Dan  Pink’s new book Drive has shaken me up. I think it’s shaking a lot of people up because it bursts a long held viewpoint that people are motivated by money. I watched this engaging YouTube video which has Dan Pink explaining what Drive is all about.

I especially loved the line he used to describe the incentive research conducted by Carnegie Melon, the University of Chicago and MIT.

He said, “you would think this research would be financed by some weird left wing socialist group but no, it was funded by the Federal Reserve Bank”.

From a social media perspective I think his premise that autonomy, mastery and purpose are what drives people in their vocational pursuits complements the feeling of liberation people are experiencing as they learn to publish and create online.

For me, autonomy is the independence I feel as apply my skills in the marketplace; mastery is the pleasure I have as I learn, discover and share my experience with others; purpose is believing and seeing how my work is contributing to organizational and community benefits.

When I mentioned this book to my family over the weekend, they wouldn’t accept the notion that money is not what motivates people. Well, I hope they reconsider when they get my invitation to have a look at this post.

Brent Uncategorized motivate motivation pink, motivate motivation truth pink, research motivation incentive

I discovered this video via my Twitter account ( (@brentmack )where I follow news stories from the Huffington Post. I was very excited to read how Mark Horvath has set up a web site called We Are Visible to help people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

The comic style of the video was very inviting and I think it helped to communicate the purpose of the We Are Visible web site.

Below is an excerpt from the article. I’m definitely going to pass this link on to some of my librarian colleagues who I know see homeless people in  their libraries everyday.

Horvath has launched WeAreVisible.com, a new website aimed at empowering homeless individuals by teaching them online tools to share their stories and connect with others. The website provides videos explaining how to set up e-mail accounts, join Twitter and Facebook and start a personal blog.

“Homeless people are starting to get online, but we need to build that community. This is a first step.”

According to Horvath, many homeless individuals use computers in public libraries to find information — but the resources they’re looking for aren’t always there. Because most organizations that serve the homeless have websites targeted at soliciting donations from the public, Horvath feels there isn’t sufficient information online for the people seeking help.

“Homeless services are broken. The best way to change them is to let the people we serve have a voice.”

Horvath feels that social media and other online tools can bring the homeless much-needed “visibility.”

“We don’t need to hear from another homeless expert or government official…Homeless people are helping homeless people via Twitter, Facebook. That’s the change we need to hear. We don’t need to hear any more statistics. We need to hear about that homeless mom sleeping in her car with her four kids.”

Horvath feels that WeAreVisible.com also provides opportunities for the public to get involved. Supporters can follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.

Individuals can also download flyers about the website to share with homeless people. For example, librarians can hang the posters up in their libraries to share the message with homeless library visitors.

Brent Uncategorized poverty homeless socialmedia

A fictitious (but likely) conversation overheard at an Executive Directors monthly breakfast meeting.

“Social media, now what should I tell my staff when they ask me if it’s OK to use Facebook to communicate about work  with their colleagues? A few of them are even asking if it’s OK to connect with their clients on Facebook or Twitter. Shish, I don’t even have an account, these social media tools are making me nervous.”

These are timely and tough questions that deserve the attention of Executive Directors or anyone interested in social media for their organization.

I created what I’m calling a Social Media Landscape Map. The top half of the map identifies some of the higher level work related to understanding and implementing social media in your organization. The lower half unpacks what social media can do for your organization and your staff. Click the map to see a larger view.

Social Media Landscape Map

Read more…

Brent Uncategorized landscape map lens, map, strategy, tools