Every journey begins with a single post…

by Gradon on June 9, 2008 · 26 comments

in blogging,change,social media

2523843737 4a3499dee2 Every journey begins with a single post...

After blogging for years at DesignBoston, I figured it was time to get the rest of my work and life up onto the Web… and with that, I’m excited to launch GradonTripp.com.

I’ve had an incredible few months as far as change goes in my life… from new work on the horizon, to a new location, to new connections to a great crop of friends and colleagues in the Boston area (and beyond!)

Change is something I’m excited to see happening in the social media world, too, as things that were once considered only “geek-friendly” (i.e. friendly to me!) are finally starting to break into the mainstream.

Applications that were twinkles in a developer’s eye only a year ago are now being used by tech buffs and reformed Luddites, grandparents and teenagers, and artists and scientists alike.

Startups are working together to create new kinds of companies that have relevance and staying power.

Established companies are starting to see the profound value of connecting with their customers as a community.

Communities are taking hold of their power to create dramatic shifts socially, culturally, economically, and — especially this past year — politically.

Individuals are seeing more and more examples every day that this playing field is the one where anyone can have a chance to take a run at their goals and dreams.

There’s really never been a better time to be here.

And I’m excited to be a part of it all.

So what are you excited about?

  1. Where are you spending your best time online?
  2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?
  3. What’s your “role” in this space?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in comments, or feel free to just say “hi!”

And make sure to drop by again, since this is where I’ll be sharing my own thoughts and ideas and perspectives in the months to come. Thanks again for being here!

  • http://www.hooversbiz.com/ Anonymous

    Glad to see you doing this, G.T. I look forward to more entries.

    Answers to your questions:
    1. I’m *guessing* you can tell me as well as I could tell you. ;)
    2. Exposure to many more slices of conversation & sets of expertise.
    3. Bon vivant?

  • http://www.megfowler.com/ Meg

    Hi Gradon! Welcome to the thunderdome.;)

    Your new place looks awesome. Looking forward to seeing how you spruce it up:).

    Here are my answers (I love questions!)

    1. I think my best time is going to blogging and Twitter (which is like blogging, except much, much less babbly. Although you can babble. You just have to press “post” more often to do it.)

    I love writing and commenting and reading content above all. I’m consistently impressed by the ideas and drive of the people I’m reading and following. It’s very cool.

    2. I’ve met some incredible people. I’ve come across some amazing ideas. Both of those have changed me for the better. My idea of what’s possible has expanded.

    3. Content! And contentment. :)

    Good luck with all of this… you’re going to be awesome.

  • http://www.podcastingnews.com/ Elisabeth McLaury Lewin

    So glad to see that you’ve launched a place where I can read, in long format, about the things outside the world of design that catch your eye and hog your attention.

    Looking forward to reading all about your ideas and projects.

  • http://hooversbiz.com Tim Walker

    Glad to see you doing this, G.T. I look forward to more entries.

    Answers to your questions:
    1. I’m *guessing* you can tell me as well as I could tell you. ;)
    2. Exposure to many more slices of conversation & sets of expertise.
    3. Bon vivant?

  • http://www.megfowler.com Meg

    Hi Gradon! Welcome to the thunderdome.;)

    Your new place looks awesome. Looking forward to seeing how you spruce it up:).

    Here are my answers (I love questions!)

    1. I think my best time is going to blogging and Twitter (which is like blogging, except much, much less babbly. Although you can babble. You just have to press “post” more often to do it.)

    I love writing and commenting and reading content above all. I’m consistently impressed by the ideas and drive of the people I’m reading and following. It’s very cool.

    2. I’ve met some incredible people. I’ve come across some amazing ideas. Both of those have changed me for the better. My idea of what’s possible has expanded.

    3. Content! And contentment. :)

    Good luck with all of this… you’re going to be awesome.

  • http://www.podcastingnews.com Elisabeth McLaury Lewin

    So glad to see that you’ve launched a place where I can read, in long format, about the things outside the world of design that catch your eye and hog your attention.

    Looking forward to reading all about your ideas and projects.

  • http://flickr.com/tracylee Tracy Lee Carroll

    As a master of blog starting and an utter failure at keeping current in both reading and writing blogs, I congratulate you on your new effort and I wish you all the luck in continuing to grow your space. For me, I have found that I am a far more visual person and thus, I blog my view of the world through my photos.

    I’m not sure what to think about your statement, “…are now being used by tech buffs and grandmas alike.” Ummm…where does that leave us tech buffs that are also grandmas? And just what are you referring to when you use grandmas as a measuring device? I just don’t know what to say to that.

    As far as there I spend my time, I would have to say that the majority of my time is still spent in Flickr with a constant stream of twitter running right alongside. I’ve tried other flavours, but that is what seems to fit me well. Flickr for the photos and the community and Twitter for the community. Both for information and entertainment.

    I have been a part of social media long before the term social media even existed. So, how has it changed my life in the past year? That would be hard to say since I have been living the SM life since 1992. The only change I can say is that the apps have changed, but the principals have remained the same. Oh, and of course, I have met even more wonderful people like yourself.

    My role? Evangelist, observer, creator, tester, teacher, nurturer, enlightener…friend, informant. I think that works.

    Good Luck! I’m looking forward to reading more.

  • http://flickr.com/tracylee Tracy Lee Carroll

    As a master of blog starting and an utter failure at keeping current in both reading and writing blogs, I congratulate you on your new effort and I wish you all the luck in continuing to grow your space. For me, I have found that I am a far more visual person and thus, I blog my view of the world through my photos.

    I’m not sure what to think about your statement, “…are now being used by tech buffs and grandmas alike.” Ummm…where does that leave us tech buffs that are also grandmas? And just what are you referring to when you use grandmas as a measuring device? I just don’t know what to say to that.

    As far as there I spend my time, I would have to say that the majority of my time is still spent in Flickr with a constant stream of twitter running right alongside. I’ve tried other flavours, but that is what seems to fit me well. Flickr for the photos and the community and Twitter for the community. Both for information and entertainment.

    I have been a part of social media long before the term social media even existed. So, how has it changed my life in the past year? That would be hard to say since I have been living the SM life since 1992. The only change I can say is that the apps have changed, but the principals have remained the same. Oh, and of course, I have met even more wonderful people like yourself.

    My role? Evangelist, observer, creator, tester, teacher, nurturer, enlightener…friend, informant. I think that works.

    Good Luck! I’m looking forward to reading more.

  • http://www.gradontripp.com gradontripp

    Tim, your reaction time is remarkable.

    Meg, as wordy (yet concise) and thoughtful as always.

    Elisabeth, thanks for checking it out! I hope you like it!

    Tracy Lee, when I reference grandmas, I envision my mother, who, though very intelligent, has left the technology “stuff” up to me. She is *slowly* getting into the internet and social media, but by baby steps. But, I’m already learning from my commenters! Take a look at the restated phrase. Thanks for the comment, and feel free to question me on anything you want. :)

  • http://www.gradontripp.com Gradon

    Tim, your reaction time is remarkable.

    Meg, as wordy (yet concise) and thoughtful as always.

    Elisabeth, thanks for checking it out! I hope you like it!

    Tracy Lee, when I reference grandmas, I envision my mother, who, though very intelligent, has left the technology “stuff” up to me. She is *slowly* getting into the internet and social media, but by baby steps. But, I’m already learning from my commenters! Take a look at the restated phrase. Thanks for the comment, and feel free to question me on anything you want. :)

  • http://flickr.com/tracylee Tracy Lee Carroll

    Much better said!

    I don’t think I am old enough to be your mother, but you know us Grandmothers get a little crotchety and grumpy in our old age!

    That said. there aren’t a whole lot of grandmothers that are my age. I’m breaking ground all over the place…And what a mess I’m leaving behind. ;)

  • http://flickr.com/tracylee Tracy Lee Carroll

    Much better said!

    I don’t think I am old enough to be your mother, but you know us Grandmothers get a little crotchety and grumpy in our old age!

    That said. there aren’t a whole lot of grandmothers that are my age. I’m breaking ground all over the place…And what a mess I’m leaving behind. ;)

  • http://www.technosanity.com/ Jeff Turner Welcomes You!

    Gradon… glad you made the jump.

    So what are you excited about?

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    My best time is spent in direct messages on any of the social platforms. The publicly visible timelines are nice, but the really good stuff is done direct. I can’t see that changing much for me.

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    I have more friends, real friends, some of whom I’ve never met. That’s a change I did not expect. But it’s the only changes that has really mattered.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I see myself as an educator and motivator. For my clients, I try to help them make sense of all of this. The only way to really understand how to do that is to actually do it for myself.

    I look forward to seeing what you come up with here!

  • http://www.technosanity.com Jeff Turner Welcomes You!

    Gradon… glad you made the jump.

    So what are you excited about?

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    My best time is spent in direct messages on any of the social platforms. The publicly visible timelines are nice, but the really good stuff is done direct. I can’t see that changing much for me.

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    I have more friends, real friends, some of whom I’ve never met. That’s a change I did not expect. But it’s the only changes that has really mattered.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I see myself as an educator and motivator. For my clients, I try to help them make sense of all of this. The only way to really understand how to do that is to actually do it for myself.

    I look forward to seeing what you come up with here!

  • http://blog.brainstormbrand.com/ Ed Illig

    What a Tripp, you, blogging. :) Congrats, Gradon—already burning your latest url into my reader data banks.

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    Twitter; (SocMed friends); IM/Adium aggregates/GChat (used for work related messaging/camaraderie, friends and, of late, SocMed friends…demarcations between each group are beginning to blur for me); Facebook (still ferreting out what this means to me but I’m in there); LinkedIn (professional connects); Flickr (a new medium for me—encouraged to be there by the inimitable Tracy Lee); Fav blogs and ancillary SocMed milieus round out my list.

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    Forged new relationships with people outside my immediate sphere of influence. I hope one day to parlay some of my new friend’s talents into project work so I can spend even more time with their collective brains. :)

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I hope my role is one of listener-learner-educator-friend-helper…or village idiot. Village idiots stand alone. There’s real virtue in that. :)

  • http://blog.brainstormbrand.com/ Ed Illig

    What a Tripp, you, blogging. :) Congrats, Gradon—already burning your latest url into my reader data banks.

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    Twitter; (SocMed friends); IM/Adium aggregates/GChat (used for work related messaging/camaraderie, friends and, of late, SocMed friends…demarcations between each group are beginning to blur for me); Facebook (still ferreting out what this means to me but I’m in there); LinkedIn (professional connects); Flickr (a new medium for me—encouraged to be there by the inimitable Tracy Lee); Fav blogs and ancillary SocMed milieus round out my list.

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    Forged new relationships with people outside my immediate sphere of influence. I hope one day to parlay some of my new friend’s talents into project work so I can spend even more time with their collective brains. :)

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I hope my role is one of listener-learner-educator-friend-helper…or village idiot. Village idiots stand alone. There’s real virtue in that. :)

  • http://www.tagsmith.org/ Matthew Knell

    Mr Tripp -

    It’s so great to finally see you open up your own place on the web! I love the template and the design!

    Congratulations!

    So as far as your questions go:

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    These days, it’s been a lot of Twitter and a lot of conversations with people I’ve met there. It’s really been great to meet a lot of amazing people there, and become friends with a whole lot of them!

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    Well, see above. I’ve only been Twitter for a year, and it’s been nothing but great folks. Plus, now I work for a Social Media team, so my focus is a lot more on making good products for the public to use, so I take a lot more care to look at little details, and see how they change the world.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I’d like to say i’m a connector – as I love to bring people together. I’m a educator, as I love to get people started and share what I know. I’m a learner, as there are a lot of great people to teach me. But I’m also an observer, as it’s very much a changing landscape.

    I look forward to keeping up with this blog, and watching you find your voice here! It deserves to be heard.

  • http://www.tagsmith.org Matthew Knell

    Mr Tripp -

    It’s so great to finally see you open up your own place on the web! I love the template and the design!

    Congratulations!

    So as far as your questions go:

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    These days, it’s been a lot of Twitter and a lot of conversations with people I’ve met there. It’s really been great to meet a lot of amazing people there, and become friends with a whole lot of them!

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    Well, see above. I’ve only been Twitter for a year, and it’s been nothing but great folks. Plus, now I work for a Social Media team, so my focus is a lot more on making good products for the public to use, so I take a lot more care to look at little details, and see how they change the world.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I’d like to say i’m a connector – as I love to bring people together. I’m a educator, as I love to get people started and share what I know. I’m a learner, as there are a lot of great people to teach me. But I’m also an observer, as it’s very much a changing landscape.

    I look forward to keeping up with this blog, and watching you find your voice here! It deserves to be heard.

  • Caleb Chang

    Hello Gradon!

    This canuck is so happy to see this blog up.

    To answer your questions:

    In the past, I’ve been really skeptical about the validity of online communities but since joining a few social networks about a year ago, my perceptions have radically changed.

    The last time I had my solo design gig, it was 8 years ago. I suffered from feeling extremely isolated. I searched for collaboration, a forum where I could bounce ideas around, a place to just have good conversation. The local design & biz groups left much to be desired. So I decided to take up a full-time position working for someone else.

    Well, as of 6 weeks ago, I find myself on my own again, but much has changed in 8 years. This time I have a incredible sense of connectedness thanks to social networks like Twitter. I’ve not only connected with incredible creative individuals, like yourself, but with folks who are so vastly different than myself – for this, I am immensely grateful.

    What’s my role on Twitter? Some days, it’s offering 140 characters to help folks, think more strategically about their branding initiatives. Other days it’s just to make someone laugh (pretty pathetic I know, but it makes me tick).

    That’s all I’ve got for now. ‘Til your next post, my friend!

  • Caleb Chang

    Hello Gradon!

    This canuck is so happy to see this blog up.

    To answer your questions:

    In the past, I’ve been really skeptical about the validity of online communities but since joining a few social networks about a year ago, my perceptions have radically changed.

    The last time I had my solo design gig, it was 8 years ago. I suffered from feeling extremely isolated. I searched for collaboration, a forum where I could bounce ideas around, a place to just have good conversation. The local design & biz groups left much to be desired. So I decided to take up a full-time position working for someone else.

    Well, as of 6 weeks ago, I find myself on my own again, but much has changed in 8 years. This time I have a incredible sense of connectedness thanks to social networks like Twitter. I’ve not only connected with incredible creative individuals, like yourself, but with folks who are so vastly different than myself – for this, I am immensely grateful.

    What’s my role on Twitter? Some days, it’s offering 140 characters to help folks, think more strategically about their branding initiatives. Other days it’s just to make someone laugh (pretty pathetic I know, but it makes me tick).

    That’s all I’ve got for now. ‘Til your next post, my friend!

  • http://twittermaven.blogspot.com warrenss

    Gradon, great job with the new blog! I love the design aesthetic that you have applied. I see the influence of Gropius and Mies with maybe a little Starck in the typeface.

    Anyhow, in answer to your questions.
    So what are you excited about?

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    I spend most of my best time online with the Twitter community (when it’s up).

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    I’ve formed new friendships and relationships with many people online that are outside my normal circles . This has helped to expand my points of view and learn a lot yet at the same time give back to many others.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I consider myself an evangelist and a connector, trying to connect the dots from one sphere to another.

    Gradon, great job, I’m already looking forward to your next post.

  • http://twittermaven.com Warren Sukernek

    Gradon, great job with the new blog! I love the design aesthetic that you have applied. I see the influence of Gropius and Mies with maybe a little Starck in the typeface.

    Anyhow, in answer to your questions.
    So what are you excited about?

    1. Where are you spending your best time online?

    I spend most of my best time online with the Twitter community (when it’s up).

    2. How has social media changed how you live your life in the past year?

    I’ve formed new friendships and relationships with many people online that are outside my normal circles . This has helped to expand my points of view and learn a lot yet at the same time give back to many others.

    3. What’s your “role” in this space?

    I consider myself an evangelist and a connector, trying to connect the dots from one sphere to another.

    Gradon, great job, I’m already looking forward to your next post.

  • http://www.gradontripp.com gradontripp

    Wow, can it get any better?

    Jeff, indeed, relationships are built behind the scenes.

    Ed, I’m pretty sure I’m part of that group outside your sphere of influence. Thank you, social media. :)

    Matt, I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. You. Are. The. Man.

    Caleb, Your Magnum Mondays give us plenty of laughter. Only 6 weeks now?! Best of luck, my friend!

    Warren, from design to social media, you know it.

    Thank you all for your comments!

  • http://www.gradontripp.com Gradon

    Wow, can it get any better?

    Jeff, indeed, relationships are built behind the scenes.

    Ed, I’m pretty sure I’m part of that group outside your sphere of influence. Thank you, social media. :)

    Matt, I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. You. Are. The. Man.

    Caleb, Your Magnum Mondays give us plenty of laughter. Only 6 weeks now?! Best of luck, my friend!

    Warren, from design to social media, you know it.

    Thank you all for your comments!

  • http://mediaawaken.com/blog Maria

    Hey Gradon,
    Looking forward to seeing how the conversation expands on your blog! As for answers to your questions:
    1. I spend my most valuable time on Twitter (when it isn’t down)
    2. Social Media has been the defining force in my life this past year, my closest friends were met through social media, either on Twitter or at social media events. My business has grown from social media– the idea for it, the support to pursue it, and the clients to sustain it!
    3.What is my role in this space? Gosh, I have no idea. To listen, to learn, to contribute….. I’ll have to get back to you on that one!
    Happy blogging!
    Maria

  • http://mediaawaken.com/blog Maria

    Hey Gradon,
    Looking forward to seeing how the conversation expands on your blog! As for answers to your questions:
    1. I spend my most valuable time on Twitter (when it isn’t down)
    2. Social Media has been the defining force in my life this past year, my closest friends were met through social media, either on Twitter or at social media events. My business has grown from social media– the idea for it, the support to pursue it, and the clients to sustain it!
    3.What is my role in this space? Gosh, I have no idea. To listen, to learn, to contribute….. I’ll have to get back to you on that one!
    Happy blogging!
    Maria

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