A few weeks ago, my friend Stacy put words to something I’d been thinking about for some time. Appropriately, she said it via Twitter: “…twitter is like the watercooler for the self-employed.” Of course! I thought. That’s exactly what it is. Since I am self-employed, I see very few other humans during an average workday, and while I generally consider that one of the perks of this gig, it can get lonely from time to time.
But social media gives me that hit of humanity, just enough to make me feel like I’m not the tree in the forest that didn’t really fall since no one heard it. I check in to see what everybody’s up to; we compare notes on the weekend, on how everybody hates Mondays, on what our kids and spouses did–oh, and the projects we’re working on. Occasionally we lose or gain cohorts.
It’s been nearly a year since I shared an office with @Loops91 and nearly six since I worked with @bbrasier–but because they’re both on Twitter, I can ask a question, make a snide comment or continue to beat an old inside joke into the ground with no more effort than if I were there with them. (For which they are no doubt unendingly grateful, given my love of beating old inside jokes into the ground.) My friends @randibuckley and @fridaworld are on the other end of the state and world, respectively, from me, but most weekdays we check in with each other fairly regularly. And although I’ve yet to meet @sarahjbray or @WhenIGroUpCoach in person, they may as well be just down the hall from me.
It is a bit ironic, no? We get away from the watercooler and promptly find a new way to replicate those same dynamics. But here’s the thing: they may be the same dynamics, but now we have the luxury of choosing the minds and personalities with whom we’re brainstorming, commiserating and/or verbally jousting. As Sarah and I were saying from our respective offices [actually, she was outside on her property somewhere in Virginia Beach and I was at my kitchen table in suburban Los Angeles] the other day, it’s nothing short of delicious to be able to find whole enclaves of those all-too-rare-in-real-life, like-minded individuals. It changes how we think, how we feel, how we work.
So it isn’t quite business as usual, no. It’s business, but better. Call it Post-Watercoolerism, if you like. I’m just calling it great.
Photo by NidalM.
love this, Emma: speaks to our human nature as Gatherers–now that we don’t have to focus on it from a root and bug-style (if you have food in your fridge, can I get an a-to-the-men), we do it human to human style. Especially for us free to lance types (and instant gratification fans), it’s essential to be able to cast out for brilliant ideas (@ealvarezgibson, @earlkabong, @girlpie), support @jodiwomack, @daniellelaporte) or a dose of wicked humor (@communicatrix, @Julie_K, @hotdogsladies). Thanks for the reminder of what grande company we are keeping OL and IRL.
when i log on to tweetdeck, it feels like i am walking into the office.
the time zones are fantastic for me here in the uk. in the morning and evening i get the kiwis and aussies – that @fridaworld sure is a gossip
– and then mid-afternoon the american/canadian contingent catch up.
Love that term: “Post-watercoolerism”. That is EXACTLY it.
Sarah — Glad you like. Let’s make t-shirts!
Sas — I’ve wondered that about people in the UK; seems like you are right in time to catch a bit of everything!
Dyana — Well said. Thank you!
I’ve found it these connections to be as endearing or even more so as many of the in-person communities where I’ve worked. Writing in 140 characters seems to cut away at filters and couching and really gets to the core. Authenticity fast tracks. I feel like essence on Twitter, emerges immediately. And for those of us for whom this is as nourishing as cup of soup or as essential as water, this is nothing short of delight in the arms of comrades.
Yay!
I know just what you mean, Randi…I feel the same way. Thank you for your comment!
It’s so good we don’t work in the same office. We would never get any work done. Ever.
But we better meet, and soon!!!!!
Oh, and I would say that this is in the Top 5 Reasons to Be Your Own Boss. Love.
Michelle — I can’t even begin to fathom the heights (depths?) of obnoxiousness (awesomeness?).