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Ideas are great, outcomes are better

by tdhurst · 29 comments

We all have good ideas. Some of them are great. Others are spectacular.

But not one of them mean a damn thing if we don’t produce something from it.

I’ve been to plenty of great events this past year, from New York to Seattle and Phoenix to Los Angeles, but the number one thing they all have in common? The conversation ended just after the event did.

Remember Brent Spore’s riveting discussion from Podcamp? It inspired Brian Shaler to tell people about Eventification and then…nothing. Remember the Made In Phx conversation from Phoenix Design Week? That sounded cool, but again, nothing. (Apparently I was wrong here. It happens.) The LA conferences, 140tc and 140conf, are just as guilty. The former inspired more conferences, the latter, well, the same.

Want to make something happen? Get involved. SAYING you support a movement or idea isn’t enough, in fact, it’s usually detrimental.

Events are meant to inspire. Without action, we’re just wasting everyone’s time.

Tagged as: action, do something, ignite, podcamp

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  • Evo Terra

    I wonder.

    I, too, have seen what you describe. However, I’ve also found that my perception is wrong. Focusing on “The” conversation misses the dozens — if not hundreds — of other conversations that took place at the event and are continuing. You, me, or anyone else decrying the lack of conversation may not be involved in those conversations. It happens.

    Big change, small change… it means nothing if it’s not personally relevant to me. Selfish? You bet. But those are the true outcomes I care about. For everyone else, their mileage may vary.

  • Evo Terra

    I wonder.

    I, too, have seen what you describe. However, I’ve also found that my perception is wrong. Focusing on “The” conversation misses the dozens — if not hundreds — of other conversations that took place at the event and are continuing. You, me, or anyone else decrying the lack of conversation may not be involved in those conversations. It happens.

    Big change, small change… it means nothing if it’s not personally relevant to me. Selfish? You bet. But those are the true outcomes I care about. For everyone else, their mileage may vary.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Excellent points. I suppose I assume that if I don’t know about it,
    it’s not happening.
    Let’s hope I’m pleasantly surprised.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Excellent points. I suppose I assume that if I don’t know about it,
    it’s not happening.
    Let’s hope I’m pleasantly surprised.

  • Mark Dudlik

    You mean the ‘made in phx’ conversation that you heard of 2 days ago and had no idea what it was about, until i explained it to you?

    If you’re trying to check if I read your blog, don’t worry, I do.

    You have no clue what you’re talking about.

  • Mark Dudlik

    You mean the ‘made in phx’ conversation that you heard of 2 days ago and had no idea what it was about, until i explained it to you?

    If you’re trying to check if I read your blog, don’t worry, I do.

    You have no clue what you’re talking about.

  • Mark Dudlik

    You mean the ‘made in phx’ conversation that you hadn’t heard of until 2 days ago? That you knew nothing about until I explained it to you?

    If you’re trying to check if I still read your blog, don’t worry, I do.

    You have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • Mark Dudlik

    You mean the ‘made in phx’ conversation that you hadn’t heard of until 2 days ago? That you knew nothing about until I explained it to you?

    If you’re trying to check if I still read your blog, don’t worry, I do.

    You have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • Tyler Hurst

    No need to attack, man. It was one of a few issues discussed.

  • Tyler Hurst

    No need to attack, man. It was one of a few issues discussed.

  • jeremie lederman

    Evo, totally correct. I have LOTS of productive and useful conversations that directly effect me and people I do business with. It’s not selfish at all.

    Everything is better when individuals do their very best and let the work speak for itself.

    My difficulty is determining which ‘community’ event to attend…because i have to pause a lot of work to do so.

  • jeremie lederman

    Evo, totally correct. I have LOTS of productive and useful conversations that directly effect me and people I do business with. It’s not selfish at all.

    Everything is better when individuals do their very best and let the work speak for itself.

    My difficulty is determining which ‘community’ event to attend…because i have to pause a lot of work to do so.

  • Brian

    While, yes, I did mention Eventification during my unconference session, it was only in passing (I glossed over it very quickly and answered questions after the session). Most of the talk was about perspective and history. While it wasn’t life-changing, it seemed to be well-received. There were no intended outcomes or action items. Sometimes I get frustrated by all the lip-flapping that goes on by all these “community-building” people who seem to be pretty oblivious the community’s past and how that impacts its trajectory and seem to have nebulous definitions of what “community” even is.

    You were right about my session being primarily inspired by what happened at/to Brent’s session.

  • Brian

    While, yes, I did mention Eventification during my unconference session, it was only in passing (I glossed over it very quickly and answered questions after the session). Most of the talk was about perspective and history. While it wasn’t life-changing, it seemed to be well-received. There were no intended outcomes or action items. Sometimes I get frustrated by all the lip-flapping that goes on by all these “community-building” people who seem to be pretty oblivious the community’s past and how that impacts its trajectory and seem to have nebulous definitions of what “community” even is.

    You were right about my session being primarily inspired by what happened at/to Brent’s session.

  • jeremie lederman

    he’s not here to talk about the past.

  • jeremie lederman

    he’s not here to talk about the past.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Hmmm…perhaps the fact too many of those in the community will stop at nothing to humiliate others when they screw up is part of the reason there is so much animosity within the group.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Hmmm…perhaps the fact too many of those in the community will stop at nothing to humiliate others when they screw up is part of the reason there is so much animosity within the group.

  • Will Bradley

    Ah, but a blog is but words! It’s difficult to critique words with words. I, for one, would sincerely like to attend TdHurstCon to experience the amazing event it would surely be.

  • Will Bradley

    Ah, but a blog is but words! It’s difficult to critique words with words. I, for one, would sincerely like to attend TdHurstCon to experience the amazing event it would surely be.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Perhaps you should read Evo’s comments a little more closely. Just because you don’t know about it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Perhaps you should read Evo’s comments a little more closely. Just because you don’t know about it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Also, the history you reference is your version, with the people you hung out with. Certainly there is many, many more perspectives and events that exist that you weren’t a part of that are just as relevant.

    There is no one version, but many people seem to forget that.

  • Tyler Hurst

    Also, the history you reference is your version, with the people you hung out with. Certainly there is many, many more perspectives and events that exist that you weren’t a part of that are just as relevant.

    There is no one version, but many people seem to forget that.

  • Anonymous

    I have been following 140conf for some time. While I was unable to attend the LA conference, I am able to attend the 140conf meetups that happen closer to me. 140conf has and does spawn continuous action. Just sayin’
    http://140conf.com/

  • Anonymous

    I have been following 140conf for some time. While I was unable to attend the LA conference, I am able to attend the 140conf meetups that happen closer to me. 140conf has and does spawn continuous action. Just sayin’
    http://140conf.com/

  • Lisa D Jenkins

    I have been following 140conf since meeting Jeff Pulver at Gnomedex. I was unable to attend 140Conf in LA, but am looking forward to attending the subsequent meetups that happen closer to me. They have and are happening. http://140conf.com/

  • Lisa D Jenkins

    I have been following 140conf since meeting Jeff Pulver at Gnomedex. I was unable to attend 140Conf in LA, but am looking forward to attending the subsequent meetups that happen closer to me. They have and are happening. http://140conf.com/

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