In general, I like to encourage experimentation in most things I’m associated with. I like to see people try something new, even if they find it wasn’t as good as what they had before. This is especially true in business and this whole online community and social media thing.
If no one dares to be different, nothing ever changes. Nothing ever gets better. Yes, by experimenting, there is a very good chance that you’ll be displeased with the results, but that’s better than the other way around: which is to never try anything new and to just stay where you are.
I returned from SXSW Interactive a few days ago, and a full recap of the event is forthcoming, even if it isn’t soon (I’m maybe half way as far as catching up to everything I need to catch up with). In the mean time, I wanted to share something.
One of the things that I felt pretty strongly throughout is that I am incredibly blessed to know the people that I know. As I wrote this post, I started grouping people up into categories, but that’s just too difficult. There are my long term friends, there are friends I’ve made recently, there are people who I’m still building a relationship with, who I wouldn’t (yet) identify as a “friend” in the serious sense of the word, more as an acquaintance and I am sure there are other categories, as well.
A song that has really grabbed me is “All The Way Turnt Up” by Roscoe Dash featuring Soulja Boy. It’s been floating around for a while and I’d hear it (such as when Willie Taylor of Day26 released his own spin on it) and thought it had a good sound, but never really went deeper.
Well, I happened across the music video for the newest version of the song with Soulja Boy and it definitely hooked me and I bought a copy on Amazon MP3 soon after. Check it out below.
So, for those of you new to the show, here are my 5 quick tips for the event, in an effort to help you to get the most out of it.
1. Use the Hilton Bathrooms
Even if you’re not staying there. Yes, I’m serious. The Hilton bathrooms are nice, clean and smell respectable. The Hilton is also part of the conference as some of the sessions are scheduled within the hotel. The convention center bathrooms do not even compare. Yes, it’s a short walk across the street. It’s worth it.
I’ve been working on booking speaking engagements for 2010. I’m talking to a number of different parties and hope to have more announced soon, but as I have a pair that are fast approaching, I thought I’d mention them as I always like to meet people at the events I attend. Not only will I speak at the events below, but I will be attending them each and every day.
Back in September, I was approached by Manning Publications about receiving an advance copy of an upcoming book, “Website Owner’s Manual” by Paul Boag, founder of Headscape and the creator of Boagworld, one of, if not the, most popular web design podcasts in the world. They provided me with an advance eBook, in consideration of a review or advance praise for the book’s cover.
I had met Paul for the first time at South by Southwest last year and we exchanged a few e-mails. He seemed like a pretty good guy, so I agreed to look over the eBook. I’ve since been able to get to know him ever so slightly better and that has only worked to confirm my initial impressions.
When I was growing up, Nickelodeon was probably my favorite TV station. I loved the channel and still do. It’s a highly memorable part of my childhood.
When I was at IZEAFest last year, I had an animated and highly enjoyable conversation with Ryan P. Thompson about old Nick shows like “All That,” “Doug,” “Kenan & Kel,” “Rocko’s Modern Life” and more. That conversation continued on Twitter where, somehow, I brought up that I had won Nick or Treat.
Sometimes, in reference to someone’s writing or a speaking engagement or some sort of content, a reader might say “well, that’s common sense.” As if that’s a bad thing.
Common sense is a funny thing, for two reasons:
Nothing is common sense. Until it is.
Common sense for you may not be common sense for me. For every (virtually) universal common sense, there is a common sense more along the lines of “yeah, I agree with you.”
The presentation is based around my three steps for responding to feedback. In short, they are: appreciate, acknowledge and consider. Be appreciative that someone contacted you, acknowledge their perspective and what they are saying and then consider it and how applicable it may or may not be.
Encourage Experimentation in Business, Social Media and (Practically) Everything; or We Never Get Better
Back in September, I was approached by 
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