Part 2 of the Molly Flatt Interview discussing the social aspects of social media and making a change

Posted by Chris in My Blog & Guest Posts,Top Class Interviews,Video,general,innovators and leaders on April 29, 2010

More passionate and enthusiastic conversation with Molly Flatt (@mollyflatt) from 1000 heads. I hope you feel as motivated and as energised as I did after our chat. Watch it and then go make some changes in what you do for the better…

Here’s part two of the interview:

Agree or disagree, you can’t fail to love her passion and enthusiasm for her work and her life.

What do you think?

An American’s perspective on Likeminds & other UK conferences from Trey Pennington

Posted by Chris in Guest Blog Posts,Top Class Interviews,general,innovators and leaders on April 7, 2010

I’ve met up with Trey Pennington on a number of occasions and he’s someone I’m now lucky enough to call a friend.  Our last meeting was at the Likeminds conference in Exeter about 5 weeks ago. One of our conversations was based around the differences between the UK & the US in how they treat social media events .

Here follows his thoughts.

An American perspective on LikeMinds 2010

Chris Hall is a community-builder. I’m thankful he’s included me in his community and asked for my thoughts on the differences between conferences in the United States and the United Kingdom.

For me, the conferences in the United Kingdom are quite rewarding. Only in the UK do y’all appreciate my distinctive Southern accent. In the US, no one notices.

It seems British audiences are more vocal about expectations and the thwarting of them. Y’all are quick to voice critique. I had thought Americans were demanding and vocal—the criticism of Jeff Pulver’s 140 conferences in the US was downright brutal, for instance. (Then again, I’ve also thought American politicians wouldn’t last very long under the scrutiny of Questions to the Prime Minister.)

American criticism seems to focus more on things (the attacks on Pulver’s 140 focused on lack of Wi-Fi, being in a basement without access to cellular signal, and lack of power outlets, for instance). British critique seems to focus more on content and people.  Criticism of specific speakers or specific content doesn’t seem so pronounced in the US.

One might make a case that Americans think first of comfort and convenience while Brits consider content. I can’t say one way or the other. What I can say is, it seems the critique proffered by my British friends would serve to increase the speed of evolution for things that matter.

Scott Gould with Trey Pennington on the London Bridge after the 2009 LikeMinds Conference in Exeter.

I can also say the British have received and treated me exceptionally well. I’ve been amazed at the hospitality showered on me by Scott Gould, his extended family, and the whole community of friends associated with LikeMinds. Y’all have enriched my life considerably and I’m immensely thankful for you.

What are your thoughts on UK/US conferences and their approach?

Glenn Le Santo Interview, where we talk about social media fear, Jamaican records, tweeting pillows & much more…

Posted by Chris in Social networks,Top Class Interviews,innovators and leaders on February 11, 2010

I recently came across Glenn at a media140 event in London. Some of the UK’s leading social media brains were in the room that night but it wasn’t until Glenn peered his head  round the corner and started to create debate & discussion that things really began to happen. He was supposed to be simply tweeting and blogging about the group discussions’ but was overcome with the desire to engage and collaborate with everyone. ‘Shouty Man’ as he became known that night is a perfect example of social media in human form. After all it’s ultimately all about creating that one to one meeting and not really anything about the technology.

His views show someone who not only understands the potential of social media and how organisations can harness it to the full but that its real power is with the people and not the brands.  Here follows our interview.

1. At what point did you decide the career path you’ve chosen and what drew you to it?

I’m born to communicate.

As a kid. I loved to draw, write and communicate. I’d make magazine or booklets for and read them to my grandmother. I’d chat with my parent’s friends, about anything that would hold their interest, from about the age of three.

2. What excites you most about the growth of social media?

I’m excited because I still think Social Media actually can Read more…