Recently I went on a quest to find out more about "crowdsourcing". I came across a few definitions and several articles but the one I found most interesting was a post on Mashable called, "5 Crowdsourcing Platforms Every Developer Should Know" by Marcus Thielking.
I found the post interesting because it revealed to me that crowdsourcing is a greater tool than I realized. Pulling data from multiple apps and sources to help you better understand and develop your own product or app was taking the concept to a new step for me.
Previously, I thought of crowdsourcing as the internet's answer to a "Focus Group". As useful and valuable as some focus group data can be, there's also a lot of variables that can skew focus group data.
The Mashable post by Thielking opens up a truer and more poignant examination of crowdsourcing. How these new and innovative technologies are fueled, built and made better through pooling data from one another to make a bigger better apple cart.
Have you used crowdsourcing to market or develop your business? I'd love to hear your story, leave a comment on this post, or tweet me @rogermichaelm
2012/09/22
The Force Is Strong In This One
My older brother, Ryan, was born with a heart condition. While my younger brother and I were involved in sports, my mom took Ryan off to a modeling agency and acting lessons. With Ryan's condition he couldn't really play sports, so it gave him something to be involved in.
It turned out Ryan had a "star personality" and being in front of a camera was natural for him. He did several print and TV commercials.
Whenever he would get paid, he would take my younger brother and me to Toys R Us and we'd all get to buy toys. Transformers, GI Joe, and Star Wars toys would have epic battles in our playroom.
Ryan had a big interest in the Star Wars movies as well as the toys, and over the years we had a large amount of Star Wars toys.
After Ryan passed away, my father continued on with the collection. Everyone began to help and birthdays, father's days, every Christmas, my father would get more and more pieces to add to his collection.
Recently my parents have decided it's time to look into letting go of the collection. Time to move on, if you will. My father isn't sure he's ready to part with it, but he is really interested in learning what it's worth.
I reached out to "The Toyhunter" from the travel channel on Twitter and the show contacted my mom the next day.
I decided to see if perhaps social media and my online connections might also be able to help.
Do you know George Lucas? ;) Or someone who'd be interested and accredited to assess the monetary value of this emotionally priceless Star Wars collection?
Leave your email address in the comments or contact me on Twitter @rogermichaelm
Thanks,
May the Force Be with You.
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