From the Video Archives, A Conversation about Social Media and Business

This past fall, Shel Israel dropped by Dell to participate in a project he dubbed "braided journalism".  It resulted in an article I have read several times .  Its all about building or realizing Social Business and that involves alive and vibrant Ecosystems. To this day I enjoy re-reading it because it makes me think:

 a) about the journey we have been on for four years at Dell, and,

 b) it reminds of the possibilities and potential in realizing the "transformation" of  Dell’s ecosystem into a living, breathing entity....a truly human business and company that is connected and human in so many regards, striving to do more and be better, always knowing we can improve through our connections with others, especially customers.

Anyway, during Shel's visit here, my good friends and colleagues, Dell's Adam Brown, Lionel Menchaca and I had a chance to answer some questions on camera for Shel.  Found this video in the archives and thought it was a good conversation and worth posting....so here it is....Just a conversation about social media and business covering various fronts. 

Hope you enjoy it

Interview with Shel Israel, Fast Company TV's Global Neighbourhoods

Shel Israel posted an video interview this past week. We chatted about Michael Dell's drive to take Dell's direct business model and extend it using social media and online tools to foster direct connections with customers and others with an interest in the company.

In this "connected era" we also chatted about the value of listening, some of the tools, measurement, and changes impacting communications and marketing.

Frankly, we chatted a lot about why I believe what we are working on at Dell is so important and how it changes the interaction and relationships between business and people....but, of course, only time will tell.

Food for Thought at Christmas

It's Christmas eve. I'm in Virginia, celebrating with family. It's real. It's important. It's love.

It's why I always read Shel. I love what he writes. I adore Shel -- he has taught me more than he knows.

So have the all the folks I recently added to the blog roll here and lots of others. Neville and the other Shel....so many more. You all have shared and taught much (more another time.....its all about generousity of web 2, I spoke about it in Toronto and will write more)

Today Shel Israel writes about someone who I love working with. How appropriate.

Lionel is a treat to work with, and a joy to be associated with.

So then Shel points me in his wonderful way (he says "just go read it.")...with an instruction like that, how do you resist? He's right. Just go read it: http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/004377.html

I adore Hugh too, even though we have never met or really been in contact. But his piece on creativity speaks to me professionally and artistically, often. His cartoons, speak to me every day...obviously, they get lead position right here. Its where I picked up today's theme...although I chuckled he should have put number 7 and 10 (pasted below) right beside each other (ie as number 7 and 8)...just for a little shock positioning.....and he should not limit 7 to websites, but all we are up to :-)

"7. A lot of what fuels The New Marketing is quite simply, the most important word in the English Language: "Love". It's hard to get someone to read your website if you're not passionate about your subject matter
10. Why is it so hard to explain The New Marketing to large companies? Because the people who work there are simply not prepared to relinquish the idea of control. Live by metrics, die by metrics etc."

So if its about love and losing control and jumping in, here are some folks to love, in addition to Lionel. For them its more than marketing, these individuals are humans from a large company that "get it" (and "it" is about web 2 and believing it is a significant shift that enables us (individually and BIG company Dell) to listen, learn and converse -- to nurture and strengthen relationships.

What a great group to work with: JohnPatdell, Caroline, Bruce, Vance, Geoff and the blog outreach team, Lynn and the IR folks, Bob and Michael, Andy and Mark....and so many others who listen and converse every day at Dell...and those who are learning to listen and converse and lose control (more about this control issue another time too).

Thats just a core team, a great team, in a large company. People, individuals, working to make a difference....even if we are not Apple or Nokia or LG (and some of the others Hugh mentions).

We are Dell. We are listening. We are part of many conversations. ...and we love that too