The Antidote to Technology
Posted on April, 29, 2012 by Kerry Rego -I have discovered the antidote to technology. Don’t get me wrong, I love tech. I love the buttons, design, functionality, the possibilities, and the experience of a great user interface design. I don’t love what it’s doing to us. Computers, communication, and social media are such an ingrained part of our lives now, it’s no longer about how to use them but about how not to let them rule our lives.
I spoke at the Northbay Biz Magazine’s BIZNOW event April 19, 2012 and I was given a very specific request. I was asked to talk about how computers and social media are changing us and how to cope. Normally, I’m asked to speak on social media in general or about an individual tool such as Facebook or LinkedIn. This presentation had an Ignite style delivery and was a welcome deviation from my every day speech. To cap off its dramatic flair, it was delivered in an air hangar beside a fleet of jets.
What did I talk about? We have added work loads, increased stress levels, amped up demands on our physical and mental health, and invasive wireless wavelengths. How do you counterbalance all of that? I won’t simply give you the answer but show you how I arrived at it.
I am a California Community Colleges trainer for the Interactive Internet and Mobile Applications for Business (iima4biz) initiative and was brought down to Los Angeles to run a pilot of the course material in May of 2011. Let me set the scene for you. I was seated halfway down a long table in a conference room with 8 small business owners. There was one prospective trainer behind me watching my materials over my shoulder. The grant coordinator and the curriculum writer were witnessing the interaction from the far end of the table. I had my laptop, an iPad with instructor’s notes, a paper workbook so I could see the attendees’ materials, my phone for texts of guiding direction from my coordinators and as a session timer, an overhead projector, audio equipment and a video camera. I delivered 6 hours of curriculum, demonstrated websites, moderated conversation, and managed all of the people and technology like a social media dj. Then I did it again on Day 2.
After flying home, my family and I went to a property my husband manages near the Russian River that has little or no cell phone reception. It was a bright and sunny Mother’s Day and I ended up in the garden weeding. Now I’m not a gardener and I’ve never really had a desire to get my hands dirty. As a kid, weeding was practically a form of punishment. But when my husband asked me and my five year old if we wanted to help so we could get out of there faster, I agreed. I started to pull plants out of the ground, warmed by the sun, I was spending time with my little girl, and putting my hands in the dirt, I realized something. I was having a wonderful day. I had just spent two straight days with electromagnetic and wireless waves beaming through my body and the lack of cell reception plus sun, earth and family, I was in heaven. I felt healthy, happy, and alive. After weeding the whole garden, my daughter and I walked down to the river’s edge and I sat peacefully while she splashed in the water. It was the most profound and simple Mother’s Day I have ever had.
I didn’t put it all together then. As the year has progressed, I started to pick up signs and pieces of the puzzle. It wasn’t until I spoke at BIZNOW that I had been asked to verbalize it. The antidote to technology is Nature. Not just dirt and trees but anything natural. From silence and meditation, working all of your muscles in exercise, interacting with humans and animals, not just being in a natural environment but experiencing it with your physical body, as well as self preparation and enjoyment of whole foods. We are biological beings and we are experiencing organic elements less and less in our daily lives.
We are stressed out. We are tired. We are sick. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Take a walk. Play more. Eat fresh food. Dig in the dirt. Watch or swim in natural water. Listen carefully to your body and the world around you. The solution has no batteries. The power source is the sun.
Go play.
Technology to Take Your Breath Away
Posted on January, 04, 2012 by Kerry Rego -It’s cliche to say that something gives you goosebumps. But once in awhile, I see something that really does make the hairs on my whole body stand up and this is one of those videos. It features the Kinect from Microsoft. It’s a video game system that takes a 3D rendering of physical space and you interact with the game via your body. No wand or controllers. I believe that this is the best thing Microsoft has come out with since Windows.
This video shows that this isn’t just a video game. The possibilities for this tool are breathtaking. From music to science, art to medicine, we are only bound by our own thoughts. We have no limitations.
UUCSR Writer’s Forum Presentation
Posted on October, 09, 2011 by Kerry Rego -“How digital platforms are affecting the writer and the publishing process”
I discussed the variety of ways that your writing can be released to the reading public, including the explosion of self publishing options, how the differing cultures of internet niches effects writing styles and skills as well as crowdsourcing your efforts. Georgette G. deBlois asked me to speak at the UUCSR Writer’s Forum “From Chaucer to Tweets” 10/8/11 and I was honored. Below are my notes for the audience that wanted more information or those that may have missed it.
Ways You Can Release Your Writing to the Public:
Your own site
Own your own name, your pen name, any brand name you see fit and they can all point back to your website. Prices range from $3 a year to $11 a year for one domain. Add in ICANN fees and taxes and it’ll cost you about $75 for one domain for 5 years. Why 5 years? Google likes websites that the domains are owned for 3-5+ years because it shows you are in the for the long haul. You will be rewarded with a higher PageRank and better SEO.
You will have many options for the kind of site you can have. The most important things to consider are that you can easily publish and have the ability to sell your work. Ecommerce will allow you to make money off your own writing whether you are signed or not. Your website is your home, you control it, and that’s where you want to drive your traffic.
e-Books
It’s confusing how many types there are so here’s a breakdown of e-book types and formats for your consideration. There is no industry standard which is why there are so many formats. You can have your e-book available in multiple formats but it is wise to pay attention to quality control because your work will shift from version to version. When migrating to digital, here are six key questions to ask.
Many writers believe that e-books are for those that can’t get signed, that they aren’t real publishing, or that they simply aren’t for them. If this is your thinking, take a look at this information from the Association of American Publishers from June 2011. In the last 12 months, adult paperback sales have dropped 63.8% at a loss of $85m, hardcover sales down 25.4% while ebooks, via Kindle, iPad and Nook +167% for the month, gaining $50m. Is that enough to convince you that e-books are a valid form of publishing?
Many believe that if you use e-books or self publish, you won’t get signed. If you are able to prove you are a sure thing with dependable sales, the odds of you being signed actually go up as traditional publishers don’t have the budget to bet on unproven talent. You can leverage this information to get a better contract rate as well.
I mentioned in my presentation that in my field of technology, e-books and pdfs are really the best way for me to get up-to-date information. When I get a bound tech book (some call it a dead tree edition), the first thing I look at is the copyright date. If it’s before 2010, it’s ancient and the information is most likely no longer useful. This isn’t a judgement, it’s a fact that the second a book is printed on technology, it’s out of date. That’s how quickly my industry changes (like you weren’t aware). Every industry is different but I wanted you to be know how important this type of publication is in my work and possibly others.
Distribution of e-books is wide and varied from iTunes with the iBook application, simple pdfs that can be sent via email or posted to websites and forums, Amazon has the Kindle store, Scribd, and many more options.
Print on Demand
The one thing everyone can agree on here is that there is little everyone can agree on. Making sure your work is “future proofed” is important because of the constant developments in technology. Again, quality control is very important as your work moves from digital to print.
Options for services: Lulu, Completely Novel, Blurb, Wordclay, Createspace. Createspace is a great option because it is owned by Amazon. You upload your digital version to the Kindle Store and can print it at Createspace, fairly seamless.
- Start your own publishing house. Pros, lots of freedom. Cons, takes lots of your time and quite a bit of up front investment.
- Self publish using online tools. Pros, takes little upfront cash and there’s quite a bit of flexibility. Cons, you will have to learn some new skills (I don’t think this is bad).
- Use a self publishing house. Pros, requires little time on the part of the writer. Cons, you’ll end up paying for a lot you don’t need.
- BEWARE of the vanity publisher! Those that will tell you your work is wonderful yet charge you and arm and a leg to print, market, and promote your work. You end up paying a lot for a very little return.
Social Media
The democratization of information is the best thing that has ever happened to non-profits, small businesses, oppressed societies and people. You can set up shop on any social network or online tool to share and promote your work. Look to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ning, Tumblr, WordPress, StumbleUpon, and so many more. Social media is #1 about conversation #2 about sharing.
This is the most frequent question I get, “How do I get people to read or see my work?” My answer is, if you get a brand new phone number how will you get me to call you?…….. Give me your number. I can’t intuit that information. You HAVE to tell me.
There is another type of tool at your disposal, content curation. You can share your work with the world and then curate what you’ve written. Storify is great for that. They’ve also recently added SoundCloud to their services so that now you can curate your writing and add audio, like the Director’s Cut of a movie.
The one thing you have to remember about social media is that each platform or tool is it’s own universe. These are different rooms with differing cultures. They have their own language, rules, and styles of communication. When you decide you want to try one, make sure you research what it’s all about, set up an account and observe the behavior of the natives. It’s so easy to barge in and make a fool of yourself. Go slowly. If you need help, ask me. I know a thing or two about social media.
Crowdsourcing
The last item to consider is crowdsourcing, formerly known as collaboration. You can use Crowdspring to get freelance writing projects. There is also a few sites like WeBook, Authonomy, and Inkpop that you can post your work in hopes that you will get valuable critiques and be spotted by an agent or traditional publisher.
I Sit in Silence
Posted on October, 06, 2011 by Kerry Rego -
I keep forgetting. Then I remember and it jolts me back to reality. My first reaction is to cry but I’m struggling with that. I tell myself that I’m jaded and shouldn’t be effected by the loss of a corporate figurehead. After all, I didn’t even know him.
Then why do I feel like crying every time I remember he’s gone?
I was absolutely shocked when I saw this text from my father-in-law telling me it was a sad day for Apple with no more information. I’d been in one meeting after the next all day and hadn’t checked the newswires. But I knew. I knew for the longest time Steve Jobs was living on borrowed time. Anything having to do with the pancreas is absolutely unavoidable. Add that to cancer….and you know what happens. When I was asked what I thought about him stepping down, I said, “I’m surprised he didn’t do it a long time ago. He’s not well.”
My whole world revolves around the tools he created. It’s embedded in the language I speak every day. The lessons I teach are largely based on what he gave me. I can’t help but feel like crying. It’s only because I didn’t actually meet him that they don’t flow freely. All I am able to do is lose one tear, wipe it away, and acknowledge that I am surrounded by his products that changed the world. They didn’t just change the greater world, they changed mine. My business model was disrupted after the release of the iPhone and it looks completely different today than when I went into business. I am not saying it lightly when I say Apple products changed my life.
Not many people can say that they had a major effect on the way things work. He did. And for that, for the man that I never met, I sit in silence.
**May you and your family find peace in your passing. Please know we will all miss your vision, your guidance, and your presence. You are felt everywhere.