The move is on. Change is constant, but slow down when you can and see how things are happening.
The mad rush towards social media grows more momentous every day. It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves, running passionately just after truly realizing it’s time to change our behavior and shake our old ways.
A big ship turns slowly, but if many people can connect and paddle in sync…the ship can reposition more quickly. That’s what’s happening now. The step forward when Intel began blogging openly in January was followed by a few additional groups blogging, even from other parts of the world. They’re seeing the real value of participating through social media. They’re also learning first hand how to carry a forceful, engineer and ROI-based company out in the open among crowds of more people. There are groups of friends out there, sure, but there are also groups of not-so-friendly people and people who could really care less. But many of the paddlers believe the efforts have upside, the chance to better connect with friends, fans, families, counterparts, clients, governments, experts, interesting people, who can all can somehow help make the company better.
Moving from blogs to building communities is a way to spur the next wave for connecting and collaborating with others who have expertise and similar drive to advance technology. It might’ve been a good idea to join existing IT communities rather than try and build a new one from scratch — ala Open Port. But just look at the world and it’s many cultures, types of food and music. Look at the media. We’ve been seeing and hearing about major media consolidation, but to me media appears to be more fragmented than ever before (and now people are socializing media!). Compared with 10 or even five years ago, I have more choices to find what I really like on TV, Radio or the Internet. So let’s help build new communities and have the right communities intermingle where and when appropriate, and create bonds that make them stronger together. If some communities or parts of communities don’t grow, or even atrophy, then the efforts were no wasted. Instead, choices were made that didn’t click or add value to people who found what they wanted in other communities. Learn by doing and trying new ways to communicate better. Share passions and knowledge more freely and timely and from there the truth stands out.
Below are a variety of videos related to Open Port. They have similar flavor, but each video tries to connect with particular audiences. It’s good to remember that we have more things in common then not, but the more invovled we get, the more the world opens up — like the Powers of 10 (here’s the more official Powers of 10). And that is why I believe the move towards nurturing communities will be valuable, if and only if valuable content, discussions, resources, trust and insight are shared vigorously. Let the naysayers and ranters rail against trying. This is a time for building and networking, not time for over-strategizing perfection or clinging to status quo.
[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/08/PID_012309/Podtech_Intel_Open_Port.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/3953/intel-launches-social-media-experience-open-port &totalTime=267000&breadcrumb=de7009dd97a04f85ba7c2123de258fe3]
[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/08/PID_012348/Podtech_IT_at_Intel.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/3964/intel-unveils-online-it-community-itintel&totalTime=336000&breadcrumb=8d46785075aa456c92435b9a9c897324][podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/08/PID_012329/Podtech_MV_at_INTEL_Folsom.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/home/3967/the-inside-scoop-on-launching-open-port-intels-it-community-site &totalTime=489000&breadcrumb=fd47ccfafb604ea99b4482d1c8fa73f8]
Movin' Ahead 
Ken–I agree that building communities is the way to move to the next level for connecting and collaborating, and it’s impressive to see Intel moving this direction. I worked at the “big ship” for nine years, till 01, and would have given anything to have the new communications and collaboration tools. I think it’s going to reinvent the way we not only communicate, but do business. I also agree this is the time for “building and networking,” not overthinking and over strategizing. Intel should be good at this. One of the things I learned when I was at Intel was that it’s better to get moving down the track and easier to steer to a different direction once you’re moving vs staying in place until you figure out the perfect plan and strategy. So keep it moving and we can figure it out along the way.
Thank you! This is wonderful to read. I read it three times already! This means a lot because you have great experience inside Intel. In fact, your partner in Intel crime, Ralph Bond, was and still is a mentor and good friend to me. Being inside Intel can get frustrating — it is jam packed with strong willed, smart people and lots of energy — but it’s also incredibly inspiring with so many possibilities for making positive impact. Thank you for your encouragement. Things are rollin’ ahead with more momentum than ever (especially these past few months)….because the truth is evident: we gotta get better at listening, sharing, building and connecting. That’s what interesting people like you are doing. That’s what people workin’ are now doin’ to help “tha man,” helping get companies more relevant and meaningful in people’s lives. Cheers!
My Intel Open Port pal Josh Hilliker is interviewed here
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=312215
I left a related comment here
http://www.computerworld.com/comments/comment/view/312215/38457.
Moving At the Speed of Business People
Submitted by kenekaplan on February 4, 2008 – 20:36.
It does feel like 2008 might bring a perfect storm. More people are engaging and engaged with social media, and those who’ve been using it for years are deeper involved than ever. I’ll be watching how fast companies move to harness social computing…or better yet, how fast companies can move and empower employees to harness social computing to better compete and stay on the edge of their profession.