The Rise of Microfame

This post won’t be long enough. It’s the start of something, but I don’t really have the time to capture the idea. Feel free to run with this, if you feel so inspired.

At a private dinner last night with Jeff Pulver, I was struck by the realization that he’d assembled quite a who’s who of people you probably don’t know especially well, but should. Were I to have a bit more time, I’d stuff this with links. Instead, perhaps you’ll indulge me and Google some of these people. There was MTV’s Kenny Miller, New York Emmys man and author Shelly Palmer, long standing Internet veteran Howard Greenstein, several CEOs from various telcoms and startups, someone from the Department of Defense, a bevy of mommy bloggers, including Katja Presnal, and of course the famous Geo Geller.

At another event, I ran into David Berlind from Techweb and Information Week. I spent some time with Ann Michael, with Charlotte from Publisher’s Weekly, and earlier in the day, I met (but have yet to have a private conversation with) Cory Doctorow. I feel like I met many important people (and if I didn’t list your name, this isn’t a phone book, but I still love you, too).

Where I’m going with this, and what’s on my mind is this: we are now afforded the opportunity to be microfamous. I met Christina Katz, also know as The Writer Mama, and the rest of the evening, people knew who she was and mentioned that we’d met earlier in the day.

We have this distribution mechanism, this platform, this potential to share ideas that matter, that brings us a further opportunity.

But fame isn’t trust, and the real goal, in my estimation, would be to develop trust, build relationships, and earn the attention of people in our circles of interest. That’s what matters.

So for anyone kind enough to call me famous, I appreciate the mindset, but I’m hoping to be trusted, respected, and to be worthy of your time. That’s my daily goal.

What about you? Many of you are microfamous too, aren’t you? Admit it. It’s not bragging. What’s it mean to you? For those of you who feel (know!) they’re not YET microfamous, does it matter? Would you rather trust and attention?

Like I said, just notes. But I need you to think about it with me. Will you help?

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