It must have been fate.
Three years ago today, at about 3 in the afternoon, I climbed the stairs to see the guys in Marketing. They were busy, having fun writing what sounded like limericks. I asked what they were doing and was told they were trying to summarise their lives in 140 characters.
Why? I asked.
We’re going to start using Twitter. They said. Going to try it out, see how we can use it internally and also externally to connect with clients and candidates. It’s going to be big so we want to get in there and try it early. Why don’t you join in?
Oh, I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. And that was it; I gave it no more thought.
But it nagged away at me, and later that night, 2nd February 2009, I set up a Twitter page. Far too timid to call myself @mervyndinnen I called myself @mervino , a nickname which Callum Saunders gave me.
And I tweeted. It was a nonsense tweet about the football transfer window which was closing that night and it was about a player Arsenal were about to sign. But I hit send and waited. And waited. But nobody spoke back to me.
Undeterred I tweeted again the next day and followed my marketing colleagues. And Stephen Fry. My marketing colleagues talked back to me but Stephen Fry didn’t.
Timid days and I didn’t know where it would lead. But I stuck with it. And since then I’ve tweeted a lot more, changed my name to @mervyndinnen and had fun. And it’s been good to me. It’s helped me do lots of things:
- I’ve met lots of friends.
- And I’ve talked to many more people.
- It’s helped get me a job.
- It’s helped me get my son two jobs.
- I’ve been camping twice with people I met on Twitter
- I’ve been to the US twice for conferences with lots of people I met on Twitter.
- I’ve been to many conferences and unconferences.
- I speak at conferences.
- And I’ve chaired conferences.
- I’ve been on BBC News as a talking head.
- I’ve been to gigs with people I met on Twitter.
- I get to wear a press pass at conferences.
- I’ve learned lots.
- I’ve read loads of really interesting blogs.
- I’ve watched (and helped) ConnectingHR grow from an idea to a fully-fledged, living, breathing, hugging community…that debates as well.
- And I’ve been able to connect with people who are passionate about the things that I’m passionate about.
- I’ve re-connected with ex-colleagues and with old friends.
- I’ve encouraged as many people as I can to get involved.
It’s not just my conversation platform, it’s my news feed. It’s the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I look at in the evening.
When I posted my first tweet I was following the close of the football transfer window. I was glued to Sky Sports and the BBC website waiting for news.
When the transfer window closed on 31st August 2011 I was in the bar of the City Hotel the night before TruLondon4. I had just taken part in an HR Happy Hour blog talk radio show with our two visiting American guests. I didn’t need to follow the TV or the website. My Tweetdeck Arsenal column contains fans in the know, fans that are shareholders and run supporters associations, freelance journalists and press journalists. In short, I knew who my team were and weren’t signing before the TV announced it. And I knew facts around a transfer that weren’t mentioned in the media for another two days.
Alongside the many people I follow who impact on my working life, extended networks and my on-going learning and enlightenment I also follow politicians, political bloggers, authors, artists, musicians, DJs, singers, actors, clergymen and presenters. I follow their debates and they do (sometimes) talk back. One of the authors that I follow turned out to a relative!
I think it’s fair to say that Twitter and Me are in a relationship.
Happy 3rd anniversary!
Tell me what it means to you…
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I never knew that I was responsible for the Mervino moniker! Seriously though, three years – how time flies. Like you, I can’t imagine communications without Twitter. As you say, it’s the medium I turn to for breaking news, for football scores, for professional queries, information, chat. Like you, Twitter has afforded me the chance to do several of the things that you have included in your list. I have made good friends, found an amazing new job in Manchester, been to conferences, been supported by professionals and grown in my jobs, all through Twitter.
It’s a wonderful medium, but even more than that, it’s testament to those that use it – the true power of human networking, communication and conversation. Viva Twitter!
Hi Mervyn – great post and I agree with all of your positive points about Twitter it’s definitely my favourite social media tool and funnily enough Stephen Fry was one of the first people I followed too.
Congratulations on your third Twitter anniversary!! I was thinking as I read your post that I would not know you, or many of the other lovely people that I connect with now, were it not for Twitter.
But also, from where I’m standing, you are someone who has really embraced it. You’ve made it work for you. You engage and are engaging. You have things you’re passionate about and you put them out there, warts and all. People – and indeed their businesses – could really learn stuff from you on the value of being real and genuine online.
I think you were still Mervino when you first followed me….I had forgotten about that name! I’ll be coming up on my 3rd anniversary later this year too…and I am also thrilled to have met so many great people (including you!) through Twitter. People I have come to call true friends. It’s powerful and awesome! Happy Anniversary!
If reading your post doesn’t inspire people to use Twitter (or like me – to use it more!) then I don’t know what will! Absolutely incredible Mervyn, I knew it was powerful but your experience is amazing!
Kirsty