Scene: Me, at a "CEO Dinner" in Bellevue on Wednesday evening talking with two world-reknowned experts: the founder of the second-largest domain name registrar, and a very well-known CEO who founded many successful companies in the domain and hosting space.
Our conversation went something like this:
Me: "I have a question about reselling domains; You guys both seem to know a lot about domains names."
Them (in unison): "*slight chuckle* Yeah."
me: *Silently realizing the credentials of who I was talking to, as though I had just asked Bill Gates for help with a computer problem I was having.*
Hey Jonathan~ You can't be "perfect" all of the time! I have made many dumb statements- just ask my husband!
Jon, my Granny would call that a reverse Kodak moment. We all have them at one point or another. :-)
Jon, its all good, your company still kicks their companies butt!
lol. Thanks for the laughs!
Jon, it's how you handle the moment right after your statement that counts. I hope you laughed with them. It's all good then!
Elaine, Yes! The rest of the conversation went well. One of them even offered a great domain name reseller price for us to pass on to our members. I am of the mindset thats it's okay to look dumb, and I never try to act like I know something when I don't. In fact being authentic in this way usually leads to learning something new.
I'm sure that you all laughed pretty hard after you came to your realization!
Hi Jon,
Well, I see I'm in good company.
Jon.....sounds like a good laugh and definately a better recovery!
Ha. I had nearly the exact same conversation with Google's Matt Cutts and Danny Sullivan (Seach Engine Land) at FOO Camp last year.
I thought I had a really compelling search problem. The question came out sounded like one of a million "local" sites with real estate spam and google ads.
Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for episode two---will it be out soon! I have a domain name I'd like to sell, as well! lol!
p.s. I have to ask: why is it that on some comments I need to type in a password and on some I don't---is it something you are working on? On this comment---there's no password to type in---yahooo! I love not having to type a password but I understand way you have it in the first place! Not complaining just "thinking out loud!"
Just a little British understatement... I know that I've done it. After all, should one say to Jacques Villenueve, "You're pretty fast, let me ask you..."
Very nice ice breaker:) I am sure the rest of the conversation was great!