Bill and I finally met face to face at this year’s SXSW AllHat Party (thanks to Armano and the good people at Dell). Bill is one of those lucky social media/community evangelists that get to call Sonoma, California home. Imagine that. While he’s not managing communities, building social media strategies for clients, and running great conferences, he’s basking in wine country.

So, on to interview #28 in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Social Marketers Series.

About Bill
He’s JUST about to join the Dell Social Media/Community team down in Austin, TX. (I’ll let him fill you in with more details)

1. What one trait or habit got you to where you are today?

Confronting and working through fear. I found that the scariest option is often the right one. As an example, I remember almost blowing off my interview TechRepublic back in 1999. I was really intimidated by the prospect of working for a startup, and I had no idea what I would be getting myself into. About 10 minutes before the interview, I sat in the parking lot with my car in drive and debating just driving off. If I had blown that interview I would very likely have never “broken in” to tech and certainly wouldn’t have the online community building experience I have today.

2. Your work day just started, what’s the FIRST thing you do and why?

Coffee first (of course) then I skim email from the last 12 hours to see if there are any fires… then check twitter replies and skim my “a list” sources.

3. What makes you efficient with your day?

Having a weekly to do list.

4. Your Favorite Business book of all time?

A tie between “Good to Great” by Collins and “The Effective Executive” by Drucker. I am a recovering art student, so I have had to supplement my business and management training :)

A few other books that will always have a place on my office bookshelf include:

Bit Literacy - Mark Hurst / A fantastic productivity guide I describe as GTD “lite”.

Universal Traveler – Koberg and Bagnall / A guide for design and creativity that includes process, tips and techniques.

Community Building on the Web – Amy Jo Kim / The online community bible. Examples are somewhat dated, but concepts are still relevant.

Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web – Wodtke / The IA bible. I keep bugging Christine to write a new edition that includes design for the social web.

5. 3 things on your desk right now

Iphone

Coffee

Graph paper pad & post its – I’m a paper freak, which I attribute to the recovering art student thing.

6. Habit you want to kick in 2009

Trying to manage projects and tasks in multiple formats. I’ve used paper, a template I developed in Word, OmniFocus, Things and have attempted to adopt GTD methodologies. What *really* works for me? Taking time at the end of the day on Friday, or 30 minutes over the weekend to develop a simple task list that breaks down tasks by project, and has a simple priority assigned to each task.

7. Habit you want to form for 2010
Becoming a better (and smarter) information consumer, curator and producer. Specifically, this means being more discerning about the content streams I pay attention to, being more systematic about how I save and share “the good stuff” and become more disciplined about producing content (specifically: blogging).

BONUS pictures of Bill’s office!

Ok, interview #3 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Social Marketers. Please give a warm welcome to my friend Melanie Notkin, a.k.a “Savvy Auntie”.

About Melanie
Melanie Notkin is America’s premier Savvy Auntie, empowering the nearly 50% of American women who are not moms to celebrate all they do for the children in their lives, while living their own lives to the fullest. She launched SavvyAuntie.com, the Webby Award nominated community for aunts and godmothers, in the summer of 2008 to wide-acclaim. She’s a child lifestyle expert and tastemaker, and is the author of the upcoming book: The Savvy Auntie Guide to Life. She can be found at http://Twitter.com/SavvyAuntie.

1. What one trait or habit got you to where you are today?
I love to read business, motivation and inspirational books. It’s rare that I can get through a chapter of a good one without popping over to my desk to share a quote, write a note to myself about a new idea inspired by the book, or learn more about the author.

2. Your work day just started, what’s the FIRST thing you do and why?
I check email, Twitter and Facebook to see if anyone is waiting for a response. I’m a one-woman customer service and client services team, and my first obligation is to make sure everyone is taken care of and I’m meeting their expectations, personally and for my brand.

3. What makes you efficient with your day?
Lists. If it’s not on the list, I probably won’t remember to do it. The challenge? Remembering to look at the list!

4. Your Favorite Business book of all time?
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a big one because it reminds you how simple behavioral changes can change everything.

5. 3 things on your desk right now/3 things you can’t live without
My Latitude e4300Laptop and 20″ monitor from Dell. Dell believes in supporting women in small business and offered me this work station to keep me going strong. I also have a vase of flowers to keep me happy and the notes from my writing consultant on my book chapters. I call her my Fairy God-Writer because she helps me make my writing more meaningful.

6. Habit you want to kick in 2009
I’m trying to get off my chair and workout more often. It makes a huge difference to my energy level. And while I feel like I’m taking a precious hour out of my work day, I’m actually adding more energy and getting more accomplished.

7. Habit you want to form for 2010
I know it’s going to sound strange, but saying “no” is my new effective habit. I’d love to meet with all the smart, ambitious people who want time to connect with me, but with all the obligations I have to my business, publisher, clients, family, friends and myself, it’s impossible to say yes all the time and achieve my goals. Saying “no” can be an effective habit. (I just hate to do it!)