Aloha!

Categories: RuminationsPosted on April 10th, 2008

I need a vacation, I’ve been on the grid for over 900 days.

I’m going to be spending some time away, which will be the first time in over two and a half years that I’ll be completely offline. I won’t be checking email, my blog, or twitter, so you’ll have to catch me when I get back in a few days.

The last 6 months as an analyst have been very busy, I hit my goals in the role, published research, helped clients, and supported the company move it’s own social media efforts forward –all while maintaining this blog.

But not everything went smoothly, I’ve made a few mistakes on the way that I wish I could have fixed, but I’ll file those away as some hard lessons. A rough customer presentation, a few internal speedbumps, trying hard to learn how to write reports in the Forrester style (it’s like learning a new language) and learning new research and analytical skills. I’ve given up a lot of sleep, frankly, I worked hard, so I need to recharge.

So, I’m delivering a presentation to executives of B2B tech companies from around the world today in Oahu, then I’ll be taking some time off and will return fully charged.

In the meantime, while I take some time off, I encourage you to follow the following people: Colleagues Josh Bernoff and Charlene Li on the Groundwell blog, Peter Kim, Shel Israel who’s cataloging how social media impacts culture, and listen to Jennifer Jones’ Marketing Voices on your walk/jog/workout. Each of these folks are respected peers, and have become great personal friends.

If you want to peruse my archives, some of my most popular posts are here, or you can leave me feedback about this blog in this survey I’m running.

But don’t just take my recommendations, if you know someone that’s doing great work in the internet strategy, web marketing, or social media space, leave a comment suggesting them below.

I really enjoy this industry, the collaboration of the community, and meeting so many interesting people, thank you all being part of this online experience.

Aloha!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 8:09 am and is filed under Ruminations. 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.

Digital overload seems to be taking its toll lately. You’re going offline (good idea). Scoble is suggesting that we “turn off the Internet” and Hugh McLeod completely deleted his Twitter account.

Too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing. Enjoy your vacation Jeremiah. We’ll keep a light on for you.

Posted by Paul Chaney on April 10th, 2008 at 8:58 am

Get some rest Jeremiah! You do a great job and you deserve those vacations! Enjoy!!

Posted by Jordan Chénard on April 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am

Enjoy your rest

Jean-Marie

Posted by Jean-Marie Le Ray on April 10th, 2008 at 9:22 am

Congratulations on your excellent decision to take some time for yourself. Enjoy!

Posted by Teresa Valdez Klein on April 10th, 2008 at 9:23 am

J.O., I am SOOOO happy to hear you’re human. I can’t tell how many times I’ve been annoyed at you when I get up at 6:00 AM to blog and find I’m the umpteenth commenter on a post you put up at 3AM. I once wondered if you ever slept, but then you answered the question in a tweet, so now I know, and I still hate you even though I love you.

Have a great vacation!

From your friend Max, who after 54 years still can’t accept that he needs a good 9 hours a night.

Posted by Max Hansen on April 10th, 2008 at 9:36 am

Max

Funny. Oh dear, am I ever so human. I make quite a few mistakes, quite a few.

Get some rest friend.

Jeremiah (who is about to start the “reformatting” process)

Posted by jeremiah_owyang on April 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am

Yep, “digital fatigue” is very familiar to me.

I eventually went through a phase selling my technology, removing all my websites, giving away my best ideas/IP and totally disconnecting.

I’ve now swung back to the almost middle ground (including 5 computers, 2 mobiles, and a fibre optic cable into my head) although still refuse to have a television in the house (for obvious reasons).

I think its often hardest on our loved ones. Most of us have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and also a urgent sense that if we don’t know “it” (insert area of interest), we’ll lose the edge because someone else worked harder.

Once upon a time a geek like me could read a set of encyclopedias front to back and feel a sense of competence. I haven’t yet been able to completely read “The Internet”… people just keep adding stuff.

I think we are going to see a lot of digital/life adjustments in the next five years.

The other thing that is interesting to me, is that we feel a sense of obligation to explain why we are not going to be as ‘active’ on our blog, facebook, bebo, myspace et al. Of course its polite, and perhaps it quells rumours or wonderings, but actually it is your right to do whatever you like, when you like, with your site, without your site… without explanation. Maybe Maslov’s ‘belonging’ needs are far too satisfied by our social media centric lives. We can feel like we belong to our virtual community, instead of belonging to ourselves and our friends and family.

Be free my friend, real living awaits in the coming hours. Be warned, it does take about three days for your brain to realise that you’re not connected.

Posted by Paul Grant on April 10th, 2008 at 11:07 am

Aloha and Amen! Thrilled to hear that you’re taking a break.

Next time you’re going to take a vacation, though, Jeremiah, how about some advance warning? I think all of us Social Media zealots could use some time off: we might as well all do it at once.

(”And lo’, the Twittersphere went dark!”)

Have a great time.

Posted by Todd Defren on April 10th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Good for your Jeremiah, enjoy your break!

Posted by Ed Terpening on April 10th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

That’s great Jeremiah. It’s not often you hear about folks who work in this industry completely “unplugging”. I agree with the others, you’ve done GREAT work and I hope you recharge and rest well on your break! Have fun! Read ya later when you get back!

Posted by Irene Chiu on April 10th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Enjoy the much deserved break. In a way, it will be a small vacation for all of us without your daily blog posts to digest and utilize.

Have an awesome time.

Posted by Michael Barber on April 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Now that’s what I call paying yourself

Enjoy, Jeremiah!

Posted by Sonny Gill on April 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Welcome to Hawaii! Looking forward to meeting you tonight!

Posted by Xapa on April 10th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Congratulations on your vacation! Hawaii is a great place to relax & enjoy the scenery.

I have tickets for London/Paris in May - and it will be great to unplug.

Posted by Connie Bensen on April 10th, 2008 at 7:31 pm

Jeremiah, Have an awesome time and thanks for the kudos. I hope you catch some waves!

Posted by jennifer jones on April 10th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Have a great time Jeremiah.

The IT industry is overloading right now. Take your time and reflect on your work.

You have earned your vacation!

Posted by Björn on April 11th, 2008 at 6:22 am

Jeremiah, take a break! You deserve it .. I just got back from Florida - I haven’t taken a break in a long either. Airing out the brain is a good thing.

Posted by Beth Kanter on April 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am

[...] 900 days, and after a presentation to a Cisco partner conference in Honolulu yesterday, he began a much needed vacation. As he unplugged from the web, however, he spent the first hours of his time off plugging into the [...]

Posted by Blogger Dinner — Hawaii Blog on April 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am

You earned it!! Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to know when to say when.

Posted by Laura on April 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am

Have a wonderful time off! It sounds well deserved! *=)

Posted by Terra Andersen on April 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Enjoy your long-overdue vacation, Jeremiah! Thanks for all the great posts, and see you when you get back!

Posted by Deanna Belle on April 11th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Buon viaggio! Enjoy the rest, some love and a few fruity drinks on the beach on me!! From the first day I met you — a few years ago, already — you’ve been a prophet of genuine trust and encouragement. Grazie mille!

Posted by kenekaplan on April 12th, 2008 at 12:38 am

[...] i det race som skett för att förmedla det nya medielandskapets potential. När nu till och med min egen husgud Jeremiah Owyang loggar ut för några dagar är det bara att inse att det här är en kommande trend, [...]

Posted by JMW Kommunikation » Blog Archive » BEFRIAD ZON: Digital överbelastning? on April 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am

Jeremiah,

I am so digitally fatigued! It’s hard to say that when this is my field but after 2+ amazing years with my company I will be leaving for the unknown. I am looking forward to getting back to my roots. But like I said am really fatigued myself so taking a breather and refining my presence before I get into full swing. I am looking forward to bringing my skills to whatever medium I encounter whether it be personal or professional.

I’ve often wondered what kind of personal life you have when giving so much of your time to help others. I hope you find your chi while you are in Hawaii. We all need a reset once in a blue moon.

Adam

Posted by Adam Gershenbaum on April 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am

[...] och “jacka ur”. Bland annat skriver Brit om det, och visar på hur såväl Scoble som Owyang. Och visst är det onekligen invecklat, hopkopplat mm. Andrew Shuttleworth har gjort ett [...]

Posted by Social Media Fatigue | Researcher on April 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am

Enjoy your break — you deserve it. I took a week off myself last month, from my blog and my Twitter account and non-work-related email, and the sudden and brief disengagement taught me a lot about why I give so much of my time and my effort to the online world in the first place. It was a very worthwhile exercise.

I came back refreshed and rejuvenated, and I wish the same for you.

Beth

Posted by Beth Dunn on April 13th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

[...] behöver semester och jackar ur. Niclas på deep.edition och Researcher skriver även han om det. Från Jeremiah: I won’t be checking email, my blog, or twitter, so you’ll have to catch me when I get back in [...]

Posted by Kristofer Mencáks tankar kring… » Scanna flöden och må bra! on April 15th, 2008 at 6:04 am

You sound as if you are leaving humanity. Don’t worry we’ll all be here when you come back. Hey wait what if the internet dies when you go on vacation and you’ll never be able to use it ever again!! On that note….enjoy your vacation!!

Posted by sanjay on April 16th, 2008 at 8:51 am

Good on ya Jeremiah! Enjoy!!!

Posted by Scott Lane on April 16th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

what a great opportunity to come up with social networking use cases relating to people on vacation. Be alert to the informal social contexts such as:

bartender with umbrella drink and vacationing couple from New Jersey. These ad hoc social moments represent 17% of our lives, untapped moments that can be monitized no doubt….or not.

Tell the natives that there is a firm called Mahalo that demands 14 hour days, then sip the drink.

Posted by VK on April 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am

It’s only been a week now but I’m now officially experiencing Jeremiah withdrawal symptoms. Anyone else?

Posted by Maureen on April 18th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Hello Jeremiah, nice you are relaxing. When is your book coming out? 70MPH could be the title documenting your analyst transition. I suggested it to your Forrester colleagues a few weeks back.

Posted by Doug Pollei on April 21st, 2008 at 9:49 pm

Thanks Doug, interesting.

Posted by jeremiah_owyang on April 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 am

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Posted by JMW Kommunikation » Blog Archive » BEFRIAD ZON: Digital överbelastning on June 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm