Slow, small and simple.

I have not been keeping up with my blog posts lately. Beginner’s block, probably. Trying too hard to find a fitting story, making it too big a deal. I assume it happens to all of us. The need to live up to a certain self imposed standard – well, big surprise, it did not work.

So much has been happening in the events world in 2011. I have been running around like crazy to keep up with it all. It used to be checking out a few databases and a few websites besides my day-to-day work, and it became al lot more. Blogs, slideshares, webinars, online events, tweetchats, …almost as if I was leading two lives, a f2f and an online one. So much going on, so many channels to follow. And it was all so worthwhile, so interesting, so inspiring. I felt like my son in a games store… just could not get enough.

Until the cup runneth over.

How much do I actually NEED? Maybe less is more, once again.

So here’s my New Year’s resolution that I will try to apply to everything from now on.  And yes, I can apply it to meetings and events. Especially in a time when we can do virtually everything at any time and place. From now on I will keep it SLOW, SMALL and SIMPLE.

Slow is the magic word. Slow as in “slow cooking” when it comes to trendwatching and writing reports. Taking the time to let ideas grow and mature, and allowing myself to take that time. Let the ingredients mix and give their full flavor before I make up my mind. No rush decisions, no quick analysis. And mind you, I will not become a turtle. I will still get the job done pretty fast. And as a delegate? I will not jump onto all opportunities given to me, will look at the big picture and focus. Set my goals and then find my way. True ROI. So maybe a little less random learning, and a bit more reflecting.

Small in my resolution means delicate, fragile, personal. No big messages out to all, but a person to person message. Staying close to home and close to heart, so to speak. And keeping it focused and true. Maybe I will get it wrong more often, but I will learn more. This is how I hope to interact in events as well. Personal, building relationships. More unconference, less keynotes. Working and learning together. Actually, in that respect small means that I need to share more – a big idea, come to think of it.

Simple is never easy. I tend to give people more than they ask for and this confuses them. It gets the message blurred, unfortunately. I just get carried away .... There is so much good research out there, so many interesting leads to follow, so many topics to discuss. There is always a reason to do a little bit extra. And in a way I can still do that, as long as the output is focused and clear. Hah, it really IS that simple.

Last but not least: keeping it simple is the best way to keep it slow and small, too.

So the next event that I attend will find me focused, attending a prepared selection of sessions, interacting with heart and head. Just having a great time learning and interacting. Can’t wait….

Are we on the same page ?

This week we had a tweetchat with European event professionals. It is a small chat we just started, but already it has given me lots of food for thought.

We were talking about scares for the events industry and @triqle mentioned seeing a “larger and larger 'imagination gap' between tech possibilities & planners”, which triggered something that I have been chewing on for a while. Are we all on the same page when it comes to event technology and social media? Or at least reading the same chapter of the same book? I wonder…

Early October I participated in a meeting with European association executives. During one of the discussion sessions we formed groups to talk about social media.

I was prepared to have in depth discussions about the use of various platforms, tech needed for specific issues, mobile and hybrid solutions, but found myself talking with quite a few associations who were just beginning to find out about new technological possibilities, never saw a tweet and not sure about the impact of a Facebook page. Never had the need for an app for their event, but in a way feeling that they should investigate. What if their members expected this?

Well, they do. Most of them. Soon.

Even though it seems that we are all using roughly the same new technologies (and I am not an early adaptor in most of them), in fact we are not. Planners, associations, exhibitors, event organizers and their visitors all have very different skills and needs when it comes to event technology, mobile platforms and social media.  New segments in visitor needs, new ways to deliver content, a whole new chapter… and a need to see that we are probably not all on the same page.

It is time to address the "information and imagination gap" and start segmenting: I would love to see events where the same content could be custom made to appeal to all delegates: in classic conference setting, in unconference rooms, as a game, online, in an app, streaming… it would be really something if event technology could be tailor made for each delegate: content and community as you like it.

And if you don’t know where to start  find a tech interpreter: the only way to  make sure that to bridge the imagination gap, we should at least be reading the same book. With a sequel, of course.

The tree of life…as in live meetings?

It is autumn again, and leaves are falling from the trees, some boring black and grey, some stunning red and orange. It won’t be long until trees are showing their incredible structures again, bare branches and trunks showing balance and rhythm.

I like bare trees, I always think about a tree like structure when I am working at big projects. What is the main question, what are the side steps, where are the roots of the problem? What is the soil we are working with? How long do we have to grow the tree? What is expected of it? Fruit? Shade? Are we looking for an apple or a pine?  

In a way a tree can be a metaphor for a meeting or trade show, too. Not in the sense of looking at young or mature events, or the product life-cycle, but by looking at a perfect season. See your event as a tree during spring, summer, fall and winter. What does it tell you each season? And what do you need to do to keep it healthy?

I can use our plum tree (beautiful yellow Mirabelle de Nancy) for this. It is our only tree, we have a small back yard. We grew it from scratch and it took years and years before there were any flowers, let alone plums. And then, when it finally decided to flower and bear fruit, it gave us more than we could handle. Enabling us to share its results.

Spring

New leaves are growing. The sap streams are starting a new year in the tree, and it is ready to lose the branches it does not need. The tree has its flowers and looks stunning. When the blossom fades, leaves are growing bigger.

Suppose this is the time of your live event: look at it in full bloom and decide where it needs changes. Use feedback from delegates and visitors, now is the time that they are actually experiencing it. Learn to enjoy your event: the live meeting lasts only a short while..   

Summer

The tree bears fruit, size and sweetness depending on the hours of sunshine. Bad summers result in fewer and smaller plums, but even they provide a harvest. The tree attracts bees and other animals. Leaves are in full shape. Fruits are given to friends and neighbors; they can use them as they want.

This is the ROI time of your event. Your delegates and visitors are back home, and should be feasting on the knowledge and experience you provided, depending on the surroundings they can share them with. And use it in various ways: blending in with their specific work environment or needs.

Fall

The leaves are falling. Sometimes slowly, but often it only takes a few autumn storms to blow all leaves on the grass (of the neighbors house, most likely). The tree gets bare and I see its shape again, after a period of growing and changing. What is different?

Perfect timing to reflect on your event. Do you still like what you see? Where do you need to make changes?  

Winter

When a tree sleeps, it is ready to be moved if there is a need to do so. It can get used to new soil and can endure changes. Also, it is getting itself ready for a new season. Even though the tree might look bare, you can already see the buds of new leaves taking shape.

So anything you want to change, do it now. Perfect timing for behind the scenes work, setting out new strategies, finding new points of view. In winter the year changes, and we are all ready for a new beginning. Ready to get involved in new things, or have energy again to revive old ones.

To enjoy the blossom of a next year.

( of course the fruits of this tree can serve as an example for the year round online presence that supports your event. Preserved as in a video still, to be eaten at any time, be it on bread, in a glass or over ice cream) ...

What can I say. I just like making comparisons... will try something else next time.

Are you ready for “Family” meetings ?

The other night I was reading  about generational studies in events. Organizers and exhibitors trying to cope with Generation Y, trying to encourage them to come to their conferences and exhibitions. Searching for answers to this generation’s abundant use of technology, short attention span, here-and-now mentality, and need for instant gratification. Finding a balance between Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y.

Wait a minute. Where do I recognize this from?

When I look at my personal environment, such as my family, I see all sorts of age groups sharing space, life and interests. What would happen if I use my own family as an inspriration for events?

I know it is not a good idea to bring your work  “back home”, but in this case it might just work.  Not because I like to work from home (sorry family!), but because my home environment can bring inspiration to the workplace.

Take a family birthday a few weeks ago. Remote (phonecalls, emails) and live (parents, children, grandchildren) attendees. If I were to look at it as a “conference specialist” , we had a  main conference, breakout sessions, catering breaks and  a keynote speaker. Attended by  at least 3 different generations, both online and face to face.  

So what made it work?

Know your audience

Make sure you know who to expect at your party! Have plans for all age groups and interests, but remember that they are all coming to the event because of you, the topic, the cause. So don’t overdo your segmentation and leave room for improvisation, unconference. Small groups are pretty good in organizing themselves.

Find common ground

Even though our lifestyles can be very different, we all have someting in common. Our DNA, anyway. And just as in any other community that is formed around a topic,  profession or interest,  you do not get to choose the members. They form the group that shares your interest, and that is a great starting point. Be part of the community, and learn about them.

The young teach the old

New technology can be overwhelming, and use of tech tools changes every month. Let key users, the ones that were born after the birth of the internet,  show you how they use it, and why. It helps to shape an event into a hybrid that all age groups can enjoy, with maybe shorter sessions and more Q&A. And more screen time…

The old teach the young

Learning from stories and experiences is so important. Talking to industry leaders and hearing about both best practices and failures, engaging in Q&A sessions ….. it makes younger attendees connect with the industry’s history, and be part of it. Share an experience. Bond.

Let’s face it: we live with different generations every single day, and  catering for different age groups at events is in our system  anyway. So pick your familiy:  All in the Family, Married with Children,  Modern  Family…  and transform it into a family meeting.

Dare to share ! (and a big THANK YOU)

When I ask my son about stuff at his school, he often doesn’t answer right away. Reluctant to tell his mother the full story, I guess. Not willing to share all discussions he has with his friends and classmates. I understand  that, and unless there is a real problem, this is OK. I do not need to know everything. Let him have his own world.

I am just like him, in a way. Often I try to find my own solution for professional challenges. I can spend hours and hours writing, planning, researching and summarizing. Knowing that I can get the job done. Often not realizing that maybe I can do a better job if I consult a few peers.

However, sharing your story can help. It  helps if you are a 10 year old struggling with a show and tell, but also if you are a meeting planner trying to find new conference formats .

Ask a few questions. Listen to a few different opinions. Share your own views. Dare to share.

Bottom line: if you dare to share your thoughts and ideas, you will benefit. It is that simple. Find listeners in colleagues, industry peers, neighbors, friends…different ears hear the same story in different ways, and will give you a diverse feedback that can help you find solutions you would otherwise not have found. Better still, share with people that you might not even know. To get a fresh view.

Why am I going on about this? Simple.

On October 3rd I will start a weekly chat on Twitter for European event professionals. Inspired by the event professionals community on Twitter, a great bunch of people that showed me that sharing ideas, views, thoughts and challenges in the events industry can be rewarding and inspiring. Can be provocative and scary. Can be hard and confronting. Can be caring and helpful. Can be fun and full of laughs. But always leave behind a few good ideas that can help you.

The chats by groups using hashtags such as #eventprofs, #engage365, #expochat, #assnchat showed me communities that are keen on educating and sharing experiences. Giving insights in events, organizers, exhibitors, venues, delegates, technology, you name it. From day to day routines to global trends. Open discussions, with people giving their opinions freely. No holding back.

Such a great learning experience… so a big THANK YOU is due.

And I hope that maybe we can follow your example.. by providing a platform for European event professionals to share their thoughts. Let’s give it a try. Dare to share! (by the way, #euventprofs will be the thing to look for…)

How would YOU like to feel special ?

This August we were in Italy, with our ten year old son. We were in Tuscany and planned to visit some of the great cities and works of art. I was a bit worried about that. I am a former  art historian and can be in churches and museums all day, but my son likes to run, hike, swim, game, and do all kinds of activities that do not include old buildings (unless there is a tower to climb).

He is a child of the 21^st century, fully online, used to the  internet, You Tube, building games… His school lessons are crammed  with digital images, TV and online quizzes, and I guess it won’t be long until he is on Facebook or something similar.

 But there we were, looking at a beautiful fresco in one of the Sienese churches, and he said: “Is this a famous old picture? Because you know, if this picture is really that special, and this is the only place where you can really see it and almost touch it, and I am the one looking at it, IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL, TOO.”

Wow. Just like that he nailed a key ingredient of the meetings industry for me. Feeling special. I never thought of it from that perspective.

Feeling special. More so, knowing that the encounter you have, looking at a real thing or talking to a real person, or having a real experience, cannot be duplicated in exactly the same way. No matter how many copies you make. It is in the here and now, and totally involves the personal experience of the attendee. An experience, by the way, that does not need to be “original” all the time (which was another key takeaway for me, looking at my son). After all, we all like to do the same thing, sometimes. It does not mean that the experience is less genuine.

So when do your attendees feel special? With a keynote speech and personality  that leaves them with a personal goal and an upbeat attitude? With a balanced meal that gives them brainfood for thought AND a satisfied stomach? With an open discussion that gets their adrenaline going and  truly connects with other attendees? With an app for their event that starts when they leave their front door?

And when do your  hybrid attendees feel special? With a programme inside the physical meeting that allows them an experience that truly connects them? With pop up international Google + hangout discussions  that suit their schedule and timezone? With a virtual emcee that acknowledges their questions and gets the answers?

Making people feel special. Core business for venues, suppliers, planners, exhibitors and organizers. Feeling special inspires involvement, engagement, learning, ROI. Getting the most out of an event.

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The rest of our trip to Italy we sort of alternated between the swimming pool , hikes and works of art. He made numerous photos with his Nintendo DSi and tried to capture all the main sights digitally. In that respect, he did not care about being original himself. And that was OK. The main attraction were the real things, the “live events”. Because they made him feel special.  

A renaissance of meetings

Last week I participated in the wonderful Event Camp Twin Cities 2011 *, and no doubt you will read lots of blogs  about it …well here’s my bit. At last. A huge 4 days later.

(Why so late? A very recent holiday in Italy, with no mobile services or internet on the site where we were staying, made me aware again of the need to reflect. To take my time and chew on a topic. Think. These days I get so many input from so many channels, that it is really hard to form an opinion without being influenced.)

From the remote hills and wildlife of Tuscany to the wired rooms and fast life in the Event Camp pod in Amsterdam was like going from 0 to 100 Mph in less than a second. And yes, I loved the ride on the rollercoaster and I was truly happy to be a part of it. But to be completely honest: I would have loved a ride in a slower vehicle just as much.

This was my second Event Camp Twin Cities: I participated as virtual attendee last year, and was part of the Amsterdam pod this year. So what are my takeaways after two experiences? 

Dare to share – thoughts, visions, technology, formats: without try outs and collaborations they would probably not be as good. Celebrate success and celebrate failure – both help you to find new ways and learn new skills. And build better meetings.

Reach out – if you are part of a remote group within a meeting, it is hard to connect with the main event. Tweets and so on are sent easily, but a real conversation is a challenge. The experience in our group was great because we made our own party, but some of that feeling should have found its way back in the main conference. Hybrid goes both ways, so reach out and make your connection.

Form follows function – to get your content across you can use many types of meeting architecture, formats, technology, games, and so on. But never forget that all are in service to get your message across. If there is too much going on, your message might get lost in the fun.

Smell the roses – take time to reflect and then choose how you want to participate. I got carried away a bit, into the flow, into the game, and missed out on topics and conversations I could have enjoyed more. Taking a break, also during sessions, can help you make better decisions. A conference format should have  a pause button sometimes. 5 minutes reflection to see the big picture again.

In Italy I saw some great “big pictures” – Piazza del Campo in Siena, the frescoes in Arezzo’s San Francesco, the Dome in Florence. One of a kind. Perfect examples of cooperation, vision and innovation.

And even though I cannot compare Event Camp with Italian art, it IS showing us the way to a “renaissance” that I strongly believe in. A renaissance of meetings.

*Eventcamp is a series of innovative events that explore new ways of meetings, hosted in various US cities (and soon in London, on September 9). Groups of people can link online to the event in small groups (pods) or individually (virtual attendees).

Too much of a good thing?

(Setting:  after dinner)

OK, so I am multitasking again. I am typing, sharing some old CD’s with the Ipod, commenting on an ” I Carly” episode that family members are watching,  and chewing on a thought I had during dinner.

It was a really nice dinner: home made fresh pesto, with good pasta, big salad, some sausage that my son loves, a nice wine, olives, bread, good oil, cheese  --- the works. 
I loved every bite. But to be honest, I ate to much.

And I somehow was reminded of a thought I have about trends in events. Like an old fashioned simple dinner, I used to see events as the big meal of the day. That was it. 
I was hungry for  them, enjoyed them, and then had to wait for the next serving, which usually was a while later. Until that time: back to work.

But now the ” 24/7, 365 days a year” thought has taken over. Events use social media, are part of or initiator of communities, talk to me, go hybrid, send webinars, newsletters, online versions, live webcasts, virtual booths, recaps and previews. My calendar of events has grown immensely, and being an online attendee allows me to "travel" to events worldwide easily. The time difference even lets me attend meetings and get in a full day of work at the same time.  And I do love it. Learning, meeting great people online....

But with all the knowledge that I can feast on, it is too much of a good thing – I am not able to eat it all.

How much can I digest?

Hypothetically:  if all events, conferences, trade fairs and  exhibitions  adopt an online presence that involves 24/7 commitment and community-involvement,  then events that used to be complementary in real live, will affect each other online much more than they used to.

What will come out of it? Only a few big live events that thrive on- and off line, or loads of local niche events with smaller groups enjoying them? Will we get small or big dishes? 
 I can't tell but am curious to find out.

In the meantime, I might need an event diet. Suggestions, anyone? 

Grow your own meeting

This spring my son, who is 10 years old,  started with gardening in school:  his class has a plot and they grow all kinds of things:  beetroot, onions, broad beans, fennel, potatoes, garlic – you name it.

A variety of vegetables that is nurtured with care and eaten with joy – even the things he usually avoids. It seems that being in charge of a vegetable makes all the difference. It is mine, I grew it, I will eat it. All of it. It is good stuff.

For a boy who lives in the city, growing his own food is really magical. And I guess it is true: you are much more likely to try new things if you have some influcence over them.  Participate, engage, facilitate, care.

That made me think: doesn't this apply to events as well? Where attendees are able to plant their own seeds, have a say about the content and then take some of that content back home? An event made by audience participation with attendees as stakeholders, owners almost, instead of buyers who can shop in any store. 

Just wondering: how many events are made this way? With true community participation? And more important: a willingness of the organizer to let attendees look after their own specific part of the overall schedule? Trust them to make it work. To water the plants if needed, so to say, harvest them when it is time, and maybe start new varieties.Crowdsource-style. All in the same plot, at the same event. Watch it grow.

When all participants get a sense of ownership,  an event will have a much bigger part in their professional lives. They made it; they will attend it. Organicly grown, sustainable meetings: what more can you ask for?

Maybe a drop of rain, now and then.

Good old fashioned multi-tasking

I do it all the time: talk on the phone, and at the same time answer an e-mail on an entirely different topic. Or listen to a webinar while I am ironing, catching only a few of the slides  

That makes me less productive, I read in articles that say true focus is key. They have a point, maybe. But being able to wonder a bit, to zoom in and out of focus, helps me see things in a better perspective.

How would that work at a conference, I wonder?  Just a thought.

At most conferences, delegates with mobile devices constantly shift focus form mobile screen to keynote speaker, typing while listening, tweeting or checking mail. Nothing new here. But what if that was taken a step further?

Can you see attendants knitting during a keynote? Or husking corn while brainstorming in a breakout session?  They could even cook their meal together. I don’t see why not, to be honest. Merge some social activity into the conference room. Business/leisure, old skool.

As I was writing just now, I started a fruit cobbler which is filling my kitchen with blueberry and cake smells. There is some butter on my Caps Lock and I forgot a few words, but otherwise both activities were truly rewarding. And that is a good feeling – not to mention that I get to eat some of the results.

Five things I learned from design and craftmanship

Back in the 80's I was an art history intern at a great London museum: The Victoria & Albert Museum. My focus was in the applied arts, and I loved being with the furniture department, learning about the way people decorated their homes through the ages, and the craftsmanship that was put in all these objects. Art with a purpose, so to speak. 

The best days, however, were outside the museum, visiting the many stately homes in the greater London area. Every weekend I was at some great building, experiencing a history in objects and stories.

I thought about this the other day, when I was rearranging some of my old books. Now that I am researching exhibitions, conferences and events, can I still learn from studies in architecture and design? Yes I can, and not only because "meeting architecture" and "event design" are part of my scope. Think about it:

-       Every room has a purpose

In stately homes it is easy to find your way. From the entrance to the main room a long corridor shows you a sequence of halls and chambers, each with its own décor. As a visitor you know exactly where you are supposed to go. But it never is boring: there is a logic that still leaves room for surprise and involvement. The folly in the garden, the mirrored room. So how about an exhibition layout? Can it be clear and surprise at the same time?

-       The need of a great architect

Well that’s obvious: a well designed conference, a successful trade show – they need a good architect who can build a gathering  just like a building in wood, stone or any other material. With eye for detail, engaging all involved (builder, painter, carpenter), communicating a clear vision. Including, naturally, his clients. All working together.

-       Add on, but keep identity

Most stately homes have been there for centuries. They saw later additions, were enlarged, had new wings built. Different in style sometimes, but always blending in with the old, original house. To keep them up to date, keep them relevant to the households. Even if a house was only lived in during the summer or winter. Events need that maintenance, too. Adding new (virtual) components, and keeping the brand alive after and before the actual event.

-       Show and tell

The best paintings and statues, the most interesting collections of silver or china, were always on display in the stately homes. Works commissioned by famous artists telling the story of the people that lived there.  A “show and tell” to impress. Events do this all the time. Sharing stories, and engaging an audience – using different platforms or formats. 

-       Partnerships

Most stately homes are situated in large, landscaped parks. Their location was chosen carefully and the surroundings make the houses stand out even more. Dramatic backdrops, sometimes. Great impact. Client, architect and landscape architect working together. Reminds me of collaboration between conference, venue, host city: stakeholders working together, all in their own expertise. Achieving great things when they collaborate.

When they build the best event possible. A special place to be.

Who’s community is it anyway?

Lately I had had a few discussions with friends about communities. A word that seems to be one of the buzzwords. “Old” communities, as in buying addresses and thinking you own them, and “new” communities, as in people on Facebook or Twitter with shared interests and “like’s“. These friends were old friends, by the way, as in before Twitter or Facebook or anything online. Yes, we DID connect before online existed.

Key issue was the sentence: “I have this community”.  

Is that possible? As in a medieval king who owns people?  If not, then no way you have the community. I looked for a definition, finding that a community does not only have a common interest, but also interacts. And oh, it's mostly a free will kind of thing. So even though you know for sure that the people behind your addresses are in fact talking to each other and are a real community, all you have is database, and you're looking for opt in.

So what about events and communities? Does a meeting or a tradeshow own a community? Can organizers and associations speak of “their own” communities? It is a weird idea. And in a time when people chose their connections for more diffuse  reasons and via multiple (online) channels, membership of one specific organization might even mean less than it used to.

But then again, I also  talk about “my communities“, as in “the communities that I am proud to be part of”….    

I do not have it, I engage in it. Community. It is just a sense of belonging.

Comfort zones

I’m always happy when I feel at home. Behind a screen surfing and checking out tweets, on my way to work in Amsterdam riding my bike, or driving from Washington DC to the Shenandoah Valley (routes 66 and 81, via Front Royal). In all cases I know exactly where I am. Not necessarily in the lead all the time, but always in control. Knowing more or less which road I’m on. Expect the expected.

I guess that’s how I have been going to conferences, meetings and trade fairs too. Knowing what to expect, and getting just that. Taking in new ideas, making notes, presenting sessions. Engaging in Q&A with panels, asking and answering, and following the event program. Nothing wrong there, right? Just give me  a schedule and I will find my way. Again, knowing more or less which road I’m on.

In the end this provides me with the ROI needed, but I sometimes wonder: is that all I should be aiming for?

OK. So this week I stepped into another person’s comfort zone: that of my son, seeking thrills and excitement at an amusement park. NOT something that I ever wanted to do as a child, and certainly not something I thought about doing as an adult. But now that he is tall enough for all the rides, it seemed silly to let him do all this stuff by himself. So I sat beside him in the roller coaster …and boy did I know it.

For him, it was bliss. For me it was daring, an experience that involved  loads of adrenaline and feeling completely out of control. However, it also left me feeling great about new stuff and laughing at myself on the rollercoaster picture: slightly anxious, trying to hold on. But full of energy.

Yes, this was an obvious “step out of your comfort zone” lesson. To be applied to life in general, but even more so  professional life, meetings and events, and the research involved in it. So from now on I will try to think about:

·         Getting out of your routine will give you valuable information about yourself AND  your organization -  use it!

·         Let go more – and find out where it leads you

·         Step into the shoes of attendee, exhibitor or organizer: what is THEIR comfort zone?

·         Realize that your comfort zone is someone else’s nightmare (maybe I should stop talking about databases and websites to my colleagues)

·         Disruptive sessions or unexpected changes can bring engagement and fun to events – so why not  to your own day-to-day meetings

·         Volunteer, crowdsource, open up your ‘gated community”  and let in fresh ideas

·         Learn from new (un)conferences, hybrid, meeting architecture ideas – by participating in them

Trick is: not to slip back into my comfort zone right away. I am halfway there already, typing a blog on a Sunday evening. Anyway, I just sent myself some reminders that will start hitting my inbox two months from now. And I asked my son to take me out again – in the fall, I need to catch my breath first. And of course…,there is always a silly picture to remind me.

Under the surface, life is good

I guess it is common knowledge: in The Netherlands a lot of us live below sea level. I was born in Amsterdam, and my life started on a level where fish swim in most parts of the world. I often wondered if that has an impact on you through life. My star sign is  Pisces, by the way, but of course THAT is a coincidence.

Sometimes I wonder whether the Dutch are so tall in general because they have to compensate for their surroundings, and that we all want to be as close to the sun as people that live on mountains and hills. But I am not tall, feel plenty of sunshine and kind of like being so extremely down to earth.

Here, under the surface, there is a community just like any other. But yes, my house is below sea level and the garden where my son grows his school vegetables, used to be a lake. My home town Amsterdam is built on poles to prevent it from sinking even deeper, and we see dykes and dunes as natural parts of our wildlife: a created environment that looks as stunning as the Alps, the Appalachians, you name it.

If you  think about it, life online is also a bit under water. Beneath a flat screen there is a world of knowledge, entertainment, friends and foes that mirror anything you can find in real life. I enjoy that world, too. It allows me to learn, engage, meet new people and find old friends, and to travel to cities all over the world to attend meetings and events. It is a world with no boundaries and no time zones. Real time, real life.

So is that why I enjoy being a researcher, finding stuff that lies below the surface? Digging up material that is hidden so deep that it would take an archeologist to find it in Google or any other search engine? Maybe. But not just that.

The thing for me about research is that I can find all  these little treasures and then give them away. Whatever I find out about people, science, leisure, tech, generations, associations, communities, meetings and events : I pull it out of the water, give it a good look and turn it into something that will hopefully give it a Dutch touch. Literally, since I try to find good events for Amsterdam .

And I love doing that. Nothing more rewarding then seeing  the sharing of ideas and thoughts you helped to accommodate. People from all cultures communicating, learning and doing business. Often with different languages (who speaks Dutch anyway?) but with a common goal. Via new ways of connecting people and old ways of connecting people.

I am happy to be the invisible part of it. Because life under the surface is good.