Hanging out with other local small business owners.
One of the things that I’ve been trying to do more is spending more of my time in the local Atlanta scene, so to speak, and getting to know the economy and people around me geographically.
It’s been an interesting experience, let me assure you, as I completely love being a digital native and having all of you be my virtual friends! I feel like my influence is as tangible and as real as possible and I’m creating incredible value for people – I couldn’t be happier!
But the influence that I can have locally and geographically central to Atlanta is an area that I haven’t been investing much time in and after squarely planting my roots here with my wife and two kids I’ve made the jump back into the local environment and context to see what’s what. That’s partly why I started visiting all of the Atlanta Coworking spots around town!
And the result has been obviously much slower than what can be done in the online world but it’s been really satisfying – I’ve learned more about our Atlanta (and Georgia) economy and have met incredibly passionate small business owners and entrepreneurs who are desperately interested in reviving our local economy.
For example, joining a local think tank sponsored by Dell the other day was just one small thing of many things that I hope to do so that I can continue to help do my part to stimulate our local context.
I suggest that you do the same.
You see, we spend so much time online and so much time investing in our digital friends (really they are “acquaintances”) that we forget how important our local footprint really is.
I think the challenge is that most of us are simply hell-bent on “maximizing” our energy that we forget that the fact that growing X number of followers a day may feel like progress it’s actual return on investment or overall value may be very limited (or nothing at all).
I have met some incredible people, in the flesh, and the relationships I’m establishing and creating have reminded me the truth of making sure that whatever my “strategy” really is that it has to include a local component. Not just a part but a significant part.
I love investing in people – I always have and I always will. Heck, that’s why I’m willing to mentor groups and teams out of state! But we can always do better.
Perhaps the next best thing that you can do is to have coffee with that person that you promised you’d follow up with and never did. Perhaps a handshake will be better than those 10 followers that you get in the next 10 minutes.
Marinate on that for a bit and let me know your thoughts.
Like.
Such a great tip — thanks John!
I really want to get out and experience the local co-work space in LA.
If you find anything interesting, I’d love to hear about it!
After months of being connected online, I finally met with Mark Butler of CXO Staffing yesterday to hear about his business and what he does on a daily basis here in Atlanta. I love it! He said he met you a few weeks ago and that you’re a great guy.
I have been tempted to move to San Fran…but I tell ya….I love the Atlanta network so I’m gonna stick around. =)
Encouraged to see your momentum on a regular basis.
I definitely need to invest in people more often. I am very self centered with my “free” time but need to be more open with it.
I live in a smaller city, so these types of connections are harder to make. There’s not as much opportunity here. But, that’s not an excuse – I’m sure it’s possible to find out where the ‘cool kids’ hang out and go there. Like maybe the Entrepreneurship department at the University…
Sometimes it is better to go out and make connections in real life rather than make connections on the Internet.
I would love to but have yet to really find a local community where I fit. Any suggestions on what to do to find or create something like this?
Have you tried “MeetUp”?
I have. Our local MeetUp community is very small and contains some freaky things I don’t want to become involved. Kind of disappointing.
Couldn’t agree more. While there is value in the digital relationsphere, the long-lasting relationships with our best clients have always begun with a personal interaction and a handshake, not a retweet and a Like button. There is simply no substitute for it.
John, I just reached out to the editor of our town’s newspaper…fingers crossed.
So true John going Local and actually meeting people face to face is a real connection. I will keep moving forward with that. Networking in person is key.
I think you’re touching on something here that is actually quite deeply felt in our culture. Like kids growing up texting so much they don’t understand how to actually write a grammatically correct sentence. Or people spending so much time on Facebook and Twitter that they can’t carry on a conversation with a live person.
Life isn’t found online. Community isn’t found online. (Sorry, I know many will push back on that. But community requires flesh. Contact with a person, not just text that symbolizes their words.) If you want to be healthy, you’ve got to engage with the people around you. If you want to “change the world” you’ve got to start at home.
The online world of audiences, tribes, communities, networks or whatever you call them are meant to augment your real life impact, not replace it. As you said, your digital friends aren’t actually “friends” at all. Friends are physical.