It's not very often a defining moment in one's life is captured on film. I'm lucky to say one of mine was. In fact, nothing has been the same since, in the very best way.
Back in 2009 I was just starting my own business Best Tools for Schools. While at a trade show, someone suggested I hop on Twitter to start promoting it. I scoffed at first, but shortly after my first tweet went out, I was hooked. It was an exciting time on Twitter in '09. A relatively new platform, its social nature saw women flocking to it.
It wasn't long before I started to talk to @Sharon_DV (Sharon DeVellis), who introduced me to @yummymummyclub (Erica Ehm). The day this photo was taken, Erica put a message out on Twitter that she was holding a Tweet Up in Ottawa and would love to meet pretty much anyone who would show up at a coffee shop on Bank. Totally normal, right?
I responded I would attend and another woman in Ottawa I was tweeting with said she would join me. Turned out, @KelliDaisy lived mere blocks from me and even though we met for the first time that day, I felt like I was picking up an old friend after all the interaction we'd had on Twitter. While at the coffee shop, I asked Erica if she had anyone writing for her that could speak to re-entering the workforce after staying at home to raise kids. She said, "No; you should do that. Send me a blog."
And this is where I almost died. What on earth had I done? I HAD NEVER WRITTEN ANYTHING BEFORE. EVER. Except diary entries and school essays, I had never written a single thing for public consumption. I sent Erica a post and then immediately wanted to hurl. After four days with no word, I actually sent an email apologizing! Obviously I told myself, I had sent crap and they didn't know how to respond without hurting my feelings. That must be it. So colour me shocked when Erica's response, was "No, WE LOVE IT! We're just trying to come up with name for you." And the rest as they say, is history. Six and half years later I'm still See Mummy Juggle.
Since that fateful day in 2009 my life has been nothing short of spectacular. I am now a travel writer, I have my own blog, I manage #YMCCommunity, I'm manager of Sponsored Social Media at YMC, and yes, I still have my business.
I'd like to take all the credit for the way my life has turned out but I can't. I am where I am today largely because of the incredible women I've met and continue to meet through social media. In 2009, I took a chance and took my online relationships offline and life has never been sweeter.
All of this is to say that social media is a wonderful platform, but only if you truly make it social. Take a leap and meet the people you tweet with. You never know what could happen.
10 Tips for Not Being an A$$hole Online
Printer-friendly version