November 20, 2009 73 Comments

The Serendipity Engine – Web 2 Expo Speech

This is my favorite keynote speech yet. It’s just 10 minutes long, and I feel pretty good about it. You’ll recognize bits of my storytelling from the last several conferences tucked into here in a new way, I hope. Enjoy this video. (Can’t see it? Click here)

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

Newer Comments →
  • http://twitter.com/serendipitousP Pamela Howell

    Now i'm really sad my cold is so awful I had to stay home. Bravo, Chris!

  • http://artofgreatthings.com Jeffrey Tang

    I love how you talk about “seeing people” and “being seen.” It really does make a difference when people don't just read what you tweet or blog or share – they take the time to respond and say “I see you. I'm listening.” With all the seething conversation out there, sometimes a simple acknowledgment is the most amazing thing.

  • http://jackieadkins.com Jackie Adkins

    Great thoughts, Chris. I get caught up in the stream of tweets from all of the connections I usually interact with and follow, which sort of constrains the amount of information and number of viewpoints I'm able to consume.

    And hey, if nobody thinks you're doing something wrong, then you're probably not doing all that much in the first place.

  • CEPC

    Ngiyakhubona!

    We love it, love it, LOVE it when you respond to us on Twitter!

    Picked up some similar themes of yours from the TrustSummit in NYC a while back, but is the Vanilla Ice line of “Stop, Collaborate and Listen” old already? Bummer, I liked it!

    Christine

  • http://twitter.com/stales Alicia C. Staley

    Chris – this was fantastic! I wish I had been in NYC to see it in person. As always, I learn a great deal from you. Thanks for all you do.

  • lisahuebner

    Great keynote. Your delivery is so “normal”. I am very excited for our “friends and clients” who will be able to hear you in early 2010.

  • http://www.madethisway.com Carlos Sandoval

    Awesome keynote speech Chris! Loved how you said to start listening more than thinking what you want to say. Sometimes we focus to much time thinking about what interesting thing we can say that we forget to listen. As always, great stuff!

  • http://cooper-taylor.com Carol Cooper-Taylor

    Thanks Chris, always find your posts interesting and thought provoking. Good to hear and see you as well. :)

  • http://www.madethisway.com Carlos Sandoval

    Awesome keynote speech Chris! Loved how you said to start listening more than thinking about what you want to say. Sometimes we can focus too much time on thinking what interesting thing we can say that we forget to listen. As always, great stuff!

  • http://www.facebook.com/karen.mcallister Karen McAllister

    Great points here on truly communicating with others, not just hyping your own stuff on Twitter. Wish I could have been there to see it myself.

  • http://www.beginnerblogger.com/ Sarge

    Haha that's so true about the highschool mates. Pretty sure I have half of the people I graduated with as a friend on facebook.

    The most powerful message in your video is simple: Give more than you receive.

    I love that you reply to a lot of people on twitter, my only problem with that (very very minor) is that in hootsuite which is my main twitter tool is you can't seem to hide @replies people make when you add people to a group. I think on tweetdeck though this doesn't happen.

    I started my blog a few months ago as an experiment which I feel is now much more than an experiment. The no1 thing I gained from it is the amazing contacts and people I have met and connected with. I really feel sorry for those that think that using the internet and social media is an 'anti-social' thing to do or waste of time – it really isn't.

  • http://www.reelinvitations.com/ Judith George

    I do think you are a social media sage. Thanks!

  • http://www.reelinvitations.com/ Judith George

    You are a social media sage. Thanks!

  • http://wingsofwax.ca Ian M Rountree

    “The difference between an audience and a community is which way we turn the chairs.” – Absolutely my favourite quote from the whole thing. Spectacular.

  • http://www.chilesadvertising.com Lawton Chiles

    Chris, a fantastic speech-it really IS all about listening. I get caught up that I'm not listening for the right words or phrases or my attention could be diverted here or there, but it's really about caring, not thinking that I need to do this or that to be successful or to be on my game. This is a great reminder of the power of just being still and thinking of others. The rest will follow.

    LC

  • Pingback: PhilFeed › Fresh From My Twitter today

  • Pingback: سیاره مدیریت پروژه فارسی » Blog Archive » The Serendipity Engine – Web 2 Expo Speech

  • http://twitter.com/willemderu Willem de Ru

    The two big things that resonated with me from your excellent keynote speech, is that we have to listen well (using the social media tools), and that we have to share other's good things. Thanks for articulating these things so well.

  • http://www.zoombits.co.uk/christmas-gifts christmas shopping

    This is my favorite keynote speech yet. It’s just 10 minutes long, and I feel pretty good about it. You’ll recognize bits of my storytelling from the last several conferences tucked into here in a new way, I hope….

  • Retirepreneur

    Love the 12-to-1 ratio… help others with no strings or expectations and it comes back tenfold – and sometimes from the most unexpected places. You're a solid speaker, but I think you're totally “in the zone” with this presentation – you're smiling more, too!

  • Retirepreneur

    “normal” – That's it! There's something about Chris that is so engaging. He's a normal guy sharing extraordinary and often thought-provoking insight, but in a very normal (sincere, genuine and understandable) way!

  • http://stevegarfield.com stevegarfield

    Watched this this morning and tweeted it out.

    #WakingUpAndWatching @chrisbrogan's Web 2 Expo Speech: The Serendipity Engine. http://bit.ly/7Mnrxc

    Watched @baratunde first.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkyqKPcfx64

  • http://www.mikestenger.com Mike Stenger

    I laughed at what you said about explaining to your boss. That was hilarious! Your talking about others versus talking about yourself or your own stuff is really a great thing. Let's all be honest: We all love it when other people talk about us in a positive way or share our stuff.

    That's why it works so damn well and it also shows that you give a crap and care, what is really underrated but we're starting to see some good shifts I think in that area. And well agreed with doing versus talking. You can talk and talk and talk but that's not how things are built…wait a sec…

  • http://twitter.com/susangiurleo susangiurleo

    Chris, so nice to see you “in action.” Thanks for challenging us to go deeper, slow down, listen, connect, build, collaborate, share, give and then take the untrodden path. You encourage those of us with the waders and compass [GPS might not work yet in some territories :-)].

  • Juliesquires

    Awesome, Chris. You use some of my favorite words (serendipity) and quote some fine humans. Also appreciate the short length – 10 minutes. Would you consider asking conference organizers to give you a clean background? Maybe put live feeds off to the side instead of behind you, or better yet on a side wall so we have to turn our heads. It's hugely to see the noise behind you. Thanks much. Best, Julie Squires

  • http://www.softscribeinc.com/ Julie Squires

    …hugely distracting to see the noise behind you. :-) Thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/deandwyer Dean Dwyer

    Pants for the ass. Love that line. You communicate my friend in a way that is very sincere and direct. You talk to us, not at us. Btw for anyone who may read this, if you have not yet signed up for chris's weekly weekly newsletter, i would highly recommend it. I actually read them, then print them off, read them again, highlight key points, make notes, and then save them in my `Golden Material` file. Great work CB.

  • maalbert

    “Audience v Community – how we turn the chairs” is a terrific visual image I will use in my future speeches as well. Quoting you always adds to my credibility so thanks for giving once again. Thanks also for sharing yourself so freely and allowing yourself to be seen. What can I do for you?

  • http://jasonkeath.com jakrose

    Taking the time is theme that you teach me a lot Chris. Solid life lessons there, much more than just business.

    A good friend put it best for me this past week. “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who walk in a room and say “Here I am!,” and those who say, “There YOU are!”

  • iancleary

    Hi Chris,

    Your 12 to 1 ratio is a great tip and I'll certainly take that on board.

    Ian

  • http://www.amymiyamoto.com/ Amy

    I love the serendipity of our carrot cake connection yesterday! And now that you highlight this magical componet – I can look back and see countless threads of serendipity that have been sparked ala Twitter. TY for inviting our serendipitous connect here in San Diego over carrot cake w/ including dance performance in lobby courtesy of the May and Zoe dance troupe! Great fun! Ihope it added to the positive impression of your first time visit to San Diego.
    ;)
    Amy

  • http://www.thedatarevolution.com Dan Murray

    I don't think I've actually listened to very many of your speeches. But, compared to the others that I've watched this is the best. I really enjoy watching “practiced” talks that appear to be very conversational. By this I mean you are so “in your skin” talking about this that what formerly may have required a lot of practice to produce, starts to pore out. This is a clear indicator of mastery of material. Very well done.

  • russellgranger

    Chris: You're not a social media guru, not a marketing guru, not even a technology guru.

    You, sir, are a life guru.

  • http://twitter.com/sethgoldstein Seth Goldstein

    Chris, Great keynote. You made lots of great points and really highlighted how to be a good person on social media and how to get the most out of it. It was great finally meeting you at W2E.

  • http://www.jenjen.typepad.com/layouts Jen Strange

    that was great! you have a great (mellow and awesome) stage presence

  • Therese Byrne

    Chris — one of your bests!

  • Therese Byrne

    Chris — one of your best! I'll Tweet this and come back to view again!

    Therese

  • Pingback: The Serendipity Engine « TonyonMarketing

  • Pingback:   This week’s tweets from KiwiCarol by Blog By Carol

  • LynnFree

    “How we turn the chairs” is a great question to ask in many aspects of business. To me, it speaks to what is our fundamental view of the people we are connecting with

  • http://virtualbluebird.blogspot.com/ catherine

    Great performance.
    this is the first time i watched you talk. You've pointed out big points on how to…
    really helpful. Penciled down some of them straight away.
    Thumbs UP!

  • tedpearlman

    There's so much talk out in the ether about how to USE twitter to sell your product, it's nice to hear someone come right out and remind people that twitter is not an advertising medium. It's not a radio or a banner ad. It's a way of building real relationships. It's a way of sharing.

    Bravo.

  • http://twitter.com/djwaldow DJ Waldow

    Chris –

    I certainly recognized “bits of [your] storytelling from the last several conferences…” but agree that it was told in a new way. Thanks for continuing to share and educate. Your rule of 12 to 1 is spot on. A great reminder.

    Gracias.

    DJ Waldow
    Director of Community, Blue Sky Factory
    @djwaldow

  • http://www.betterlearningbetterearning.com/ Steve

    Chris,

    Perhaps you could speak/post about how to avoid being “hidden” or “unfollowed” or “unfriended” in social media. We just don't lose that one person when that happens, but also forfeit the opportunity to connect with their networks if we annoy our friends/followers. When do we cross the line between engaging and annoying?

  • http://www.zoombits.fr/accessoires-ipod/ transmetteur fm

    I think the huge Twitter screen behind the speakers was a just plain dumb idea. It's bad enough that people are tweeting during a presentation these days, but if they're reading tweets on the screen, how can they possibly be paying attention to what the speaker is saying. Personally, I'd refuse to be a presenter under those conditions.

  • Realtormike

    Thank you Chris, may I be inspired with the ability to leave a trail.

  • http://www.sandiegolifestyle.info jeffreydouglass

    “If there are too many paths, then there is no real road.”

    Chris, great video and content – enjoyed it.

  • kyegrace

    Well done Chris! Had a fantastic aha moment hidden deep inside something you said! Not sure I could articulate it yet, but I do thank you for all the sharing you do!

  • http://www.gardnercampbell.net/ Gardner Campbell

    A lovely keynote. I especially admire the way you balance a calm sense of joy with a strong sense of urgency. For me, that's the ultimate inspiration: one that has staying power but keeps on feeling like an “aha.” Thank you.

    I'd be very curious to know your thoughts about the Twitter backchannel debacle during danah boyd's talk. Troubling and complex issues there on all sides. So far most of the Twitterstream and blogging responses have not been correspondingly complex, in my view, though, there have been some striking exceptions.

  • http://w3bz.com/affordableseoservices.htm SEO Consultant

    Hello I just search the google and I found out your site. Nice post I am very worth reading it. Thanks!

Newer Comments →