May 22, 2009 In Online Advertising, Philosophy By Tony Winders

Finding my voice

 
Though I may be too busy writing down the next big idea or taking a photograph to enjoy certain moments in life, be they special or not, ironically recording them is my way of paying homage to living in the moment. For me, capturing images and words honors the importance of how precious every moment truly is – or for that matter the whole human experience. Beyond nostalgia, somehow writing a note here and there and snapping pictures (at special events or just day-to-day) gives my own existence more meaning. Maybe it’s just part of being a dad and/or the existential issues that come along with entering your forties.
 
I expect blogging will fulfill some of this need to play historian and serve as a creative outlet for the nonsensical. But my true intent is for my observations and opinions, needs, pains and desires to both stimulate and add value to conversations, be they professional or social, as they inspire those around me and those who read this blog. 
 
For years I have learnked (my term for lurking/learning) on some great e-mail lists from GoodTimes to OldTimers to METAL, but I’m hoping this environment will become a more comfortable and practical one in which to express myself. Whether or not this experiment proves as fruitful as I think possible, at least I will have gone on record with my views and given some permanence to my thoughts in Cyberspace.
 
Though I don’t know yet exactly what will fill in these pages, as I find my “voice” I trust it will have real meaningful and add value to my fellow tradesmen, colleagues, friends and family who wish to have a better understanding of where our worlds intersect and what possibilities that could create.  Otherwise why bother? At the very least they will have a better understanding of me, for better or worse, and I will have a [theoretically] created a more permanent home for my thoughts online. 
 
My primary intent is for this to be a space for the discussion of all things media and marketing online, and I hope it will stimulate interesting new dialogue and help me to assert an editorial voice for “Tony Winders,” where for years I have been authoring articles for others and hocking products and services that were not my own.
 
Even more, I hope it will serve as a creative space for thoughtful, critical thinking about many issues of our day. There’s plenty to wrtie just within the online advertising space where I’ve developed my expertise, but I also foresee an opportunity to create a context for addressing issues of deeper social and philosophical concern and look forward to seeing where the two shall intersect.
 
As I write this second post of my first true blog (though The Baja Buzz made good training wheels), I am reminded of my first tweet several months back when I asked if Twitter was more form or function? And while the answer may be subjective, I’m now asking the same of my foray into the blogosphere – to what end? If nothing else, the process is sure to be an exercise in critical thinking, media analysis, writing and social media interaction. We shall see. If you are reading this at all and got this far, thank you! I hope you’ll follow my posts and send feedback as I set out on this endeavor.
 

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May 20, 2009 In Blogging, Philosophy, Social Media, Uncategorized By Tony Winders

Why Blog? It’s Time.

 
Fourteen years into my interactive media career, and nine years since the rise in popularity of blogging, here I am. Embarrassing as it is to say, I have no regrets. Things happen in their due time and now I’m ready and excited to have staked claim to this corner of Cyberspace. Here I intend to share my online marketing expertise, along with a few opinions and general musings about media, marketing and life.
 
Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to meet thousands of people working in digital media, entertainment, technology and marketing, many of whose business cards now sit in shoeboxes and whose faces and names are part of a collective sea of faces and conversations from years of networking events, trade shows and parties. I’ve met hundreds more with whom I’ve transacted business and built my professional network. There are dozens who I consider respected colleagues, peers and industry friends whose guidance and feedback I rely upon regularly. And then there are a handful who I’m fortunate to consider among my dearest friends (you know who you are). My hope is to reconnect with all of my media, entertainment and technology friends of years gone by, communicate en masse with those who care to follow what I have to say and highlight the expertise of those whose views and opinions I respect, admire and would like to share with you.
 
In addition to working in the Southern California digital media community and the broader U.S. online advertising industry, I also identify with several other communities from my past, which collectively comprise my network. By Malcolm Gladwell’s terminology, and by most accounts of those who know me, I am a “Connector,” or someone Gladwell  says has an ” ability to span many different worlds as a function of something intrinsic to their personality, some combination of curiosity, self-confidence, sociability, and energy.” I enjoy this distinction and especially appreciate when I’m able to connect two people who should know one another or be doing business together.
 
Like you, my business and social network is primarily a function of the groups with whom I associate. Everyone we meet has a story and our interaction with them contributes to our own. I am passionate about people, and in the absence of being able to spend quality time with everyone I’ve met or care about, I am grateful for the ability of the Internet to empower us to keep connected. It is my hope this blog will contribute to doing that in a meaningful, interesting and scalable way and I hope you will come along on the journey with me.
 

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