I learned a lot at yesterday’s Web2Ireland conference. It’s still difficult for me socially at these events because I hate acting the mysterious and not talking about what I’m up to. Going up to potential investors and blagging with nothing to say? Urgh. Coy just doesn’t cut it. It’s a business environment and everyone wants to talk business, naturally enough. Although it was nice to meet James, Rowan, Robin, Tom and Walter briefly, and I think it was Ana I was talking to at coffee break, and first thing in the morning I said hi to someone I’d met at the Blog Awards and I’ve completely forgotten his name, sorry! I wondered where Conn, Keith and Bernie were?
What I found most useful about the day was learning the language to describe what I’m up to. Hearing the very entertaining and refreshingly political Marc Canter talk about families being the next social networks to cater to was music to my ears. I really liked Judy Gibbons‘ style and thinking, and her emphasis on the end-user experience, and venture capitalist Jeff Clavier helped me get into the mindset of those who invest, what they’re looking for, what ticks their boxes. He likes it when users become producers, which again is what my project will be about, and he, too mentioned the importance of getting users to encourage their family and friends and associates to join in, which is what I’m up to as well. He did, however, recommend that businesses should in some way appeal to one of the seven deadly sins, which stumped me. I don’t think that works for my idea. I guess I will just have to be an exception for that particular rule.
The day was really successful for me in terms of getting me to think big, or at least to consider it. It helps to look at an idea from different perspectives, although I think getting it to work in Ireland will be enough to begin with.
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I was overcome by competing priorities and that meant returning to Clonmel instead of hanging in The Helix. I have to balance work conferences against teaching duties and during the class year, teaching normally wins.
No worries, Bernie, I was all set to give my five minute speech to your students on “How I got a grant from the Dublin City Enterprise Board”. Never mind. If there’s a next time, I’ll definitely have a bit more to say than “I filled out this form”
The event was worth going to. Looking forward to hearing what you are working for in the area.
More competing priorities here I’m afraid, Dermot. I had planned to attend, but in the end I couldn’t make it. Glad to hear you found it useful.
See you next time – and good luck!.
Cheers guys! And Conn, I was all set to do a “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” with our business ideas! Maybe next time…
Some good notes are here.
Dermod,
Spoke to you briefly in passing , didn’t get a chance to talk to you again later.
Wanted to catch up and see how the mad ‘Web 2.0 take over the world’ plans are going!
Paul
Why don’t some of the readers here with shared interests plan to meet up in Conn’s neck of the woods for an hour-long chat and outdoor activity? Based on the themes running in our blogs, podcasts and comment threads, there seems to be plenty of interesting cross-flow worth considering.
Good idea Bernie – if I weren’t in the middle of the Italian countryside now I’d be well up for that.
Unfortunately, Blogger doesn’t do RSS feeds for comments on a post so my bet is that no one comes back to read these comments. I’ll be listening in to the Skypecast that James Corbett is organizing on Wednesday 10th May 2.30pm Irish time and maybe others can join in too.
Hi Dermod
As with Bernie my commitments on the self-employed consultant front took priority!
Will be in Cork on the 8th if you are going?
keith
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