Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

I heart Twitter.

I joined Twitter 686 days ago and will soon be celebrating two years of Twitterhood.  I love it madly.  I do not think that Twitter is for everyone, but if you “do not get Twitter”, I think that you need to spend some time there in order to fully understand it before you make decisions about.  I am a Twitter advocate, but even more than that I am an advocate of informed decision making about Twitter.  I do not think you can really understand it without spending some time there.

I got on Twitter not knowing what it was all about and not knowing what to do…just like pretty much everyone else does.

After observing for a bit, I started interacting with people and following people that were of interest to me.  And things started to happen.  For example…

I got to know Maren Hogan.  Interestingly enough Maren Hogan lives within walking distance of my house…we are neighbors…but it was Twitter that brought us together.  I might go so far as to even say that Maren and I are friends now, and she is a good follow, regardless of what line of work you are in.  She is real and friendly and helpful and who doesn’t need some more of that in their life?  Maren and I have now presented together, had falafel and curry together and will probably continue to do so. 

As Maren and I started to get to know each other on Twitter and she came to understand that most of my work was related to issues of Diversity and Inclusion, she asked if I knew Patti Digh, because she had gotten to know Patti a bit through Twitter.  I was actually a fan of Patti’s work, I had been reading her blog for a while and had seen her present at a diversity conference in Los Angeles, so I was excited to connect with her on Twitter. We interact on Twitter (Patti is another one of my absolute favorites and I recommend that everyone follow her), we have spoken on the phone and Patti almost ended up in Omaha this past summer for falafel, but it did not happen…I have a feeling that it will happen eventually though.

Maren also suggested that I connect with Susan Burns, so I did.  We eventually ended up having the first of several phone conversations and Susan was kind of a big part of my life in 2009.  When I was trying to plan a short get away for my wife and I, Susan (on Twitter) recommended Captiva/Sanibel ..and in early 2009 my wife and I spent several relaxing days on Captiva/Sanibel.  Susan also suggested that I think about writing someting for ERE focused on Diversity and Inclusion.  Shortly after that conversation I got an e-mail from Todd Raphael at ERE asking if I wanted to write something focused on Diversity and Inclusion.  It took me a while to get it put together, but I wrote a post for ERE and they also published one of my longer pieces in the Corporate Recruiting Leadership Journal.  Susan also suggested I write a white paper on Diversity and Inclusion for the Future of Talent Institute, which I was happy to do and they also ended up sponsoring a webinar connected to the white paper.  Susan also invited me to participate in Talent Camp this past year where I got to rub my brain up against some really big brains and got to actually meet not only Susan Burns, but Franny Oxford, Lance Haun, Suzy Tonini, Shauna Moerke and other cool Twitter folks.  All of that stuff started with Twitter…and Maren Hogan.

I also developed a relationship early on with Linda Goin on Twitter.  Linda is (you guessed it) another of my favorites and we hit it off pretty quickly.  Linda was organizing a social media conference in Virginia in early 2009 and ended up asking me to provide a keynote message at that conference, which I was tickled to do.  Linda is another kindred spirit and I think we will stay in touch for a long time to come.  Since I was traveling to Virginia to speak at the social media conference, I thought I would do a couple of my Diversity and Inclusion workshops while I was in the area, and I scheduled workshops in Richmond and Charlottesville.  Jamie Notter, who I had been interacting with on Twitter for a while ended up coming to my workshop in Charlottesville and bringing Maddie Grant with him…and thank goodness, because I think there werely only 3 other people signed up for that workshop!  Jamie is one of my virtual brothers and it was a treat to meet him in person and to meet Maddie.  I consider both of their blogs must reads.  I did not know any of these people before Twitter.

I also got invited to provide a 3 hour workshop for the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana in 2009 because of relationships that started on Twitter.  I now travel to Indianapolis on a regular basis for business that is a result of that workshop. 

I got to know Jason Seiden, who decided to send me a copy of his book, which I love. Twitter did that. 

I stay connected with Angie Eikenberry who recommended a new pediatrician for us..who we love. 

I developed a relationship with Little Brown Publishing who sent me a copy of Outliers before it was out. 

I have developed really valuable relationshiops with Eric Peterson and other Diversity and Inclusion leaders.

I have developed a relationship with Nilofer Merchant who I adore and who sent me her book, which I love, before it was out. 

I have developed a relationship with Ben Stone, who is another one of my virtual brothers and I am going to be conducting a Diversity and Inclusion workshop next week for his SHRM chapter and Ben and I are likely going to be friends for a long time to come. 

I have developed friendships with Fran Melmed, Mary Schaefer, Jim Canto, Mary Nations and Amri Johnson and a ton of other people doing really cool work. 

I have found wonderful bloggers like Rosetta Thurman (passionate, creative, inspirational, amazing, real, courageous), poets like Dirk Johnson, who notice when I am gone, farmer/photographers like Jess Johnson, activists, advocates and artists…a lot of people that inspire me, entertain me, challenge me and infuriate me.

All on Twitter.

I could go on and on, this is the tip of the iceberg.

You will never understand twitter by reading a book or a blog post about it.  You have to do it.  Go there, pay attention, follow interesting people and let good things start happening.  

Be good to each other.