Repatriated

I had he good fortune to spend a few days in Washington DC with a very talented tour guide. Anne is a life long resident of The District and provided not only a guided tour but a wealth of little known background color at each stop. It was also interesting watching the observations of 47 8th graders. There were 130+ in our group but we traveled around on 3 buses. As with society, there were those that were in-tune and interested and those that were just along for the ride.
The big take-away for me was that our country is still an amazing experiment in democracy. At every turn there were masses paying homage to our monuments, memorials and government buildings.
I posted my pix at http://www.flickr.com/photos/30426292@N07/sets/72157615901310103/

• There were a few protestors at the White House exercising their right to bitch about something.
• There were Vets walking around Arlington National Cemetery visiting their fallen brothers.
• There were visitors from every nationality on the globe (it seemed) taking photos of the icons of our Republic.
• There were parents explaining heady and historic things to their kids in every Museum.
• There were even plenty of politicians to be seen, even though our senate had the day off (not sure why.)

I was proud to be an American as I stood in line after line to view each significant part of our history.
I was brought to the verge of tears watching the changing of the guard as the sun came up over the graves in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
I was humbled by the great inventions that American's have given the globe. Science, medicine, transportation, philosophy.
I felt small at times by the sheer bigness of everything.

If you slept through history and American government in school do yourself a favor go visit DC. It's all there in a much more real, touchable way. It's real.
It's also free... well at least you have pre-paid for your tickets through your taxes.

Thanks Mr. Baker and the Pershing 8th grade class of 2009 for letting me tag along.

Social Rant.

OK. Like most, social media has just added another thing to feed.
First, myself. Then a family. Then pets.
Add a career, some clients heck maybe a P&L sheet.
Now these hungry toddler spaces come along. twitter, FB, LinkedIn, etc. And of course--now this blog.
I heard a conversation debating the definition of an expert social marketer yesterday. One said, "it takes 10,000 hours before you can claim to be an expert." Another said "it takes more than that." Then, in an I-can-top-that tone another said, "If you are off-line for more than 2 hours-- you are no social media expert."

I have a take.
Don't over-think it. The web has brought to our pockets and desktops the cracker barrel. We have been socializing-- sharing ideas, compliments and criticisms-- since we did it by fire-light in the warmest cave on the cliff. It's just waay easier now.
I won't offer any preachy marketing hints or tips, but having observed the opportunity for a while now, I have comforted myself with a "wade-in" approach.
Join the social spaces which are fun and productive for you the individual not the marketer. Look for the communities where you have something in common with and, well, socialize.
See what turns up.

Social media has the marketing world all in a tizzy. I'm watching and will try to do better at reporting some learnings. or...
I will try to feed this space more.