Make the Jump: Hack Life, Welcome to My Job, Fear of Success

Hack Your Life

Couldn’t say this any better if I tried. “You love your friends and enjoy your acquaintances, but their Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/MySpace activity is killing your productivity. Here’s the two ways, “sledgehammer” and “scalpel,” we recommend for keeping yourself in the loop while minimizing constant distractions.” Make the jump for the rest of the great post by Lifehacker – How to Filter and Manage Your Online Social Life

Take This Job And…

There have been many missives back and forth about both the death of journalism, and the so-called  decline of what is considered ‘news’ and ‘the media’ due to the rise of voices in the social media realm. While I believe there are points to be made on both sides, check that – all sides, of the argument over the future of how we define news, journalist Tynan Wood makes great points in his blog rant My Job and Welcome To It

“What gets under my skin are the comments that invariably accompany these screeds about the future/death of journalism. It’s amazing to me how many people out there firmly believe they know how to do my job better than I do, despite the fact they have no idea what I actually do. So I thought I’d try explaining what I do, and how it’s changed as a result of the blogosphere, in an effort to clear up some misconceptions and, hopefully, shut some people up.” More after the jump

And finally…

Forget the Chimps, Climb the Pole

Thanks to Twitter, found this link to a fantastic guest blog post by Jason Barr (another Boisean I might not have had the pleasure to know if not for social web connections). On the site ‘Dumb Little Man’ – Jason blogged about Overcoming the Fear of Success.

“…. If we try to do something extraordinary with our lives, and we tell people about it, we’re worried we’ll be ridiculed for it. Mocked and shamed into conformity. People tell us it can’t be done, simply because they’ve never seen anyone do it before. Well, I think it’s time that it stopped. Thumb your nose at the rest of the chimps and climb the pole. Do what you want to do, and don’t worry about what other people think.” To find out what the heck chimps have to do with it, make the jump.

Of Jason’s ‘Lessons Learned’, #1 hit home the most for me. Go see which resonates with you. Yes, inklings of fear still infuse my life on a regular basis. But it’s good – and it is part of what drives me to climb the pole.

- Jess

Innovation and Inspiration

Innovation and entrepreneurship has been at the forefront of my mind for the past few weeks… for personal, peer and professional reasons.

Personal
If you’ve been following this blog for anytime, you know that our agency Red Sky turned a year old this spring. It’s a birthday I’m extremely proud of – and through the tough times and celebrations I’m glad for my spectacular partners and colleagues. I could never imagine embarking on such a venture on my own. I wrote about the impending journey last April in the Statesman’s Starting Up column series. A year later, it’s time to revisit Starting Up and ponder the first year – what was true, what’s been learned, and what awaits. For those fellow entrepreneurs making it through their first year (or second!) would love to hear your lessons learned.

Peers
When you hear of innovation and entrepreneurship, what industry comes to mind? Technology? But the reality is that economies are built of many small business operations, not just a few behemoths. Hitting it out of the park with the Next Big Thing isn’t the way we grow and sustain our economies – although it is an achievement to be celebrated when it does occur. However, supporting and building those small businesses which are our backbone is what will make our communities successful.

As Highway 12’s Mark Solon noted in a recent Idaho Business Review story, “Self funded “lifestyle” companies are the backbone of American entrepreneurism. while venture backed tech high fliers get the press, these are the businesses that turn the gears of our country…”

So props and congratulations to fellow female entrepreneurs Jennifer Reynolds of Slingflower, Courtney Feider of Mio Vino TV, and Shannon Paterson – embarking on a new post-TV adventure as Anchor Mommy.

Through being a part of the entrepreneur group Kickstand, I have the good fortune of being inspired regularly by entrepreneurs embarking on their journey, including the winners of our recent Startup Speed Dating:

KidCheck – A children’s security check-in product for churches, day cares and other child care providers.
Easy Office – Provides affordable finance, accounting and bookkeeping services tailored to the needs of small and medium sized non-profits.
Navitopia – A new innovation in corporate flight scheduling; improving communication between the flight scheduler, pilot and business traveler while improving efficiency and cutting costs.

And that leads me to…

Professional
Finally, two plugs – tied to innovation and entrepreneurship of course – and having a say in the future of your community. If you have an idea, a passion, a desire to create, develop and change your world – there are two dates you need to save and two events you need to explore.

IdaVation – the annual gathering to inspire innovation in Idaho – is set for May 28. The event features keynote speaker and early-stage investor Brad Feld telling us to ‘Get Out There & Innovate’, Congressman Walt Minnick on ‘Why American needs more Idaho Innovation’, and noted author Bill Wilmot on ‘Tips for Turning Idaho’s Ideas into Innovations.’

But perhaps what I’m most excited about is the opportunity to honor – and learn from – our state’s top innovators from Idaho companies including AuctionFrogs, Balihoo, CradlePoint HappyFamily, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, psiFlow, MetaGeek , WhiteCloud Analytics.

If you haven’t registered to attend yet – you will be missing out.

Another event for those interested in shaping the look, feel and future of our community is New West’s first Boise conference – Planning in the West – running June 17-18 in partnership with Boise State University (Department of Public Policy & Administration).

The conversation about our region’s future features leading planners, policy-makers, architects, developers, and landscape designers from around the Rockies focused on tracking planning and development trends, showcasing best practices, and understanding how thoughtful and place-inspired planning can help us shape our region in the most positive possible ways.

Keynote speakers include Chris Duerksen AICP, from Clarion Associates, who will discuss sustainable community development codes for the West; and Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP, Director of Metropolitan Research from the University of Utah, who will share a new perspective and stats on planning and growth trends of the Snake River Corridor and what can position us for a prosperous future.

Register Now to be part of the conversation about challenges and opportunities in planning our West, Sustainable Planning, Trends of the Snake River Corridor, Re-Thinking Transportation and Resource-Based Planning.

Share your vision, share your voice, change your future.

- Jess

Step Away from the Bright Shiny Object!

This is a post I’ve been pondering for some time. It’s the result of a bit of SME (social media exhaustion) and frustration with the focus on the latest-greatest-newest-widget – without focusing on the heart of what it is all about.

So – I’m writing to urge you to step away from the bright shiny object.

Don’t misunderstand.  This isn’t to say only the self-anointed social media gurus and experts should engage with the new channels of communication. Or that social media is only for a special few.

Because I truly do believe that social media is for the masses – that’s what gives it its power and relevance. Gen X, Gen Y, Millenniums, Boomers & beyond – it is for all of us.

As an individual, I believe it is a great way to connect and converse with friends, family, peers, classmates, colleagues, your community  – providing insights into the way we think, feel and react in ways never before experienced. It is a wonderful way to get a pulse on what is inspiring, exciting, traumatizing, entertaining and/or energizing those people that you choose to connect with. Finding out what matters to them at this moment.

But for a cause, an organization, and especially a business – it’s not a space you should jump into with no forethought, no planning, and with no focus on the key question…What are you trying to accomplish?

That point was driven home when during a presentation by tech evangelist and SVP of Fleishman Hillard Matthew Dickman, who spoke at the Idaho Conference on Recreation and Tourism I was attending. Suffice to say he was fabulous and inspiring. You can see his full presentation deck here Some of his memorable comments:

• Social media is people connecting to people via technology – it’s that simple
• It’s no longer about spamming a million people to convert a thousand people. The new formula is reaching the right 10 people who reach 100 people who reach 1,000.
• Choice is growing exponentially
• Make your online content easily shareable and easily remixed
• David has the advantage over Goliath
• Beware of Bright Shiny Object Syndrome

And that last bullet is what stuck with me the most.

Not to dampen enthusiasm for engaging with social media – but lately it has felt that everyone is more enraptured with the technology – the shiny object if you will – then what they are actually saying, and who they are trying to listen to or talk with.

Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me about Twitter and getting on it. Now, I could speak all day about how I utilize Twitter and why I think it’s a great way to listen, learn and engage. But that isn’t always at the forefront of why people are enamored with climbing on board the social media wagon.

Don’t let the pressure of ‘everyone’s doing it’ force your hand. For your business or organization, approach it the same way you would any other strategic decision – with thought and purpose.

Stop, breathe deeply , think through your who’s and why’s, strategize, and then move forward to the ‘how’. Because that is what social media opens up to you – a new ‘how’ for communicating and engaging.

Because ultimately, it is not a fad. Technology elevating our ability to communicate and connect is here to stay – and will continue to evolve and impact every facet of our lives.

“If you do not like change you’re going to like irrelevance even less” Gen. Eric Shineski (via @mattdickman)

-Jess