bloggers and business cards

Last Saturday I did something crazy.  I went to a speed-mentoring event for all OKC bloggers.

(Sorry if you were expecting something crazier.  I don't get out much.)

My friend, Reese, informed me of this event that would be put on by Engage OKC.  Experienced bloggers would be there to share tips on how to make your blog better, grow your readership, etc.

I knew that I should do this.  I had just written a post on loving to write and wanting to put more time into my blog.  So I emailed my RSVP.

I didn't know any of these people/bloggers, I had never stepped foot in the downtown library, and I was just plain scared.  It was like the first day of school.  Who am I going to talk to?  Who am I going to sit with?  What if somebody makes me talk?  I'm 25 and I felt like I was 15.

Fortunately, I walked in and immediately saw some girls making their way to the room where this event was taking place.  I entered the room, signed in, put on my name tag, and jumped into a circle of girls (... instead of camping out in a corner and pretending like I was doing something important on my phone.  Don't lie.  You know you've done it.)  I had to just get in there and make some friends.

I'm pretty sure everybody knew somebody ... except for me.  The good news?  Everyone was really sweet and really easy to talk to.  I'm not sure why I expected any different.  These are all fun people that like to eat cookies and blog.  I should've known better.

My mind was filled with a lot of web design talk that I didn't understand one bit of and a lot of really useful information that I couldn't write down fast enough.  At each table, we went around and introduced ourselves and our blog ... and handed out our business cards.  Business cards??  I don't have those!  Surely somebody at this table doesn't have business cards.  I don't think she ... oh, yes she does.  Awesome.  I'm the only one without business cards.  I felt a few steps behind.

(This kind of experience is one that I have a lot.  I mostly have them with Reese and Sara.  It's like that time we showed up at the Today Show in NYC and thought we were the first ones there.  Then we turned the corner and realized there was a HUGE line.)

In conclusion, I was nervous to go but I'm so glad I did.  I met a lot of really nice people and I'm glad to join this community of bloggers.

And if you need me, I'll be making business cards.  Have a lovely Wednesday!