I was going to add some note here that would try explain the reasons behind this short little video, but I think it does it perfectly on its own. And, if you want to find out more, you can check out the . Cheers!
Archives for August 2009
Real People
ATM’s are automated, but you need to deal with a real person to buy a house. Phone trees are automated but you need to deal with a real person to resolve a complaint. Production lines are automated but you need a real person to sign the shipment papers.
Our processes may be becoming more automated, but we still need real people to initiate the process. Is your business recognizing your real people every day?
Is Twitter Killing Blog Comments?
If you’re a blogger, you’ll know how comments make a blog. They can take the original post into a whole new level altogether, with opposing views and discussions opening up some great viewpoints.
Personally, I’ve used the comments on some of my posts (and those on other blogs) as inspiration for new posts here. I’ll add my comment on the original post, and then expand on it with a new or slightly different take. That then opens the discussion up even further, both on the new post and the original (play fair – always link back to your inspiration).
While content may be the instigator, it’s the conversations by the community that often make the content. And maybe it’s just me, but Twitter seems to be taking more of the conversations and making them 140-character bites.
I’ve seen many great posts by some truly remarkable bloggers be tweeted, and the conversation remain on Twitter. Points and questions raised in the post start the conversation rolling, but instead of via the comments section on a blog, they take place on the little blue bird nest. And that’s a shame.
There’s nothing wrong with this, of course – after all, Twitter is the king of instant feedback and interaction. And weekly events like #journchat and #blogchat , and others like them, show just how effective a medium Twitter can be for conversations. And yet…
Imagine how much a conversation could build without the limitations of 140-characters. Imagine how opposing views could be fully fleshed out with unlimited text. Imagine how communities could be forged, and new friendships built, through the reasoning and acceptance that long tail blog comments can offer. Imagine being the catalyst or inspiration for a blog post by your favourite blogger, all from a single comment you left.
Of course, you could say that it’s down to the blogger to make the content as open as possible, to encourage discussion – and this is true. Yet at the same time, maybe we (as readers) need to take part more as well? Maybe we need to encourage bloggers more by being part of their community, as opposed to rubbernecking on Twitter?
There are a myriad of ways for conversations to take place. Sometimes little snapshots like Twitter are ideal, if you’re pressed for time. But isn’t it nice to get away from the noise at times, and relax where you have time and space to say what you really want?
What’s your take?
photo credit: Shirin K. A. Winiger
Passion Drivers
How passionate are you? Are you driven to continuously learn, or satisfied with where you are?
Do you get goosebumps talking about your job; your goals; your aim in life? Or do you accept you’re at a comfortable stage and who needs the extra work that goals bring?
I’m driven by passionate people. When someone talks to me and their eyes light up, I get excited too. I’m excited both by them and for them.
If someone is so passionate that you feel breathless with excitement and giddy with anticipation of what they’ll say next, that’s one heck of a strong statement about that person’s desire.
Here’s an example. I met with Shannon Boudjema for coffee a couple of days ago. Shannon describes herself as a “media maven, globe trotter and socially inclined”. I couldn’t have picked a better description myself.
Based in Ontario, Canada, Shannon works for one of Canada’s leading lights in marketing, advertising and event management. She writes an excellent blog, is a livewire chatterbox on Twitter and is also socially conscious (she’s said she’ll donate $100 to a local charity if a good cause reaches 500 followers on Twitter).
We met to chat about the digital space and ideas on how companies can leverage that space. Now, I like to think I’m passionate about all that emerging media has to offer, but as soon as I started talking with Shannon, her energy just flew out. She showed me slide shares she’s put together; case studies; learning ideas for multi-employee companies; and much more.
Simply put, Shannon is a one-person emerging media whiz. Her passion isn’t fake – she genuinely loves (and is excited by) all that our current space has to offer now and soon from now. And anyone she talks to can’t help but feel the same way, even if you’re skeptical of all these tools and their benefits.
Businesses need people like Shannon. There are so many that are just doing the rounds and crunching the numbers that they miss out on the real bigger picture – passion and drive. If you can harness these two qualities and combine with knowledge and reach, you might just start to wonder why you thought previous results were good.
If you want an idea just how driven Shannon is, check out this slide deck from her. Then ask who your passion driver is. Is it you, or are you currently a passenger? If it’s the latter, how will you change seats so you’re the driver? Do you want to?
Why Even Non-Meat Eaters Can Love Beef!
Across the U.S., there’s a little mini-revolution happening that might just help change the way you look at business – cow-pooling.
Based around the same idea of car-pooling (where you share travel and commute duties to save money and help the environment), cow-pooling sees you partnering with other families and buying your beef products direct from the farmer.
But instead of a normal purchase – burgers, steak, etc – you can buy a whole cow. And that’s where the magic begins.
Pooling Resources
If you go to a normal supermarket like Whole Foods, you might pay around $16 per lb. for a strip steak. Go the cow-pooling route, however, and you’re looking at around $3 to $5 per lb. for a side of grass-fed beef – quite the difference.
It’s not just the saving of money where you benefit, either – there’s no industrial feedlots involved in the raising of the beef that you’re buying. Instead, it’s all natural grass-fed, and the result is that your beef is… well, beef-tasting. Add to the fact that you’re making new friends (you find details of local cow-pooling farms online) and buying locally, what’s not to love? But it doesn’t stop there.
Friendly Economy
As well as the social and local aspect of cow-pooling, it’s now becoming clear that it’s benefiting the overall economy as well. The directory of local food producers LocalHarvest.org reports that cow-pooling is expanding, especially since you can negotiate what cuts each person gets.
Over at Bay Area Meat CSA, consumers can join this social network and buy locally-produced meat and have it delivered as and when required – perfect for Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Superbowl and Christmas, to name just a few options.
Freezer sales have increased as well. The Appliance Manufacturers Association reported an increase of 14% in freezer sales in the 12 months between April 2008 and 2009 – more than just a coincidence, no?
Pooling More Than Cows
Cow-pooling’s taken the idea behind car-pooling and made it a profitable and local-centric business success. Think of the ways you could take the idea of cow-pooling and transfer it to your business or local economy.
Say you’re an art fan. You have a local artist that needs a little recognition. You and some friends decide to pool together to buy two or three of the artist’s work. That artist then buys from the local art supply store to work on new projects.
Or you’re wanting to get your kids a swimming pool but can’t afford it. However, you pool with other parents and rent out a piece of land from a local property management company. Your kids can play in the pool, and if you really wanted to go one step further, open it up to other local kids as well. They buy new swimsuits from the local beachwear store…. you can see how this all joins together.
Some communities are doing this already, with full backing from businesses. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all learn from what’s happening with cow-pooling and turn both our businesses and local communities into success stories too?