Collaboration in Action: 2007 800 CEO Read Author Pow-Wow

Picture this...

25 authors, full of energy and caffeine, most looking curious, though not knowing quite what to expect; mixed in are 11 business book experts, amped up and prepared to make an unknown world known; and then 11 book lovers, who do a variety of roles, all at the ready to spring into action at a second's notice.

Everyone mixed together like a frog in a blender after about a month on my counter, in an oversized room with a randomly hand painted green floor, furniture from the TV show Bewitched, a hammock, mismatched coffee cups bought for a dime at a rummage sale, and brick walls that looked cold as a winter's night in Milwaukee, yet a warmth that can only come from the closest of friends.

And then...

ACTION!

36 hours of amazing sharing, collaboration and questions, with people ranging from San Francisco, to Denmark, to Milwaukee, to Chicago, to Boston, and everywhere in between, at the great space that is Catalyst Ranch!

Wow!

I'll share details soon, but for now, I wanted to share who was there, and some pictures that share much of the story, the energy, the passion, the compassion, and the helpfulness, of all those present.

This photo summed up my thoughts on the experience at the Author Pow-Wow :)

First off were the authors

Erika Andersen
Greg Alexander
Jose Castillo
Kevin Eikenberry
Joanne Gordon (not a blogger yet)
Jackie Huba
Joe Heuer (blog coming soon)
Alexander Kjerulf
Steve Little (not a blogger yet)
Ben McConnell
Pamela Miles - (works with Jack Mitchell, no blog or website yet)
Robert Mintz (not a blogger yet)
Jack Mitchell (not a blogger yet)
Susan Quandt (blog coming soon)
David Meerman Scott
Michael Stallard (not a blogger yet)
Dan Roam
John Rosen
Rajesh Setty
AnnaMaria Turano
Bill Welter (blog coming soon)
Steve Yastrow (contributes to Tom Peters' blog, with a personal blog coming soon)
Mike Kanazawa

We had some remarkable publishing gurus

Ray Bard  - Bard Press
Mark Bloomfield - Harvard Business School Press
Shelley Dolley - Leap7
Barbara Cave Henricks - Cave Henricks Communications (blogging at http://blog.cavehenricks.com/, yeah, a blogging PR person! Cool!)
Mark Fortier - Fortier Public Relations
Nick Morgan - Public Words (who also blogs at http://publicwords.typepad.com/nickmorgan/)
Gerry Sindell - ThoughtLeaders INTL
Les Tuerk - BrightSight Group
Dennis Welch - Cave Henricks Communications
Susan Williams - Jossey-Bass

And last but definitely NOT least, the AMAZING folks at 800 CEO Read:

Jack Covert
Melinda Cross - Concepts Content Copy
Sally Haldorson
Jon Mueller
Kate Mytty
Joy Panos Stauber - Stauber Design Studio
Todd Sattersten
Aaron Schleicher
Dylan Schleicher
Rebecca Schlei

More content soon, I promise! For now, enjoy the pictures!

Comments

[Erika Andersen]

Phil -

Loved seeing the pictures...I already miss everybody!

xoxox
E

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Me too Erika! What an AMAZING time! GREAT to finally meet you!

[Rajesh Setty]

Phil,

Just came back home. It was great to meet with you.

Loved the photos.

Will be in touch with you soon.

Cheers,
Raj

[Mark Fortier]

Phil,

You know how to MAKE IT GREAT or at least you made the Pow-Wow great. Thanks for sharing your warmth, knowledge and fun personality throughout the week. Keep in touch. - Mark

[Kevin Eikenberry]

Hi Phil!

Thanks for making this post - and thanks for being a part of this amazing experience! I'll be posting about the event and will come back and share the link here.

Kevin :)

p.s. somehow the tea tasted better in those cups - don't you think?

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Raj - Glad you made it home safely. The conversation at Pow Wow was amazing. You have much to share! Looking forward to our next encounter.

Mark - You're welcome. It was great fun meeting you too, and you can bet I'll keep in touch.

Kevin - Please do share the link. A rising tide lifts all boats. And yes, everything tasted better in that room. Strange how senses work in connection with each other.

[AnnaMaria Turano]

Phil,

Great to meet you and tap into your experiences and enthusiasm!

Best,
AnnaMaria

[Shelley Dolley]

Phil - You're a rock star! Spot on description. Thanks for taking all those photos! Shelley

[Jack Covert]

Thanks Phil. Thanks for coming. It was fun, wasn't it.

[Les Tuerk]

Thanks Phil. I don't ever recall attending a conference where I had as much fun with, and learned so much from, the attendees (and the other speakers too of course).

[Dan Roam]

Phil -- what a pleasure to meet you! And THANKS for a) taking the photos b) getting them online so quickly c) making us all look good (in more ways than one). We had fun, didn't we?

[Stephen Hopson-Adversity University]

Phil:

Wow, I wish I were there! Looks like you had a ball. I recognize another favorite blogger of mine, Rajesh Setty, on the list.

Great pictures! You rock Phil. :)

[Phil Gerbyshak]

AnnaMaria - great to meet and share with you too!

Jack - Thanks for inviting me. It was AMAZING!

Les - You're welcome. I'm with you, it was wonderful and insightful!

Dan - Thanks. It was a pleasure to meet you too. It's fun to share, so I'm glad to do so.

Stephen - It WAS a ball! Wish you were there too! Glad you enjoyed the pictures :) And Raj was a TREAT!

[Steve Roesler]

Phil,

I gotta tell you: it made me happy to look at the photos and watch everyone else being happy. Just contagious!

Looking forward to reading more about the event...

[Jose Castillo]

Phil - You Rock! That was indeed a great experience.

Thanks and keep in touch. FYI- I owe you a Twitter write up.

Jose

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Thanks Steve! Happiness IS contagious, that's why I love to share it. If I start it, it ALWAYS comes back, in unexpected great ways!

Thanks Jose! You can BET we'll keep in touch. You da man!