Managing the Gray – Positive Advice That Everyone Can Use to Succeed

Lots of discussion going on right now around my blog post about the elimination of the rule that PodCamps must be free.

Some of the discussions have been around if you can still call these events a “camp” or if they must be turned into a “conference.” I know some people get into very heated debates about this, but at the end of the day if it is a few people gathering for spontaneous coffee on the corner, a thousand people gathering on the expo floor of a huge convention center or a group of twenty like minded individuals having drinks and dinner together it is all about one word and that is community.

I don’t go to any event for the sessions or the exhibitors. Sure, I love both of those and get a lot out of them, but I like to go to meet people. To have a random encounter with someone in a hallway and then sit down with them over lunch and work through ideas that are in their head. Buying someone a drink and talking about what their goals in life are and where they come from makes me smile.

New Media to me is about connecting with people. It is about having a good old fashion conversation, building up a trust and then helping that person out in any way you can. I guess this is how I look at life in general and new media is playground I get to put it into practice on.

If we met at PodCamp Boston 2 this weekend I hope we hugged, exchanged cards and will continue to connect as the days pass from the event. If we didn’t see each other then drop me an e-mail, find me on Facebook or lets get together and have some coffee.

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I’ve always said that new media is about so much more then fancy web sites and dropping vowels. It’s about giving voices and outlets to people that would not usually have them. About telling stories that no one has heard.

So when I read about what Noel A Hidalgo is doing via his “On the Luck of Seven” adventure I was instantly excited. Best part was that I had not heard about this at all until I saw a post on another friends blog about his kick off party this weekend and curiosity got the best of me.

In his words:

for seven months, i will stand on the seven continents, dive into the seven oceans, and contemplate seven topics of freedom. while on the way, i will document the journey. this is not my story, this is our story. though your hospitably, donations, projects, connections and friends, our stories will merge into one.

I instantly subscribed to his blog , added his Flickr feed to my favorites and also donated towards the cause via his ChipIn set up.  He’s hoping to get 700 donations of $11.11 to pay for the trip and is going to be giving a book to everyone who donates documenting the travels. That alone is worth the donation, but I chipped in more because I think this is such an amazing use of the space we all play in right now.

I wish I was in a place where I could do this myself. I’m sure I could if I really wanted to, but there are other goals at the moment. I’m going to be tracking noneck the whole way and I wish him nothing but success and great memories because I know he is going to have some amazing tales along the way.

THIS is what new media is all about. Safe travels and I look forward to hopefully crossing paths with him one of these days!

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Earlier this week I put out a call looking for input on if I should get a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. For some reason Apple.com doesn’t this this is valuable information and don’t do a good job outside of spec sheets to give you input on the difference in the machines. But, YOU the users of the computers stepped up and gave me objective and passionate answers in both directions. I love that about the new media playground. We all love doing show and tell.

So today I had a great lunch and then walked into the Apple Store and pointed at one and said “I would like one of those!” The very cute lady informed me that they only had it in the most basic of configurations. Blargh. No impulse buy for me.

They almost lost the sale completely. I got home miffed that they only have a few configurations when you boil it down and the fact that they don’t even stock some different set ups makes no sense. That question of “should I get this or not” entered in my head. It wasn’t until I lost a document I was working on for reasons I still don’t know I said screw it and ordered it.

What Apple (and every other brand out there) needs to pay attention to is that I didn’t make this decision based on any marketing they had done anywhere. I didn’t make it based on the information they provide on their website. I made the decision by interacting with the brands consumers in real time via blogs, Twitter and IM. THAT is where the real power lies. If you provide your consumers with a good product and allow them to talk about and share with others they will. Don’t ever stifle that conversation ever.

So, now I have to sit and wait for my new shiny toy to arrive. I’m now going to reach out and ask they same community what software and other goodies I need to get. I know there are many goodies out there!

Final Score? MacBook Pro with 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB HD and Aperture installed

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