chrisbrogan.com» fastcompany

How Trust Agents Become One of Us

ceb — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:30:44 +0000

In learning how trust agents become one of us, the second of six secrets to becoming a trust agent, we came up with a few ideas on how you might get connected into the system. I wrote a post for FastCompany about it, and wanted to point you to it, should you want to know a bit more.

Today marks the “official” launch day of Trust Agents. You might want to know how you did with The Big Push. Well, I’m not allowed to tell you numbers, but I’ll say this: you BLEW THEM OUT OF THE WATER! You did. I got 5 takers for the 1/2 day offer, and we sold hundreds of books across the various systems.

I’m writing this post before knowing whether or not we hit any bestseller’s list. I’m hopeful, but I also know that it’s a crazy formula. That said, no matter the outcome, you really did come through for me and Julien, and I want to thank you.

Now, if you want MORE good content (for free) today, seeing as I wrote on post for FastCompany and not here, you could consider signing up to my “behind the scenes” private newsletter (free!) and learn some more ideas on what trust agents do there.

But in either case, here’s wishing you well today. You really proved that my last 10 years of work were worth it.

Rules of Thumb – Video Book Review

ceb — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:17:51 +0000

Rarely do I get so into a book that I have to write all over it. Rules of Thumb by Alan Webber is one of those books. I started it on the plane, and ended up getting it consumed in only a few hours. I read it again taking feverish notes (you’ll see some in the video). It’s not that the book is utterly brilliant, but rather that it makes you think about how you’re doing business. I challenge you to read Rules of Thumb without finding yourself taking notes and thinking about things.

Alan Webber is also the cofounder of FastCompany, and before that, he ran the Harvard Business Review. This makes his very good at saying what’s on his mind, and the book reads well. I’m a fan .

Lynne D Johnson from FastCompany on What Comes Next

ceb — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:40:50 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Lynne D. Johnson from FastCompany. We met last year at South by Southwest, so when I got the chance to interview her at the Pepsico Podcast Playground (a client), I jumped at the opportunity. I asked Lynne about the future of community, brands, etc, and here’s what she came up with:

What’s your take? What comes next in your mind?

Shel Israel Goes Global on TV

ceb — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:51:21 +0000

Shel Israel is launched on FastCompany.tv. I don’t want to say much more than I really love the editing and the storytelling and the quality of the production without it feeling too pro. Just watch this episode and tell me what YOU think:

Interview with Lynne D Johnson and Ronald Lewis

ceb — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:28:51 +0000

John Havens let me steal his show while at SXSW. Literally. He let me walk up, take his spot as an interviewer, and hurl questions at FastCompany’s Lynne D. Johnson and lifestreamer/entrepreneur Ronald Lewis. In this interview, which goes in lots of directions, we talk about media making, about the role of large organizations in communities, and lots more.

Thanks again to John Havens for letting me elbow him out of his own role for this interview.

FastCompany Goes SUPER Social

ceb — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:46:47 +0000

FastCompany.com has gone totally social crazy (in the very most beaming and loving of ways). Shel Israel, who snuck over there to hang out with Scoble some more, mentioned it on his blog, and I, being both a faithful Shel reader *and* a FC fiend since the 1990s when I used to stalk Heath Row, went on over to look.

Holy cats!

Stop Me if I’m Wrong

Is this the first major print publication that totally turned over their website to being something much better than a digital clone of the print edition? Because sure you can read some articles from Fast Company on the site, but this thing starts out with mymymymymymy and gets even more yum-my as you go along. Throw in a big fat profile, write a blog post, join some groups, and look around for members. It’s a social network hiding inside Fast Company’s website.

Am I wrong?

The Value in This

Should FastCompany report great success in this project of theirs, it will show publications that they don’t have to recreate their content in digital form and call it a day. The website for FastCompany is no longer a subscription lead generator. It’s a robust network for learning more about the community they’ve fostered, an opportunity to develop other value propositions, and a chance to enhance their community’s numbers and cohesive nature by way of giving them a “home.”

I’m all for it. I hope other magazines follow suit. How sick would a Wired network with all the right bells and whistles be? What other publications would make great social networks? WSJ anyone?

**UPDATE: Saturday morning blues over at FC:

Photos uploaded with Skitch