Project Authenticity is really important to me and I have a deep desire to connect you to people and brands that are uniquely and genuinely authentic. The kind of people, that when you meet them your interaction is like a drink of water. I was asked recently where did you get the idea for this blog and the fact is it’s been brewing for about a year, but I think the seed was first planted after reading Chris Brogan’s post titled Passion Drives Personal Brand. In that post he wrote: Authenticity matters. It matters a lot to me as well and after this week I can tell you that I know for sure, it matters to Chris.
I had the unique opportunity to connect 1:1 with Chris this week at New Media Atlanta. My first conversation was one I thought would be short and sweet. He and I were at the same dinner, but at different tables. As folks started to dwindle, I saw a seat open right next to him, so I walked over to introduce myself. I had no agenda I just wanted to connect. I wanted him to know that he inspired the vision for this blog, that I’d read Trust Agents and many times I found myself saying: you are so right! I wanted him to somehow know that I’m not a fan, I’m a believer.
That’s not how the conversation unfolded. We talked about a couple things and then he casually mentioned that he was still thinking about what he might write on his blog Thursday night/Friday morning. I actually said: I know what you should write about…uh oh did I just tell Chris what to write about? When I said that, he leaned in…looked me in the eye and said: what? Before I knew it I was asking him to write about community. And he did….Feeling the community.
Here’s what I want you to know about my friend Chris Brogan….he’s more than a social media rock star. He’s authentic, gracious, sharp-witted, smart and deeply committed to inspiring people to stop broadcasting and start connecting. I can tell you he loves his family very much so he’s not spending all this time away from them to gain popularity. Chris knows that change begins within and social media is a powerful vehicle to exact change. It’s not social media that will change the world and build community it’s people and how they make use of it. Chris has said many times: people matter…and he means it.
The rest of the story….
I saw Chris the next day, across a crowded room and I smiled at him and nodded. He made his way over and sat down. The first words out of his mouth were: how are you today? Not: did you see my post?
So…if you’re thinking about getting Chris and Julien Smith’s book Trust Agents please go and purchase it. Get the book because you want to to know how to make trust moves consistently, you want to be inspired and inspire others to be authentic and transparent, you believe communities are important. Someone once said to me that in order for a community to be successful, there has to be a tie that binds….get the book because you want to be a part of a community where the tie that binds is people matter. I’m asking you to get the book because I want to know more people like Chris…there’s not enough of them.
