So I’m sitting at a table this morning with 4 other web people from colleges scattered around Texas and Louisiana, eating bland hotel breakfast food and chatting about the common issues web developers at universities face. And I realized that my new blog here is really just an extension of that conversation. Make that an easier, cheaper way to have that conversation without those tasteless donuts, the travel reimbursements, airport security, and predictable CASE presentations that often don’t yield anything new.
Then there’s Bob Johnson. 
While the suits and university administrator types are stubbornly clinging to old-world communications habits and often resisting recommendations from their own web staff, …all of a suddent here’s a paid consultant, obviously a professional, …they’ll listen to Bob..
Suddenly these are new ideas. And the conversation goes:
Suit: “Are we doing this? Can we get a plan to do this thing Bob is talking about? What’s the holdup?”
Staffer: “Uhh, yeah. It’s identical to the proposal you turned down 11 months ago.”
And that’s great. Bob is great. If Bob can open their eyes to the realities of the internet, and of the disappearing “controlled message” then thanks bob. Whatever it takes.
Allow me to illustrate.
It’s as if university-web-nerds are embarking on a voyage by ocean vessel to the distant shores of a forbidden land, whereupon they’ll trek overland by foot and penetrate the as-to-yet-impenetrable depths of jungle-academia, and they’ve carried with them and conscripted the services of one man: Bob Johnson, an emissary gifted of dialect, who has spent time among the inhabitants of this isolated jungle-people and can engage them in their native tongue.
Bob speaks to those people. This is no insult. Thanks Bob.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
That analogy brought a tear to my eye. A consultant can be your best friend. Time after time after time I see administrators ignore everything their own workers tell them, but once the consultants step in the door they are all ears…. and 90% of the time it’s the same solution (but $10000’s more expensive).
Hope you’re having a great time out of the office!
April 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I was at two presentations Bob gave recently. He’s an excellent presenter, knows his stuff and remains down-to-earth.
And Brad, you’re right, too. No matter how long you’re around, how many awards you win, etc., consultants have more credibility. Ahh, the grass is always greener. . . .
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Travel distracts sometimes from checking out my own blog… and so it wasn’t until today that I went to find out who “collegewebguy” was who left a note about an Academic Impressions web writing web conference he was at. And as a result found my self laughing nicely at the image trekking through the jungle.
By the way, for the record it isn’t “$10000’s more expensive” to have me trek along through your part of the jungle should there ever be a worthy reason to do that. Meantime, best of luck to all those who trek. And that reminds me to get some air in my Trek tires and start riding again now that spring is here.