Why I don’t matter at Podtech by end of 2007

Categories: Social Media, Web Strategy, Web TheoryPosted on December 1st, 2006

Pretty stupid thing to say on my first week on the new job?

I spoke to Brain Oberkirch at 6am yesterday morning, and I’ve been up for a few hours doing research (it’s 5am now). For those who know me, (including the CTO of Hitachi Data Systems) they often wonder why I don’t sleep. It’s my passion for web, (yes, I’m drug free) and it’s always available for me to interact with.

I’m going to be Irrelevant
I told Brian that in my current role as a member of a team helping companies to understand, deploy, and measure Social Media, that I’m irrelevant probably starting at the end of 2007. I, and other social media experts, have a short window of time for us to be experts. Companies will figure it out on their own, PR firms, Marketing firms and the like will also develop strategies and then bottle it up for sale. Individuals inside of companies will learn the tools, and figure out how to deploy. Social media is easy to learn as it’s all out there on the web, the best secrets, tips, and mistakes.

As I understand it, the same thing happened during mid-late 90s (I was an avid internet users during college then). Chris Heuer was one of those who was and early adopter and told me stories of how companies needed to learn this new toolset of hyperlinked pages. Those skill sets eventually moved in-house and formal web development and management teams have developed. (see Jesse James Garretts’s model)

I’m not Worried
I, Brian Oberkirch, Citizen Agency, Shel Israel, FIR, Social Media Club, Blue Whale Labs, Edelman (and everyone else), must learn, morph and grow into the next set of tools. I’ve taken a bigger risk jumping to the front of the curve, a few years ago, I was a little bit farther on the curve. Now, I’ll be always staying in the uncomfort zone, and that’s ok with me.

Web and Media Strategy for Podtech
Heh, I love the strategic analysis that Brian has given to this, A big thank you to Brian for this supporting post! he sees why John Furrier asked me to join Podtech as it evolves from delivering radio on new tools, but looking at the bigger picture needed for future of information delivery and how people connecting.

Keep on pushing, stay ahead.

Related thoughts during this transition:

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 1st, 2006 at 6:28 am and is filed under Social Media, Web Strategy, Web Theory. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Dude,

Irrelevant by the end of 2007. Maybe for Hi-tech companies in the Bay Area but other non-tech companies as well as traditional service and manufacturing?!!?… more like early 2009.

Posted by Edward O'Connell on December 1st, 2006 at 4:25 pm

Heh, I’m just being on the prepared side… Good point Ed.

Posted by jeremiah_owyang on December 1st, 2006 at 8:34 pm

Our skills are products with their own lifecycles.
And if we grow out of a company or a specific line of trade, we can move laterally and apply our skills in other job environments where creative, fresh thinking and experience is needed. Or just ask / proactively look for different projects.

Ed’s point is right on in that SMBs and other companies are always 2-3 years behind what the big boys are doing.