I know that I’ve been quiet lately, but it’s because I wasn’t ready to give out all the news. Now, I’m ready.
Following the extreme success of PodCamp Boston, and based on a fast friendship and mutual passion for video and new media, I’ve said yes to Jeff Pulver’s offer to take me on board pulvermedia to work with him on Video On The Net, Jeff’s vision of the future of video on the internet. Some of his recent blog posts give a sense of that.
The New Gig
For one, I will be working on developing community around the video and new media space, so I’ll not only be encouraged to continue doing stuff for PodCamp, it’ll be part of my job. We’ll also look to help out PodCamp via pulvermedia in some form or fashion (details later). This includes attending other events about new media and video technology, so please pass on invites. It also means looking for interesting trends and themes in the disruptive realms of Media / Internet / Communication/ and Entertainment (MICE!), so keep me in mind if you hear of something neat, or are doing it yourself.
Oh, and I’ll be working on making the next Video on the Net amazing and fascinating and interactive and thought-provoking and earth-shattering.
Coolest Thing Ever
I’ve been an employee my entire life. Technically, I guess I’m still an employee right now, but it’s hard to feel that way. I’m sitting in the room with Jeff, and with CEO Jason Chudnofsky (he used to run Comdex, and JavaOne, for a few). I ask Jason, “Who’s my team?” Jason points to Jeff. “Him.” (But truly, there are others. I got to meet a few folks who’ll help us).
So, part of this job means that I get to play with some of Jeff’s toys. I can work on Pulver.tv, can talk to the folks at Feedcollectors. I can record podcasts. It truly is a new media role.
There’ll be some travel, but not so much that I’ll get divorced. I have all kinds of stuff to work on, and doubt I’ll be in the position to moan that I’m bored or that nothing’s new. “New” will become my breakfast and lunch. “Family” is dinner.
The Road Ahead
The guys at pulvermedia were teasing me saying that they were excited I was there because I actually seemed to understand some of what Jeff was saying, and that worse, I sounded like him a few times when I said a few different things. This is good and scary all at once. Jeff has vision that far exceeds most folks’ comprehension, and that includes me. I’m just now chipping away at what I perceive to be the vision behind Video On the Net. Every time I think I’m close, I find that I’m missing a huge swath of what Jeff has in mind.
I was warned by Jason Chudnofsky that it’s a lot harder than you think to pursue your passions as a day job, especially where the theme of my efforts must be to grow and scale the businesses I interact with.
But I’ll tell you this: professionally, this has been the best year of my life, and I’ve had more interesting experiences, seen more things in a different light, and have had the drive and courage and determination to accomplish so many more of my goals (with the help of so many valuable people), that I know I’ve got what it takes to make this happen. I will work hard and play hard, and find the right people to put together to make Video on the Net and pulvermedia a success. I will build community around these projects and the other parts of the puzzle I’m let loose upon.
I will share this experience with you, and participate deeply with friends, new colleagues, and anyone who wants to read about this stuff. I’ll do video interviews and podcast as much of this as seems interesting and engaging to you. I want to share this, and grow this experience. I want you to come along. Will you?
Some Logistics
I told my Director and my VP that I’m quitting today. I will submit a formal notice Monday, and they’ll pay for my unused vacation time (which is a relief, as I’m a bit broke). Unofficially, I’m already working on Video On the Net and pulvermedia projects already.
The new office is in Beverly, MA, which is like 20 minutes away (instead of an hour). Score! HQ is in New York. Conferences will be around the world, so that will be new and interesting!
My Cell Phone Number Will Change
My current contact number is: 781.858.1501, but I’ll be giving that phone back to the old job. There will likely be a gap, unless I can get my new contacts at pulvermedia to work with me on a phone quicker than that. To that end, forget my old phone number. Use email in the short term, and I’ll publish my new number once I get it. Okay?
Whoa
Another friend of mine just did some business with Jeff Pulver and came away saying that he felt like his head was floating at points. I know what he means. It’s just amazing, to have this opportunity to help develop and shape community around the notion that Media, Internet, Communications, and Entertainment (MICE!) will be the new battle cry of the next several years, that there will be disruption, and that there will be an all out battle once everyone better understands the space, sounds like the most exciting possible position I could ever have hoped to be in.
Thanks, Jeff, and thanks Jason, and thanks to pulvermedia for bringing me on board.
**Oh, and one last thing:
Grasshopper New Media is NOT Dead
I’ve been working with my team at Grasshopper New Media, and they’re doing amazing stuff in producing their own podcasts. I’m getting a total THRILL out of seeing the shows go up on their own accord. I’m contributing segments to some of the shows still, but that’s because I love the shows. It’s so cool to see what they’re doing to make the shows their own.
I’m moving my role into more of a CEO position, and that means just looking for partnerships, sponsors, and other action for my executive producers to move upon. But at the same time, I’m developing the idea of a Director of Operations who’ll run the day-to-day. I think it’ll all work out fine, and that I’ll be able to watch GNM grow from within while I get to focus my attention on my new roles and duties at Video On the Net.
Questions?
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Thesis Theme for WordPress
Thesis is the search engine optimized WordPress theme of choice for serious online publishers. If you’re a blogger who doesn’t understand a lot of PHP, Thesis will give a ton of functionality without having to alter any code. For the advanced, Thesis has incredible customization possibilities via Thesis hooks.
With so many design options, you can use the template over and over and never have it look like the same site. The theme is robust and flexible enough not only to accommodate a site like ChrisBrogan.com, but also to enable the site to run far more efficiently than it ever has before.
- Go on a guided video tour of Thesis and see the amazing things you can do with this theme! Seriously, you’ll love it.
- Check out the Thesis demo site
- See more Thesis-based sites in the gallery showcase
sign up for the 
subscribe to the 
follow Chris on 
