The idea is to try something new for thirty days. While the concept is pretty simple, the real challenge is finding things that you will try that may be past your comfort level.

On August 1st I will begin my own 30* Days challenges. I think of them as lost New Year’s resolutions.

Running

Inspired by my friend Web Webster, I’m going to begin to run each day using the Couch to 5k (C25K) iPhone app.

Reading (and not reading)

I’m going to hit the Mark All As A Read button in my Google Reader and not open it again until September. Instead I will only read books. For the Ebooks that I read, I will switch my iPad to Airplane Mode, so that I’m not distracted.

Eating Better

After watching an interview with filmmaker, Lee Fulkerson speaking about his film Forks Over Knives, I’m going to go vegan for 30 days. This means that I’ll likely be driving my friend, Kate O’Neill, crazy with questions. I’m hearing good things about The Engine 2 Diet book.

Finally, I’m going to stop drinking for 30 days too. No beer or wine for me. If you have money invested in Guinness, you may want to reconsider.

Running, reading and eating better for 30 days. What are you doing this August? Leave me a comment if you’re inspired to try something new for 30 days too. I’d love to hear about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc

* Yes, August has 31 days. Yes, I’ll probably go that extra day too. 

UPDATE: I blogged this experience on my Phat Dave Tumblr blog. You won’t believe the results!

Last week I spoke on a great panel about online media and careers for the Nashville American Marketing Association.

I was thrilled to share the stage with Ben Bredesen, Erick Goss, Michael McCamish and Kissy Black. Justin Davis led us with some thoughtful questions. All together it was a great night. Hat tip to Kate O’Neill for inviting me to take part in it.

Listen to Marketing Over Coffee

During the panel a popular podcast kept getting referred to, Marketing Over Coffee. I’ve been a big fan of Chris Penn and John Wall‘s show for several years now. I was happy to hear so many others are tuning in. Subscribe to the show (iTunes) for great insight into new marketing.

I also recommend taking part in their lively Marketing Over Coffee LinkedIn Group. Speaking of LinkedIn, are we connected there?

Photo by: Christopher S. Penn

Kate O’Neill and I left the panel chatting about the communication conundrum. We agreed that someone should create a calendar to aggregate all of the events, so that there is one calendar that we can all subscribe to. Using Google Calendar I created the calendar and called it Nashville Technology Calendar (yes, I’ve used the word “calendar” far too many times in this post).

I explained here that anybody who wanted to have admin access to the calendar, so they could add their events, would be granted access. No big deal, right? The thing is, not everybody agreed or were able to find a simple way to add their events.

Yesterday, I learned that Nashcocktail, an event I organize each month, was conflicting with Scott McIntosh‘s Nashville Tech Meetup Group, which I would have loved to attend, especially since Mitch Canter was leading it. I had no idea the event was taking place until John Ellis pointed it out to me.

Managing a calendar is not something I want to be responsible for

I only made the calendar to make it easier for our community to know what’s going on, so that we don’t conflict with each other. There’s nothing I want more than Nashville to be recognized across the world as the technology hub that it is. Visiting and local geeks should be able to easily find something fun to do.

I’m open to other options to create and manage a calendar. Any takers? Any advice on how we can all be on the same page for once? I’m open to your ideas.

Photo from Flickr by: Foto_di_Signorina

When I wrote How to celebrate 25,000 tweets, the plan was to try to raise $2,500 for needy classrooms using DonorsChoose.org. I wanted to do this by the time I reached 25,000 tweets. The goal wasn’t met, but together we did raise $256 UPDATE: $356!

10% goes a long way

While we only raised 10% of the goal, we did manage to help approximately 510 students receive the items needed for their art classes. Specifically, we contributed to a bass drum, picture frames, water color paints, paint brushes and a bean bag chair. This was a success!

I want to sincerely thank Kelly Noack, Matt Hollowell, Nancy VanReece, Ann Miller, Mrs. Meg Appleby, Anne Kistler, Kate O’Neill and Mary Ann Bernald. THANK YOU!

I should also thank Beth Kanter and Chris Brogan. It was back in the early days of Twitter when they introduced me to the concept of using Twitter for good.

Read Chris’ blog post about Beth’s cause, which he tweeted back in October 2007. Together we all retweeted Chris and Beth’s tweets and were able to raise $2,040 (double the amount needed) to help put Leng Sopharath, a Cambodian orphan, through college.

Have you seen any good examples of using Twitter for good?

Tonight I had some spare time, so I was able to join the Tennessean’s Eric Shuff, Knight Stivender and Michael Cass. Together they organized a blogger meetup on behalf of the Tennessean’s new blog, OnNashville.

The meet up was held at a newer TexMex restaurant in Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood called, Taco Mamacita. It was a great spot with good food, awesome staff and strong beer (they don’t have a liquor license yet, so they can only serve the high octane stuff).

I decided to use Qik on my iPhone as I walked into the restaurant. I’m glad I did, because I got to meet John Tumminello. John is a great guy from Staten Island, NY. He’s lived in Nashville for five years. John does artist consulting for his company, Music City Unsigned. He also runs a non-profit dedicated to finding and promoting socially responsible authors, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists called Harmony Republic.

It was fun to kick back with friends like Kate O’Neill, Travis Robertson (and his wife, forgot your name), Chuck Bryant, Christy Frink, Chris Wage, and Nathan Baker (to name just a few, sorry if I forgot you or didn’t get your name). In fact, along with the group, we were able to perform a mind blowing wave. Don’t believe me?

The moral of the story is a simple one. Get out.

Get off your couch, out of your homes, away from your computers, and meet ‘n mingle with like-minded awesome people – like these guys.

Please tag your photos with BCN09.

Many people asked me why I wasn’t going to Blog World Expo in Las Vegas this weekend. I would have loved to be there, but how could I possibly miss a rocking event right in my own town? Yesterday was the third BarCamp Nashville and it was bigger and better than ever.

I raise a toast to the organizers: Chuck Bryant, Scot Justice, Lucas Hendrickson, Kate O’Neill, Brad Blackman, Eric Chuff Shuff, Tom Cheredar, Andrew Duthie, Julia Corrigan, Doris Palomino, Darren Crawford, Winston Hearn, Scott Peave, Marissa Benchea, Heidi Short, Dan Cotton and Jessica Murray.

I understand that 600 people had registered for BCN09 and there were 75 registrations at the door. The Cadillac Ranch was jam packed with people in every nook and cranny, it was the perfect venue. Check out the pictures to truly get feel of the place.

It was fantastic reconnecting with old friends I hadn’t seen in ages and making so many new ones. Thanks to CentreSource and the Tennessean for the beers :).

Roderick summarized it so well on his blog post, BarCamp Nashville ’09:

The takeaway of the day: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s all about relationships. Guess what? It’s (still) all about relationships. To create and nurture relationships you have to be yourself. These manufactured, overly-polished online personas are easy to see through. It’s like the guy whose hand you’re shaking while he’s looking at the next person he’s trying to get to. FAIL! Be present. Be engaged. Be yourself. You don’t have to be charming, just be sincere.

My only regret was not seeing enough sessions, there were so many incredible ones to choose from that I couldn’t attend them all. On top of this I often got caught between sessions in conversations outside of the session rooms, that however is never a regret.

I’m so excited about what’s next for Nashville technology community. I think Marcus Whitney hit the nail on the head that we need to keep bringing more talent to this town, so that we’ll continue growing and we’ll all be better off. Chris Ennis had a great presentation where he encouraged people interested in starting something to do so. Just do it people!

Thanks again to everyone involved, you all truly rock!

The Nashville Technology Council recently announced the finalists for the 2009 “Feel the Beat” Technology Awards.  The awards recognize those individuals and companies whose success has helped grow Nashville and the surrounding areas into a hub for technology.

I’m really excited for the awards because I’ve been nominated for Social Media / Blogger of the Year. How cool is that?

What’s even cooler is that I’m sharing the nomination with two people I really admire and respect in our community, Kate O’Neill and Rex Hammock.

Those who frequent Geek Breakfast will know Kate as the always smiling online marketing ninja from her company, [meta]marketer.

Rex Hammock is a social media samurai, he’s been blogging since before it was cool (actually, before it was “blogging” too). Rex is CEO at his firm Hammock Inc.

I wish my fellow nominees the best of luck!

Photo by: Travis Hightower on Flickr
Note: The original image I used was a great one. However, it was late when I pubished the post. This morning I remembered what the acronym stood for. :oops:

Tools recommended include:

• Artist Data help artists publish information to a variety of destinations with a single point of entry. Social networks, official websites, and much more.
• Reverb Nation Adds Website Creation and Hosting for Bands
• Fanbridge provides email and mobile fan list management services for bands.
• Mad Mimi Email marketing and email newsletter software for small businesses shops, universities, non-profits, associations, performing artists and agencies.
• Emma Create, send and track customized and stylish email newsletters to your customer or clients.
• Topspin a technology platform for direct-to-fan marketing, management, and distribution.
• Master Writer one of the most remarkable software programs ever developed for the songwriter.
• Indie Band Manager the complete and affordable database management system for musicians, freelancers, agents, labels, publicists and managers alike
• 4 track iPhone app a songwriting and practice tool for singers, guitar players
• iTalk Recorder app A recording app for your iPhone or 2nd gen iPod touch (full disclosure
• Source Elements Connect enables audio connections between digital audio systems anywhere in the world, allowing direct-to-the-timeline recording with real-time
• Lefsetz addresses the issues that are at the core of the music business: downloading, copy protection, pricing and the music itself.
• Techdirt News, commentary, and discussions on important or interesting high tech news and includes newsletters.
• “Any Day Now” film a performance documentary
• Bandmetrics Understand your fans, gauge the popularity of your music and manage your band’s digital identity, as Band Metrics helps musicians and bands analyze
• Jonathon Coulton (as a great case study) Brooklyn, New York, (United States) musician and songwriter. Includes a biography, lyrics, mp3s, and discography.
• Levi Weaver Armed with little more than a guitar, a laptop and a loyal fanbase
• Rick Monroe
• YouTube
• Podcasting
• RSS
• ESessions Job Board. eBay meets Craigslist meets professional music. Post a job and reach thousands of members instantly; Choose from anyone
• Attending events and networking
• Libysn Full featured service tailored specifically for media self-publishing and podcasting. Price is based on usage, changing monthly if needed
• Ringtone Feeder New original iPhone ringtones every week. Designed to put a smile on your face and to sound great on the iPhone.
• iTunes
• WordPress plug ins, amember and wp wish list Our first release is called “WishList Member” and provides users the ability to quickly turn a WordPress blog into a fully functional membership site
• Premiumcast New Media Simplified – Total Podcast And RSS Control
• Square Space Focus on writing your weblog entries and publishing your files and pictures instead of worrying about how to design and update your website.
• Snap Monkey Build and create a web site on SnapMonkey. affordable web site design, and online marketing strategies for your business
• Bandzoogle Build an amazing band website in minutes, no web design skills needed.
• Rock N Roll Design Band Website Design and Web Site Builder Tools for Bands, Artists, and Music Businesses.
• Rackspace Dedicated Server and Managed Server Hosting Services backed by 100% Network Uptime Guarantee & Fanatical support

Paul was kind enough to do some research before hand. He brought along this document of his notes.

Have a listen to the conversation to get a better grasp of everything we covered. Note: There was an audio glitch in the middle of this recording, you’ll know it when it comes. Sorry about that.

Watch this space for the Tool Talk #3 invite soon.

Image by: geishaboy500

I can’t possibly list everything I loved about the night, but I’ll do my best (in no specific order):

• Catching up with Nashville’s own Anne Hussung and Kate O’Neill – Nashville representin’!
• Being interviewed by the amazing Wayne Sutton
• Getting my first Google profiles business card from Brandon Sheats
• Meeting the One World Connects guys and receiving their unique meridian necklace. Think Akoha meets jewelery.
• Finally meeting Scott Schablow in person
• Fun chatting with Allie Sullivan
• Seeing Sean Smith from VolumMonster again
• Chatting about old school podcasting with Adam “AB” Bloom (Julien and C.C. said hello!)
• Talking about my side product with the super cool Jeff Cohen
• Meeting Scott Lockhart and his wife (name?) from Regator. Hat tip to you guys for an awesome evening too!
• Being interviewed not once, but twice, by Courtenay Bird
• Checking out Tessa Horehled‘s kick ass necklace
• The nice girl from Regator who kept bringing me snacks :-) thanks!
• Chatting about Canada and community with Richard LeBer and Paul Rodman at the after party.
• Seeing my New Media Expo and Gnomedex comrade Mark Chernesky, I hope to see you there this year!
• Meeting and chatting with Adam Ostrow. Thanks again for an amazing evening. You Mashable peeps are awesome.
• Dreaming up a cool microphilanthropy idea with Jason Keath
  
• Thanks again for an amazing evening. You Mashable peeps are awesome.

…ok, I know I’m forgetting you. I’m so sorry if I forgot. Refresh my memory in the comments, feel free to give me a “virtual” slap up-side the head.

Thanks again to Regator and Mashable, plus all the other sponsors, for putting on an incredible night.

Don’t you just think Mashville has such a great ring to it? I’m really hoping the gang at Mashable decide to do a mixer in Music City next time.