Labor Day weekend photos

Happened upon some photos from the Labor Day weekend that are worth sharing

My brother was sitting

my brother siting

So I decided to do likewise

me thinking in the sun

and we all posed by the Chicago waterfront

group pose on Chicago waterfront

For additional information on the art project installed in Chicago;s Grant Park
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/icelandic-artist-brings-26-life-sized-sculptures-to-solti-garden-in-grant-park/

Chicago birdsongs - May 5th - (audio)

Recorded on the shores of Lake Michigan while on the morning run through Grant Park in Chicago.

listen to ‘Chicago birdsongs Sunday May 5’ on Audioboo

recording location

I was standing at the Buckingham Fountain when I stopped to record this morning.

The view around me - part 1 - Turning to the right of the fountain

Chicago skyline

part 2 - Turing back and then to the left of the fountain

Lake Michigan waterfront

part 3 - Turning directly to the east to face the rising sun would not have produced a picture worthy of sharing so I resumed running and found this line of trees worthy of stopping for

tree line

My favorite place is 'the bean' or officially called 'Cloud Gate'

Each time I come to SOBCon, I try to make a visit to cloud gate. It helps me focus and put things into perspective. We are so small in this big world.

What is SOBCon and why do I go? The answers can be found in this post that was a collaboration with my good friend Phil Gerbyshak   http://www.sobevent.com/what-makes-shersteve-come-back-to-sobcon-over-and-over/

SOBCon - here I come!

Yes, I will be back in Chicago for the SOBCon conference this May. My buddy Phil Gerbyshak posted an interview with me on why I return to SOBCon each year.

Millennium Park, Chicago

Why do I return?
You can read the details here

SOBCon Chicago 2013

Jane Boyd created this list using List.ly to showcase all the attendees for the upcoming SOBCon Conference in Chicago.

This is part of my personal learning network and a great annual event.

SOBCon Chicago 2013 Attendees

View more lists from Jane Boyd

#SOBCon in Your Inbox: Chicago 2013 Revealed & Early Registration Ends today!

This is it! You can save $200 now on your SOBCon Chicago registration if you sign up by January 31st. As of February 1st, it will go to $895. So claim your seat today. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Chicago 2013 Revealed It's crazy to think that what started out as just an idea has grown into not only an event, but a community. And we're so excited to celebrate that success that we've pulled together an amazing group of speakers that highlights just how far we've come after 10 events. This list isn't complete yet, but we wanted to give you a sneak pick of what to expect if you sign up today: Carol Roth, NY Times bestselling author and WGN radio host Sean Ogle, lifestyle entrepreneur & founder of Location 180 Chris Brogan, NY Times bestselling author and Human Business Works CEO Barbara Jones, BlissDom events co-founder and Blissful Media Group CEO Jeannie Walters, Chief Customer Experience Investigator™ & founder of 360Connext Ric Dragon, author of "Social Marketology" & DragonSearch CEO Dianna Rae, entrepreneur and Glam Media Co-Founder Alli Worthington, Blissfully Domestic Magazine founder Drew Marshall, Innovation consultant & principal of Primed Associates If you sign up today, you'll guarantee a seat in the room with these super-talented individuals and another 149 people who are committed to turning ideas into actions. During #SOBCon Chicago (May 3-5, 2013) you can expect to hear about: Building deeper, more valuable working relationships with your customers Adjusting your business metrics to enhance your understanding of the competition Fostering and sustaining influence through information sharing Learning how to engage with customers to deliver a richer, more meaningful experience Creating lasting connections from customers' first impressions Throughout the weekend, you'll learn the power of true collaboration. Whether it's discussing the models in depth with your mastermind team or connecting with someone new over lunch, you'll see that learning doesn't need to be lonely. We're confident that if you want to, you'll leave SOBCon with strategic action plans that will move you and your company forward. Add to that our famous opening night party and our Give Back Sunday and you have an event that deserves to be on your calendar. And with only days left to save on registration, you don't to miss out on the $200 savings if you sign up by January 31st (this Thursday). You know you want to be in the room. So what are you waiting for? Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Hotel 71 - The Place to Be Only 2 Blocks from the Summit Executive Center We're thrilled to announce that for the sixth year running Hotel 71 will be the host hotel for SOBCon Chicago 2013, May 3-5, 2013. There are a block of rooms available at the awesome rate of $179 (their current offered rate is $230) – all you have to do is: Call 1-877-999-3223 Say "I'd like the special SOBCon event rate please" (they may ask you the dates of the event – May 3-5) And book your reservation at the $179 rate Please make your reservations as soon as possible, because these weekends in Chicago are always packed with other events and conferences – and, the rooms at this excellent rate are limited. Save $200 - Ends 1/31 It's your last chance to get this ticket discount This Thursday is the last day you can claim your seat at SOBCon Chicago AND save $200. We know budgets are tight, so make sure you don't miss out on these savings. Sign up today.  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 SOBEvents LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you were a previous SOBCon attendee, and/or opted in to the SOBCon Newsletter Our mailing address is: SOBEvents LLC 1110 NW Flanders St. Suite 200 Portland, OR 97209 Add us to your address book

What's special about SOBCon?

The tools of the #SOBCon table are similar to those you might find at another conference event; laptop, liquid refreshments, candy, camera, and agenda document.



What makes SOBCon special is the folks sitting around the table in the mastermind sessions!

More notes, pictures and insights on SOBCon will be posted here as I collect my thoughts.

Smiling in Chicago

The morning walk to SOBCon 2012 included a diversion with a brief visit to Millennium Park and Cloud Gate or the "bean".



Next to Cloud Gate are two water towers with huge photos projecting on them (from within, I think). The photos change slowly. The face changes expression and I catch the smile.



What will get you to smile today?

What catches your attention?

The sun was out in Chicago on Thursday afternoon. A woman with a skirt attracted some attention.

What holds your attention?

Do you recognize when your attention is wrapped around a topic?

SOBCon 2012

SOBCon is more than a conference, for me, it is a key entry in my personal learning network. This is my prime event each year to connect with new folks, reconnect with folks from prior years, learn and share. "Taking the blog off the blog" as Phil Gerbyshak is fond of saying. "Where the virtual meets concrete" is the tagline for the event and appropriately so.

Will I see you in Chicago?

The SOBCon event schedule, speakers and registration info can be found here  http://www.sobevent.com/

hello world, just me this morning

On my recent trip to Chicago for SOBCon 2011, I got out to run one morning and found myself alone at the 'Bean'. Officially called the "Could Gate", it is a wonderfully attractive outdoor sculpture. Most times I have been there, the place was full of people. But this morning, it was too early I guess.




It was just me and the bean.

Rare moments

A couple of rare moments in Chicago for the SOBCon conference.

I found myself alone at the bean when out for my morning run.

When meeting Julie Roads, she jumped up before I could sit down.



There will be more to come on the special moments found here in Chicago this weekend.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Slide show: SOBCon09

The photo slide show from the SOBCon conference this past weekend is available:



Enjoy!

SOBCon: KD Paine

KD Paine's presentation is available

KDPaine's SobCon Roi Of Relationships In Social Media

View more presentations from kdpaine.

SOBCon: Glenda Watson Hyatt

SOBCon_GlendaWatsonHyatt, originally uploaded by shersteve.

My raw notes from this wonderful session on accessibility. The more thoughtful recap will come later.

41 million, over 15% have accessibility issues
disability folks find only 40% sites found easy to use
non-disabled 7 of 10 sites

1 - all content is perceivable
2 – operable or navigable by multiple devices
3 – understandable (content)
4 – robust

how to improve the posts to accessibility

1 - provide text alt for all images
2 - expand acronyms the first time they are used
3 – make hyperlinks distinct and distinguishable

SOBCon: Smith Shorr

SOBCon_SmithShorr, originally uploaded by shersteve.

My brief and raw notes from this session. The thoughtful recap will come later.

writing for the web
inside, outside

key words, keyword phrases

assume that branding and positioning has already been figured out

SOBCon: Bullock

SOBCon_Bullock, originally uploaded by shersteve.

My raw notes from this session, the thoughtful recap will come later.

Barack 2.0
used snagit to capture screen shots from the campaign over 1100 artifacts
strategy
tactics
actions
result
track

blog post, podcast, tag
made a book stuck it up on Lulu

publishing is a trip

free does not get me paid

we can show yo because we have done it
that helps when you compete against Internet expert marketing

socialmediaconnection.com
video

this model is a duplicating model, I am not going around the country to tell this

SOBCon: Brogan Smith

SOBCon_BroganSmith, originally uploaded by shersteve.

My raw notes from this session, the thoughtful recap will come later.

Make your own rules (those who do have succeeded on the web)
it's all about standing out

being one of us; membership has it's privileges
outsiders do not influence insiders
insiders influence each other

the Archimedes principle
the ultimate leverage engine

don't do work twice, leverage

be helpful, be humble, share

human artist
don't be “that guy”, empathy

know when to be visible and when to ghost

reputation comes from empowering others

build an army, the power of many

from craft to craftsperson
from craftsperson to cottage

SOBCon: Strauss Opening remarks

SOBCon_Strauss, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Over 125 folks gathered to talk about the ROI of relationships here at SOBCon in Chicago.

SOBCon09: UStream available

The current events of SOBCon are being UStreamed

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sobcon09

SOBCon: Hruzak Sherlock

SOBCon_HruzakSherlock, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Men in hats at SOBCon.

Joanna Young says:

This is asking for a caption competition!

Please feel free to chime in.