Awhile ago, Chris at Zeppelin Media took on the daring task of writing 8 random facts... and now, I'll be daring and come up with 8 random facts about myself.  Here they are in no particular order:

1. I know very little about government.  Of course... I think that may be a good thing most times.
2. I'm terrible at scheduling meetings.  I actually double booked twice this week... and it's Tuesday.
3. I try to learn something new everyday.  But if I don't; I'm not too worried about it.
4. It's hard to find me in a bad mood.
5. I make an awesome Mac & Cheese and my tacos, burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas are to die for.
6. I'm a die hard Hawkeye football fan and love the St. Louis Cardinals.
7. My brother used to make me pitch him golf balls and then I would have to go get them after they would put holes in the neighbors siding.
8. In high school, my buddies and I bought an RV with the intent to drive to South Padre Island for Spring Break (without telling our parents).  We made it to Missouri and broke down... a grand total of 47 miles later.

Those are just a few...  I think I could've kept going...

Just when I thought I could get back to my list of posts... I finally figured out how to write about gas prices.  It's not my original thought, but a spot on nonetheless.  Thanks Michael Libbie for letting me laugh off the pain of paying $60 everytime I fill up my E-85 truck!

It takes me back to a post I wrote on making light of situations and turning them into positives.  Apparently, there's nothing anyone can do about the rising cost of gas... so let's take Michael's lead and see who can have the most fun with it.

Mine was figuring out a way to hedge...

Wow.  What an amazing last couple of days.  Has anyone had so much to blog about that they can't get a post out?  Let me tell you what it's like... you have 26 posts left in your biz office from a blog conference, a page of notes in your truck/mobile office, 3 posts at your home office and oh by the way, your feedreader is full of great stuff.

For now, here's one out of the feedreader...  Brett Rogers

If we don't take time to listen; we may miss the real reason we're in the room.  You'll also find that the wealth of knowledge you will gain is often times greater than you ever imagined.  If you get a chance, check out The Big Dream Gathering website.  They're uploading videos and posting dreams.  Listen to them and see what you can help create.   

I had a chance to talk with Liz Strauss in Chicago a couple days ago.  I told Hannah that it was amazing how she knew exactly who I was and what I stand for just by reading my blog.  Liz blogs on thinking, writing and business ideas.  I recommend checking out her blog and starting a conversation.  You're gauranteed to start thinking...

Recently, she posted a comment on my last post... it's funny because she was next on my list of SOBCon posts...  very timely!  Here is her comment...

It's more than WHO you know . . .

It's WHO knows WHAT YOU know. :)

Now if that doesn't make you think, I don't know what will.  She brings up an excellent topic for conversation.  Here's my interpretation:

In many ways, the next level of networking/connectivity is ensuring that people think of you (or put you on the short list) when the subject of your business is brought up in conversation.  It's great to know people and it is relationships that will ultimately grow you personally/professionally, but if they don't know what you know... your connections may not be adding maximum value to both parties involved in the relationship.  In many ways it allows you to create networking economies of scale (a future post in itself)

That's my condensed interpretation.  I'm very interested in what others may take from Liz's comment.  It could go in many directions. 

For quite awhile now, I've been blogging and heard about the great things blogging can do.  And for the first time, last weekend at SOBCon... it hit me.  At the risk of sounding "out there" I'm going to give a description of what it is like sitting in a room of people that are so highly connected it'll make your head spin.

For 2 1/2 years now, I've been preaching connectivity.  More specifically, I've been preaching that in the Midwest, in order to operate a business successfully in today's world... you HAVE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.  It's not capital, it's people.  It's intellectual property.  Once you have that... and can demonstrate market demand... capital will chase you.

The SOBCon showed me how flat the world is.  I didn't necessarily believe that before this event.  But I believe the world is flat in the sense that we have access to resources... we have to put it upon ourselves to catch up with the SPEED of our flat world.  We're all on a level playing field, but some of us make the internal connections quicker than others.  Therefore, some of us can apply those connections to their business models faster than others.  Neither is bad, but the faster you move, the faster you have a shot at becoming the consolidator of an industry. 

I had conversations with people from all over North America.  It was unbelievable to observe the different check points in the operating business world.  For some, strategic connections were "like, so totally 80's"  for others it gave them insight into a world of systematic connectivity that creates growth areas that weren't so readily apparent.

I highly recommend attending conferences all over the US and for that matter... all over the globe.  The wealth of knowledge... more specifically... the wealth of recognition you will receive pays for itself.