I’m a sucker for motivational speakers. And I’ve heard enough of the them to know that none of them like being called “motivational speakers”. “Success Coach” seems to be popular. “Noticer” was a new one for me. So sure enough, shortly after hearing him speak at the opening of this year’s Emerson Exchange, I fired up my Kindle and downloaded Andy Andrews “The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success”. Sounds good. Who doesn’t want personal success? It’s a fairly fast read, so in less than a ½ hour into it I came to Decision #2. “I WILL SEEK WISDOM”. That’s when it hit me. Why I’m here. I had been asking myself that for the last few days. Why am I here? Today at the Emerson Exchange and here at the 365 website. I seek wisdom.
And it’s here. I’ve wandered into some fairly random workshops and walked out shaking my head in disbelief on just how much I picked up. Terry Blevins. Greg McMillan. This is true wisdom here. Not the information you find in Books Online. Not the answers you find in the KBAs. Wisdom. Wisdom from users who have had the experience, reflected upon it, and are here to share it with you.
One of the things Andy touched on in his speech, and is a main theme in the Decision #2 chapter, is control who you associate with. We know that who our kids hang out with influences them: How they dress, talk, behave, etc. At what age does that change? If you seek wisdom, seek the counsel of wise men. And while some of you are fortunate enough to sit down the hall from a Scott Ross or an Aaron Crews, there are some of us who sit next to Homer Simpson for a good part of the day. That’s where this 365 website comes in. It’s where I come to share and seek wisdom for the rest of the year. Where I might be lucky enough to catch the ear of a Youssef.El-Bahtimy or a Matt Stoner, who, as it would seem, push the limits of the technology on a daily basis. Where I can tap into the well of wisdom from an Andre Dicaire.
It’s also an opportunity for those of you with wisdom to share it with a larger audience. Another re-occurring theme around this year’s exchange is that we’re not getting any younger and we are going to be losing a good percentage of the workforce over the next few years. Share that wisdom before we lose it. Get it out there. Get it out here!
And if you have ideas on how to improve the ability to share wisdom on this site, please stop by the booth and let Jim Cahill know. And with that I must end this. The fireworks are starting. I’m also a sucker for fireworks.
Travis,
Good points you made there...esp the part about hanging out with the "right" crowd. We all know the power of group influence. And the positive effects of observing and learning from others. I realize two things that have kind of prevented me from doing more of this:
a. Discomfort of being with people who are not your usual crowd
b. Misunderstood of being snobbish
c. Mentally lazy...haha. Easier to just hang around with easier folks.
But you are right - need to discipline oneself to do what is right.
Thanks chowyang.neo!
Online communities are still in their infant stage. I’m sure there are several PhD dissertations on Online Community Dynamics but something like this (professional / work communities), I believe have a unique set of limitations and yet an amazing potential.
For starters most people that work with something like DeltaV, work in an office full of employees that also work with it (Emerson Employees, LBP employees). That right there fulfills there need for community where there profession is involved. They share presentations, lunch meetings, client problems, answers. They don’t need any more involvement in that part of their life, and don’t face the pitfalls you brought up. A.) They already know the people and have a better “comfort” level. B.) Less chance of being misunderstood when talking face to face. C.) It’s hard to be lazy about something when it’s a job requirement. How do we move them into this community to share their wisdom?
On the other hand, online communities open you up to a much larger audience. You can shine better, or learn better. You’re not limited to learning from the small group in your company that may be trying to protect their jobs. You’re more likely to come across someone that has ran into that problem before. You can put knowledge up for review by a global audience and you might just find the way the boss has been having you do it all these years is not the best way.
Either way, I’m excited to see where this goes.