If you organise it, they will come. And they did, from far and wide…representing recruiting, HR, technology, job boards, branding, marketing and many other disciplines. Some had laptops, some had smartphones, some had cameras, and all had a lot of ideas and passion.
I met loads of great people today, and there were plenty more that I didn’t get time to talk to. Hope to put that right tomorrow.
So exciting to put faces to names, personalities to tweets. And for me, Twitter is what today was all about. Without Twitter there wouldn’t be a TruLondon and I wouldn’t have met so many great people. I know them all from Twitter, and whilst they all feel like friends and contacts, you can’t beat meeting in person. Real face time.
As for today, it was by turns chaotic and thought-provoking, disorganised and inspiring…exactly what an UNconference should be!
I talked candidate experience.
I talked job boards.
I talked Gen Y (when do we not!)
I talked blogging.
I talked employer and employee branding.
I talked social learning.
And I met loads of intelligent, fascinating and inspiring people!
I was called a rockstar!
I was called enigmatic!
I was told I was talking BS on HR Happy Hour!
I was shouted down for making a ‘political rant’ in the Gen Y debate!
And I didn’t mind one bit!
And that’s not all…
I popped out at lunchtime and had coffee with 2 Twitter buddies, one of whom I’d never met before…she happened to be in Central London today.
This evening I went to a gig with three friends that I first met through Twitter. Turns out we all liked the same band. Midlake – an evening of glorious, cosmic country folk from Denton, Texas.
February 18th 2010 – a day when I did so much with so many people, all of whom I met through Twitter.
Friends tell me that they don’t ‘get’ Twitter. They don’t have the time and they don’t see the point. They’ve got enough friends and contacts without spending time online meeting new ones.
They’re wrong…
They should have spent today with me!
Talent Trends & Insights 
Reading this made me re-think my decision to stay home, and to think I’d won a free admission ticket. Oh, I miss all of you terribly. I am so sorry I didn’t just drop everything, hop on a plane, and be a part of TruLondon. On the other hand, I’m doing great work here. I love my new job, and I’m having a ball in Cincinnati. I just wish I could clone myself-1 part here, 1-part there. Tip of the glass, and cheers to all of you.
Huge hugs.
Your twitter pal,
@HRMargo
Great post Mervyn! For the record, I was the one that gave you the enigmatic title and you were a great sport about it.
It was great to meet you and hope to see you again soon.