That's the Power of Blog: Peter Clayton

A little over a year ago I wrote something called 68 Posts. Whenever someone asks me why I blog I point them to that article. With my recent revelations about the futility of trying to change the world of recruiting, I thought it best to go back and reconnect with some of the rewards I get from this peculiar activity. Reading 68 Posts I was struck by the fact that Peter Clayton reminded me of the power of blogging and I hadn’t thanked him yet. Sorry Peter!

What does existential crisis, blogging and building a network have to do with Peter Clayton? Funny you should ask. Next year I am going to be starting a new blog (about politics, not business or talent) and I decided that I wanted to try podcasting my content rather than just writing. I don’t know how to podcast any more than I know how to flycast, so I set about to learn: how do I get my voice on RSS? Like most people I went to Google and ran a search and started reading. Inevitably I ended up with a long list of questions and realized that I needed a teacher. Where to find one?

Asking someone to be a teacher is not an insignificant request. As many teachers through the years can testify, I am not a very good student. Add to that the fact that I hate to impose on other people and I quickly hit a dead-end. Until I remembered that I had worked for the last two years to provide value to a diverse network of people, and that perhaps I wouldn’t be asking for a favor as much as I would be cashing in some of the trust I had deposited in the global bank of blog. So I put the question to a test and sent an email to Peter Clayton, a person who I greatly respect and frequently listen to, but whom wouldn’t know me from Adam if I ran in front of him and did jumping jacks while shouting out “Talentism!” Given that relative anonymity I had few hopes for success.

Much to my pleasant surprise Peter wrote me back in 5 minutes. He was gracious, offering to talk with me as soon as was mutually convenient. Before I knew it I was on the phone with a guy who probably gets a bazzilion requests for his time, asking him stupid questions like “how do I record my voice anyway?” Peter not only spent considerable time with me, but followed up our conversation with some emails with helpful tidbits and Flash code for embedded MP3 players. What a prince.

If you haven’t listened to Peter’s content you really must drop everything and get over to his site, TotalPicture.com. His content is thought provoking, his expert delivery is crisp and easy on the ears, his topics cogent and his technical wizardry without peer in the recruiting world. I know the last bit of information first-hand because Peter patiently described to me what goes into getting one of his shows up on TotalPicture. We’re not talking about some guy with half a cigarette hanging out of his mouth holding a lapel microphone up to a phone while he does the NY Times crossword puzzle and says “Uh-huh” every couple of seconds. Peter comes from an audio engineering background and so has a wide variety of equipment and mastering techniques that allow him to achieve the well-mixed clarity with his shows that only a professional can deliver.

TotalPicture’s content is always worth the time, but I especially like it when he hangs out with people I know. Peter is great at putting a guest at ease and asking questions that get to the heart of the recruiting matter. I especially liked his recent conversation with Heather Hamilton.

Peter’s generosity reminded me that blogging is not just about a mission (if, in fact, that is the purpose of your blog, as it is for me). Blogging is about community. About value for value. Though Peter had only a passing acquaintance with me and my name, he knew me through my blogging and guessed (astutely I hope) that it would be worth his time to help me out of my technical befuddlement. That is the power of blog... (so maybe it’s worth it after all….)

Comments

[Dave]

I have been a long time reader of your blog and continue to gain insights presented in a very informative fashion, but since I don't even know how to fly cast, much less pod cast, so unfortunately I could not have been of help, however, had I known, for sure I would have suggested Peter as a resource, and having had the pleasure of knowing him personally as well as having great respect for his work that he responded as he did comes as no surprise.

[Heather]

I second the nomination of Peter as King of Podcasting. What? You don't nominate kings?

Peter is a *very* generous person. We are lucky that he has focused his talents on the staffing/career space. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of Peters and not just because he made me sound smarter than I am on that podcast : )

He also knows some fascinating people.

[Patricia]

I don't know what else to do. My son is 14 years old and in Grade 9. I can talk and talk away to him and its in one ear and out the other. He will not listen to me it like we never even talk about the things that come up. Also his homework never wants to do it he failing his grades in school I done everything to help him but he never seems to help himself. I grounded him taken every thing away but still he haven't changed. Please tell me what to do.