Arun Rajagopal

Interesting Conversations from Blogger Social’08-7 April 25, 2008

CK GREETS ARUN, originally uploaded by ck.epiphany.

This is the final post in my series of posts celebrating Blogger Social’08. In this post, I want to talk about 3 special people who mean the world to me and who I got to meet for the first time ever at the event.

A lot of people who attended Blogger Social’08 have told us that the above photo of CK hugging me on meeting me for the first time is a visual treasure that best encapsulates the essence of the Blogger Social and something even bigger!

How true! My friendship with CK is going to be a year old in a few weeks from now. It was her mother (God bless her soul!) that brought us together (a comment I made about departed souls watching over us as stars in the sky caught CK’s heart and marked the beginning of our friendship). A year later, when my mother passed away, CK was there as a rock of strength, reminding me of my own allusion that departed souls are with us, proudly watching over us as stars in the night sky, and hence not to lose hope.

CK has been an angel for me, always offering kindly support, appreciation and encouragement. I can go on and on about how blessed her heart is and how she has been this role model I look up to. I’m sure there are countless people out there in the blogosphere who have been inspired by her and who consider her an angel like I do.

For me, the greatest thing about her is her ability to inspire you to move mountains. For example, my trip to New York. It’s a trip that I thought I would never make. Initially, the trip wasn’t even on my radar because I thought: Hey, me going to New York??? Are you kidding me? How am I going to make it? What about the money, and then the visa?

It took a simple nudge from her for me to realize you can’t get things unless you even wish for them. Once I made a decision to travel to the US in April, there came other unavoidable emergencies. The first few months of 2008 threw every possible challenge in the book at me – a new job, frequent travel to India, the passing away of my mother, lots of family pressures, financial constraints… so much, that several nights I lost sleep stressing if I could it make it in April.

To make matters worse, there was some delay in processing my employment visa in Oman, and it took things to the wire. I couldn’t travel unless that was sorted out. Finally everything worked out in the last possible minute – I got my employment visa sorted out a day before my cut-off date to apply for a US visa to arrive in time for the event. I think I literally ran from the US Embassy to the airport to catch the flight to New York. CK was in the midst of all the madness I went through reassuring me that her prayers were with me and I would make it as we were meant to meet.

The entire weekend, I remember telling her – CK, I still can’t believe I’m here, this feels like a dream. And she would be like: I understand. You will only feel that you were here once you get back home.

The entire trip, the whole event and my meeting with CK – I consider it nothing short of a blessing & miracle. I think most of the time I was in shock – the joy of meeting all those people I really wanted to meet and then my disbelief in all that was happening around me. I sometimes wonder how I made it – and that’s when I know that the gentle nudges, prayers, faith and support a friend like CK gives you can move mountains for you and just get you going!

Drew & CK, originally uploaded by ck.epiphany.

Another person who I had the pleasure of meeting at Blogger Social was Drew McLellan. Drew, CK & their army of mighty elves moved a lot of mighty mountains to bring us an event that was so magnificent and magical.

Drew’s and Gavin’s collaboration on the first edition of ‘The Age of Conversation’ introduced me to a community of bloggers who care and share. The book not only opened a lot of avenues for me in Oman, but also helped me make a lot of friends from around the world, most of whom I had the good fortune of meeting in New York.

Sometimes the sign of greatness is that it creates a spillover effect of so much goodness that benefits people in many mysterious, yet positive ways. Drew’s leadership, both in directing the success of the book and the event, has benefited me, personally and professionally. It’s made me so much richer in soul and spirit, and I couldn’t be happier! Thank you, Drew, for everything you do to keep us stronger and closer as a community!

Luc and Arun, originally uploaded by ck.epiphany.

The last gem of this post is my good friend Luc Debaisiuex. Again, our friendship is going to be a year old. Meeting Luc at New York was one of the finest, most exciting experiences of my life. It’s hard to explain why and so – but Luc is someone I so look up to and consider him a friend, family, guide, mentor and so much more. We enjoyed some beautiful conversations that weekend. He’s somebody who is very encouraging and motivating and can bring a smile on your face with his very endearing nature. He’s somebody who transmits tremendous positive energy and goodwill through his conversations. Thank you Luc, for being there and I wish you the best in all your endeavours. It’s great to have you with us!

Indeed, if life is a journey that leads to meeting fine people and unforgettable experiences, New York in the weekend of April 4-6, 2008 brought together some of the finest people and greatest experiences of my life, ever.

Arun & CK, originally uploaded by Moda di Magno.

Interesting Conversations from Blogger Social’08-6 April 24, 2008

Anna Farmery and Heather Gorange, originally uploaded by marilynpratt.

Till Blogger Social, Ryan Karpeles was a blogger I really looked up to. And after BS, he’s a friend I look up to. I’m an avid follower of his work, since this particular post, where he thanked his social media teachers and friends. Needless to say, I’m really in awe with a person who is so simple yet powerful with his thinking and expression. And is so unassuming at that.

I said hello to Jennifer Laycock as we were all winding up BS. I did tell her that I love the “other blog”. She told me that it was a sentiment echoed by a lot of other people.

Where is Neil Vineberg? Where is Neil Vineberg? I think I pestered CK enough till Neil made a grand entry at the dinner. It was great fun to finally meet him and say hello.

I had a super-swell time with Anna Farmery & Heather Gorringe. OK, I’ll let you in on a lil’ Blogger Social secret – I’d been dying to meet up with Heather ever since I worked on her profile. So Blogger Social comes and Heather is there on all days, including the unofficial pre-event mixer at the Bookmarks Lounge, so I keep bumping into Heather everywhere and I think* it’s someone else and so I go about my way. So on dinner night, I sit at a table where Anna and Heather are seated and I tell Anna: Blogger Social is almost over and I haven’t yet got to meet Heather. And Heather just gives me a look that says, “Who the hell do you think this is?” and Anna just frowns and she is like – This is Heather Gorringe. And I go… Noooo! No wayyyy!!! (A big boo-boo moment!!!) And next thing that happens is Heather diving into her bag and fishing out a name tag with a victorious glee and I’m like: Holy Cowwww. And I was like so shocked, lost for words. And then we had like a great chat. (Even got to show the ladies a dance move – which I kind of think now as goofy. Lol.)

*I know – that’s so very ‘smart’ of me.

I really missed Marianne Richmond. She helped us out with creating that huge Blogger Social profiles packet and I was so looking forward to meeting her, especially after CK let me in on the fact that she has an amazing sense of humor. Hope to meet you soon, Marianne, Insha’allah (Arabic expression for God Willing!)

Conversation Conductor Mike Sansone was another person I missed at the event. Hope to meet you soon Mike!

Here are a couple of people I wished I could spend more time with at Blogger Social’08. I distinctly recollect saying hello to at least some of them, and connecting with them with at a deeper level is something I’m aiming for at the next Blogger Social. The least I can do now is say an online Hola right away to:

Doug Meacham Paul McEnany Gene DeWitt Kris Hoet Seni Thomas Paul Dunay Chris Kieff Tara Anderson Roberta Rosenberg Saul Colt Mike Arauz Matthew Bailey John Rosen Cathleen Rittereiser Tamar Weinberg Rita Perea Matthew McDonald Kaitlyn Wilkins Jennifer Berk Jane Quigley John Wall Kevin Horne Virginia Miracle David Polinchock Terry Starbucker

Conversations from Blogger Social’08 will continue… got 3 more people to talk about! Watch this space…

Interesting Conversations from Blogger Social’08-5 April 24, 2008

Tim Brunelle, Joe Kutchera & Marshall Sponder, originally uploaded by ck.epiphany.

Blogger Social 2008, originally uploaded by Matt Dickman.

It was great meeting Steve Woodruff & Curious George. Steve’s a quiet person, but that doesn’t mean he is less affable. It was such a pleasure meeting a person who is so passionate about our community without being so vocal about it.

Tangerine Toad & Tim Brunelle: TT and Tim are two icons I look up to when it comes to my work. So it was nice to hear a lot of interesting things about advertising, social media, work and life in general straight from the horses themselves. At the dinner, Tim was like c’mon boy; let’s go meet people out there and I tagged along. I like the man’s spirit, he knows how to have a ball and then get away with it. Real heroes, both of them.

Kristin Gorski came, saw and conquered in the 1-minute we got to say hi. I find her a very prolific writer and I was so looking forward to meeting her. In real life, she’s simply more awesome.

I had a good time chatting with CeCe Lee Salomon and her hubby Gregg at the Perfect Pint. They were the perfect couple that served as my ice-breaker to the event.

Darryl Ohrt told us (Mark Goren & I) about the ‘scar’ over drinks. Darryl’s such a chilled-out dude.

David Armano. Kick me somebody, oh, somebody just kick me. The whole wide blogosphere knows how David has gripped the bull called social media by its horns and is riding on its back. I feel like an opportunity lost that I missed out in saying hi to him, especially when he was all over the place with his cowboy hat. May be I felt so awed that I couldn’t walk up to him. I so admire his work and the way he is involved with social media. And if he’s reading this, he will know he’s got a fan in Oman.

Hah! Tim McHale! The Man. I went so ga-ga over him the first time I met him, I think I almost embarrassed him. Why not, after all, he’s the guy who’s helped set up Tribal DDB. He shared with us a lot of his war stories, specially why DDB picked Tribal as its nom for the digital shop and how the interactive landscape was then back in the days. Quite the cat!

Joe Kutchera has promised me to be my guide if I ever decide to move down to the States. He would know best, especially with his work that takes him outside the country. God bless his soul! Joe, it was so much fun meeting you and looking forward to the next time. (Now I know, what a ‘daily joe’ means!)

I met Paul Soldera on the pier after the boat ride and we had a good time talking about our geographical background and favourite sport (cricket)!!! He was very excited about social media bringing people together from across the globe. Too bad he couldn’t spend much time with us.

Todd Andrlik is a very mellow, gentle soul (and really tall, like Ryan wrote in her Blogger Social memoirs). He is fond of collecting antique, special edition newspapers and was kind enough to gift me a copy of one treasured, antique piece. And I learnt from him about this unique, hand written newspaper that is published from India. Todd was frequently mobbed by bloggers who wanted him to jumpstart their Power 150 rankings. I’d personally like to be on that chart some day, some where on the top! Todd captured a very interesting video where he asked Blogger Socialites what they liked the most about blogging. My response was: INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS.