Link: http://www.synapse3Di.com

Gina explains what Second Life is and has a warning for the meetings and events industry.  Speakers and trainers, listen up!

Link: http://www.Synapse3Di.com

I can't say that the word "perfectionism" has ever been linked to my name, except when it comes to how to load silverware in a dishwasher...I know it's weird!  Some live by the motto, "Measure twice, cut once." I on the other hand say, "Why measure? Just start cutting.  You can always go back to Home Depot tomorrow for more wood!" I'm not proud of that fact...well actually I am!  Who am I kidding? I love just jumping in and trying new things. I don't start by reading instructions or doing lots of research.  I push buttons, I download applications, I start making mistakes.  I would rather learn by doing, than to spend time reading how to begin doing.

Oh sure this has bitten me a few times, like the time I decided to surprise my husband and put together the BBQ grill before he got home but missed the entire page of directions that showed how to run the wire the opposite direction from where I thought is was supposed to go and we ended up having to undo everything I had done to start over when it didn't work.  But lately, I've become convinced that it is better to be adventurous and make mistakes than to put off doing anything because enough research has not been done. 

I had two speaker friends who after watching my "Gettin Geeky" video series, wanted to do a similar project.  It has been over a month and neither has done anything! When I checked back to see what they had done, I found that both shared the same problem--perfectionism.  One friend said she hadn't taken the time to write the script out and was nervous about doing it in one take without any editing. WHo said you can't edit?  That would take more research and skill to learn to edit or find someone who can do that for her.  The other friend was still researching cameras.  Now perhaps this wasn't really a project that was high priority for either one, but what have you been putting off because you want it to be perfect?  Are you still putting off creating your LinkedIn page or does a blog seem too daunting a task?   

When it comes to using technology, many people put off jumping in because they don't want to do it incorrectly. I beleive it takes practice to do anything well and there are somethings you just have to jump in and begin.  Using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, these are just some of the examples of applicaitons that you have to jump in and begin playing with.  There's no way to get good at these unless you are already doing.  I was on Twitter for four months before I figured out how to really use it for business.  I created an avatar in Second Life, Google's Lively and a few other virtual worlds, just to check them out and explore.  Nothing broke and I didn't have to be perfect! As a matter of fact my Second Life avatar went bald with a clump of hair growing out of the side of my head for a few days when I clicked on something that messed up the hair.  Other avatars walked by typing in, "LOL"-it was humiliating but I survived.  My avatar now attends weekely virtual therapy sessions, and is getting along just fine. 

So my advice to you is quit measuring.  Quit collecting data.  Quit putting it off one more day, and just start cutting!

Link: http://www.Synapse3Di.com

Do you feel as if you are drowning in the sea of new technology? Linked In, Jott, Twitter, Second Life, Ning, FaceBook, MySpace, YouTube, Google Docs... It can be overwhelming if you feel as if you must do it all. Before you give up and sink completely, let me throw you a life vest.

Partly as an experiment, this week I "Linked In" with 23 new people, I wrote on wall of my daughter's facebook account, sent five Jott messages to myself to remind me to submit proposals that were due (my memory isn't as good as it used to be). I also attended 3 Second Life learning events and helped someone from Sun Microsystems set up an avatar and then gave them a virtual tour to see IBM's campus, ASTD's island, and we capped off our tour with a visit to the Sistine chapel before chatting in the breakout room on Synapse 3Di campus. It was way cool.

I followed my husbands accounts at a tech conference using Twitter and set up a Ning account after reading an article about this new social networking tool in Fast Company. As a professional speaker and trainer, I don't really have the need for all of these tools, but I am enjoying exploring each and finding the business applications that fit my business.

Some tools have an immediate application like Jott (www.Jott.com) My daughter's soccer coach uses this to send a blast out to the entire team and their parents using his cell phone, and his voice message converts to text and email. I will definintely be using this to connect with the board members I serve with. I also love the Flip Video camcorder I recently purchased. I intereviewed a few folks at an event I was speaking at and then uploaded the footage immediately to YouTube to email to them. As I look around at the "hyperconnected" gen Ys that are in our workplaces, I wonder just how we are going to incorporate all of the techno-toys that we use(and I certainly don't mean to categorize myself with the Gen Ys).

We will have to make some adjustments to allow for these familiar tools or we may be in for a revolt. Those under the age of 35 are considered "digital natives." They grew up using these tech tools, and they can barely live without them for a day. Those of us over the age of 35 (okay WAY OVER the age of 35) are considered "digital immigrants" trying to immigrate into this foreign land of technology. Some of us immigrate faster than others.

I am a "Digital Immigration Officer." My role here at Synapse 3Di is to help those of us who might be venturing out, dipping our toes into the digital waters, to have a fun and safe experience. If you are a digital immigrant, find a mentor under the age of 25. Watch them, listen to how they talk, study how they stay connected with their network. Put on the life vest of adventure and jump in. Do you want a free virtual tour in Second Life? Call me and then come on in, the waters fine!