Really? That’s all it takes?

What happened to product?

You can give me the world’s biggest warm and fuzzy hug for hours a day, making me feel like your only customer, but unless you have a product or service that improves my life in a measurable way versus the real cost of doing business with you, well, you’re wasting my time.

It isn’t just about money. Entertain me. Advise me. Inspire me. Educate me. Help me in some tangible way.

Having the right glasses on your face, the right hat on your head, the right apps on your phone, the right stickers on your laptop, and the right membership in the right social networks was a fun, yet empty, game we just finished playing. At least I hope that this year’s SXSWi gathering proved that to many of you who really get it.

Serious times need serious people with real solutions and opportunities.

Cool clothes, funky hair, and a business card declaring you’re a “Community Facilitator” is not a business model.

What have you got for me? I mean, you know, really have for me?

If you’re serious… I promise… I’ll listen.

In the late ’90s, as most remember, all you had to do is go public with an idea to market a product online and it seemed you would be a paper billionare by morning.

Selling cat food on the Internet? Brilliant! Where can I invest? Only $11 per share? Sweet!

Wait… What? Shipping costs? Delayed satisfaction? Inventory? Easily available in grocery stores? Cat owners don’t use the Internet yet?!?

And before you knew it those $11 shares were worth $.22 if you were lucky.

Sadly for most the reality of an idea and a real business model often failed to connect profitably and the Internet boom died dramatically around the turn of the 21st Century.

Assuming you know your history, fast forward a decade to this year’s gathering in Austin Texas called South by Southwest; better known as SXSW.

The next generation of Internet dreamers, many of whom were left behind or crushed during the previous gold rush, are gathering in Austin this weekend to party in the name of business development.

“See you @ SWSX” is being blasted all over Twitter and Facebook. People fear whether AT&T will be able to handle the demand on their bandwidth as everyone in Austin posts their latest location via FourSquare, Twitter, Facebook, and Gowalla. The “must attend” event of the weekend appears to be the taping of a drunken comedy podcast at one of Austin’s more popular beer and BBQ shacks.

This is 21st Century business?

I’m not so out of it that I don’t see the value in building a personal brand, shaking some hands, and putting faces together with online avatars.

I get that SXSW represents the modern spin on the 1950’s trade convention in Vegas. Party together, shake a few hands, make a few deals…

The problem, as I see it, is that too many in the space still believe that having a strong public personna at SWSX, a popular personal brand, is actually the end game.

Where are the deals?

Your tweets may make me smile. Your drunken stories from SXSW may remind me of my college days, but, seriously, how can you help me make money?

If you can’t answer that question in about 30 seconds then you’re likely in my way and just another wanna-be full of good BBQ and cheap beer.

The driver isn’t perfect? His FAIL. Car not perfect? $$$ in gross sales lost for luxury builders like Ferrari, Mercedes, and, well, others…

It came early this year NASCAR, but, bye bye for 2010. Four races in and I’ve already lost my respect for you and your teams thanks to your worthless response to the Carl Edwards issue.

This from a guy that paid list to come down for your Daytona 500 showcase including your over-priced “Fan Zone” add-on.

I hope Kyle Busch kicks your ass and you are forced to deal with a solidly unpopolar champion.

I’ll check in from time to time out of curiousity, but, seriously…. A 3 race “probation” for a driver that nearly killed another driver and dozens of fans in the stands???

At what point does law enforcement need to get involved?

Your leadership has once again proven themselves to be idiots.

P.S. Dear Kyle, USF1 needs you… Name your price! The best in the world, not the best still using 1950’s sudo-tech, need you badly.

I’ll buy the hat… Honest.