Sharing, Human Nature, and Digital Data
It appears I’ve been on a perpetual coffee break for weeks! And yet, it’s not so.
Many of you know I started a full-time job in mid-January — a “real” job some may say. A job teaching and using social media on a daily basis leaves me little time for staying in touch with you.
Anyway… I was fortunate to attend South by SouthWest Interactive (#SXSW) for several days as a benefit of working for Network Communications, Inc.
Nothing prepared me for seeing the internet on feet! The streets of downtown Austin were filled with people immersed in all aspects of the web. The 256-page program guide weighed 8 pounds!
- Design and Development
- Workshops and Panels
- Book Readings and Signings
- Business Applications
- Core Conversations
- Featured Speakers
- Content Strategy
- Web Psychology
- Causes for the Greater Good
- Networking and Funnel Cakes
- Interactive Lounges
- Emerging Technologies
One highlight for me was Clay Shirky’s presentation “Monkeys with Internet Access: Sharing, Human Nature, and Digital Data.” The blogs excerpted below provide an in-depth review of the informative — and entertaining — talk.
Shirky looked at the organizing power of the internet and its disruptive force. The sudden wealth of organizing and communicating tools, he argued, have upset many comfortably established systems, generally through their ability to provide better service than the status quo.
“Abundance,” he said, “breaks more things than scarcity.”
~ Mike Miner, The Fifth Column
Shirky argues that, in comparison to the sharing of goods or services, primates — including humans — have evolved to want to share information. “Sharing information is something we’re biased to do and to like doing.”
“Behavior is just motivation filtered through opportunity,” he said.
~ Dr. John Grohol, The Huffington Post
Media companies are freaking out about this change, but rather than realigning to a new reality they are trying to protect the old one. He noted that businesses create workarounds to problems, but part in parcel with that is that this builds in a desire to not solve the original problem lest the solution make itself obsolete. There is no profit motive in fixing something once and for all. ~@ Jeremy Littau
We have a word for not sharing if there’s no cost to you: That word is ’spiteful.’ ~ Liz Gannes, gigaom
Be sure to check back for an update on “How To Not Be a Douchebag” as presented by Ed Hunsinger, Violet Blue and John Adams.
Where Do You Find Blog Inspiration?
This morning I shared in our Team Meeting, “reading is a great inspiration for blogging.”
- A catchy headline here.
- A top 10 list there.
- Perhaps a sign on a butcher shop.
- Thumbing through magazines in the checkout line.
- Bumper stickers during your commute.
Inspiration is free floating. We need only become aware.
Tonight, after everyone else went home; when the chaos and hubbub of the day was washed away by quiet solitude, I read.
A blog post by Chris Garrett caught my attention. The post explored the personas and pseudonyms we often create when developing online connections for the first time. There are certainly good reasons to maintain privacy, and yet blogging demands your writing to be real.
By being an authentic you there is much more potential for creating real connections with people, and through these connections opportunities and friendships. If you are faking it then you will either be found out at worst, or at best be unable to have great face to face meetings and successful joint projects.
Real people rock. If anything, I would always rather meet an imperfect human being than a fake robot. Be proud to be you, mistakes and all.
It is our “realness” that forms bridges between people.
What do you think? Do you feel you have to hold back on your personality? Does comparing yourself to others hold you back? Please share your thoughts… I’m listening.
Bragging Rights. Who Has Yours?
About a year before Clay Shirky’s recent blog post in which he explores how women are less willing to take risks in self-promotion than men, I had an “Aha Moment.”
Resentful. Angry. Frustrated.
“I know so much more than he does, and yet he’s on stage teaching people about shiny tools he doesn’t use or understand himself.“
“I taught him about Twitter, now he’s on a national platform acting as if he ‘get’s it’ and doesn’t have the balls to even give credit where credit is due.“
“Time after time I submit a proposal only to later discover the guy who calls me for assistance all the time is presenting instead. What’s the deal?“
True to my southern heritage, the social culture of my age group, and a host of other outside variables, I was stuck.
Stop Waiting for Someone to Recommend You
You should know that you almost never find a prophet in your own backyard. The reverse is also true. To be recognized as a credible resource with a unique blend of experience and skills travel is often required.
Social media tools enable you to “travel” without leaving your desk.
A targeted, well defined, strategic social business marketing campaign introduces you to:
- new people
- new ideas
- new freedoms
- new industries
- new skills
- new opportunities
- new revenue
What’s your experience?
Are you sitting in a little red wagon, like I was, waiting for someone to come along and pull you where you want to go?
Do you think self-promotion is rude? When is it okay to brag about yourself?
Share your thoughts in the comments. Together, we can learn to pull our own damn wagon.
Other Places We Can Connect
