It’s hard for me to believe, but our group blog discussion of the book Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith has run its course. Sixteen of us - representing 3 continents, 3 countries, and 9 U.S. states - spent a month reading through the book and blogging about it. Amazing!
I want to thank Chris and Julien for sharing their knowledge and experience with us through the book. Thanks guys for being the real deal - not just writing about trust agent principles but for living them out by stopping by to comment and tweet me on a few of occasions.
I want to thank the 15 bloggers who joined me in the group blog project. You all provided some fantastic insight in your posts and comments. I learned far more from the book by blogging and discussing it with you than I would have if I had just read it on my own. And of course, that made it way more fun too!
We’ve reached the end of the book. However, this is not the end, but just the beginning. It’s time to begin putting into practice the things we’ve learned. Right now my head is full of knowledge and my heart is fully of inspiration, but I can tell you from past experience that I forget things quickly and inspiration fades fast. If what I’ve learned is going to have any lasting impact on my life, I’ve got to commit now to taking specific action steps.
So, here are my biggest take-aways from Trust Agents and what I’m going to do with them.
Last week I wrote about the growing trend of hosting virtual conferences in 3D virtual worlds like Second Life. If you didn’t see it, check out the demo video of virtual conference embedded in that post. It’s way cool.
Ultimately, I think whether virtual conferences go mainstream will depend on whether virtual worlds go mainstream. Some people like Neal Locke, who sparked this conversation believe that in the next 10-20 years the entire web will go from the 2D space it is now to 3D and eventually everything online will be experienced as a 3D space.
That seem at least plausible. After all 20 years ago nobody was on the web, and now just about every organization views a website as essential.
But in order for the web to transition from 2D to 3D, I think at least 4 things will need to happen.
One of my favorite people that have ever worked for me is a lady by the name of Dana; she was my Office Administrator during my tenure as a Warden. What I loved about Dana is that, no matter the question her answer was always yes. To this day the tagline on her e-mail simply reads “Starting From Yes!”
Brogan closes out the second half of chapter 8 outlining a similar principle to the one Dana lived by and that’s “Yes, and…” From the perspective of improv comedy, it’s not just about agreeing with people but rather adding to the story. Brogan writes “Yes, and is important because it helps contribute to any scene in which improvisers are involved. So when you’re on stage, it’s always more important to accept what someone else just said (that’s the Yes) and then add to what they’re contributing (that’s the and).”
This “Yes, and” mentality ensures that the Trust Agent is always open to the possibility. Think, Dream, Build, Leverage, Connect… How do you successfully do those things?
So, as I hope you know by now we’ve been doing this change of pace series of #Gratituesday posts this month where step back from the ministry/tech talk to talk about what we’re thankful for. The first week we talked about websites we’re thankful for. Last week we talked about our favorite Thanksgiving memory.
One thing I’m always grateful for is the fantastic spread of food on the Thanksgiving dinner table.
So, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?
That question is way outside of comfort zone because outside of pancakes and eggs and occasionally throwing something on the grill, I don’t cook. If I had to submit my own recipe it would probably be for… cranberry sauce. 1) Buy a can of cranberry sauce, 2) open it, 3) put it in a serving dish.
Since that’s pretty lame, I got my wife, Jennifer’s recipe for…
Brogan starts his final chapter with the distilled essence of the entire book: “Business … is becoming an art.”
Too true. Too true. He states later on the page that :
“The Internet has leveled the distribution field for media, merchandise, communication, location, and many other areas. It’s at once scary and idea, ideal because this is where trust agents excel.”
Why do they excel? They excel because they have spent the time to build up the trust that is needed in the age to come. In this 21st century, we live in a time where our attention spans are small and literally everything around us compels us to “pay attention!” Our viewfinders, it seems, are in hyper drive.
In the second half of chapter 7 of Trust Agents, Brogan and Smith further develop the importance of building an army through the unique abilities afforded us by the Web.
Because of the information access and the ease of further distribution, a group of people on the Web is more powerful than a group of equal size anywhere else. The significant difference being that we now all have access as well as distribution which was, in the past, a more significant hurdle.
This ease of spreading information must be leveraged, but is not without flaws…
‘Tis the season… for Christian conferences. As I tweeted the other day, it seems like there’s been a Christian leadership or ministry/tech conference going on every day since Labor Day. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, the Lutheran Educators Conference, Catalyst, and Cultivate this year. But thousands of other people who would have loved to be a part of these conferences could not because of the time and cost of travel.
While at Cultivate, Neal Locke saw one of my tweets from the conference and emailed me about the growing trend in virtual conferences. Take a look at this this video showing a virtual conference…
In addition to joining a group, creating one (and filling it with the smartest people you know) is the true path to influence online.
In chapter 7 of Trust Agents, Chris Brogan and Julien Smith talk about the power of creating groups and leading them to accomplish big things.
The web makes it possible for people with a common interest to join together in groups (or Tribes as Seth Godin calls them). We’re no longer limited by geography, time, or logistics. Like-minded people anywhere in the world can come together around a blog, a forum, a Facebook page or any number of other social networking tools.
As mentioned last week, we’re doing a change of pace this month with our feature blog articles. Instead of the usual ministry/tech focus, we’re giving thanks for something each week, using the #Gratituesday Twitter hashtag, and encouraging you to do the same.
This week: What’s your favorite thanksgiving memory?
For me it would have to be Thanksgiving 2000. Ever since we got married, my wife, Jennifer, and I have been doing 2 Thanksgivings each year – lunch with her family and dinner with my family. (Yes, that’s a lot of turkey and pie for one day. The sacrifices we make for family. ) At both meals, we waited until the entire family was gathered around for the Thanksgiving prayer, and during the prayer we surprised everyone by thanking God for the new baby we were expecting, our first.
How about you? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
It’s hard for me to believe, but our group blog discussion of the book Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith has run its course. Sixteen of us - representing 3 continents, 3 countries, and 9 U.S. states - spent a month reading through the book and blogging about it. Amazing!
Last week I wrote about the 
One of my favorite people that have ever worked for me is a lady by the name of Dana; she was my Office Administrator during my tenure as a Warden. What I loved about Dana is that, no matter the question her answer was always yes. To this day the tagline on her e-mail simply reads “Starting From Yes!”
So, as I hope you know by now we’ve been doing this change of pace series of #Gratituesday posts this month where step back from the ministry/tech talk to talk about what we’re thankful for. The first week we talked about 
Brogan starts his final chapter with the distilled essence of the entire book: “Business … is becoming an art.”
The 
In the second half of chapter 7 of Trust Agents, Brogan and Smith further develop the importance of building an army through the unique abilities afforded us by the Web.
‘Tis the season… for Christian conferences. As I tweeted the other day, it seems like there’s been a Christian leadership or ministry/tech conference going on every day since Labor Day. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the 
In addition to joining a group, creating one (and filling it with the smartest people you know) is the true path to influence online.
As mentioned 
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