All in all I thought they were pretty weak for the most part and once again most of them failed to give any clear call to action to leverage the buzz that will be happening for the next couple of days around the whole concept.

The two that I really liked came from Google and Doritos.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you are curious to see what other’s thought there are a million different places to check in. Personally, I really liked what Brand Bowl 2010 tried to pull off and the results are very interesting.

Wanted to point to some new content that has come out across multiple channels.

• Cast of Dads 7 – We Were All Morons  (listen) (subscribe)
• Emily Explains It – On the Jet Adventure (subscribe)
• Managing the Gray 91 – Amazing Things Will Happen (listen) (subscribe)

I also began teaching my University of San Francisco class this week. I haven’t talked much about that, but last fall I became an Adjunct Professor there in their marketing department and I’m one of the professors teaching their Advance Social Media Marketing course. It was a lot of fun and certainly a blast to have a classroom full of inspired students from around the country.

I just popped a dish of Soggy Saturday Wings into the oven and there is a crock pot of pulled pork slowly cooking away as well in the kitchen.

We are recording another episode of Cast of Dads in a few minutes and then this afternoon I’m speaking to a Babson College marketing class. All this before the Super Bowl takes over the living room and I head into the blackness known as post football depression. *grin*

Plus, during all this I’ve been noodling around trying to think up some new client ideas. Easy enough to come up with simple ones, but hard to come up with kick ass ones. As usual my brain is always thinking about something and with the great clients we work with at Campfire there is never a shortage of things to think about.

Like I said. Things are busy. But, it keeps life moving. That is a good thing.

But, honestly I was also thinking big picture and way beyond this.

While I didn’t know that the Apple iPad was exactly what was coming, we all knew that some form of larger iPhone like tablet would be coming. This is why I hired a developer to make me an application. When that device came out I wanted to make sure that I had an easy one click way for anyone to get at all my content.

I think the iPad is going to usher in a whole new wave of people consuming online content. Let’s face it. While you and I understand RSS readers and their power, most people still surf the web by going through their bookmarks and surfing from one site to another.

Devices like the iPad and applications on it are the next generation of this. Instead of going through bookmarks you are going to be clicking through applications and I wanted to make sure my content was there as well. I believe there is going to be a rush of people wanting to be there and while you should make sure your web content is optimized for that sort of browsing, I wanted to go a step further and make it even easier.

Now, I’m sure you laughed a little at the absurdity of that, but I’m watching it happen every day in the business world.

The power and ease of use that the Internet gives anyone to begin using it is tempting. Spend a few hours signing up for a few accounts and suddenly you are the next movie mogul or Pulitzer Prize winning author. Guess what though? It takes a lot more then just that to become either one of these. It takes a lot more for your business to use these tools to be a success.

Back to the Olympics for a moment. We’ll watch four people jump into a sled and rocket down the bobsled track. Do you honestly believe that if you and three of your friends jumped into a sled without practice, skills and training that you’d actually make it down the hill in one piece? But, yet every day companies are assuming that social media and online communities are just waiting for them to show up and that they can achieve success immediately out of the gate.

Today’s world of marketing, sales and customer services online are not that easy. Sure, it looks easy from the outside when it is being done right, but as someone who has worked with the smallest of start-ups to the largest brands in the world, I can tell you that this is anything but easy work.

Being successful involves detailed planning, solid strategic thinking, a long term vision and a bit of luck. That ice is slippery out there and you never know when a slip is coming and you have to be ready for it. Plus, things move faster then you have ever seen them move before and you need to be sure that you are working with people who can move at that speed as well.

I want everyone to get in the sled and feel the rush of wind in their hair. But, I want everyone to do it smart and with as few casualties as possible.

Don’t be the idiot that makes the headlines. You’ve got too much riding on it.

Watch this video. Talk about a classy exit. And what he said. It is important. VERY important.

Who needs a lightbulb to go off in your head when instead it is a nuclear

I’ve never been a beach person. I love hanging out at the ocean and feeling the sand between my toes, but hanging out poolside for any amount of time has never been that appealing. I guess that is why when it comes time to think about vacations I never think about the tropics, cruises or anything like that. I like to be active on vacation and do lots of different things. But, I’ve got to say that I was surprised by how much fun I had on this trip.

As I’ve already disclosed in a previous post, this trip was a press junket sponsored by JetBlue, Atlantis and Lego to showcase their new Atlantis Kids Adventure (AKA) addition to the resort. A variety of travel writers, parenting bloggers and other press were on hand for this weekend of fun.

I of course took a ton of photos and after the first day my 50D never left the room because I was so happy with how well my S90 did at taking photos. I’m officially in love with that little guy. Since I knew I was going to be writing up this trip in several different styles, you can see I took a variety of photos.

The whole family had a blast. I had always thought of Atlantis as an adult only resort and maybe that is the way it use to be, but it certainly isn’t any more. The variety of pools, water slides, restaurants and things to do makes it so that every member of the family can have a good time.

The new AKA addition is a kid’s dream. With different areas dedicated to computers, video games, cooking, dress up and all around play there is something for everyone. Even the bathrooms are unique (and yes I did go in the girls room after a mom insisted I go in and see it). I had a chance to talk to the designer of it all and she stressed how she really wanted a place where a kid could completely unwind and have a great time. She succeeded!

With such a great place for the kids to spend time away from parents, I was disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to leave them there and have a bit of parent only time at one of the restaurants that is not a buffet at the resort. The Mesa Grill was calling to me, but there was no chance to try it out.

Emily & Dylan both loved it there and didn’t want to leave. Everyone agreed that their favorite part was getting to swim with the Dolphins. I did it a couple of years ago at Discovery Cove and this was just as good.

Since the kids are both part fish, they loved all the different pools, river rapids and slides that they went on multiple times. I liked that they had these in every size so that kids of all sizes (and levels of bravery) could enjoy. I personally liked the tube ride through the shark tank the best just for the shear awesomeness of slowly going through a clear tube with sharks an other fish inches away from you.

We had a chance to try food from all three hotels, took part in a culinary adventure where we built underwater sculptures out of chocolate and even got to build and race our own race cars. So many activities were crammed in our four days that almost was a blur. Maybe that is why I took so many photos so that I can remember it all.

It was great to meet so many new people from a variety of publications and I can’t wait till our paths cross again. This was a very needed and appreciated vacation for the entire family and any time we can spend together away from the world and enjoying each other’s company is time well spent!

I’m having a horrible time trying to upload photos so those will have to wait. But, as I sit here listening to the crashing ocean waves through my open balcony it calms me to the point where I just wanted to share some thoughts before heading down to grab breakfast and some very needed coffee.

Having the whole family here is what makes this special. We’ve been having a great time together. The Atlantis Kid Adventures (which is what they flew us here to check out) is pretty damn impressive. Gamer rooms, a studio and stage, a room of iMacs, custom designed bathrooms and a kitchen that even I’m jealous of. I got a chance to talk to the designer of it all yesterday and she really went above and beyond to make sure that every inch of it is something that a kid will love and will be inspired to be creative from.

A full review will be coming on Digital Dads when I get home complete with lots of pictures, but I had a few minutes now while the kids were getting dressed and wanted to let everyone know at home that we are all doing well and having a blast.

Yesterday was spent mainly in the water and today we are starting off with beach Olympics. Meeting a ton of great travel writers, moms and dads as well. I’m very fortunate to have been asked to come down here and even more fortunate to share all the memories with my family. I don’t think the smile on Emily’s face after playing with a dolphin is ever going to leave my memory.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

I’m writing this to disclose that for the next four days I’m going to be on an adventure that is being sponsored by JetBlue, Lego and Atlantis to celebrate the launch of their new Lego Fantasy Camp this summer. I’m not fully sure what is in store for me and the family, but just before the holidays when I got a note asking if I’d be interesting in going on the trip how I could say no?

I plan to be tweeting, taking photos and producing other pieces of content while there. They have asked for nothing in return for this trip, but I still wanted to make sure to get the proper disclosures out of the way since they are paying for our expenses and I’m assuming this is a press junket / blogger weekend even if they haven’t called it that.

What I’m most excited about is the kids do not know what is going on. We told them earlier this week that we were headed on a “Chapman Adventure” but we did not tell them anything about where we were going or what we were going to do. Dylan is going to lose his mind when he finds out about the Lego connection.

So, I’m off to play on the beach for a few days. If you are trying to reach me, good luck. I’m not going to be checking e-mail or voice mail until I get back.

Stay safe and have fun. If your curious Flickr and Facebook would probably be the easiest way to see what I’m up to.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Just because I follow you on Twitter or we are connected on any other social network, does not mean that we are buddies, friends or instantly connected by the mystical powers of the Internet.

What it does mean is that we’ve begun a relationship and if I’ve hit accept in some form then it means that I’d love to get to know you better. By speaking to thousands around the world via my podcasts, public speaking and other avenues I connect with a lot of people. I’m very open on accepting connection requests on most services.

Lately though I’ve been getting a lot of direct messages (Twitter’s way of sending a message to a single individual) from people I don’t really know asking me to do something. Retweet this. Blog about that. Share with your community.

I know that there is always going to be a certain level of that with the level of exposure I can give to something. But, whenever one of those comes in my first instinct is to unfollow that person rather than checking out what they are trying to get me interested.

Just because you have a megaphone, you don’t go walking into a cocktail party and start shouting out what you do and who you want to meet do you? Same thing online. Take the extra couple of minutes and drop me an e-mail to say hello and tell me about whatever it is that you want me to talk about. If you are really that passionate about it then I don’t know how you can fit that passion into only 140 characters.

I’m the type of guy that loves to highlight good things being done by great people. Anyone that follows me on Twitter will see that I share a lot of links to a variety of topics. I will always do that, but your link will not be one of them if the first thing I’ve ever heard from you is the ask.

Take the time to at least say hello to people online before you start pitching them and asking them for favors. It is the only way you or your company is going to be successful in this crazy world of the Internet.

Am I wrong?

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve known Steve for a while and whenever I get stuck on anything video he is only an email or phone call away. Because of who he is, I know that it isn’t just for friends that he is this way. Steve will help anyone who gets stuck and asks for help.

What I love about Steve is that he can take the most complex of video ideas and boil them down to the most simple of executions. He films nearly everything in his life and does it both for personal pleasure and is hired to produce corporate videos.

I know he has worked really hard on writing this book and making it readable by everyone. What I mean by that is somehow he has balanced it so if you are a complete newbie or someone who has been shooting videos for years you’ll get some information and value out of the book. It also contains a variety of interviews with people who have been successful making online videos so you get to hear advice from a variety of individuals.

Steve is one of the original good guys and I’m excited for more people to read Get Seen because I hope it raises people awareness of Steve and how he can help them. Plus, maybe it’ll help some people start making better videos. I know I’ve taken away a couple of tips from it to improve Emily Explains It so it has already proved more valuable to me then what I paid for it.

Buy a copy today wherever books are sold.

I came home filled with renewed focus and energy. While my eyes could barely stay opened I wanted to be sure to take it all in before falling asleep. A few more moments of quiet reflection is exactly what I needed before I fell asleep.

While the house was silent except for the noises of the night I took it all in. I savored it. I loved it. It made me smile.

I’m watching to many people around me not enjoying their lives. Sure, they think they are because they are going to conferences, writing blog posts or lunchboxing friends on the social tool du jour. But, are they really getting everything out of life that they can?

Look at this kid. This is Dylan yesterday afternoon. Know where I took the picture? In the doctor’s office after seeing a nurse and waiting for the doctor to come in and check him out. I say this because look at how happy and goofy he still is. He is enjoying life and as most kids will show you, they don’t need technology and shiny toys to have a good time. They still know how to use their imaginations, play in the yard and make the most out of what they have.

It is Sunday morning and just like every week I get to start it off with a cup of coffee and the Sunday papers. Until 10:30 when CBS Sunday Morning ends, I don’t move much from the couch except to refill my cup. I get so much happiness out of these quiet mornings surrounded by my family. The tradition of it all grounds me in the familiar vibe of my life. I love that.

The speed of our lives is not slowing down. The fire hose of information will continue to increase. It is up to each of us to find the important things in life and then enjoy them to the fullest. Cherish the quiet moments and not be scared of them.

Little conversations and moments of escape constantly remind me of this. I hope by sharing it helps you as well.

Are you enjoying life to the fullest?

Today is trash day in my neighborhood. It got me thinking about how most of us have some sort of routine where we throw out the trash on a regular basis. Some of us have curb side pick up like I do and others have to take it to the dump. But, yet most of us let other forms of trash pile up in our lives without a second thought. Why?

We all do it. We have e-mails in our inbox, posts in our readers, podcasts on the iPod and magazines on our desks all waiting for our attention. We tell ourselves that we will get to them at some point and that throwing them away is bad, but we rarely ever actually get to them.

What other mental trash are we keeping that we can get rid of? Some of it will be doubts in ourselves, feedback we might have gotten from others or failed projects that are hanging around our neck.

The trick is that you need to take a hard look at what you are holding on to and throw away every you don’t really need. Sometimes it takes a major shift or move to do this, but there is no reason you can’t do it today.

Throw it out and move on. You might miss it a little at first and worry that you shouldn’t have, but in the long run it will be well worth it.

I have to say that I am loving this camera so far. The powerful options in such a little body is exactly what I wanted. Having the ability to shoot with the same settings I do with my big DSLR, including RAW formatted images, makes it exactly what I wanted. I was pissed yesterday to find out that Aperture does not support it yet though so I’m also beta testing a copy of Lightroom right now since they are on top of things.

While I haven’t had much time to take pictures, here are a few that I’ve taken.

I’m really looking forward to using this more and getting to know it. As with any camera, the more time you spend using it the better the pictures will be so I’m trying to bring this with me at all times. We shall see. Of course if you want to see more of my photography there is a constant stream of new ones on my Flickr page.

I saw a meme floating around about the three words people had chosen for 2010. I didn’t want to pick three and that is not the purpose of this post. But, as I began writing this I did keep thinking that over the last couple of weeks I have been doing three things over and over again. Guess what? It happens to be three words: Simplify, Focus and Attack.

As I travel more, I’ve grown to appreciate simplifying the amount of gear I take with me. I’ll admit that I’ve got a total bag fetish as I am constantly searching for the perfect travel bag and I have yet to find it.

Most of you know I go everywhere with a camera. That isn’t going to change, but there are also times when I’m not in the mood to be lugging around my 50D. Yes, my iPhone helps because I love taking pictures with that, but I wanted something else in between the two.

I found it in the Canon S90 which I bought just before the end of the year and it is a powerful little camera. Anyone who enjoys being able to manually control things would love this camera and I’m certainly in love with it. Especially since it’ll fit in a pants pocket without any problems.

I’ve also grown fond of bringing a Field Notes notebook with me wherever I go now (thanks again Julien, Jane & Clarence for the addiction). This allows me to write down things that come to mind and focuses me to think about projects I’m working on. I looked back through a full one and it was fun to see the mix of Campfire client work, with random rambles, sketches and show notes. Maybe that isn’t being overly focused, but in my world it is. Write things down. You’d be amazed how much it helps you.

The final part is the one that I find the easiest and that is going out and doing what needs to get done. Attacking the problems. Making the clients happy. Achieving the goals you’ve set for the year. I was talking with a friend recently and we were pondering if the reason we were both “doers” is because of our blue collar upbringing. It is a valid theory, but it amazes me how many people prefer to just talk about things rather than actually attacking them and getting them done.

To boil it all down for you and for me, my year is mostly about Focus. That is the one word that I’m keeping on top of everything else. But, because I am who I am I need the others as well to help. Between Google Wave, my whiteboard, Basecamp and a few other places I’m keeping life in line and on track. And to anyone or anything standing in my way? Yeah, that isn’t a good idea. Attacking can involve big sticks and I’m not afraid to swing them!

Get out there and get what you need to get done. The days of talking about it all are over. Roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Need help? Let me know. I’ll be over here kicking ass.

I’m not sure what motivates everyone to do these things, but I do it with content that in some way touches me. Might be a really informative piece of writing or a video that I want others to see. In some cases it is something that just makes me laugh or that I want other people to be aware of.

But, when you say you are “proud” of what someone created that is a whole level of power and emotion.

In the past 48 hours I’ve had several people tell me that they were proud of something I’ve done. It touched me because it came from relatives and friends alike. The simple phrase of being proud of someone is a deeper level of commitment then simply clicking on a virtual thumbs up.

Have you told someone you are proud of them lately? Maybe you haven’t felt that way, but when you do be sure to say it directly to the person. That simple pat on the back could be just the encouragement they needed to push forward and keep doing what they were doing.

Life is fun in that it seems to deliver these messages whenever I need them most. Chance? Fate? Random roll of the dice in the heavens? Who knows, but thank you all for the constant support and moments when I make you proud.

Personally, this morning I’m pretty damn proud of Managing the Gray #90. It isn’t that often that a podcast will really make me smile, but this one did.

That file of course was Accident Hash #1 and yesterday I celebrated the five year anniversary of Accident Hash and it also marked Episode 300.

Many people know me for my marketing, new media and business side. They don’t know about my love of music and my desire to share great tunes with the world. Accident Hash has always been about my passion for music and it has brought me years of smiles, new friends and great music.

I was touched by the outpouring of support I got from my community. Known as Homefrys, they came together and created the episode for me. Under the direction of Ewan Spence (an amazing music podcaster as well with his show TPN Rock) they pulled together a show of great music, unreleased tracks and more then a few pats on the back for me. You can listen to it now if you want.

The crazy idea was that I’d listen to it for the first time live via Ustream and share it with everyone. So many people showed up that I know and love and even a few strangers joined the mix. I had my family with me and a glass (or two) of scotch to enjoy it all. When all was said and done it was a great episode, but how and why it came together will always make me smile.

I’m glad that we were able to capture the moment via video which you can watch here.

We talk all the time about how it is not about the number of people in your community, but about the actual people in your community. Last night was proof of that. While there are only a few voices on the show, I know that there are many more out there. I’ve gotten tons of congrats via Twitter, Facebook and e-mail and I cherish every one of them.

Will Accident Hash be around in another five years? I honestly don’t know because I had no idea where these last five would take me, but I can tell you this. If I have anything to do with it, there will always be some way for me to share new music with you through Accident Hash. The technology and how you listen may change, but I hope I can continue to do it. As long as I’m having fun, I will keep doing it.

Thank you to all the Homefrys. Every single one of you rocks and makes what I do worthwhile. Peace and be wild y’all!

I loved my time off during the holidays. Campfire shuts down to allow all of us to enjoy the holidays to the fullest. I know others do this as well.

Going back to the office and everything else after a break is never an easy thing and my theory is that when so many people around the world do this at once it is going to boil up like it did this past week. I don’t remember what it was like a year ago, but I bet it was similar.

So, I’m calling a mulligan. I don’t play golf, but it is the one thing I’ve always liked. You mess up, you call a mulligan. It is a restart, a do over. I think we collectively need to take mulligan from this past week.

Me? I already called mine and am going to jump into the next week with a positive approach and plan on using the weekend to recharge.

This weekend I’m going to a very overdue lunch with a friend and then beginning work on redoing our bathroom. Plus, it is Wild Card Weekend in the NFL so I’ve got four football games to watch. (Ravens, Bengals, Eagles & Packers if you are curious)

So, don’t harp and focus on the past week. Use this weekend to recharge and then jump into Monday in a better mood and with nothing but positive energy. Don’t ever fear the mulligan. It is a great thing.

Last night at the gym and this morning as I thought more about it I realized that the tide is turning, but of course not fast enough for me. I think things are going to have to change. I keep hearing stories over and over about men being laid off who begin staying home with the kids. I have no hard data, but this has got to be on the rise in the last 12 months. How many of them will return to an office job? How many of them are now more active then they ever were and no matter what their employment situation will continue to be?

I think this all got to me more then ever yesterday because in the morning I learned of the sudden death of a friends wife (more here if curious). He now has a little girl to raise by himself. He is going to raise that little girl and be the best dad he can be. But, will society ever give him the equal respect of being a parent? I don’t know.

Being a father is the hardest and most rewarding thing I do every day. I love it. I’ve always wanted kids and I wouldn’t trade the ones I have for anything. Look at them? They are awesome! *grin*

I talk a lot about finding what you are passionate about. For me I am most passionate about being a Dad.

Take a few minutes and really think about that. Not what you like doing or don’t mind doing, but what you love to do.

An easy way to think about this is if you had a free afternoon with no worries and could spend it doing anything you wanted what would it be?

There are a full twelve months of 2010 ahead of each of us and while many of those hours will be spent slaving away for a paycheck, sleeping and dealing with the commitments of our lives, I hope that many of you will find the time to spend doing what you love every week.

I love to shoot photos. I love to meet people. When asked why I always have a camera with me, it is because I love taking photos of people. Whenever I get a chance I am doing it because it is something I love.

I also love to cook and while I do it almost every night for my family, it is even more fun when I get to do it for other people so I’m hoping to have a few dinner parties this year where I can do this. Again, I’m making the time to do something I love.

Life is too short not to make time for the things you love. While there are only 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week, be sure to take at least a few of those to keep yourself happy and sane by doing the things you love.

Figure out what you love to do and then get out there and do it.

On January 1st the two of us got to spend a day together (something that doesn’t happen nearly often enough) with almost 40,000 other screaming fans at Fenway Park watching The NHL Winter Classic hockey game. I’ve been to a lot of sporting events over the years, but this was by far the single coolest I’ve ever been able to see live. Even if you are not a hockey fan you’ve got to admit that the idea of a hockey game being played INSIDE of Fenway Park is damn cool thing!

I have to give a huge thanks to the NHL for hooking me up with a tickets. I got an e-mail from a friend asking me if I liked hockey and when I replied yes, the next thing I knew I was going to the game.

I grew up in New Hampshire so I’ve seen plenty of outside hockey games. Two years ago when the NHL played their first of these games in Buffalo I thought it was a genius idea. The marketing angles on this game are endless and the fact that it is once a year adds to it all. Whoever came up with it, kudos to you.

It was strange to arrive in the area and see Bruins jerseys everywhere. It was even weirder to see so many Flyers jerseys as well. In a strange twist, there might have been an equal number of fans for both sides which made the time in the crowd even more enjoyable. I personally would have preferred that we played the Canadians so there would have been some deep seeded rivalry, but it was a lot of fun.

There were fans of all ages. Sitting next to us was a dad and his nine year old son from Los Angeles. I got a kick out of him taking a Flat Stanley picture for his daughter back home. No one got out of hand in the crowd and we all united under a nice loud “Yankees Suck” chant at one time that left us all laughing.

Looking back, I can’t imagine a better place to spend New Years Day. Having the game go into overtime and the Bruins winning made it all that much sweeter.

Plus, I’ll never forget the confused looks on the faces of the hockey players and many of the fans in the stands when the baseball fans in the crowd changed “so good! so good!” along with the Fenway familiar Sweet Caroline.

The NHL Winter Classic was a great game and a great memory. I can’t wait for next year!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Earlier today I posted a simple Facebook Status update that read “Send some positive waves this way would you? Thanks.” It hasn’t been a great couple of days and it seems I’m hearing about a lot of random bits of roughness in people’s lives and that effects me so that is why I posted that.

What I wasn’t expecting was the sudden and ongoing outpouring of heart felt, kind and smart ass comments that my friends have left me on that status update. They were exactly what I needed to crack a smile and push on through the day.

When you see someone that seems down or might benefit from a nudge of positive encouragement be sure you take the time to do so. We’ve all got a million distractions for every minute of the day, but don’t underestimate what a simple reply to a friend might do for them. I talk a lot about passion being contagious, but I think I need to add positivity to it as well.

You all truly made my day. Thank you for the positive vibes.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The music is from the super talented Laura Clapp and if you don’t own her music you should buy some because it is beyond amazing.

Lots of memories in this slide show. New friends and old. Special moments. Great times.

I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for me and the people I love.

If you don’t know, my least favorite part of creating content is the post production piece. This is why I try to make as much of what I create instantly shared from me to you with as few steps as possible in between. This is why video production has never been a core part of what I create because it takes to long.

But, I’m happy to say that I buckled down and turned into the Content Creation Monster today in order to get everything done. Fresh out the door is:

• Emily Explains It #11 – First Snow of 2009 [subscribe]
• Managing the Gray #89 – Ron Ploof Interview [subscribe]
• Cast of Dads #4 – Making it to Midnight [subscribe]

I’ve still got pictures from Christmas that I want to post, but those were a second priority to getting the above three done.

Today was a productive day!

Daemon is an amazing book. I can’t begin to tell you the whole plot, but at the core it is about a demented genius hacker who upon his death unleashes a powerful computer virus that slowly takes over the world. This book was made for Hollywood with enough action scenes and killer attack Hummers (you’ll have to read to find out) to make for a summer block buster.

I was psyched to learn that the book was written under a pen name and it had been picked up by a big publisher and republished. I love watching success happens and was happy to see Daniel Suarez (the author’s real name) making his dreams come true.

The book was one of those that just sets itself up for a sequel, so I’ve been eager for that day to come. As soon as I saw Rick again mention that Freedom (TM) was slated fora 2010 release, I pre-ordered a copy immediately.

Last week, hours before we were slated to leave for New Hampshire for the holidays a package arrived. Nothing unusual since I get plenty of surprise packages. But, upon opening it I was looking at a copy of Freedom. When I opened it up there was a note:

C.C.,

As an “early adopter’ of Daemon, I thought you might like a copy of the sequel. Happy Holidays!

Best,

Daniel Suarez

This was easily the best present I got for Christmas as it was 100% unexpected. I don’t know Daniel at all except for being a fan of his work. We haven’t even exchanged a single e-mail so this was a great surprise.

After the presents were opened on Christmas morning I curled up on the couch and proceeded to read the entire book. It has been a long time since I’ve had the time and the writing to keep my attention like that. It was extra funny because since I do most of my reading on my Kindle, my mother-in-law joked, “C.C. I didn’t even know you read on paper anymore.”

Unfortunately, Freedom is not as good as Daemon. But, how many sequels in anything ever are? It is also not a book that you can pick up and read on it’s own because so much of the groundwork was set in the first book. This tale of the darknet and what it has done to the world is part science fiction and part social commentary that requires the first book to fully appreciate what is going on.

That being said, fans of the first book won’t be let down by this book. The plot line carries on right where the last one left off and I did not see the ending coming at all which always makes me happy. Watching how the power of the darknet has grown and what it is doing to society makes the little bits of augmented reality we’ve played with seem beyond elementary. My mind is still trying to wrap around the ideas laid out under the cover of the words in this book.

I think that these two books could easily be combined into a single action packed movie. I sure hope someone has already optioned them and has begun casting because it has been far to long since we have had a movie like this made. Plus, when they start filming give me a call. I’d love to come on set for any reason. *grin*

Anyone swimming in the fishbowl, but thinking way beyond it, should read these two books. Of course you have to let go of reality a bit for some of the things, but Suarez knows his technology and never crosses into the realm of “are you kidding me?” for all the geeks out there. On a personal note, J.C. Hutchins you MUST read these books and that is not up for discussion.

Thank you again to Mr. Suarez for the surprise gift. Please keep on writing because you’ve got a fan in me for sure.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2/h0ljuj

All of the people in this photo were in one little house along with three dogs. While it may seem like a recipe for a disaster, in fact it was anything but that.

This was the first time since 2004 that we’ve been all together and it felt great. I had a niece (the little one asleep in the photo) that I had never even met. It was a Christmas filled with old traditions and perhaps some new ones. Tacos for dinner, pop tarts for breakfast and Peking Duck for lunch. It was great all around.

If you don’t know I’m a big time family guy. I LOVE spending time with people like this and throw in the fact that it was Christmas and it makes it even more special. I’m smiling just thinking about it.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas as well.

At the end of the day as the sun was setting it made everything have a very cool purple feel to it so I quickly grabbed the camera to get this picture of the tree in our front yard. I was a couple of minutes late or else it would have been an even better shot. But, I’m glad you can see the lights in the tree out front in the picture.

Social Media makes birthdays extra cool in my mind. The well wishes, ecards, random wall posts and other nice things never happened on the scale before. Sure, you’d get the occasional card in the mail from a friend, but technology makes it easier then ever.

Just as I was going to bed last night I saw this video from my Friend Dave Delaney and it really touched me. One of the highlights of last years SXSW was just as I rolled into town I saw Dave and we went and grabbed a burger and beers before the insanity of the week kicked off. Just me and him away from the world hanging out and catching up. I love those type of moments.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me birthday wishes. There are way to many to thank individually. Mother Nature is giving me a massive snow storm as a gift. We’ve got a pile of wood for the fireplace and can’t wait to see how pretty it gets. Thankfully we don’t have any major plans so hanging in the house works just fine with us.

This morning I finally got a chance to record the 2009 Accident Hash Holiday Special. I’ve been wanting to get it done ever since the day before Thanksgiving, but it finally became time to get it done and out the door. I pimped it rather hard, but I really hope people buy The High Orbit Holiday Special because I think it is a riot and I know how hard Matthew Ebel worked on it.

I was in NYC yesterday and it was fun to see even a little bit of the city (from a taxi of course) in the holiday spirit. Maybe it was my imagination, but people didn’t seem to be frowning as much as they usually do when I’m there. Could have been the non-December like weather that was going on as well. Who knows?

This is the week where I always get extra reflective and happy all at once. I’m ending my 35th year on this planet and if that isn’t enough to get me thinking then I don’t know what would.

Plus, as we flip the calendars over to 2010 I want to kick the year off on the right foot. I’ve started a lot of great things this year and hope to continue them into the next.

I’m going to be spending Christmas with my family. I can’t wait to see everyone and create a bunch of great memories. Sure, there will be some headaches in there too, but in the end they will all be worth it.

Lots of great things on the horizon. Between the events, opportunities, projects and possibilities it is looking to be a good year. How is it looking for you?

I’m not sure why I’m off today. Might be that I didn’t sleep all that great, maybe I’m coming down with something, or maybe I’m just not in the mood to be away from the family during this holiday season. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll pass quickly (at least I hope it does) and I’ll be back to my good old self in no time. Only time will tell right?

Headed to NYC for the Campfire holiday party. Really looking forward to unwinding with the team a bit.

Yesterday we had the 11B Christmas Party. I’m so glad that none of the roomies left the area because it is a tradition I look forward to every year. Lots of laughs, great food and of course a little pitch playing. Wish I knew more people who played that. I remember the days of playing it every night at Bentley. Good times!

In other news, things are good and busy as they should be. Cast of Dads is going great and we recorded our second show over the weekend. I had a Canon 5D to play with over the weekend. Having the video option is fun, but I have to say that I didn’t drool over myself with excitement while taking pictures with it. Confirmed to myself that getting the 50D when I did was the right decision.

This past weekend in NH was great. Seeing the family is always a good time and I can’t wait to go back up for Christmas. The house will be packed, but it’ll make for great memories so I’m looking forward to it. Of course I joked that all I need to pack is a bottle of scotch and Roxie’s leash and I can make it through it. I’m only half kidding though. *grin*

Still not sure why I feel off, but I hope it passes fast. Knowing me, it will.

I’m very happy to announce my involvement in the new parenting show Cast of Dads.

Cast of Dads is a group of podcasting and blogging dads who gather to gab about fatherhood.  The cast of dads includes C.C. Chapman, Jeffrey Sass, Max Kalehoff, Michael Sheehan, and Brad Powell, who collectively represent 13 kids from the youngest of babies to full grown adults. Each of them brings a unique perspective to being a father.

While a lot of thinking has gone into this, none of us have a ton of time right now to really set things up fully so please pardon our temporary graphics and website.

Episode 1 covers a variety of topics including a debate about real vs. fake Christmas trees, what our kids are asking for and how much we all love Lego.

If you like what you hear and want more subscribe to our feed.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks to the ever talented Granian for the music. They are now known as Kill the Alarm, but the music still is awesome!

Unlike other months, this is the one where most of us are looking at the end rather than the days ahead and that can be dangerous and a waste. I’d rather look at it as having 31 days left in the year to get stuff done, set up for the next year and end on a good note.

Yesterday I hung up some inspiration in my office. I had ordered three Hugh MacLeod prints back when they were pre-released and was eager to hang them in my office. I had them framed and I put them up yesterday morning before the day got under way. Just looking at them brings a smile to my face and pushes me forward. I need to be surrounded by inspirations. It is one of my little tricks.

I’m determined for that little voice in my head that goes, “would it be great if…” and then is followed by an idea for a picture, blog post or other project to turn into actually being done. I too often (and I’m sure you do too) have all those ideas pop up and then never do anything with them. That doesn’t help anyone so I’m determined to take more of those and make them happen. Look for lots of content this month across multiple platforms from me.

Of course in the midst of these 31 days is the peak of the holiday season. It doesn’t matter which of the holidays you celebrate, they all bring with them a certain level of stress and anxiety. Try not to let it get to you. I LOVE the holidays and everything they bring. Get stressed? Put on some mellow holiday music and enjoy a cup of cocoa. Hell, put a little peppermint schnapps in it and really mellow yourself out.

December has always focused me since my birthday falls in the month. That adds to the reflective and determined outlook every year around this time. The other night I heard a great quote about “if you are getting older, it means you ain’t dead yet” and I love the sentiment of it. I don’t get hung up in age very often, but I’m sure I will at some point, but I’m going to try to keep that in mind anytime I do.

You’ve got 31 days left of 2009. There is a lot that can be accomplished in 31 days. Go out there and make it happen.

Thursday of course was Thanksgiving and I was fortunate to have my parents, sisters, aunt and cousin down for the day. Aero here is my newest little furry relative that made the holiday extra fun. There is just something absolutely priceless and fun about puppies and since Dylan has always wanted a Husky and I love them as well it was fun for the afternoon.

This is the time of year when I  look back at the months that have passed and the year that is about to happen. I begin to think about what my goals for the new year will be, any projects I might want to accomplish and to check and make sure that I’m on the right life track that I want to be.

Yes, I get extremely reflective ever year during the holidays. I’m very blessed that I have a healthy family, a good career and a close knit group of Friends that make life all that much more fun. I hope that every year will be better than the last, but with the way things have been going lately for me that isn’t an easy goal to strive for, but you can be damn sure I’m not going to slow down any.

Selling The Advance Guard earlier this year was certainly the biggest event that happened to me in 2009 and it was not even remotely thought about last year at this time. I wonder if 2010 will have any major happiness grenades like that or not. I know I’m setting some pretty lofty goals for the upcoming year so who knows.

Life is good and I want that to continue. I want to help others reach their goals as well. Maintaining that balance of giving and receiving is always one of life’s greatest and rewarding challenges. I like to think that I’m helping others as much as possible and every so often I get a message, phone call or hug that reminds me that I am at least doing it for some people and it makes all the hard work worth while.

Do you have any major goals for 2010? Any that I might be able to help with? Any we might end up doing together?

Two keynotes from two good friends are now online and I wanted to share them with you.

The first is from Baratunde Thurston. I will warn you now that you are going to laugh out loud at this, but if you really pay attention you are also going to learn a lot. You might need to watch it twice to catch what you miss the first time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The second is from Chris Brogan. It has been a blast watching him grow as a speaker and this is an example of how to drive home a point in ten minutes without getting lost.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hope you enjoy both. I’m looking forward to more content from the event getting online soon.

The reason I’ll be in New York is to attend Web 2.0 and to co-present with my good friend Kristin Brandt at Web2Open.

This will be my first time attending the conference and my understanding is that it is huge. Just looking at the shear number of people I know who are going to it makes it feels almost like a mini tech version of SXSW without all the great barbecue and on the east coast. Ok, so I guess as I type that it is nothing like SXSW. *laugh*

What else is going on? I’m still growing this funny facial hair to raise money for cancer research as part of Movember. The scary thing is that it is finally coming in and doesn’t look as bad as I thought it might. We are raising a lot of money, but nearly as much as I had hoped for. Have you made a donation yet? It would be awesome if you did!

This week, I also pushed out some content that I’m really psyched about. Interviewing the US Army on Managing the Gray was certainly cool to do and I really believe in what they are doing at Army Strong Stories. It is a campaign that I am going to drill into the head of every potential and current client to show them that if the Army can do something like this, so can they.

Accident Hash #296 also dropped with some great new music on it even though I was very down with the news of Owen’s father passing. I want to give that guy a hug in the biggest way right now.

Last night we had a family night on the town. It was really a Father’s Day present, but we all sort of forgot about that. We went to dinner and then took in Fiddler on the Roof which was great. The kids had an awesome time and Laura has always loved that play and it was the first time she had seen it done professionally so there were smiles all around.

As you can see there has been and will be plenty of going on and even with catching everyone up I know there are some things I’m leaving out. I talked about the other day how my head was bubbling with new ideas and it is a great feeling. Still not enough time to do all the things I want to do, but I love having multiple creative projects going on that get me excited.

Oh, I know something I forgot! I had my first article for Fast Company with me interviewing JC Hutchins go live. Can’t believe I almost forgot that.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I can’t wait to see many of you next week in New York. If I look stressed from all the running around the city just give me a hug or buy me a drink. Either one will work. *grin*

You never heard of The Audience Conference? Are you wondering why it wasn’t trending on Twitter or didn’t see lots of Facebook updates and photos on Flickr from it?

The reason being this was not a traditional conference like what you are thinking about. In fact it was better than many I’ve been too lately. It was held in the Hudson Theater. A beautiful little theater just off of Times Square with ornate balconies and red velvet seats.

Each performer was introduced by Loren, dressed to the nines, and there was no pause during each of the three acts of the day.

With people such as Jason Calacanis, Brian Clark, Rae Hoffman, Melanie Notkin and Andrew Keen there was a great variety of people who have built and engaged with a variety of audiences.

Plus, what other conference have you been to where the day ends with amazing poetry from Robert Bruce and three unique musical performances that left everyone smiling and cheering for more. Look for some of that music on a future Accident Hash.

Ground rules for the day were laid out the beginning and they were not negotiable. We were an audience for the day and Loren was the ringmaster. We were there to enjoy what each person brought to the stage. Laptops were not allowed. Twittering would be punishable. Everything was being photographed and video taped so there was no reason for us to worry about it. (Pained me not to take photos for sure since it was such a great venue)

We were all given a program and a notebook. This wasn’t something to be shared with the world, but enjoyed by the smart and savvy group gathered on this Friday.

From the moment I first heard about the conference I wanted to go. I liked that it wanted to focus on the audience first and foremost. This is something we talk a lot about at Campfire and firmly believe in so we wanted to attend to be around like-minded individuals, but also to see what was being said. Plus, I personally wanted to support Loren, who has got to be one of the most misunderstood guys online.

I asked him why he felt he needed to organize this event and he told me, “it needed to be done because I couldn’t take all the narcissism and navel gazing going on at other conferences in all over social media.”

Any self-proclaimed social media expert would have been lost here. There was no schwag, no slides and no wifi. Instead there was a tight, solid and content filled program, a constant supply of coffee and food and plenty of time for networking with all the attendees. I also liked that unlike some conferences I’ve been to recently the presenters were part of the audience as well and didn’t swoop in, take the stage and then disappear. I hate when that happens.

There was nothing confirmed for another one of these events, but I’m holding out hope that it does. I know I took part in something very special and unlike anything I have felt since attending the very first Podcamp in Boston in or the first Portable Media Expo back in the day. Being part of the audience has never felt better.

Thank you Loren.

Photo Credits: Steve Hall

You can read the full post here.

Now, I feel I should point out that my close friend Scott Monty works for Ford so it didn’t surprise me that he replied when I put out feelers and anytime I had a question about Ford, I knew I could go to him. I go to him as a friend, but the great thing is that I know that complete strangers can also go to him and get the answers to their questions. I love that.

But, anyone who thinks that I bought the car because of Scott and all the great social media work that Ford is doing is delusional. No matter how good your social media program is I am not going to drop $40,000+ on anything based on just those efforts alone.

I’m writing about this because I want all the consultants, agencies and brands to realize that having an active and useful communications program that leverages the online space is a crucial part of every business today, but it can’t be what you balance your bottom line and future success of your company on. If you do, you can bet you won’t be in business for long.

I remember the first time I saw the Ford Flex, I hated it. Scott picked me up at the airport in Arizona when we were both speaking at a conference there. I thought it was a boxie thing with a dumb white roof (I don’t get why people like this) and it felt like Ford was trying too hard. I mean if you haven’t seen the commercials or print ads for the car they were always at night, trying way to hard to make it feel like a hipster mobile. I rode in them at various conferences that Ford had a presence at and I liked the roominess but it never clicked for me.

We needed a car that could hold our two kids, our dog and luggage. We based it all on being able to fit everything needed for a weekend trip to New Hampshire to visit our parents. If it couldn’t handle that then we didn’t want it. Originally I wanted (and still would like) a hybrid car, but the options in this size are extremely limited so at the end the final consideration was that it needed a third row so we could fit some of the kid’s friends as well.

I have zero brand loyalty when it comes to cars. I shouldn’t say that. The first car I ever bought new was a Saturn SC2 and I had nothing but an awesome experience with them. I wanted to buy a Saturn this time around, but actually found their one option was not big enough for us and now that the brand is going away it really wasn’t an option. They understood how to sell a car and keep a customer happy.

One thing that I always loved about Saturn was how they would allow for extended test drives. I remember them giving us the car and telling us to bring it back before closing and we went off and spent the day in it. That was the only way I knew I loved it.

In Orlando this summer we were given a Flex on an extended test drive so that we could try it out with the kids for longer then a spin around the block. We took it to the grocery store, ran errands and used it for a few days for everything we did. Both Laura and I drove it and got a feel for it. The kids got to experience it as well and tell us what they loved and hated about it. We really got a full opinion of the car that we would not have any other way. At the end of that we both were thinking that it would be a great car for us.

Now, I don’t know if this is something that Ford usually does or if it was something unique because of my friendship with Scott and the company. I personally think this is something that every car company should consider. Yes, it can’t be done for every single shopper, but if the situation is right and the manager feels it is OK, then dealers should be empowered to allow for longer test drives then what is normal. All car company should consider this.

At the end of this summer we went out and tried out all the other cars that were in the running for us. There actually weren’t that many options based on what we wanted in the size and price range we were aiming for. It seems that car companies only want to sell you a mammoth SUV if you are in the market I was. At the end of it all as we sat down to talk all the options over we ended up going with the Flex.

I’m laying this all out because as you can see Ford was very active with us and that helped us form our opinion. But, at the end of the day if the car hadn’t met our needs all of this extra good will wouldn’t have mattered when it came time to purchase. You can give me a good feeling and that might make me buy your CD, stay at your hotel or fly your airline, but it is not going to make me lay down a lot of money for something as large as an automobile. Safety, function, price and quality come first and foremost.

As you set out to begin using social media, I hope you realize that what it can and can’t do for you. I hope that whatever agency you are working with or consultant you’ve hired to make this a reality,  knows what they are talking about and are not just selling you a bill of goods and promises that twelve months from now you are going to be upset about.

You need to be listening, responding, outreaching, engaging and always being helpful. This isn’t an option anymore for you if you want to be a successful business. But, even with all that, it still and always will boil down to having a good product first.

One final thought for you, is that no matter how much good will you build up, it only takes a single employee to ruin it all and put you back to square one. The dealer I bought my car through almost made me call the whole deal off just on the actions of a single phone call. I almost canceled my order, after waiting weeks for the car to arrive, and went to purchase it from a different dealer. I most likely will not recommend to my friends that they go to this dealer if they are looking for a car.We live in an always on society now and this means every one of your employees must realize what their actions can cause.

I’d write more, but I haven’t even gone for a drive with my whole family yet as I’ve been traveling for business and I’ve got to go do that!

Be smart about social media and don’t think it is going to do more for you then it is. Alone, it won’t do you much good. Integrated with good products, smart campaigns and a solid business strategy it can work wonders.

It has always bugged me that the world is full of more talkers than doers and I’ve grown to realize that this is the way it always will be. I guess that since anyone can have an online megaphone I’m hearing, reading and seeing more of it then every before. It gets me down, but it also motivates me not be one of those people and to keep pushing forward doing great work for both myself and for clients.

One of the biggest changes after selling The Advance Guard is that my brain has more free cycles to think about things. This of course has me wondering where to focus that energy. I seem to be doing more noodle favors for friends, contemplating in detail a book and looking at all the various projects I’m involved in and thinking about which ones could use some more love.

All of this also has me noticing the things that bug me more too. Guess that means I really should focus my energy elsewhere so that I don’t notice it right? *laugh*

I’m on the Acela headed to NYC. Weird taking a later train and seeing how packed it is. I’ll be coming home on Saturday afternoon and I’m curious what that is going to be like. Who knows?

Life is good. We finally got our new car (more on that later), Campfire has a bunch of cool new projects I’m involved with and my little ‘mo is starting to come in.

While there is always something in life that you can complain about is it ever really worth it? Think about that and then proceed accordingly.

But, as I watched my good friend Drew kick cancer’s ass it really inspired me that I needed to stop my complaining and start my growing. After all, I’d much rather have a horrible mustache then cancer.

So, like many men around the world I shaved on November 1st and at the end of the month we’ll see what I got. My Team Mofries is already doing well and I hope they chime in to let us all know how they are doing.

Click here to view the embedded video.

PLEASE donate any amount you can as all donations help. If you want to help spread the word feel free to share the link http://www.helpingthecause.com which I have going right to the donation page.

I’m taking pictures every day and many will be shared on Flickr and you can be sure I’ll be doing something with them all at the end of the month.

Cancer is something that all of us can relate to. It is a horrible thing that I hope future generations won’t have to worry about. If you or your company have the means to donate, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Last week I was in Los Angeles to attend and speak at the 140 Conference. Having never really been to LA before, that alone made it an interesting experience, but it was also great to connect with so many people on the West Coast that I don’t get to see that often.

I’m going to be writing a more formal review of the whole conference, but I had to share here what it felt like to take the stage where the Oscars are held.

Now, in case you don’t know I’m a huge movie fan. In 1996, I co-founded Random Foo Pictures with my close friend and cohort Dan Gorgone.

We went on to make over 75 short films and helped produce a couple of features. We did it for the love of doing it and had a blast with it all. We’d hold our own screenings and had several Foo Fests that drew friends and strangers into a theater to watch our crazy (and bloody) creations. All of this was before YouTube and all the other great tools that filmmakers have today to get their stuff seen online.

I’ll be honest. I’ve given my Oscar acceptance speech more then once in my head and actually being on THE stage where they are given hit home for me.

I wanted to focus on what I think people are forgetting when it comes to social media and boiled it all down to the subject of Be Human. It is simple. It is short. But, it works. If you can’t do that one simple thing then all the pretty ads, flashy websites and interactive nonsense means nothing.

People seemed to resonate with it and I’m looking forward to seeing the video when it is posted because when you only have 10 minutes on a stage like this the time flies by and you don’t remember much of it. Plus, that is something I certainly want a copy of if nothing else then to proove I was actually there.

Thanks to Jeff Pulver for inviting me to speak. I always dreamed about being on that stage, but I never dreamed it would actually happen and I certainly didn’t know it was going to be in this fashion. What a fun and strange life I lead some days.

Photo Credits to Steve Garfield & Ken Yeung. Click on either photo to be taken to the original.

I have not read the book yet, but I know how smart Ariel is and all the great work she has done for musicians with her company Cyber PR.

But, today I’ve got something special for you. A special free 10 chapter PDF of the book for your downloading, reading and sharing pleasure. Click on the book cover to enjoy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’m still trying to figure out exactly what to do for the next project that I talk about in the video. I had a solid idea, but it looks like the weather is not going to cooperate so I’m going to have to think of something else. If you are curious about what projects I have done so far you can find them here.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/1

Click here to view the embedded video.

But, I love the idea behind Movember and this video cracks me up. I’m still debating if I have the balls to try and grow one or not.

What do you think?

This past week I was in Las Vegas for Blogworld Expo and had two fun nights out on someone’s dime besides my own. FTC or not, I’d still write this post the same way and share the same information.

On Thursday I got the chance to check out Cirque Du Soleil’s KA. Being a smart organization with the very smart Jessica Berlin heading up their social media efforts they put the offer out several weeks in advance to all attendees of Blogworld that they’d try to give out as many free passes as possible to people who might want to see the show. How could I pass up an offer like that?

I had a great time at the show. The scale of the massive moving stage was beyond impressive. We went to a 9:30 pm show which translated to 12:30 am for me, so the middle of the show when it gets rather mellow and romantic almost lost me. I hate to admit that my head bobbed a couple of times.

But, the battle scenes and the wire work easily made up for the slow middle. I actually felt like the end came on a little too quick as I was getting into it and was hoping for even more of “the war” part of the story. With no dialogue it forces you to pay attention while your jaw hangs open at the amazing things the performers are doing. Last year I bought tickets to see Love and comparing the two I have to say I liked Love better, but then again I’m a music junkie so that makes sense.

On Saturday after the conference was over I was invited to a dinner hosted by Joseph Morin and Taste MGM Grand at Shibuya. I am not a guy to pass up a free dinner and even though Japanese would not be the first choice for me personally I went in with an open mind.

They had a tasting menu for us and the staff really made sure to fully explain each and every item we were enjoying. My personal favorite was the  Lobster and Scallops in Uni Butter followed closely by the Kobe Beef Short Ribs. I asked if I could get the seafood recipe because I’d love to try making it at home. We also enjoyed some Kikuhime Junmai Daiginjo Saki which was simply amazing. The only reason I can even know how to spell that is because they gave us a business card for the restaurant with all the information printed on it. Smart move! The picture above was taken by Steve Hall capturing us in our afterglow. *laugh*

Both nights were great times with good people, which at the end of the day is really what made both of them so cool. Yes, being given tickets or food that I didn’t have to pay for is nice, but not required. I had equally good dinners, lunches and hang outs with friends that did require my dollars and they were great as well.

I hope that brands of all sizes realize that simple things like this can go a long way. Just make sure that when you encourage attendees to share their experiences that you also stress that they fully disclose the arrangements of the event. It goes a long way in all directions and is more important then ever.

My full wrap up of Blogworld Expo when I get a chance to finish wrapping my head around my thoughts.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

I’m speaking on Saturday about Building Passionate Communities. As with any time I speak, I’ve got the deck, but depending on who is in the audience I’m ready to change it to fit what they need to get out of it. Personally I think any speaker who can’t do that really doesn’t know their topic. I watched it happen recently. I’m excited about it and anyone who comes and I hope I answer their questions.

Vegas is not really my type of town. Sure, I enjoy the meals, the shows and last year I was introduced to the fun of the tables by my partner in crime Steve Coulson, but even with all that out of all the cities I’ve ever visited in the world I just can’t “get into” Las Vegas like so many others.

The diversity of speakers at this event is amazing and I’m excited to see of the ones I’ve never seen before. Curious to hear what they have to say and if it is different then what everyone else is saying. Of course I’m also curious to talk to companies who may be in need of some help to figure this stuff out. While the title of the conference title may give the feel that it is mainly focused on the creation of written content I think we all know it is about much more then that.

If you are attending, I’d love to meet up and connect for sure. I’ve kept my schedule pretty open so that I can have meetings with as many people as possible. So if you want to grab a coffee, a cocktail or just a corner to chat let me know and we can go from there.

I still remember that day and the party that followed and can’t help but smile. We wrote our own ceremony. We were surrounded by the people who mattered the most in our lives. As night fell fireworks filled the sky. In the morning my Dad asked everyone if they heard Jingle Bells and everyone but us laughed.

Laura and I have a unique relationship and we know it. It is one that is built on trust, humor and intimacy. Neither of us would have it any other way.

We don’t make a big deal out of today because we’ve always celebrated when we first started dating and that was 20 years ago this past spring. That day REALLY makes us laugh and smile.

But, there is something fun about a baker’s dozen worth of married years. They’ve all been happy for sure and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend my life with.

Now and always.

This picture taken by my good friend (and great photographer) Derek Wilmot was taken during my presentation at Inbound Marketing Summit here in Boston. Episode 86 of Managing the Gray sums up my presentation so give it a listen if you are interested. Also, if curious you can see my IMS09 pictures as well.

The event was great as always. Hosting it at Gillette Stadium is one of my favorite parts about it since it is so close to my house and I love the set up of it all. Great to reconnect with so many people that I haven’t seen in a while and to meet a lot of great new ones well. Plus, how can you argue with having a location that allows you to walk across the parking lot and grab some Five Guys for lunch when the urge hits? *grin*

After this event I realized that one thing I’m going to be doing a lot of is telling people more about Campfire and what we do. This of course is exciting and fun. I was even interviewed by Nate Riggs to discuss some of our work.

I love seeing all the people and making new connections, but travel is also a drain on me. The time away from the hugs of my wife and the laughs of my kids is never an easy thing, but it is part of the life so we learn to live with it. Up next is Vegas for me an Blogworld Expo where I get to talk about building passionate communities.