I talked to Chris Perrin about his PAR system recently, with regard to how it works. Chris Perrin is a freelance writer and blogger who has projects, deadlines and editors, all of which make him very interested about productivity. He is also deeply concerned about other’s productivity and the positive effect it can have on other people’s lives. He is the creator of The PAR System™, an effective, easy-to-learn system for personal productivity which can be found at StartBeingProductive.com. He also blogs about business and productivity at blog.startbeingproductive.com.

Listen to this podcast as Chris outlines his answers to these questions:

• What is PAR & how did you come up with it?
• Is this related to David Allen’s GTD?
• Does this method rely on technology or can I use paper & pencil?
• Is it based on keeping track of lists?
• What is the big benefit?
• What is a weakness in the method & how can one prepare for-work around it?
• How do people stay motivated to maintain their practice?

The podcast is just about 20 minutes long.

If you don’t see the player, please click through to “An Interview with Chris Perrin“.

Download the podcast

[podcast]http://stephenpsmith.com/downloads/chris-perrin-interview.mp3[/podcast]

…in an interview at Abaminds Entrepreneur:

Abaminds Entrepreneurs has been created to address the needs of:

• Business owners
• Freelancers
• Other entrepreneurs
• Researchers and students

Here are some of the resources you’ll find on Abaminds Entrepreneurs:

• Business tips, opinion and warnings
• Interviews
• Free e-books (coming soon)
• Useful, relevant links

Karen asked some good questions:

- If you had to explain the role of a Conversation Consultant to a person who has no idea what it means, what woud you say?

Part of what I do in the Social Media coaching part of my business is inspiring/provoking/catalyzing conversation between a business and its customers. This is accomplished via social networking on the internet (like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and using blogging) to facilitate back-and-forth communication.

…and you can read the interview here: An Interview with Stephen Smith

As a recent contributor to the Age of Conversation 2 “Why Don’t They Get It?”, I was very excited to receive my very own copy in the mail from lulu.com (You can order a copy of Age of Conversation 2 here, all proceeds go the the children’s charity Variety)

While reading through the essays, I decided that I needed some more information and background. What inspired these ideas? Where do the authors think these ideas will lead?

I have e-mailed the authors of these essays, and asked them about their points of view. This is the first in a series of posts that will be going “behind-the-scenes” and deepening our understanding of the Age of Conversation that we live in today.

Reg Adkins – who writes at Elemental Truths – was kind enough to answer some questions for me, and elaborate on the theme of his essay, “The Truth Revealed”

1. How did you come up with the image of the water glass metaphor for the impact of conversation?

Two factors lead me to the water glass image. One is a limitation in my thought process in that I often can only conceptualize a concept if I am able to build a visual image in my mind. The second has to do with my view of communication itself. To me communication has always been a fluid phenomenon. Messages are shaped not only by the source, or the one who is attempting to share the message, but by the vessel or the intended receptor of the message as well. As I often view the intended receptor of the message as a vessel, it was no great leap to follow the natural end of the thought to the water glass image.

2. You use the expression “trail markers”, is there a map? What about starting and ending points?

My reference to trail markers is another attempt on my part to bring a concept to a visual construct to enhance my understanding. The trail markers I write about are those unique blends and fundamental need for control, affection and inclusion that make up my own personal temperament. The map for those markers are rather like driving by braille, as you wander off the path onto the shoulder you will invariably cross the warning ridges that send a vibration through your vehicle that let you know you are venturing off course.

The starting point is where ever you happen to be when you realize life is a journey. The end point is that point of perfect harmony when you are able to find a way to meet your needs for control, affection and inclusion without infringing upon the rights of others to seek to meet their own needs.

3. To continue the hiking metaphor, “Leave no trace” hiking/camping is very popular but shouldn’t a conversation leave a mark? Some graffiti or “Kilroy was here”?

Perhaps my statement of leaving no trace of your passing was over stated. We leave and impact merely by being. Even our passive observation of the communication of others has an impact on the message that is communicated. Perhaps rather than leave no trace, my message should have been leave no obstruction in the path of others who travel the same way.

Thanks Reg, for your insights and elaboration. I do like the idea of the trail markers as a metaphor for the use of Social Media in conversation and communication.

Please visit Reg’s blog at Elemental Truths, and order your copy of The Age of Conversation 2 to support the charity.

There is even more conversation at My 2 Cents:

Corentin Monot says we’re living on a “marketing hinge” when so much of the traditional thinking and techniques and tools are being challenged. The ongoing talk about all the changes has been overdone, he writes, so many have become cynical about any new theory that comes along.

What say you?

“Tribes”: Ten questions for Seth Godin

I have an advance copy of this remarkable book, and I will be spreading the word on we can use this concept to enhance our markets, our own Tribes. Plus, when the book hits the stands, we’ll do a contest for one lucky reader to get their very own copy!

Read the entire interview at gapingvoid

Jennifer Van Grove is a Social Media consultant in San Diego, California. We first met online via Twitter and I have been following her for a while. Recently she posted an excellent article about using Twitter, discussed below. First, a little about Jennifer in her own words:

I’m a member of, and an advocate for, the community. I get community building because I understand the why and the how when it comes to social applications, I stay current with the latest internet memes, and I learn by doing. I work independently as a consultant for companies interested in understanding how to engage with their communities in ways that make sense – developing and delivering strategies for meaningful interactions.

I was intrigued by this personal statement, so I asked for a little more background information, and she has kindly consented to answer a few personal questions.

Where did you grow up?

San Diego, CA

Tell us about your Education:

I was an English Major at UCLA, a degree I chose simply to piss off my parents who both graduated with a degree in Math from UCLA (I was actually a better math student in High School). I’ve always loved learning, and was pretty much a goody-goody throughout my youth and adolescence. I grew up thinking that I could be anything, so school was always something I loved.

How do your interests work into your life?

I’m a passionate and creative person by nature and the boundary between my personal and professional interests are completely blurred. I used to be a really quiet girl, but the more inspired I was by learning and my peers, the more I became interested in social and networking events. I’m driven by a desire to succeed professionally, and I’ve found over the years that I have to tap into my real passions to stay motivated and driven. I’m in a really fortunate position right now, where my work is really wrapped around all of my interests, professional or otherwise.

Do you have any hobbies?

Reading. I love a good novel, especially the classics. I’m also really into sports and I’m a huge fan of the UCLA Bruins, San Diego Chargers, and San Diego Padres.

What was the last book that you read?

Fiction: The Bell Jar

Non-fiction: I haven’t finished it, but I’m reading Groundswell.

What is your most important accomplishment?

Right now, I’d have to say that organizing the San Diego Tweetup group has been an unpredictable and huge professional win for me.

What is your next big goal?

My goals are pretty straightforward and I try not to get too ahead of myself. Professionally, I’d like to start speaking at conferences. Personally, I’d like to buy a condo in downtown San Diego.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

No comment. It’s strange but I never like to think about my life that far in advance. The last few years have been extremely unpredictable, and I hope the future is just as surprising.

What type of work experience led you to blogging? Just how did you get to where you are?

It sounds silly, but right after college I worked as a barista in a coffee shop. The milieu was incredibly social and that’s where I was introduced to MySpace. I really gravitated towards blogging (I was too naive to know about the broader realm of the blogosphere back then) and the response from my friends was incredibly positive. It was self-expression in the written form; since I love to write, it was love at first blog post. I’m really fortunate that a later employer thrust me into a Community Manager position. I felt like a fish out water at first and I read everything I could about community development and professional blogging in order to get up to speed.

Well, Jennifer is certainly up to speed now, and she has written a fantastic article about using Twitter:

That is a very important note, something that I have told some of my own clients and colleagues that are beginning to use Twitter: do not just post your latest blog post or product/service. Twitter is a community, talk to your followers like you would to your neighbor.

The entire post is well worth reading, as is this article about Twitter in the San Diego Union Tribune and and I highly recommend that you learn more about Real Twitter Strategies to Transform Your Brand.

Are you on Twitter? You can follow me here @the_future and Jennifer here @jbruin. Looking forward to talking to you!