This year’s VMworld was the second that I had the pleasure of attending.  Last year had been my first, and while I had a good time, I didn’t really know anyone or even know what I wanted to get out of it, and I wasn’t the type to just walk up to someone I talked to on Twitter and introduce myself or engage in table talk.

And most nights, after the sessions were done, I would grab dinner alone and go back to my hotel.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year’s conference opened the door and showed how wide and vibrant the greater virtualization community is.  It encouraged me to get more active in my local VMUG, on twitter and through community events such as Virtual Design Master.

I put myself out there, and I grew as both an IT Professional and a person, and along the way, I made new connections and new friends, and my experience at VMworld this year was different because of it.

The moral of the story is to get involved with your local user communities.  Build relationships with others in your profession through groups like VMUG or AITP.  And if one doesn’t exist (or worse, inactive) build it up so others can get the same benefits.