Traveling to see how the social network views social networks.
Location: Here

As yet another decade opens it’s doors for adventure, the last year was one of much travel across the country. Amongst the mix of isolation and solace of the road, I caught up with family and friends, met a lot of new faces and made some new friendlies along the way. I’m still in the midst of collecting a variety of thoughts, ideas, statistics, musings, emotions, shiny objects, odd entities and whatever else that may have found it’s way into my life along the way. The decade has been big and bold and I haven’t had time to look back on it much, nor do I feel a deep need to reflect on it. From the footstep of Ground Zero to an age where the world can be held in the palm of your hand, it’s been quite the ride. It is there to flip through, but the present is where I am. 4 months and 20,000 miles later are just a flash now, but the way it’s been documented is far from ye olden days of slide shows. Who knows what tools will be around in the next few years for a trip like the one I just pulled off.

The one thing for certain that will be around are the people who are there to meet and greet you along the way. I’ve had my days of fun and days for self, but in the end I always found people (or they found me.) From the remotest parts of desert and mountain top, to crowded city streets, they were there.

Here’s a little high-five to everyone I met along the way and those below that helped connect the dots across the nation.

Ann D, Kate G (special thanks to Tadpole,) Tony & Alicia D (special thanks to Sophia & Quinn,) Suzan K, Beth M, Rich & Stephanie E (special thanks to Wyatt), Team Bigos Buffalo, Dan & Cat S, Andrew E, Christa I, Rick S, Brandy C, Shannon M, George S, Boise Tweet crew, Shiro’s, Michelle “X”, Sara & the Salt crew, Rebecca “miss604,” Martha S (special thanks to Trevor and Danny,) AC, Matt W & Joanne S, Jon & Lyn E, Neeraj & Nicole E, Mark G, KC “stary swecki” Team Bigos crew, Megan H, Angela H, Putz, Mike, Terri, Erin W, Lu C, Shane & Jess A, Pam L, Kevin B, & Kat J, Tony O, Karyn M & Rub Jewel Group reunion, Jody & Anna M with special shout to the Jax crew, Liz A, Sara G, Sunny W, Puddy, DK “Disco Karaoke” Lee, Andrea G, Lindsey R, Trina N, Catherine Z, Will, Greig F, Jen B, PJ P, DJ P, Napa & Sonoma wine hosts including Aubrey, David “The Guam Bomb” and Christopher, Cali Team Bigos, Danielle K, Jeremy H, Kris and Tricia R (special thanks to Mason and Anna,) “Greta” Garmin and of course, the parental figures, my bro and sis.

It’s been quite the ‘09 and the ‘aughts, zero’s, 2000’s or whatever this decade goes down as. The next should be as good a name game. Happy New Year people!

As most people know, getting a small business up and running is quite the task. Keeping it running is a different monster altogether. While I was in North Carolina, I talked to a few people who had just started or were maintaining a small business. I mentioned Brad in an earlier post who runs and owns the Surf House in Carolina Beach, NC and is using a variety of methods including the social nets to spread the word about his store and community. My excellent friend Kevin has been running a construction management business, Elevate Construction, in the Wilmington, NC area. I sat down with him to get a perspective on an industry not particularly associated with social networking and how a younger generation with tech savvy is beginning to use these new resources.

The seeds have been planted and are being fostered to create communities within these niche spaces. It’s great to see social communication and networking strategies beginning to blossom in these different industries. A lot of the traditional means still reside, but the transition is there to enhance small business needs into the next decade. B2B social networks are out there, but the exploration of them seems to be developing at a faster pace with the onset of Twitter and other micro-blogging applications. With last year’s financial and real estate market collapse, smaller businesses especially in the construction and management space are looking to the alternative methods to keep ahead of the game all the while keeping costs at a minimum.

Thanks Kevin for the excellent interview!

Days turn into weeks into months and in that span I have zigged and zagged across this great nation of ours to the tune of 18,000 miles and counting. It’s a lot and a little at the same time. The beauty that I’ve beholden has come in many forms. The network of people along the way has been an endless provider of wondrous hospitality, conversation and joviality. It is this base of the social network that provides a unique daily experience. Whether you are broadcasting, receiving or tuned out, seeing the populace being redefined by means of the technology that surrounds us and vice versa has been an almost indescribable experience. The manner in which we use social nets, the mobile web and ultimately how we speak about the relationship of ourselves to new communication.

The tech trends will continue to develop and reshape how we speak to, with and at one another. But a big definer of the pieces that work have an emotional resonance. We like the application. We love our smartphone. We like to like (thumbs up!) And yes, we love to hate. It’s what makes the space so dynamic with it’s range of emotional outlets and primal shouts into the ether.

“Hulk maaaaaad about carrier provider!”

It’s this essence, and evolution, from the diary under lock-and-key of old, to transmitting openly online that I’ve found as a great magnet of conversation. Everyone I’ve spoken with, regardless of age, gender, race, etc. lights up like the holidays lights at the mention of social networking and so begins a deluge of fascination, excitement, confusion rage and even sadness at what this new medium has brought about. Being in the industry, you experience it on a daily basis, but whether I’ve interviewed people the videos, conversed offline about it or met people in passing, the reactions are priceless and fascinating. The comfort in speaking about the topic is like I’ve never seen with anything else among people. Casual, fun and intriguing as to how the social network is seen. I don’t think the formality of a focus group can garner such warmth.

Mention social networking during the holidays when you’re with family and friends and see what happens. It could be a unique gift unto its own.

Smack dab in the middle of America lies the heartland of Kansas, a state with a dual personality of West and East. The left half lying flatter than a pancake (science has proven it!) and the right bearing the natural green meanderings of the Mississippi River. I spent some time in Kansas City, getting a taste of the metropolis that has a blended culture from all regions of the compass. And how can I not mention the BBQ. Chow on that.

In between all the good eats and sightseeing, I managed to saunter into casual conversations with a nice cross section of social network users of varying generations. The finale being a conversation with my cousin Bo who is currently working for the Papa John’s brand and is a recent entry into the social networking space. It was a great perspective on not only seeing the space from a business perspective, but also at a personal level and the new function of family communication. It’s an interesting question to pose as this medium opens itself to the identity of virtual self. Facebook often combining the circles of family, friends and work into one location for broadcast and now separating those groups if so wanted.

Brands are still trying to figure out the best way to gain a solid foothold into this space and even as an internal communication tool. I enjoyed the leanings of the conversation toward this topic and how these new tools of social networking are being adopted into the business space. The arena of social networking as management tool.

Thanks Bo for the excellent interview!

Where the desert meets the mountains there is the city of Boise in the home of potatoes known as Idaho (Udaho!) You could write a great folk song based on that description alone, but better yet, consider a visit to this town which booms with social networking amidst its community. It was an unexpected surprise of my travels to see how vibrant the online communication is and how it extends into the offline world with events, nights out and friendships gathered and made.

I talked to a good sampling of people while in Boise, anchored by my friend Rick S who transplanted himself into the city a short time ago. He’s working in the social networking and media space, helping clients and brands to gain a foothold in the landscape. It was a good few days of discussion with him and other fellow Twidahoans, which made me wish that this whole trip was a reality show to cover the amount of content covered. Then again, it was broadcast in real-time via all the tweets during the meet ups. The wonder of this space. Rick covered off on some great points and brought about a great insiders look to the space.

Thanks Rick for the excellent interview!