Why I love Twitter so freaking much.
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 10:02AM I heart Twitter.
I joined Twitter 686 days ago and will soon be celebrating two years of Twitterhood. I love it madly. I do not think that Twitter is for everyone, but if you “do not get Twitter”, I think that you need to spend some time there in order to fully understand it before you make decisions about. I am a Twitter advocate, but even more than that I am an advocate of informed decision making about Twitter. I do not think you can really understand it without spending some time there.
I got on Twitter not knowing what it was all about and not knowing what to do…just like pretty much everyone else does.
After observing for a bit, I started interacting with people and following people that were of interest to me. And things started to happen. For example…
I got to know Maren Hogan. Interestingly enough Maren Hogan lives within walking distance of my house…we are neighbors…but it was Twitter that brought us together. I might go so far as to even say that Maren and I are friends now, and she is a good follow, regardless of what line of work you are in. She is real and friendly and helpful and who doesn’t need some more of that in their life? Maren and I have now presented together, had falafel and curry together and will probably continue to do so.
As Maren and I started to get to know each other on Twitter and she came to understand that most of my work was related to issues of Diversity and Inclusion, she asked if I knew Patti Digh, because she had gotten to know Patti a bit through Twitter. I was actually a fan of Patti’s work, I had been reading her blog for a while and had seen her present at a diversity conference in Los Angeles, so I was excited to connect with her on Twitter. We interact on Twitter (Patti is another one of my absolute favorites and I recommend that everyone follow her), we have spoken on the phone and Patti almost ended up in Omaha this past summer for falafel, but it did not happen…I have a feeling that it will happen eventually though.
Maren also suggested that I connect with Susan Burns, so I did. We eventually ended up having the first of several phone conversations and Susan was kind of a big part of my life in 2009. When I was trying to plan a short get away for my wife and I, Susan (on Twitter) recommended Captiva/Sanibel ..and in early 2009 my wife and I spent several relaxing days on Captiva/Sanibel. Susan also suggested that I think about writing someting for ERE focused on Diversity and Inclusion. Shortly after that conversation I got an e-mail from Todd Raphael at ERE asking if I wanted to write something focused on Diversity and Inclusion. It took me a while to get it put together, but I wrote a post for ERE and they also published one of my longer pieces in the Corporate Recruiting Leadership Journal. Susan also suggested I write a white paper on Diversity and Inclusion for the Future of Talent Institute, which I was happy to do and they also ended up sponsoring a webinar connected to the white paper. Susan also invited me to participate in Talent Camp this past year where I got to rub my brain up against some really big brains and got to actually meet not only Susan Burns, but Franny Oxford, Lance Haun, Suzy Tonini, Shauna Moerke and other cool Twitter folks. All of that stuff started with Twitter…and Maren Hogan.
I also developed a relationship early on with Linda Goin on Twitter. Linda is (you guessed it) another of my favorites and we hit it off pretty quickly. Linda was organizing a social media conference in Virginia in early 2009 and ended up asking me to provide a keynote message at that conference, which I was tickled to do. Linda is another kindred spirit and I think we will stay in touch for a long time to come. Since I was traveling to Virginia to speak at the social media conference, I thought I would do a couple of my Diversity and Inclusion workshops while I was in the area, and I scheduled workshops in Richmond and Charlottesville. Jamie Notter, who I had been interacting with on Twitter for a while ended up coming to my workshop in Charlottesville and bringing Maddie Grant with him…and thank goodness, because I think there werely only 3 other people signed up for that workshop! Jamie is one of my virtual brothers and it was a treat to meet him in person and to meet Maddie. I consider both of their blogs must reads. I did not know any of these people before Twitter.
I also got invited to provide a 3 hour workshop for the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana in 2009 because of relationships that started on Twitter. I now travel to Indianapolis on a regular basis for business that is a result of that workshop.
I got to know Jason Seiden, who decided to send me a copy of his book, which I love. Twitter did that.
I stay connected with Angie Eikenberry who recommended a new pediatrician for us..who we love.
I developed a relationship with Little Brown Publishing who sent me a copy of Outliers before it was out.
I have developed really valuable relationshiops with Eric Peterson and other Diversity and Inclusion leaders.
I have developed a relationship with Nilofer Merchant who I adore and who sent me her book, which I love, before it was out.
I have developed a relationship with Ben Stone, who is another one of my virtual brothers and I am going to be conducting a Diversity and Inclusion workshop next week for his SHRM chapter and Ben and I are likely going to be friends for a long time to come.
I have developed friendships with Fran Melmed, Mary Schaefer, Jim Canto, Mary Nations and Amri Johnson and a ton of other people doing really cool work.
I have found wonderful bloggers like Rosetta Thurman (passionate, creative, inspirational, amazing, real, courageous), poets like Dirk Johnson, who notice when I am gone, farmer/photographers like Jess Johnson, activists, advocates and artists…a lot of people that inspire me, entertain me, challenge me and infuriate me.
All on Twitter.
I could go on and on, this is the tip of the iceberg.
You will never understand twitter by reading a book or a blog post about it. You have to do it. Go there, pay attention, follow interesting people and let good things start happening.
Be good to each other.
Reader Comments (21)
yay, twitter! ditto all that you said-- just swapping for' my own happy tales. i'm conducting a twitter 101 webex for some comms colleagues in february. i'll be sharing stories like yours,mine, and countless others to share how twitter delivers, both personally and professionally.
f
Yes, Twitter's the damnedest thing.
Glad we got to meet here, Joe.
Praise Be the Tweet! :)
Without Twitter (and Maren Hogan), I wouldn't have found YOU Joe! I really enjoy your tweets and the stream of consciousness that comes from you some days. :)
And someday, we'll get that conference on the books for you in Cincy or in Ohio that we've talked about - and we'll be able to say it all happened because of Twitter!
Twitter totally hearts you back! I know I wouldn't have had the opportunity to connect with you if not for Twitter and that would have been my loss.
You nailed Twitter on its awesome head, Joe. There is NO better, easier, cooler way to connect with the world out there than on Twitter. Nope, not Facebook, not LinkedIn, and not YouTube. Twitter RULES and I have myriad similar stories as well.
Twitter has become my Google, RSS feed, knowledge repository, CI tool, and more. I love that I have to think how to put thoughts into 140 characters or less, I love that I can use tools like bit.ly to see what Tweets were popular, I love all the apps out there- I love the Twittersphere!!
Twitter is incredible for networking. I've met amazing colleagues, spent time on the phone with industry leaders, and learned about HRevolution, the conference I attended. Twitter friends supported me in starting a blog, and a blogtalkradio show "Compassionate HR." http://www.blogtalkradio.com/user/hrmargo1
Maren Hogan encouraged me to join recruitingblogs, and start a blog there. She spent time on the phone with me, and has been more than gracious and generous with her advice. Joe, I've enjoyed our friendship on twitter. Now that I know you are an expert in diversity, I'll be sure to send items of interest your way.
Best wishes,
@HRMargo
Amen, Joe.
Tweet be with you!
I have been glad to meet you and many of the others you've mentioned. I am always happy to take things off of the 140 character world and into real life (and it makes that transition much smoother). Great to meet you in 09 and looking forward to finding you in 2010.
Joe, I have been on Twitter now for four months. If I was to encapsulate my time on there, it would sound a bit like the article that you just wrote. I have discovered a good number of blogs out there, including yours. I have had some fun conversations and received unsolicited support for my blog. Plus, I'm starting to connect in person or over the phone with folks that I have met on Twitter, such as Fran Melmed. It has definitely been an enhancement to my life.
I could not agree more that you just need to get on & start being part of the conversation.
It's a shame that in the past couple of weeks, two separate people said the exact same thing about Twitter: "I don't want to know everytime people go to the bathroom." and in neither case were they interested in my story of how it can be.
Thanks for your support of my blog & hopefully we will meet in person in 2010.
I've been going to Sanibel for the bast 17 years. Lighthouse Cafe has the best breakfast around... and The Bubble Room (as well as Mermaid Cafe) has the best cake I've ever had. I forget what it's called, but it's basically frosted pound cake.
Next time you're down there, you can give it a try, and say, "Mmm... Twitter!"
Hi Joe. I don't know HOW I found on on Twitter, but I'm glad I did. And so honored to be named in your post.
Twitter opens a door to worlds that might never have met
Twitter allows us to realize we are all connected
Twitter shows us how to be good neightbours
so glad I am here
I will never leave
But, but...you haven't shaken your fist lately! I miss that. :)
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