Good guy and very smart guy, Jason Falls, has launched a new learning community for getting solid industry industry advise and insights on applying social media. You're probably familiar with his Social Media Explorer site, which is part of my personal daily read. And now, his new Exploring Social Media site is being offered for $25 per month; cancel anytime. Check out the site and sign up. Pronto.
It's getting to look a whole lot like Christmas. And if you are in the gift giving mood and want a really cool and convenient way to gift a gift card, my client Social Media client, Wildcard Network, has a terrific iPhone App that lets you buy, use, and gift your favorite gift cards from your iPhone.
I have 10 $25 gift cards available to journalists / bloggers / industry analysts who want to try the App out for yourself.
Just give the App a test drive, pick the merchant / service provider of your choice and let us know what you think.
As I travel, attend trade shows and industry conferences, I often get a chance to meet the authors whose books I review. In this case, I've known author and management consultant, Winslow Swart for a little over 15 years. Winslow is a friend, but from a far, I've seen him work with NBA superstars and corporate executives work through the ups and downs of economic change.
Winslow's approach is to take what he's learned in being a leader and organizational Sensei who has mastered several martial arts in the dojos of Japan, offering his consulting expertise through Winslow Consulting.
In his new book, The Resilient Leader, Winslow shares those same insights, helping you draw forth increased levels of focus and resolve, transform obstacles into opportunities, and become the calm in the eye of the storm.
The Resilient Leader distills the core ideologies of the eastern martial arts disciplines into an effective curriculum for developing leadership capabilities and increasing human performance.
This is the perfect book for the perform storm we're in.
This video is illustrative of some of the fun that was had at SXSW. It was shot upon our return home, recognizing our Best of SXSW 2010. ( Hint: the award goes to a telephone company that's becoming less and less a phone company. You gotta watch the video to find out who won...)
Tomorrow, it's back to the real world and being back home in San Antonio.
SXSW Interactive was an energizing sequence of events, chance meetings, and connecting with people that I follow, read their content, or have a perception of their persona based on their online life.
This year, SXSW seemed more mainstream. The best sessions were not the sessions themselves, but rather meetings and discussions in the press room, the blogger's lounge, the hallways, and noise permitting, the parties.
I especially enjoyed the role I played with my buddy, Nan Palmero, where we filed 55 stories (yes, foks - 54) for the San Antonio Express-News. The idea was to cover the cool kids and companies from San Antonio using SXSW as a backdrop. You may view our stories here.
Now it's back to work. I'm following up with people I met, some new business opportunities and realizing that nothing changes overnight and nothing is really revolutionary.
Things gradually change.
SXSW lets me be a bit ahead of the curve, and help me be better at being better at serving my clients.
George says that while Six Sigma is a discipline for improving products through better process, Social Sigma is about improving products through social feedback. It's about using social networks as a means for customers (and potential customers) to continually critique, analyze, and offer suggestions about your products. It's a powerful tool for continually increasing the value of what you make.
Read his post and keep George on your radar. Even though people at Forrester like Jeremiah and Charlene have left, Forrester brings umpteen years of insights into how enterprises use technology.
As of today, here's the latest list of speakers taking part at the #140Conf / London.
If you are a credentialed member of the media or blogger and would like to cover the event, please click here.
Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) - Entrepreneur, co-founder of tweetminster.co.uk, ceo at unltdworld.com. Alex Bellinger (@alexbellinger) - Journalist; Founder, SmallBizPod Amy Sample Ward (@amyrsward) - connecting social change/benefit groups to social media tools for listening, conversations, and more effective real change Andrew Davis (@andrew_davis) - Ex MySpace Marketing and Content Manager (06-09). Now Director of The Worst Kept Secret which is teaching what you didnt learn in school. Andrew Keen (@ajkeen) - Author, Cult of The Amateur: How the Internet is Killing our Culture Babs Rangaiah (@babs26) - Vice President, Global Comms Planning, Unilever Becky McCray (@BeckyMcCray) - Founder, Small Biz Survival Boyd Hilton (@boydhilton) - TV Editor for Heat Magazine Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan) - President, New Marketing Labs Ciaran Norris (@ciaranj) - Director Invention/SocialMedia8 David White (@daveowhite) - Chair Dean Landsman (@DeanLand) - Media and Communications specialist with decades of experience in broadcasting and the internet. Digital Maverick (@digitalmaverick) - Learning technologist, Moodle evangelist Ebony Rhiney-James (@EbonyRJ) - Digital Marketing Manager at Warner Music Group Federico Grosso (@federicogrosso) - SVP Business Development, Blinkx Gerd Leonhard (@gleonhard) - Media Futurist, Author, Blogger Heather Gorringe (@wiggled) - Founder, Wiggly Wigglers James Clay (@jamesclay) - ILT & Learning Resources Manager at Gloucestershire College e-learning James Poulter (@jamespoulter) - Digital Strategist for Ogilvy PR Jeff Keni Pulver (@jeffpulver) - Creator, #140conf Jeffrey Hayzlett (@JeffreyHayzlett) - CMO, Kodak Jon Gripton (@JonGrip) - Senior News Editor, Sky News Jonathan Almond (@jonalmond) - Big Brother Josie Fraser (@josiefraser) - Social & Educational Technologist Jürgen Coetsiers (@creativestores) - Founder, The Creative Stores Kathleen Hessert (@kathleenhessert) - CEO, Sports Media Challenge Kyra Gaunt, Ph.D. (@kyraocity) - Associate Professor of Music and Anthropology, Baruch College-CUNY, writer, blogger Lauri Stevens (@lawscomm) - Social media strategist for Law Enforcement. Manny Norte (@mannynorte) - Kiss FM Mark Middlemas (@MMids72) - Managing Partner, Business Development, UM London Marsha Collier (@MarshaCollier) - Author, Ebay for Dummies; Radio Host Mathys van Abbe (@mathys) - Founder & CEO Mobypicture Maz Nadjm (@Mazi) - Responsible for social networking at Sky Television, sky.com Nick Halstead (@nickhalstead) - CEO, TweetMeme Nick Keane (@nickkeane) - Knowledge Manager with NPIA in London. Pamela O’Hara (@pmohara) - Co-founder, Batch Blue Peter Gregson (@petergregson) - Cellist and Co-founder of the Production Company Coffeeloop Ray Paul (@raypaulbbc) - Executive Producer for Weekend Programs at BBC Radio 1 Roberto Bonanzinga (@Bonanzinga) - Balderton Capital Ruth Barnett SkyNews (@RuthBarnett) - Twitter correspondent, Sky News Saul Klein (@cape) - Index Ventures Sean Seton-Rogers (@setonrog) - PROfounders Capital Sherry J. Bitting (@SJBRules) - Co-founder and Marketing Director, Parlour Magazine Shirley Williams (@shirleyearley) Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) - Actor, Writer Steve Saul (@stephensaul) - Social media/blogger for Simon Cowell’s X-Factor Sue Black (@Dr_Black) - Computer Science Head of Department Tal Givoly (@givoly) - Chief Scientist, Amdocs Thembisa Mshaka (@putyrdreams1st) - Author Tim Bradshaw (@tim) - Digital media correspondent, Financial Times Vikki Chowney (@vikkichowney) - Editor of Reputation Online, Centau Media
Sole Boutique is one of the newest and coolest stores in San Antonio for sneakers, men's & women's clothes and accessories. And for all you #TweetBabes, you gotta get with the groove and get some duds here.
And all you Rackers out there from Rackspace, check out the Rackers hat featured in this video.
