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SXSW has totally rewired my brain.

March 25th, 2010 | 19 comments | Skydiving

Seriously.

I don’t even know where to begin this post because frankly, I have four drafts that are all touching on different parts of the conference, the new technologies, my interactions with people and the panel I spoke on.

In short – SXSW rewired my brain.

How?

For starters, a lot of the blogs that I was reading before aren’t entertaining to me anymore. I want content. I want to learn something. Not to say that I don’t care about how fabulous your new dress is or how much coffee you drink – but I definitely marked eight blogs in my reader as “read” so I could get to the good stuff.

I say “the good stuff” but right now, I don’t even know what that is. I’m in this grey area where one side is begging for me to keep feeding my brain with interaction and geekery and the other is pulling for me to just shut down. I don’t like it.

But, while I’m trying to decompress, a couple takeaways:

  1. Sometimes you just gotta live. I went skydiving on Saturday – against all recommendations that I shouldn’t. Sorry mom. I am very receptive to feedback and I encourage it with open arms and I usually take feedback and just roll with it. Not because I can’t make my own decisions, but usually, the people giving the feedback are way more wise than I am and I’d be stupid not to. On Skydiving Saturday, I did my own thing. And it was fabulous.
    (side note: I’m getting certified this summer if anyone wants to join!)
  2. Passion is different to everyone. If I hear one more person define passion as “breaking the mold” or some other catch phrase, I will seriously lose it. At the end of the day, geeks are passionate. And, anyone can be a geek about anything, it’s not just limited to tech and computers and traditional nerdery. Also, passion is not just about quitting your day job. Hell, passion doesn’t even have to be about your job. I happen to be extremely passionate about my job but I’m also passionate about finding new restaurants, skydiving, sushi, meeting people and creating relationships. Passion isn’t just about going against the grain. It’s turning into a word that makes me cringe, instead of making me jump for joy. So everyone slow down with the way we’re saying passion every other word. Use it appropriately. Please. :)
    (side note – read this and this - spot-freakin-on)
  3. Bringing online relationships offline is (still) THE BEST THING EVER. A lot of people have asked me what SXSW is all about. “So is it just a bunch of panels, and stuff?” Yes, but it’s so much more. It’s going to those panels, and striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to you. It’s skipping a panel and talking with people in the hallway instead. It’s finally being able to meet people in your network that you may have been talking to for days, months, weeks, even years, and having a drink with them, face-to-face. It’s reconnecting with people you met last year. All in all: it’s intense.

Like I said, I have four drafts that are floating around about SXSW – so there will be more to come. Tomorrow will be my first real day to myself to decompress and process everything. I anticipate having a bit more clarity after this weekend – and I’ll be interested to see how that plays out.

Have you ever been to a conference or other event, be it SXSW or something else, that just totally rewired the way you think and approach things? Was it good or bad?

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  • http://www.kristinasmedia.com/ Kristina E. Proctor

    Great post! I've been to several conferences and events, but one sticks out in my mind. I was helping with a 'green summit' and was listening to a panel of high school and junior school students talking about the small things in their homes that they do to help the earth. Some only buy from local markets. a 12 year old learning the responsiblities of grocery shopping?! Another talked about how her family made meal plans around what they had so nothing was wasted (which happens in a household of 7). It was amazing just to see the simplicity behind it all and how it changed my perspective on how easy it is to gain a new and exciting perspective.

    You don't have to have an epiphany moment completly, just a moment of clairty. Sometimes, things are just that simple!

    Great to hear that SXSW was an amazing experince for you. I'm hoping to attend at some point as well.

  • cr8tivejen

    I'm SO in that grey area with you. Each day since I've been home from sxsw has been different — different feelings–different thoughts–different insights etc. I feel like there's something monumental rolling around in my head and its currently just bouncing back and forth! lol.

    Anyhow-Loved skydiving with you. Loved meeting you. Loved connecting with you and the group literally the minute we met. Like you say–sxsw is so much more than panels and discussions. Just like this crazy social media industry, its the people and the conversations that make it real and make you want to continue forward.

    #loveyourface

  • http://doniree.com/ doniree

    YES, to all of this. I haven't written a recap post of any kind yet because I still haven't processed everything. You nailed a lot of it though -the part about passion, and the PEOPLE. It was so great to finally get to meet and hug you in person and share ideas and LEARN from you. And I know what you mean about blog-reading. I also learned a little better how to define myself in the world of blogging – I'm way more of a personal blogger than any kind of career blogger, but Gen Y? I mean, yeah – we all go through different kinds of growth, be it professional or personal. It was awesome to connect with other people who were going through so many relatable and learnable and inspiring things :)

    PS I MISS YOU.

  • http://wageslaverebel.com/2010/01/slavery-of-the-mind/ Mike Siete Cinco

    Hey there, glad to read your thoughts although I get the feeling that you are still processing a lot of your experience.

    I've always liked the way you stuck to your guns (and meant it) about loving your job and not feeling the need to become an entrepreneur, travel the world and do whatever else. It's refreshing and an important point. It not what we do that makes us passionate. It's HOW we do, WHATEVER it is that we do, that makes us passionate.

    No external situation will ever be able to sustain our passion, it will always come from inside ourselves, at least that has been my experience.

    I think I used the word “passion” about 1000 times in this comment and I'm beginning to hate the word myself ;)

  • http://edcabellon.com edcabellon

    GREAT POST!

    Yes :-) My latest post was just about this and musings about trying to get Higher Ed more on board with Social Media integration. I've been to two conferences recently and both made me realize how AWESOME it is to meet those who you tweet with in person… two tweetups later, I'm hooked and even more dedicated to tech and how it just builds the bridge to real life conversation.

    Next March, I'll be in Chicago for a conference and We.Will.Meet. :-)

  • http://www.CornOnTheJob.com/ Rich DeMatteo

    Passion cringing must stop immediately. I'm onboard with this!

  • http://www.CornOnTheJob.com/ Rich DeMatteo

    Hit the wrong button before I could add more!

    I have unfortunately not been to a conference like that, but very shortly I'll be heading to a bunch of HR/recruiting conferences where I may feel something similar to what you experienced. Excited to take it beyond the screen!

  • http://www.lionslinger.com Walter

    Unfortunately, I have never been in an event where it totally rewired my thinking. Although there are certain activities in my life where my thinking was changed. For example, I'm a passive observer of anything. You'll be surprised at the great things you will discover just by observing people and events–you'll witness the manifestation of reality. Another mind-opener for me are books, they can greatly change the way you see things. :-)

  • http://www.lionslinger.com Walter

    Unfortunately, I have never been in an event where it totally rewired my thinking. Although there are certain activities in my life where my thinking was changed. For example, I'm a passive observer of anything. You'll be surprised at the great things you will discover just by observing people and events–you'll witness the manifestation of reality. Another mind-opener for me are books, they can greatly change the way you see things. :-)

  • http://restlesslikeme.com Norcross

    It's a shame we didn't really get to hang out, since you were so popular and tomcating all over town :) . For me, SXSW was strictly about meeting the folks I've already gotten to know, and getting a feel for the overall scene that I've been involved with. But I've never been one for 'passion' or high amounts of energy. Lack of sleep? Perhaps. A general surly attitude? Sure. But it doesn't change the fact that passion creates motivation. It has zero impact on actual skill and talent.

  • http://restlesslikeme.com Norcross

    It's a shame we didn't really get to hang out, since you were so popular and tomcating all over town :) . For me, SXSW was strictly about meeting the folks I've already gotten to know, and getting a feel for the overall scene that I've been involved with. But I've never been one for 'passion' or high amounts of energy. Lack of sleep? Perhaps. A general surly attitude? Sure. But it doesn't change the fact that passion creates motivation. It has zero impact on actual skill and talent.

  • http://restlesslikeme.com Norcross

    It's a shame we didn't really get to hang out, since you were so popular and tomcating all over town :) . For me, SXSW was strictly about meeting the folks I've already gotten to know, and getting a feel for the overall scene that I've been involved with. But I've never been one for 'passion' or high amounts of energy. Lack of sleep? Perhaps. A general surly attitude? Sure. But it doesn't change the fact that passion creates motivation. It has zero impact on actual skill and talent.

  • http://restlesslikeme.com Norcross

    It's a shame we didn't really get to hang out, since you were so popular and tomcating all over town :) . For me, SXSW was strictly about meeting the folks I've already gotten to know, and getting a feel for the overall scene that I've been involved with. But I've never been one for 'passion' or high amounts of energy. Lack of sleep? Perhaps. A general surly attitude? Sure. But it doesn't change the fact that passion creates motivation. It has zero impact on actual skill and talent.

  • Batman

    Impressive. I look forward to all four versions of your blog posts….

  • Batman

    Impressive. I look forward to all four versions of your blog posts….

  • Batman

    Impressive. I look forward to all four versions of your blog posts….

  • Batman

    Impressive. I look forward to all four versions of your blog posts….

  • http://marianlibrarian.com Marian Schembari

    I love your definition of passion. Right on lady!

  • mikediliberto

    Awesome post, doubly so because this was your second trip to SXSW. I had so many experiences that were similar to what you described, and I've related it here to people as a distillation of everything that I view as important in my life. Relationships, entrepreneurship, sharing, and much more.

    A few SXSW veteran friends of mine related to me that I would never have an experience like this again, even when I attend for my second time in 2011. I'm glad to see that you've defied this prediction by once again having a life changing experience your second time around. It makes me look forward to SXSW 2011 even more.

    The question is, can I pull off a “Sydney”, and end up on a panel in my second year of attending. We'll see.

    Mike