I want to thank Chris and Julien for sharing their knowledge and experience with us through the book.  Thanks guys for being the real deal - not just writing about trust agent principles but for living them out by stopping by to comment and tweet me on a few of occasions.

I want to thank the 15 bloggers who joined me in the group blog project.  You all provided some fantastic insight in your posts and comments.  I learned far more from the book by blogging and discussing it with you than I would have if I had just read it on my own.  And of course, that made it way more fun too!

We’ve reached the end of the book.  However, this is not the end, but just the beginning.  It’s time to begin putting into practice the things we’ve learned.  Right now my head is full of knowledge and my heart is fully of inspiration, but I can tell you from past experience that I forget things quickly and inspiration fades fast.  If what I’ve learned is going to have any lasting impact on my life, I’ve got to commit now to taking specific action steps.

So, here are my biggest take-aways from Trust Agents and what I’m going to do with them.

1) Make it a game. I’m a numbers/goal-oriented person, so I’ve set some numerical goals for my blogging and social networking activities.

2) Help others more than you promote yourself. Prior to reading Trust Agents, I thought of blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc primarily as platforms for branding and getting my message out.  Now I view them more as tools for building relationships and helping others.  In the last month I’ve begun retweeting others’ stuff (blog articles in particular) far more than I tweet my own stuff.  It’s a win for those I follow who are getting more retweets, and it’s also a win for those who follow me because they are getting much more good content than I could ever create myself.

When it comes to this blog, in the coming weeks we’re going to start doing some new things here to help other bloggers, authors, and ministries.

3) Make regular touches. I have a terrible memory as well as tendency to fall into an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mindset.  There have been times I’ve gone weeks or even months without seeing a friend at church or on facebook and didn’t even realize it.  The idea of being intentional about having small interactions with people on a regular basis was an important learning point for me.  I’m not ready to start documenting every interaction, but I am going to make a list of people I want to be intentional with.  I’ll scan that list periodically as a way of reminding myself who I need to reach out and touch.

4) Become an agent zero. I love doing things like this group blog project, where we bring together a bunch of people with similar interests but different experiences and perspectives to learn from each other.  More specifically, this is a time of great experimentation as churches try to figure out how to best use online tools like websites, blogs, Facebook, twitter, and mobile apps to assist in the efforts of the church (evangelism, discipleship, developing community, serving).  Thousands of churches are trying all sorts of different things, but most are not aware of the successes and failures of others.  We could be learning from each other so much better than we currently are if insights from all these churches could be shared and coordinated.  So, I’m going to initiate some efforts to try to do that.  (If you’d like to be a part of this, let me know.  I certainly can’t do it alone!)

Those are my action steps.  What are yours?

[image by crayoncauldron]

Ultimately, I think whether virtual conferences go mainstream will depend on whether virtual worlds go mainstream.  Some people like Neal Locke, who sparked this conversation believe that in the next 10-20 years the entire web will go from the 2D space it is now to 3D and eventually everything online will be experienced as a 3D space.

That seem at least plausible.  After all 20 years ago nobody was on the web, and now just about every organization views a website as essential.

But in order for the web to transition from 2D to 3D, I think at least 4 things will need to happen.

1) Standards - There will need to be some standardization with 3D browsers/worlds/avatars.  Either that or Second Life will become to the 3D web what Facebook is to social networking, a proprietary platform that everyone has to submit to because everyone there.

2) A compelling case - The case still needs to be made that a 3D web is better than a 2D web.  What does a 3D version of this blog, or CNN, or my doctor’s website look like? And how is that better than the current 2D version?

3) Search - There needs to be a Google for the virtual world.  Google revolutionized the web by making it easy to find whatever we’re looking for.  I couldn’t find squat in Second Life with their search tool.

4) Better user interface - 3D worlds need to become more intuitive so people can become comfortable and competent more quickly and easily.  Improved tutorials would be helpful. A virtual training center would be ideal.

What do you think?  Have you spent time in virtual worlds like Second Life?  Is the web going to become entirely 3D within the next 20 years?  And what do you

Brogan closes out the second half of chapter 8 outlining a similar principle to the one Dana lived by and that’s “Yes, and…”  From the perspective of improv comedy, it’s not just about agreeing with people but rather adding to the story.  Brogan writes “Yes, and is important because it helps contribute to any scene in which improvisers are involved.  So when you’re on stage, it’s always more important to accept what someone else just said (that’s the Yes) and then add to what they’re contributing (that’s the and).”

This “Yes, and” mentality ensures that the Trust Agent is always open to the possibility.  Think, Dream, Build, Leverage, Connect…  How do you successfully do those things?

• Making Friends- It’s not about just getting out and making friends it’s about adding value to the relationships.  In business it’s about adding value to the customer.  Often times people will ask me what do I do that successfully works on Twitter and my response is being real, being random and adding value.  Value Breeds Value and People Like Value, if you don’t believe me just sit at a McDonald’s Drive-thru and watch 90% of the people order a Value Meal!
• Start Small- Start small, gain success, allow that success to propel you to your first victory, leverage that success and maintain the momentum.  Those with larger access get more access; those with less continue to get less.  Take the appropriate small steps and over time success will happen.
• The One Difference- Ask and answer the question: How do I want to be known or talked about?  Act accordingly!
• Be Wary Of Praise And Awards- Don’t be so focused on the number “Imagine that your web presence is a store and that those pageviews are potential customers.  Does it matter how many people walk around your store if they are not buying anything?” I think you know the answer.  Identify your goal (Personal Brand, Help Non-Profits, Selling Books…) and measure your success based upon that particular goal.

In the closing pages Trust Agents outlines several sections of bullet points that really drives home, in my opinion the key point, How To Become Trustworthy.  Below is one of those lists:

1. Write a content marketing blog about a passion of yours,
2. Build a small, powerful network. (Sidebar- Read Seth Godin’s Tribes)
3. Become a brand name specialty.
4. Master leverage and use it for good.
5. Sell by generating human trust.
6. Make an army to power your change.

These types of strategies will always come with naysayers; however that’s with anything that is new or successful.   The bottom line is that in the online and offline world “Attention is and will continue to be our scarcest resource.”

I’ll close with this brief story.  A couple of months ago I sent out a tweet that read “I’m looking on craigslist for an i-Phone.” I had 20 or more responses from people asking how much I wanted to pay and if I wanted to buy theirs.  I finally connected with a lady from Wisconsin who sold me two new i-Phones for half the price of everyone else.  She had mailed the i-Phone’s to me before I had sent her the money.   Her words to me were “I have been following you online for awhile and I Trust You!”

A Trust Agent starts from “Yes, and…” build trust and creates a following that says “I Trust You!”

Share your thoughts/experiences with any of the above thoughts on building, leveraging and creating trust.  Who do you know that does this well?

Scott Williams is… Husband, Father, Leader, Thinker, LifeChurch.tv Campus Pastor, Speaker, Diversity… Al Gore invented the internet and I invented the #FistBump on Twitter! He blogs at BigIsTheNewSmall.com

One thing I’m always grateful for is the fantastic spread of food on the Thanksgiving dinner table.

So, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?

That question is way outside of comfort zone because outside of pancakes and eggs and occasionally throwing something on the grill, I don’t cook.  If I had to submit my own recipe it would probably be for… cranberry sauce.  1) Buy a can of cranberry sauce, 2) open it, 3) put it in a serving dish.

Since that’s pretty lame, I got my wife, Jennifer’s recipe for…

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

3 cans (15oz ea) sweet potatoes, drained
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
3 cups mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat sweet potatoes, butter, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a medium bowl with electric mixer on mediumspeed until well blended.

Spoon into lightly greased 1 1/2 qt casserole dish; top with marshmallows.

Bake 15-20 minutes

Makes 10 servings 1/2 cup each

How about you?  Got a special family recipe you’d like to share?

[image by paul-w-locke]

Too true. Too true. He states later on the page that :

“The Internet has leveled the distribution field for media, merchandise, communication, location, and many other areas. It’s at once scary and idea, ideal because this is where trust agents excel.”

Why do they excel? They excel because they have spent the time to build up the trust that is needed in the age to come. In this 21st century, we live in a time where our attention spans are small and literally everything around us compels us to “pay attention!” Our viewfinders, it seems, are in hyper drive.

I find adding a personal example from my own life to be helpful when illustrating an abstract concept like “trust.”  There is a local car mechanic in the town where I live. They consistently have higher prices than most all of the other dealerships and car repair chains in town. My quotes generally run 10-15% higher when I go to see them as compared to everywhere else.

Yet I continue to go there. Every time. Why?

In a word, I trust them.

The owner’s office is five feet from the main entrance and he works on knowing his customers by name. He sends me coupons every month a birthday card on my birthday every year. Sure, I pay more, but my trust in him is worth a few extra dollars. Other dealerships in the area send me coupons, but I don’t use them. Why? Because I don’t know them.

Brogan illustrates this on page 243 with some “frames” that he suggest may be worth adopting. They are:

• How can I connect with other people? Kevin (local repair shop owner) uses the time that people spend in his waiting room to connect with other people. He’ll shake their hand, ask about their kids or grab them a cup of coffee. Because of that, his business now has a face. His own. People are more apt to connect with you or your organization when there’s a face.
• Where’s the leverage point? Kevin’s no dummy. He’s a good guy, but he’s also got to put food on his table. Brogan encourages us to think strategically, asking the question “what does this move get me?” Too often, we see personal benefit as dishonest. It’s not. It’s only dishonest if we sacrifice our integrity to get it.

There are other “frames” listed, all worth checking out. Read them and see how you can apply them to your specific context.

Bottom line: The first half of the concluding chapter of Trust Agents reminds us that to be entrepreneurial is to be human first. We’ve all seen (and been turned off by) the Twitter connections, blog posts and face-to-face conversations where the other person has nothing but their own interests in mind. Brogan’s advice? Don’t be that guy!

How have you done this well? Not so well? How have you kept your “humanness” while maintaining a desire to succeed and excel? What are other places doing this well? Other people? Why has what they have done “worked”?

Justin Wise enjoys coffee, collared shirts, being married to Kerry and a father to Finnegan. He blogs daily at BeDeviant.com.

The article explains many of the benefits to pastors using social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Twitter.  Those benefits include:

1. Helps the pastor listen - So he knows more about what’s going on the lives of the people of his church.
2. Humanizes the pastor - “it makes [him] seem like a regular person rather than a person who’s super-holy” (Did I really say “super-holy?” LOL)
3. Helps church members feel more connected.
4. In particular helps students who go away to college to stay connected to the pastor and church.
5. Enables the pastor to quickly get a message out to many people in the congregation.
6. The pastor can initiate spiritual conversations among members during the week.
7. Helps the pastor connect with other pastors to encourage & pray for one another.
8. A pastor can counsel people immediately online.

Any other benefits you can think of?  I’d say the article makes a pretty compelling case for pastors to use social networking tools.  What do you think?

[image by dominicspics]

Because of the information access and the ease of further distribution, a group of people on the Web is more powerful than a group of equal size anywhere else. The significant difference being that we now all have access as well as distribution which was, in the past, a more significant hurdle.

This ease of spreading information must be leveraged, but is not without flaws…

Misinformation can spread just as efficiently creating very real consequences as in the incorrect report in ’08 of Steve Jobs’ heart attack which knocked Apple stock by almost $10 a share.

Quite naturally, this power of online groups and ease of information distribution makes the Web, social media, and social recommendation a force to be reckoned with in building influence.

After decades of industry and marketers creating “bigger and better” we find that cultural tastes are shifting to appreciating products that can be more personalized, more “me.” With this trend is the shift to seeking more personalized interactions for marketing and influence which can include social media. Brogan and Smith make a very good point when they challenge us to realize that mechanizing your online presence can in fact cause your message to take on the very tone you are trying to avoid by using social media. You will present your message with a very different voice in a truly personal note versus a newsletter or larger scale email.

The key to building an army is in capturing the attention and influence of people passionate about your cause.

If you do choose to scale things to keep in mind:

• simple gestures matter
• participate in others’ sites and make it about them
• give to your community and help the people involved feel part of the core experience.

Building an army on the Web is not as much a give and take process. If your emphasis is on giving you will go farther in building your army. Cast your vision but in a way that is personal, compelling and gives value:

• write blog posts that equip others with the concepts you are trying to spread
• share liberally in online spaces
• contribute to shared collaborative environments
• discuss and extend ideas on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• write and distribute free e-books that equip others with your idea

While this emphasis on giving may seem counter-intuitive to good business sense, the value is not found in the idea only, but in how each individual and/or circumstance makes use of the idea.

With this in mind, what can you do to increase the level of what you “give” in the online groups in which you participate? How can you create spaces that share your passion, challenge and goal but that do this in a way that consistently adds value to others in the group?

[image by MarcelGermain]

Deana Kistner is discovering the joys of organizing artists and chasing toddlers. She blogs at The Organized Artist.

While at Cultivate, Neal Locke saw one of my tweets from the conference and emailed me about the growing trend in virtual conferences.  Take a look at this this video showing a virtual conference…

Pretty wild huh? Could you see yourself participating in a virtual conference like this?

(You can read more on the Virtualis Convention and Learning Center here)

Right now I think virtual conferences are a ways from becoming mainstream because virtual worlds are still a ways away from becoming mainstream.  So, while virtual conferences may reduce the barriers of time and money they introduce new barriers of competency and comfort with the virtual world.

But the number of people engaged in virtual worlds like Second Life continues to grow.

Twenty years ago it would have been crazy to think you could get 10,000 people to sign up for an Internet-only, live streamed Christian leadership conference, but now that most Americans have high speed Internet access and view video online on a daily basis, the Leadership Network was able to pull that off with The Nines conference.

Could it be that in 20 years (or less), the Internet will no longer be primarily a 2 dimensional experience viewing flat text, images, and media, but a 3 dimensional experience?

In addition to joining a group, creating one (and filling it with the smartest people you know) is the true path to influence online.

In chapter 7 of Trust Agents, Chris Brogan and Julien Smith talk about the power of creating groups and leading them to accomplish big things.

The web makes it possible for people with a common interest to join together in groups (or Tribes as Seth Godin calls them).  We’re no longer limited by geography, time, or logistics.  Like-minded people anywhere in the world can come together around a blog, a forum, a Facebook page or any number of other social networking tools.

The power of groups is immense…

The power of groups comes from what Brogan and Smith refer to as “asynchronous aggregation.”  “Instead of asking one person to make all the effort, we can ask 100 people for a fraction and get even greater results.”  A great example of this is Wikipedia, which was developed and is maintained by a huge volunteer army and has totally blown away expensive, old-school print encyclopedias.

Another great example of power of groups happened just this week at the Stuff Christians Like blog.  On Monday Jon Acuff kicked off an effort to build a kindergarten in Vietnam by asking his readers, which number in the thousands, to donate to the cause.  Within 18 hours, the entire $30,000 goal had been reached.

How was this possible?

Well first, let’s not discount God’s hand in this.  But just looking at the human factors, this was possible because of several important things Jon did.

1. He built up a lot of trust among his readers by being honest and transparent in his writing.
2. He built up a large number of readers by writing consistently and doing it well.
3. He asked people to do something he knew would resonate with his readers, something he knew they would want to do.
4. He took a big risk – he asked.  Despite all the other stuff, this could have totally bombed.  If a month later he had only raised $500 towards the $30,000 goal it would have been somewhat embarrassing.  But Jon took a chance and used his influence to do something really, really good.

I’ll leave you with thes question.

What is God calling you to do that you can’t do alone?  Is it time to take the trust and influence you’ve built with people, form a group, and lead the group to accomplish something bigger than yourself?

[image by toucanradio]

This week: What’s your favorite thanksgiving memory?

For me it would have to be Thanksgiving 2000.  Ever since we got married, my wife, Jennifer, and I have been doing 2 Thanksgivings each year – lunch with her family and dinner with my family.  (Yes, that’s a lot of turkey and pie for one day. The sacrifices we make for family. )  At both meals, we waited until the entire family was gathered around for the Thanksgiving prayer, and during the prayer we surprised everyone by thanking God for the new baby we were expecting, our first.

How about you?  What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory?

[image by merci]