Calendar
Network
Feeds
- 72
- Sphinn It!
Went Hot: August 15, 2008 - 9:24 pm
Posted By: Jill 109 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.bruceclay.com) my network
Category: SEM Industry
17 Comments
Who Sphunn This Topic?
-
tamar
-
0thelisa
-
Wiep
-
DavidWallace
-
toddmintz
-
willcritchlow
-
KateMorris
-
SEOish
-
Mel66
-
beussery
-
toprank
-
hotwheel
-
morgret
-
dedmond29
-
UtahSEOpro
-
cre8pc
-
weboptimist
-
SearchBuzz
-
lorisa
-
mbeharry
-
Rhea
-
Jill
-
LittleMissSEO
-
EricLander
-
aglobalwarming
-
SexySEO
-
TheNanny612
-
planetc1
-
NickWilsdon
-
jennosborne
-
pearl
-
hugoguzman
-
DrPete
-
rickgalan
-
Vingold
-
WebGeek
-
thinkingserious
-
Gurilla
-
mactep
-
crashingflwrgrl
-
jasd2d
-
dobata
-
Xurxo
-
hjortur
-
davematson
-
DerrickWheeler
-
aevans
-
TrafficGuru
-
cledford
-
RubabSaleem
-
dao
-
seobro
-
rodonnell
-
pancham
-
StephenCronin
-
shocs
-
stvalentine
-
AndrewSpining
-
DaveKeffen
-
DarrenSlatten
-
lucindadh
-
MoneyNing
-
AffiliateDragon
-
erincolbert
-
bentley007
-
flyingmonkeys
-
Bianca
-
Clay
-
samanthal
-
tonyhanes23
-
SeanBlanks
-
B2BMarketingPR
Comments
I really enjoyed this article. Very good pointers for those of us who fight the natural instinct to be shy. I've been battling it for years and it gets easier...but never goes away completely. Reminders like this are definitely very useful! Thanks for writing Lisa!
Great advice from Lisa, who I'm surprised to hear call herself an introvert. There's nothing worse than going to a conference eager to meet new people, then standing in the corner, going back to the hotel after sessions, and beating yourself up afterwards for not taking advantage of opportunities.
When I go to conferences other than my typical SES, SMX, WMW where I (now) know tons of people, I have a very difficult time and usually do just end up in my room [sigh].
There are definitely benefits to being a speaker because at least then people come up to you and sort of "know you." I'm very uncomfortable when by myself at a conference or any place for that matter where I'm not somewhat alreadly known.
Like kristyann above, it does get easier, but it sort of depends on who you meet. The attaching yourself to an extrovert thing has always been my strategy, although I never thought about it before. All my friends tend to be extroverts, however. I'm happy to sit quietly and listen to others chat.
I can relate to DrPete's scenario. If not for Kim Krause Berg, Liana Evans or Matt McGee - my experience at SMX Social 07 in NYC would've been exactly that (and was the first night). Props to Cameron Olthuis and Chris Winfield for letting a nobody pull up a chair and drink with them too.
I'm absolutely introverted until I know and like people. I keep a small inner circle and don't like to stray outside of it unless I have days or weeks to prepare. Great guide by Lisa here with perfect timing.
I will have to keep this article in mind when I am in NYC for SMX ... this time, I will be out by myself without an extrovert-type from my company to lead me around. This is the encouragement that I needed!
I so relate. The first conference I attended alone (without the entourage from the company I work for) was this year at SMX West. The first person I introduced myself to was Danny Sullivan on the first night. I was a nervous wreck and so awkward, which is stupid. I'm what you would call a "mature" man (52) and Danny has to be the nicest guy on the planet. But, I couldn't help but notice a brief "who in the world are you?" look on his face. He was as nice as he could be, but I just wanted to hide under a table. That's the introvert in me.
But I made it through the week, made some introductions, passed out a few cards, wrote a few articles... Now a few folks out there actually can put my face or at least "The Web Optimist" with my name.
A few...
;-)
My first conference was SES SF in 99 I think. I followed Marshall Simmonds around like a puppy dog until I met some folks that I bonded with easily. Then I left Marshall in the dust and never spoke to him again. The End!
@drpete - you'd be very surprised how many of us introverts pretend to be extroverts when put in a social situation. It takes a lot of effort, but we fool almost everyone :)
ROFL @DerrickWheeler!
I'll never forget you at SES Dallas 2000 sitting at our roundtable with your long-haired hippy look. I kept thinking, who is this weirdo? He's got interesting things to say!
Um Eric. You were quite adoptable :)
I'm all over the place. I know a lot of people but am notorius for forgetting names. I nearly always call someone by the wrong name, even when I recognize them. Or, I'm too shy to go up to folks. It took me 20 minutes to get up the nerve to appoach Aaron Wall one year. He was very nice, but I was mush mouth.
Kim, somehow I have trouble imagining that!
Such a timely post! As an introvert myself, I really enjoyed the tips and motivation given with this article. Blog World Expo is coming up and I was contemplating on going. Now I will definitely go!
You guys are all nuts ;) Th convention parties are so much fun. If you;re shy, just have a few drinks and I´m sure you will have the nerve to talk to whoever there is. :)
Mike - easier said then done! But you're right a couple a drinks can help calm the nerves for shy folk like myself - just not sure if its the best solution.
Love the post ;)
The problem with conferences is there's all the people you meet sober and can't remember their names when drinking vs. all the people you meet when drinking and can't remember the next day when sober.
So basically the only solution is to remain drunk the entire conference.
Lisa an introvert?!? She always struck me as Miss Outgoing! I guess you never know.
Great tips, Lisa. Planning ahead and scheduling meet-ups before you leave town are two great tips. This way you will fill at least some of your down time and usually will meet more than just the person you set out to meet. Attaching to an extrovert is also great advice. I did this a few years ago when I was new in the industry, and it helped me meet enough people that now I am the one introducing newbies to others! It is hard to approach the big names in search, but remember they are just folks like the rest of us. I have found very few people who are aloof - most are glad to sit and chat and share knowledge - and introduce you to other big names in search!
@incredibill ... true, but you still have their business cards and THEY remember YOU ;)