Community Management: It's more than a job

August 19th, 2010

“What do you do for work?” “What’s your job?”

I get asked these questions a lot and I haven’t admitted it before, but I hate them. I don’t hate the curiosity or the intent behind the question, but I really don’t like thinking of what I do as a job. A job just sounds like a means to an end. Call me crazy, or a social media hippie, but this isn’t my job. It’s my passion.

I might not spend my days typing up guides to becoming an internet warlord or scheming up ways to become the most popular tweeter. I’m not planning presentations or slide shows for panels; in fact, I’ve never been on a panel before. But that’s because every day I am getting involved, staying active within the community I’ve built as well as others and, possibly the most important task of a CM, listening.

How OK Go and Ignite LA blew my mind

March 2nd, 2010

Last night I sat in a room with at least one hundred other people for Ignite LA. If you’re not familiar Ignite LA is a series of presentations by people who are passionate about something. Each speaker has 5 minutes, 20 slides and 15 seconds per slide. This event takes place in multiple cities, so definitely take the time to see if it’s near where you live.

At the beginning of the evening, we were told that by the end our minds would be blown. I wasn’t so sure. The first couple speakers were really great, but I wouldn’t say I was blown away. But I spoke too soon.