Adventures in Technology with Explorers, Skeptics and Cowards

There have always been explorers, from Magellan, Columbus, and Amelia Earhart to modern day adventurers like Robert Young Pelton, John Goddard and Jeff Corwin. And for every explorer there is a crowd of people shouting, “You are wasting your time! You are chasing a delusion! You are following a path to destruction…” (Okay, never mind, that was what my friends and colleagues have said to me!) Skeptics abound where explorers dare to dream, and the other crowd that gathers is the cowards. Those are the ones who say they will go AFTER the path is laid, After the path has been proven safe and AFTER there is a safe number of other cowards to walk with.

Exploring new business models or learning methods is no different. It takes an explorer to go first, to try new technologies, to dare to fail…or succeed! How many times have we heard, “Twitter is dead!” “No one will ever attend a serious business meeting or class in a virtual 3D environment!” “Facebook is on its way out and it is not a business tool!”? More times that we can count. The future depends upon those who will venture out into unchartered waters. Those who embrace the unknown or unproven to try something so radically different that others whisper as they walk by, “She’s the crazy one who has students using their cell phones in class!” “He’s the one who gives his product away for free and thinks he will make money…and what’s up with a name like Google?”

Last week I spoke at an event on a technology panel and a woman approached me after and said, “Isn’t all of this just hype? I mean Facebook is for teens to play games and talk about hating their parents. Businesses shouldn’t be wasting their time with these when there is real work to be done.” After I suggested anger management classes to her, I started to explain that we can no longer do business the way we used to do, and the new world of business requires new tools and then I stopped. I realized she would not be persuaded by such a lunatic as I. She would need to wait safely on that other side of the digital CANYON for the next covered wagon to come and get her. Ironically, that same day we read that Facebook reached an important milestone for the week ending March 13, 2010 and surpassed Google in the US to become the most visited website for the week. Yep, sounds like a waste of time for sure.

What waters must you cross to reach the new world in your business? Who is telling you it can’t be done? Who is saying they won’t follow you? Remember, the future is already here, but only the explorers are bold enough to enjoy it! There are oceans of opportunities waiting…are you an explorer, skeptic or coward?

Share your thoughts on exploring new worlds in your business or industry. Where is going? What are you doing to prepare?

Twitter: @GinaSchreck
Facebook: Gina Schreck
Second Life: GinaSchreck Denver

March 25, 2010 | Filed Under Facebook, Future, Marketing, Second Life, Social Learning, Technology, Twitter, Virtual Worlds | 3 Comments

Speakers and Trainers are a CHALLENGE to Event Planners

I am attending a great conference today, The Virtual Edge, which is going on physically in Santa Clara, California and also being webcast and brought into several virtual platforms so that people can attend from all over the globe.

A planner from Disney was on a panel and he said that one of the challenges to pulling off successful virtual events is “Getting presenters or trainers up to speed with the technology. Most are not there.” This really hit me and made me sad to think that professional speakers and trainers are seen as a CHALLENGE to pulling off successful events using the latest in technology.

Experts are Chasing the Bus

As professional content deliverers, we need to be leading the way, not chasing the bus! Whether it is webinars, teleseminars, live video-streaming, or virtual world events, it is time to get out front and lead the way. Quit being one of the challenges.

If you need someone to walk you through any of this give me a Tweet- a Facebook shout out or even an old fashioned email or phone call! We hold regular MeetUps in our virtual world campus where you can practice as you learn to grow your biz–ask me for information on My VSTA (virtual speaker’s and trainer’s association)

February 22, 2010 | Filed Under Second Life, Second Life Events, Social Learning, Virtual Worlds, Webinars | Leave a Comment

Second Life Biz & Education Meet Ups-Schedule of Events for February

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

Here is a schedule of events coming up in the next few weeks! I hope to see you at one of them! To join in, simply click on this LINK. If you already have a Second Life account you will be asked if you’d like to “teleport” to the location. If you do not yet have an account set up (it takes approximately 10 min) Click the same LINK and you will be guided through the process of selecting your “starter” avatar and creating the account, after which you will be placed in the meeting location (our campus). No need to start at Linden Labs main orientation- simply come a few minutes early and we will get you ready to FLY!

IMPORTANT: We use voice at all of our meetings, which means we all have headsets on that allow you to use Voice Over Internet (VOIP–like Skype). A simple USB plug in headset is all you need. If you already have a headset, just plug it in BEFORE you start to log in. If you do not have a headset..no worries, you will be able to hear us talking and you can participate using chat. If you have any quesitons, please don’t hesitate to send me a Tweet or contact me via email Gina (at) Synapse3Di.com

January 27, 2010 | Filed Under Second Life, Second Life Events, Social Learning | Leave a Comment

What Should Organizations Start & Stop Doing with Virtual Worlds

Mike Abrams and I had a nice chat about what we felt were opportunities for organizations this year in the area of virtual worlds.

What do you think folks should start or stop doing in the virtual world environments? I’d love to know~

January 5, 2010 | Filed Under Second Life, Second Life Events, Social Learning, Virtual Worlds | 2 Comments

Today's Technology for BIG Learning Nuggets!

Extend your learning with byte-sized pieces

How do you create a learning event that has everyone engaged, excited and connecting BEFORE they even begin? How can keep the learning alive long after the classroom chairs are stacked and put away. Combining today’s tech tools like Twitter, blogs, Facebook, Wikis, videos, virtual world platforms, and more, you can extend your learning events and raise the retention on any material covered. LET US SHOW YOU HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR LEARNING EVENTS and use the tech tools your teams are already using! Connect with a Synapse 3Di Expert NOW.

October 27, 2009 | Filed Under Second Life, Social Learning, Social Media, Virtual Worlds | Leave a Comment

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