BarCamp jitters

Gonna opine on opensource a little at Barcamp tomorrow ...probably around midnight...but what I really want is to hear from you. See you there I hope. Those who don't know jack may prove to offer the clearest insight into where it is going.

Risk Reward of "Exposed" Contacts in Social Networking

Risk Reward in Social Networking, and on Exposing Contacts in Particular

Before posting social content, each user of facebook.com , linkedin.com , twitter.com, del.icio.us.com, plaxo, or for that matter any social networking medium ( Blog, Wiki, Forum, social site, etc. ) one should ask themselves does this help or hurt my cause. Understanding ones’ own motivations is a crucial first step, and one should keep in mind that their network itself may be the most valuable content they may opt to expose. Beyond the obvious implications of posting controversial blogs, consider the following questions regarding your connections, and how freely you chose to expose and manage them.

If someone I don’t know studies my contact list and learns of someone else of benefit to them via my contacts, does this hurt or help my cause?

If someone I do know studies my contact list and learns of some else of benefit to them via my contacts, does this hurt or help my cause?

Could divulging certain connections violate a confidence, expose a proprietary advantage, offend a colleague, boss, or customer, does it divulge a secret?

Or on the other hand, will I, by exposing my contacts, attract and even more formidable network of like minded colleagues?

Will the vastness and quality of my “network” demonstrate that I am genuinely “well connected”, or will it be a clue that I horde connections with people I don’t really know?

Do I care…the answer to which could be “yes” on business minded networks like Linkedin and Plaxo, and “no” for Facebook, myspace, twitter, etc, and, your answers may evolve over time as your own career and work focus evolves.

$ social networking is the new .com

Anyone beside Zweckerman make any money yet? Better question, will those who paid him think it was a good deal in 5 years?

Social Text for Productization of Services

I just signed up for a trial socialtext account to help my colleagues and I document some of the great work they are doing in consulting engagements. These guys are too busy to brag about what great work they are doing as offshore ambassadors on some big projects, on saving a large client tons of money by migrating from expensive commercial middle ware to jBoss, and on helping clients reduce IT compliance exposure...but I am not.

I am trying to convince them to start using del.icio.us, to blog, to network, in order to enrich their careers, and mine, but it is a long hall. I will "report back" as we progress.

Socon 08

Going to socon08 this Saturday. I spent an hour looking at the attendees profiles. Seeing the others inspired me to change mine several times. So here is my advice on putting in a profile on a social network, even though you did not ask. Really, it is advice from the Bible, and your mom.

Be as modest as you can, which is harder that you think.

Guess that goes for more that just posting a profile.

GUI's and site monitization

Building easy gui's is hard, even if you know what you are doing. Monetizing a website is even harder. Good luck if you are trying to do either.

Are you a bubbalectual?

Am I the only Bubbalectual? The only one that knows that wood chops better when it wasn't 25 degrees last night? That building a simple GUI that does not freak out my mom is really hard. That questions experts, especially stupid ones? Nope.

My next door neighbor is a bubbalectual too. He is a Coca-Cola exec who changes his own oil, and rents a BobCat when he wants to dig a hole.

Check back for not so expert advice on stuff, and ask away if you wish.