So I was wondering what it would be like if FORGE treated potential clients like we treat prospective employees.  Instead of us selling ourselves, we would let potential clients know if THEY fit the bill. Here’s my first draft:

INDUSTRY: Any

POSITION: FORGE client

JOB DESCRIPTION:
FORGE is looking for a client with a solid understanding of the world of business, and how design and the web effect their brand as touchpoints. This company must have relevant needs and be willing to discuss these needs with FORGE. This company must also be willing to discuss their budget with FORGE. Also, they must have a budget!

You know you’re the right company if:

• you know what a brand is (or are willing to learn)
• you know what a brand standards manual is (or would like FORGE to create you one)
• you are willing to actually put relevant, well-written content on your website (not just once, but many times)
• you are looking for a long-term partner
• you have a marketing plan (or would like FORGE to help you create one)

You know you’re not the right company if:

• you think that a website is an SEO project
• you think that the Yellow Pages = eMarketing = a good idea
• you just want somebody to draw you a picture
• you want a flash website cause somebody told you it’s cool
• you want to hire a company that “offers search engine optimization and internet marketing services”
• you want a splash page for your website
• you have a great idea for a website, and if we’ll partner with you and make it for free we’ll get paid once it takes off

DESIRED SKILLS/DUTIES:
Applicants must have relevant experience in the “being a client” industry. Although FORGE will consider applicants without experience, they must have a degree in french cooking, as we like to eat. A lot. Potential clients must like to surf (no reason, we just think it’s cool) and have no problem paying their bills on time. Good ideas are helpful, and potential applicants must show experience in approving designs and copy. A college degree is helpful, but not required.

Please send applications to FORGE.

I recently received a facebook friend invite from somebody I went to High School with. Now, I’ve long since moved away and haven’t kept in touch with a single person that I knew from my hometown, but I accepted this Facebook invite anyway. I guess it’s because I was interested to see what he’d been up to. Maybe it’s the fact that I am not required to actually participate in the Facebook dialog, but can simply consume it as I do a news site. This leads to questions of the relevance of Social Networking as a part of a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

I will admit that I routinely flip from one thought to another while my wife is talking to me. She will be telling me about her day as a Nursing student and I will suddenly think “I wonder what my calendar looks like tomorrow?”, or “I wonder if there are any new articles about Arsenal out there?”. This is ridiculous, as I obviously am more interested in listening to her as I love her and am interested and amazed at what is going on in her life. I see this in my work life as well.  If I’m writing an email, I will suddenly think about a meeting that I’m supposed to have, or a proposal that I’m writing. My brain expects me to jump from one thing to another, never spending the appropriate amount of time on any one task. Are these thoughts a result of living a lifestyle of information overload, or am I simply unorganized and undisciplined?

In the context of a discussion like this, I think it would be easy to blame the internet and the subsequent social networking craze, but I don’t this problem is so new. Many years ago Television taught us to only consume around 10 minutes of entertainment at a time before we are bombarded with 3 minutes of commercials that would suggested that all we do in the US is eat and take drugs. While 10 minutes may seem like a lifetime in the internet generation, I wonder if we haven’t been slowly boiled into a twitter mindset. Three minutes of commercials seems like a lifetime compared to 140 characters.

Now as a Partner at FORGE, I spend a lot of time talking about Marketing on the web, Social Networking, etc., so it would be hypocritical of me to suggest that those things are all bad.  But I feel that we need to introduce balance back into our lives and our culture. If we value personal relationships over virtual ones, then let’s act like it.

I am going to personally try and not even pull my phone out of my pocket if I’m speaking to someone. I want to show respect to the person talking, and not allow my mind to be as easily distr … I wonder if the Arsenal Champions League game this week will be on TV?