Authenticity in the 21st century Bazaar

My friend @DrewCarpenter sent over a link to this book along with a radio interview with its author Rajni Bakshi.  Bakshi presents a VERY interesting way to think about how commerce works across the spectrum of capitalism to communism, using the concept of the Bazaar that this article asserts we have been straying from for the last 400+ years...

Authenticity and transparency are topics scattered through social media discussions, and have the potential to be force multipliers to drive the efficient production espoused in the classic Atlas Shrugged, without the selfishness of greed and fear that can follow in its wake.  This NYT book review of a recent Ayn Rand biography does a nice job of considering this balance across economic, social and political planes.  After the market crash, do we still think Gordon Gekko was right in believing "Greed is good" and market externalities are the burdens of the weak...?

The truth is that in the beginning as in the end, "we the people" are social animals.  Efficient market theory doesn't account well for what it takes us to maintain strong and honest relationships between each other - it remains difficult to "price in" the value and the cost.  If anything, social media is forcing us to recalculate and calibrate those values and costs as they increase, since a bad choice today can be communicated widely across a network and the world like a single match can scorch a forest.

There are some great entrepreneurial examples of authenticity and total transparency emerging, but I have to confess that when I heard of Unvarnished.com I hesitated, just like others are transparently confessing themselves.  While Unvarnished lets people publish anonymous reviews of co-workers or friends/enemies, there is little to no control of our personal and professional image using this tool.  Our friend @AaronStrout is proving brave by appearing in their Beta leaderboard for Marketing.  Nice leadership!

It raises a huge paradox for those of us working to relinquish the tight control we have learned to manage of every aspect of our lives.  We seek to be professional and personal "trust agents", with forms of spiritual development to enjoy the fruits of faith and "pay it forward" to others.  After all, if we can't live by and succeed from our actions and our reputation, then what do we really have?

With 500+ million Facebook members alone, social media networks are here to stay.  Crowdsourcing and UGC (user-generated content) makes us more honest, less selfish and more accountable to each other.  Ayn claim she was transparent and authentic, but it was a mean and selfish transparency that she hid from people and made excuses for.  Sorry Ayn, but as opposed to the "Mad Men" marketing of the 60's, social media is making it suck to be selfish.

But the question still stands:  will embracing Unvarnished through Facebook Connect be like opening Pandora's Box and risk corrupting our image across the real-time digital networks we have been assembling for the last 10 years?  Ultimately, can we enjoy the higher plane of efficient social, political and economic market theory that Bakshi introduces, without bleeding the human relationship capital in the process that Rand's Objectivism selfishly continues to advocate?

I don't want to live and die sad, mean, lonely and angry like Ayn Rand.  I'll pay the authenticity tax and take my chances.

Is Matt Curtin Superman?

Congrats to Matt Curtin and his successful launch of Socialsmack.com at DEMO 2010 this week.  Lots of great response, including this from Austin SXSW Interactive:  Austin social media startup Socialsmack launched today! 

What's cool about the guy is not just the consumer activist mobile platform he has built with this company, but how his character as a leader and citizen shines through things like The Superhero Foundation.

It was on display today at the CASA Superhero Run 5K at The Domain in Austin, TX this morning, with over 1,000 registered runners and hundreds more volunteers, friends and family cheering on the "heroes" - volunteers and brave kids.

We need to "Prop" the guys that are good stewards and leaders.  I hope you get a chance to meet and know him.

CASA Wants Superheroes for Race

I hope you are here because you care about CASA and the Superhero Run on Sunday, Sep 19th at 8am at the Domain in Austin, TX.  But if you are just to laugh at me in a Superhero costume, then that works too.  ;)

Fox 7 News Austin:  CASA Wants Superheroes for Race

If you would like to Register, Donate, or help promote the event, you can do so here:
http://www.active.com/donate/casasuperherorun2010/MPiening

Thanks to all of you, from the kids, for your support!

Social Media Revolution vs. Bill Belichick

Nice job by Erik on social media's effect on, well, everything.  If you haven't seen this before.

Makes me laugh when I think of Marvin Lewis and Bill Belichick quotes yesterday about social media, especially:  

Asked by media in New England whether he follows Ochocinco's tweets, Belichick smiled and said, "I don't do Twitter or MyFace or any of that stuff."

Old school coach that prefers to stay in the confines of his past, instead of the Moneyballers of the 21st century.

The stats are changing before our eyes every day, which is why Erik and team updated the video.  Still, his message is really more interesting as a tool to drive understanding and change with those around us.  Hold on!

Facebook Users Like Brands for "stuff"...

Facebook Users Like Brands for Discounts, Social Badging : MarketingProfs


This report makes some great points about how limited today's "Like" function is in Facebook.  It's a limited, crass, "poor man's" way to comment on Brands and experiences, though it serves well to do a virtual "back slap" on your buddies funny or agreeable comment when he posts something you "Like".

There is no doubt that in a consumer-driven culture, part of our persona is brand affiliation.  It's simply honest to affiliate ourselves with preferred brands, and a great way to confer with them.  We are what we do, what we eat, what we Like.  As Chris Brogan says in his book "Trust Agents", be transparent!

Also, as a former Brand Manager, nothing is more important than understanding what customers think and prefer.  That's how we can make better decisions on behalf of our customers.  Frankly, it's worth paying for.

This small survey scope is clearly missing the broader dataset possible through social media.  It's a gap emerging companies are striving to provide in complementary ways.

Two specific companies in Austin, TX are very focused on helping consumers advocate and provide feedback to brands in ways that leverage today's social media technologies, which is encouraging.

Socialsmack.com does this through Props and Drops, using a social gaming metaphor - kind of a "Yelp meets MyTown", focused on Brands instead of real estate/businesses.  It's free to consumers, to affiliate with Brands as well as peers and their Brands.  I understand it will be featured at Demo 2010 this year.

Of course, the leader in the space is Bazaarvoice.com.  It is the engine that helps almost every Brand leader you can think of help us (as consumers) indicate our "rating" of the product or service on the sites of those manufacturers and retailers.  Impressive first-mover advantage and expertise that is setting them apart, as they extend into other verticals.  Given how pervasive they are, you already use them...

Props to MarketingProfs for pushing us to think and evolve the psychology behind "Like"s.  Now let's all get the data behind our analysis so we can get better Brand experiences, and managers can make better decisions to make that happen.

Are you a Superhero? These kids are...

Friends and Family,

You may already know the soft spot I have for abused children, and the passion I feel to help and protect them.  As my good friend Matt Curtin was inspired to say:

“Every child needs a hero, but every abused child needs a Superhero.”

So please join me and REGISTER for the 2010 CASA Superhero Run on September 19th at 8am at The Domain, where you can laugh at me running in a Superhero costume, and do good in the process by raising money for children whose parents should have protected them cannot or will not do so.  These kids can’t stick up for themselves, but CASA Can.

Who is the Green Lantern?

But hey, I understand not all of you are comfortable running around in bright colors or tights.  So before you bail out and hit , here are the Top 10 reasons people said no to the Superhero 5K, that you don’t want to have to admit in public on September 20th.  J

Top Ten List:

10. I'm afraid if I go to The Domain I'll get distracted and stuck waiting in line for an iPad at the Apple store.  (it’s ok, they are closed Sunday mornings)

9.  I haven’t run a 5K in “x” months/years/ever.  (this is about the kids, so don’t sweat the timer if you are worried; get the course record  if you are fit or gifted)   

8.  I only run barefoot in the mountains on rocky paths - can't do high-end shopping districts with soft paved roads.  (c’mon, this’ll be the Neimann-Marcus of 5K’s)

7.  I only wear Superhero costumes in “private” time.  (We won’t tell, and this is socially acceptable…)

6.  I don’t have a costume yet.  (Amazon and others have lots to sell, and there’s plenty of time to buy)

5.  I have to watch 5 hours of NFL pre-game on Sunday mornings (really?  Well, use your DVR amigo)

4.  We must go to church on Sunday mornings (don’t worry, we’ll be done by 9am and God says you can have a hall pass to do good for abused kids)

3.  I love/despise the Longhorns and might be tired or hung-over after their victory/loss at Texas Tech the night before.  (celebrate victory or sweat out your misery with us)

2.  I am not in Austin and/or can’t make it there on September 19^th.  (keep reading, we have options for you…)

1.  I don’t like fun, winning things, celebrating good causes with people, seeing children smile, or feeling good.  (uhhh, I don’t know what to say…are we friends?)     

If you can't run for some reason above, please help us reach our team goal of $1,000 by pledging and contributing something between a cup of coffee ($2) and whatever touches your heart for these abused children (all amounts welcome to help us hit $1,000).  

Friends, this is a legitimate need to show kids we care about them and how they care for others in the future.  Here are some stories behind the kids and volunteers, including support from Gov. Rick Perry.

When you click the link to REGISTER for the Race, make sure you join team name: "Family Venture".  Or start your own!

Thanks for considering this fun activity and/or small financial sacrifice as part of your overall giving and service.

Stronger together,

Mark