Why participate in REBarCamp? One word: Relationships.

I was searching to figure out WHAT my topic for this blog post was going to be… What could I share with you, dearest reader, that would inspire you to participate in the upcoming RE BarCamp in Seattle… as well as the various events surrounding this blockbuster adventure? 

Hmmm… let’s see… should it be the passion the committee puts into planning it for you?  How about the organic, yet intentionally designed schedule you will experience? Maybe the amazing real world knowledge/education you are guaranteed to gather?   How about all of the FUN the participants have choosing the topics… things like “The Art of Poking”?  

Nope.

When it came right down to it – the answer was right in front of me – on my screen.  Okay, screens.  My TV, laptop, iPhone, and my iPad screens were ALL shouting at me, “Talk about your online inner circle… the council you reach out to when you have an idea, question or hit a wall… the ‘I have no idea HOW I survived without you in my world’ peeps… YES!  Share about those people who inspire you to reach for things you never thought possible.”

To be clear, it all started when I was in grade school… and I met my first “on screen” pals: Andie, Blane, and Duckie. If you are a John Hughes fan, you KNOW of whom I speak here – no pix or links required. 

These ‘friends’ taught me not to let ‘social rules’ determine my destiny. To reach for what I wanted – regardless of which side of the tracks I resided. There were no limits to what I could experience or achieve.

Now, fast forward (literally, if you still have it on VHS) to today.

I am truly amazed when reviewing the fabulous relationships in my world… many formed over the last couple of years!  They would NOT EXIST if it were not for epic events like #rebcsea, Inman’s Agent REBoot in Seattle/Portland, and other amazing industry events – like the upcoming NW Video Marketing Summit on 3/2/11… hosted by Frank Garay & Brian Stevens, the dynamic duo of the TBWS Daily Show!  If you participated in the 2010 #rebcsea… you may have met these two there!  BTW – they recently made Inman’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate list for 2010!

IRL (in real life) events like #rebcsea mobilize the mind-boggling knowledge and power of our community… and ignite relationships with people you and I would likely have never met.

After attending such events, I humbly, yet proudly call Rhonda Porter, Dale Chumbley, Nick Church, Rene Fabre, Scott Thomas, Mike Mueller, Chris Smith, Rich Jacobson, Michael McClure, Nicole Nicolay, Darin Persigner, Teri Conrad, Jason Hillard, Kelley Skar, Stephanie Dawson, Natalie Danielson… and many others “friend”.  Our promise to one another: Strive to LEAD one another. Humbly FOLLOW each other.  Or we, as my marvelous collaborator in all things ‘illumination” Linda Aaron says “Get Out Of The Way” and let progress continue until we are ready and able to ride the wave!  (By the way, besides my CBBain colleague, Linda… I met ALL of these amazing people “online” before I met them IRL!)

Simply put… I don’t think RElationships matter, I KNOW they matter.   This is a relationship business, after all.

RE BarCampSEA always reshapes and recharges me… and I am so excited to meet and greet new peeps this year!  Will one of them be you?  I hope so.  If you are READY to REignite, REfresh, and REnew YOUR relationships with your peer sphere, SEEK out  and nurture NEW ones - all while collaborating and participating with some of the best minds (green and guru) in our industry…

RSVP. Right now. Period.
*poke*

Thanks for reading!
~Debra
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