When a 2D Community Becomes 3D

I’m not big on crowds. Never have been.

I may have organized city-wide festivals and love being on stage, but entering a room of 600 strangers isn’t something I look forward to.

If you’re an introvert or empath, you can relate.

That’s why I was so surprised last month in San Diego when I experienced the power of a 2D community becoming a 3D one.

It’s all because of Facebook.

I’m one of those who joined social media really late in the game. I wanted to participate in my online course discussion groups.

At first, that was overwhelming too.

My B-School group had over 2000 students in it! It took me a while to accept that I couldn’t read everything or help everyone. I had to trust that I’d see what I was meant to see and let go of the rest.

The support and help I received when I had a question was amazing! I truly learned the value of a 2D online community during that course.

So when I joined Lisa Sasevich‘s Speak to Sell online course for big-hearted entrepreneurs this year, I brought that collaborative spirit to its Facebook group.  The exchange was rich.

It really helped me get more out of the course. I didn’t have to figure it all out on my own.

We also had group calls with Lisa, and I managed to get my questions answered on many of them.

So when I got to her bootcamp in San Diego, things were a lot different than the huge workshops I attended before the age of social media.

I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and hugged me or said things like:

“Oh Dominique, I was so hoping I’d meet you here”.

“Thank you for asking that question on the call. I was having the same problem!”

“You’re the one from Newfoundland! I loved my visit there …”

“I love your art! I’m so glad we’re getting to connect in person.”

I wasn’t a stranger surrounded by strangers.  Names and thumbnails were now real live people I’d shared with online. We could skip the small talk and connect at a deeper level.

My willingness to stretch my comfort zones by joining social media (and learn not to get swallowed up by it) led to a truly heart-warming real-life community experience.

For that I am grateful!

Oh – and it also helped me find 3 great roommates to share the expenses with. Now we’re friends and in our own little mastermind group!

What’s your favourite 2D online Group? Name 1 benefit of being a part of it in the comments below. I’d love examples and stories.