Create Something

This weekend was partially about packing for Blogger-Social 08. This coming Friday the world will tilt, slightly, on its axis towards NYC as 80+ bloggers from around the world congregate together. I'm very much looking forward to attending and meeting such an illustrious group of humans.

The two main figures behind BS08 are the awesome Christina Kerley (aka "CK") and Drew McLellan. They've been the driving force making this "social" a reality. And here's the thing:  Neither Drew or CK is making a dime off their efforts. BS08 is a labor of love.

It reminds me of likemind, the global meetup to enjoy coffee and conversation that occurs every last Friday of the month. Piers Fawkes and Noah Brier just thought likemind would be a good idea, so they made it happen. And as far as I know, they don't make a penny from their efforts.

Why do people do these things? Why create something? CK and Drew were kind enough to share some answers via email.

Christina told me,

"You do it not only because it brings you joy...but because you have to. First, to give this community, that is so very, very much worth spending time with, a chance to spend time with one another. Blogger Social is all about that 'time' and those 'stolen moments' because usually those moments are at a quick meetup or dinner event during a conference... At this event all we are is Social 24/7. Second, because I love breathing life into my ideas...I otherwise feel I'm not doing justice by them since I was fortunate enough to be given not only the idea but the people who would come together and make it a reality."

Drew responded,

"We were sitting around the table, after giving CK the tree in honor of her mom.  So it was a pretty emotional day to begin with.  But CK and I started talking about the power of just having that face time. No learning, no PowerPoint, but just being in each other's presence and sort of soaking each other up. ¶ So CK said in passing, 'we should plan a big party, nothing but socializing and invite everyone.' I said...okay, let’s do it. The e-mails starting flying back and forth and within a week or so, we were launching the survey to test interest. From there...we were off and running and haven’t stopped to look back."

It's not about the money, or fame or reciprocity. It's about community. It's about sharing. It's about creating something as much for the benefit of others as for yourself. It's about having a good time -- one that wouldn't ever happen if a bunch of people didn't participate.

Q. What, if any, benefit(s) do you expect or hope to receive from making BS08 a reality?

Drew: "I already know what benefit I will receive. I get to spend an entire weekend with people that I know, respect and love. It’s going to be so amazing to hear their voices and see their smiles and get caught up in their laughter.  I suspect it will be a love fest of epic proportions. The pay offs are going to be huge. And measured in hugs. ¶ I can’t wait to not only be in the middle of it but to also be an observer of it. To watch dear friends 'meet' for the first time. I think it will be one of the best weekends of our lives."

CK:  "Actually, I’ve already received well over the benefits I’d hoped to from breathing life into this idea--and I’m answering this question on March 30th (psst: Social doesn’t begin until April 4th). Drew and I collaborated (conspired?) on this event to give this community--that is so very much worth spending time with--a chance to spend some quality time with one another. Being that it’s a reality and that everyone is equally excited about it brings me such reward.  ¶ As for the benefits from that time spent together? I foresee benefits spanning new relationships formed and others made stronger, new collaborations that will be sparked and new business ideas, too. Moreover, it will be a weekend that we’ll remember forever...and memories are benefits that one can’t readily place a price upon, being they increase in value over time."

Q. How much time do you think you invested in making BS08 a reality?

CK: "Since the very first post launched on June 1st, 2007 I’ve easily clocked 200 hours on this event. Easily. But that’s just me. That doesn’t include Drew (who is in lockstep with me for hours), and the countless hours by nearly 20 others—take a look at the Event Guide that Ryan Karpeles exhaustively created, or all the goodie bags that Lori Magno developed…or the profiles that Arun Rajagopal and you compiled. Or the amazing series that Steve Woodruff developed. And on and on! So the answer is that this event—between pre-planning, planning, promoting, coordinating, developing, designing and implementing—has been in the hundreds…if not the thousands…of hours. ¶ But I need to stress again, speaking for both Drew and myself, Social needed the idea first—but it would not have been a reality without (1) all our attendees investing time and travel expense and (2) our many, many volunteers contributing some serious time and sweat equity."

Drew: "I’d be frightened to try to figure it out. We’ve reached out to many, many people for help. If we added up all the man hours that everyone has cheerfully and generously donated, it would be staggering. The e-mails alone number into the thousands, for sure. "

Q. Given where you're at right now with BS08, would you do it again?

Drew:  "In a heartbeat."

CK:  "Yes. But some nifty disclaimers apply! First, it would need to continue to be a community-generated event that is purely and completely focused on 'social' time. And second, it will need to fulfill the initial promise we laid-out on June 1, 2007, and be held outside of the United States (I’m hoping it will be in either Dublin or Amsterdam, but the community will once again vote, just like they did this time.) You see, by connecting people from various countries and continents, social media makes our world smaller…and we all need to do our part to continue acting like it. Plus, why not see the world vis-à-vis the colleagues and friends you meet on the World Wide Web?"

It's going to be a real pleasure having the opportunity to finally meet all the people I've been communicating with over the past year. Thank you, CK and Drew, for having the idea, and for having the courage, humility and strength to see it come true for all of us.