Here is the laundry list of stuff I missed…

• I have more phone numbers stored on my smartphone from my personal directory. That when I needed to make a couple of calls (unlisted numbers) during the day at work, I did not have the numbers. Getting them after hours only meant I will have to wait 24 hours.
• Using unplanned time (or stealing time) for many things.. You know those times you are stuck in traffic, the supermarket, shopping or sitting at home and don’t want to fire up the PC.
  • Emails – this is a great way to get the inbox under some control. Filling empty time with answering email. Or giving someone the answer to their question.
  • Facebook – nothing like keeping family and friends up on your doings. Or finding out what is happening with them.
  • Twitter – those random thoughts that pop into your head. Or those weird things that are happening out in the world that need to be shared. There is much that happens that is not planned.
  • LinkedIn- since I am busy looking for employment after my retirement, I had 3 days without any instant contact. I don’t plan time to sit down and review LinkedIn and the groups I follow.
• Foursquare- No checkin’s over the past 3 days. I was already ousted from one mayor-ship. Oh no, I may lose a few more… Maybe some of my “friends” may think I am stuck at the last checked in place for 3 days. Well, maybe not, no one came to rescue me…
• No way to take down or record notes on potential blog posts. Missed opportunities!
• Ran into an old friend while eating lunch on Monday. I did not have a way to just point and click – he has my contact information (and I get his). I felt pretty alone asking for a pen and paper…
• Trying to locate a restaurant that you know the name, but just not the location. Search the web – get the directions or phone number to get directions.

 It has been a rough couple of days… I missed my smartphone…

I have been a manager too long, because I can not just sit back. I have to have goals to accomplish for this time off. So, here are the list of goals that I have set for myself.

• Couple of vacations! Everyone needs a break. During this break, I want to go to places I have never been. A previous post – I mentioned it. These trips will give me an opportunity to write more, try out some new gadgets and do some reading.
• Network more. I will be missing Enterprise 2.0 this year. Always look forward to Boston in June. Really miss getting together with the folks. Will have to fill that void with other things.
• Home front list. Have to attack that list. Closet, carpet and backyard. Only 3 things,but if I get 2 done – I will be happy.
• End of July is back to school. This year, I will be able to help out more.
• Spending time with family!

There is much to do, but I have time. At least it seems that way now.

Everything that we have internally, is due in late part of her efforts and leadership. Having been so close, I completely understand how hard this effort has been. She has had to move mountains. The hurdles that this program has had to jump through have been big. Laurie has done this, with a smile and a can do attitude. I just hope that the next person can keep the torch going.

Laurie – here is my big thank-you to you personally for a job that has been difficult, but you have really done well. The direction is set. Thanks. I am also taking this opportunity to wish you well in the future.

As I sit in SFO waiting on my 5:30pm flight (there was no earlier one for me), I thought why not post something to get the juices going. I think most companies can make a case that they love competition – and wanting to be  first in almost everything they do. When a challenge is put to the employee base that I work with  - they deliver, hands down and are very proud of that fact. In the area of internal usage of Enterprise 2.0 capabilities – well, in my humble opinion we are just okay.

The conference this time around (last year in Boston – it was more about getting started) – I was able to see many large enterprises stand up and discuss their successes in Enterprise 2.0 collaboration capabilities. Some outstanding results! Some definite struggles along the way. I spent plenty of time in sessions, in hallways, at dinner, in the bar and just standing outside at the conference – picking their brains. There is one thing that I walked away with - where I work – we are not too far behind, but does have some ways to go before we can stand up and be counted with the others. 

The key take-away(s) for me from them all are:

• Great Management Support is not only necessary, but is key to success. Watching two companies senior leaders stand up and talk about their experiences and the resistance that they faced from their peers – and how they just plowed ahead… Wow, I felt jealous.
• It is not about the technology – it is about the PEOPLE. Making it part of their workflow is the only way these capabilities are going to be around for a long time. Email – we can laugh now, but back in the day – it faced the same similar start-up issues. Look at it now, well don’t – I try not too.
• Resistance is around every corner and it is not a generational resistance. Of course, the new employees coming into the workforce are used to some of the capabilities. As I walked around the conference – I saw plenty of the “other” generations using the capabilities and talking about them! For me, I was with my peeps. I was not the old fart sitting there!
• Fear – seems like someone is afraid of something. What if’s can slow down everything that we do. Those folks that have plowed ahead – have documented the times that the fears have really come to the surface. Many of them reported out that they have had very little problems. Have people posted some stuff that was offensive – none. Has stuff be leaked outside of the enterprise that should not have – nothing more than what they have found in email or papers left in the trash. In fact – the comment was – since everything is inside the firewall – well, it was safer. A quote that got me from one of the senior folks was “I can’t stop you from being stupid, but I sure can point out how stupid you are.” Who is really hurt?
• Adoption, Adoption and fostering success. Many of the companies are starting to see a need for community managers that this is their full time job to help teams with communications, collaboration and connecting to people and information. Some have tried the volunteer route only to see limited success.
• Whatever you do, don’t take no for an answer! Personally, I don’t like that one. I see it as, I will take the no for now and come back later… There are so many opportunities and wasting my time on some of them – is only going to frustrate me. I don’t want to be frustrated. I will come back to that opportunity later!

There is much more that I want to write.. But, that will be coming early next week. I wanted to get something out that I think really sets a stage for our internal struggles.