In March of 2012 I jumped onto the Google+ bandwagon as I recognized that Google was strongly pushing their social side of search. Being a search marketing guy I knew this was going to be the future of “SEO” per se. What I did not realize was that Google+ would completely change my life in five months. There is no social website on the Internet that can offer some of the events I am about to explain.
Since March I have had the chance to HIRL (Hangout in Real Life) with the following individuals in the North Carolina area:
Mark Traphagen
Tim Moore
Ty Downing
Keith Bloemendaal
Lauren Formalarie
All of these individuals are very successful and have entrepreneurial minds. They have immensely helped me to think outside the box. This has not only helped my personal development but it has helped me to grow my personal business.
I was fortunate enough to be active on Google+ shortly before the first Tiger Woods Google+ hangout. I was the only active Google+ user to be selected to this hangout and I had the opportunity to talk with the best golfer of all time. This would be a social media milestone for most but it was just the start of my Google+ Hangouts on Air career.
In recent weeks I have been selected to take part in the Usain Bolt Google+ Olympics Hangout (didn’t get in due to time constraints). I have also been selected to be part of the Google+ TekPersona Power Panel hosted by J.C. Kendall. Other members of this power panel have included:
John Blossom
Shaker Cherukuri
Gregory Esau
Su Ann Lim
Gary S. Hart
Cybele Negris
Just today I had the chance to discuss the 2012 PGA Championship which has lead to some great contacts in the golf industry. One of these contacts is more than willing to help me get in to future PGA Tour events.
Yes, this has happened in five months! I will admit that I have a very open schedule which allows me to do many Hangouts and travel at will. With that being the case, Google+ has enhanced my life tenfold as there are many amazing people that are reaching out to each other through this social medium. Last night I completed one of the first Google+ Hangouts for a Fantasy Football draft with the following participants
Sean Grace
Marcus Medley
Shelley Upton
Krysta Gahagen
The league is 8 teams but some could not make it so we picked kickers and punters for them in the first round. In all seriousness, someone did decide to take the Steelers defense in the 4th round. We won’t name names, eh hmm Krysta. Tomorrow I will be one of the few selected to take part in the official NFL.com Fantasy Football Q&A that will be available for the world to watch. Yes, life is tough!
I can only hope my second five months is half as exciting as the first five. I will be working with Google to start a Google+ HIRL in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area in the next few weeks so that will be the next chapter in my Google+ book.
Thanks Jesse, your story is really full of hope. I’m coming up to speed on Google+ as fast as I can and helping small businesses in my community get themselves into the conversation. Really great to hear about the impact Google+ has had on your life. – Jon (Alamosa, CO)