Do You Think I'm a "SLOB?"

John Koetsier thinks so!

Well, as least I'm a "good" kind of SLOB!

Heck, he likes SLOB's so much he even gives out awards for SLOB's!

John just notified me I'm the latest recipient into his "SLOB hall of fame." (That'll move to the top of my resume!)

John heads up Sparkplug 9 Technology Services. He's passionate about social media and conversational new-media marketing.

The SLOB award goes to those who provide "informed, accurate, and opiniated commentary on important issues.

What's it take to be a SLOB?

"Four criteria for SLOBishness:

1. Startling
You have something unique to say.

2. Loquacious
You say it frequently.

3. Outstanding
You say it really, really well.

4. Blogger
Umm … yes … you have to be a blogger."

Thanks, John :-)

Umm. . . I really never thought being a SLOB would be so much fun!

---Tom

Wired Magazine Features "Director Tom" Blog in Feature Article!

Phew...big news, folks!

Clive Thompson, contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Discover and New York magazine, is writing an upcoming feature article for Wired Magazine on "Radical Transparency."

...and the "Director Tom" blog will be part of the feature. Cool.

Inspired by a post on Chris Anderson's blog, Clive's article focuses on the theory that we can accomplish more by being "insanely open" in this hyper-networked world instead of ducking our head in the sand (which gets really messy, btw.)

Chris's concept is not only interesting but one I've come to embrace whole-heartedly.

My interivew with Clive focused on:

1. How my blog is a valuable resource for organizations wanting to work with a seasoned producer/director on their film; for marketing, Human Resources, recruiting, new-hire orientation, raising awareness about an issue, etc.

2. How and why I started blogging .

3. Why my blog is different and unique.

4. How sharing my experiences as a corporate documentary filmmaker helps others create their own unique and authentic video.

5. How each employee's "story" is a "micro-story" for the corporate "story," or "macro-story."

6. The importance of creating communites and how I created mine.

7. Two examples of how organizations use my corporate-image films:
a. Deloitte. Problem: how to stimulate conversations and kick-off a national workshop and campaign regarding Deloitte's "Diversity Initiative." Solution: Produce a documentary featuring four employees telling their "diversity story," inside the office, and at home.

b. The Epilepsy Foundation. Problem: How to overcome ages of myths and misconceptions about epilepsy.
Solution: Produce a series of engaging, hip, cool videos with real kids, real stories, real feelings.

Chris Anderson's theory about the world we live in breaks down into Three Rules:
1. Secrecy is Dead. Anyone anywhere will eventually find out about you.
2. Tap the Hivemind. Open your door and let others contribute to your success.
3. Reputation is Everything. Control your own story...or others will control it for you.

I started this blog as an "experiment." It has gone past the "experimental" stages and is now an integral part of my "voice" and my "brand."

The article can be found in the April issue of Wired and hits the stands at the end of March.

Thanks for your support and I welcome your feedback.

---Tom

"Six Word Story" Contest: Mid-Week Update

Quick update on the "six word story" contest...

Check out Robert Hruzek's contest entries to date. 

Robert compiled a list of all the stories so far in one post.

Got writer's block?  These stories will take care of that!

Cool stuff!

---Tom 

Can You Tell a Story in Six Words?

Think you can tell a story in six words?

I mean EXACTLY six words?

Sound impossible?  It's not...but I'll tell you one thing: it's hard, really hard.

Go ahead and try it...just for the heck of it. 

Nobody has to see it.  

Unless you want to share it.  If that's the case, you can share it with others as part of a cool contest and submit it here. 

 In fact, you can write several stories, not just one.

Many thanks to Liz Strauss at Successful and Outstanding Bloggers for pointing out the contest. 

After chewing on this for a while, here's what I'll be submitting:

#1.  "Write story.  Make millions.  Save world."

#2.  "Practice!  Practice!!  Practice!!!  Perform.  Sign contract."

#3.   "Smash!  He grinned.  Finally.  Now what?"

#4.  "Born a killer.  Died a saint." 

#5.  "In between her smiles, despair danced."

#6.  "A thought appeared...then disappeared...then..."

#7.  "Hey, wait for me!  Too late." 

#8.  "Tom films.  Tells story.  Grins endlessly."

 Well, that's a wrap for me.  Speaking of filmming...

...Gotta go.  Gotta customer.  Gotta film!

---Tom 

Small is the New Big

Here's a brief, albeit important, interview with Seth Godin, in case you missed it.

Have a great weekend :)

---Tom