When I wanted to know where to go next in San Francisco after dinner, I asked Chris Heiser (friend of Jim Kirks from the Clip Show). I didn’t ask Google. When I’m looking for someone to help with some work, I usually ask a friend like Whitney Hoffman or someone else I know and trust. I don’t go to Monster of even Craigslist. Yes, this works exactly like the old days, when you’d ask me for a recommendation and I’d give one. Only somehow, in this world of automated empowerment, I think the value of humans has come back even stronger.
I’m not sure where I’m going with this except to say a few things. The other night, I said to Jeff, “I wish I could share my googling with my Twitter list, so they’d know what I’m trying to accomplish, and they could jump in.” That’s friendsourcing. And when I need help, I am looking more and more to a blend of humans and machines. True cyborgs.
As for FriendHelp, my new favorite podcast that I’m involved with is the Slackercast, and for this reason alone: it’s a group effort, and we all have something to do with it. It makes the load lighter.
I’m thinking of relaunching New Media School soon, but only if I get lots of “instructors.” That idea was suggested to me by David Tames, one of the most brilliant video/film guys I know. He wanted me to fill the “school” with about 30 instructors and make it a daily show. I just never had the time to execute. Maybe I can friendsource the project? Hell, that’s how I made Grasshopper work at all. It’s still being run by friends and superstars. (Speaking of which, I owe Kevin some audio, and I want to work with Becky McCray on a relaunch of the Great Big Small Business Show- in my free time.)
Does this resonate? Does the idea of friend-powered searching make more sense? Do you reach out to friends for help that otherwise you’d search for in job-placing sites? Has the web back-slid just a little into being secondary to your human-powered relationships?
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