Nothing like good “Old Fashioned” Social Networking!
Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, Blogging, etc…
You know I love it all!
I feel that some days I am connected 24 hours! I even dream about posting!
And yet when I come off a conference like I did this past week; I love it! I get back to the “old days” and “old ways” of communicating – talking – one on one – face to face! Crazy concept eh?!
I just came off 3 ½ days of an industry Executive Exchange (CACDS – Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores) here in Vancouver.
Attended by over 125 Vendor Companies (mostly drug and OTC) and most of the major retailers in Canada that have Drug Stores in them. Obviously, London Drugs (no point writing this otherwise), Shoppers Drug Mart, Save On, Pharmasave, Wal Mart, Loblaws etc… You get the picture. We were all there.
The event is set up to allow us all to have quickly (30 minute) top line kind of discussions with our key Vendors from across the county. Sit down and discuss some issues and/or opportunities in a more relaxed environment. Not meant to provoke the type of exchange that can happen when in our offices (we are supposed to try and be nicer here J ). It is a great way to really just invoke a little dialogue that we can take back to the offices for future follow up discussion.
It is also a time for us to get away from “strictly” business and discuss other things that are important to the greater good as it were; some personal development.
We were so unbelievably fortunate (Thanks to Sue Paish from Pharmasave, Don Bird from Webber Naturals and Barry Fishman of Teva Canada LTD) to have both Rick Hansen and Dr. Greg Wells speak to us. It was amazing!
Rick Hansen is an indescribable entity (this took me a couple of minutes to write and that is all I could come up with – how do you describe this guy!)! What an amazing man! If you do not walk away from a talk with him inspired and challenged to do better or to do anything and think that nothing is impossible; then I would question if you are awake or even alive. He will leave you believing that nothing is really impossible – anyone and everyone can achieve greatness, everyday. Thanks Rick!
Dr. Wells (he was the “rock star” doctor of the Vancouver 2010 games – on CTV everyday describing human physiology) was another amazing speaker. In a different way; and speaking about kids with different challenges, as well as his own amazing challenges (this guy broke his neck at 15!!), he was another man who inspired us to think about this wonderful and amazing machine that we own – our body. Dr. Wells also showed us that our bodies can really do anything if we understand the machine. Read more on Dr Wells here as I cannot do this guy justice! Really interesting guy!
We get to get together as a group – retailer and vendor – to enjoy other non-business events. We got to see legendary Canadian bands – Chilliwack and Trooper in the quintessential Commodore Ballroom. That was freaking awesome!! I had to tweet Trooper that night and thank them for allowing me relive my first concert, which was Trooper at the Cominco Arena in Trail, October 1978!
Again, then whole evening was limited business – it was just a lot of great socializing and BS’ing with “The Bizz”.
As a group we even got to do some “real good”. Thanks to Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Mark Mantel for getting the “Big Irishman” himself, Pat Quinn, to help us raise over $13,500 for the Rick Hansen Foundation by auctioning off signed Canucks jerseys that Mark and Mylan arranged to get for us.
All in all – a really good week!
Where was I going with this?
I wanted to show you that although the Social Media aspects of life seem to be all consuming and all relevant (I did tweet, facebook and foursquare all week – I have to confess), but there is nothing like the good old fashioned face to face time with people. I LOVE IT!! It is awesome to reconnect with old friends (Vendors and Retail Competitors), it is great to meet new folks (Vendors and Retail Competitors) and it is just great to sit and shoot the s$%t and see where you conversations can and will go.
Nothing like old ways and old days; mixed in with today’s new ways!
Thank You to all of the CACDS crew, the Co-Chairs – Sue Paish and Don Bird, the organizing committee, Pat Quinn, Rick Hansen, Dr Wells and all of the attendees for making this such a great event.
Ciao for now @kootenayborn
