INCLINED TO DESIGN – DESIGNING SUCCESS

This post is about some of the people I have met virtually on twitter, whom I would like to meet in Real Life. It’s not about the Twitterati, whom we’d ALL like to meet; it’s about some of those ‘regular’ terrific people I have continuing conversations with.

There are lots of others whom I converse with once or occasionally, and that’s typical of twitter, just like a really long train journey; some get on the train and stay all the way, maybe even to the end (where ever and whenever that is), and others get on and off, many with great conversations during the ride.

When I started this journey I only knew four twitter people in Real Life. So far I have met one more person, @Darnoc, almost met a second, @bethevans in Beijing last April, and will meet @lonniehodge for lunch in Hong Kong next month, and hopefully soon meet @DanHarris in Seattle, who writes China Law Blog; invaluable if you do biz in China, or even just to get a flavor of what is going on in China, something everyone should get!.

Beth @Bethevens has a real handle on the China Art scene, something I am very interested in.

Lonnie @lonniehodge is an American professor in China, “writing for revenge” ☺ and not only, but always ready for conversation. He will be a treat to meet! He’s also a poet.

@Darnoc, who goes by Alexander (as in The Great) is an international Energy and Cleantech professional, and was in Beijing when we first conversed; yet we actually met face to face on Orcas Island in the San Juans for lunch at Roses. We will meet again for sure; in the Islands, Seattle or maybe China.

Having spent many years consulting for early stage companies, often being their PR, Marketing & Advertising departments all rolled into one, it is no surprise that I converse with so many great people in this space. Or is it just that the majority of people I encountered at the start of my trip were expert ☺ in PR and marketing…..

@CathyWebSavvyPR has been an invaluable fellow traveler/friend from the very beginning; helping me understand the finer points of traveling the SM track. Easy to reach, Cathy is always there, with just the right answers. I am a very fast learner, but invariably she has helped me get up to speed even faster.

@ConversationAge is the perfect welcoming committee of one, helping & showcasing new arrivals. Valeria’s Blog was the first I subscribed to (& not without some difficulty on my part), a good thing, as I still learn from the people and subjects she writes about (and besides she did a post about me in April).

@Wilsonellis started traveling the twitter route about the same time I did, and Debra and I have been conversing all along the way. I’ve been watching how SHE does it (very well too), making a statement for using SM to get her marketing message across. I really look forward to meeting her, as she is very astute at viewing real life.

@DannyBrown; well everyone knows Danny and what he is doing with his Charity focus, and how it is creating Twitterbuz to help people and causes. He has a great sense of humor & is always ready with a witty or helpful reply back to me. I’d love to spend an evening at an English pub with Danny.

@Mandy_Vavrinak is a relatively new traveler on my train. I build bridges, and she facilitates connections, between just about everything☺ Her style (twitter image) is compelling, and she is lots of fun to converse with.

@StefanoMaggi @@@@@ and I exchange ideas on influence, customer service, data visualization, technology and Islands amongst other things. I am hoping we will meet in person in the San Juan Islands, or maybe for lunch on Monte Isola in Lago Iseo ~ where they serve “fish of the lake”, not to be missed.

@merylkevans @GetResults @zkellyq @JDEbberly @3keyscoach literally float around the chat arena, adding substance and humor to what is a bizarre discussion format. I love it when they all show up together, adds real pizzazz. They are a great group, who work the chat scene in a flock or singularly. Our individual conversations have however now reached way beyond the chat.

Meryl or @merylkevans has an excellent handle on small biz and entrepreneurship; she’s an accomplished writer, and she recently joined me on twine.com.

John does get it @getresults and has a very valuable business focus as a succession planner. He is an author and much more.

JD @JDEbberly does the chat scene 24/7 or so it seems. I like the way he facilitates information exchange, and any time a chat lags he jumps in and takes over. A great traveler to have aboard when the train breaks down!

Ellie @3keyscoach is an entrepreneur coach who offers so much more insight than just coaching. Starting out in a new business, she’d be high on my list. One day I hope to design a city pied a’ terre for her.

Kelly @zkellyq is one the best; writing about technology related subjects in a clear and understandable style, (and shares my obsession with excel). Total surprise when she wrote about my Design Preference Survey last week, but that’s just another example of cross-pollination; something we’ll discuss when we meet next summer.

One of the fascinations about a journey like this is the diversity. All sizes, shapes and colors, including GenY, and the two I converse with most are in their own rail car!

@TransitionalTee has an amazing twitter presence, & I asked her if she thinks people really can live up to their twitter image in person? She said those she had actually met were even more awesome! She writes with a different take on things, which I appreciate, and is a talented contributor to several chats I frequent. I am sure I will not be disappointed when I meet Teresa!

@DavidSpinks gets my “flitter about twitter” award (bird analogy). He moves around like the very best cocktail party host, always interesting, always engaging, making that final-say comment stick! I used to see people like David on European trains, interested in what everyone is doing and where they are going, cruising up and down the corridor, poking their heads into each compartment! A great addition to my journey, and we should absolutely meet on a train.

It’s taken awhile but I have some of the most interesting designers traveling with me now:

@jeanettejoy has a following that would classify her as twitterati, but she is warm and down to earth; always has time to respond and be helpful. I’d love to discuss how her Design Psychology has given her an edge as a designer! It’s all about relationships, so I’ve often thought this could be key☺ Lunch is waiting.

@RobinMuto was the first designer who joined my journey. Though our styles are very different, the collaborative way we get there is very similar. I’ve had lots of fun and informative conversations with Robin.

@Interleafer writes an intriguing garden-focused Blog, and is always ready with helpful hints, comments or discussions on garden related subjects, or entrepreneurial business; which she implements very well. I hope one day we will find ourselves working on the same project.

@Urbanverse is exactly whom I had hoped to meet up with when I began this trip; architect, futurist & writer. Cindy has started a fabulous new Blog for research (a book?) and we‘ve commented at length ~ very enjoyable and thought provoking working things out together. It can only be that much better in person!

@rpfiii is fishead, or ‘fishman’ as I heard him called on twine.com, where he is one of the top 10 contributors. He’s a quiet traveler on my train, but don’t be fooled, he’s into lots of things; especially design and conversation. Check him out on twine.com

Brian @DR1665 is a very original writer. His subject and the way he approaches it is of particular interest to me. Recently he was featured by ConversationAgent, and I certainly can’t improve on it……

I promised myself when I started this journey, I wouldn’t ever write about twitter; not another post, please …..but I’m doing it anyway. If I’ve missed anyone who feels they’re on my train but I overlooked them, please let me know, and WHY, and I’ll be happy to add another car ☺ And on the other hand, if anyone doesn’t like what I’ve written about them, which is just how I see them as fellow travelers, please let me know and I’ll kick you off the train; no, I mean I’ll modify it ☺ and move you to the caboose. Alternatively, have your say in the comments below!

And tell me, do you think twitter is like a train journey? Or something else……