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06.08.2009 Change, Community, Social MediaView Comments

One Is Too Small A Number To Achieve Significance

Exeter TweetupI’ve just got home from the Exeter Tweetup. An incredible evening. An unforgettable experience.

What a triumph to have so many of Exeter’s Twitter users get together. We must’ve made up a third or so of the audience at TBX1’s networking event. On the left is a photo of 14 of us at the after party, whilst a good 20 of us were at the networking event before hand.

We laughed, talked, shared ideas and experiences, got to know each other that little bit more, and gave advice and support to each other. It was amazing to listen to the conversations of people who were meeting in person for the first time, and watch them have such interest and desire to help one another. If you haven’t read it, then this is an example of the lessons I’ve learnt from Twitter in action.

Other highlights included Michael Greenland’s insistence that in any social group, everyone can be compared to a different character from Star Wars. Any ideas who you are?

Getting more serious… My take away from the evening, though, was this: that one is too small a number to achieve significance. Sure, I could talk about the revolution this means in business and networking, or the breaking down of social barriers. But for me, I sat there and kept thinking “what can we do, together, than will cause change for people in this world?”, because after all, it’s all about people. And tonight, I was with people whom I love.

Here’s the Qik I filmed:

This is a list of almost everyone who attended. If you’re name isn’t here, please let me know ASAP!

Finally, thank you all. I can’t wait to see you all again, or speak to you in 5 minutes on Twitter!

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Some Related Thoughts

  • Hey Scott,

    Truely gutted I missed the Tweetup - you know I would have been there if I could have been :(

    A

    p.s. I'd be Yoda :)
  • Al if you af Kris were there, I would've loved it! Hope London was
    good mate.
  • The Exeter Tweetup was great fun, and it was good to put faces to names. I think 'One Is Too Small A Number' was something that came over strongly last night as we are all trying to reach out connect with people in different ways on different levels, and are all feeling our way with Twitter. Rick put it well with the Tweetup being a networking and social interaction at a somewhat deeper level than just business networking, and the friendships made tonight will continue even if Twitter is down. Thanks, Scott, for masterminding the event, you are obviously a party animal, now which Star Wars character would that be? .....
  • Colin was great to talk last night - I'm glad it wasn't just me who felt the community! I'm looking forward to what we can all do together to achieve significance.

    As for which Star Wars character I am, I have no idea! Who do you think you are?
  • JamieLee
    Although I think that "one" CAN have an impact, I agree whole-heartedly that a group working in collaboration will typically have a greater impact and always in a shorter span of time. The Savvy B2B Marketing blog that I co-founded with 5 other women (the Savvy Sisters) whom I met through an online training is a perfect example of a collaboration that gave our goal (launching and promoting a solid marketing blog) a huge injection of power and speed.

    Personally, I love collaborating with all kinds of people and am thrilled to see the start of what feels almost like a movement starting to rumble around the social Web. There are few things as satisfying as coming together with a group of like-minded individuals and working towards a specific end. It's not just business, either. I sing back-up vocals for a local band (http://www.ericcolville.com) and absolutely relish the creative and "production" process of working through how to create great music by building and layering percussion, melodies, lyrics, and harmonies. When it all comes together, I get chills.

    So ... three cheers for collaboration - for coming together in groups - big or small - to move the world.
  • Jamie, as always, thanks for the comments. Like with your band, when it all comes together, when everyone was there last night, it was so exciting.

    I look forward to you being at one of our Tweetups soon!
  • Hey Scott, the notion of collective impact is the real key - inspired, lead and driven by one with vision, passion and integrity. (That would be you)

    Great to see the video and photo. Got a sense I was there - although somewhat dizzy. :)

    Best, Robin
  • Robin, how I wish you were there tonight! I have so many wonderful friends across the world, I'll need to hold a social media and innovation conference to have them all speak at!

    Thank you very much for the kind words - to know that what is in my heart seeps through these pages is the greatest compliment I can get.

    Have a great day while I sleep!
    Scott
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