My good friend Adam Clark just blogged about why “Building Community Hurts” — and it’s true.  There are days (and sometimes it’s many days, continued one after the other) where you have to scratch your head and wonder if it’s all worth while? 

You organise user group events, people show up, consume a lot of pizza, and they leave.  Regardless of the emails, surveys or feedback forms go round, it seems like all you’re left with a bottomless black hole and a lot of empty pizza boxes.  You pour your heart and soul out hoping to make a difference - and you hear nothing, not even the [comical] sounds of crickets chirping.

…and it hurts.  I mean it really hurts.  The cruel reality is the more you put your body on the line, the more it hurts.   ….and the strangest part?  Deep down you knew it would go down this way.  ….and the stupid part?  You wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why?  Because one day you’ll be nursing you bruised, battered, sorry assed ego and you’ll get a phonecall or an e-mail out of nowhere.  It usually goes something like “Hey dude, you probably don’t remember me, but I was at your user group a few months ago.  I went back to work and tried doing some of the stuff that was mentioned in the session.  It was awesome.  It worked and I felt like a superstar.  Thankyou!“

You smile.  You chuckle to yourself.  Then it hits you.  It’s kind of like that feeling you get after you ace that exam you studied weeks for.  Except there’s no certificates, no exam report — just this stupid “ear to ear grin” knowing that you do make a difference. 

Now if you’re still reading this, don’t be sending me any soppy e-mails telling me how wonderful I am.  This isn’t an ego trip.  I have the cutest six month old son for that, he’s just about crawling by the way!  I am so screwed  :)

Anyway.  If I have compelled you somehow into a guilt trip, I need you to be mindful of two things:  (A) Give feedback. Take a moment over a cup of coffee to send something through  (B) Offer to present your experiences, even it’s 30 minutes.  Hindsight is a beautiful gift to share.  Give someone else an opportunity to feel like a superstar.

Yeah, Community hurts.  But for me personally, I believe community is a beautiful thing.  Adam, hang in there mate.  My hat goes off in respect to all the people, who make it their thing to kickstart communities wherever they are.