2010: The Year Social Media Grows Up
Blogs, the keystone of Social Media, are no different from traditional media when it comes to this time between years. In December, bloggers post retrospectives of the year (or, in the case of 2009, a decade) or predict today what will come tomorrow.
In this posting, I intend to do both. While I never intended to use this blog to wax nostalgic or gaze into a crystal ball and pass along my visions of the future, a tweet did make me stop, think, and write this post.
“I am not a personal brand. I am a person.”
There is a touch of irony in what seems to be a very passionate cry amongst a deluge of noise on Twitter when you consider:
- The Twitter in question is a professional marketer.
- The Twitter in question runs a marketing firm based around online branding through Social Media.
- The Twitter in question tweets under a handle that is the name of their marketing firm.
To coin the iconic, one-word observation from Star Trek: “Fascinating.”
My prediction for Social Media in 2010 is it will struggle against acne, cringe at the sound of its own changing voice, and start to notice the opposite sex. Yes, Social Media will grow up; and its deeply entrenched Snake Oil Sales Staff will be forced to re-evaluate their place in it.
What started as a whisper at the beginning of the year has now becoming quite the trend. Here’s a cross-section of observations my Google-search “Social Media Snake Oil Salesmen” revealed: Read the rest of this entry »
PREVIEW: Books & Braun (Recorded LIVE at World Fantasy 2009)
Recorded before a live audience at World Fantasy Convention and produced at Imagine That! Studios, award-winning podcaster and award-nominated author Philippa Ballantine and I unveiled (with the blessings of our literary agent) a work-in-progress now working its way through submissions: Books & Braun, a Steampunk take on The Avengers. This is the first time that we have revealed to the public any selections from the work, and our plan is to eventually podcast it in this fashion: Pip and I supplying the character’s respective point-of-view, production elements, a musical score, and artwork featured by Carrie Seidman. We hope you enjoy this listen at what we have cooking in the creative kitchen.
ATTENTION BLOGGERS & PODCASTERS: We are releasing this reading under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Both Pip and I encourage you to syndicate this episode and point your subscribers to this endeavor of ours. We also would love to hear your feedback on this preview both here and at Pip’s website. Thank you for giving us a bit of space on your mp3 player of choice, and we will keep you posted on what happens with our daring duo from the clandestine organization that is The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.
PREVIEW: Books & Braun (Recorded LIVE at World Fantasy 2009) [30:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadA Special “In Your Right Mind” Episode…
From Bird House Rules comes a special In Your Right Mind episode, co-produced with Whispers at the Edge. Three times the size of a usual In Your Right Mind, this special edition is part-Social Media discussion/part-Arts Review of Cirque Du Soleil. Cirque offered to Blogworld attendees free tickets to any of their shows in exchange for reviews of whatever show they saw.
Special guest Philippa Ballantine and I are reviewing three:
Yes, Ká was that good!
We wanted to say “Thank you” and go above and beyond what Cirque asked of us. Enjoy this special edition of Bird House Rules and Whispers at the Edge, and make plans to catch a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas.
Bird House Rules Artwork by Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios
Feel free to syndicate this audio, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on Bird House Rules at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, Twitter, or here at the Bird House Rules Blog!
From the “Microsoft, What Were You Thinking?!” Files…
After the Seinfeld-Gates marketing debacle, I didn’t think Microsoft could make anything more awkward than those ill-executed commercials.
I was so very, very wrong.
First, a disclaimer: As you may know, I am a Mac user. I make no apologies or smoke screen my love (on some days, reluctant) for the Apple. I want to make it clear that I’m not criticizing (in any way) Windows 7. So far, I have heard nothing but positive buzz about what it is promising.
My review (or rant, whichever you prefer) is about Windows 7 Launch Parties, the latest marketing effort from Microsoft. Their tutorial, “Hosting Your Party”, makes Battlefield Earth look like Lord of the Rings, and begs the question “Does Microsoft thrive on ridicule?” Read the rest of this entry »
The Golden Unicorn: Do Social Media Jobs Really Exist?
Is there such a thing as a full time job in Social Media? Of course, there are many job listings out there calling for it, and for those of you who are also following me on TeeMorris.com, you know that an influence on my posts and podcasts here growing further and further off can be attributed to my new position at Intersections in Chantilly, Virginia. I intend to address this lifestyle change in a later post; but for now, I’d like to take a moment to look closer at this elusive brass ring: the full time Social Media gig.
Many listings tend to make Social Media part of another position. Public Relations Manager. Communications Manager. Marketing Manager. This insinuates that Social Media, while important, could not really be that time consuming. Such insinuation you also get from employers looking for experienced Social Media producers, offering their available positions as internships.
The internships don’t bother me as much as the businesses looking for Social Media Gurus, Oracles, and (no kidding) Buckaroos.
My final post concerning Twitter…
What you are now reading is Imagine That! Studios’ final post concerning Twitter.
No, I am not shutting down my Twitter feed nor am I totally burned out (as my pal, Gennefer Snowfield, has vented with me before…) on posts about Twitter. I have decided that I will no longer be posting my thoughts on Twitter here.
Instead, I will be posting on Twitter here.
Birdhouse Rules is my new blog, just launched this week and still growing (comments and critiques are most welcome), that will serve as the official home of this book:
Yes, All a Twitter from myself and Que Publishing — and sporting one snappy foreword from Social Media juggernaut Chris Brogan — is now out! You can go into any Barnes & Noble bookstore and pick up a copy.
Birdhouse Rules is the official companion blog and podcast for both All a Twitter and (coming soon) Teach Yourself Twitter in 10 Minutes. The blog and podcast (also coming soon) will focus on developments with the book, new issues with Twitter, upgrades with popular clients, Twitter in the News, and questions & answers asked by readers and listeners. And just like In Your Right Mind, the episodes will be under ten minutes, exceptions being the good interview, round table discussion, or SVEs (Special Video Editions). Since Birdhouse Rules is going to be all things Twitter, I have decided to direct traffic there for people who want to find answers concerning Social Media’s unstoppable (and dare I say, unflappable) network.
Another reason why I will no longer be posting Twitter items on this blog is that I tend to find regurgitation in the blogosphere somewhat questionable and somewhat lazy. What do I mean? I have seem some “professional, successful bloggers” boast that they host several blogs and manage content with a master’s Fu. Visit this “network” of blogs, though, and the postings tend to be links to other blogs, or (I love this one) the same blogpost merely copied-and-pasted into a different location. “Content for Content’s Sake” does not work for me as a sound blogging ethic. If I want to set up a blog for Twitter, then I’ll generate content original and exclusive for that blog. Sure, I can borrow segments and even media from other blogposts, but I will still generate something new and original around the segments I cite from other sources. That is quality content management. Otherwise, I become no better than — to use an example from All a Twitter — the yahoo who is merely retweeting others and defining that as “participation” on a social network.
Before I return to the final two chapters of Teach Yourself Twitter in 10 Minutes, I did want to bring to light a recent revelation, something that — yes — I did blog about on Birdhouse Rules but wanted to share with you here as part of my “final” Twitter post. In the first week of All a Twitter‘s release, people are tweeting it up and giving it a nice, solid introduction to the world. I’ve been treading lightly when it comes to promoting the book on Twitter as I do not want to become “that guy” on Twitter pushing their latest book/software/hardware/crap on to the network. However, the book won’t sell itself.
Then it dawned on me: hashtags. You know — hashtags? From Chapter Six, page 123? Hashtags (a keyword preceded by a pound sign, such as #allatwitter, for example) are convenient tracking devices for tweets. If enough people use a particular hashtag of my creation, All a Twitter could easily creep into the Trending Topics of Twitter alongside Harry Potter, Firefox 3, and New Zealand. This way, I can promote (and so can you) in a fashion that won’t be considered abusive or obtrusive.
So please, when you are talking about All a Twitter or if you have a question for me concerning Twitter, use this hashtag:
#allatwitter
Thank you again for all the support, kind words, and “At-a-boy’s” for this week’s premiere. Keep talking, keep tweeting, and if you would care to have me on your blog or podcast to talk Twitter, drop me a line!
Radio New Zealand: “It’s All Geek to Me” (Part III)
And here is the conclusion of my morning at Radio New Zealand and Chris Laidlaw of Sunday Morning. Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, arranged this interview with Chris, and here we wrap up with the addiction of Social Media and the best way to handle it.
While you can find the audio here, Imagine That! presents (with gracious permission from RNZ) an exclusive video of our morning in Wellington, NZ.
Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, on Twitter, or here at Imagine That!
Radio New Zealand: “It’s All Geek to Me” (Part II)
With special thanks to Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, for making this interview happen, here is Part Two of my morning at Radio New Zealand and Chris Laidlaw of Sunday Morning. On the “National Public Radio” for the Land of the Long White Cloud, Chris and I focus a bit on Twitter and Facebook and we discuss when “so much information” is “too much information.”
While you can find the audio here, Imagine That! presents (with gracious permission from RNZ) an exclusive video of our morning in Wellington, NZ.
Part Three (and maybe some pre-interview banter) will becoming shortly. Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, on Twitter, or here at Imagine That!
Radio New Zealand: “It’s All Geek to Me” (Part I)
Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, introduced me to Radio New Zealand who, in turn, introduced me to Chris Laidlaw of Sunday Morning. RNZ is the “National Public Radio” for the Land of the Long White Cloud, and Chris opened his mics up for me to talk about being geek, the impact of podcasting, and a few things concerning Twitter.
This was a fun interview; and while you can find the audio here, Imagine That! presents (with gracious permission from RNZ) an exclusive video of our morning in Wellington, NZ.
Part Two (and maybe some pre-interview banter) will becoming shortly. Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, on Twitter, or here at Imagine That!
ANTI-Social Media: Part Four — Mainstream Mistakes and Conclusion
Welcome to the conclusion of my video miniseries, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0. This is the final segment where I go into the common assumptions and poor judgment calls the “mainstream” (defined here as those not willing to give Social Media attention) has made concerning the potential in blogging, podcasting, and social networking tools. I admit there was a huge gap between Part Three and the final part, but keep an eye here for the reasons (all good) as to why!
Filmed at the Merrill-Lynch Conference Center in Washington, DC and hosted by the Washington Network Group, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0 are case studies on Social Media when initiatives fall short. It is clear from the demand for Social Media in the professional sector and the popularity of Facebook and Twitter that companies and organizations are anxious to tap into this potential and promising outlet. Unfortunately there are many failures that cast doubt on whether or not these initiatives truly work.
The problem isn’t the media, but how it is handled.
Featured in this final segment are the success stories of Social Media (and the nod to CNN was before their Race to 1M followers which still disappoints me…) as well as my own personal secret in achieving success with Web 2.0 initiatives.
Thank you, all, for joining me in this mini-series. If you liked what you saw, rest assured: More is on the horizon here at Imagine That! Studios.
Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
The new look for Imagine That!
So yeah, this is a new look for the blog. Please, let me know what you think.
ANTI-Social Media: Part Three — Socially-Challenged Networking
Welcome to Part Three of my video miniseries, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0. This segment is the longest one yet (close around the 20-minute mark!) as I talk about two social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter. I also give some playful shout-outs to Chris Brogan, Robert Scoble, and Jeff Pulver. For those of you who are subscribed to the high-resolution downloads, the video is going to be a good chunk of data (the joys of video podcasting) but worth the time and space!
Filmed at the Merrill-Lynch Conference Center in Washington, DC and hosted by the Washington Network Group, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0 are case studies on Social Media when initiatives fall short. It is clear from the demand for Social Media in the professional sector and the popularity of Facebook and Twitter that companies and organizations are anxious to tap into this potential and promising outlet. Unfortunately there are many failures that cast doubt on whether or not these initiatives truly work.
The problem isn’t the media, but how it is handled.
I put myself under the microscope in Part Three as I talk about the blurring lines between the professional life and the personal one. From Facebook, I move to Twitter where I make a connection between new school Twitter tech, old school marketing, and high school hijinx.
Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
ANTI-Social Media: Part Two — When Does a Podcast Become Problematic?
Presented by the In Your Right Mind podcast, this is Part Two of my video miniseries, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0. I could not be happier with the reactions from Part One (which included a shout-out from Wellington, New Zealand) and I’m thrilled to share this event with you.
Filmed at the Merrill-Lynch Conference Center in Washington, DC and hosted by the Washington Network Group, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0 is my seminar on where Social Media falls short. It is clear from the demand for Social Media in the professional sector and the popularity of Facebook and Twitter that companies and organizations are anxious to tap into this potential and promising outlet. Unfortunately there are many failures that cast doubt on whether or not these initiatives truly work.
The problem isn’t the media, but how it is handled.
Part Two takes delves into podcasting and three case studies where expectations and results fell far from the intended goals…assuming there was a “goal” in place to begin with.
Feel free to share this video, and provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
ANTI-Social Media: Part One — When Does a Blog Go Bad?
Welcome to what will be special video features from In Your Right Mind. Anytime I speak, I intend to film the event and then edit the footage together to create a miniseries for your iPod or iTouch. This event turned out great, and I’m thrilled to be able to share this event with you.
Filmed at the Merrill-Lynch Conference Center in Washington, DC and hosted by the Washington Network Group, ANTI-Social Media: What NOT to Do with Web 2.0 is my seminar on where Social Media falls short. It is clear in the demand for Social Media in the professional sector and the popularity of Facebook and Twitter that companies and organizations are anxious to tap into this potential and promising outlet, yet there are many failures that cast doubt on whether or not these initiatives work.
The problem isn’t the media, but how it is handled.
In the opening of this seminar I look at blogs and go into two instances where the marketing plan behind two corporate blogs backfired. I also go into the lessons learned from these case studies.
Feel free to provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
CREATE 2009: Sun, Surf, and Social Media!
photo by Kreg Steppe
As you might have guessed, this image is a favorite of mine. I absolutely love it. I’m hoping that I will have a new image to add to my gallery from the same photographer at the same event as I gear up for…
CREATE 2009
Saturday, April 25
all day
hosted at
Horry Georgetown Technical College
Grand Strand Campus
Myrtle Beach, SC
I have been asked by CREATE’s organizer, Dave Slusher, to return to the beautiful beaches of South Carolina for a day of creative thinking and passion on Social Media. This event is free to the public and a great place to learn creative concepts from creative people of the South. The one-day event is still in the planning phases, but I have accepted the invitation and invite you all to attend.
Ξ
And don’t forget: This week you have two chances to catch me speaking on Social Media. The Washington Network Group and The Washington DC Write to Publish Group have invited me to come in and speak, and I am thrilled to present:
ANTI-Social Media: What Not to Do in Web 2.0
Thursday, February 26
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
hosted by
The Washington Network Group
Merrill Lynch Conference Center, 6th Floor
1152 Fifteenth Street, NW
Ξ
Social Media for Writers: Making Web 2.0 Your Marketing Machine
Saturday, February 28
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
hosted by
The Washington DC Write to Publish Group
Arlington Central Library
1015 N. Quincy St., 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Arlington, VA
Feel free to pass along the appearance links on your own feeds, and I hope to talk to you then!
In Your Right Mind — Episode #3: Making an Impact with Avatars
What does your profile picture on your blogs, on Facebook, or elsewhere on the web, say about you? In this episode of In Your Right Mind, we look at avatars, the images associated with your online presence. While some businesses tend to lean toward their logo as an avatar, you can allow yourself a personal touch while still staying professional…
Avatar for Imagine That! on Twitter
Or make a statement as Imagine That! did concerning the Internet Blackout for New Zealand:
Here were other creative statements made during Blackout:
top row (l to r): author and podcaster P.G. Holyfield,
podcaster Brandon Hill, web designer Rita Lewis
bottom row (l to r): David Van Sunder of Flying Squirrel Media,
open avatar as used by Leo LaPorte, Neil Gaiman, and Stephen Fry,
attorney and podcaster Kevin Crosby
So while images can speak a thousand words, avatars can go even further online. So what would you want you avatar to say?
Feel free to provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
Talking the Talk in Washington D.C.
photo by Kreg Steppe
Are you in the Washington D.C. area, within driving distance of the Nation’s capital, or happen to be in my stomping grounds next week? If you are, you have two chances to catch me speaking on Social Media. The Washington Network Group and The Washington DC Write to Publish Group have invited me to come in and speak, and I am thrilled to present:
ANTI-Social Media: What Not to Do in Web 2.0
Thursday, February 26
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
hosted by
The Washington Network Group
Merrill Lynch Conference Center, 6th Floor
1152 Fifteenth Street, NW
Ξ
Social Media for Writers: Making Web 2.0 Your Marketing Machine
Saturday, February 28
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
hosted by
The Washington DC Write to Publish Group
Arlington Central Library
1015 N. Quincy St., 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Arlington, VA
If you are in the area, I hope you can make it for the discussions. Feel free to pass along the appearance links on your own feeds, and I hope to talk to you then!
This Is Just Part of What I Do…
If you follow me on either of my Twitter accounts, you might have noticed that my updates averaging 50 – 100 a day tapered off for a while…
Well, okay, they dropped off rather suddenly. Two weeks ago, as a matter of fact.
If you missed at TeeMorris.com my interview on Conversations with Coach Ian Scott, I can sum it up as “the last week of January.” A series of events that week suggested I step away from Twitter for a spell. I needed some downtime, some time online where there was no signal as well as no noise. What was odd about this “Twitter Moratorium” was I remained plugged in to Facebook. I took some time to get to know the networking platform a bit better. (Sadly, this was before Facebook came out with their somewhat broad Terms of Service update. Not sure if there is a blogpost from me in there, but I am now looking at them with a cautious eye.) During my break from the community, I was still working on expending my network by attending Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Breakfast here in Washington D.C. Even with keeping my toe dipped in the Social Media pool, this Twitter hiatus I found liberating. I found it educational. I also found it a bit ironic.
Why “ironic” you ask? The other reason I took a break from Twitter was because I had just closed negotiations with Que Publishing to write All a Twitter. Yes, my next book will be out this summer and it will cover something I am truly passionate over: Twitter. I guess my 28,000 updates on TeeMonster are finally going to amount to something.
Oh, you didn’t misread me — the book will be out this summer. As in June. As in to make sure we have time and ability to polish and edit the manuscript, I have roughly two months to write this book. Two months. Why the rush? Let’s just say, much like with Twitter itself, it’s a personal issue and an accomplishment I would love to achieve.
Back to that “Cone of Silence” I took a brief getaway in…
So I stepped back from Twitter to ask myself if I could seriously do this. A solid resource for both the experienced and novice user, in two months time. Was something like that possible? Could I have that much to say about Twitter? I figured I would find out soon enough as I took a seat in my studio, installed Que’s Word template, and started Chapter One.
In two weeks I produced over 20,000 words and over thirty screen captures, all based around Twitter. Today I turned in 25% of the manuscript to the publisher.
I think I’m off to a good start.
So what this means is that my MOREVI projects, both the podcast of Legacy of MOREVI and the writing of Exodus from MOREVI, have been put on hold until All a Twitter and another creative project (that I had begun developing only a few weeks before this request from Que) have been completed. I will still be on Twitter, taking notes on what’s happening around me as I forge ahead. I will also blog progress reports on All a Twitter, post forthcoming episodes of In Your Right Mind, and continue commentaries on creative solutions and ideas for the workplace. There will also be video and audio clips from speaking events that are starting to come in, and news on a future talk I will be giving in New Zealand. You can expect all that here.
You can also expect me to be ready to celebrate, come Balticon 43, the pending release of what will be the all-in-one-and-all-around-go-to-guide for Twitter.
This is going to be a fun ride, everybody. Strap in and hold on to something.
Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Breakfast: A Review
Jeff Pulver & Tee Morris at the Social Media Breakfast
Washington, D.C.
I have been called a “master of self-promotion” and sometimes been accused of being a “shameless promoter” but I look at what I do as just meeting people and having a good time doing so. Networking is something that, believe it or not, makes me nervous. When I am invited to networking opportunities, I always cringe. (Yes, it’s that same cringe when I’m called a “podcasting pioneer” which I am…but I cringe, nonetheless.) I do not necessarily want to be perceived as someone who has something to sell all the time, nor do I want to be pitched on things that I have no interest in whatsoever. Still, I love connecting with people and I love chatting with folks who are as passionate about subjects I’m passionate about. So when I RSVP-ed on Facebook to Jeff Pulver that I was going to attend his Social Media Breakfast at USTelecom in Washington D.C., I was as nervous as I was excited. Once again, I was connecting with Social Media enthusiasts as I did at Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Jungle in Las Vegas; but I was also heading into what I knew was going to be a networking event.
Now if you are not familiar with Jeff Pulver, you should check out his website where his schedule of appearances, his commentary on Social Media, and his photography are all featured. When it comes to Social Media, he is one of the pioneers and continues to spread the word about it through talks and sponsored events like the Social Media Breakfasts. If you are not familiar with Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Breakfasts, I recommend you check out his orientation on Facebook where he explains to you exactly what they are all about. The breakfast starts with a few words from the sponsor (in this case, USTelecom who took great care of us!) and Jeff himself, where he introduces his Social Media Toolkit:
- A ball point pen
- Two blank name tags
- A sheet of smaller labels.
On one label, you write your name and a personal tagline, something that sums you up quickly and memorably. (I was particularly pleased with August Jackson’s tagline: I can haz Social Media.) The other label remains blank, but not for long as the breakfast attendees “tag” you with the smaller labels, creating a “real time-real world” tag cloud. The exercise is not only revealing in how you are perceived by others but a brilliant demonstration in how tag clouds work online.
It is also a wonderful icebreaker.
The Breakfast’s atmosphere, particularly with those who are playing along with the tagging, is extremely disarming. I never felt, at any point, with guards up or anxiety that I was coming across as overly aggressive. (Alright, maybe my networking tactics with Shireen Mitchell as captured in my Flickr account could be argued as “aggressive” but that is open to interpretation…) Those attending the breakfast had no agenda outside of connecting and communicating with others embracing Social Media; and while you might think that would be a given considering this was a Social Media Breakfast, I have attended other “social” events that were actually networking opportunities. Those best forgotten events made me want to shower under high-pressure nozzles afterward. Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Breakfast was a great mixer, and never was the social aspect of it missing. I not only made connections, but I had a great time.
If Jeff is bringing this to a town near you, attend. Whether you are an active participant in Social Media, someone interested in implementing Social Media, or simply wanting to connect with others working with Social Media, this is unlike any networking opportunity you might attend. For that morning, I joined others unified under banners of blogging, podcasting, Twitter, and Facebook, making the Breakfast less networking and more of a homecoming. I felt very welcomed and met some really incredible people. Jeff Pulver’s Social Media Breakfast also reminded me exactly why I enjoy Social Media so very much.
Jeff will be returning to Washington D.C. in April with his Social Media Jungle. After this terrific event on a very cold February morning, I look forward to warmer weather and even more promising opportunities coming in April.
In Your Right Mind: Episode #2
So you’re listening to me and other Social Media experts and enthusiasts, and you’re leaning more towards producing a podcast. Before you hit record, it is crucial to create a plan for your podcast. What are your goals and how much time do you want to invest? Asking important questions before manning the microphone will help you achieve success with your production
Feel free to provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
How a Nice Game of Chess Can Protect Your Company’s Image
Chess, from Lewis Carroll’s classic Through the Looking Glass to the Cold War techno-thriller WarGames, has always served as an allegory for strategy. The real trick in this Game of Kings is to think several moves ahead, considering as many outcomes as possible. This is a valuable lesson we can live by in business. Even when times are at their best, regardless of where you are in the corporate hierarchy, all possible outcomes should be considered, followed up by the important question “How will this reflect on me?”
Is this hesitation? No, this is critical thinking — devising fast, creative solutions as you are looking down the road for what is waiting around the corner. This is why chess is not only good for the mind but good for business. It would have definitely helped out Citigroup as a lack of strategic thinking made their failing business image (a loss of $8.29 billion dollars at the end of 2008, and accepting $45 billion dollars of public bailout funds) even worse.
To sum up the week Citigroup has been weathering, The New York Post released on Monday the financial entity was planning to invest part of their bailout funds on the Dassault Falcon 7X, a luxury jet that seats up to twelve, sports a plush interior with leather seats, sofas and entertainment center, clocks in a top speed of 559 MPH, and can travel 5,950 miles on one tank. All for the low, low price of $50 million dollars.
A tidy sum, Mr. Bigglesworth…
Where chess would have really helped out Citigroup here was on November 10, 2008. The bailout plans were already in motion, a new president had been elected, and change and optimism could be felt in the air. Also on this day, FAA records showed Citigroup reserving a new tail number, N488GS. While there are no confirmations, this new tail number seemed to be set aside for an incoming 7X which would join CitiFlight’s Gulf Sierra Fleet. (Yes, I said fleet. As in more than one private jet.) Citigroup, had they taken a moment to think ahead, could have seen the horrific image this would portray to its current and potential customers in light of a less-than-popular multi-billion dollar government bailout. Without taking consequences in mind, they continued with business as usual; and spent this week circling the wagons while others bandied about arguments such as “The planes were signed off two years ago when things were good…” and “Deposits on the 7X had already been made…” as if these were legitimate reasons to continue investment into a $50M plane with public funds.
This morning, in response to The White House asking them if a Falcon 7X was really a wise investment, Citigroup cancelled their order. Mind you, they did not cancel the order to “make it right”. Based on the actions of November 10 and three days of no comments, it’s clear the order was canceled because they got caught.
Is this the image you want to portray?
The decisions you make, whether for yourself or for your company, are powerful reflections of who you are, what you and your company stand for, and how you interact with your clients and handle their problems. In the lesson of chess, it is good to consider as many outcomes as you can, keeping in mind there will always be surprises (both good and bad). You must also consider when the time to act is evident. Strategy is merely groundwork for when to move your Rook or call for a Castle (hence the need for clocks alongside chess masters); but when you act, you now have contingencies in place in case one of those afore mentioned surprises appear.
And sometimes, the best strategy is to stop and apply common sense. How would Citigroup have saved themselves on taking a moment to ask “Is it a good idea, when we’re receiving bailout money, to go on and purchase a $50 million dollar jet?”
A moment of consideration can decide checkmate, particularly in the corporate world.
In Your Right Mind: Episode #1
As you read this posting or listen to this podcast, I will be on a plane heading west. Las Vegas, baby! I’ll be attending the Social Media Jungle, hosted by Jeff Pulver at the CES 2009 Expo. If you didn’t know about this event, you can still join us. If you are planning to be there, I would love to meet you! Don’t be shy.
And if you use the phrase…
“You’re Tee Morris? I’m all a Twitter.”
…on meeting me in Vegas, I’ll have a “special” moo card for you. I only have a few, so make sure you remember the special greeting.
Since I am heading out to Sin City to brave the Social Media Jungle, I thought building social communities would be a good topic for this episode. We take a look at the real costs of a Social Media initiative to your business. It’s not money. It’s not even resources of your workplace, or even your computer.
The cost is time.
Feel free to provide feedback or topics you’d like to hear discussed on In Your Right Mind at 703.791.1701, tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com, or here at Imagine That!
In Your Right Mind: Promo
As I am a man of my creative word, I have produced a promo for In Your Right Mind. Feel free to feature it in your own podcasts, and if you would like to record for the show a bumper such as…
“Hi, this is [your name here] of [your business, podcast, endeavor], and you are listening to In your Right Mind.”
…I will gladly feature it in a future episode. Feel free to email bumpers
at tmorris (at) imaginethatstudios (dot) com.
In Your Right Mind: Episode #0
As mentioned in my previous blogpost and throughout the week on Twitter, I have been working on something special for 2009, something new from Imagine That! to herald an exciting new year of possibilities and opportunities…
Well, here it is!
Welcome to the beginning of the latest podcast project from Tee Morris. In Your Right Mind, officially launching on Tuesday, January 6, in celebration of the Social Media Jungle and CES 2009, is your monthly ten-minute visit to the right side of my brain. Along with the content featured here, In Your Right Mind will feature creative solutions for the workplace. I am very excited about this podcast, and after Tuesday’s launch, I hope you will be, too.
Concerning Web 3.0: Cutting the Red Wire (Part One of Three)
I started reading up on Web 3.0 when I heard ReadWriteWeb regard it as the next big thing in the Internet’s evolution. Web 3.0 is becoming such a big deal that an expo all about it happened last month, preparing people for what was needed to handle this next wave. But what would Web 3.0 actually be? Will there be direct interfaces with a computer network as seen in The Matrix or Tron? Would it be something more ominous as seen in Eagle Eye where people can use technology of any kind to keep tabs on one’s whereabouts? How about something like Tom Cruise’s interface from Minority Report (the link is the scene in Spanish, but the clip shows what I’d love to see one day) where the monitor was your work environment? Yes, my imagination was running rampant.
Funny I spared a thought on the Cruise-Wagner-Speilberg offering because it turns out Web 3.0 is all about a specific scene from that movie. According to Amiad Solomon, CEO of Peer39, in his keynote address at the earlier mentioned expo, Web 3.0 is “…the monetization and commercialization of Web 2.0.” The more I read, the more I thought about that scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise is walking around with his new eyes. Remember that? Cruise crosses through a public transport station, gets a quick retina scan, and then is personally addressed by holographic advertisements, directly catering to wants, needs, and desires.
Note: Web 3.0 is a bit like this, and the bit I’m talking about doesn’t involve the super-cool holograms. What I’m taking from the online chatter is that Web 3.0 is all about advertising specifically addressing an individual’s wants and needs based on web surfing habits. Even though the first use of “Web 3.0″ has been cited in the New York Times back in 2006, the concept is starting to pick up momentum as a new business buzz term, and some 2.0 “weblebrities” are scrambling to find out how they can continue their tenuous hold on to their “authority” titles.
Am I worried? Well, yes…but not about what you may think. On reading and re-reading my collected Web 3.0 resources, I thought of two words: Dot-Bomb.
Right now, I’m getting that whole Jack Bauer vibe, one hand gripping a pair of wire cutters, the other hand on my iPhone speaking through a tightened jaw “Chloe, I need you talk me through this OR WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!” In my overly vivid imagination I am picturing a time bomb that is Web 3.0, its digital timer ticking down and a rainbow display of wires desperately needing to be cut.
This is my take on an upgrade might be a bit premature. Let’s start cutting, shall we?
Red Wire: Step in your wayback machines before the days of blogging, podcasting, and Twitter. (Hard to do, I know, but work with me…) Just shy of the end of 2000, Dot-Coms were the kudzu of the Internet. Turn a corner in a city’s or state’s technology corridor, and you would see a new Dot-Com logo gracing the side of a high-rise or business plaza. It was a good time to be a geek, and quite a few did inherit the Earth. For a brief time.
I was calling “Shenanigans!” though when I heard a news report about a Dot-Com that invested 3-million dollars into a Super Bowl ad. They gleefully commented “It’s been six months since running that ad. We’ve shown earnings of 1-million. We’re doing great!”
I’m not a math wizard, but isn’t that the same accounting behind our current economic woes?
So when the Dot-Bomb detonated, there was no reason to be surprised. It happened on account of bad business, poor budgeting, fuzzy math, and a lack of understanding in how the Internet works, what the Internet audience expects, and how businesses regard the Internet. Now, a new “Advance Guard” is heralding the arrival of Web 3.0, basing their model of success on…?
Exactly. *snip*
The timer is still ticking, but we cannot rush this process. We need to take our time and carefully, strategically, disarm this potential disaster. This post is merely the beginning, so see you next week as I continue this realistic look at the supposed next big thing of the Interactive Internet.
Imagine That! for 2008-10-13
- @edgizmo Well played, sir, on @indianajim. Well played indeed! #
- @batterista What kind of brew were you thinking about taking with you? I recommend Dogfish Head. A fine dram. #
- @carriegouldin *LOL* THAT’S why @cwseidman only wears it at the cons! And she’s good people. (Thanks for the kudos.) #
- @spygrl Does it surprise you, disappoint you, or shock you? #
- @carriegouldin *LOL* i think my snark just crept into this account. As for my own journey, I’m still moving forward, and I have a new blog. #
- @carriegouldin Well….nobody’s perfect.
# - @PhilippaJane My TinyURL didn’t like my last blogpost, apparently. #
- @DVDQuotes Roddy Piper. THEY LIVE. #
- @PhilippaJane I shut down my MySpace officially this weekend. I decided to focus more on Facebook. #
- @PhilippaJane Companies are using Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogging, and (of course) Podcasting. Some are still hanging in there with MySpace. #
- I should get cracking on MOREVI: RM, but a blogpost should be on order and I have one almost completed. #
- @PhilippaJane If you need any last minute factoids/advice/pep talking, you can ping me!
#
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Let’s Get Physical!
A real challenge in being creative is keeping the ideas coming. Over the summer, I have caught myself sitting in my studio before the Silicon Altar, aimlessly plodding through a morning, surfing the Internets and its vacuum tubes, not really accomplishing much of anything. For someone dedicated to creativity and fast-thinking, this is a dangerous habit to develop that is extremely hard to break.
Last month, I had figured out what the problem was. I was out of my exercising routine.
I’m no Michael Phelps, but swimming has become something of a passion. A few weeks following Dragon*Con, I resumed my aquatic routine. Already I have noticed a dramatic change in my productivity. Within the first week of returning to the water, I produced three podcasts, hit a stride with Chapter Sixteen of MOREVI: Remastered, and clocked in some valuable writing time with Exodus from Morevi. This was all in the first week.
Exercise is just as valuable a tool in being creative as a good microphone, a DV camera, or a fully-loaded computer. Being active keeps you alert, fit, and most of all, thinking. After a workout, your blood is flowing, the endorphins are kicking, and creative concepts are easier to come by.
Ah, but what about the time taken for a workout? Isn’t that time away from a project or a deadline? I regard it as necessary time away. Writer’s Block, burn-out, and dry idea wells can usually be attributed to stress. Stress can come from working all the time, so give yourself a break. Step away from the mouse. Hit the gym. Whether it’s a walk around a track, a lap in the pool, or pumping iron, you find a routine that works for you and stick with it. Also, workouts are a great time to get caught up or discovering new podcasts…
Yes, even in the pool!
You can be efficient in planning for a workout by packing a bag with workout clothes toiletries, and a towel. (Don’t ever forget your towel!) This way you can drive straight from the day job to the gym instead of come home after a day in the salt mines and lumberyards, change clothes, get to the gym, go at it, and then come home to shower. That routine tends to make long days feel even longer. Plan ahead, and also plan to start slowly and simply. My own swimming regiment started humbly with one-hundred-and-fifty yards. Three laps. Before the year was out I was up to a thousand yards (twenty laps) within half-an-hour. Give yourself easy-to-reach and reasonable goals, and if you have previous injuries/conditions, consult a physician on what exercise or activities will work best for you.
The pressure is on when your work relies on creativity, so consider your personal health. If you find yourself completely at a loss for ideas, power down your creative station and give yourself some time to burn calories. Approach your exercise as you would a creative project. As you progress in your workout routines, you will find that your endurance builds as well as your productivity. Yes you might lose an hour here and there, but you will also loose a few pounds (or kilos, for my international readers) as well. When it comes to producing ideas, you are your most valuable resource. Make sure you don’t neglect it.
Imagine That! for 2008-10-09
- @DDog In all honesty, there have been times remasterign has been a time saver. Other times, re-recording has been the right choice. #
- Roughly 60% of Chapter Seventeen has been cleaned up. Two restored scenes. Will probably post sometime next week. #
- @batterista Considering the current events, that’s a fortune that makes sense. #
- @LeStew Logitech may have some inexpensive alternatives. Check http://tinyurl.com/3lajwg for more ideas and options. #
- @LeStew In many cases you get what you pay for when you go cheap. What is your prince range for a USB mic? #
- @edgizmo Working on that, sir….working on that… #
- @batterista I would try to find someone at Wikipedia and put in a query. If you’re thinking “foul play” I’d make a case. #
- @batterista Have the powers-that-be at Wikipedia offered valid reason why your client is being omitted? #
- @edgizmo LOOSEN UP!!! *boom*
# - @edgizmo “We’re too CLOSE!” #
- Resisting the urge to fine tune the new http://teemorris.com and turning attention to MOREVI, Chapter 17. #
- Good morning, Twitters everywhere and all the ships at sea. Heading to Morevi for some audio cleanup. #
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Imagine That! for 2008-10-08
- @CWSeidman Ooops…that last tweet of mine was for you. (The AUSA reference was probably a hint.) #
- I’ll be contacting you later tonight about AUSA and also offering any help you might need in the week. #
- @FletcherPrince Hi there — thanks for following me on Twitter! Have we met in the area? You’re quite close. #
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Imagine That! for 2008-10-07
- @PhilippaJane I know that at Panera’s there is such a thing as bagel karma. I believe in it…and Free WiFi as well. #
- Recording for Chapter Seventeen complete. Will begin audio clean-up after getting in a swim. #
- Good Gravy, the traffic outside is making recording tricky. #
- is now recording Chapter Seventeen of MOREVI: Remastered #
- @PhilippaJane Afraid not…but I am thinking about putting up a few episodes on my blog. #
- @PhilippaJane I have episodes I can send you from a podcast I engineered for National Institute of Standards and Technology. #
- @PodCulture My files may be larger…but music and SFX are exactly why I use 128 kbps and Joint Stereo when compressing to MP3. #
- 10+ pages of content recorded. One scene restored, a few re-recordings. This was a good day. Powering down soon. #
- Currently recording Chapter Seventeen of MOREVI: Remastered #
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Imagine That! for 2008-10-02
- ADDENDUM: New MOREVI will happen in two weeks. #
- Powering down Studio. Will return sometime next week. #
- Preparing for beach weekend. Currently loading up flash drive with writing projects. #
- @Disneynut68 Thanks for listening! Send out a thank you to @shayes as well. He is my editor/producer at Wiley Publishing. #
- @Disneynut68 and @rdlinder, welcome to my Twitter network. #
- @fgcast Yes, the Double Koru is the new insignia for Imagine That! I thought it would be more professional than the “bunny ears” photo. #
- @denipriyantoro, @RandyNBL, and @fgcast Welcome to my Twitter Network. Thank you for following. #
- @mplested My pleasure. Thanks for reading. #
- @Herbwoman sounds good to me. You’re in the “sweet spot” as far as promos go. #
- @LeStew Enjoy the ride. #
- @Herbwoman Granted the Billi promos were exceptions. Keep it to 30 sec to 1 minute and you will be fine. #
- @Herbwoman It depends on the promo. 30 sec-1 min is preferred, but my Billi promos with Hutch and Sigler were two minutes each. #
- Good gravy, my blogpost is showing influences from @jchutchins! John Alpha for President! http://tinyurl.com/5wwhn7 #
- TWITTERS: A call out to help raise money for Leukemia research. http://tinyurl.com/5xfzul If everyone donates ONE DOLLAR, it would help. #
- @_S_A_R_A_H_ have Fargo check those TinyURLs. They’re not working for me. :^\ #
- @StingRay02 Send your submission in mp3 format to tmorris@imaginethatstudios.com #
- @CWSeidman If you need a “houseboy” my rates are negotiable. ;^) #
- @evo_terra If you are out there, sir, ping me on Skype. #
- This was an amazing day…worthy of a blogpost. Maybe I’ll put that together tonight. Maybe? #
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Imagine That! for 2008-09-30
- SSF for Chapter Sixteen compiled. Now scoring… #
- @ses5909 “Doing stuff online” covers a lot of ground. What were you thinking of, specifically? #
- MOREVI Status: Voice and FX mixed. Dinner first, then scoring will commence. ETA to posting…soon. #
- @MelSchroeder Funny…I made a similar situation…approving people I thought were already…and they were…on @TeeMonster! *DOH* #
- @PhilippaJane Actually, it does. Geist II: Wrath of Bones #
- 20 Tracks of audio with a running time of 1:34:56…now reviewing Chapter Sixteen of MOREVI: RM. Scoring to follow. #
- Twitter Network, please say hi to @shayes, my “Mac Daddy Boss” over at For Dummies. “Good Value” as @PhilippaJane would say! #
- @shayes *LOL* Oh yeah…I did that, didn’t I? #
- RETWEET: If your a fan of @scottsigler check out this film that [@bsweichsel] made based off INFECTED http://snurl.com/3wxq7 #
- For anyone curious, Chapter Sixteen of Morevi was (at this point) 47:00. In the RM version over 30 minutes have been restored now. #
- Good morning, Teach! #
- @shayes And when did you start following me on Twitter?! #
- @shayes OH…you mean the new PFD! (And now my coffee kicks in!) #
- @shayes What will you be submitting today, and good luck to you on whatever you are submitting! #
- Armed with a monster cup of coffee and a purpose, I dive into the last four pages of MOREVI Chapter Sixteen. #
- @dcwilson451 Strike that….just found his audio…along with others I thought I had lost. I think I need a nap. #
- Uh-oh…either I’ve misplaced it, or George Hrab owes me audio for Chapter Sixteen. #
- @MikeWills It might slow down productivity as, in the spirit of community, I’ll be compelled to reply. #
- @MikeWills It could be worse. No one would notice I’ve been gone. Listeners getting impatient is an inspiration. #
- @MikeWills Five pages remaining. I’m editing a lot of combat, so it’s taking me some time… #
- @shadowsedge Now that is cruel…. #
- @shadowsedge Now come on…i just ate a healthy dinner and you tweet that? That’s just mean! #
- @PhilippaJane If this is GEIST, do it. That way, WHEN it sells, you have the sequel ready to go. (I love being a Beta Reader for you!) #
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Imagine That! for 2008-09-24
- @PhilippaJane I think I’m falling to a cultural gap…what does THAT coloUrful statement mean?! #
- Nine pages of Chapter Sixteen completed and I’m at 30:56…with over twenty pages remaining…yikes! #
- @Andiar Chiming in again. Sounds like there is a hardware issue, not a software one. #
- @Andiar Sadly, that’s out of my league. #
- @bwassink I completely missed the CS3 movement….so this time, I’m jumping in with CS4. Design Collection. #
- @Andiar What is your son’s PC doing? #
- I’m quickly discovering that many of my woes as a freelancer are not my own. Good to have brothers-in-arms. #
- @shadowsedge My pleasure. Passion is something I know. #
- @shadowsedge …but it is a drive, a desire, and a euphoric delirium to accomplish tasks great and small. To me, that is passion. #
- @shadowsedge Passion is like faith or love. It’s hard to describe but so strong a belief that it is tangible. Sometimes, there is no reason #
- With the morning in full swing, I turn attentions back to MOREVI. Here we go… #
- Will dedicate tomorrow to MOREVI: Remastered. Currently surfing WP themes for a new look to outdated website. #
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Imagine That! for 2008-09-21
- Latest episodes of Podcasting for Dummies submitted to Wiley Publishing for review. Hopefully, episodes will drop on 9/29. #
- Next episode of Podcasting for Dummies in production. Should be done and sent off to Wiley for review soon. #
- @erkpod We will see, won’t we? #
- @erkpod Oh wow — really? Well thank you! #
- @CWSeidman On so many levels, Stardust was, truly, the best movie of 2007. #
- @erkpod Congratulations on the nomination for the Podcast Awards. #
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Marketing Microsoft: Part Two
From Pip Ballantine, I got a link to a post from the official blog of The New Zealand Herald…
“Ever Wear Clothes in the Shower, Bill?”
Who knew I was so in touch with the journalistic minds of New Zealand?!
Imagine That! for 2008-09-11
- It’s a little dismaying when the class files in Apple Pro’s Training Series are NOT working properly. Calling it a night. #
- @DDog that it is, usually third weekend of April. #
- In my prep for the Soundtrack Pro class, I find Lesson Three in Apple Pro Training a bit weak. Still the book is solid for info and tips. #
- @scryber This will be my first go with a Soundtrack Class. So far Day One will be a look at how the two (STP and FCP) work together. #
- @bwvalentine Media of the past is a window, and what you saw was a look at a very different world. Three weeks with a sitter? WOW! #
- @TonyMast I like the way you think, Sir. #
- @TonyMast Looking for a New Media GoH? ;^) #
- @DDog I am working on getting RavenCon known for New Media. At least, that will be a priority in 2009. #
- @DDog If you are looking for an emphasis on New Media at your cons, might I suggest Farpoint, Balticon and DragonCon. #
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Marketing Microsoft…Not That There’s Anything WRONG with That!
Microsoft has launched an aggressive ad campaign about their future. This bold move on their part can only be described as “aggressive” because it features both comic powerhouse Jerry Seinfeld and the now-retired C.E.O. and creator of Windows, Bill Gates.
I have seen this ad both online and on television (you know, television — what people had before high speed connections and BitTorrent?) and tried to figure out what was bothering me about it. I admit, I’m a Mac Guy; but it wasn’t the Microsoft angle that was bugging me. Something was just “off” about this ad. As if answering my silent query of “What did I just see?” the same channel ran an “I’m a Mac/PC” ad where PC pretends to be a pizza in order to lure college students to look at him over the Mac.
That was when I understood my problem with the Seinfeld/Gates ad. Simply put, I didn’t get “the joke” nestled somewhere within it.
Yes, I know, with that statement I have just taped a digital “Kick Me” sign on my back and will probably suffer a few hits. Before you strap on your Iron Boots of +3 Whoop-Ass, consider the following aspects of the Seinfeld/Gates ad:
- The ad opens with Bill Gates shopping for discount shoes and Seinfeld enjoying a churro. On recognizing one another, Jerry launches into his schtick while Gates looks completely out of his element. (Whether that was about buying shoes or Jerry’s sense-of-humor is still uncertain.)
- I learned that Seinfeld showers with his shoes on to loosen the leather. (Exactly what that has to do with Microsoft’s future I don’t quite get.)
- Apparently, when it comes to shoes, Gates is the frugal type.
- “The Conquistador” shoes wear tight.
Only at the end of this ad did I find out this was a commercial for Microsoft. Admittedly, I was transfixed by this ad, but not so much by what it was advertising but by where they were going with all this surreal banter in the style of (shocker!) Seinfeld. I read on a few blogs that this is supposed to be Microsoft’s retaliation against Apple’s “I’m a Mac/PC” ads and they do appear to come out swinging with Seinfeld and Gates in this flagship spot.
Too bad Microsoft’s punches are only hitting air.
This campaign is much like Microsoft’s Zune: A day late, a dollar short. The Mac/PC ads not only made their first strike against Vista (some of their claims a little too slanted, mind you); but their delivery style was so simple, and yet so slick, the ads themselves have become part of pop culture. (Click here to see the “I’m a Marvel Superhero and I’m a D.C Comics Superhero” parody.) All the Mac ads talk about Mac computers, what Macs do, how they act in comparison to the PC, and how they simplify the home computer experience. The ads even go so far to play up how pleasant the Macintosh experience can be.
From the Seinfeld/Gates ad, I get a mini-Seinfeld episode minus George and Kramer (although I’m sure they were on stand by, off camera).
The biggest question I have is for Gates himself: You did retire, right? If so, you’re doing it wrong! Since Vista rolled out, Bill Gates has been on the campaign trail for Microsoft and now he’s shooting commercials. (And looking very uncomfortable doing so.) Whatever happened to taking it easy? If anyone can afford to, it’s you, Bill Gates. Kind of makes you wonder why Gates is pounding the pavement so hard.
Maybe this is too early a judgment call to make, but first impressions mean a lot. After seeing this Seinfeld/Gates ad, all I can say is “Good luck” to Microsoft in this ad war against Apple. As it stands, I look at this ad the same way I look at the Microsoft Windows operating system, its “known and accepted” bugs, and how users continue to work with it amidst all the Trojans, spyware, and viruses it comes with.
I don’t get it.
Imagine That! for 2008-09-04
- The Imagine That! production Billibub Baddings won a 2008 Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama (Long Form). #
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Imagine That! for 2008-08-26
- @DDog I think enough time has passed that you can useit without worry. #
- @DDog Royalty free music is the life’s blood of many a podcast. #
- @PGHolyfield I truly hate that when I make that discovery. My condolences. #
- Anyone attending Dragon*Con this weekend? Feel free to get creative! http://tinyurl.com/5a7wtr #
- With thanks to @mightymur, The Pitcher’s Pendant is up in the Top 100 on Amazon.com. Thank you, Mur! #
- @Bronzethumb The professional POV tells me that podcast authors are not the next wave, but the current wave in promotion and marketing. #
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Imagine That! for 2008-08-24
- Back home from a terrific road tour. Constellation Books a smash with only two books remaining from four titles in stock! #
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Double Trouble: Phase Three — The Book Tour
For those of you who think Double Trouble ended on 08.08.08, I have some news for you — that was merely Phase One. With Phase Two (the New Media Expo in Las Vegas) completed, Pip and I are hitting the road with our latest books. Catch up with us at the following locations…
- 08.20.08, starting at 7pm — Barnes & Noble of Camp Hill, PA (Yes, TONIGHT!)
- 08.22.08, starting at 6pm — Moravian Bookshop of Bethlehem, PA
- 08.23.08,from 3-5pm — Constellation Books of Reisterstown, MD
STAY TUNED
for photographs, blogposts, and reviews from the road!!!
A Perspective on Success
A lot of things were happening on the eighth of August. The Summer Olympics launched in Beijing, China. World Hula Hoop Day was being celebrated (well, in Washington D.C. at least) with quite the fanfare. A mixed media magazine, Verge of LA, was also launched. As 08.08.08 (on account of the natural repetition of the number) was considered a good omen of prosperity in Asian cultures, many things were happening on this date.
For those of you who listen to my podcasts, you all knew that last Friday marked the simultaneous launch of two new fiction titles from Dragon Moon Press, The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant: A Billibub Baddings Mystery and Digital Magic. In a nutshell, author Philippa Ballantine and I decided instead of competing for readers and listeners on Amazon, we would pool our resources and host a “shared run” up the book vendor’s charts. This was a different kind of promotion — the first of its kind — as we were going to see how far we could make it up the charts together. To promote what we called “Double Trouble”, Pip and I appeared on many, many podcasts. A few of our hosts asked about the competition for numbers and whether or not we were worried about diluting sales by splitting support across two books. We both responded with “So long as people are buying our books, we’ll worry about the numbers later.” At the end of 08.08.08, Pip’s Digital Magic made it as high as #57 in the overall rankings while The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant reached #48.
Did we crack the Top Five (or Top Ten) of Amazon’s overall ratings? No. Did we sell enough books to go full time in our writing? No. Was Double Trouble a success? Absolutely.
Competition can drive you to perform at your optimum best. Competition can also bring out the worst in people. Just look at the 2008 Democratic Primaries to see how nasty competition (a kissing cousin to ambition, if you think about it…) can get. Pip and I, however, took a different road, collaborating with one another to score success. We proved without question that a promotional collaboration was not only possible, but profitable. Pip and I had marketed this day as a shared event between two authors, made evident in our promotional avatars, the sidebar graphics, and our numerous interviews. By adopting this strategy, we focused our respective fan bases on each other’s works. In working together, both titles enjoyed a strong showing on Amazon’s individual charts:
- The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant, #2, Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
- Digital Magic, #3, Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
- Digital Magic, #1, Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Magic & Wizards
- Digital Magic, #1, Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Contemporary
- The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant, #2, Movers & Shakers on Amazon
- Digital Magic, #1, Movers & Shakers on Amazon
While our new titles remained at the top of these charts (The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant topped only by the recent release in the Twilight series.), Double Trouble also enjoyed another accomplishment (predicted by J.C Hutchins in our interview on the Ultra-Creatives podcast): An unexpected rally of two other titles, Billibub Baddings and The Case of The Singing Sword (written by me, released in 2004) and Chasing the Bard (written by Pip, released in 2005). Seemingly from nowhere, these two books appeared in Amazon’s Fantasy Top 20 and stayed there for the day.
Many measure success by #1’s, gold medals, and sales profits. Success, however, is a matter of perspective. What did your promotion accomplish? Was your goal achieved? Were there any unexpected windfalls or setbacks? More importantly, what did you learn? Your answers to these questions will provide a brutally honest assessment of your business strategy, and give a perspective on your overall efforts. For Pip and myself, here is what we took from this joint promotion:
- The Case of The Pitcher’s Pendant and Digital Magic remained at the top of Amazon’s Fantasy charts for the day of 08.08.08, topped only by the new powerhouse of our genre, Stephanie Meyer.
- Digital Magic hit #1 across three charts on Amazon.com.
- The Case of The Singing Sword and Chasing the Bard joined Pitcher’s Pendant and Digital Magic in the day’s rally, bringing four of our books into Amazon’s Top 20 Fantasy.
For Pip, myself, and Dragon Moon Press, we were (and still are) the happiest #48 and #57 authors on Amazon.com, and are still enjoying places on Fantasy’s Top 100 at the writing of this post. I’ve been asked again and again “Are you happy with your performance on 08.08.08?”
Thrilled would be more accurate. Positively and utterly thrilled.
Imagine That! for 2008-08-11
- @sigmamedia I’m sure you will! #
- @kaufkin, @sigmamedia, and @carriegoudlin thank you so much for the follow! #
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Imagine That! for 2008-08-03
- @rgoshko That is a very beautiful area of Canada. Near Calgary, yes? #
- @PhilippaJane Ah…well, hang in there. No one will expect wrapping up http://chasingthebard.com to be easy. Wonderful work! #
- @PhilippaJane Why did you need to re-record Chapter 20? Problem with the Røde or GarageBand? #
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Status of MOREVI: Remastered
Sometime last week my Alesis MultiMix-8 developed a nasty hum, and it is getting worse. I searched for work-arounds, but the easiest solution was to purchase a new mixer.
The questions on many’s minds are (1) what happened, and (2) what new mixer did I pick up?
Here are the answers to both…
- I have a very curious studio staff. One of the perils of allowing pets into your recording environment is they might get curious of what exactly is on your desk; and while you might step away from your desk if only for a moment, something might happen. I left a full glass of iced tea by the mixer, thinking the kittens were preoccupied with other fascinations of a finished basement, but apparently Benedick (the gray-white kitten) really wants to podcast. Like any skilled podcaster he wanted to whet his whistle before recording. The tea was soon everywhere, and while I was assured “Nothing got on the mixer…” that was when the hum appeared. A hard (and expensive) lesson learned.
- The Alesis MultiMix-8 FireWire Podcast Package from BSW is still my mixer and podcasting kit of choice. I picked up the MultiMix-8 before the Billibub Baddings podcast and both mixer and microphone (included with the purchase) has been rock solid for all my recording and mixing needs. I even took it on the road and used it for an interview with award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer. The mixer is a workhorse and reliable to a fault…provided kittens do not knock over glasses of iced tea across it. So I am replacing the humming MultiMix-8 with a new MultiMix-8 (and the AKG Perception-100 is a FINE microphone, one I highly recommend) and I expect to be back into the recording of Chapter Sixteen (and Seventeen) of MOREVI: Remastered by Monday night.
As far as the posting schedule goes, I am still aiming to get episodes of MOREVI online this month. With Double Trouble and my tour schedule as it is, that will make posting on a regular basis a challenge. However, I do have a good portion of Sixteen already recorded. I can continue with audio clean up and resume mixing voices, music, and special effects. Sixteen may not post as one complete episode (I may have to return to chapters divided into sections.) but I should still be able to produce something and keep the story moving forward.
Thanks for checking in with Imagine That! Studios, and thank you for listening to MOREVI: Remastered. Please tell a friend about the podcast, and enjoy the ride.
Determination Through Failure II: More on the MyBook
In my previous post “Determination Through Failure” I got a reply from Paul Fischer of Dancing Cat Studios concerning Western Digital’s MyBook. In this comment he suggested:
If you’re still in need of the data on the bad MyBook, I suggest trying out Disk Warrior. I had a disk crash a few months ago, and it saved my bacon. The disk in question was the drive with all my backups. Disk Warrior let me get the data off to a new drive before [the old drive] failed completely.
My reply started to grow hair, so I thought a follow-up blog post was in order.
First, thanks, Paul. His Mac Fu is strong, and I do appreciate his advice on this matter. In fact, many of my followers on Twitter have tweeted possible solutions and even a member of FiT offered to give the disk a checkup with his diagnostic software. I will give Disk Warrior a try, but I’m not certain the real problem is the drive itself. As I had mentioned, I ran disk diagnostics and according to the utility everything checked out. The problems occur when I attempt to copy from the MyBook to the new internal.
To give a bit of history here: When I initially bought this MyBook back in March 2007, I bought it specifically for the FireWire option. (When it comes to the USB 2.0 vs. FireWire debate, I prefer FireWire.) I was so impressed with the MyBook (initially) that I went out and purchased a second one. The moment I tried to daisy chain the drives, both dismounted like Olympic gymnasts. I contacted WD’s Tech Support and told them the problem.
Their first response: “Well, you got USB 2.0. Use that.”
No kidding. That’s a direct quote.
After explaining that the drives mount fine separately but will not daisy chain, they then said “Oh it’s a problem with the cable.” I asked if buying a new cable will remedy this. “No,” they replied, “it has to be one of OUR cables. There’s firmware in our cables specific for MyBooks.”
You know, I write Science Fiction and Fantasy…and nothing I’ve concocted ever sounded as far-fetched as this.
Left with no other choice I agreed to the replacement cable. When it arrived, I swapped out the faulty cable with the new one, mounted the drive, and then plugged into it a second MyBook. Both volumes spun up…and then dismounted.
Back on the phone with Western Digital. This time, they said, “Hmm, this sounds like we will have to escolate the ticket. So, here’s your number and we will contact you in 48 hours.” That was 14 months ago.
Yes, I did try following up with them…twice…and they left me on hold. It has only been in recent months the MyBook using FireWire was not mounting at start-up’s and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason for that.
Paul states later in his blog comment:
Google did a study of failed hard disks a few years ago. As you can imagine, they burn through more hard disks than you’ll ever own in your life. They studied usage time, operating temperatures, and a few other factors. None of those factors mattered. The only indicator of drive failure was the batch the drive was produced in. To put it more simply, that drive was probably from an inferior batch which gave it a greater probability of failure. That doesn’t mean all MyBooks are going to be bad.
I would argue, though, it’s a slim chance a MyBook (of a different storage capacity) purchased at Best Buy comes from the same batch as a MyBook purchased months earlier from an Apple Store in a different county of Virginia. I could be wrong, but it seems unlikely. Also what makes me wary about MyBooks on a whole is its lackluster performance alongside a seven year old LaCie drive. As mentioned in the previous post, the LaCie workhorse has never given me a problem and a lot of data has passed through it.
From this MyBook experience, I have discovered other cost effective options for storage and (in the future) backup options that I need to research further. The experience has also reminded of this incredible community known as Twitter (something I will be discussing in later postings); and I remain affirmed that out of all the different social networks out there, Twitter is the superior tool for its streamlined delivery of communication and content, and its ease of use.
So no, I’ve not given up on the data trapped in the dodgy MyBook. With friends like Paul Fischer, Brad Boyer, and the good people of Friends in Tech, there are always options, always solutions.
Determination Through Failure
This past weekend was not what I would call the most rewarding of weekends.
Trouble began when a Western Digital MyBook (an external hard drive I had purchased barely a year ago) began acting odd. This would not have bothered me so much if the drive in question was not running alongside a seven-year-old LaCie external drive, that workhorse still running as well as it did the day I purchased it. So began a process of copying the MyBook’s content on to a brand new internal drive…
…and no, the internal drive is not from Western Digital.
A Saturday that could have been a highly productive day instead became a day of setbacks as the MyBook hit the wall. Hard. In the end I was able to make a few rescues and recoveries; but some recording sessions with The Billibub Baddings Podcast and early episodes of MOREVI: Remastered remained unobtainable. Even with the disk passing all diagnostic tests, the MyBook had the last say in the fate of my all-important data.
Throwing your hands into the air and giving up is a very easy solution. However, what do you gain from it? True, facing brick wall after brick wall with no logical reason as to why this EPIC FAIL is occurring can easily sap your willingness and drive to continue. So where exactly can you find the motivation to continue after lost blocks of time or, in the worse of cases, a full day?
“I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
— Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison did not believe in failure, and this is just one of many quotes where he shows a deep disdain for the concept. His words — and many other quotes from him and other innovators, leaders, and all around clever people — are very good mantras to adopt as determination keeps you driven. When you can look at failures not as setbacks but as stepping stones towards the success you are striving for, then your drive remains constant and your goals closer than they were at the beginning. It can be a computer upgrade or a presentation deadline, but your accomplishments will not come to fruition unless you continue forward towards your project’s goals. Instead of dwelling on the obstacle, consider the problem and the myriad of solutions available in resolving it.
My previous Monday’s posting was missed due to events the day before it. A fellow author, Pip Ballantine, had discovered that her latest novel, Digital Magic, was formatted incorrectly. Typefaces were inconsistent, chapter headers were missing, and — most alarmingly — it was the first draft of the novel in the layout and not the final edit. To crank up the panic level, this layout was destined for the printing presses. Pip was distraught, frantic, and depressed as this put its launch date (which we are promoting together) in jeopardy. I told her “There are no problems, only solutions.” (That might sound incredibly profound, but in all honesty I was quoting the Disney Science Fiction movie, Tron.) Within two days, I had a new book interior ready for press. What came out of this experience reached far beyond the situation of a bungled book printing:
- The problems occurred on account of communication breakdowns between writer, editor, and publisher. In light of this near catastrophe new policies are being implemented.
- The book’s layout now exceeds Pip’s expectations.
- I discovered just how efficient and expedient I am in InDesign. Along with my own limits and abilities challenged, I consider the book perhaps one of the finest layouts I have ever done in my career.
What could have been a disaster changed the way we all work, and from this determination came solutions.
Determination is what keeps a passion and a desire alive, and with it the impossible can be accomplished. Hold on and take a moment to think of what you can do, not what you can’t. From the 10,000 failures, Edison created the light bulb. Had he given up, there is a good possibility you would not be reading this blog post right now.
Imagine That! for 2008-07-11
- @_S_A_R_A_H_ Just saw the tweet to my personal Twitter account. From my pro account, I would like to apologize for the bot comment. #
- @_S_A_R_A_H_ It is a real honor and pleasure to have a bot like you following ITStudios! Looking forward to Season Three. #
- Mixing in guest voices for Chapter Fourteen of MOREVI: Remastered #
- Elves and Lubria mixed, ending audio clean-up for Chapter Fourteen. Now, it’s time to mix. #
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INTERVIEW: All a Twitter (and Social Media) on Breakthrough Business
Meet Michele Price. She queried me before I tweeted!
Michele is the host of Breakthrough Business, and on her BlogTalkRadio show we talk about Twitter, about my job at Intersections Inc (which you will find out more later on this blog), and about approaches that go against the grain of the marketing books. We talk about how “old school marketing” just doesn’t work with Social Media, and how businesses need to understand that Twitter (and Social Media, on a whole) is about people.
We had a blast on this interview, and there are more slated for the month. Keep an eye on my RSS feed for more!
Tags: All a Twitter, audio, Blog Talk Radio, business, Chris Brogan, creative thinking, creativity, Intersections, marketing, Michele Price, networking, Podcast, Social Media, Social Networking, strategy, technology, Tee Morris, Twitter, writing
Posted in Commentary, News & Appearances, Social Media | 2 Comments »