Road Warrior Princess

Anal Glaucoma

Anal Glaucoma (slang): A condition in which you just can't see your ass going in to work today.

Lately, I've been feeling a bit unmotivated.  What motivates me?  "Cool" stuff.

That's right, if I'm not actively working on a challenging project or one that I consider "cool", I lose motivation and get bored...which got me wondering what is, in fact, "cool".  Well, at least from a tech perspective.

Where I'm getting my most recent fix: thinking about mini-networks. 

Ning is a platform that represents elements of what some of my employer's clients are trying to do - build a mini-network for a specific cause. 

A close friend of mine recently wrote that social networking doesn't negate the fact that online fundraising is still all about the relationship.  But, is that what social networking has come to?  Another dollar stream?  What happened to the mission?

You gotta spend money to make money.  This may be true, but in my job, I have started to notice how many people have forgotten about the bottom line in NPO work - further the mission in everything you do. 

So, IMHO, people need to realize that although social networking may not immediately be the next goal mine, it will do a few things:

-Social networks will raise awareness.  I hear every day of organizations who desire "to engage the next generation."  Guess what?  Gen Xers waste a lot of time on the Internet, but they also waste a lot of time talking....about things they see online.  Engaging them in their comfort zone will spread the word in many ways.

-Social networks are best run out of a combination of marketing/development/programming.  This is not likely the place in which you're going to find your next major donor.  But it IS where you will find activists, volunteers, people who want to grow up and go on mission trips.  Eventually, yes, it may lead to dollars, as these passionate people move on to positions that allow them to be generous to the organizations that engaged them early.

-Social networks can help get the right people at the right time.  For one, any gigantic site like Facebook or MySpace linking to you is a good thing for your Google rating (more eyes may = more dollars).  But - give a cry for help when a piece of legislation is threatening your funding, and you will be surprised who comes to your rescue.  Some users of MySpace call this "whoring" - which is not a bad thing.   

So, it really is all about the relationship. You just have to realize that not all relationships are consummated in dollars. :-)

Gen Y, but no Y Chromosome

I am used to being in the minority.  Growing up, my family always celebrated our Latino heritage, even when ridicule was our reward.  I attended the prestigious North Avenue Trade School, known for its lack of female students.  When I moved into my current position, it was only a matter of time before I realized how few females (read: no females) held a similar position, and don't think I haven't noticed the pitifully small (though the ones that exist are phenomenal) number of female role models available in the technology industry.

With all of this life experience, I should have gained some perspective, no?  I like to think that I have, but that didn't stop me from feeling immediately uncomfortable when singled out in a fly-by meeting yesterday. 

I dropped in to discuss a meeting I had been requested for, and after the usual niceties, the bomb dropped.  One of the primary reasons (number TWO, in fact) that I had been requested for this project was because the rest of the team were white guys.  (Bet they didn't know they were getting a two-fer minority with me, eh?)  My heart sank.

Just like the female serial killer that has to work twice as hard for notoriety (that's a joke, well, in theory at least), I've spent the past 24 hours wondering what to think.  Is this a disadvantage?  Or, is this actually an advantage?

Rather than binge-drink myself into a spiral of self-pity, permit me to wax optimistic with the ideology I've adopted during the past few years.

The feminine wiles have been touted in many a poem, ballad, and suicide note.  However, I firmly believe that there are a few of them that set me (because really, I can't vouch for anyone else's wiles...well, except maybe my Mom or sisters...but only sort of) apart from the men I work with in the technology "biz":

1. Listening comes naturally.
We all know that women are collaborators.  Rather than talking over people, using "active listening" makes other feel at ease with you (perhaps even trust you), and gives you a chance to weigh the consequences before responding.  Therefore - less likelihood of embarrassment, provided that you do, at least occasionally interject, and, of course, provided there are men around you who embarrass themselves.  Listening also gives you fodder for the second wile.

2. Manipulation comes naturally.
When you listen, you learn things.  This means that you have enough information to make informed decisions (necessary leadership quality), and that you have information that can help you influence other people's decisions at some later juncture.  Flirting may have to become part of your process, but if you're really good at listening/manipulating others' decisions, at some point, those around you will trust you and not need the extra *ahem* persuasive argument. 

3. My desire to compete is on a different level.
Although my competitive streak is a mile wide (got that from my Dad, natch), I don't feel the need to compete against others relatively (again, I am not really tempted to talk over people in meetings that are "competing for attention"), but rather, compete by excelling.  Essentially, my idea of competing is not besting someone else, but improving and gaining respect, and being able to be respected.  I want to be "the best" but I think that such an accolade can be shared with others.  Novel idea, huh?  Sharing...

There are certainly men who share these characteristics, but they are not the majority.  I realize that I have been so blessed with success in advancing my career to this point, and in gaining the respect of my peers, and it is directly related to being given these tools.  So - I invite comments or at the very least, deep thought on this issue.  Am I right to be happy to be "a minority"? 

Heck, do I care?  I am really near-sighted anyway, so as far as I'm concerned, the atrium doesn't have a ceiling at all, much less a glass one.

Your Tweeting Makes Me Tired...

I *finally* uploaded all my photos of China.  I've struggled with whether to put them on Facebook, Flickr, MySpace, and who knows where else.  With all these media options, it took me longer (5 days) to figure out where to post them than to actually post them (3 hours).

How many accounts do you have?  How often do you use them?  Why even bother with more than one?  Aren't they all the same anyway?

The only thing I can figure is that it's kind of like collecting baseball cards.  You have accounts at a few places, and then you see that one of your friends has an account elsewhere...so you want one, too.  You join there, excited, then eventually find a new toy to play/network with.

Where does it end?  I don't see it ending right away, but thinking about this reminds me why the concept of social media is such a nebulous thing to a lot of the NPO's I talk with.  To get any benefit, you have to be everywhere at once:

-Blogging and media sharing are important for education and awareness.
-Facebook and MySpace give you access to the tech-savvy new generation of constituents.
-Twitter gives you a platform to blast immediate SMS to everyone you know.
-Hopefully, your Web site pulls it all together.

Without guidance, though, it's no wonder that most organizations have a hard time making sense of it.  Add to this the reality that social media hasn't really emerged as a cash cow for nonprofits.  Is it worth all the work?

My answer is YES, as long as you 1) have your priorities straight and 2) have a strategy.  Otherwise, your blogging/tweeting/status updating is going to wear you out!

By priorities, you have to understand that social media is about communication and information, not raising money.  As part of a program that serves your mission, it's a no-brainer.  Money may come later, but it may not come at all.  At least, it might not come through a TweetStream.

By strategy, you have to know what your goal is and how you will define success.  A post I read on the NTEN Web site summarized a book about this topic quite nicely.  I was especially pleased to see that choosing a Technology platform came as a last step, not the first - something I've always thought was wise. 

Now you may be thinking, "So, Roadwarriorprincess, your ranting has worn ME out.  Get to the point!  Which one did YOU choose for the China pics?" 

I'm really bad with commitment - always have been - so I put them in a few places.  The quickest links are below.

The Great Wall
Street Food
People & Sights
Ancient Relics
Shanghai

Bye, bye, Shang-hai

It feels so good to drink champagne again! As much as I like beer, and as delicious as the fried scorpion and cobra were, I certainly have missed some of the Western normalcies.

I really loved visiting China, but unlike many trips, I am glad it was a visit. I am ready to get home and nurse my wounds after running (and shuffling, and what seemed like scaling at times) 13.1 miles on the Great Wall of China. It was incredible, painful, and I ran a lot faster than I thought I'd be able to run. Take a look at the photos, and you will see why this is such an accomplishment for an average Jane like me.

I will cherish all of what I've absorbed here. I loved learning about the Chinese tea ceremony, the palaces, and the food. Although I still love the UFC, I truly enjoyed sitting in the hotel with a Tsing-Tao watching Sumo Wrestling (WHY has this sport not taken off in America? It has EVERYTHING that should appeal to American males with short attention spans: giant fat dudes violently clashing for 5 seconds, but only after downing liquor shots ring-side). Of course, I will especially cherish the new friends I have made.

Will I do it again? Maybe not this race, but I will embark on other adventure races. And I might even spring for the full marathon next time (why do the half when you paid for the full - right, Joe?).

Dodgy Massage-ey

Beijing is a city of close calls. On the street, in the market, in the back alleys. As I leave for Shanghai, I reflect on the many near-misses and just-made-its we've had in this brief trip.

Let me give you an example.

I've made many wonderful friends here, many of whom I hope to keep for life. One, Andrew, had perhaps the funniest near-miss of the trip.

Whether it was an alcohol buzz or a momentary lapse of judgment, he parted ways with friends at about 1 am, determined to find relief for his tired legs (after all, we had finished the Great Wall Marathon the day before). Rather than return to the hotel with them, he walked back alone, intent on finding a late night massage joint that he had spotted on the trip out to the bar.

He continued to walk, despite the frequent invitations of pimps and working girls. Finally, an attractive young woman approached. "You want a girlfriend tonight?"

"No," he replied. "I just want a massage. That's it!" "OK! Come with me! I show you place!"

I am not sure what about this girl, or the cab they got in, or the back alley house they finally arrived in front of looked trustworthy, but he went with her and found himself presented with a number of girls. "You take two!" the house madam commanded. He chose only one, but wound up with two anyway.

The story ends with Andrew asking one girl to leave, which provokes a shouting match between the two girls, which summons the bodyguards to the room, which leads to Andrew being served the bill that he can't fully pay, which instigates a louder argument...and finally, terrified, Andrew throws the money he has at them and tears out of the house.

He made it to a taxi, and then the hotel, safely, but barely.

Yet another close call. Andrew will have to bear the burden of our jokes about the "dodgy massage-ey" forever, but it definitely beats being caught in a knife fight with a Chinese hooker.

A Realization

I have entirely lost my mind.

Today, I got my first glimpse at the Great Wall, and boy, it was leg-numbing and mind-blowing.

After meeting up with the group at 5 a.m. Beijing time (that would be 5 IN THE EVENING as far as my body is concerned), we took a 3 hour bus ride out to the wall. It was incredible - beyond any photos or videos I've ever seen. We were there in order to "inspect" the wall before the race.

What I didn't realize was that "inspect" = "do a complete walk-through". I quickly realized that I have gotten myself in over my head!

The Great Wall of China is not one complete wall. It is made up of many sections, constructed by different emperors. In fact, many of the bricks bear distinct characters that tell you which dynasty they came from. Beijing alone has 7 different sections, and the one that we arrived at is particularly treacherous!

To put this in perspective, only about a half of the Wall section is even suitable for actually walking - much less running! (My estimate of that is 1% that is suitable for running). Vertical stairways, narrow passages, and treacherous rockways (not to be confused with actual walkways) make it extremely perilous...but it gets better...Saturday's weather forecast says HEAVY RAIN!!

My legs are already tight and a bit sore. This gonna be one hell of a run.

Far from Home, but not THAT Far...

I've now officially been in China for about 3 hours, but strangely, it doesn't seem that different. Not yet, but I may sing a different tune in a few hours since I inadvertently rinsed my toothbrush in basin water. At the airport. Blech.

As we descended into Shanghai, my first emotion was fear - that we were actually landing in LA. The smog was so bad (exactly as my father explained to me) that I couldn't see much of the area until we were about 10 minutes from landing. I'm going to be running in air like this? Oh well, it can't be much worse than running on 10th St. in Atlanta in the summer.

Other than my extreme caution towards the water, the only other proof that I am actually here that I've had to this point (since I am still stuck in the airport - par for the course in my life) is the language. I am always amused to see English signs. Languages don't always translate perfectly - I learned that lesson early while an exchange student in Germany. (Put it this way: be sure to confer with someone in the know before you complain about the heat). I recently received some funny photos of English signs in China with poor translations - one of my favorites instructed readers against engaging in any fun activities. We shall see if one truly exists, but so far, the available signs have been just as confusing or funny as expected. I'm not laughing too hard yet, though,as I am just hoping to find a bed soon. I need to rest, for tomorrow, we see the Wall!

Cats and Chicken Feet

I've never been good at directions. 

I have no idea which direction is "North" at any given time.

I use landmarks, as in: "Turn LEFT at the pack of wild dogs."  Seriously.  I use that one to tell people how to get to my office.

But miraculously, I some how know how to read a map.  So as I prepare to leave tomorrow morning for Beijing, China, I am hoping that the buildings will still be standing and the streets will be clear (after the deadly earthquake this week) so I can manage to get around.

Traveling in other countries can be extremely enlightening, and of course dangerous.  So when my friend asked if I wanted to join her in running a half-marathon on the Great Wall of China, my lust got the best of me.  However, the last few weeks my thoughts have been consumed with images of Mao-lookalike policemen, Web browser FORBIDDEN access errors, and scenes from the movie Brokedown Palace.  Will I be able to drink the water?  Will I be locked in a dorm-room prison camp at the mercy of angry travel guides?  Most importantly, will I survive 13.1 miles on the only man-made structure visible from outer space?  Will I avoid eating cats and chicken feet?

Only time will tell, and I hope that the police-state will allow access to typepad.  If so, expect regular postings.  If not, I guess I will spend my time learning about the culture and language - like how to say, "Can you put the feet on the side, please?"

Sticky

My first few days back in the blogosphere have already been fruitful!  After receiving a couple of great comments and reading two very interesting posts (here and here), I have had plenty to think about.

Specifically after reading the two blog postings I referenced above, I began to wonder what really draws people to social media.  The posting from Beth's Blog in particular leads me to believe that it is truly that people like the communicative element of the Web.  Basically, they like to talk.  About themselves.

This is what first draws you into MySpace, other networks, etc., isn't it?  The idea of carving out your own personal little part of the Web - for free - that others will immediately flock to (why wouldn't they?  Your space will rock).  I have to admit, that is what appealed to me, back in college, when I joined CollegeClub.  Well, that and all the creepy men posing as students.  Clearly.

Once that initial void is filled, though, people do one of two things.  They 1) drop off or 2) find some other way to distract themselves. 

My point is that in preaching this idea of social media, I think we fail to look at that initial draw as the reason to keep people engaged.  At work, we strive to educate on the ways that we can "tailor" content, target messaging.  Is that really enough, though, to make your site "sticky" like flypaper?  Is the fact that I fall into an identifiable segment going to be enough to keep ME (part of this self-centered Internet generation) interested enough?

I think the answer is yes AND no.  Essentially:
*Appealing to my interests will interest me.  To an extent.  It will help me feel like this Web environment is changing, but I am not convinced that the average person will believe it has been done on purpose.
*TELLING ME in the context of the environment that you are paying attention to me may clue me in a little, but if I and my colleagues are any indicator, only about half of what is on a Web page ever gets read.  :-p
*Without reaching out to me in a way that feels truly personal to me, it is going to be difficult to keep me engaged.  I mean, I expect "Top Friend" status, after all!

I have begun to wonder if the mid-term answer is going to be out of the hands of the site owner, and fall more into the hands of the users.  For example, what makes people log into the social networking giants?  Other people - knowing that there might be a comment, or invitation, or message from a real person.   

Who are you going to trust to keep your site going?  (Hopefully it won't be the creepy CollegeClub guys)

King Com

So, for the past 48 hours, I've been reflecting a bit on an idea handed to me by a work associate.  It's an idea he called social filtering.

However, I haven't come to any conclusion yet.  Rather, I've been trying to think through the impact of social media on the nonprofit world generally, but more specifically, for those nonprofits that aren't doing it at all yet.

Whereas the traditional paradigm tells us that "Content is King", it slowly becomes more obvious that "Com(insert rest of word here) is King."  But what is that word?  Communication?  Commentary?  Community?  These are all key elements of what social media truly is.  And make up part of what nonprofits just don't get.  Yet.

As their constituents become more savvy, they will eventually change.  But change without strategy is kind of like hope.  That's where this idea of social filtering comes in.

Imagine that you just walked into a crowded party, amongst countless conversations.  Some people look at you, and you wonder if they're talking about you.  As you walk through the room, towards someone you know, you hear bits and pieces of conversations, like blog tags around you. 

What if you could choose to hear only those conversations that concerned YOU?  Basically, apply a filter to your ears that enhanced your hearing to hone in on your name and suppress conversations that were unrelated?  You would know exactly which groups to approach (or perhaps avoid).  Now apply this idea to the Web...for a nonprofit like the American Cancer Society...and you could identify which pockets (MySpace, Second Life, Facebook, Twitter, MiGente) are discussing your Relay for Life events the most...and ultimately define your social media outreach strategy from there.

Now, of course, to measure impact, you'd have to first have data from all of these sources, a reader or "lifestream" as my friend calls it - similar to SocialThing but more general.  Plus, you'd need to be able to apply a few slices against it, like date/time, medium, and topic.  You'd also really want to know how many of these users are already known constituents, which would require some data from the media, which means they'd have to be open enough to push that to you...but I digress.

This thought stream is turning out to be a bit of an 800-lb gorilla, so I'll cut it off for now.  I'm sure there will be more to come.