Social media passion and motiviation

A few days ago, my pal Brian Clemens asked me why I am passionate about social media and what motivates me to want to make a career in it. There are a lot of ways I can talk about this, but it all really comes down to two simple things:

I like connecting people and I like technology.

Seriously, I do. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Phoenix, which historically has lacked the community that defines many other big cities and left me wanting that community connection. Maybe it’s just because my brain is just wired that way. Regardless, using technology to connect people and build real, vibrant communities is what gets me excited. Building a really great city by helping local businesses connect with customers is what I want to see happen in Phoenix, and I want to help make that happen.

In a way, this also relates to my well-known passion for coffee. Coffee and coffeehouse culture are amazing vehicles for bringing people together. While I enjoy drinking coffee, I also really love the vibe of great coffee shops around town. For me, the gatherings which happen over coffee are the face-to-face counterparts to social media interactions. To really create a great community in Phoenix, we need to create synergy between the physical and the virtual.

That’s what I want to make happen.

  • jmoriarty

    Sounds familiar! :) Making connections is a powerful way to drive change. It exposes people to ideas, attitudes, and people they never knew before, and that's when the must exciting – and unexpected – things happen!

  • http://matthewpetro.wordpress.com Matthew Petro

    That's the kind of stuff I like! A thriving community needs unexpected things both small and large to happen often.

  • http://www.networkandconnect.com CWaterhouse

    “Building a really great city by helping local businesses connect with customers is what I want to see happen in Phoenix, and I want to help make that happen.” … You & me both on this one Matthew!

  • http://matthewpetro.wordpress.com Matthew Petro

    Thanks! It's an uphill battle at times, but I appreciate the support and understanding from you and others who feel the same way.