It's worth starting something even if you don't know where it's going

When I started themeet140 a few years ago as a way of meeting likeminded people I had no idea this tweet up would go around the world, but I certainly had no idea that Glasgow (home of the largest meet) would conjure up this brand new format. 

Watch this video for the overview, or below for the full event:

Hosted live at 29 Studios, the panel discussion - with audience and Twitter interaction - was filmed and shared on the Moviecom.tv platform. Thanks to Michelle Rodger, Kev and Gillian O'Neil 

Stacks - this is something you should know

Bruce Sterling is a bit of a hero of mine, and here is a quote from his closing speech at SXSW this year that I've been meaning to post for a while ...

"[There's] a new phenomena that I like to call the Stacks [vertically integrated social media]. And we've got five of them -- Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. The future of the stacks is basically to take over the internet and render it irrelevant. They're not hostile to the internet -- they're just [looking after] their own situation. And they all think they'll be the one Stack... and render the others irrelevant. And they'll all be rendered irrelevant. That's the future of the Stacks.

People like the Stacks, [because] the internet is scary now -- so what's the problem there? None of them offer any prosperity or security to their human participants, except for their shareholders. The internet has users. Stack people are livestock -- ignorant of what's going on, and moving from on stack to another. The Stacks really, really want to know you're a dog.

They're annihilating other media... The Lords of the Stacks. And they're not bad guys -- I'd be happy to buy them a beer. But really, a free people would not be so dependent on a Napoleonic mobile people. What if Mark Zuckerberg trips over a skateboard?

This structure won't last very long... But you're really core people for them and their interests. You are them. I'm them. And your kids are going to ask embarrassing questions about them. And there are voices here and there complaining about them, [like] Jonathan Franzen. He says Twitter is destroying literature. And he's right. So don't make fun of him. He's telling the truth."

Powerful.

The power of community - the small, big things

This world is amazing.

I tweet that I want to play guitar again and someone I have never met gives me a guitar, won't take a penny for it. You have to stop sometimes and reflect on how amazing people can be when they feel part of a community.

For my part I have freely given start up advice, relationship stories and fostered partnerships that have blossomed but still I didn't expect a guitar. Humbling really. 

Another day, another dollar

Today is an important day for me; I have decided not to go back into agency-land but to strike out for myself, returning to the roots of my career.

My reasons for this are many but it really comes down to a belief that I achieve my best work when I am free from the inertia of a large agency, and especially free from the shackles of selling over creating.

Currently I am working on a number of lovely projects including Head of Digital at Nova Festival, but I do have capacity so please let people know I am available for hire. 

 

Life is about being happy

A very dear friend sent this to me a while ago, I think it applies to everyone: