Making IT Happen

You may well have seen this, as when it first came out it was one of the most talked about videos in the blogosphere - but if you haven't, it's a treat. Every web developer, and anyone with an interest in Web2.0, should watch Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us.

...but the moment of their destruction can be strangely beautiful. I found this through Tom Coates award winning blog plasticbag.org. Like him, I like the hummingbirds.

I found the link to the blog mentioned in my previous post through the 2007 Bloggies Awards - this is the webbies for blogs, if you follow (if you don't, the webbies are the oscars for websites). You will find some amazing blogs.

My favourite is Post Secret, a simple and elegant idea. It won best overall blog this year. I hesitate to link to it here as it occasionally has adult themes (in context, never gratuitous), so you'll have to find it yourself. The 'posts' are funnier, more honest and more moving that anything else you'll find on the internet.

In an average year I think I probably get contact from around 500 companies trying to sell IT products and services to my company. Some do a great job, and some don't. This is the first in an occasional series highlighting some of the best and worst approaches.

Yesterday I got an e-mail from a recruitment consultant I have never met, selling his services. It included the phrases "waiting patiently in the wings for my opportunity to shine" and "I'm looking to build solid relationships, not to engage in hit-and-run-business".

Stirring stuff, but it started "I trust you are well and had a pleasant easter weekend". Ah, the joys of cut and paste.

I haven't done any entries for a while as my job has changed and I have been waiting for the dust to settle. I'm now Corporate Development Director at Telereal, responsible for growing our services business and account managing BT, who are our largest customer (accounting for more than 90%+ of our turnover).

I'm still responsible for IT on our Executive Committee, but now have in place a Head of IS. I've agreed with the team at Computer Weekly to carry on the blog, as I'm in a fairly unusual position of being able to look across IT and the rest of the business from two different viewpoints.

Already I'm...changing. I've now got my own marketing projects that have IT components to them, and so, like marketing teams the world over, I want stuff done yesterday...