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A Twitter love story (for the disbelievers)

There was a while there, last fall, where I lost my mojo for Twitter. I was sick of listening to people trying to be funny or clever or whatever. And I was a little tired of watching myself do it. I just wasn’t coming up with stuff to ‘say’ naturally. And I was bored by the same old, same old articles being retweeted – and the same old, same old people being pimped out. So, I said very little…for a bit. (and you can only imagine how this pained me)

It was like those days when you’re sick of every single song on the radio and you wonder if there will ever be a new song that thrills every cell in your body again.

It was like I’d been dancing my ass off at the hoedown and then I just had to sit a few out. In the corner, at a table in the shadows, with my tall glass of lemonade, just watching everyone else.

And then, one day, I decided to step back into my cowboy boots and saunter back out to the dance floor again.

And, well, I’m just so glad I did. Talking, sharing, listening – they’ve brought the Twitter goods over the last few months, including:

  • A regular guest spot on Copyblogger.
  • Connecting with some stellar people like Jonathan Fields and Kelly Diels.
  • Much fruition for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo social media campaign.
  • Work, work and more work – client work, that is.
  • (p.s. this is not meant to be boastful, just providing statistical data).

But the thing that made me want to write about Twitter today, is this: I’m working on a mega big project for an incredible company called FlexPaths (we’re creating a flexible work revolution, totally kicks ass, just you wait, links to come) that involves a ginormous federal government contract. And I was tasked with finding a Drupal team of developers to handle some overtly complicated, customized, specialized web development. And it was a down-to-the-wire task, mind you.

Here’s what went down…

Friday afternoon:

  • 4:30 pm EST: I tweeted, “Does anyone know of a GOOD Drupal development team? Huge project, ongoing.”
  • 4:32 pm EST: My friend, @ron_miller retweeted my tweet.
  • 4:35 pm EST: Ron’s trusted friend and colleague, @Robert_Rose responded to both of us with, “Talk to Michael Weiss at @Imagistic – they are top-notch and do great work.” (or something awfully close to that)
  • 4:36 pm EST: I followed @Imagistic and jumped in my car to head home.
  • 4:45 pm EST: Michael Weiss, CEO of Imagistic, DM’d me: “Would love to hear about the project. Call me: (818) 706-9100”.
  • 4:46 EST: I called him, loved him, gave him the run down and emailed him specs. We set a meeting with his team for 7:30 that night.
  • 5:00 – 7:30 I was a mom.
  • 7:30 Met with the Imagistic team in CA via phone to walk them through the project specs. They were brilliant, asked great questions…they made me laugh and (more importantly) laughed at my jokes, (for which they got massive piles of bonus points).

Saturday Morning – Sunday Night

  • Woke up to their proposal/estimate for the work.
  • Fielded negotiations between Imagistic and FlexPaths.

Monday Morning

  • Had a signed contract.

Two weeks later

  • Imagistic did a phenomenal job and is on tap for phase 2 of the project. They are partners for life as far as I’m concerned, my go-to guys for Drupal/Web development and more…and the FlexPaths team is happy, happy and beyond happy.

And that, my friends, is the end – or more aptly the beginning – of this Twitter love story.

Image credit: .imelda (and fyi, don’t search for squaredancing images on Creative Commons…yikes!)

Join the discussion 19 Comments

  • awesome! i love twitter love stories, i have written them several times in my head – this is a goody
    .-= Nanette Labastida´s last blog ..Ethan Azarian – Folk artist, musician & now muralist =-.

  • Tom says:

    nice one Julie. I too have considered my relationship with Twitter and social media (in general) a love/hate thing. I think, though, in the end, “time” is the best friend that actual makes all those silly posts and 4 min. lurking sessions worth it. for me, the proof of it all being worthwhile- was a random FB connection between me, a distant high school buddy and a major media player/ CEO. my high school buddy, who I hadn’t seen since 1987, hooked me up with his CEO friend who had a fairly major video editing job for a software training job he had. long of the short of it: we’ve been working on several new projects and have been paid several thousands of dollars…and have told some good jokes about our mutual friend and his (and mine) crazy high school antics.

  • I think Tom has a huge point – it IS about time or timing. We had an intense set of circumstances and everyone used the intensity to increase clarity. Ironically twitter and its 140 characters forced everyone to get to the point and do so quickly. The re-tweet referral process combined with an incredible work-life ethic of all parties – enabled us to get to work in 72 hours. As a party in this process – I learned alot about relationship “Must Dos” – and things I will carry forward with me. I can’t wait for the fun to really start with Imagistic and Julie!

  • tom says:

    and heck, Robin, the story might get even more fun, if this project happens to need a videograpgher/ video editor;)
    -Tom
    Director/Owner
    Reelife Productions

  • Siddhartha says:

    This is an inspiring story because this is what it’s all about.

    So many people get caught up in the numbers when it’s about the connections, the ability to leverage knowledge to get things done.

    Thanks for sharing this. A must read for people who don’t see the value in SM.
    .-= Siddhartha´s last blog ..Twitterview with Jenny McCoy of the blog Workin’ on a Ramp =-.

  • Kelby says:

    I feel often times like we’ve lost what made Twitter so great. Now that it’s more mainstream, it can be a constant stream of links and promotions. I would love to see more emphasis on connecting and engaging. I am so glad to read this story! The potential is still there, as you’ve proven, to truly connect on Twitter and in real-time. I hope people read this and use Twitter for what it does best: creating opportunities and connections. And this firm sounds amazing! Good luck with the project. Oh, and just as a side note, a HUGE soap box of mine if the lack of workplace flexibility. It was my motivation in creating Type-A Mom. I look forward to hearing much more about this project!
    .-= Kelby´s last blog ..Announcing Type-A Mom Conference 2010 =-.

    • Kelby-
      When we launch this project please feel free to share your information/programs and perspectives. BTW – what mom is not Type A these days:-)

      • Kelby says:

        I would love to hear about the launch! And yes, that is my argument… even moms who don’t want to be type-A end up with no choice. The prerequisite for the job is multi-tasking. LOL.

  • Alisa Bowman says:

    I’m still imagining you in your cowboy boots.
    .-= Alisa Bowman´s last blog ..How to Get Along with an Introverted Spouse =-.

  • Sally G. says:

    This recount is so inspiring! As in ‘life outside of Social Media’ ~ when you move through the veil of ‘noise’, a quieter channel of meaning and significance can be found for those who seek it. Thank you …
    .-= Sally G.´s last blog ..Oh yes, I built this Blog Site … =-.

  • Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate that you shared your brief pause or disillusionment with Twitter. You’ve shown how it’s okay to sit a dance or two out to assess what’s working for you.

    It was fun to see the tweet path toward your new team mates. Fun, and a great illustration of the power of connecting.

    Tweet on!

  • Edgy Mama says:

    Love the analogy, but I don’t really see you as a hoedown kind of girl. But you can borrow my cowboy boots anytime.
    .-= Edgy Mama´s last blog ..“Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life.” Yes, it will. =-.

  • What a great story. I think this reinforces what social media can do for professionals: make quick, valuable, qualified connections. The character limit helps; having a network of qualified followers, much more so.

    Amusing Tweets, retweeted articles, social media gods? But a fad. You, I, and other professionals the world around will adapt the tool to serve us and increase the depth of our networks. I think that’s very heart-warming indeed!
    .-= Lindsey Donner´s last blog ..Argue More, Be Nicer, and Always Say Hi. =-.

  • PicsieChick says:

    I LOVE this story. It just says everything about what can happen with the right connections. Thank you for telling it!

    I’m looking forward to more info about FlexPaths, too.

    Hugs and butterflies,
    ~T~
    .-= PicsieChick´s last blog ..Is there room for doubt in gratitude? =-.

  • Andi says:

    I think this is the *right* way to use Twitter and I am glad to see it being used for good ;-)
    .-= Andi´s last blog ..French Friday – French by Heart =-.

  • A love story and I play a major role? What could be better? I hope Edward Norton plays me. But in all seriousness, who would have thought that over the course of 48 hours we could sign a deal with a client all because of Twitter? While I have a Twitter account and in the words of Stephen Colbert, I have “twatted”, I have been very skeptical of it and its value. But what happened a couple of weeks ago proves that people are using new ways to find what they need.

    The only thing that could have worked better would have been for Julie to email blast her Rolodex or make frantic phone calls. But with those methods you have to wait, and to be honest you have to much freedom and could saturate the message. In 140 characters Julie blasted her network and within hours we were on the phone and the love fest began.

    All hail Twitter!

    Now, who else needs a new Web site? Find me @imagistic :)

    • Julie Roads says:

      1. Rolodex? Dude, you just dated yourself. That’s so 1984.
      2. Really? Ed Norton? I was really thinking Clooney. I have a thing for Clooney.
      3. Seriously people – contact @imagistic – they rock (but I said that already).

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