My comments re Scobleizer — Tech geek blogger � Blog Archive Are bloggers & social networks killing the big shows? �

Scobleizer — Tech geek blogger � Blog Archive Are bloggers & social networks killing the big shows? �

Big trade shows focus on bringing hundreds of thousands of people together and maximise profit for the tradeshow founder/host (can't blame them).  

It's a good gig if you got history/scale, as not many people(competitor) would dare to start one, unless they can find a different niche/focus (E3, CeBit, CES) This is the same for B2B conferences in various industries/sectors (e.g. Telecoms: IIR, IBC, Informa, Finance: euromoney, FT, economists) however, one thing is for sure, most so so organisers (especially the market leaders) tend to become blinkered and develop narrow field vision, namely, they focus too much on sponsors need (rather than paying attendees or even key stake holders' requirements)  

Therefore, in the end, we see things like these MacWorld saga (not knowing the background/real story, the organiser may have asked apple to how best to appease them, it might be too late or they might not have even asked because they thing they have scale!? Anyone knows?)  

Key however is that trade show/conferences alike, need to be focused, and as mentioned the internet/video/blogging change that, but mostly so far within the FMCG market, let's so on B2B, they are still quite niche & sometimes internally focused. E.g. Challenges of rating, not easily understood derivatives/"structured products" (or zero cost products, CDO, CDS) are already well known in the finance sector.  

One thing is for sure, pulling a few (or even big number) of key senior industry guys together is not difficult, IF you already has built up the trusted relationships. Many conference organisers may have lost sight of key Focus/benefits are clearly relationship buildings.. 

Cost vs benefits for attendees/sponsors quite frequently don't add up. Therefore, finding the balance or win-win is KEY!  

I personally prefer 4-10 people maximum lunch/evening functions of senior people are most effective!  

@garethwong

My comments on Why I Love Twitter - O'Reilly Radar

Why I Love Twitter - O'Reilly Radar

Great post Tim, 

one of the few best ones I have come across in the past two weeks of reactivating my twitter account after 1.5years absence.  

can't write better than you  

Key Question is that this seems to be the accepted 'normal' usage of twitter, one of the reason I never blogged was due to wanting to keep my personal information private. Power of twitter as I see it is 'concise micro-blogging', which saves me time as I don't have time to wade through all the Blogs and comments of the multiple sectors that I follow.  

But twitter enables me to follow people's updates/news stories in a condensed timeframe (am still trying to find what is optimal). and can delve into it when there is time. However, what you have not touched on is how/whether for people like me that would like to extend my business relationships/friendships but in a managable scale, as I generally focus on B2B, therefore, keeping up relationships with multiple contacts with key organisations across multiple sectors is already too much let alone another few thousands if not multiple tens of thousands of contacts.  

If Twitter or the derivation of it could cater for people like me, it would be brilliant, one key aspects would be how I keep my feed private and yet can elect certain posts to be public. this should be achievable!? then, and most likely only then, would a good percentage of the mass market would signup and contribute in a 'perceived safer and more private environment'..  

Just my thoughts at the moment.  

BR 

Gareth  

@garethwong

My thoughts of Pros & Cons of 10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You From Getting Fired

10 Ways Personal Branding Can Save You From Getting Fired

I network quite extensively, and in fact prefer to be private person. However, as an entrepreneur, one will have to get ourselves out there.  

Another view point I might add if its ok is also the 'balance', one need to be VERY careful of how much you 'want to give', I have come to a point where my database is now 15,000+, close to 2000+ contacts on linkedIn (mostly senior people) plus I am still meeting more people..  

challenge now is how can I stay polite and tell people that want to/are meeting me that I really don't have enough capacity (frequently) to give them the time that they deserve without sounding rude?  

Also, another challenge is that I would prefer my life to be private, as its fine being recognised, and all, but I don't want average joe also know about my life and come up & know everything about me!?  

And also, the ship is now sailed and challenge is how to keep it sailing with the right purpose to get enough value to help ourselves and our cause(s).  

Good article but approach with care and should develop a 'STRATEGIC Plan' of how to manage the growth, as no doubt NOT everyone want to be a Robert Scoble.  

Reverse of that is also true, namely, outside of Tech media, Robert might not be that famous, because in Telecom B2C, Finance, Insurance, Gaming gambling, he is NOT known (in my circle anyway), so, its brilliant that when I started using twitter finally in the last two weeks, I only then realise what the fuss was about when his account was closed on FaceBook.. didn't have time then nor now to look up the reasons but that illustrate another point. your strategy above mostly work within the Tech/media/PR sector (B2C??) that are linked by bloggers etc.  

Therefore, one should look at what are the influencer/networks compare to what they want to achieve in the short/medium/long term. I have not checked the grammar etc. above, hope this make sense.  

BR 

Gareth  

@garethwong (my twitter feed is private & twitter need 2 improve on privacy protection on the system).

Business school networking

The target audience of this post is for fellow MBAs of City/Cass Business School. 

Not having been an entrepreneur that long (only since 2002), but I have learnt many lessons, and one key one is to 'network' and build up a trusted network of contacts. It's corny but it is really "who" you know, in times more important than 'what' you know. 

Speaking from experience, I have founded a few initiatives for the senior executives cross sectors (CXO Europe/Asia), for the gaming gambling world (Gambit non profit special interest group, Gaming Money Summit at the London Stock Exchange) and also E/MBA club offline gatherings for City/Cass MBAs (+ online exclusive group where despite not being the 'official' community, we have now close to 800 people worldwide!)

It frustrates me when I see more top guys & girls that only join the network (on-line or offline) when they wanted the support of the network, but sadly I have to say, it is too late, when you are NOT the CEO/MD of a multi-national or major firm.  

It is sadly the human nature, if you can't spare the time to sow seeds, it maybe difficult to harvest as no crops. 

Therefore, please do it like other top guys, like those that already support and speak or attend top events at City/Cass or in more exclusive/private gatherings of E/MBA club.  (e.g. CEO of SG Hambros, MD of AON, President of Shell SA, MD Taylor's Port etc.)

or just click through and join the private network on LinkedIn (the one I founded), and most importantly update your details on the City/cass website.  It takes only seconds, well few minutes the most. 

I can tell you, there are some pretty great offline gatherings I am putting together for 2009, from 'business of olympics' to "business of Internet", as we have done before, it will be best place to stimulate your mind, build new or renew existing trusted relationships! 

Do The Green Thing

Do The Green Thing

Brilliant initiative.. its big, ambitious, and need all the support it needs!

this might be a fantastic charity that all CXOs should support, not only with money which a lot of charity are only focus on raising, but management/business time, resources, 

for example, why not one of our CXO that owns a channel just give a few minutes of airtime for this!? 

We need to work together to save our planet, but most importantly for our kids and their kids' generations! 

They have done the hard bit, we just need to work with them to create the 'fellowship' and 'reach'! 

All the DAZE - Toddler Resources

All the DAZE - Toddler Resources


This is one of the better resources that should come with our kids..

its rather interesting and should help.

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Longevity of success: CXO vs Artistic Talents

Finally, I chose to rest and not work/plan things last night. Whilst I was watching a couple of old programs (from last year) produced by RTHK (Hong Kong's equivalent of BBC) on the undying longevity of singer/ song writers coming from the ex British territory like Danny Chan, Lead singer of Beyond etc.

Surprising fact is that their brilliance and talent is even more revered and recognised once they are gone (both died young!).. Although, when they were alive, the public did appreciate them but not nearly as much as when they are gone!

It dawned on me that its a bit reverse in the business world, when the "star" business man/enterpreneur are usually only respected and liked whilst they are STILL at the top.. rather than when they become an "ex-certain company", but of course, if they were "poached", then that would be very different! Of course, as a multi-millionaire ex-any company would also get much attention (both good & bad!)

Rarely do one have likes of Sage of ohmaha Warren Buffet or Steve Jobs/Bill Gates/ that seems to be constantly at the very top... They are like "Ironman" of the business world!

But still, in many ways, it also surprises me that there are quite a few top CEOs/Managing partners of major corporations and even VCs/PE funds, that I was in touch with seem to reckon that they are like the forementioned Ironman, and can do no wrong, and in many ways could verge on becoming cocky and sometimes too full of themselves (both internally & externally).

Its usually these people that would tell me later that that they would like to get involve with my CXO network (as they lost their job!) and sadly by then due to not qualify, and their previous personality, I could not let them in...
Although I would still do my best to make some introductions which may help their endeavour.

Of course, its different for those that were already part of our network as we have a special program called "senior officer in transition" that they can join and should help in some ways to get them placed again.

This maybe a bit different for the talented Artists, which we as consumers can see, where they rarely like madonna that could stay on top by keep on re-inventing herself...

Key to success may seem to be different from the creative/artistic talents' perspective, as its about creating an artistic product(s), be it film, theatre, music or creating arts ... Which in many ways is under control of the artist themselves...

However, we have seen that the advent of technologies which accelerates globalisation and "reach" of product & services, means that previous "niches" or "indie" types has now geniunely somehow become less niche but mass market!

Combined with some business and street smart, artists could become business man (may need less 'hits') and move to production/business side.

And business man like steve jobs (or I would argue that he's more like an artist) can create something new using his vision and consequently create new markets and following...

Key however is the innovations and humbleness that we can and should try to adopt.

Let we all try to become the next generation of "artist businessman".

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device