Yep, it’s that time again! Time for the SMBMSP podcast, just in time for the holiday’s. So sit back and share some eggnog & joy with the SMBMSP podcast crew as they relax next to the fire.
SMBMSP December 2009 Podcast – A very special holiday show Show Date: December 10, 2009 Produced by BellaMedia – http://www.bellamediaonline.com/
Hosts: Brad Bellaver, Rick Mahn and Mykl Roventine
One of the great things about technology is the ability to customize the tools we use every day. Small, lightwieght laptops for traveling, robust quad-core systems for gaming, the gaming monitor with optimal resolution and engineering work, multiple smartphones of wonderfullly variety to choose from… we have great options to choose from when looking for the right computing experience.
Luckily the same is true in most areas of technology. One of them being the killer app of the decade: the web browser. Today I happen to be a Firefox user, and the most important feature for me is the extension and plug-in architecture that allows 3rd part developers to add new unanticipated functionality to the browser. At first, I went overboard (who doesn’t) and added all the coolest plug-ins that I ran across.
Soon, however, I figured out the functionality that really enhanced my usability and quickly pared down what I needed to a select group of plug-ins that I install on computer I run Firefox on – including Linux boxes. The ability to have the same customized environment on both my Windows and Linux boxes is a huge productivity boon for me. I found that my eyes stress less on the best monitors for gaming, I’m glad they serve the dual purpose of work and play with the added benefit of being easier/healthier on my eyes.
Anyway, here’s the list of Firefox Plug-Ins that I run at the moment:
Scribefire Blog Editor – Blog post creating/editing tool accessible right from the browser.
Prism – Allows for creating of isolated web-apps similar to what Google Chrome allows you to do. Facebook in its own simplified, minimal UI browser? Yes please.
Download Status Bar – This one is great to get rid of the download window that Firefox uses and puts all that functionality into the statusbar area.
So that’s what I use right now. These tools help me in my daily browsing, monitoring, reading and writing routine. Will it change – undoubtedly. As new services and tools come about, I’ll adapt as the tools change. They always do.
For all of us experienced in social media with the concepts of sharing and open dialog deeply rooted in our ethos, this comparison probably doesn’t mean as much as it could for folks who don’t engage in social computing. I’m simply looking for ways we can all help explain some of these concepts to our overworked managers and VPs.
(Heh, ‘social computing’. That’s a nod to the corporate interpretation of social media – or it is in some ways. Mostly they like to say “collaboration” because its more professional sounding. I find it interesting that the moment the word ‘social’ is dropped, the reaction tends to be “we don’t pay people to socialize!”. Never mind that work itself is an accepted social construct designed to make labor for wage a palatable and productive arrangement. But I digress.)
Anyway, sometimes the easiest way to help people understand a concept is to compare it to something they already know or can intuitively envision. That’s where the Goodwill Ambassador comes in. In the social media sphere, we’ve developed the Community Manager (a role which perversely doesn’t “manage” anything) who is tasked with engaging customers. Nither the community or the conversations within require management of any sort. Rather they require participation. That participation has several aspects, ones that are quite familiar to people from any generation.
A goodwill ambassador brings a smile and cheer, they answer questions and facilitate getting answers. They often bring a sense of calm and reason, that you’ll be heard and understood. The concept of a goodwill ambassador is easy to digest and brings folks initially apposed to funding such a role as Community Manager around to a realistic perspective and frame of reference. For today, we have a need of these people who bridge the gaps between marketing and customer service, bringing personality and a voice to the organizations they represent.
Are you ready to share some goodwill with your customers?
Whatever it is you’re passionate about and want to do – I want you to succeed.
For many of us it’s our career. You know that 9 to 5, Monday through Friday effort that allows us to support our families and obtain our dreams. Yeah, that one.
There is something that I wanted to share on that front, and hopefully it’ll help a bit. I want you to define your role. Define your role in your department, and in the organization as a whole. It could be in the company you work at today or the one you want to work for tomorrow. You need to take an active part in defining what you offer, and what what you bring to the mix.
Don’t allow yourself to be typecast or pigeonholed. Letting other people define the boundaries of where you’re supposed to participate or allowed to participate is unacceptable. You alone have that right.
You have the ability set boundaries and goals. You have control of the decisions that move you forward or backward. By defining your role, you establish your voice. By being vocal and establishing a presence, you have the means to share your perspectives and expertise in any situation your role lands you in.
Its not easy and it can be a little scary when first starting out, but the rewards are unending. Its also up to you to fulfil the role you define, but that sholdn’t be difficult because the definition of success and failure is also within your control as well.
Take that step to define your role in life, in work, and in the success that you want. Without figuring out what you want from your efforts, and what you want for your family, it’ll take a lot longer to get to your definition of success.
I sometimes refer to myself as a closet sociologist, mostly because I find myself looking at some of the outcomes of social media. Sure, I’ve always got “SocMed” on the brain! The past many years, I’ve been observing a few side affects of the evolution of the social web. One of them appears to be the reemergence of family values.
What kind of took me by surprise, though it shouldn’t have, was that this rediscovery of family and simpler things is mostly from Gen Y. Interestingly, the technologies that fueled web 2.0 and the social web have allowed us to finally start using computers for solving real societal needs – like those of connecting with family, friends and peers. Allowing us to share what we’re doing and how we’re feeling and what we think. Back in the “old days” that required a phone call or a visit. Think about the power of 140 characters in Twitter and how it can replace a 20 min. long distance phone call from one of those stationary wired telephones we used to have.
The ability of the social web to not only answer that question, but many, many others is mind-blowing to say the least. That’s the tip of the iceberg too as we continue to have many brilliant combinations of ideas (mashups!) come to the market to offer solutions we only dreamed of years ago – or maybe saw it on The Jetsons.
What I really find facinating though is the return to the simpler pleasures of family and friends by the latest generation. As they’ve emerged from college and started taking on the daunting role of becoming the largest portion of the workforce in the U.S. today, they’ve been able to show a lot of class in the process. Sure there are the gamer/slackers among them (and Gen X too!), and some fascinating entrepreneurs as well. Every generation has them.
However, its these savvy, digital natives that focus on family, integrity and professionalism that impress me the most. We’ve been told for decades how the Boomers had changed the world, and ushered in a new age of enlightenment. How the generation before them – the Greatest Generation, as it were, tackled so many difficult issues and problems. I suggest that the world that Gen Y is entering adulthood is no less troubled and stressed – in many ways we never thought possible even 20 years ago.
The interesting thing is how this youngest generation, has the potential to change the world in ways the Boomers never could, and doing it from a position of integrity, focusing on family, and being transparent. Its who they are – as natural to them as the iPhone in their hand.
Its been a long time since I really posted a personal post on what really is a personal blog. I’ve been wondering why that’s the case, and I’m sure you have too. Honesty I don’t know that is, but I do want to figure it out.
2009 has been a wild ride for me, with many highs and luckily only a few lows. The rapid and exciting growth of SMBMSP here in Minneapolis & St. Paul has been rewarding, yet stressful. The work at Land O’Lakes as their Social Media Strategist is similar but for vastly different reasons. The amount of work involved in each is daunting and keeps me engaged. For that I’m grateful.
On the personal side of things, life has again been good though recently my wife has started having some heart palpitations that have me worried. It’s worse for me because I just don’t know all the medical things that go on or what they mean. Yeah, I’m a pretty typical male when it comes to medical things – just don’t pay attention as well as I should. We’re still finding out more about this and it’ll be a learning experience as we adapt to new lifestyle needs.
I’ve been quiet around here for awhile, and I don’t have a reason or message as to why. This year has been a challenge and I neglected making the time to share information and ideas. The past week, I’ve started posting on my Happiness series again. Mostly because of recent events, but partly because I liked them so much. They have little to do with social media in business, which is where my specialty in social media is going, but proved to be an important part of my inspiration in 2008, so they’ll be making a comeback.
Overall, I’m looking forward to the next couple months. More writing is on my todo list, but more important is taking things to the next level. I guess that’s what I’m here to invite you to do as well. Its time to make the next step on all levels. Enough of working within the confines of the current norms. Are you ready to step up the pace? Ready for the challenge? I hope you join me on the journey as we plan for and enter 2010. I hope to share a few new and exciting things in the coming weeks as we close out this year, and begin to cap off the decade next year. Until tomorrow my friends.
