Disqus - Latest Comments for thom singer

Re: Please stop calling it “Recession Marketing”

thom singer — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:19:37 -0000

This is a great observation. Everyone is getting back to basics. But why do we forget the basics when we are flush with cash. The other problem is they are looking for reach and returns on social networking and trying to measure it in ways they measure advertising reach, etc... You have to be committed, engaged in give and take, and authentic to make any progress in the social mediums. You can't just toss money at it. Everyone is looking for a quick fix, and there is no magic answer.

Re: Cut the chitchat - carry a dossier everywhere!

thom singer — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:55:06 -0000

I think that chit chat is a normal part of being human. Without it can we really build a relationship? Sure, getting straight to business is a great idea, but it leaves me feeling cold.

Look at your personal relationships. What if when you met your girlfriend she handed you a document: favorite color, ideal day, restaurant menu choices, color of undergaments, wildest dreams, daily chores, favorite flavors scents and types of movies, etc... Then you could skip all the chit chat and just go to bed. Not really what makes building a relationship with someone extra special. A world without the discovery would be like an arranged marriage....heck, why not, her blog makes her sound compatible!

The same is true of business friendships/relationships. A real bond is only built through the mutual getting to know eachother and sharing. I can't imagine skipping this step with my those who I really want in my professional life any more than with those in my personal life. To move from a stranger to a real part of someones network you need 7-10 meaningful interactions. You can't fast-pass on this.

Re: Is Blogging Doomed? Why A-Lister’s Are Quitting and Dan Lyons Is Just Plain Wrong

thom singer — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:15:29 -0000

I find that a lot of people like to be contrarians to gain the attention. Blogging is no longer "new", thus not newsworthy. So the "A-Listers" who used to relish in the attention of being cutting edge, are now crowded by everyday folk who are part of the legitimate blogosphere and a greater populations who no longer finds their blogging as cutting edge. Thus it becomes time to announce that you are quitting, or that the medium is dead, etc...

Alas, everyone is talking about him now for his public bashing of his own baby. He might be a better marketer than you are giving him credit.

I know lots of bloggers who are far from "A-List" who are seeing an increase in readers (that is my experience), so is blogging dead or are certain "A-Listers" just getting stale to the readership?

I don't see blogging as dying. I just see it as more mainstream and that just makes some people feel so pedestrian.

Re: 8 ways to promote yourself at music festivals

thom singer — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:27:28 -0000

Your tips are great...but they go beyond just a music festival. People need to always be promoting. If you don't tell the world about you, who will?

Re: Personal Branding. How do you do it?

thom singer — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:33:16 -0000

A personal brand is all about being consistent. I know many people who try to put on a "public face" and then treat their co-workers like crap. It never works, you must be true to your brand.

This does not mean that people are perfect, and make mistakes. We are all human, and no matter what your "brand" sometimes you will stumble. The trick is to make those slip ups the rare exception, not the rule. People are very forgiving when they know the real you. That is why it is important to be transparent.

Look at the movie the Wizard of OZ. As long as the wizard was hiding behind the curtain he was a mystery, but once he allowed everyone to see the real him he was much happier, as were the people of Oz. Do not hide behind a curtain... let your true self shine through and you will prosper.

Of course if you are a jerk, then this whole concept wont work for you. Thus, my advice is that people need to get over themselves and just not be jerks. Jerks always get discovered.

Keep up the good work in 2008, Jon. I expect big things from you!

thom

Re: Follow the Velcro: The Open Source Life

thom singer — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:21:38 -0000

Jon, this should prove to be interesting.

Note to self, comb hair and wear clean shirt before you get near Jon Ray and his 24 hour camera. One would not like to look like a slob when being lifecasted to all who follow this kid.

Good luck.

Re: VC value add

thom singer — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:41:34 -0000

I think that VC's are extra successful when they are a conduit for networking for the companies they work with. The ones I know who talk up their portfolio and make strategic introductions are the ones entrepreneurs speak highly about in the community.

I think all VC's think they bring value because of their business experience and the number of companies they have seen, and I am not doubting that. But some go beyond this and work to make introductions and mine their networks to help companies find clients, advisors, strategic partners, press contacts, etc... I think all VC's THINK they do this, but not all actually execute on being that hub of a network as well as they believe.

Re: Social media, dependency and trust

thom singer — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:42:49 -0000

That is an interesting point about customers having direct influence over strategy. I think they always have, but now we have this instant feedback and the creation of customer communities that never existed before...thus it is more an giant upping of the stakes where the company can be immediately held accountable to its actions.

The big issue is that online social networking tools, like Facebook, are more than just a utility, but instead they are part of a person's identity. This is what they want, because they need stickiness or they die (seems like only last year we all loved MySpace, now it is Facebook...and they know next year the trendy spot could be something new).

These companies are working hard to create "Community"...but with a community you have different standards that you must live by...and this is where the changes in how a company runs will come in. If you are legitimate in being a community with your customers then you give up the rights to be a dictatorship.

I have no idea who is right and wrong in the Scoble situation, but I do know that Facebook cannot just dump people without due process or those people, if they have a big audience will become a problem. They will need to look for new ways to police their policies than to just ban people from the party or they party will move somewhere else.

Have a great day.

thom

Re: Bright spots in the gloom, predictions and planning

thom singer — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:58:48 -0000

If this was easy, everyone would do it. The problem for entrepreneurs and VC's is that you cannot predict all the variables, thus you have to be willing to take risks to get rewards. Nobody ever made a boat load of money just sitting there (unless there was a dead parent and inheritance involved).

Predictions and models are a great tool to help you make some of the tough decisions that pop up along the path. But if you live by these spreadsheets you will die by them. The successes I have seen have come from a combo of predicting and a dash of gut feeling with a sprinkling of luck.

Have a great day.

Re: The future of venture capital

thom singer — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:56:39 -0000

I agree with your points, but every bust is followed by a boom - and booms will make people leap into the VC pool. So while the current situation is clearing out many, as soon as those good businesses "on the beach" have exits, if those exits are high profile, you will see all kinds of people "becoming" venture capitalists again. The problem is that after the tech boom of the 1990s and early 2000 anyone with a pile of cash decided they were a VC. Being a venture capitalist is more than just being some rich dude, To do it right you really do need the experience and the skills - but the lure of the big pay out and the "sexy" nature of calling oneself a VC will always bring too many into the pool when times are good.

Re: Twitter growth and hype continue

thom singer — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:15:07 -0000

Social Media is all still so new that mid-sized and profitable has no way of proving to anyone that there is any sustainability. The HUGE hype that Twitter and Facebook have is the most important part for them.... as people are fickle and could lose interest for a new toy. MySpace is rarely mentioned, but two years ago was all the rage (although they still have users, I have not heard anyone mention them in a long time).

The problem with Twitter is that there are a lot of users who never do crap with their accounts, and too many people have followers who ignore them by using Tweet Deck (and others). Thus, what is the point if nobody is listening.

But hype will always be a wonderful tool for companies if they can ride the wave.

Don't get me wrong, I use Twitter (and like it) and have discovered some captivating personalities from whom I learn. But not sure it has really grown... most folks seem to open an account and get bored quickly, which makes me question its real impact.

Re: Fear slows you down

thom singer — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:32:27 -0000

I recently launched into my own gig. My wife said that in week one she thought I was in denial, in week two she thought I was lying to her... but now she sees that I am not gripped by fear (something that might have happened to me in past times of facing the unknown). If it feels right, the trick is to ignore the fear and not invite it inside. Fear is out there lurking.. but you are right that it will slow you down!

Re: 2008/03/09/zuckerberg-keynote-sxsw/

thom singer — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:10:07 -0000

Ms. Lacy made herself part of the show rather than interviewing the man of the hour. She has spent the rest of the day doing damage control, but she should just stand up and admit that she was nervous and out of her area of expertise and apologize for losing her cool (NEVER say "Screw you guys" to an audience is the first rule you are supposed to know before you are allowed to be on the "big" stage as the moderator).

I saw a video interview where she blamed the whole thing on her being a "woman who writes about technology" and said because of that she gets a lot so criticism. This fiasco had nothing to do with her being a woman, it had to do with the fact that she blew it.

But alas, she has claimed that this controversy has caused her "Amazon rank" for her book is sky rocketing and she seems thrilled with that.

Re: 2008/08/01/summermash-austin-yoono/

thom singer — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:41:23 -0000

Austin is a great city where diverse people can come together and create. Where 20 years ago there was not much business opportunity (or national attention on Austin), today the city is thriving with the entrepreneurial spirit.

Most people who live in Austin would not want to live anywhere else, thus there is no "Valley Envy". Those who have to leave Central Texas for job reasons usually forever miss their lifestyle that this unique city provided.

But Austin needs to have more visible tech successes that will bring more investment and attention to this booming tech hub.

Your party was a perfect example of the eclectic and welcoming networking culture that exists in the business community. The optimistic feelings of the future are thriving in the tech community.

However this is tech explosion (both in feeling, attention and substance) existed a decade before. After the bust, much of this was put on hold. The enthusiasm that exists in the community this time should lead Austin to new levels of technology success.

If the party was any clue, big things are happening in this fine city.

Re: 2008/08/07/13-austin-tech-blogs/

thom singer — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:53:49 -0000

Thanks for the mention. I am honored to me listed with such cool blogs.

Have a great day

thom

Re: 2008/08/15/irony-alert-social-media-introverts/

thom singer — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:05:52 -0000

This is one reason why I think that social media has become so popular. People are longing to connect with each other, but many of these people are introverts and are not comfortable reaching out in person.

Some mistakenly take solice in having a high number of "friends" in Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn. Even when some of these connections are nothing more than a digital link, it makes people feel they are not alone.

I am not knocking social media. I find it to be a very useful business and personal networking platform, and I have made several real friendships with those whom I have met through blogging, Twitter, etc.... Yet I wonder when people will begin to desire to thin the ranks of their online contacts and deliver their limited amounts of time to interacting with those who they can have a real two-way connection.

Following someone in a social media arena is not much different that watching TV. I like to follow the "online celebrities" in the social media communities, but I also know they often do not notice me. Much like the cast of LOST has no idea if I am in the living room seeing thier performance, when someone is following over 5000 people, they cannot see me.

Followers become like Neilson Ratings for some.

I think all types, introverts and extaverts (and those inbetween) benefit from social media, but we need to see it as the tool that it is...not an antidote for real person-to-person connections (be those in-person or online).

Re: 2008/08/16/youtube-ads-4/

thom singer — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:20:53 -0000

As a consumer of media, if I miss something like "Saturday Night Live" I now expect to be able to find the good parts quickly on line. The media companies should have seen this trend long ago and created their own sites where I can go see clips.

While copyright is important, we are moving to a society who expects instant access. Where the large media complex was not providing such things, it does not take a PhD to realize that people will pirate things that the masses want.

I hope to see YouTube and other outlets that will have more access to mainstream media. If the media companies do it right they will see more ad dollars, not less.

Re: 2008/08/16/the-twitting-point/

thom singer — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:24:28 -0000

I tried to make a cartoon avatar, but he turned out looking too young, handsome and hip. Things I am not. There were no 40something , married with two kids looking avatars.

http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-carto...

Re: 2008/12/18/new-york-google-earth/

thom singer — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:05:24 -0000

Wow....Google Earth always amazes me. My daughter has a present under the tree that is a puzzle that a friend ordered that is a satalite photo of our neighborhood with our house in the center. Can't wait for Xmas to help build that puzzle.

Fortunately my 11 year old does not read Mashable.com or this post would ruin her surprise gift.

Re: 2008/12/19/how-to-win-twitter-friends/

thom singer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:40:32 -0000

This is great advice for Twitter....but also great advice for networking in face-to-facce situations. People often forget that online social networking is no different than traditional networking.

Networking is not about meeting someone, exchanging business cards, following them and getting a follow back, or making them your "Friend" in a community.

Networking is about establishing mutually beneficial relationships where both parties feel good about the connection. It is not about having the most "friends" or "followers". It is about making a difference for the people in your network...and having them do the same thing for you.

Re: 2008/12/19/twitter-2008/

thom singer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:31:49 -0000

I think that the SXSW ill-fated interview of Mark Zuckerberg by Sarah Lacy deserves and honorable mention. The Twitter stream derailed the interview. Over time the story has softened (and changed), but during the on-stage interview and over the following days it was an amazing example of the power of Twitter. It was right then I knew that Twitter was a real movement.

Re: 2008/12/23/twitter-relaunches-blazing-fast-people-search/

thom singer — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:54:58 -0000

I am glad to see this useful feature return. It beats having to guess people's twitter names. I hated seeing it gone, as I used to use it a lot. I did not know it was back...nobody twittered about it. How can I expect to know anything any more if my twitter friends do not mention it often.

Re: 2009/01/01/what-are-you-thankful-for-today/

thom singer — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:39:29 -0000

I am thankful for so many thing.

Most of all I am thankful that my parents taught me to be thankful for the good thinkgs in my life. so many people were never shown how to express and understand gratitude.

Beyond the main things (family, a great place to work, a career as
a professional speaker, amazing friends, 3 books, etc...) I am most thankful
for how much I have been able to learn in the past year because of
social media. Not pandering here.... I have found my online involvement
to be the single most enlightening activity.

Also thankful for getting to live in Austin, Texas. It is every bit as cool
of a city as you have heard.

Re: 2009/01/13/social-media-resume/

thom singer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:30:35 -0000

Your advice is great, but you forgot to caution people
about what NOT to allow to become part of their online
persona. Beware of TMI about your personal life in regards
to dating, sex, parties, booze, etc... on any of their
social media platforms.

Those beer-bong YouTube videos or the photos with the
stippers seem funny to some while in college.... but hiring
managers frown on such things when they discover them
online.

Many, especially younger professionals, think that is just
part of "who they are" and that it will either not be
viewed by recruiters and hiring managers. They create a
professional site for their career, but then have the other
site for personal life. But too often they are found by a
simple google search and it can lead to the job going to a
different candidate.

It is not just the social media resume that you need to pay
attention to, but all your online information.

Re: 2009/02/12/twitter-t-shirt/

thom singer — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:23:45 -0000

Ok, most trinket stuff I see is either crap or dumb. For some reason I like this one. But I went to go order a shirt and the service is down. Seems too many people read your article and crashed the system.

Re: Why Big Brands Struggle With Social Media

thom singer — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:03:28 -0000

I disagree with part of your point #5. You said: "You book advertising
and itâ€™s guaranteed to work". There are no guarantees in advertising. There
are many people who spend millions of dollars on ads with little ROI.

You are correct that the lack of understanding of how social media will
produce any results freaks out the big brands. They want control, and social
media is not there to be manipulated. You cannot fake viral. They want to
"manipulate" it and when they find that they can't they dismiss the whole
idea.

Your points do not just apply to big brands. Companies of all sizes have these
same issues. It depends on the visionary outlook of those in charge. Big companies just
have more people to have to buy in.

Re: Bank of Obama: Send a Bailout Check to Your Friends

thom singer — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:42:09 -0000

Again, lots of talk, and a lot of laughs, about bail outs. But why are we not demanding that the Gov't and the media stand up and champion the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial spirit that has always helped us create jobs and wealth in this country and beyond.

I realize this post is just about a silly joke site where you can print a bogus check (which is not unlike what the Congress has done... randomly spending money on "things" without real regard to the effectiveness). But there seems to be a silence about the real saviour to the economic woes and that is the people who take risks, create products & services, start companies, create jobs, etc.... We need to quit sitting on the side lines.

The people who read Mashable are the heart of those who understand and strive for entrepreneurship. Why not some noise being made here and on other tech related sites. Why are we not clamouring for attention to be paid to those who can make things happen?

Instead we get posts about fake checks to send your friends? Come on.

Re: http://mashable.com/2009/03/01/publish-book/

thom singer — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:57:46 -0000

It used to be that to have any street credit you needed to have a big New York publishing company behind your book. But those who have noticed that technology has changed the world in the last decade now know that big NY publishers do not hold ALL the cards any more.

A print-on-demand book, micro-publisher, small press, or other self-publishing options now can allow anyone to create a credible book. There are publishers and consultants out there who can assist you for a fee in getting your book into print and distributed (my publishing company, New Year Publishing, is one option)

Unless you are a celebrity, do not believe for one second that a big publisher will get you much more PR (yes, it helps with newspaper reviews, IF the paper will review you...as with 100K - 200K books being published each year there is not that much room for all to get reviews anyway!). Almost every author I have ever talked with says that promoting their book was all up to them.

Writing a book is hard. Promoting your book is 1000 times harder. But do not let this stop you from your dream. I didn't and it changed my life. The NY publishers try to make it seem like there are roadblocks, but not for those who just leap the hurdles.

Sure, I think there are some authors who should go with, and need, the big NY Publishing houses. I also think there are others who are better served by small presss or self-publishing options. Never let anyone tell you one is "bad". The reality is some are just better depending on your goals, situation, needs, desires and topic/genre.

There are so many options for the wanna be author. Do not let anyone tell you that any ONE way is the ONLY way. I know first hand that you can do it if you just do it.

thom

Re: Twitter CEO Evan Williams Interviewed on Charlie Rose [Video]

thom singer — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:49:43 -0000

This is an interesting article if you are NOT a Twitter user. After the 7 minute point it got higher level, but the 1st third was too basic and did not hold my interest. Even at minute 15 I had not heard anything I did not know. But Evan is a smart guy who has real vision.

Re: Reminder: Google is Not the Internet (Yet)

thom singer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:20:57 -0000

my 94-year-old father thinks that "Google" and the "Internet" ARE the same thing.

If figured at 94 he did not really nead to hear his 40-something son tell him the difference. Thus, for some, Google IS the internet!

Re: The 7 Ways to Approach Twitter

thom singer — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:57:46 -0000

They key to twitter in being consistent and authentic. If your strategy is somehow to "use" twitter, people will see through you. It is not about having a "number" of followers if you are just part of the noise. With TweetDeck and other tools many are ignoring most of whom they follow anyway. To succeed in Twitter, as in life, you need to make it not just about YOU, but about cultivating mutually beneficial relationships.

Re: Twitter Users are Young, Male, Handsome (OK, We Made That Last Part Up)

thom singer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:16:51 -0000

HUH?? I dont get this post at all.

Wait. 49% are over 35, yet you say that most users are young? (sounds split to me)... Now, as a 42 year old male Twitter user (handsome to my wife, most of the time), but so what? .... I am questioning the validity of your headline. Being over 35 is still young (contrary to what I thought when I was 25) .... but your statistic makes it sound like users are neither mainly young or old, but instead a good cross section of the population.

Now, if your stat showed 15% are over 35, I would say "YES" to your premise.... but I think your headline was created to get people to read an article that sort of has nothing to say. I read this whole short article twice and I have NO IDEA what the point of this post is really about.

Come on Mashable, I expect more from you.

***Now, I am sure that readers of my blog often scratch their heads and say "WTF?"... but I am just some old dude pontificating my opinions, thoughts and ideas (which are sometimes clouded by too much red wine). You should not get away with "mindless filler" if you have as many readers as you do!!!

Re: HOW TO: Build Your Brand Using Social Media in 2009

thom singer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:46:40 -0000

You forgot the MOST IMPORTANT way to "Control Your Personal Brand" and that is always act consistently. If you put on a mask and act one way in when people are watching and then another way in private, you will be viewed as a fraud. Most important part of your brand is that it is reliable.

This can be hard in a world where cameras are everywhere (think Michael Phelps).

Re: Twitter Users are Young, Male, Handsome (OK, We Made That Last Part Up)

thom singer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:04:46 -0000

The fact that "Mashable" answers comments like this is very impressive.

Re: Twitter Users are Young, Male, Handsome (OK, We Made That Last Part Up)

thom singer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:06:05 -0000

Thanks for the clarification.... still don't get it from the post. Confusing, and as I said, and I expect more from your articles!

Re: Twitter Tips Book Contest: Tweet to Win!

thom singer — Sat, 09 May 2009 08:35:49 -0000

On Twitter, like high school, even if you are popular, people can see you as stuck up. RT others often to show your not just focused on your own wonderfulness. I am amazed how many people forget that Twitter is not their personal marketing platform. Sure, it is a great tool for getting the word out on all the things you do that are brilliant... but you need to help others promote their stuff too or you are just about you.

Re: Susan Boyle: Final Performance

thom singer — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:21:50 -0000

Hey.... didnt she already sing this song over the weeks on this show? Or does she only have one sound? I was thinking she should close out the finals with a little Kayne West.or .Eminem.

Re: 8 Ways to Create Paperless Business Cards

thom singer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:49:23 -0000

The one thing to remember is that if you are doing away with business cards for REAL reasons, that is great. If you are doing it cuz it seems trendy and cool, that is lame.

When networking, you want to make it easy for the other person to remember you and find you later. If you don't carry cards and thus the other person need to hunt for your information later.... you will miss opportunities (sorry, many people will not put in the effort to find you, they will just turn to you competitor if they made it easier for them).

Many folks are thinking it is very cool to say "I dont carry business cards". They have lots of reason: environement (I believe them if they drive a Prius and buy carbon credits), or just that it is fun to say that cards are "so yesterday". But the idea in networking is to make connections that can lead to mutually beneficial relationships. Meeting someone on time does NOT make them part of your network. Meeting them once makes them a stranger who you once met.

If you have a great system to always follow up and get your info to the other person, great - do it all day long. I by no means think that business cards the only way. But they do serve a purpose of getting both parties the necessary contact information to follow up later. But if neither person has a card, how will you do it? Not having a card could lead to a missed opportunity. While it is fun to be trendy, actually doing things that lead to mutually beneficial opportunities (by which I mean: business, jobs, deals, money, etc...) is more cool.

I recommend recycled paper for card, as the enviroment matters. But I am not convinced that business cards are really a HUGE problem in ruining the future of the planet (anyone know how many tree it takes to supply the world in business cards??? Maybe it is significant!).

thom singer
www.thomsinger.com

Re: 8 Ways to Create Paperless Business Cards

thom singer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:10:00 -0000

Classic that VistaPrint is a sponsor. he he.

Re: The 7 Commandments of Blogosphere (and Life) Self-Defense

thom singer — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:29:34 -0000

Tim-

this is an important post. Everyone who blogs, writes a book, or otherwise puts them self "out there" will face this type of BS. You make many good points. I agree that anonymity is one of the biggest causes for a lot of the worst comments on the internet. I have some readers who say mean stuff while hiding behind fake names.

Congrats on the success of your book and blog. I hope our paths cross sometime, you are interesting to read.

thom

Re: Bribing You to Quit and Bosses as Muppets

thom singer — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:02:43 -0000

If you had enough money to quit your job and not work at all would you:

a. be in a pure state of joy
b. feel guilty
c. not know what to do all day
d. volunteer to help others
e. go nuts

Re: The Creativity Elixir: Is Genius On-Demand Possible?

thom singer — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:16:42 -0000

When I wrote the first draft of my first book I found that writing 2 - 4 pages per day was the best tactic. Sometimes, if motivated, I would do more...but that was my minimum. Also, like you said....it was okay (infact a good idea)to write the sections of chapters out of order...when I was inspired by the theme of that section.

Finally, remember that the first draft is just that...a draft. I did better work when I realized that there was a lot of time to edit the book. I could add or delete things throughout the process...but the goal of the first draft was to get it done so the editing phase could begin.

thom

Re: New Research and a Dirty Truth: Read This Before Chasing the Dollar

thom singer — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:41:48 -0000

Tim-

I love your concept of "time as a currency". Having just spent 2.5 weeks in Europe with my wife and kids this summer (all the time I could spare), I wish to God it had been 2.5 months. Also, having the day off for Labor Day yesterday was just a bit too nice. I had not seen "time as a currency" before, but when I read it on here it hit me like a ton of bricks. It is not just a currency, it is THE Currency.

thom

Re: The Top 5 Reasons to Be a Jack of All Trades

thom singer — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:27:37 -0000

Tim-

This is obviously this post is powerful noted by the nearly 50 comments in just a few hours.

I agree that we put too much attention on a single focus in our careers. Having many interests and many skills allows one to adapt to changing circumstances.

I have worked in many industries, and some people frown on this....trying to discredit the amazing amount of experience a person can get if they work in many fields. I think the more experiences you have (in a career and in life's journey) the more colorful the tapestry you weave along the way.

thom

Re: The Karmic Capitalist: Should I Wait Until I’m Rich to Give Back? (Plus: Auction and Tim Q&A via phone)

thom singer — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:06:27 -0000

I think you need to start giving back early, as it sets up a pattern for you when you do have the "big bucks". I give a lot of speeches, and I donate a certain percentage off the top line directly to my local Children's Hospital (to an endowment we set up in my daughter's name to help fund research for a rare condition she had at birth. She is fine now, but it just seemed like the right cause!). It is not a lot of money...YET, but with every check I get for presenting at a conference or a law firm retreat, I immediately send the money to the charity endowment. As my checks get bigger, so will theirs.

Re: What Happens When an Agnostic Follows the Bible Literally for One Year?

thom singer — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:38:56 -0000

I am reading this book right now and it is funny, funny, funny. His previous book, "The Know It All" was so funny that while reading it on a plane I could not stop laughing. Everyone on the flight approached me at baggage claim to find out the book title, as they said they all needed that kind of belly laugh in their life!

Re: How to Test-Drive Friends and Irritate People

thom singer — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:52:35 -0000

Whoa. Wait a second.

I agree with you that time does reveal the true character of people and that some people act and mislead you in the early stages. This sucks, it is wrong, and it is bad.

HOWEVER, people are not your own personal science experiment. They are not rats in a lab that you get to toy with see how they react. The things you are suggesting are just as one sided and shitty as what the liars, cheat and frauds are doing to you.

I think too many people look at realtionships and thing "How will this relationship benefit ME!". Your "tests" of how people react are one sided. It says "let me make sure that they will be a good friend to ME and be worth MY time and investment in this relationship so that I can save MY time if they are not a fit".

It just leaves me feeling icky to think that folks are "testing" eachother to decide if the other person is "worth" it.

Giving people the benefit of the doubt (that they are good) does take time and many folks will let you down in life. But one cannot make every personal decision based on how it effects their own personal experience...or by conducting a cost benefit analysis of every friendship. That is awfully selfish.

Re: The Personal Outsourcing Olympics: Bangalore Butler or American Assistant?

thom singer — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:44:34 -0000

Great piece on outsourcing from CBS. I am still figuring out if I can outsource stuff without causing me to worry about how it is being done. That is a tough call from someone who is used to doing it all himself, but I do see the benefits you preach!

Re: Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

thom singer — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:39:36 -0000

This is an important topic and post! While I have not been in such a fight as the author of the Esquire article describes (on either side)...there is a huge problem in society with people like "Jericho" and his friends who think they can say or do anything without consequences. I have heard a self righteous person actually proclaim "I can say what I want, its a free country!" (what is this 2nd grade?) after saying something offensive. They really believed they could say rude and offensive and nobody should be allowed to challenge their words.

I think there was a time when people acted more civil because of both the threat of a good punch in the face and the teaching of proper etiquette by their parents. Nowadays the punch factor is gone (or the puncher get sued, while the person who deserved the punch collects cash) and parents raise kids to think they are more important than others. Many believe they can act in any manner and say anything without regards to those around them.

This is a shame. I agree it is worse with the anonymity of the internet and it all just feeds upon itself.

Great post Tim, now my question.....how do we restore civil behavior and respect into society? Maybe some people should have special permits issued that allows them to punch jerks in the face without the threat of a law suit.

thom

Re: The Best (and Worst?) Autoresponders of 2007

thom singer — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:02:09 -0000

I am a busy guy, and I get a lot of email. Yes, much of it is a waste of my time, but I do go through it. I am not sure I would put an autoresponder on telling people I am too busy for them....I think that is sort of arrogant and self centered. It says "I am more important than what you have to say" (even if you feel that superior to others, you should not tell them, that is rude).

I got an auto responder recently that said "Thanks for your message. I am on vacation in the Bahamas until February 23rd. This vacation is necessary because of all the BS I have to put up with regularly. Therefore I am not checking email, as anything you have to say is not important to me while I sip drinks on beautiful beach while you slave away at your dull job".

I got a person email upon his return saying he was sorry for his rude email. He had meant to be funny, but discovered it was not taken well by most of the 300 people who got the auto responder.

Think twice before you put something on your auto-resonder. Think of how others might view your message.

thom

Re: Hitting Your Target for 2008

thom singer — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:07:04 -0000

The most important point is to keep your goals visible. My friend Chad prints his goals and has them laminated. He then keeps a copy at his desk, in his car and in the shower. Yes, the guy actually tapes his goals to the wall of his shower.

By keeping them visible it makes the tough choices easy. If you always know what you want you cannot get distracted or tempted by bad choices.

Out of sight is out of mind, so you need to constantly remind yourself of your target in order to get there. Like a plane flying from Los Angeles to Honolulu....if you just take off and go west...there is a lot of blue sea below you. You MIGHT hit Hawaii...or you MIGHT crash into the ocean. Having a clear goal and knowing what it looks like will assist you in a safe landing.

Re: Be Effective in Meetings and Use Social Media Tools

thom singer — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:56:46 -0000

I used to work for a boss whose meetings would drone on forever. He was a bossy boss, and always wanted to be the center of attention. Every meeting was his own personal brainstorming meeting. A "quick" meeting could go 2.5 hours.

We made a rule that nobody could call a meeting without sending a written agenda of what would be covered. The agenda had to come out one hour before the meeting so all could be prepared.

He resisted this at first, but the results were great, so then he acted as if he came up with the idea!

The agenda was there to keep the meeting focused and the person who called the meeting on task. It also allowed any topic that popped up to be tabled if appropriate.

Re: Using Social Media to Meet People

thom singer — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:55:22 -0000

Chris-

Good post. People need to fill out their profiles on Facebook and MySpace so that they can be found. Even if they are not going to be active using the online social networking tools, if they do not have public profiles they could miss opportunities. Many seemed to be either afraid or overwhelmed by the thought of using social media. But it is not a fad.

thom

Re: Bloggers vs Journalists and Who Cares

thom singer — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:23:34 -0000

Chris-

Important topic!

You said: "It is assumed that journalists disclose their biases in specific reporting cases, and that they work towards reporting at least somewhat objectively."

I think that this was once true, but I think that most people do not trust journalists anymore. Too many journalists and their bosses only care about ratings and selling papers/magazines. Some will cross the lines of objectivity to advance their biases...and while this is most likely a small number.... it ruins it for everyone.

If journalists want to rescue their image then the rest of them need to draw a line in the sand and call out those who act in a bad way...but they NEVER do this. They gloss over the cases of yellow journalism.

As for bloggers, many do far worse things than the bad journalists, but it is not a "profession" in the same scheme of things. In some ways, bloggers hold journalists in check the same you your claim that journalists hold the government and corporations in check.

There are some bloggers who have achieved the readerships equal to news organizations and are morphing into amazing media outlets. This is fun to watch cuz it is a front row seat to a changing world (Arrianna Huffington's Huffington Post and Om Malik's GigaOm are just two examples of blogs that are now more than blogs).

People who read blogs forget that the medium is only a few years old, compared to centuries of "journalism". Blogs are in 2nd grade on their way to a PhD, so there is still a long path ahead before this topic can be discussed in full.

thom

Re: Share YOUR Social Networking Success Stories

thom singer — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:05:04 -0000

Chris-

On Feb 7th I decided to try to see if I could raise some money for the local Children's Hospital using my blog and Twitter in the month of Feb 2008. By just making a couple of pleas, I raised $670 by the morning of 2/29. The goal was 1000, but $670 still kiss ass! Most donations were in $10 and $25 amounts.

http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2008/02/little-l...

One reader of my blog said she donated because she felt she has gotten more than $25 in value from my writing, so this was her way to pay. Cool, huh?

What if everyone could raise just a little money for charity? Sure $670 is not a material amount to The Dell Children's Medical Center in Central Texas....but what if 1000 people did this? That would be $67,000....and that is a material amount.

I am excited at the thought that the average guy who is not rich can make a difference by tapping into his social network. A drop in the bucket will add up over time and overflow the bucket.

I also think that social online entrepreneurs who make money should earmark 5% (or 10%) of the top line to a charity of their choice from the beginning. If you wait to donate $50,000 once you have earned a million dollars you may never do it...because $50,000 is a big amount. But if you do it one little sum at a time when you are making pennies, it will not sting to give the money in little chuncks. You wont miss it. And over time it will add up and make a difference!

thom

Re: Noise Reduction

thom singer — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:12:49 -0000

Standing out is more important now than ever before. Competition in all industries is not getting lighter....but more intense. Thus everyone needs to find a way to rise above.

Blogging is one way. But there are many many things one can do. In the end, people do business with those they know, like and trust. If you are the best kept secret in your business... you are leaving money behind.

Nobody can build your personal brand for you. It is done via the actions that you take everyday in everything that you do.

You are a great example of this... as you have established yourself as someone worth reading, following and listening to.

Re: Thank You Sheraton Four Points

thom singer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:39:11 -0000

The travel industry has become an industry of nickle and diming us to death. I now HATE American Airlines and others for the baggage fees. REDICULOUS. I only fly Southwest when I can because the 2 bags are FREE. So many others I know are doing the same thing. One would think the airlines would see how pissed people are about $25 per bag and see they are turning to Southwest when they can. thus they lose money, not make more. DUH?

The water in hotels can be $5 per bottle. Some nice places that are over $400 a night might be better served to give one free bottle to make the customer happy. I will seek out FourPoints when I can simply for the fact that they are not screwing the consumer who is thirsty for more than expensive water!

Thanks for sharing this. I love companies that provide services and value to customers rather than seeing each consumer as if they have a pork chop hanging around their neck (while the company is a hungry wolf)

Re: Thank You Sheraton Four Points

thom singer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:42:34 -0000

One more thing.... if every consumer would tell hotels that they HATE the high charges for water...they would change.

If we would all tell the airlines we HATE them for the baggage fees, they would change.

The problem is that we just take it and complain behind their back. We should tell them what we dislike about their nickle and diming the consumer.

Re: Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

thom singer — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:05:26 -0000

I find it interesting that when someone (Seth or anyone) does not use a "social media product" that those who are evangelists of the product have to claim that person is out of touch.

Nobody has the time to keep up with all the platforms, technologies and products that exist (and more are coming!). People have to make choices. We each get 24 hours per day, and our individual lives will only allow us to participate in a limited number of communities.

I never see those who don't use a platform call themselves or anyone else "out of touch" for using or not using it. Only those on the inside call those on the outside names. Seems a little self absorbed.

thanks for the post Chris. Always make folks think.

Re: Advertising and Trust

thom singer — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:46:35 -0000

Chris-

I saw all the mud slinging and finger pointing yesterday and was sad. You did nothing wrong. The social media battle cry is "transperency" and you were very clear that you were given $500 gift card to go shopping.

There are too many out there who think that social media is somehow purified from business. Some keep pointing out how this movement is "different". This is the same agruement people made about business during the late 90s and the dot com companies. People said that all the "rules" for stocks had changed. OOPS. not so much...in the end we had the bust. The rules of economics had not really changed.

You have a huge platform. When anyone has a platform, there will be others willing to pay for access to those eyeballs. As long as you are clear about it, you should be able to write whatever you want on your blog. If readers dont like it they will leave, and you will no longer have the platform.

In your case, I don't see those who really appreciate all you do as having any problem with your "sponsored post". What you did was tell a story about shopping with your kids. The best blogger tell stories, not just pontificate.

Keep up the good work.

thom

Re: Advertising and Trust

thom singer — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:33:56 -0000

What I have learned here is that people seem to think if you take money and crap all over the sponsor then you are cool and legit. If on the other hand you take money and say anything good, then you are somehow no longer legit.

I dont get it.

My take is that Chris took the money and then went on to write what he experienced. The fact he had a good time taking his kids to the store is not such a foreign concept to a parent. Taking my kids on a shopping spree at any store would be fun for the kids -- thus fun for the dad. That is what he wrote.

This whole thing is officially now blown out of size.

My last comment on this to anyone is:

1. Social media is not now and never will be pure of sponorship or ad dollars. There is a growing audience and thus corporations want in on it. This is not some new world order. Humans are still humans, and social media does not really change the basic nature of how business and relationships works. Different, yes...... a whole new social order...NO.

2. Bloggers are not journalists and are not tied to traditional journalistic "rules". A blog is a giant opinion page. I get to say what I put on my blog. You get to read it or not.

3. When someone with a platform as large a Chris Brogan gets on TOP.... there are always people who will want to take shots. Many will take these shots while acting like "friends". Others will just be mean spritied. This is part of the way human nature has always worked.... and this proves that social media platforms are no different than any other social structures. The difference is transparency and Chris seem to be keeping up that end of the bargain.

PS - I dont know Chris and have no reason to defend him other than I agree with him on this highly charged issue.

Re: 12 Things to Stop Doing in 2009

thom singer — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:10 -0000

The post is good, but I disagree with your first "Dont" of 2009. You said stop writing about Twitter. Alas, I think you spend too much time around people who have jumped into the deep end of the social media pool.

the truth is that most folk I encounter off of the internet look at me like I am from Mars when I talk about Twitter. ("I just dont get it"). Alas, I think in 2009 people need to keep writing/talking about Twitter. Maybe not on a blog that is read by social media gurus.... but many many people still have not heard the real story yet.

Just my two cents.

thom

Re: Your 3 Goals for 2009

thom singer — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:17:32 -0000

I talk too much to just have 3 words, but for you I will try:

Love
Expand
Guide

Re: Yahoo recruiter wants my resume

thom singer — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:34:32 -0000

Wow, this has been one of the more interesting threads I have read on any topic lately. I think that a resume is just a tool. If you dont need that particular tool to get the job, good for you. If a company requires one be sent, then you get to decide if the process dies or moves forward. The world is changing, and maybe resumes will go away...or more likely they will morph into something a little different than we know them today. Either way, a resume cannot get you the job, it can just keep you from getting interviewed. (I have a friend who did not get an interview because a recruiter AND an employee of the company forwarded the same resume to HR the same day. The HR person said "any time I get a resume more than once the candidate is eliminated". This just proves that people have their own quirky opinions of how to screen a candidate once they get a resume...and you have no control over it!).

Re: Watch out, the world is changing…

thom singer — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:41:51 -0000

I worked for a business owner in 1989 who said that the cell phone and fax machine were just a fad and he would never own either one. He changed his mind!

Re: Do A-list bloggers have a responsibility to link to others?

thom singer — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:20:38 -0000

Robert-

This is a big project, I assume you will get hundreds of comments from folks who will post their link (heck, I will do it!). I like it when the Uber-bloggers like yourself are just regular folks. Too many people start to see themselves as celbrities. I also read a lot of blogs (big and small) with authors who never site anyone for any idea or topic they write about. Nobody can come up with it all on their own, thus linking and giving credit to others is just what everyone should do.

I know you will have a lot of blogs to visit based on this project. Already around 70...I predict you hit over 300. I hope you find something to smile at on my blog, "Some Assembly Required":

http://www.thomsinger.blogspot.com

It is mostly networking, business development, sales, marketing, PR, advertising....but also has a lot of my personal rants and raves.

In answer to the question, I don't think anyone is required to link to others....but I do believe it shows a lot of class when someone like you invites others to be showcased like this.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Re: Pissing off the blogosphere…

thom singer — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:29:49 -0000

People who do not link to the blogs (or other sites) where they found the inspiration for their own posts are just takers. Sadly the world is full of takers. I talked with a blogger who felt if he linked to blogs where he got ideas, that he would not appear as smart. Oh please.

You are correct on this topic.

Keep up the good work. I like the controversial Robert. Stirring up the pot like this makes you blog even better to read.

thom

Re: Big gadget sites don’t link to blogs (I went overboard, read updates)

thom singer — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:29:48 -0000

Rock and Roll...the back an forth, he said - he said, nature of this post is the most entertaining thing I have seen on a blog in a long time. By the time I reached comment #75 I no longer understood the issue at hand, nor do I even care. I just think it is cool that A-List bloggers can have such a nasty pulbic exchange (aka pissing match). If this was Hollywood they would drag Shannon Daugherty out to throw a drink in someone's face.

I think you will set a record for number of comments in a week.

Re: Damn, I should charge to speak…

thom singer — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:02:41 -0000

Robert-

This has been a very interesting thread. I think that it is your choice to charge or not to charge when you speak at conferences. It does not make you better or worse as a speaker or as a human being. I admire that you like to share you insights, and that you rank so well at the conferences where you appear, and I am NOT accusing you of trying to take a high moral ground on this issue. It is just they way you approach your appearances.

What many here seem to miss is that speaking professionally is a skill and a profession. The person who said "don't charge...keep it real"...would he say that to his doctor? his lawyer? an auto mechanic? If someone has an interesting message and the ability/skill to talk before an audience...it is there choice to charge, and the free market system will set the fee.

To the guy who said that paid speakers are "from a bygone era that will slowly fade away", the opposite is true. The speaking industry is expanding. Those who host conferences will always want and need experienced and talented speakers. To take a risk on just any speaker can put a meeting planners job in jeapordy.

As long as capitalism stays in place, then many speakers will charge fees (the best will charge large fees), as will computer programmers, accountants, strippers, etc...

Re: Going to SXSW?

thom singer — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:22:26 -0000

Robert-

I live in Austin...and YES...if you have never been to the Salt Lick, you must go there. Do not be duped into the shorter drive to the Salt Lick on Loop 360, you MUST drive out to the original one in Driftwood, Texas. It is about 35 minutes from the Convention Center (without traffic, but is rare to not have traffic in Austin)...but well worth the experience.

If you want a good hole in the wall BBQ place you have to go to Sam's on East 12th Street. Not the safest neighborhood in town...but good food.

Enjoy your visit to my fine city! I expect some good blog posts from you about what you encounter in this fun town.

Re: The $600 Apple Tax (UPDATED: now only $300 for me)

thom singer — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:19:50 -0000

Robert-

On behalf of late adopters across the world I thank you for always being an early adopter and paying the price. If it was not for the guy and girls who want the cool toys, I would never get anything.

I have a very cool phone that I got free when my early adopter friend had to have a razor phone. His phone was only four months old, and has served me very well for almost 2 years. He has already moved onto the next new phone (and another buddy got the razor).

Re: A social network with only 10 friends?

thom singer — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:05:38 -0000

I write and speak regularly on networking and social networking....and there are advantages to larger numbers. However, not everyone can manage GIANT numbers like Scoble (you are unique in how you can successfully have large numbers of people in your social networking circles and actually communicate and relate to them all). Most people top out at being able to interact with 100 - 200 people and actually have some kind of relationship. It takes give and take, not just links (again, Scoble will respond to those in his social network and read their stuff on blogs and twitter, few can manage it like he does and make others feel connected).

I think that some people have great success focusing on very small numbers. Like high school....I had a large group of friends, but some people had just one close friend. Neither is the "right" answer, as many who had small circles had great times in high school. So it is not right or wrong....just what works for the individual.

That is the problem with these social networking / media....everyone thinks their way is the best way. Time will morph all of this, but for now it is all too new.

thom

Re: I love hanging out with authors

thom singer — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:23:08 -0000

Interesting people around the table at a party is what makes life exciting. I enjoy it when I find myself at a party with captivating souls. Authors always seem to have something cool to say (or they would not have been motivated to write a book)

I have read both these books, and these are the two authors of the 30 books I read this year I most want to meet. It was funny to see them both in your video. Not sure I can "check off" my list of having met them by watching your video.

Comaford-Lynch seems delighful, per your video.

Re: Funny “we’re in a bubble” video!

thom singer — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:44:41 -0000

I had to post this on my blog as it is just classic.

thom

Re: “What’s your audience size?” is wrong question

thom singer — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:36:35 -0000

I have never obsessed about the size of my audience or traffic. I like it when my traffic spikes, but I am not focused on it. I write for that one reader who needed to hear a message on the day he reads it. I occasionally get a comment or email from someone who was touched by my words (for a variety of reasons), and that makes my day (heck it can make my year).

The amazing thing about the internet is once you post something it is out there to be found by the person who is seeking that information or message. It is almost a spiritual or cosmic thing.

You have a huge audience....but I think it is because you are genuine in your interest about techie things. You have a childlike (I mean that in a good way) excitement and passion for all you study and report. It for this that you now have influence. Some scoff at you for this.... but I think it is an example of how consistency and real passion lead to success in any area. You could not cover all you do if you were faking it. That is the lesson in this whole audience , traffic, eyeballs, followers, etc... discussion.

Re: What to do if you’re laid off in 2008 recession

thom singer — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:07:20 -0000

Robert-

Very complete post. Most of your tips kept going back to networking. This is so basic and so important, but people often blow this off...they either think it is hard, or that it takes magic, or that networking is ONLY for when you need something (like a job).

The truth is that if you are not ALWAYS networking you are setting yourself up for failure. The time to network is not when you are looking for a job, but instead while you have a job and things are great. Networking is not about asking others to help you as much as it is you trying to find ways to help others. This is what builds real relationships. If you wait to try to make connections with people until you need something you look desparate.

People can take a variety of free online surveys that will show them their "networking quotient" to make them think about how they approach networking. It is not about the score you get on these tests, but instead to inspire someone to think about how and why they network.

This topic (networking) has been huge on all the blogs and social media sites in the last few weeks because of the gloom in the economy...but this is not something people should worry about now....it should be part of their lifestyle.

thom

Re: Audience of Twittering Assholes

thom singer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:10:24 -0000

Robert -

This is a fair analysis of the events. It was boring and off track from the start. Instead of blaming the audience, she should have owned up not having been prepared for what the crowd wanted to hear from Mr. Zuckerberg.

She has said publically that it was all going well for 50 minutes and then some people in the back turned on her in the end...but you are correct, early on it was just a horrible interview....and I have not talked to anyone who was on the edge of their seat enjoying the keynote.

The pressure is higher when you are the headliner.

I was taking some notes and my notes have side-bars that read (from the top of the page): "boring", "really, did he say that?", "the hair twirling needs to stop" and "wow, how many times can she mention her book during his keynote?".

It was an opportunity lost for Zuckerberg, Lacy and the audience. But that is life.

Re: Shhh, no one is on Twitter

thom singer — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:42:28 -0000

I have people question twitter to me all the time. Yet 100% of my friends who are on it a lot have sworn by the connections they have made from their twitting.

I have met dozens of people whom I now seem to know who do not live near by. However locally in Austin I have met dozens whom I do now know personally and who have become part of my network.

I know a little about the power of networking and see twitter as just another tool to help build relationships. But like any tool, you need to learn how to use it and then actually use it.

You don't need to think back as far as the Apple II...just look back 3 years ago at blogs. Most people did not know what they were (even those who read them regularly did not know they were not just websites). Now few would admit to not knowing about Blogs.

Twitter still has a long way to go to be mainstream, but there are many people who are using it regularly...so those who don't still might in the near future.

And heck, it is just fun sometimes to know what Scoble is doing at any given moment.

thom

Re: My fellow Democrats

thom singer — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:15:25 -0000

You are right that we need to discuss issues. Not just the Democrats, but all Americans. We need to do so with respect. The divisive nature of politics make people different sides dig in their heels.

I was originally excited about McCain vs. Obama because both candidates spent the spring talking about wanting a "different type of campaign". I imagined an issues based discussion that would engage Americans in a new way that we had not seen before. WRONG.

Instead we have both sides now trying to take shots at each other and it is the same old thing from two people I thought could bring change. The lesson is that we cannot expect change from politicians who want the PRIZE.

If we want real change we are going to have to make it a grass roots effort. I love your suggestion about getting bloggers to blog about the issues. But not just Democrats. Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, etc... Americans!

If we want the rest of the world to respect us, we first must find ways to respect each other.

Re: Networking is more than technology

thom singer — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:45:52 -0000

Eric- Great post. you are soooo right that many people think that online social networking sites are the "magic bullet" to making business connections. WRONG. they are just a tool. It still takes effort to make, grow and keep business relationships.

Also, thank you for the honorable mention of by blog.

thom

Re: Don’t Like To Work? (And What You Can Do About It) Part I

thom singer — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:24:11 -0000

I think there is the other one:

#8 I dont like to work because society keeps showing me the lives of the rich and famous and it seems way more cool to fly around on jets, eat at over priced restaurants, carry small dogs in designer bags, and lounge by the pool. Nothing my career offers me seems to be that good.

Ha, that is my take on why people dont like to work, they are conditioned to think it is best to be a trust fund kid.

I like to work. But I want to not feel drugery, I want to feel valued, I want lots of rest, I want to enjoy it at mega high levels, I want the money to bring joy, I want to still have time with my family and I want to like the people I work with!!!

Too much to ask? nope, it can happen. I have not figured it ALL out yet, but some of it...and working on the rest!

thom

Re: What was it really like reading an electronic newspaper in 1981?

thom singer — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:05:00 -0000

This is classic. I was in high school in 1981, and we thought we had technology. Ha.

I loved how they interviewed the one man and under his name put "Owns Home Computer" - as if he was sooo unique it was worth the extra tag line.

We need to stop and wonder what is going on today that is so hip and cutting edge that will seem so silly and outdated in 25 years.

Re: Politician Ron Sims considers D.C. life without Twitter, Facebook

thom singer — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:29:00 -0000

In this changing world, Washington DC will need to get used to new-comers who communicate via the online world.

Obama got to keep his Blackberry, and I imagine that Twitter will find its way into the halls of government, too.

It is fun to watch how the politicians adopt and use this social media / networking stuff. Some (like Ron) are genuine about it. Others just try to manipulate it for campaign marketing purposes.

Re: Austin Is The Top Blogging City

thom singer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:53:23 -0000

I like this one that you write!

Re: Facebook Founder Keynotes SXSWi

thom singer — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:22:04 -0000

That rumor is true. I will be speaking on the "authors stage" Sunday afternoon after Zuckerberg's keynote, ....which in some way makes him my warm-up act !!! I figure he will have a few more people in his audience...but I invite all your readers to come see my presentation on how to make the most out of networking at a multi-day conference!

thom

Re: Stagira’s Marketing UnSummit

thom singer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:44:33 -0000

Jason did a great job of organizing this event. Next year it will be a "must attend" event. Those who missed it missed out!

Re: http://blog.inc.com/the-breakthrough-company/2008/02/whos_your_insultant_1.html

thom singer — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:17:00 -0000

People have to be rewarded for taking risks, even if some of those risks fail. If they are too scared to try new things for fear of being punished in the organization, you can be sure they will not try new things.

It is hard for CEO's to reward failure, but the opposite means stagnation.

Re: Facebook: The Entire '60 Minutes' Segment

thom singer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:03:27 -0000

Zuckerberg and the Facebook PR department experienced an "opportunity lost" with this interview. What a great chance to make a good impression. Instead he and the company came off looking blah.

He looked like a guy whose dorm room experiement got out of hand and now he has no real clue of what he is doing...but is trying really hard to show the world he knows what he is doing.

Maybe I am wrong and he is brilliant and the whole "oh I sleep on a mattress on the floor" thing plays better with the rest of the world than it did with me. If your company is really worth 15 billion you should have a box spring under that mattress or you just look silly.