dan-spellman.com

I just got back from a “vacation” at Camp Napowan.  Each year our Boy Scout Troop spends a week earning merit badges.  Over the past 7 days, our Troop earned badges in a number of different areas including Wilderness Survival and  Life Saving. 

You would think that after traveling into central Wisconsin and spending 7 days / 6 nights sleeping in tents and enjoying the sunny weather, I would be completely rested and recharged.  However, being responsible for 14 boys ranging in age from 11 to 16 years old is a little like herding cats.

At least I was able to get away from the office . . . well, not really (My wife would tell you that I brought every piece of electronic equipment I own).  In order to encourage more dads to spend the week at camp, Napowan has gone wireless.  Yes, the Trading Post now has wi-fi.  Throughout the day you see a number of dads working their BlackBerrys or Motorola Qs to access emails.  You see dads heading to the Trading Post with their laptop bags as they keep up with what’s going on in the office.

While it may seem strange to be splitting your time between answering emails and building campfires, by adding these services, the Boy Scouts are ensuring more parents are able to be a part of their son’s Summer Camp experience.  All in all, we had a great time and I was able to be a part of something that my son will remember for the rest of his life.

Until next time,

Dan

Over the past year, I’ve come to depend on my Motorola Q.    Previous to that, I had a BlackBerry that allowed me to keep tabs on my email.  As all of you know, we have become inundated with emails.  Ten years ago we were able to run successful businesses with weekly meetings and the occasional memo.  Now I seem to always be in meetings and always reading emails.

Mobile devices such as the Motorola Q or the BlackBerry Curve are very cool and allow you to access the internet, view maps and keep on top of your emails.  I was speaking with a friend the other day who said he used to believe the BlackBerry was “top of the line” until he got his iPhone.  Leave it to Apple to change the world again.

The point is this . . . the world is changing – again.  Remember back in the late ‘90s when you were reading articles about Amazon and hearing people question if that business model would really work?  Guess what – it does.

We have talked before about how Yahoo! is building an “open environment”.  These changes, in both software and hardware, are the beginning of the next revolution. The question is, what are you doing to prepare your website for these opportunities? Will you take advantage of this change or will you miss the next wave?

Until next time,

Dan

( Originally posted on www.Spellman.Typepad.com )