Bearing Fruit Consulting

Research Goddess Invokes Jurrassic Park Analogy For Social Media

Amybeth Hale, affectionately and accurately named the Research Goddess, is a leader in social networking/social media and is adept at leveraging both for the purpose of sourcing talent.  A relative newbie to the sourcing and recruiting game, she started in 2002, she is an important voice and evangelist in our space.  I like her so much I have her on my blog roll over there on the right.  Not to mention she is from Ohio, my home state, so I am showing a little Buckeye love.

I wanted to point you to her post today on whether or not you should be using social media, blogging etc. as part of your sourcing and recruiting strategy.  She uses the quote from the Michael Crichton film Jurassic Park (one of my all time faves) where Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcom questions the idea of cloning dinosaur embryo's with frog DNA to create living dino's - "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think about if they should..."

Amybeth drives the analogy point home with this set of MONEY statements:

• Anyone CAN start a blog. But should YOU?
• Anyone CAN set up a Facebook Fan page. But should YOUR company?
• Anyone CAN tweet on behalf of their business. But are you ready to give up that much official control?
• Anyone CAN decide to implement mobile marketing. But is your audience going to be receptive to it?

The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Practice some patience, do your homework, and find out if it’s right for you, your team, and your company first before pressing forward. Otherwise you run the risk of ruining your reputation or your brand image. Look before you leap!

I work with many clients who, the moment I arrive on site, start talking to me about how they need a social media strategy, need a preence on Twitter, need a Facebook page etc. etc. etc.  It like herding cats to get them to slow down and stop talking Buzzspeak and think about what they are saying. 

Amybeth sums up what I feel and think on this topic.  Sheer brilliance from my fellow Buckeye!  Go read her entire piece over on her site...

Oh, and before I forget, here one of my favorite clips from the movie Jurassic Park. 

American Hero Darrell "Shifty" Powers Dies - Featured in Band of Brothers

Every once in a while I am jolted by the price of liberty and freedom.  Being a student of the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg I am reminded each time I walk that battlefield how blessed I am to be free.  I am also bluntly reminded that my freedom came at a huge expense and that the men who fought and died on that battlefield, both North and South, did more to secure my freedom and liberty than I can imagine.

Watching Band of Brothers, the HBO film that shared the story of Easy Company - 101st Airborne during WWII, was just such a jolt to my senses.  These men did things we can not even imagine and stared down death, evil and horror to win our freedom.  They fought and died for each other moment to moment but they fought  and died for freedom and liberty always.  

I learned today that Darrell "Shifty" Powers, the best shot in the company according to his brothers in arms, died on June 17, 2009 of natural causes.  He was a major focus of the film and he, along with the rest of Easy Company, fought in just about every major battle of WWII.  They were called upon when the task was most difficult and each time these men, part of the greatest generation, rose valiantly to the call to arms and did their duty. 

I was touched by Band of Brothers and I am grateful to Mr. Powers and the other members of Easy Company for what they did for me.  For all of us. 

Please take a moment out of your day to remember "Shifty" Powers.

"We few. We happy few.  We Band of Brothers. For those who shed their blood with us today shall always be our Brothers."