Book Review - Know me, like me, follow me by Penny Power with Thomas Power.

Written by the founder of the online business network “Ecademy” Know me, like me, follow me (KMLMFM) takes you on a journey to understand the business and personal opportunities that exist within online social networking. The focus is very much on being connected to people, having trusting relationships and being a part of a community or communities. It is not about the technology; technology is only the enabler, being connected is about people.

The book provides a wealth of personal examples of the author’s own experiences as well as a number of experiences from people she is “connected” to via Ecademy. As these examples are mainly single handed/small businesses (reflecting those connected via Ecademy) not all of the principles may apply to “big business”. Having said this I do feel the book is a really useful read/resource for small businesses and for individuals wishing to embark on their own journey with online social networking/media. There are a number of inspirational comments and quotes to highlight how business/leadership is changing with the support of online social media.

There is however, a note for big business within the book, namely that they have to be a part of social networking but many are not aware that people want engagement and conversation, not purely to be broadcast to/at.

The book highlights how it is important to connect and to be a part of Web 2.0 and be involved in these online communities for business. Your customers are connected, and you need to be engaged in the conversation.

One of the observations is that today’s “young people” will soon be customers and they have already actively embraced online communities. They understand the transparency, trust and values of what they experience utilising the technology. The question raised is how do we engage with them, when they know the philosophies & technology and use it as an integral part of their everyday life? The answer proffered is, that we need to ensure we know it is not about keeping up with the technology, it is about keeping up with the “philosophy” of transparency, trust and values.

The “philosophy” of honesty, transparency & sharing, is what the author calls “value exchange”; highlighting it is not about self promotion or selling. You should be asking what it is you can contribute, or provide access to, not what can you gain from being within a community. You need to have something to share with the community, either knowledge or connections, i.e. you should stop controlling and start sharing. These are interesting thoughts, and thereby promoting successful social networking to an almost benevolent status!

Whilst focussing on people and not technology, KMLMFM does provide an insight into some of the websites, tools, and resources that can be utilised. There are well known examples such as Twitter, RSS feeds, LinkedIn, Flickr as well as less known sources including the blogs of numerous Ecademy’s members.

This book provides a really useful insight into social networking particularly for individuals or small businesses. If focuses on people not the technology. It has lots of tips and ideas to encourage you to jump in. KMLMFM is a process, there are no shortcuts to doing social media correctly. You will have to spend some time to get involved. As the author states “it is still a muddle but you need to be in it and go with the flow”. Being engaged with social media is a journey and you have to have the right intentions, give, contribute and care, otherwise you will be found out quickly and your journey will be over.

I had already started my journey with LinkedIn, but reading this book has encouraged and helped me further and I now tweet and have started a blog – I’m trying to do my best to contribute, add value, and share. I’m not following a route map I’m just in it and going with the flow – why not join in!

Book Review - What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis.

This was originally written for publication in Pharmafield Magazine (May 2010).

This has been a really interesting read, a book in which I have annotated almost every page with notes and ideas, it has motivated me to look at our business differently. Yet WWGD? is not about Pharma, most is not even about Google, its about how our world and business is changing (pharma has and still is changing from the old blockbuster model towards delivering healthy outcomes supported by the entry of non traditional players such as insurers, IT, electronic firms and social media).

The book encourages thinking and problem solving by looking at the world differently - the way Google would do it. It encourages you to look at and understand some of the fundamental changes in the “Google age”, to ask questions, to grasp new opportunities, to rethink and reinvent. Is there a better way of doing something, and even is there someone who could do it better? It shares how Google works and approaches its business in the connected world we live in. It of course covers some of the new technologies and innovations, but much more importantly it focuses on how Google thinks and approaches business when looking for solutions.

WWGD? has two main sections. The first looks at the connected world of communication and how Google operates within this area and how it has become one of the most successful (and influential) companies in the World – The Google Rules.

The second part examines many different industries (e.g. “St Google’s Hospital”), and provides a view of what these industries could look like if they approached their business the Google way – If Google Ruled the World

The key to get the most out of the book is to have pharma in the back of your mind when reading, it really helps to consider the examples with an eye on pharma, to see what could we do differently if we thought like Google, either as individuals or organisations.

The book does not specifically cover the pharmaceutical industry, but there are plenty of examples existing with many companies beginning to utilise social media such as Twitter, Facebook & YouTube (e.g. Boehringer Ingelheim & Johnson & Johnson). There are also some interesting collaborative projects such as a pilot programme in Tanzania “SMS for Life” (Novartis, IBM & Vodafone), which utilised text to improve stock management and access of anti-malarial drugs. So Pharma is joining in! My advice to you, whatever you do in pharma, is to go and get Googley!

This book review was published in the May 2010 edition of Pharmafield Magazine

Pipex – How hard can it really be! – The End!

Well they finally did something as promised, after a number of promises, excuses, misinformation they did indeed remove the TAG to allow me to organise another provider – went with BT in the end, lets hope I don’t need to comment in my Blog about the the new provider. I will keep this one short, I have wasted enough energy on Pipex.

Pipex - how hard can it really be! Part 2!

Pipex have done it again! Useless, Useless, Useless! First I was told I had to wait for a MAC code and it would be with me within 5 days; they would post it and text it – wow that’s technology for you!

I waited seven days and nothing appeared either via the footfall of the postie, or by the slightly annoying tone I have on my mobile to inform me of incoming text – nothing, stony silence.

I called Pipex, after being on hold for sometime I actually spoke to a nice young gentleman who informed me I did not need a MAC code (By the way why is it called a “MAC Code”? I thought MAC stood for Migration Access Code, that would mean I was asking for a Migration Access Code Code!). Apparently as an “ex customer” I could not get a MAC Code, but needed the TAG removed. This would take seven to ten days, no later, I checked with the nice young man – 18th March, “yes” he said.

I was concerned at the continued poor service and asked if there was anyway to speed it up or help guarantee it would happen. Apparently not! He gave me a reference number and assured me he would put a note on “the system” to ensure it would be done.

I called Pipex yesterday, the day after the deadline they assured me it would be done, “we have moved the deadline” I was informed by an equally nice young lady.

I will not waste time here by going into the detail of the next 10 minutes of the call and the discussion with the supervisor but apparently I have to wait until the 24th March now 26 days after I first requested my line to be free of the shackles of Pipex. We shall see, we shall see. Am I confident it will be sorted and I might be able to move to another provider? No, No, No! But we shall see.

See you on the 24th, I’ll let you know.

Pipex - how hard can it really be!

What a day! How hard can it really be to sort out a MAC code transfer!

A while ago after a period of really poor service from Pipex I decided to dump them. They were apparently providing me with a "better" service via a new plan, and charging me for it, whilst I was still paying for the old one - all without informing me! Also the connection kept getting cut off, so I dumped them and finally got a small refund on the annual fee for the months left on my contract.

Today I have tried to get a MAC code from them to create a new account with a new provider and as it was a few months ago I got rid of them they seem to have forgotten me and are struggling to get the code to me, I can not believe how many numbers you have to call to find someone to help you and how long do you have to stay on hold!

I eventually got through to a polite young man who assured me it would be with me in 5 days - I'm not confident. Please, how hard does it have be to transfer an internet provider