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Since the beginning of Location 180 back in May, I have met alot of new people. That is one of the biggest unexpected results from beginning the blog. I never anticipated the community that would form around my site, as well as the communities around dozens of other sites out there that I would become a part of. As you all have probably experienced, it is awesome to be able to connect with so many like-minded people, and it would have been nearly impossible if it weren’t for the power of blogging.
Although there is a caveat. 95% of these relationships will always be digital. I will never meet the vast majority of the bloggers that I follow, or the readers who follow me. And many people prefer to keep it that way. While I hope to meet as many of you as possible, the sheer geographics of the situation, show it is tough to do.
I always get slightly nervous when I meet someone from the blogosphere in person, mostly because of the fact that I won’t live up to their idea of who I am. It’s like going to a movie with an awesome trailer, only to find out the movie itself sucks. What if my blog is just an awesome trailer, but personally, I should be relegated to the IMDB Bottom 100?
These days, I have that fear times 100. Not only am I moving across the world to meet up with people that I have never met, but I will be working for one of them as well. It’s the double whammy. It’s one thing not to like me, but it’s totally different if you don’t like me and you are paying me to work for you.
The reality of the situation though, is that usually the fears are unwarranted. Every person I have met, I have genuinely enjoyed the company of, and had a great time getting to know them better. Sure they may secretly still think I am boring as hell, but I at least had a good time!
Another surprise benefit from this blog, were the real life benefits that have come from online relationships. Just look at some of the positive things that have happened in my life due to online connections:
- I was offered (and accepted) part time work helping a well known blogger with some of his affiliate campaigns
- I was accepted for the Tropical MBA internship and will be moving to Thailand
- I have received numerous free copies of excellent informational products for review
- I have built WordPress and HTML skills that I didn’t even realize I had acquired
- I received a free copy of “Escape from Cubicle Nation” from Chris Guillebeau’s meet up back in August. This book was invaluable when it came to preparing myself for a lifestyle shift.
Many of my friends think it is a little weird that I have built such a strong community of friends online. They think it’s even weirder that I am moving across the world to work and travel with one of them. But you know what? Look at how much value has been added to my life solely because of these relationships. My motto these days has been:
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Sure there are some inherent risks with meeting people from the internet in person. But 99.99% of the time, the people I am talking to on the other end are just like me. Looking to add value to their lives, and continue their quest to live a life of purpose.
The next few months will be a case study in transferring an online friendship into a real world, working relationship. So Dan, if you are planning to chop me up and leave in the jungle somewhere, maybe you should just tell me now so I can change my plane ticket!
But seriously, if you aren’t actively pursuing other like-minded people via the internet, I think it is about time you start. Sure you always have to be careful about what you are doing, but you can add a lot of value to your life simply by leaving a blog comment or sending a quick email. You never know where it will take you.
What are your thoughts on meeting online friends in person? Have you had good experiences? Bad? Tell us about them!
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For me, there is always an interesting jump when you have to reconcile somebody’s written voice with their actual one. I only recently started following your blog, you had written “Hypocrite” and “Quit My Job,” and the overall seeking tone of some of your articles didn’t prepare me for the super competent and confident phone manner you have.
Sorry to break down the 4th wall between you and your readers, but I’ve got insider’s info here: On the phone, Sean sounds something like a CEO directing a shareholder’s meeting.
If things don’t work out with the Tropical MBA, you could make a killing in tele-sales!
Thanks for be so open and honest about some of your fears. I think anyone going through such big changes as you’re going through would have some fears. I think that’s a good thing though. It probably means you’re moving in the right direction. It’s when we’re too comfortable that problems occur. We become lazy. We don’t challenge ourselves, etc.
I’m a relatively introverted person myself with a small group of friends, however, I’ve met an absolutely wonderful group of people through blogging and my internet work. While I haven’t met any in person yet, I have been involved in a ‘mastermind group’ which has allowed me to talk to some of them via Skype. It’s kind of scary at first since most people know you as a person on paper, but once you talk to someone in person (or even when you meet them in person) it just reinforces the fact that you connected for a reason. It’s because you share the same passions and life ideals.
All the best to you on your new adventure and job! I look forward to hearing more about it.
If you’re ever in Southeast Virginia, tweet me and we could meet. (I won’t chop you up and leave you in the swamp)
~Tim
I’ve met a lot of people that I connected with through blogging. And 95% of those experience were all amazing. There will be people who you just don’t connect with in real life, but for the most part if you connect online then you will connect in person. It’s pretty cool to meet someone in person who you feel like you already know because of blogging. Usually not awkward at all. I think you will have a great time and meeting people in Thailand won’t be a problem for you at all. Stop being nervous!
My friends think I’m weird for developing online relationships as well – but it’s awesome that we are essentially able to connect with the world’s most like-minded people in this fashion, that otherwise we might have passed on a busy street and never would have known the wiser. Secondly, I do think people note an incongruence in the way I appear in real life versus who I am on e-paper, but those who are surprised are usually the ones that don’t know me very well.
And anytime we happen to be in relative proximity, we should certainly meet up…although unlike Tim I have been known to carry an ax. 
Hey brother,
Good article. I’ve thought about my Online Persona and wondered how closely it matches me in person. I’m sure there’s at least a partial disconnect with all of us.
But every blogger I’ve met in person that’s trying to do what we’re doing has been awesome and I’ve instantly got along with them – shared interests go a long way.
The only bad experience I’ve had from meeting someone online was a Colombian girl I met through couch surfing. And it wasn’t that bad, she was just super negative and hated her country.
Technology is changing the way people interact: including the way they meet. I think a lot of people still associate “meeting people online” with creepy online dating stalkers, but it’s just not the same anymore.
I have my blog here in Brazil, and I became “internet friends” with a fellow American living here. One day, she sent me the email address of the HR guy of an American company that she thought I’d be good for. The job was all telecommuting-based, so I could do it here in Brazil.
Long story short, I got the job, thanks to just talking about my interests in my blog and being friendly with people who emailed me with similar stories and interests. The job pays really well (partly because it pays in dollars and I live in South America) and she was right that it was totally up my alley career-wise.
My grandfather always told me to stay around people that share your interests and passions, and I believe that this networking theory expands to the internet, too.
So don’t feel weird, and good luck with everything!
“I have built Wordpress and HTML skills that I didn’t even realize I had acquired.”
That’s so true. They’re not really hard skills to learn. I started learning when I realized that, crap, I either need to hire someone to build this for me or figure out what all these mean.
So bummed I’m not going to make it to Portland before you leave! When you’re back on this side of the world again (or I get out to that side) we will have to meet up. Until then, perhaps a Skype session? I’m intrigued to hear this CEO voice you have.
Best of luck, as always Sean! You’ve gotten so far so fast and I’m super stoked to see how much further you go!
I’ve had some great blog and tweet-ups in my travels over the last year (a web designer in Romania, a school teacher in Qatar), people I had developed relationships with online first. Always been a great experience. Hopefully you’ll join that list at some point!
I don’t think I’ve met anyone I know online in real life. Do you guys actually think of people you speak to online a friends? Or acquaintances?
It’s amazing how much you have gotten out of blogging so far. I mean, that list is just great. I’ve never met anyone in person whom I’ve met online first, but I’m looking forward to the first time that happens. I keep that in mind a lot when I write, just to ensure there isn’t a separation from real me and blog me. Cool post as usual, Sean.
@Nate It has definitely been a good ride so far! Some time you and I will meet up, I am gonna head out there and we are gonna go to a Blazers/Celtics game, and you will kick our ass haha.
@Neil Many are nothing more than acquaintances, but after many emails and skype conversations, there are a few people out there I would definitely consider friends.
@Alan Absolutely! I have actually met up with a fair number of people in Portland. Apparently it is kind of a hub for outside the box thinkers.
@Kristin Wait, you aren’t coming to PDX anymore?! Tear. A skype session would be fantastic, although you may be disappointed with my CEO voice, that was definitely the first time I heard that comment!
@Joel I found that I didn’t realize how much I had learned until I had to do it for someone else. What was second nature to me, was totally foreign for them. It was actually kind of a cool experience.
@Danielle It is amazing where the connections come from. I think every job I have had has been through good timing, luck, and networking. This most recent offer being the epitome of that. I think being willing to take the next step if you have the opportunity in person, can bring you real friends, as opposed to maybe just acquaintances, as Neil pointed out.
@Derek I am the same way. I have gotten a long with everyone I have met with in person, and I think it is that idea of shared interest that makes it possible. It seems everyone has an interesting couch surfing story, wonder why she hated her country, everyone else seems to love it!
@Ash An ax huh? Why doesn’t that surprise me? You seem to fit that profile, although I may just have to take my chances. I carry a chainsaw, and chainsaw trumps ax any day, so we’re all good!
@Mary The more I have done it, the less nervous I get. It is more exciting than anything else, because usually you are meeting up with people so similar to you. People like that can be hard to find in real life!
@Tim You will be first on my list next time I am in the area!
@Nate Mastermind groups can be a great thing, not only for gaining exposure, but for working with people who have similar goals. It can be pretty cool to see everyone in the groups projects growing at the same time. I also agree, in most cases, after meeting someone it just reinforces the reason you connected in the first place.
@Dan Oh man, telesales, I life long dream! haha, lets hope it doesn’t come to that, I think my CEO persona could be better used elsewhere. Like working with you!
I’ve only recently started blogging and really participating in communities online. For years I’ve been reading blogs, but never commenting on them. The internet really allows us to find people who share the same or similar dreams, even though it might have seemed to us like we were the only ones who had those dreams. The world is a big place, and this is a great equalizer! I need to put more effort into cultivating my online friendships, thanks for the wake up call!
Rather than comment on this post when I first saw it, I decided to put Sean to the test and meet him for a beer in Portland. I was hoping to bring you all back some telling story to validate the slightly nervous fear multiplied by 100.
What. Ev. Er.
I basically have one metric for judging interactions over beer. It’s simple… How much beer was consumed? We only finished two beers each in the two or three hours. By pure beer drinking standards, that’s a failure. But… it’s actually a reflection of doing way more talking than drinking. To me, that indicates good company.
If you have a chance to meet up with Sean, do it.
(and please stop emailing me to ask if he’s hot in person)
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