“If you free your data, people will come to you.” ~ Deb Boyer, Phillyhistory.org
I heard this quote at one of the last panels I attended at SXSW Interactive, Innovating and Developing with Libraries, Archives, and Museums. Deb Boyer was part of a panel that discussed innovations that are happening within libraries, archives, and museums. Those institutions wrestle with the options of if, how, when, and to whom to release their extensive and rich spectrum of data and information. Do they charge or make it free? Is there a limit to how much someone can use? How should the information be delivered? Deb encouraged open collaboration between institutions and most certainly for anyone interested in partnering with libraries and archives. She believes being open source is the only way to win influence in our interconnected world; but yourself off from anyone interested in your brand by creating complex business models around the content and your influence rapidly diminishes.
At a conference buzzing with a million and one phenomenal ideas, the questions of intellectual property and ownership of ideas comes up a lot. In panels, hallway conversations, and key notes. Someone has a great idea and needs others to bring it to life. Does that mean that they run the risk of losing the idea by sharing it a la The Social Network? Maybe. Though Deb Boyer argued on her panel that there is no other choice. If the goal is to share what we know and bring our visions to life, we have to put it out there and see what comes back to us.
Gary Vaynerchuk talked about something similar in his keynote on The Thank You Economy. He gives and gives and gives and doesn’t worry about what he’ll get in return. In his very straightforward, and slightly crass, way he argued that if we’re generous first, others will follow in ways and quantities that we could never possibly imagine. Karma, baby. Karma.
SXSW is an incredibly generous environment. Sure, people are being provocative and forthright. They’re asking tough questions that have messy answers or no answers at all. They’re putting themselves and their ideas out there in the hopes that others will join them in their creative pursuits. They’re giving away what they know to anyone who’s interested in what they have to say and willing to take the time to listen. They’re all doing exactly what Deb and Gary advocate for. As Gary so eloquently stated, “Forget about having your ideas stolen. Just out care the competition and you’ll win every time in any industry, in any market.”
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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“If you free your data, people will come to you.” ~ Deb Boyer, Phillyhistory.org
Christa Avampato 