The conversation with a co-worker was simple enough. Knowing that I’m more than a digital-dabbler, she posed the question, “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital”. I rattled off a few resources then said I’ll send you a list.

When I really started pondering it, the list [...]]]>

The conversation with a co-worker was simple enough. Knowing that I’m more than a digital-dabbler, she posed the question, “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital”. I rattled off a few resources then said I’ll send you a list.

When I really started pondering it, the list just kept growing and growing.

It includes online publications, websites, blogs, people. I’ll detail a number of them here in a future post for your reference.

But, the more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to the simplest of answers. When asked the question “where do you go to keep up to date on the latest in digital?” What I should have said then and am definitely saying now is, “I go to the latest in digital.”

You can read and intellectually digest all you want around the latest digital developments (and I certainly encourage you to do so), but the real learning, the intimate knowledge, the true understanding comes from actually using these tools.  Trying them on for size, going through the growing pains of determining what they can and can’t do, seeing how they connect, what happens in the background, coming up with your own ideas on how to improve them or finding new uses for them is where the real learning happens.

I wholeheartedly believe that to gain a real understanding (and vast appreciation for) digital tools you have to jump in, roll up your sleeves, observe a little, play a lot and learn even more. Like most things in life, you can only learn so much from sitting on the sidelines.

So, if you want to learn the digital basics on through to the latest in digital developments, you’re going to have to “do digital”.

Questions of the day:

What digital tools have you tried lately? What have been your observations? What would you recommend trying and why?

Want your own personalised infographic? Intel has just the tool.

What about me gives you a graphic glimpse into your digi-life.

Here’s mine:

A snapshot of my digi-life

Questions of the day:

 What does yours say about you? Any surprises?

If you’ve lost touch with your creative side, want to be more so, or are just looking to tap into your inner-creative on a more regular basis, The Daily Create might [...]]]> Was just told about this initiative and just had to pass it along. That’s the thing about creativity, it’s much better  when it’s shared,

If you’ve lost touch with your creative side, want to be more so, or are just looking to tap into your inner-creative on a more regular basis, The Daily Create might be just the ticket.

The Daily Creative is an exercise in the continual practice of spontaneous creativity through short exercises. Each “assignment” should take no more than 15-20 minutes. There are no registrations, no prizes, just a community of people producing art daily.

Even though I write two blogs and maintain photography blog on a daily basis and I’m writing a novel that’s 90,000 words in, I might just take on this daily practice too. Because, really, can you ever be too creative?

Today’s assignment is:

Some trees possess enormous soul. Find and photograph that special tree

Soulful enough for you?

Questions of the day?

What is your favourite

creative pursuit?

And why?

For more than a year now I’ve been working in Credit Union land. My responsibilities include managing a team of marketing and communications, design and digital professionals.

Given I didn’t inherit a full team, I’ve spent a great deal of the past year recruiting and interviewing for various roles. Of these, [...]]]>

Walk the walk

For more than a year now I’ve been working in Credit Union land. My responsibilities include managing a team of marketing and communications, design and digital professionals.

Given I didn’t inherit a full team, I’ve spent a great deal of the past year recruiting and interviewing for various roles. Of these, three of the eight hires were for digital roles.

I cannot begin to tell you how astounded I was when I’d receive a candidate’s resume for a digital role, I’d read it then immediately turn to Google, type in their name and find….nothing. I’d add more descriptive information gleaned from their resume, and still come up empty.

Where was the digital footprint? Where were the blogs, the tweets, the websites, the YouTube videos or flickr photos? Where were the micro sites? the podcasts? the comments on others’ blogs? Where were the examples of their own personal SEO? I pondered how it was that candidates could claim to understand and guide the development of tools they themselves did not use, let alone demonstrate mastery of?

There were countless times when I received CV’s for these digital roles with not a hyperlink to be found? Where were the digital resumes? Where were YouTube videos instead of cover letters? Where were the LinkedIn profiles for heaven’s sake? So often they just weren’t there.

But, in a few rare cases, they did make a refreshing appearance. They stood out. They allowed me, the hiring manager, to take a glimpse into how the candidate thought, how they approached the challenges of sharing or organising information, to see what they created or the possibilities that they identified.

A good communications person learns early that what you do screams so loud that it often drowns out what you say. You learn the incredible power of show over tell.

So, here’s a little tip for those pursuing digital roles – use the tools you purport to be expert in – make them part of your job search. Don’t be afraid to be innovative and try something new in presenting your skills and experience. Show how these new digital tools can be used to challenge the job hunt status quo – consider how they can be the springboard for change – ask yourself how your digital skills might be able to add another dimension to the CV, cover letter, portfolio and the interview discussions.

I can tell you that these efforts do get noticed. Walking the walk, does give you a competitive advantage.

Not sure whether to believe me? Just ask those digital folks who made it on to my team. I’ll let you in on a little something – some even had the job before I had ever met them in person!

Questions of the day?

What interesting tools, techniques, approaches have you seen used by applicants? What was the most creative job search technique you’ve employed?

I think this practice is helping to make me a better photographer (even though everything is shot on my iPhone [...]]]> I’ve experimented with a couple of other blogging platforms have been participating in Project 365 (actually 366 this year) photoblogging on Specular Highlights. I’ve been taking a photo a day and haven’t missed one yet!

I think this practice is helping to make me a better photographer (even though everything is shot on my iPhone 4) and it’s allowed me to experiment with a variety of photo apps that add another dimension of creativity to the image.

Here’s a few that I use…

I must admit that my favourite, by far, is Camera+. There’s a reason they call it “the ultimate photo app”.

If there are any more project 365-ers out there, I’d love to hear from  you. And, see your photos of course!

Questions of the day?

What photo apps do you use? recommend?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rowan Manahan gives his talk ‘How PowerPoint makes EVERY story better’ at Ignite at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, in February 2011

Question of the day:

What other [...]]]> This humourous, yet brilliant, example demonstrates how how PowerPoint can be the death of even the greatest story.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rowan Manahan gives his talk ‘How PowerPoint makes EVERY story better’ at Ignite at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, in February 2011

Question of the day:

What other tools do you use instead of PowerPoint to tell your stories?

Facebook is promising improvements to Pages that include: better communication, more opportunities for expression, improved relevancy…and it’s not even Christmas!

Want the official Facebook explanation? Here  you can also preview the changes and get started using them.

For all the details around Facebook pages, take a peek here

Questions of the day

Will these [...]]]>

Facebook is promising improvements to Pages that include: better communication, more opportunities for expression, improved relevancy…and it’s not even Christmas!

Want the official Facebook explanation? Here  you can also preview the changes and get started using them.

For all the details around Facebook pages, take a peek here

Questions of the day

Will these changes change how you use pages? If so, how?

Click here to view the embedded video.