Conversations at Work/Working Conversations

I have been tardy in posting -- but with good reason. Impactful and meaningful conversations take time and work, like any good relationship.

In addition, to crossing "conversational" bridges I have been crossing two (or three depending how you look at it) technological bridges.

Alas, time to catch up on a lot of water under and on the bridge.

Conversations at Work/ Working Conversations Work
If web 2.0 and conversations are about "wholesome" interactions that build loyalty, customer preference and relationships, the last few weeks have seen some further "tests" of some those propositions. I recently posted a question and "fast facts" about marketing, brands and corporate reputations. More to come on that. In the meantime, we are conversing heavily to get our mojo back, learn and sprint forward.

I have had the pleasure to be conversing on both the marketing and corporate reputation fronts over the past few weeks. I have a "new" presentation on social media, why it matters/how to approach it and learn with it, that seemed to be well accepted in NYC last week when I met with the Global Consulting Group -- some of the brightest folks in the communications industry (and a Boardroom of beautiful art ...put this together with tech bridges below). That followed the taping of Dennis Spring's new web video program, soon to premier on www.scribemedia.com -- truly a great conversation about digital/social media that I will post as soon as it goes live.

Our VP Bob Pearson also presented at the Conference Board Conference on Corporate Reputation. We welcomed blogger and communicator Andy Lark to the Communications team as our leader

If you missed how conversations impact customers and corporate reputations, check out Valeria Maltoni, a true conversation architect whose article at Fast Company is a tribute to the power of it all -- Valeria is a new found web friend, who I can't wait to meet in person. I could be Valeria :-)

Then I had the honor and pleasure to host Jeff Jarvis for his "day at Dell" -- which I am in blog "silence" about until his magazine and blog pieces appear . And a few more blogger conversationalists are on the road to Dell or we are on road to them...stay tuned but some hints in links. By the way, everyone of these is set to be conversations and relationships, so that we continue to build, grow and learn. These visits and meetings are all about "bridges" and conversations to learn and converse.

I have often wondered how companies that are not part of the conversation nor even attempting to be can continue to be so favored by the "conversationalists." So, the time to test it came it over at Jaffe's "Across the Sound" (episode 91 around the 33 minute point) where a brand (ie Dell) enters the conversation and supplants an Apple Macbook pro. Then this week another conversationalist, Geoff Livingston , noted it was time for new computers and chose Dell because we are part of the conversation.

More Bridges Before we Sleep
What's the point to this inventory of links and references? It's this: the chapter and case study known as "dell hell" is closing or closed. To be current, as several bloggers know because they got comments from RichardatDELL, I think its time to talk about the next chapter -- not just the past.

Check out Jeremiah Owyang's posts chronicling the Dell Social Media progress, Dell Swell
or www.marketsentinel.com for a May 2007 update on Dell's use of social media or the ideas in action at Ideastorm. Direct2dell.com continues to be front and center for us. And, trust me, we are still listening, learning and expect to continue to make more steps forward -- we are not resting on the progress to date.

Technology Bridges
My friends know of my love for black and white infrared photography...ok, more than love....I have several "prominent" collectors and a couple group exhibits and shows under my belt. Its a little side line that allows me a creative outlet that is all mine.

I have been frustrated (VERY) by methods to move digital color photos to a infrared black and white print. Thanks to www.lifepixel.com I had a digital slr altered to shoot digital b&w infrared...you see the first result at the top. Im thrilled....no ecstatic. The fine art photography outlet just took off again.

Secondly, I am breaking in Vista...its not the bear I had read and feared.

Thirdly, I got a new Dell XPS 410. PIMPED OUT....I LOVE IT!!! Works like a charm, powerful, quiet, doesnt break a sweat... music blasting as I manipulate raw photo files in photoshop.

More soon