It was great to be part of the conversation! I obviously look forward to more :)

Comment by Victoria Pater
on 10/19/10 at 12:54 PM
 

I have not come to the meetings because I work at 8. I also do not know anyone personally or through my extended network (Twitter). I am interested to attend but the times are inconvenient.

Comment by An
on 10/19/10 at 01:01 PM
 

@Victoria - Thanks, you have been a great contributor!

@An - If you can ever make it we would be glad to have you… as for not knowing anyone, most people who come don’t know anyone else… the first time!

Comment by Mike Maddaloni
on 10/19/10 at 01:12 PM
 

@An - bummer about work. BUT - if you ever get the chance, don’t skip out on account of not knowing anyone. I moved here from Minneapolis last October, and likemind was the first place I thought of going. I went to a few in Minneapolis, a few in San Francisco, and know that it’s a great way to meet new people and talk about an eclectic mix of things. I didn’t know anyone when I went to my first likemind in Chicago, and I’m still meeting new people. Come on by!

Mike, can you tell me more about QR codes? :D

And to those of you reading the post and comments (yes, you), come on by. It’s good times with good people.

Comment by Matt Albiniak
on 10/19/10 at 02:12 PM
 

Hey Mike,

Good to hear from you…thanks for posting the happs at the last meeting.

The two times I actually did show up, I had a great time, so Likemind always gives me a grin when I see the invite arrive. 

It has been tough for me the past couple of years, since I am not working in the city (though that may change).  So, I have to balance the 90-120 minute round-trip commute time against the rest of the things on my schedule.  Additionally, I have been traveling a ton for a couple of my sites the past two years, and many times, the meeting overlapped with a trip (like in September).

Still, reading the “minutes” you posted gives me the jones to return.  So, I will be looking to the November date (will there be one, due to thanksgiving?), and try to get my butt on the Eisenhower in time to make it.

Best,

M

Comment by Michael Carruth
on 10/19/10 at 02:12 PM
 

Mike, to me it’s obvious why more people don’t show up: it’s not the content (that’s great). it’s the time and location. I’m not a developer, but I imagine if you’re the freelance developer type, the Loop area at 8am on a Friday might not be your preferred geographical nexus. There’s a reason why the TechCocktails and events of similar ilk take place in the evenings - that’s when most people can commit to attending! I know likemind is all about people attending at a the same time worldwide, but if you’d be open to being more flexible about that, I’m sure you’d see a different crowd show up. Think about it: if you got invited to an 8am coffee up in Edgewater or Jefferson Park, would you show up?

Comment by Mark Smithivas
on 10/19/10 at 02:57 PM
 

@Matt - Couldn’t agree more, and I will wear my QR code t-shirt next time.

@Michael - Yes, it’s been a while, and would love to know what you’re up to these days… hope to see you, will let you knwo the name, but it should be early December.

@Mark - Your point is valid - likemind is about the same local time in cities around the world.  And of course not everyone will be able to make everything.  But I have gone to events outside of the Loop, though I haven’t heard of any lately… am I missing some?

Comment by Mike Maddaloni
on 10/19/10 at 03:20 PM
 

Mike, gr8 idea/post! Sounds like an awesome group. As an experienced group/organizer, I’d recommend keeping up with the debrief like above; it reads like a Twitter stream. Also consider throwing in *extra* evening meetings for outreach; if I’m up at 8:00CT, it’s for client calls in Europe or such, I go to bed at 3:00CT. If you change one meeting to evening, morning people will complain, why you schedule quarterly eve meetings as extras, maybe. But the debriefs are an awesome “status” report & subject “What you missed” genius. As a co-founder of KnockNOW, which had Bfast meetings, I know it attracts a certain crowd. However, with small groups, you’re going to be limited to the people for whom it’s convenient. People talk about (online) social networks crowding out TV, but they are also competing for F2F meetings, so there needs to be a specific value prop. Your “updates” are awesome for increasing transparency. Keep them up! Hope this helps, Chris

Comment by Christopher S. Rollyson
on 10/19/10 at 10:38 PM
 

Good conversation, if any of you have twitter follow @goatking

Comment by An
on 10/20/10 at 01:24 AM
 

@Chris - Thanks for the encouragement and idea - others have suggested a “primetime” likemind and it’s something I need to consider.

@An - Following!

mp/m

Comment by Mike Maddaloni
on 10/20/10 at 06:46 AM
 

Great recap - now I remember why I enjoyed these! I will try my best to be there next time!

I’m just not a morning person :)

Comment by Lisa Ghisolf
on 10/21/10 at 10:26 AM
 

Hi..
Really the only reason I don’t go is because
8 am is just too early. 
Likeminded sounds so wonderful but getting there on time would probably mean getting up at
6:30 am.

Comment by Justin Rogan
on 10/21/10 at 02:12 PM
 

@Lisa & @Justin - I too am not a morning person, and I usually have to have a few cups of coffee to be ready to talk with other for 8 am, but so far I haven’t been disappointed.

mp/m

Comment by Mike Maddaloni
on 10/21/10 at 04:25 PM
 

Whoops! I would have been there. I enjoyed the last gathering. Somehow I did not see the invitation and certainly forgot to mark my calendar. If I am in town and free, I’ll try to come often. Great energy around that table.

Comment by John R Dallas Jr
on 09/25/11 at 05:32 PM