There is nothing like going back to college for the weekend and acting like you belong there. Until your back pain kicks in and you realize, wow… we really need to get to bed early tonight.
But nothing is as exhilarating as the weekend we had, and it all happened right before we came home.
First, let me start with the fact that when I left on Friday to drive up we had the kind of sh*tshow you can’t plan for:
- My husband was flying to meet me there from a business trip in Las Vegas. His plane was so delayed he ended up rerouting, going home and then driving up Saturday morning (the benefit of having a kid choose a college 2 hours from home).
- Gramercy, our 12-year-old big dog had been coughing and not eating. I took her to the vet that morning
to learn she had Aspirated Pneumonia and needed a litany of meds and the appointment cost about as much as the frat boys paid for beer this weekend (it was Natty Light so it’s possible my math is correct here). - Our son was running his most-anticipated Cross Country meet of the season and we were bummed to miss it, and especially uneasy about leaving him with a sick dog and the responsibility of her medicine and trying to get food into her when he needed to focus on his race.
Needless to say, my stomach was a bundle of nerves when I left.
Once I arrived and hugged my daughter, I settled in and enjoyed Friday afternoon at several fraternity parties and a dinner out with my girl. Here’s where it all gets good.
Friday afternoon I saw a longtime friend, Matt, whose daughter has grown up with mine and today they are in the same sorority. He and I are both big fans of Jenn Sherman, the original Peloton cycling instructor. If you don’t yet know Jenn’s story, it’s a good one for all women with an idea and a little bit of chutzpah. Read it. If you’re not in the Peloton community, then you need to know…this is not just a fitness routine. This is a true community. I’ve followed Jenn on social since I first got my bike and tread in August 2019. Fun fact: I didn’t get on the bike until the following January because I don’t know how to ride a real bike and was petrified. It took me a few months before I could get through one of Jenn’s classes but I trained myself to get stronger because her playlists are simply the best and I didn’t want to miss out.
Back to the story.
Matt and I were discussing that Jenn had posted on her Instagram that she was headed to Bloomington to see her daughter. So we knew she was there. And everywhere we went all weekend… fraternity parties, football games, out to dinner, I’d say to my family “Eyes open, everyone. She could be anywhere.”
Jenn has said on her social that if we see her out and about not to be afraid, to say hello. And I planned to do so.
Before we even got there that weekend though, there’s more to the story.
Jenn has a second social media handle with her best friend, Pam, called @SunnyandJenn. This one kind of happened unplanned (watch this Big Marketing Minute to hear how). I’ve been following them as they learn to develop their business (and I’ve listened to their podcast episodes on Dear FoundHer with Lindsay Pinchuk and know they are getting the same kind of guidance we get in Marketing Made Simple).
A few weeks ago they shared a belt from a brand called MB Styles. They’ve also shared jewelry from this designer in the past. They shared a coupon code for the website and I realized that Meredith, the designer behind the brand, has a sister with whom I went to summer camp (and her boys know my son from the same camp). Fun fact: my leaderboard name for Peloton is KanugaRoadSOS because my summer camp is located on Kanuga Road. Do you see how this is all interconnected?
As someone who engages in social media not just for work but also as a consumer, I dove right in, used that code and purchased the reversible belt and a gold dot necklace and I love them both so much that I wore them this weekend in Bloomington.
Saturday night, we said goodbye to our daughter and were walking back to the hotel when I saw Jenn and her family walking toward us. I didn’t even hesitate.
Remember, she said we could.
“JENN SHERMAN!” I yelled out in the middle of the sidewalk. But wait. It got better. “I’m not a crazy person. I’m a friend of Lindsay’s Pinchuk’s and I’m in her marketing group.” It was insane. I got to hug her and thank her for all she does for the community. And her daughter noticed the belt and necklace. And that’s when it all came together… Peloton… camp… social… all of it.
Again, watch the Big Marketing Minute this week for the whole story.
This is a story based in social media, but it is because of real life community and connections that it happened.
Needless to say, I jumped the entire way back to the hotel, called my daughter screaming into the phone and kept saying to my husband, “I MET JENN SHERMAN TODAY!” It was a fantastic end to the weekend.
And, my stomach nerves are gone.
- My husband made it up in time to tailgate, go to the football game and go to a darty.
- Gramercy’s meds have kicked in and the coughing seems to be subsiding and she’s eaten some good, solid meals.
- Our son did great at that race and beat a 22-year-old 5K school record by 10 seconds. Though we are so sad to have missed the moment, we are so incredibly proud of his accomplishment and have seen a ton of accolades for him from friends, family and coaches.
If you are a small business, never underestimate the power of community and of real-life connections and how those translate to social media engagement. You can’t always plan for this kind of full-circle moment to happen, but when it does, jump all the way home with it. It’s pure magic.
by 
