Wednesday, January 31, 2007

So far from the Valley (Silicon, that is)

Being so far away from Silicon Valley makes it hard to network out. It's a shame that some people won't network with someone solely based on the fact that they aren't in the "Valley" and can't make it to every tech conference for a face-to-face conversation... I've met some really cool people over the internet that I would consider to be "friends", even without ever meeting them. Talking via e-mail, AIM, or the phone is simply enough for me... In the age of telecommunication, does face-to-face conversations really matter all that much?

I'm not talking about an A-list celebrity or even a well known individual... It's usually the people who flaunt their LinkedIn profile with +500 connections but can't add someone because they haven't sat down and had coffee at the local Startbucks. I'm sorry, but I would never meet a random person without at least connecting with them at some level, be it phone, e-mail, or blogs.

I guess the world will remain small for some people... It really is a shame.

EDIT: I just want to add that this isn't directed towards anyone in particular... This is a general rant about the problems of connecting to people far away. If you live outside the Valley, you know what I mean.

2 comments:

Amateur Belly Dance.com said...

You definitely need a face to face meeting to close the deal. It is very important.

I read an article saying how people who telecommute to work don't get promoted as often compare to people who physically show up to work.

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Robert said...

In the context I'm speaking of, there really isn't a "deal" to close. I'm talking about the simple "get-to-know-someone" which usually precedes any sort of meeting.

In my opinion, communication should come before the "meeting". There should at least be some sort of objective; you should know the person at least a little bit.