Yesterday afternoon, I sat down to talk shop with digital media consultant Chris Dorr. As the business conversation wound down and talk turned to trivial bits of this and that, Chris mentioned that he has recently begun learning how to play the guitar. What he said next gave me one of those insights that sits at the intersection of a ha and but of course. Chris told me how valuable it has been for him to “be a beginner” at something. So much so that next he may teach himself how to write code. We’re all expert at something. Expertise is good. Expertise is necessary. MORE >>

Competition can be a good thing. Rather than warning us to steer clear of a new market, sector, approach or niche, competition often validates that the things we’ve set our sites on are worth pursuing (if only for the fact that someone else recognized the very same opportunity). Competition also keeps us on our toes — driving us to raise our standards in an effort to win and retain customers. For these reasons, and I’m sure at least a few others, having competition is good. Knowing your competition is good. So is being aware of what your competition is doing. And fast. MORE >>

Search Amazon for books about social media and the site offers up more than 140,000 choices. haven't read them all, but I'd wager that most focus on social from a marketer's perspective: how to use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, influencer engagement and all sorts of social goodness to reach consumers and sell them stuff. Soooo along come my friends Jay Baer and Amber Naslund, throwing their words in the ring with their new book The NOW Revolution: 7 Shifts to Make Your Business Faster, Smarter and More Social (disclosure: Jay and Amber's publisher - Wiley - provided me with a free review copy). MORE >>

I'll warn you right now, this is a rant. And like all (good?) rants, it's kinda one-sided. So feel free to disagree. Feel free to prove me wrong. that's what comments are for. :-). Too_shallow Cholesterol-and-sodium mecca TGI Friday's MORE >>

Web2_oob. This morning I happened across the above graphic in an older Center Networks post and it triggered a quick thought on a familiar theme. have often chided marketers for focusing too much on specific tools, platforms MORE >>