Social Media Book Club

I was skipping out for a quick "swoop and scoop" class-A fast food run for lunch when I passed a group of people that looked slightly familiar and, perhaps, perturbed. Why? Because this wonderful group of people - my colleagues - and I started a book club of sorts to read and discuss some of the latest publications about social media and I had to miss it. Honest, I did do my homework.

We're reading Groundswell, Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies and started the week by reading the first chapter, "Why Goundswell, and Why Now?" The chapter makes some important observations that the stories we keep hearing that hit all the news is going to become the norm. You know, the ones like the Comcast guy falling asleep , or how Kryptonite bike locks can be opened with a pen...

It is happening, it will continue to happen.

Companies that are not preparing for this are missing the mark. As the book points out, customers are talking out there. And people--customers--are using technology increasingly to provide the things they need. That is as powerful as it is exciting. And it's daunting, I agree. But to the corporate executive that says they can't afford the risk, that they can't substantiate the cost for social media... I say we can't afford not to.

We're just digging in (no social media pun intended), but I think this is gonna be a good one...