In a few days I’m heading to Dallas for Summer Brandcamp – somebody pinch me.
I first heard about this event a few years ago and I’ve been attracted to it ever since. After watching from afar for a couple of years, a few of my American friends suggested I should try and find a way to get over to Dallas and take part. I think it was Joe Gerstandt who first put me in touch with the founder of Summer Brandcamp, Joni Doolin early on in 2013. We’ve been exchanging notes and ideas, missing each other, falling in and out of sync and all kinds of things ever since. Never quite managing to make it happen.
Truthfully – I thought about letting it slide this time around, maybe it just wasn’t meant to happen. Or maybe it was. Several months ago, Joe gave me another nudge, so Joni and I started to share ideas again. Then I spotted Michael VanDervort putting in a good work for me, which was followed by another thumbs up, this time from the totally HR Famous – Laurie Ruettimann.
The conversations continued and this time, the ‘net’ in network tightened up just enough so that the idea didn’t fall through. For longer than I care to remember I’ve been an ordinary person taking part in an extraordinary network. I think I’ve been good at investing in that, because connections matter. Without People – You’re Nothing. I’m slowly getting better at asking too. Laurie – thank you for recommending The Art of Asking to me, I love the book and I’ve bought copies for three other people so far.
It’s 2015 and I’m going to Brandcamp. I’m going to catch up with many friends, and I’m sure I’ll make some new ones too. This time, with the help of some lovely people, I persisted. I’m excited and I’m grateful.