SXSW: We Got Naked, Now What?

Just finished up the “We Got Naked, Now What?” session. Session description:

Some bloggers argue that you only become effective by putting more skin in the game, but is there such a thing as being too naked? Can you open your kimono in one blog post, and wear a button-down shirt in another? This panel showcases bloggers who opted to bring their personal lives onto their professional blogs, with varying degrees of success.Some have made an argument that you can bare all, and you should…to an extreme degree.

Panelists were:

Moderator: Elisa Camahort Co-founder, BlogHer

Laina Dawes Writer, Writing is Fighting
Jory Des Jardins Co-Founder, BlogHer
Elaine Liner Writer, Phantom Prof
Evelyn Rodriguez Principal, Dwelve
Elisa Camahort Co-founder, BlogHer

Great panel, overall. A lot of good discussion…where do you draw the line, if at all, in your professional blogging, with respect to exposing your personality and aspects of your life “outside the office?” Elaine Liner told a great story about how she was fired from her role as an assistant professor (she believes as a result what she wrote on her blog)…and how it was a springboard to a significantly positive change in her career.

Jory got the best line: “the way that we distinguish ourselves is through our personalities.” And I think that’s spot-on…products commoditize, processes can be replicated, software can be purchased with equal access by all parties. The truest differentiator consists of the collection of personalities in an organization.

UPDATE: Lisa liveblogged the session here…

Next up: some lunch, then James Surowiecki and his “Wisdom of Crowds” session in a couple of hours. Seeya then…