I have always had a passion for community and connecting people in this increasingly disconnected world. 20 years ago (long before social networking) I opened a coffeehouse in Orlando, Fl. I remember instinctually telling my staff on our first day of business that “it is not about the coffee” I wanted them to understand the importance of the “place” that I had created and they were about to become stewards of. I wanted to make sure that they understood how we were about to open the doors to this huge community of people who had never meet each other… until we created a place for them to gather. I love comment above that references the image of a “Tribe” Shortly after opening we all felt like we were part of a secret place that eventually even developed it's own subtle culture, language, and rituals.

Social media appears to have done the same thing in the virtual world with its effects spilling over into the physical realm. It is truly amazing to see how people connect with new friends, colleagues, mentors, and business through social media.

I will be opening a new business in a few months where we will push the limits of nurturing the ability for strangers to connect in a new physical and social media environment. To build a new “Tribe”. My dream would be to once again profoundly affect people by providing places throughout the country where anyone including isolated or disconnected people, can easily meet others and develop new relationships.

I sold the coffeehouse business 10 years ago…. and shortly after that, it closed. To this day, eventhough I live thousands of miles away, I stumble on conversations online and off where people talk about what a profound affect my businesses had on their life and who they connected with and how there is an emptiness now that it is gone.

This has fueled my passion to start UNION!

One things reads very true: Social Media so called “experts” have forgotten the point behind creating a social network, which is the people factor. Whoever it was that said the secret is knowing WHY we create our networks (to help people) had it all right.

I have read a thousand blogs about how we can monetize social media, but sadly, very few like this one that points out, in its not so subtle way, that social networking is our tool to bring some sort of change to the world. We can, through the power of technology, touch someone on the other side of the world and change their perspective as they change ours. We can use our knowledge to bring resolution to problems that can change the lives of others.

Or we can use it to try and sell 2 for 1 nights at the nearest Holiday Inn and a free sample of Viagra.

Your choice. I am opting for life changing.

One things reads very true: Social Media so called “experts” have forgotten the point behind creating a social network, which is the people factor. Whoever it was that said the secret is knowing WHY we create our networks (to help people) had it all right.

I have read a thousand blogs about how we can monetize social media, but sadly, very few like this one that points out, in its not so subtle way, that social networking is our tool to bring some sort of change to the world. We can, through the power of technology, touch someone on the other side of the world and change their perspective as they change ours. We can use our knowledge to bring resolution to problems that can change the lives of others.

Or we can use it to try and sell 2 for 1 nights at the nearest Holiday Inn and a free sample of Viagra.

Your choice. I am opting for life changing.

UGG sale

Cheap UGG Boots

Discount UGG Boots

Authentic UGG Boots

Genuine UGG Boots

Origianl UGG Boots

Women's Ugg

Men's Ugg

UGG Australia

UGG Store

UGG Official Store

UGG Shop

UGG Online Store

UGG Boots

UGG Boot

UGG Sandal

UGG Sandals

UGG Slipper

UGG Slippers

UGG Classic Cardy

UGG Classic Crochet

UGG Classic Mini

UGG Classic Short

UGG Classic Tall

UGG Nightfall

UGG Ultra Short

UGG Ultra Tall

UGG Tasmina

UGG Amelie Suede

UGG Gypsy Sandal

Ugg Matala Sandal

UGG Halendi Sandal

UGG Hammond Slipper

UGG Layback Slipper

Ugg Napoule Sandal

Ugg Persephone Sandal

Ugg Skimmer

I am new to twitter… well I guess we all are so I found this really insightful.

Ahhh yes… the SXSW Adventure I affectionately call “Twitter Trust. ” From the moment @MackCollier suggested I attend SXSW (I was a Twitter Newbie at 3 Months Gestation), I saw firsthand what a difference a TWEET can make…AND how awesome this community is. After sending out a “SXSW 4 Pt. Wish List” on Twitter, @katebuckjr immediately offered to not only host me, but to also “hang out with me” (wish item 3 & 4) and @StevenRay offered to drive me (wish item 2) – I had not met either of them “IRL” – we just followed each other on Twitter…and when @StevenRay got stuck on a project delaying his departure 24 hours, I “tweet inquired” if there might be anyone else looking to rideshare to Austin earlier. A Direct Message arrived in minutes from @TexasZman recommending I connect with @CouchSurfingOri who immediately punched my home address into his GPS and picked me up on his way through Dallas….no questions asked (like…ummm How many bags DO you have?)

And…to make this story even more Twitter Sweet, when my ride home fell through, also because of work commitments, a simple tweet of “HELP! I need a ride home to Dallas” was sent and RT’d around the Twitterverse. In less than 3 hours, @Elysa casually replies, “I can give you a ride to Dallas.” Cool thing here was – Not only had we never met in real life, we had also never tweeted before – she had just started to follow me the week prior to SXSW because one of her Twitter Friends had mentioned my Wish List to her.

Honorable mention goes to @orchid8. I crashed at her house one night when I got separated from my crew and our only previous interaction was a Twitter introduction by @aronado suggesting we meet up at SXSW…I not only met her as hoped, but her awesome red sofa too. Then we have the @100interviews at SXSW crew – @doverbey, @morganb, @andykaufman & @sukjhit – when they asked me to be one of their 100-interviews, I asked them if they needed any help with their very aggressive project and… they let me help. How awesome is that? And…OH, how I loved the Bloggers Lounge…

So, how is it that we have all never met before “in real life” but we treat each other “as if” – then when we do meet IRL, it’s like we already know each other and nothing feels odd or uncomfortable? Because the Twitter world is different. I am enamored by this “I’m here…and you’re there..and we’re in the Social NOW community…it's comforting. Twitter is comforting…I can read your tweets, click on your links, look at pictures of your cat and “know you” and we may never even meet or talk in person…but when we do, it’s like running into an old friend. If there is anyone that does not feel that that Twitter is a community, I encourage them to just scroll through all the smiling/non smiling/now green avatars in their stream and take note of all the faces & names they “recognize.” I bet if quizzed, they would be “more familiar” and know MORE about those folks in their Twitter Stream then their neighbor who lives down the street. Goosebumps!

We grow up, someone tells us to be independent, we don't really need others….but we do, we really do. Power to the SFC!

Thanks for the great post my friend, Chris Brogan and for reminding me of that fun story.

Note to any OCD readers of this comment: Wish Item 1 was: Husband to smile and say “YES, Zane, take off and Go!” The acquisition of 2 – 4 made 1 a sure thing.