Every time I return to Boulder from an Inman Connect event, I tell myself that I am going to capture the essence of the event in a blog post, not realizing that capturing the event in a blog post isn’t a blog post: it’s a book. The endeavor eludes me no more!

Let me first explain what the Inman organization means to me, and WellcomeMat via the following timeline:

- I left my full-time job in June of 2006, making 2,000 + outbound phone calls in less than two weeks.

-There were only two organizations that took the time to listen to me rant about WellcomeMat: ForSaleByOwner.com (Colby Sambrotto | Co-founder/COO) and Inman News.

- Inman News is the first news organization to ever write a story about WellcomeMat.

- Lots and lots of blind faith, and very hard work ensues…

>> Fast forward 6 months to the first Inman Connect event that a WellcomeMat team member (Phil) ever attended. Connect NYC, 2006

- Christian identifies Joel Burslem as someone that “get’s it” and is sure that he will become one of the most respected real estate bloggers/journalists. He sets up an appointment between Phil “DiVideo” DiGiulio and Joel during Connect NYC, 2006. They meet and, for some strange reason, Joel too thinks WellcomeMat might be a winner.

- Phil meets Joe and Rudy from Sellsius, Eric Hersman, Jeff Corbett and many other great people whom have also become long lasting friends.

What I am listing off in the above time line is the essence of WellcomeMat’s beginning, the very beginning of our struggle/climb, and some of the people/organizations that believed in WellcomeMat when there was nothing going for local video but belief and hope. This leads me to the close of this post: the essence of Inman News, and The Inman Connect Event.

Connect is the glue that holds progress within the real estate industry together. It is the core of progress, the core of hope, the core of positive/negative change, the place where startups are made through connections, and the meeting place for old/new friends all of whom make up the personality and back bone of real estate technology.

Thanks again to the Inman team for listening to WellcomeMat’s plight. You were one of the few that did early on, and we will always remember that. If you are dreaming up some crazy real estate technology idea, I just saved you 1999 cold calls.

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