My @evernote Notes from @SMCYVR #BunkerProject Event

Literally. These are the notes I tapped into Evernote, which has become my default to record things I’d normally tweet. #dataroamingsux even on #verizon.

So, here they are:

1348 Robson St
Barclay

Canadian tourist store saw stuffed animal black bear holding a baby black bear. Said “Bear Hugs From Canada” on the feet. Eyes welled up. *sniff*

Animal hats reminded of Little Man’s dragon hat. *sniff*

#bunkerproject podcast

#smcyvr Pres works at HootSuite

Smaller group than #smcchicago but just as techie. Friendly group.

“Live to hard drive.”

“Every digression we take a drink.”

Dynamic v. Condensor mic

HubSpot doing Social media right. Putting tons of stuff out there, educating, get it hey buy the product.

iPhones, #android and Blackberry users in the room. One iPad.

Content curation is critical. Also needs personality behind it.

“If a funny person, be funny.”

“Hard to be conscious enough if yourself to be yourself.”

“Becomes a job to be yourself.”

Still don’t like “social media maven.”

#4sq discussion. Privacy of course. Tips. Check ins. Foodie bloggers. Lawsuits? Nope. Interesting.

@foodieat for take out in Van.

Pls RT gets 4x more RT. If say “RT” get less than spelling out.

Dude gets count! Leave space for others so less than 140.

Better to market when less goi
ng on. Ppl have time to browse in evening and on weekend. Know your audience.

RT in 8hr increments.

@invoker hoot CEO

“Canadians are so polite compared to Americans.”

Feeling so disconnected with no data or wifi.

More email you send, more top of mind you. Consistency over a long period of time.

Lead with value.

Suddenly really tired. Been kind of a big day. Another big day. More to come, no doubt.

Brand equity = community.

Community misleading.

Brandilist, brand evangelists.

OK. So, some notes on the walk to The Den at Barclay, too.

Emotions are messy, and more so when they’re still raw. I saw the stuffed animal black bear with “Bear Hugs” on one foot and “From Canada” on the other and nearly lost it. The animal hats didn’t help. The only reason I didn’t walk out with a bear is because I could only find two. Just didn’t sit well if I couldn’t send one to my two nephews and one niece, but I did make a mental note to wander back that way at some point to see if there are three.

The meetup was centered around what I gather to be a regular podcast, #bunkerproject. A bunch of us crammed into the “bunker” in the back of The Den, which had quite a few nice chairs and microphones. The conversation, at least for the first podcast, was dominated by a couple regulars, but it was interesting to hear them talk and discuss a HubSpot study on social media myths.

The discussion on being yourself was really interesting. We talk about it, a lot, in the States. But no one steps much beyond the line and states how it can be a challenge. That would be too much like therapy, and that’s simply not openly discussed in the States.

So I was surprised to hear an acknowledgment of how difficult it can be to be self aware, to be “conscious enough of yourself to be yourself.” That requires a fair amount of reflection and introspection that people in America marvel at but don’t necessarily do. Or if so, how exactly that self awareness came about is dressed up, packaged nicely to be sold. Now that may be cynical, but ask yourself when you last had a conversation that helped make you conscious of yourself with someone other than a close friend.

Another point was the “it becomes a job to yourself” which was also interesting. Basically, having a dual personality is bad. Being funny and entertaining online yet quiet and reserved in public creates an unsustainable…totally lost the word for it. But, in essence, being you becomes a “job” because you have to work at being the funny and entertaining person offline, too. And the point about personality fit is key. Brought back some unpleasant memories of a situation I found myself in where, less than a month in, it was clear there was a personality clash. The fit just wasn’t right. We all seemed to know it but no one said anything. I did. And I manned up and resigned. Turned out to be quite a burden lifted. I still remember feeling so free the next day. Went out and bought a fantastic office chair from Office Max that made the long hours working away quite comfortable.

I miss that chair, too. It’s back at home in the States. *sniff*

The discussion on #4sq and privacy was interesting. The whole concept of #privacy and social media up here is different. They actually point out the obvious: fear mongering in order to sell more ads.

Did a quiet fist raise on that one. Again, it’s something not discussed in the States. We all know it, on some level, but don’t say anything. Which runs completely counter to the discussion on “tooting your own horn.” Americans excel at that. Canadians, not so much. No wonder I fit in so well up here.

I liked the “lead with value” comment.

My one irritating point was that people do get robbed after checking in on #4sq or posting where they are on #fb. At least in the States. There’s the story of the guy who was out of town and discovered all his belongings posted on CraigsList. Not saying checkins and what not don’t serve a purpose, and I think they’ll start serving as alibis in some cases, but it’s still good to be conscious of what you post, and to whom.

And Klout. Ugh. Don’t get me started. Basically, until Klout replaces my credit score, it’s useless.

So I guess my big take away tonight is that I’ve found a group of like minded, friendly people. That’s key for me, on this journey. A step in the direction of defining myself through activities instead of work. That might very well be a fine line, now that I think about it, but at least there is a line.