This post started out as a post-sxsw rant. Against how some people got big as a result of being in the right place at the right time but are not really going anywhere, so now they have that defensive “look how cool I am and how many big A-lister names I can drop” thing going on. Ick.

And then it changed into a post-sxsw worry. About how people are lonely. Left out of the VIP room. Buried in their iPhone instead of engaging. About how people are wandering the halls looking for connection and instead just finding pitches and panels and Zone bars.

And then it changed into a post-sxsw love fest. Rejoicing in how the profound parts of sxsw don’t happen in the seminar room, they happen in coffee houses and margarita bars and vege wrap restaurants. Sitting on the floor of the hallway sharing a powerstrip or hanging out with someone on the corner of 8th and Congress.

But now, two weeks after sxsw, I realized what is post is about. What sxsw is about. What my business is about.

People are terrible. They are full of bullsh*t and fear and think they need to cut others down to keep themselves from going backwards.

People are lonely. They are full of worry and stress and think they might be the only one who feels this way.

People are amazing. They are full of joy and sharing and think that we are capable of changing the world if we just all come together and help each other fulfill our purposes.

Bottom line – people are human.

We are capable of anything. Of causing great pain to others and ourselves. Of withdrawing and hiding our brilliance from the world. Of caring and courage and deep, intimate connections to each other and the beyond.

And that is why I started my business.

Why I have not quit. Why I’m going to keep doing this, maybe for as long as I’m on this earth with you.

Because I can never be finished with people.

There are six billion of us, chaotic and mysterious and changing every day. And unlike all of the other things that I have studied – mathematics, chemistry, environmental studies, law, finance – people (which is what business & marketing is all about), well, I’ll never be done. I’ll never have mastered how people work.

So instead of a rant, or a worry, or a love fest … I forgive those who are being lame out of fear. I’m developing new programs & events to help those who have lost faith. And, I’m so freaking excited to come together with those who want to make a difference with each other, and the world.

So perhaps instead of concluding how terrible, helpless, or awesome people are, instead of concluding anything, let’s rejoice in how infinitely complicated we are. How we are capable of everything.

And … let’s get started on the awesome parts of everything, shall we?

(photo of me, @unmarketing, @nummiesbras & @couchsurfingori at Techkaraoke, courtesy of Pinqued)

You make a zillion dollars more than me, are decades older, have a blog with a billion readers? Awesome. I’m much more concerned whether you are a non-idiot who is funny & has something interesting to say.

I pride myself on being able to talk to just about anybody.

But I totally have a ridiculous fangirl thing for @gapingvoid (Hugh MacLeod, author of “Ignore Everybody”). I re-read his book once a month. Tell everyone to buy it. Read his blog. Follow his twitter. I’ve even bought a print of one of his cartoons as the first piece of art for my wall. Actually, the first art print I’ve ever bought in my life.

And he was on my short list of who I wanted to meet (aka stalk) at SXSW.

So instead of finding him in his booth or at a coffee shop or a bunch of other places I could have tracked him down for a conversation (because, as I lamented to Sarah Robinson, “I don’t think I could talk to him!” or “I might throw up on him!”), I chickened out.

And went to hear him on a panel on Monday.

And tweeted about it.

And 15 minutes before the panel, he @ replied back that I should go up to him before they start, and say hi. (omg!)

But I missed the tweet, in my lame effort to concern iPhone battery power. #technologyfail

And after the panel, even after I had read the tweet, I could have talked to him.

But I freaked and went down the escalator instead to grab lunch with a friend. #lameexcuse

Later I tried to find him in the expo at his table. He was either not there or was being interviewed on camera. #stalkingfail

So what’s the lesson?

I should have talked to him. When he *invited* me to.

Or found him at a coffee house, or some other place where he was not being bombarded by people.

The lesson is that everyone is fangirl/fanboy about someone.

We all are slightly insane.

This happens when someone says or does something that has a huge effect on our lives, before we’ve connected with them as human beings. It’s completely one-sided. And can get a bit wonky.

But really … we are all just people.

We want to make a connection with the very people who love our work.

I mean, wtf are we doing this for anyway, if we don’t get to talk to each other?

So the next time I get all fangirl over someone, I’m tracking them down & making a connection before I get too wonky.

And if you see me at a conference or tweetup, and want to come talk to me, do it.

If I’m sitting by myself, it’s not because I want to be alone, it’s because I’m an introvert and networking is scary.

If it helps, send me a @/DM on twitter first, and I’ll give you a specific invitation.

See you then.

Have you ever been nervous to talk to someone? (Did you every throw up on someone, because I’m kind of worried about that.) What happened when you got up the guts to talk to them?