all I mean by this is life is about doing.
If you want to do a squirrel blog, go take photos and post them online starting tomorrow. If you want to drink a Guinness in seven continents in seven days, find out who their marketing director is today and I’m sure there is a beer-loving scientist stationed in Antarctica.
Just do it. Make it happen.
That’s no different to how I submitted a topic for Ignite. It was on a whim, I knew nothing about the event. Turns out that it all came together and worked out pretty well.
To have 450 people gathered in a room in that context is what’s going to move this city forward. Every town in the country should be having events like this.
For some guy who’s new to town it was a pretty good way to accomplish some things I have long strived for. Now, hopefully my talk was good enough that they’ll let me speak again, because I just came up with my next one. But I can’t spill the beans yet, so you’ll have to be patient.
Photo courtesy of slaytercreative on Flickr
Photo courtesy of slaytercreative on Flickr
Lansing Breakfast Club
It all started on a whim. A couple of e-mails were shared with Julie, and then Lansing Breakfast Club (the unofficial and unenforced rules, the twitter feed) was started. We had six people the first time and ten weeks later we had 43 people at 7 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I don’t know what other people think, but that blows my mind.
For some reason I never found the social life I had long desired before moving to Lansing. Since my trip finished it was hard to get established, but it all came together back here in Lansing.
Now nearly 100 different people have showed up, over 200 breakfasts have been served, and low and behold we even got some news coverage from the State News as well…
It just goes along to back up my point that life is about doing. Start a club, start a project, call some friends, and amazing things will happen.
And having my second cousin call me from Oregon to say that he heard me on NPR this morning isn’t so bad either. It was for a piece on the Upper Peninsula that was recorded a few weeks ago. All in all, this was a good weekend.
100+ Lansing Twitter accounts to consider following
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
I’ve been living in Lansing for three months now. It’s been fantastic. Every day I’m blown away by the people I work with, the people I’ve met, the clients I’ve worked with, and the list goes on. From the Lansing Breakfast Club to the tweetups, it’s been a fantastic experience. Twitter has played a big role with many of the people I’ve met.
Here are my top accounts to follow in the Lansing area. If you have additional ones or don’t see your name, just leave a comment and let me know. And if you don’t know who the heck I am, come say hello, you can always find me on twitter @bugsyrocker.
P.S. Just holla’ at me if you want to be on the list. There’s no formal rules or anything bogus like that. :)
Individual Accounts
@amandabendrey
@ambermshinn
@Andrea_Fischer
@andrea_ness
@aribadler
@beckyjohns
@bendingoutward
@betsyweber
@biggbybob
@BrettKopf
@brockter
@Carlamcw
@courtneycurran
@danieljhogan
@davemccollom
@daveisbell
@designdreams
@elizbattiste
@EmilyWenstrom
@gnaeyaert
@govgranholm
@ideagal
@jeepguymike
@JenniferLHodges
@jjrain
@jlknott
@jmcw
@jmiddlin
@johncherry
@josannasutka
@joshhovey
@jpalnau
@julieburtch
@julielyn
@justnic
@JVan2go
@kaseyincharge
@keeleykerrins
@kinthehouse
@laroncarter
@lauramarie222
@LiaSimcina
@lindseyla
@ljlynch
@mattfrendewey
@michellefink
@MidMichTweetUp
@mieshelimage
@Minicuci
@MiniJ
@monfineis
@msuaajohn
@mwygnal
@nagibenny
@natalie_joy
@NathanTriplett
@nealthea
@nicklucido
@nortman
@p2dahi
@palm1891
@pdonahue
@plumbley
@Probyn
@PureMichigan
@quetwo
@ReinckeN
@robmacomber
@ryandoom
@ryanknott
@sanuzis
@schrinerj
@sdkramer76
@shindiginator
@Spartan_FB
@SpeedCoaching
@ssiewert
@sternerg
@stevepurchase
@SubanNurCooley
@tbarszcz
@tcarah
@teamconcierge
@tshepard
@tstoliker
@vanessamichelle
@vbernero
Businesses & Organizations
@beverlybates
@BWLChiliCookOff
@CityofEL
@CookiesMSU
@fuzzyizmit
@GLFF
@GreaterLansing
@GreatLakesEcho
@HollaAtLansing
@Impression5
@KresgeArtMuseum
@lansingchamber
@LansingPSD
@LEPFA
@liquidweb
@lsjnews
@m3_group
@meijer
@mnaonline
@msu_surplus
@msucatalyst
@msufcu
@msuprssa
@MSUUnion
@OldTownLansing
@paramountcoffee
@RePowerMidMI
@SoupSpoonCafe
@SparrowHealth
@SpartanTweetUp
@thesnews
@The_Watershed
@wilxTV
The Rules of Breakfast Club
Monday, July 27th, 2009-
The first rule of Breakfast Club is, you talk about Breakfast Club.
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The second rule of Breakfast Club is, you TALK about Breakfast Club.
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If someone burps, gags or throws up, eating is over.
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Two people to a plate.
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One meal at a time.
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No ties, no frowns.
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Breakfast will go on as long as it has to.
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If this is your first morning at Breakfast Club, you have to eat!
Join us every Wednesday morning in #lovelansing by following the Twitter tag #lansingbreakfast or by following me or Julie.
Four red dots
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Imagine four little red dots on a map. One pair of the red dots work together as of a week ago. The other pair of red dots have been working together for a few years. The older red dots with more gray hair have both been incredibly influential and instrumental in the success and drive of each of the younger red dots.
These four dots have never all been together before. A month ago these four little red dots tried to all come together, but one of the red dots (I won’t say who) decided to go on a date instead (a date that was not worthwhile).
The two younger red dots were unsure if they wanted to attend a networking event this one particular night, but they decided it was for the best. After the two red dots enjoyed a couple beverages they agreed it was time to go.
One red dot spotted one of the gray-haired red dots. That old dot was shaking hands with the other old dot. A quick u-turn was taken (it’s beyond me that at this incredibly busy intersection there was actually no car coming the other way). These four dots, bonded by creativity, all came together and crossed the exact same point on earth within a matter of seconds.
Coincidences happen all of the time. Especially small world run-ins with say two people. But with four? I have never ran into the gray haired dots in public. Tonight I ran into both of them, two of the most influential people in my life. It was a situation where at least this young red dot acknowledged that something like this has never happened to him before. Both young red dots will be going to bed ecstatic and excited. There was a grand amount of amusement.
Bonding Five Seconds at a Time
It is my strong belief that some of the greatest bonds between people in life are built five seconds at a time. When people have a mutual respect and look forward to seeing this other person, that’s all the time it takes.
Having a mere 5-second random walk by with is enough to elicit smiles, enjoyment, and a feeling of joy because you ran into someone you truly admire and respect.
From my opinion, I say that these little 5-second moments build and build and build on each other. This entire encounter that the other young red dot and I had lasted only a couple of minutes (there was a high-speed pursuit that followed). But the enjoyment of those two minutes grew more on to the relationship between the four of us. And it all started with a 5-second decision between the time we say the first gray-haired dot to the decision of making a u-turn.
From the standpoint of networking, business development, and relationships of all sorts there is a priceless value to it. I’m happy with the social life I’ve found in the last week. If I wasn’t out and about, if I wasn’t pro-active, of if I was a hermit none of this would have happened.
I’ll never forget it. These are four very specific red dots and a few seconds is all that was needed for them to finally all be in the same spot.
P.S. Is it a requirement that Yoopers must always know where to find a barrel of hay?