conferences

As I gear up this morning for the next ten days I’m filled with awe of what is to come. And, a little nostalgic about some stuff that happened a long time ago.

It was four years ago that I sat on a panel at SXSW to talk about blogging, intimacy, mask making and love online.

Sometimes when you are in the forest it’s hard to see the trees, life is funny that way.

The amazing Julie Leung was the fabulous futurist  of 2006 who saw what was coming before many of us did, even if we were living it.

Looking back now I can see  the forest clearly.

We were discussing and living the social side of online media and it’s consequences way before the genre of multi media interaction online was coined “Social Media.”

I’ve been quiet for far too long…

Blogging my business, the business of blogging, blogging about business, blogging about blogging and making it a business.

How lucky I am to be in a world where I can say “yes” to having done all of the above. More importantly, IÂ am surrounded by really smart people who are also doing these things (and are much better at it than I am). Rule one: you must participate in conversation by writing on your blog. Rule two: you must link. Rule three: you must enjoy it enough to “rinse and repeat.”

Creating longevity in a world of constant movement is a hard act to keep up with. I still take issue with the first rule, so I’m not among the most favored. Still, there is this enticing romance with my blog that keeps me drawn in. I think about erasing it. I think about starting a secret blog that no one knows is there (but me).

I think about why I want to blog – and don’t.

Or, I wonder why I’m afraid to blog things I once wasn’t afraid to blog. The whole point, you ask? I still like my blog and want to devote “think space” to it. It proves to me that I’m still attached. Even if I don’t care for it daily (stroking its hair 100 times before bed, loving it, and calling it George), it doesn’t mean I that don’t respect it. I do. Just in my way. I love that my blog has connected me with other people – and that my blog gives me a small portal to them from time to time. Bloggy love. Awww! Now let’s put dollar-sign pillows on the BlogBed and see what happens. Oh, yes - the Blog Business Summit!!!

If you are into business or into blogging (and hey – who isn’t) then hopefully we’ll see you at the Blog Business Summit. Whether you’re a blogger, a blog reader, or even if you’re still trying to figure out how blogging and business can possibly go together – it’s probably for you. Learn something new, share something learned – just share and it’ll be worth your time.

Thinking about the upcoming conference makes me wonder if I should write more about the business side of my life?

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Wow, what a day. I can feel the love in the room.

 ”It's better to be the dumbest one in the room than the smartest.”

(Told to me by a true Matriarch who touches my life from time to time.)

Today I feel privileged to be in that position. The bloggercon people are people I truly feel a connection to. There hasn't been one who has made me feel like my questions were “dumb” – even when they were.

Thank you - to all the developers who listened!

I'm at Dave Winer's Bloggercon. This is the first time I've been to a “user” conference that has no sponsors/vendors. The topics are on the “user” – what tools they/we use and lots of “how to” Dave said he thinks of Gnomedex, Blogher and Vloggercon as sister conferences. That was really nice to hear! All these conferences are in the same mindframe of focusing all our attentions on the attendee. I too think of these conferences as family.

Chris and I go to lots of conferences -mainly techy. This is refreshing. The feel of it reminds me a bit of Blogher. All inclusive is the theme and it's totally doable with such a small crowd. People are sharing the tools they use for blogging, searching, posting and reference. Doc Searls is the “ss” (Slave Stenographer) this is definitely worth your time – check it out.