One time…at Barcamp…

#wwgwd

The best way for me to answer this question is to tell you about my experience from ReBarCamp San Francisco last year.  It was pretty remarkable to say the least.  I am really, really excited for this year’s event, but I am not sure much could top the events of last year.  And so the story begins…

One time… at Barcamp

It is the Monday night, before ReBarCamp San Francisco 2008.   I am sitting in a San Francisco, trying to decide if I am really up for joining the “small” group of out of towners meeting up for dinner.

I am feeling nervous. I hardly know anyone. Most of these peeps are the “elite” of the Real Estate tech community. The only people I had met in person were Andy Kaufman and Jeff Turner and I hadn’t seen either of them for nearly five months. Finally I decide to text Andy and find out where everyone is meeting. Knowing he might not have my phone number, I include my name. I am fortunate to have my new trusty iPhone.

hey Andy, what’s the plan for tonight?…..fingers.

Yes. Fingers. ^^@%$&* iphone Auto-Correct.

So I text him again. I finally get the scoop and head out to join the crew. For some reason, the taxi gods were rebelling against me and they decided I didn’t deserve a cab. Eventually, I caught a bus and finally make it to dinner at Osha Thai, substantially late. I walk in, the restaurant is packed and I am scanning the room for a group of people I **think** I don’t know. Finally, I spot Andy Kaufman across the room. I beeline towards the familiar face. I plop myself down at the only empty space at the table. Daniel Rothamel is next to me. Todd Carpenter is across from me.

I really didn’t think I was going to know anyone at this dinner. Yet, when I arrived, I realized that I had just walked through an entire room of people I already “knew”.

I am going to let the video tell the stories of the next few days.  I had so much fun making this video.  The photos I used came from a great group of people who I am now fortunate to call my friends. I met all but two of them for the first time in person at ReBarCamp San Francisco/Inman Connect last summer.  I can honestly say that the people, no..the friends.. I met last year have changed my life.  They have changed other people’s lives.  Business relationships were forged, friendships were started, relationships were formed.

Over the last year, these friends have mourned the loss of the lovely and kind Sheila Lublin, cried over divorces and relationships, stood by each other through hospital stays and other health problems, celebrated the start of new relationships, celebrated the engagement of Bob Stewart & Christa Caulk (who met at Inman), celebrated the birth of little Doverbey, the upcoming birth of the first little Zebra, the start of many new companies including my own- the Social Media Marketing Institute (yes, I met my partner Bill Lublin at Inman last year), celebrated grandbabies, mourned over the losses of jobs, celebrated promotions and new opportunities, and so many other events, too numerous to mention.  Most of all, we have formed relationships that will last a lifetime.

Do real relationships start online?

ABSOLUTELY.

Should they stay there?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Photos Courtesy of:
Teresa Boardman, Todd Carpenter, Kim Wood, Daniel Rothamel, Jay Thompson, Heather Elias, Andy Kaufman, Vicki Moore, Desiree Daniels, Kristal Kraft, Joe Ferrara, Nick Bastian, Jeff Turner, Missy Caulk, Ines Hegedus Garcia, Bill Lublin