Technically, I am writing this post in response to the Golden Ticket competition being run by Carsonified. The theme of the competition is quite simple: create a blog post mentioning your desire to win the contest, link to it, and gather up 25 comments. The prize is a ticket to all Carsonified events in 2009 (these are the guys who run FOWD, FOWA, and such conferences), backstage passes, airline and hotel to 1 event, and an invite to a VIP speaker dinner, which is all very bad-ass.
Just recently have I come to understand the full benefit of professional networking. Although I frequently have desired to go to conferences, in actuality I have only been able to go to one – Refresh 06, and that was only because it was a local event. I nearly made it to FOWD last year, but got horribly sick the morning of and was never able to make it out.
Since then, and quite recently actually, I have started to get back into the professional networking vibe. Thanks to people like Charlie O’Donnell, who runs NextNY, I have started to see the real benefits of professional networking. Just tonight I went to a NextNY ShakeShack event, and it was a lot more productive and fun than I had imagined. I’m sitting here now with a bunch of awesome business cards, all from smart, talented people in the industry. We shot ideas, talked technical, and a grand time was had by all.
So all of this brings me back to why I want to win the Golden Ticket. I want it because professional networking opens my eyes to ideas I never would have thought of otherwise. Hearing about new technologies and methods for creating innovative websites is one of the most important things in my career. It’s so refreshing to be around other people who work in the industry, who know the challenges we face as web professionals.
Right now in my career, I’m being very gung-ho about digging into this stuff as much as I can; learning all I can and making awesome sites that will hopefully help people be more productive and have access to a wider range of informaton. In order to be the best at what I do, I need to constantly learn about new technologies, and nothing helps better than going to conferences; for you get 2 in 1 – education and networking.
So please, leave your comments and help me win the ticket!
This blog belongs to Jade Rauenzahn, a 24 year-old web developer living in Hell's Kitchen, NYC.
Helping out…
+1 Good luck with the competition!
+1 Good luck!
You’ve already got the skills, intelligence, and charisma to be a networking goddess…but hey if a simple comment from yours truly can help you along your path (to world domination) that’s cool. Just remember to toss a business card or two to the rest of us when your rolodex is overflowing and your phone is going off the hook!
+1 good luck(s) 2 u!
Was trying to think up a comment with some substance, but failed (GOOD COMMENT FAIL). So +1 and see you at FOWD NYC!
great to see you last night. professional networking is my life, so glad to see you’re getting so much out of it
Conferences rock… hope you win!
Good Luck Jade – from your very proud Mom – who loves her baby girl tons and tons!
go Jade!
good luck with this thing
Great post!
Your views always interest me and this one is no different.
I think it would be great for you to win the competition and continue with your professional networking.
I only attended my first event this year ( dConstruct08 ) and it was awesome, I took so much away from it.
Good luck, hope you win!
Good Luck with that Golden Ticket!
Spacecat approves of this post.
Good luck!
http://www.candyfavorites.com/shop/images/graphic_affiliate.jpg
Good luck my love muffin of joy!
Good luck!
Good luck!
+1. Maybe I should do this too…
Networking? You should check your TCP/IP settings…
rock on. hope you win
Jade you’re awesome and I hope you win.
Good luck with the contest!
If you want to get involved in some professional/business networking that really moves your business forward (because of the authentic connections happening there, the balance of real life events, the excellent articles being written by members, and more) come on over to Biznik.com
Biznik is currently ahead of LinkedIn when googling for the term “Business Networking” and its growing fast –come join the fun and look me up when you get there!
-Leif
http://www.biznik.com
Ha, I love that Ryan Carson is your third comment. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Anyway, hope you win, and maybe I’ll see you at FOWD.
Best of luck to you Jade, even though I know you don’t need luck. I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.
My mom reads my blog, too.
Thanks for the shoutout… let’s get lunch later next week or something.
Well done on getting the 25+ comments! Best of luck with the draw. The Carsonified events are great for networking, everyone is so friendly and open about what they are currently doing, and what they hope to do in the future. Hope your not sick for anymore events
Once again best of luck!
P.S. Could you give me a helping hand in getting to 25 comments please.