Reading this brought back a lot of memories.
Sometimes we come up with ideas, but they remain just that ideas, wishes, what ifs. Not because they aren’t good enough, but because we overthink them into silence.
When the Birmingham Dynamics user group first came up, I was an unknown. I didn’t have experience of running a community. I didn’t know many people. Nobody knew me. And had I allowed myself to think "I don’t know anyone, why would anyone come?” - I probably would never have taken that first step.
But I did take it.
And a huge part of that was Parvez Ghumra.
We had exchanged a few messages online, but we’d never met in person. Yet he believed enough in the idea to help get the word out, to push it beyond my small circle. That single act of support helped turn a thought into a reality—and a Birmingham chapter was born.
Because of that first step, I went on to meet incredible leaders like Andrew Bibby, Feridun Kadir, Areti Iles Paul Murana Raz Dynamics Paul Bevins, Jeewan Bahra Erfan Siddiq and so many others.
Friendships, learning, opportunities, and impact—all from something that could easily have stayed as “just an idea”.
Then COVID hit.
Many user groups sadly shut down. Momentum was lost. Communities went quiet. But what endured were the friendships that had been built over time. Andrew Bibby thank you for this this to a whole new level, creating a foundation for something even bigger - a UK-wide community that today stands as UK Dynamics 365 & Power Platform User Groups (D365PPUG).
A community that has gone on to inspire so many people to grow, to present, to step out of their comfort zones and for some, that journey has even resulted in becoming MVP's. That my friends doesn’t happen by chance or accident.
So I want to genuinely recognise and thank all the leaders and chapter leaders who take time out of their already busy lives to organise events in their local regions. And just as importantly, the admin team working quietly in the background, often unseen—your contribution is massive and should never be taken lightly. These communities don’t run on logos or titles; they run on sacrifice, time, and sincerity.
If there’s something you’ve been sitting on for years—an idea, a community, a project, a conversation—take the plunge. Stop overthinking. Take the first step. You never know where it will lead, or whose life you might touch along the way.
And Parvez Ghumra - thank you once again dear friend. Truly. For the push, for believing early, and for opening doors to your contacts. I’m genuinely glad I sent you that message on 14th October 2016 at 10:00am. A small moment in time, but a historic one for me.