This week it occurred to me just how wonderful the Internet is and how it’s shaped my life since around 1995 when I was first really introduced to it. This blog, so simple to use and interact with now, was just a dream back then. Social media and networking hadn’t really come to its full potential 12 years ago and I think it still has a ways to go before it does, but what it’s done so far boggles the mind.

This week I found out about www.geni.com from a local newscast which features What’s New on the Net, weekly, something else that has changed over the last decade. News people using all the tools of the net to their advantage and letting their viewers interact with them. NBC 10 in Philadelphia has taken it the furthest with it’s All That & More broadcast, a completely interactive newscast where viewers share their opinions on news stories almost live. There’s polls, IM, chat rooms, forums, you name it and you can share your opinion.

But back to geni.com, taking the work the likes of LinkedIn has done for the business/career minded people and making it simple to connect with your family and build your family tree is amazing and easy to do. Try it out, I found within ten minutes with just the information in my head about my family I had built my family tree out to my grandparents and nephews and nieces. My wife who is really into genealogy built hers to her great-great grandparents in under 30 minutes. The power to connect with people is amazing online.

I also participated in an “old fashion” business card exchange this week through the Eastern Montgomery County (PA) Chamber of Commerce. I must say it was one of the better ones I’ve attended – sure the nice spread of food and drinks helped, but I also think it was the people in attendance that made it so successful. Maybe the web has helped people open up about themselves and their businesses more because they know the power that networking and connecting with people. And they realize this, because in the information age they are doing it constantly. What do you think? I made some solid connections and got about three or four leads from them, not bad for two hours work as I ate appetizers and handed out my card.

Well ’til next time, let me know what you think, Tim