The state I’m in…
Posted by Michael Walsh (Check me out!) on February 24th, 2008
Tagged as: Marco Camisani Calzolari, Me, Richard Binhammer
Damn.
I knew this was coming. Only I’d hoped it would happen later rather than sooner.
My best friend online and possibly the only one who really understands what I’m going through tagged me.
That’s right. I think the best way to start this post is by stating right here that there is no-one out there who has dedicated more time, more energy and more honest-to-God goodwill to my online persona than Richard. He’s the reason I got online in the first place (secret #1) and is without question one of the best reasons to stay here.
Right now isn’t exactly one of my most productive moments. While I refuse to become what Hugh MacLeod eloquently calls an “echoblogger“, I’ll openly admit that I’m following a LOT more than producing.
And as you can see from the photo, my evenings are spent absorbing just about everything on the recommended 2.0 reading list. You’ve probably all been where I am. There’s an awful lot to take in and if you’re anything like me, you need to hear the same message over and over again from different people before you can safely say “I get it” and can recommend it to your clients.
Oh, and if Jeremiah should stop by, Cluetrain and the other usual suspects are in my office…
Speaking of Cluetrain, remember how much of a shock to the system the changes the book describes were? Remember the vehement way Chris and the other authors made their point. I read it last summer but “got it” only recently - that’s also one of the reasons I’m keeping a low profile (see secret #2 an #3).
Change is one of the words I can’t get out of my head. It’s on my mind, in my work and driving almost everything in my life right now. Obama’s keeping it fresh too.
So here comes secret #2. I’m up for change and if anyone is interested in hiring a strategic writer (does that even exist?) I’m up for grabs.
I am The Acer Guy but might not be for much longer. That blog this week will see its 200,00th visitor which is something I never even imagined remotely possible when I started it (again, thanks Richard) and is a milestone I am extremely proud to pass.
In these two years, the blog has allowed me to get over the mono-directional relationship I previously had with my “audience” and put into practice what Doc Searls eloquently described as “there is no market for messages” more of which in Geoff Livingstone’s great new book
It doesn’t take a genius to see how opening up to this degree has screwed with my brain.
And here’s secret #3. I’m having trouble taking the conversation back indoors. Sure there are a few believers who really want to see the blog work, but the truth is, and it really hurts to admit this, the powers that be don’t get it. They are, to use an insalubrious metaphor from Seth Godin, meatball makers who just don’t see the point of sundae toppings… Is it just me or is does this reek of wasted opportunity?
Secret #4: I love cycling. Up until my first son was born, I was clocking up over 15,000 km a year. A couple of years ago I spent €6,000 on the bike you can see gathering dust in the background of the Seesmic video. If only I had more time I could worry Lance Armstrong. Right now, I feel like Homer Simpson could run rings around me. Check out this photo of me in somewhere in France aged 14.
Secret #5: My home town. I am from Portsmouth (UK) which up until recently was the kind of place you hoped anyone you met had never been to. Now it’s pretty cool (in places). I went to Portsmouth Grammar School and wore the same dinky uniform for 11 years. I don’t get back nearly as often as I’d like and whenever I do, I always consider staying.
Secret #6: I came to Italy aged 18 looking for fame and fortune and found love and the inevitable debt that comes with it instead. Never went back
Secret #7: I have an older sister, Caroline, and our relationship has always been, em, edgy. I love her dearly and miss her like crazy but never get around to actually telling her. This is her and me on Holiday in Ibiza waaay before the Ministry of Sound arrived.
Secret #8: is a lot more entertaining as it concerns my wife. She is going to be my next business partner. In the next 12 months we’re going to open no fewer than three web projects together that I have mentioned a couple of times on this blog in recent months. Still trying to get Dell interested in sponsoring the big one, failing miserably of course… 
Secret #9: I write almost all Acer’s marketing material on a Dell.
Secret #10: I recorded the video to RichardatDELL on a Mac.
Secret #11: I desperately want to meet everyone I’ve connected with online in the real world. Sounds like a pipe dream at the moment but you never know how things are going to turn out.
I think I’ve overdone my secrets a bit. But I’m really glad I did.
Now comes the hard part. Who do I tag? Two people come to mind instantly. Adding anyone else would be pushing this interruption meme too far.
The first is Alex Badalic, a fascinating copywriter I met online and who I had the pleasure of speaking with through Skype only recently. There’s obviously a lot more to Alex than what he’s allowed to tell through his blog and I can’t wait to find out more.
The second is Marco Camisani Calzolari who I met when I screwed up his first attempt at setting up a wiki. Marco must be one of the most forward-thinking, proactive Italian bloggers out there. Journalist, loving father and entrepreneur, he not only started Italy’s YouTube alternative, but writes for the tech-pages of one of Italy’s most respected and influential newspapers. Make no mistake, he gets it.
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Valeria Maltoni wrote:
Very creative, Michael. I had no idea that you and Richard went so far back. And I did not know about Marco, he reads interesting! Even more interesting since I just met Luca de Biase from Nova 24Ore. Small world.
Ah, and about conversation rates - there are ways to design the post to get comments
That more than raises the average, doesn’t it?
Keep up the good work. Congratulations on your new venture, too. As I said on Twitter, I usually travel to Italy once a year. Last year I spent a few days meeting bloggers and visiting Roma. Next time it’s Milano.
Geoff Livingston wrote:
Wow! That pile of books looks scary! Good luck with all of that. It looks intimidating, and I think you may already have the bulk of this info already!
richardatdell wrote:
Michael
Great post I didn’t know about cycling or sister and even some others but think its great to be part of your tribe. I’m coming to visit with valeria