Tim Bursch

I read this post by Jen Kane and have been thinking about it ever since. She brings up some great points and as usual challenges us to action.

So, here’s my idea: start small mastermind groups of people that are interested in going deeper.

Let’s talk about metrics and ROI. Let’s figure out action steps too. And let’s support each other and share ideas.

A few challenges with starting mastermind groups:

- Trust is needed in order to let a small group of people give you feedback and learn together.

- Time is needed. Who has time for another meeting? There’s work to do, but this would be a commitment to going pro.

- Logistics need to be figured out. Where, when, and what if people don’t show? All good questions.

There’s not an institution to go learn social media from, yet. If we want 201 learning, we will have to make it happen.

So, who’s interested in a mastermind group?

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I was invited to coffee today with Jared Roy. We’d met online and had some conversation, but not face-to-face. Jared invites me and mentions a few other people will be there.

I have to admit my first response was okay, why do we need other people there? Then I thought more and realized this is genius. He just expanded all of our connections. I met 3 new people in one meeting, learned about their work, and started valuable new relationships. Jared added to THE network.

There is no question, we all need connections. Want more? Bring more people to the table. Literally.

Thank you Jared for your generosity and for challenging me.

What could you do for your next meeting?

Want to connect, just contact me. (I’ll be bringing more people.)

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I had the privilege to be part of KaneCo’s first monthly business book club. The book: Linchpin by Seth Godin. The group: all rockstars.

We had a lively discussion about work, being remarkable, and bucking the system. The book was good, but I think what Jen is building is even more interesting. She wanted to read more, connect with business leaders, and learn. I think she’s building community. Taking things deeper. Bringing others into learning together.

Okay, why not just have coffee with your friends and talk about a book you read last month? That works. You could just read great books in isolation too. You might miss a piece that someone different caught.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m in a good book I want to talk about it. I share pieces with friends and my patient wife. And it’s more than just being about a book. It is being open and transformed and learning. I think we all want more community. We are wired for connection as Seth says.

So, here’s my question for you: What is something you are practicing (reading, writing, blogging) that you could invite others into?

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This is a guest post by Josh Becerra. Josh is a social entrepreneur and internet start-up guy. He is the co-founder of localtweeps.com and buythechange.com. Josh is also part of a Minneapolis Co-working space called The 3rd Place. Check it out. You can follow him on Twitter @joshbecerra.

Today I was sitting in my neighborhood coffee shop as my neighbors filed in to get their cup of Joe before heading into the office. What amazed me is how everyone standing around waiting for their order was glued to their phone. They were probably checking email, reading the morning news, updating their status on Facebook or Twitter, or becoming “Mayor of Lori’s Coffeehouse” on Foursquare.  Nobody was actually talking on their phone…they were just mesmerized by the glow.

This got me thinking about how these days my Twitter stream and Google Reader is filled with research, reports and studies where analysts identify the top trends for 2010. Buzz words like “Hyperlocal”, “Interactive Local Media”, “Mobile Local Media” seem to be on everyone’s top trends list – and rightly so.  Location and geo-targeted advertising has been an elusive revenue stream. But the mix of technology, usage and advertiser trends is pushing the pace of change. Today I can walk down the street with my smart phone in hand and know what businesses are around me, who has something on sale and who is offering coupons.  Using the same technology I have the ability to geo-target my friends so I can always keep track of the people I know.  So what about the people I don’t know – but might want to get to know better – my neighbors?

It seems most people think about hyperlocal in the context of “an individual’s relationship to the people, places, and things that are located around them at any given time via geo-targeting.” So here are my questions:

Is there room for a second definition of hyperlocal as “an individual’s relationship to their neighbors and neighborhood?

And does anyone else care besides me?

Update: Correction- The 3rd Place is in St. Paul, MN

Tags: hyperlocal.

It is that time of year when a lot of us make resolutions and goals for the new year. I know I do.

Here’s a thought: Why do we focus mostly on personal goals?

What about community based goals or resolutions? Have you ever thought of creating a goal with your community? Yeah, me neither.

Here’s the deal. I think there might be some power in collective resolutions. Let’s say you are part of a industry community. You share ideas, network, help each other get better at your business. What could your group (community) impact this year? If you were spending some of your goal-energy working with other people on a bigger goal, don’t you think you would grow…and everyone in the group.

So, what communities are you part of? Why not start a group resolution this year?

Image by: urban_data

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If you are like me you are working on several projects at once. What happens if you get sick or have an emergency? Who will cover for you?

To keep with the village analogy here … if you’re a baker who covers you when you have a sick kid? I bet he or she has friends and shop owners nearby to help out. What about when the merchant gets a huge delivery in the middle of a busy day? The village probably stepped in to help unload.

What about business today? Every person for themselves? How could we be more open to community? I’d like to hope we’d look out for people around us. A village was a place where craftsmen and women had each other’s backs. How could this play out today? How could we use these digital tools and networks to watch out for each other and intentionally collaborate.

Who do you have looking out for you and your business?

Tags: village.

1. It’s all about people. That’s why I go to meet-ups, conferences, and networking events. Relationships.

2. Be real. Whatever you are selling or doing online, be real. You can’t fake it anymore.

3. Discussion is better than presentation. Some people invite conversation and others just share their information. Seems like more people stick around for open conversation.

4. Diversity rocks. Meeting new people, seeing a variety of generations, sharing very different ideas, all in one place.

5. Have fun! Don’t take all of this social media stuff too seriously. Life is hard sometimes, so have some fun with the people around you.

Find out more info here on Unsummit.

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Where do you experience support, acceptance, and protection?
With the new tools of communication today we can be connected 24/7. We can learn about our friends day, without a face-to-face conversation through status updates or tweets or blog posts.

I think community is grounded in face-to-face relationships. But I think something is happening to where we experience community. Maybe expanding community. I think it’s more fluid and dynamic. It’s not just in your living room or the pub. It happens on the fly.

Where do you find community?

Also in this series on Dynamic Community: Who is Your Community?

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Okay, so you have friends that you hang out with. You have friends online. People at work. People in your neighborhood.
Is this your community?

I’ve been asking this question to myself for a long time. For me at the end of the day it would be friends that have my back and hopefully a few people that get me. I would define it as group of people that:
-share life
-are open and transparent
-accept and support each other
-help each individual fly

What would you add? Who do you define as your community?

(Watch for more in this series on DYNAMIC COMMUNITY)

Image credit: brian glanz

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