Today, I spoke to Robert Scoble, who is an author, tech evangelist, blogger and fully employed worker. Wearing many hats, Robert has some great advice and insights to share in this interview. He talks about his career, his favorite interview, the future of branding, blogging and more.
You’ve changed companies many times in the past five or so years, including Microsoft, Fast Company, and now RackSpace, which one has had the largest impact on your career and why?
Microsoft by far because I got to see the inside of one of the world’s most successful businesses without having PR people or lawyers watching my every step. That way I got to see how Microsoft worked internally.
You’ve traveled the world interviewing celebrities and “tech rock stars.” Which one was your favorite and why?
Douglas Engelbart because he is the only guy I’ve really found who really is a true visionary. In other words, he showed the world something that they didn’t understand not for another 15 years. I don’t know of anybody else that I could say that about.
Where do you think branding is going in the future? What role will technology play in that?
The best products are going to get noted. Branding to me, the good brands in the future, are going to cause conversations. So whether it’s Nike by sponsoring Tiger Woods; whether it’s Apple with the iPhone; whether it’s Monster’s PR or Dr Dre’s beats headphones. All these products cause conversations and the more conversations they cause, the more likely they will be successful and have a great brand.
What do you like better: video or texts for blogging and why?
That’s a hard one because they are both different and used for different things. It’s sort of like which do you like better: hand soap or gift soap? The hand soap is more useful for more times, but gift soap is important too. If there was only one to choose, I would say text because it’s easier to write, easier for use, and it’s easier to read; but video is better for motion and showing you something. You know, I say in one minute of video I can show you what Halo 3 looks like, but I can write ten thousand words and still not do it justice.
What do you think your known for the most, and how will you be remembered when all
said and done?
I don’t know what I’ll be remembered for, but I’m known for staying up to date on the latest technologies. You know I was just talking with JS-Kit and that’s what they know me for – for being an early bird…they call me a “canary in the coalmine.” I do stuff before most other people do.
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Robert Scoble is an American blogger, technical evangelist, and author. Scoble is best known for his blog, Scobleizer, which came to prominence during his tenure as a technical evangelist at Microsoft. He is married to Maryam Ghaemmaghami Scoble. He has two sons, Patrick, from a previous marriage, and Milan. He currently works for Rackspace and is building a community for people fanatical about the Internet called Building43. He previously worked for Fast Company as a video blogger. He is also the co-author of Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers with Shel Israel.
