September 10th, 2008.
08:24
One year, to the day that I started my employment with a little company called SpinVox and… Wow, what a journey it has been so far…
The view you see before you is the view that I have right now, as I type this post from the departure lounge of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 1, (looks familiar huh?). As you know some time ago I got ‘the call‘ and lo and thusly I am on my way to Finland.
But we’ll come back to that…
What I want to talk about, if you’ll indulge me for a moment, is the amazing journey that I’ve been over the past year. Personally, professionally and of course geographically.
Working backwards, I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever been so well travelled, (although quite how you can be less travelled I don’t know – heh), with my work so far taking me to such places Barcelona (beautiful) San Francisco – twice (one of my favourite places in the world and a potential base for me the future for certain), Las Vegas (ugh)… and, as we speak, Helsinki.
There of course being no rest for the wicked, straight after this trip I’m headed out to New York then onto Las Vegas once again and by the looks of things Frankfurt too before the year is out.
I used to mock my friends when they used to get the work trips abroad, accusing them of ‘going on a jolly’ and basically being a bunch of work-shy sun-seekers. But guys, if you’re reading this, I take it back. I now know… It’s relentless! Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love it – wouldn’t change it for the world in fact. But jeeez… talk about taking it out of you! This time round I’ve prepared. Both physically and mentally.
Bring. It. On. 🙂
Which dovetails nicely back into the professional part of my journey. So, as I said, one year ago I joined SpinVox. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready for whatever they had to throw at me.
Having initially secured the interview after being told by a recruitment agent that I was ‘definitely a SpinVox person’ I was taken onboard to apply some ‘Digital Native’ thinking, if you will, to an already rock solid proposition…
Six weeks later I was on a flight to San Francisco after launching Social Networks through SpinVox.
Awesome.
I’ll never forget rocking up to my first CTIA in torn jeans, flip flops and my now trademark MASSIVE white sunglasses adorned across my brow and being told almost immediately:
“Oh, you’re ‘The Web Guy’. You’ve got the look for sure.”
HA!
You’ll be pleased to know that I’ve since smartened up my act somewhat (although the Sunny Gs remain) and I’m now ‘The Social Media Guy’.
Which kind of, in a sense, further demonstrates the journey: Starting with Social Networks through SpinVox, then getting Big Talk (the SpinVox Blog) off the ground, working on and around the digital propositions…
All of which meant that in February of this year I was part of the team that flew out to Barcelona to represent the big SV at Mobile World Congress (MWC – previously known as 3GSM).
This is when my entire world changed.
Suddenly, almost overnight, there was this paradigm shift in how I saw the industry around me… and it was changing. Mobile is my first love and always will be, but in Barcelona the power of Social Media and what it actually means really hit home.
Walking the floor at MWC, finally meeting some of the big names in blogging face to face… Shall I list them?
…
…
Nah. If you’re reading this and I shook your hand in Barcelona, then I’m talking about You 🙂
I was saying; Meeting you guys and gals face to face made me understand the enormous sense of community that lives and breathes in this new world of ours… and the enormity doesn’t just stop there either, it also applies to the immense importance that we place on this community as well.
We, you, me, them, us… We are right here, right now. Carving out and pioneering a new digital age for our children to grow up into. What you think and say about this whole space will define how the rest of the world interacts with their digital media for the next 10-20yrs, if not more.
Social Media ‘happened’ (for me at least) this year; I’m going to be able to look back and say ‘Yep, I was there’ …well, you were there too. It’s happening Right Now.
And listen, without getting ranty, understand this – what I said up there – is paramount to any and every business today. It really is.
Arriving back from Spain after the conference finished, with the support of my boss, I got to work on a Social Media Strategy doc that, with the help from the team, would define how SV as a business and as a brand would operate in this space… and so far, it’s playing out nicely.
So yeah, we’ll see on that one shall we? 🙂
Building that thing up and playing it out through the year as we have has been an awesome experience. Learnings on the way of course – some things took a while, some things took off straight away and some things you just can’t predict..
Hence the journey I guess. But I tell you one thing, in this job I don’t think I have ever been happier.
And in fear of being a complete link-monkey, ‘not ever being happier’ leads me quite perfectly into the “Personally” part of this little trilogy.
A few of you reading this may follow me on Twitter or even chat to me on Jaiku, in which case you know that most of the time I am of quite a cheery disposition and I take pride in the fact that I truly enjoy life to the fullest. Now I’m not big on sharing personal stuff online.
Not at all.
Gotta keep something back, y’know?
But anyway – the fact of the matter is, right now, for the first time in a long time I am happy.
Truly and utterly.
And I love it.
Thanks to you guys, for all of your kind words, support and just general awesomeness over the past year.
I’m looking forward to the next one with immense relish and I’m rubbing my hands with glee…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Bring. It. On.
😀
Thanks for reading…
Oh yeah – and there was that small matter of being in Finland.
Guess it’ll have to wait until my next post, (tomorrow – promise).
😉
P.S. It’s taken me all day to get this post up, I’m now in Helsinki and a very happy Whatley indeed.
September 10th, 2008.
20:49
Brilliant, and yes, I read the whole thing through on the first run. Not really something you can stop halfway and come back to, I believe.
In any case, with my 1-year anniversary of quitting my ‘real job’ in the next few days, I’ve actually been preparing a rather similar post, ironically. So be on the lookout for that.
It’s fantastic to look back on things like this, well done, Mr. Whatley. Well done.
Great post, thanks for a peek into your life. Good luck in Finland, and I’m looking forward to sharing a pint with you in Vegas.
If you’re doing all that travelling, make sure you’re picking up the airmiles.
A top tip if you’ve got a BA card. Make sure your business address is somewhere in Germany. It means you need fewer point to go up to Silver or Gold membership. If you haven’t got a card yet – get one and claim back the miles from the last year.
Glad it’s all going so well for you 🙂
right on James!
James. Following your adventure has been inspiring! Have fun in Finland!
Fab post Whatley, which is why you’re required reading pal.
Congrats on a great year! You are very fortunate.
I can imagine it’d be tiring…but I’d love to be able to travel like you’re getting too. Such cool stories to tell.
…the only cool story I have to tell about work today (and it’s not exactly cool) is that the facilities guy (he delivers paper to print rooms, and mails off the letters, and replaces toners…and shit like that)…Anyway, he tucked his shirt into his undies (turqoise Y-fronts for the lose) instead of his pants…I’d of gotten a pic (like that time you got a pic of that bearded guy on the train), but if I had got caught taking a picture of that (cause it’d have to of been from the rear)…then you can bet your ass I’d get some weird stares and no one would trust me to do a trip to make brews again.
Keep blogg’n dude.
Google reader is the shiznyt!
Way easier to keep up on yours and Joes blog posts.
Wow. Thats a great post. This is exactly the job i always wanted ..one that involves loads of travelling to new places and interacting with different people. Well..my current job is nothing like that at the moment ..but i hope to get there someday . Have a great time in Nokialand !! 🙂
Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.
Wow, sounds like you’re living the Social Networking dream! I enjoyed reading about the connections and circumstances that took you to where you’re at.
I’m a huge social media evangelist because just since I’ve stared the scene back in January I’ve been blown away by the connections that I’ve made. Connections that there is no way I should have and people that there is no way I should be talking with. That’s the beautiful thing about today’s flat world. The game has changed and I’m loving it.
I look forward to checking out what you’re doing and staying in touch as you jet around the globe!