Bit of a  break in posting here. We are days away from relaunching as our new, integrated, whizz bang social web action enterprise.

Exciting times.

Only one thing to say about this really. Watch it.

A very Gen X, humorous take on the difference between myspace, facebook, secondlife, friendster and their ilk. The story of a guy looking for a real life.

Nice one.

http://current.com/items/88913552_social_networking_wars

Many thank’s to our Bea (7). Might end up using this as an avatar all over the social media world. Here’s an even better one she did of Mum/Jen/Nanny.

Here’s Gra, my partner and co-conspirator (aka Super Dad). Fortunately the nose survived the explosion.

Bea’s working on the logo for the new website/name/branding thingy now. She get’s really annoyed when she has to stop drawing and go to school. All shall be revealed…

Despite what some might think, even Africa is getting online.
(Click the image to access individual site links.)

Nick Aldridge, CEO of MissionFish helps charities raise money on eBay. He also writes inspiring, informative pieces about the potential and pitfalls of social media and web 2.0.

On the Social Enterprise Magazine website, Nick talks about why social enterprises (and by extension you could add other Third Sector organisations – charities, non-profits, community organisations and other social/eco innovators) should be thinking hard about how to handle the new paradigm emerging.

Authenticity, yet again, is seen as a priority. Something we need to explore more in practical ways. In essence, think “do what you are”, “be who you are”. A congruent, human, appropriate identity emerges.

“The fundamental idea is that the Internet is now a huge forum where people can interact with each other and generate their own content. A bundle of technologies, such as blogs, feeds and widgets (check Wikipedia!) have grown up to catalyse and spread user generated content.

“The result is that customers or donors are no longer passive recipients of marketing messages, which many now actively and vociferously challenge…

“This undoubtedly makes things more complicated for social enterprises, but also more exciting. A real-life supporter or client talking authentically about your work to a large network of friends is worth a dozen beautifully crafted press releases.”

Thanks for your perspective Nick. Thanks to all at Social Enterprise Magazine for putting together a great publication and website.

As an aside… Would be good to see some appropriate social media / interactivity come into Social Enterprise Magazine. I know this is going on in other places (eg. UnLtd World and Ammado), but there is still a chance here to engage on your specific content, even just to the degree that the Guardian, Times and client-specific publications like the RSA Journal are doing… but different. Perhaps focussing interaction between readers not between readers and editors.

Continues on the Social Enterprise Magazine website here…

Other items you might find useful:

Social Media for the Third Sector – at Shine Unconference 08

Gra Sutherland and I ran a session at the Shine Unconference for social entrepreneurs yesterday in London. What was billed as Authenticity in the Online World became Social Media/Web 2.0 for the Third Sector on Day Three, as the event unfolded and our awareness of what might be most useful came into focus.

Given it was one of the last sessions on a sunny Sunday afternoon, after nearly three days of the great shiny “happening”, we were delighted by the number, passion and knowledge of the people in the room.

Many were there to start scratching the surface of this new paradigm, this new way of making things happen in the world, others had already begun to engage more deeply and several were card carrying members of the converted and critically aware. Perhaps half were actively making part or most of their income directly through engagement with the social media space, which might explain the vested heat in the room. All were passionately involved in the debate that unfolded, whether they were talking or listening.

Questions People Asked

Initial questions asked included:

Why bother? Is it worth the 3rd sector getting into social media (back question here is about what is relevant to 3rd sector)

What is the current diversity of the internet? Who’s online.

Data on growth of social media for various groups, 3rd world, stakeholders of 3rd sector

What about reputation issues. How can we put stuff out there without losing our rights, our control of our message?

How do we build trust in each other online?

What are the sensible things to do in social media? How to start, put a toe in the water etc?

Why is there so much pressure to get onto facebook etc?

What will be left when the social media hype is over?

How can you make introductions safely online. How to replace the 20 min face to face ‘intuitive trust’?

Essence & Consensus

The key points we wanted to get across follow. Consensus was not sought, but to a large extent was experienced.

1. Web 2.0 / social media is a new paradigm emerging, not another internet fad or buzz word. It is changing the way we do things – potentially for the better. The pace of change is speeding up. New ways of collaborating, new economic models, new ways of building engagement and participation (think: fundraising, recruitment, contracts), new ways of communicating.

2. There are challenges and opportunities. It’s not utopia (yet). There are significant gains to be made, with wisdom and caution. Some often overlooked opportunities are for individual and group learning, collaboration and innovation. But it can be as simple as building dialogue tools into your website and partcipating in key online conversations that matter to you.

3. There is essential learning and initial or further exploration to be done by third sector people – leaders, communications/ fundraising people, HR and others. Case studies and other elements in a body of knowledge are already emerging to help in this (see UK Catalyst Awards for example). Professionals from a range of backgrounds are emerging to help.

4. The tools will keep changing but the key conceptual space is already starting to become clear (see We Think and CommonCraft for simple animated examples). Learning needs to focus on concepts first, tools second. This knowledge can be learnt and experienced without undue risk or brain drain, but a commitment is required to build capacity and embed the knowledge in specific contexts. There are no magic bullets or one size fits all.

5. Authenticity has never been more important.

6. Experimenting with tools like blogging, forums, flickr, facebook, YouTube, MySpace twitter, discussion lists etc is essential. You need to get your hands in there having real life experiences to get a feel for things. That doesn’t mean you have to be on facebook nor reveal all, anywhere at anytime.

7. We can now more easily be thinking and connecting with words, images, music, videos, photos, animation. It’s good to explore when and how to use a range of media to communicate. Different tools are more or less supportive of different media.

8. It can all be very confusing and time consuming! Even for seasoned specialists.

9. Small steps might be all it takes. One step at a time. As long as the path is clear.

10. Social media should work in support of, not as a substitute for, face-to-face, “real world” interaction.

We are well aware real consensus cannot be achieved in such a short time, nor was this an intended outcome of the session. To ensure your views at this point become clearer to yourself and others, participate in the ongoing debate.

Who Was There

Some of the people and organisations represented in the discussion included the very knowledgeable Dave Dawes (Foundation of Nursing Leadership), David Wilcox (Social Reporter. Much involved with building up social media around the Shine event and very active in this space. Do check out his blog and coverage of the event), Angela Walker (Neru – Brand & Marketing), Parag Shah (Art Switch), Alison Coward (social entrepreneur), David Floyd (Social Spider), Chris Prior (Franklin Waugh), Eszter Kun (social entrepreneur), Ben Matthews (Bright One Communications),

In the true spirit of the unconference and web 2.0, we collaborated with whoever turned up, rather than delivering a one-way, “we have the knowledge, sit there and eat it” presentation. Which of course can be very useful and inspiring to receive. But not empowering, nor making the most of the opportunity rare “face time” offers for deeper human interaction.

Social Media for the Third Sector Video

We see our job as offering time and cost effective training and ongoing support to help the Third Sector find out what is really worth knowing and doing within their own context.

To find out more about the approach we are offering in our next learning programme in Social Media for the Third Sector, view this short interview David Wilcox invited me to do.

At the end?

We were all intent on making sure the Third Sector (social enterprise, charities, non-profits) are not left behind in gaining this knowledge, if it can be used in meaningful ways that lead to genuine social impacts. No-one’s in it just to get “friends” in facebook or waste their time, to be sure.

How will we create these impacts? Well, we might need to dip a toe or two in the water. Maybe even plunge in at some point.

Let’s continue the conversation…

…in our social network to explore these ideas further… If your questions need expanding or clarifying, if you want answers or to help others find them, get in there. All with an interest are welcome. There are already many posts and discussions in the Ning that start to cover some of the question above.

Never joined one before? No time like now to experiment… You can watch for a while, explore when you are ready.

By Michael Leunig

Suggestion 1: Think of your blog and other social media in this way.

Suggestion 2: Always relate things back to the real world, meeting yourself and others face to face.

I rarely repost other people’s blog posts here, but this one needs sharing. David Wilcox recently came into focus when Tessy Britton invited him into our new online social network for social innovators.

David is what we call a “node”, a hub, a connector and maven. In other words, a kindred spirit. I haven’t even met him yet, back very much look forward to.

Here he writes optimistically about the new Catalyst Awards, about how change agents are using the social web and getting together. The Catalyst Awards are brought together by some great people with real form in this emergent area – like Mark Your Mark, UnLtd, NESTA and the Minister for the Third Sector.

“We’re looking for inspiring stories of people who help their community by using social technology* in new and exciting ways. Can you or someone you know show how technology is already enabling people around them to connect with each other in new ways and do good things?”

So glad there is such a large amount of energy coming into this space. Makes our job of creating and sharing a body of knowledge and positive practice a lot easier.

Spread the word about the awards, enter before 16th June 2008. and consider using them as a point of reference for developing your own best work.

A wealth of other information on David’s blog around this space. Check it out. Will definitely be adding David and Dr Dan to the blogroll on the new site.

Some tickets are still available for the Shine Unconference for social entrepreneurs this weekend in London. Having just heard I will be running a session on Sunday, seems a good idea to let people know about it.

Do come in and contribute to the discussion if you are there, take home some new insights, find a path on which to travel. Rather an expansive and wonderful topic. Many of us touch on these core issues and opportunities – or are hit over the head with them. Now here is a chance to go deeper.

Tickets are still available and start from just £20 per day. There is much to be learnt and passionate, happening people to meet.

Authenticity in the New Online World

* Who: Libby Davy
* When: 2:00pm – 3:00pm SUNDAY
* Where: Classroom

Description

How to be yourself and make your social media become a path for learning and becoming – for personal, team and enterprise expression.

To show your facebook page or not? How to be real without looking like a prat.

How to use your blog as a magnificant learning tool, that helps you find and travel your path, plus connects you with likeminded people along the way.

Truth, authenticity, integrity. Big stuff. But where would we be without it? Which one’s resonate most with you? Any more to add?

“No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one.”
- Hawthorne

“Our view of reality is like a chart of the sea – the truer it is, the less likely we will become lost.”
- Al Watts

“If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.”
- Horace Mann

“Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but usually manages to pick himself up, walk over or around it, and carry on.”
- Winston Churchill

“Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.”
- Mother Theresa

“No legacy is so rich as honesty.”
- Shakespeare

“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”
- Mark Twain

“The men who succeed best at public life are those who take the risk of standing by their own convictions.
- James A. Garfield

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”
- Socrates

“How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.”
- Edward F. Benson

“There is no wisdom save in truth.”
- Martin Luther

“What is true is invisible to the eye. It is only with the heart that one can see clearly.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
- Albert Schweitzer

“Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.”
- Everett W. Lord

“Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of tricks and duplicity than straightforward and simple integrity in another.”
- Colton

“The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.”
- Carlyle

“Just be what you are and speak from your guts and heart – it’s all a man has.”
- Hubert Humphrey

“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
- William Shakespeare in Hamlet

“How shall we learn to know ourselves? By reflection? Never; but only through action. Strive to do thy duty; then shalt thou know what is in thee.”
- Goethe

“All worthwhile men have good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions – but precious few of them ever translate those into action.”
- John Hancock Field

“Best keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you see the world.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Like an ability or a muscle, hearing your inner wisdom is strengthened by doing it.”
- Robbie Glass

From http://www.integro-inc.com/authenticity_quotes.htm

Gra and I went up to the Royal Society for the Arts recently to hear Charlie Leadbeater talk about his new book We Think. We were also keen to find out more about the RSA as they have approached me to become a Fellow.

Mum bought a copy of We Think while she was visiting… keen to get her head around the space we are in, and perfect for her ilk, among others. There are many major ommissions and doesn’t come much from deep, personal experience (Charlie doesn’t blog or facebook), but is a fine point of reference for many at this point in time. I am recommending it widely.

Highlights of the evening were…

Blogging as Gardening

Talking with Charlie and Tessy Britton afterwards about blogging. Our message that “the first audience for your blog is you” (blogging as a reflective, learning tool or private/public path on which to travel) got Charlie mentioning “zero-audience blogging” and gardening as a metaphor for why and how some people blog, ie. the cultivation of your blog is a meditative pleasure in itself, towards the cultivation (and harvesting?) of the self… plus others can stroll by and enjoy it too.

Mary Harrington (aka Seb Mary) from School of Everything has talked about this in the past and present too. Interestingly, her garden is out back and not visible to others except when invited in. Mine’s a bit like that too. Maybe I could do with a bit of improvement out front (aka let’s finish the upgrade!

What’s Happening in The RSA

Looking around the crowd afterwards, I spotted Felix Velarde from Underwired. (To be honest, I was just looking for a model to do a nice juxtaposition shot and vox pop, note: interesting facial hair and piercings). He had many positive things to say about the benefits of RSA membership, as did Tessy, who we spent an expansive evening with.

The RSA, it turns out, are making special efforts to attract new media folk, new paradigm folk to their hallowed halls. When I first got their letter, I thought it was a mass marketing effort. Turns out they are serious about engaging Fellows (erk, the feminist in me gasps) in opening up debate and moving forward a very progressive, authentic, connected vision.

There is much emphasis on education which resonates deeply Glad to see Roland Meighan and friends trying to keep them on track as outspoken agitators working from within… Ian Cunningham is also a Fellow.

They are about “removing the barriers to social progress” and state their recently revised manifesto challenges as:

• Encouraging Enterprise
• Moving Towards a Zero-Waste Society
• Developing a Capable Population
• Fostering Resilient Communities
• Advancing Global Citizenship

If we were courting each other, I would have to say the feelings are strongly reciprocal and we will be getting hitched, if for no other reason that to follow Richard Sennett’s call in The Craftsman to cultivate our skills and higher self in the company of like-minded people.

I used to think the UK was impossibly BIG. Now the multiple connections between RSA, School of Everything, Richard Birkin (Biff), Ian Cunningham, Richard Sennett, Michael Fielding, Tessy, Roland, John Grant, Andy Gibson, Seb Mary, MA in Person Centred Education, blogging, progressive education, and Everything are so rich in the potential patterns they create – it’s almost fractal in it’s beauty. Feeling very connected and safe within the spaces opening up and the paths between them. In permaculture terms, there is edge, there is diversity, the soil is rich, the system is in harmony.

Spring has sprung.