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

I have had too little coffee to be writing this post, but I shared these thoughts in an IM conversation with my buddy Julien last night and realized I should share it here as well.

Google buying YouTube this week as huge news. I won’t call it GoogTube or GooTube, for me I’m going to gall it gTube. It has a certain ring to it.

YouTube was easily the hottest property out there waiting to be scooped up. Facebook is now at the top of the pile in my opinion. I’m sure there are already discussions happening. It’ll be interesting to see what they accept for an offer when the time comes.

What I think people need to start looking at is that this world is not about podcasting, about social networks, about who has the biggest and coolest plot of land in Second Life. It still all boils down to the creation and consumption of content.

A couple of weeks ago Yahoo announced buying Jumpcut which was a huge move. It didn’t get much play because most people had not heard of them, but guess what? They had some pretty slick stuff. They were allowing people to upload video to the web and edit it on line! That is powerful.

You know what business model I think is a huge one and if someone creates it they will elevate this world we live in to a new level? Both Yahoo and Google seem to be moving in this direction from different angles. Other companies have pieces of this as well so perhaps someone is already going down this path.

I want to see a company that gives you massive storage so that you can upload video, audio, photos, text and everything else and have it right there at your fingertips. Then there needs to be an online version of a program such as CastBlaster for audio and something along the lines of Jumpcut or iMovie online as well for video.

Make it super easy for anyone to take content and edit it together as desired. Doesn’t have to have all the flashes and transitions. The basics will do. Allow them to do this online from anywhere in the world.

Then give them a mechanism to publish this to the net and then share it with the world. Make it mind numbing simple for anyone with a Blog/podcast/whatever to take that content and share it appropriately. Link, embed, share.

It IS all about the content. Forget the platform and the delivery mechanism. Those will always change and grow and prosper. People will always want to tell their stories their way. Give them the power to do this. Make it easy for the kid in the middle of the city to talk about what he’s going through or the girl in Europe who just wants to meet boys.

Lower the barriers to create and share the voices and images of the world and you’ve created something extremely powerful.

Who is going to do it first? I’m not going to guess, but I hope there is more then one in the end. It’s going to be fun to watch.

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I’ve just returned home from the Podcast and Portable Media Expo in Ontario, California. I’m not fully awake yet and thus won’t be recording right away, but I wanted to take a minute to pool some thoughts here.

Everyone knows this, but there are several different ways to approach this world of new media. Companies are attacking it different as are individuals. Each has it’s own beliefs and approaches. That’s the nature of the beast and the thing to remember is that there is room for EVERYONE to do it whatever way they want. Don’t like the way someone is doing it, then don’t just bitch, but do it the way you think it should e done. There is no rule or walls to get in your way. Go nuts.

But, while being fragmented there is no reason we also can’t bond together and push forward the conversation to everyone who will listen and even those who won’t. WE are the future of media, entertainment, communications and one-on-one communication. You control where this goes. No one single company controls it.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is to make content. Want to do a video podcast but only have a crappy old camera? Who cares, just do it. Don’t have a killer microphone? Who cares, just get your voice recorded and up on the web! Nike had it right when they said “just do it.”

You are the one in control. You are the one who makes the decision. WE are the community of new media.

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I had a friend ask me for some reccomendations on good marketing books to read. I looked up from my desk at the shelf above me and took this picture.

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Thanks to my good buddy Julien, this is my new favorite word.

Wikipedia of course has the full blown description, but think about it as a reputation based currency. You give something away for free and eventually that will be repaid t you some how.

Think of it as Karma updated for lack of a better description.

I learn so much from my conversations with Julien and yet so few of them happen in real time face-to-face. That’s sad and needs to change. I need to see him more often. Psyched that I’ll get to hang out with him at the Podcast Expo!

Whuffie….it’s just fun to say!

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