Incredible. Simply incredible.
It's bed time for me after a long drive back from Greensboro to Atlanta, but I'd like to share some overall thoughts.
ConvergeSouth worked on multiple levels. Content-wise, as seen by the heaps of reportage, the conference delivered sessions focused on topics evolving even as we sat there. The best example is the video blogging session with Amanda Congdon. As summarized by David Slusher (aka Evil Genius Chronicles) and myself, video blogging is ripe with potential - so much is yet to be done in this space that any ideas exchanged now will be the products, businesses and creative content of the future.
Andrew Lunde and I discussed blog networking and socializing on the car ride back to Atlanta. I know some people, close to the tech and blogging worlds, will hear about the networking and be like, "You met Atrios!" "You met Amanda Congdon!" "You had dinner with Dave Winer!" And yes, these and others are celebrities in the blogging world, as judged by the facts: Atrios is #21 on Technorati, Rocketboom gets 70,000 downloads a day globally, Dave Winer created and forged what we now know as blogging, RSS, podcasting and OPML.
Yet, this world is one of inclusion and approachability. The networking continually crossed lines from the established "celebrities" to the new people checking out this world for the first time. All kinds of people mixed at the sessions, lunch, dinner, and the bars. That's when we realize we all bring our past experiences to the table, those past experiences are valuable, and they can be expanded by contributing to discussions using and commenting upon blogs, podcasts and even video blogging. We realize we all have a place in this world if we'd like to contribute our voice, and we are welcome to do so.
Networking with bloggers adds a nuance to networking in general. In the business world, we are used to barraging people with elevator pitches because a handful of meetings are the few places to bump into people you'd like to do business with. Blogging suggests another paradigm. I feel relaxed networking among bloggers because I know the first conversation is only the beginning. So - no elevator pitches. Instead - who is this person? What do they care about? Why are they here? The content can come later - because they have a blog. I can take the time to develop a conversation with them, over time, on line. I read what they are passionate about, I make comments on their blog, I link to them when I like what they post, and months later, we find may ourselves "doing business." However, I link to ANYONE who teaches me, amuses me, and/or shares particular insights. There are no boundaries. I don't try to impress the "power bloggers," whoever they might be. Believe me, they catch on to that bullshit FAST. I like to link to anyone - friends, family, comedians, celebrities, acquaintances, whoever.
By using this more patient, Eastern approach with bloggers, we develop relationships slowly, and these relationships bear more fruit in the end because they are genuine and real. Converge South's setting encouraged these kinds of relationships. The blogosphere best operates by the spirit of giving, and over the past year, I've learned a great deal through bloggers about the art of giving.
Also, Greensboro was such a beautiful city. Very peaceful and quiet, yet with a bit of bustle at night. I felt safe wandering around from the Undercurrent restaurant to Solaris where we hung out with ConvergeSouth attendees. In the morning, Andrew and I walked to where I'd parked my car the night before down on Elm Street. The day was cloudy, post-rain, and the air smelled clean and crisp. I wore a light jacket for the first time this year. It was Sunday morning, and we walked past old shops like F.W. Woolworth's, general stores, and pottery shops. Hardly any cars. We stopped and bought coffee and scones at a small shop called Cheesecakes by Alex - the kind of coffee shop I'd dream about back in 1995 when I thought of a great bohemian liberal arts future for myself. Such a beautiful morning and a beautiful city. I actually felt emotional, realizing that somehow I've constructed a life for myself after many years that integrates all of the things I love and also allows me to help and serve others. It's rare when a dream in your head in 1995 actually becomes reality - and you finally feel free and unfettered from all that shackled you as an adolescent. It just sucked that it took a while. :)
So, sitting back here in Atlanta, I can say that ConvergeSouth fired up my brain, extended my social network, but more importantly (apologies if this sounds cheesy) warmed my heart with a combination of meeting sincere creative people, exercising two important rights that I used to take for granted (free speech and freedom to assemble), and visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the nation.
The mix you describe is accurate. This wonderful city has so much to offer in a variety of ways.
The conference was a microcosm. One thing you didn't mention is that we have five colleges and universities here, which gives folks like yourself the opportunity to consider Greensboro for employment.
Come! Join us for good!
Posted by: jw | October 10, 2005 at 09:10 AM