Seeing good data center friends at 7x24 Exchange

I started my data center conference attendance 5 years ago with Uptime Symposium, then DatacenterDynamics.  Eventually going to Data Center World and Gartner data center conference.  I had heard about 7x24 Exchange, but I was so busy going to the other conferences I didn't fit in a trip to 7x24.  Thanks to words of encouragement from David Schirmacher, I decided to go and convinced another data center executive as well to go to a 7x24 exchange conference and compare.  Now keep in mind what I am sharing is biased.  David Schirmacher is a good friend whose opinion I trust and he is now the President of 7x24 Exchange.  I get to go to almost all the conferences as media so I get access to people and information that people are interested in having written up.  So the value of what I am getting from these conferences is not looking for equipment or ideas to put in a data center that I run. I am looking for who is the most innovative in the industry and interesting to write about.

I just went through the speaker list for 7x24 Exchange and more of my friends are speakers at 7x24 Exchange than any other conference.  These are good friends that we will chat in bar, hang out to discuss a variety of topics, get together whenever we are in the same town, and would gladly cook a meal in my woodstone pizza oven.  Here is picture of the oven on a pallet before installation.  It does kind of look like something that could be installed at a data center. :-)

This is my fifth 7x24 Exchange, going twice a year for 2 1/2 years and one simple measure of why I go is I see more of my friends as speakers at the conference than any other one.  Which has the side benefit of when I do want to write a blog entry for a presentation I have access to the speaker.  Writing about my friends can create a bias, but why try to fool anyone with unbiased reporting.  Everyone has biases.  My bias is to help my friends spread the word on where the industry needs to be going.

Bored of Data Center Presentations? Me too, so do something about it

It was fun catching up with Chris Crosby in LV and Santa Clara over the past couple of weeks.  Chris just posted on the issue of wishing upon a star for maybe these data center conferences would be more interesting.

In doing a quick review of some of the topical fodder that will be discussed at some of the data center industry’s upcoming confabs, I have to say that it looks like we’re stuck in a bit of a rut. Does an over abundance of Power Points expounding on the how it’s “DCiM’s time” and that the Cloud “will change everything” reflect some hidden industry wish that these things will come true? Should we cue Jiminy Cricket?

Chris closes imploring the event staff to change the formats.

While there is little that we can do about the topic’s that speakers will be covering this tradeshow season, I would ask—and I don’t think I’m alone here—that the companies that put on these extravaganzas endeavor to broaden the scope of topics before they implore us to “Join Them” in the one of the nation’s metropolis’s in the future. If I see one more product pitch presentation delivered by someone with the charisma of a newt, I may just lose my lunch. Get out on a limb and say something new. As for DCiM and the Cloud I say look to that Walt Disney classic, Pinnochio, for guidance. After all, after being turned into a donkey and being swallowed by a whale, his wish to become a real boy came true.

But, getting people to change is one of the hardest things in life.  Much harder than greening a data center and coming up with new ways to change the industry for a new performance per watt approach.  

So instead of asking for change, change yourself.  About two years ago I stopped going to AFCOM Data Center World and Uptime Symposium as media and started trying other conferences.  I started going to GigaOm Structure as a media attendee and thanks to Barton George he introduced me to Stacey Higginbotham as GigaOm needed a data center analyst.  So, I spend time (less than 20%)  as an analyst for GigaOm Pro as well as a bunch of other things (the other 80%).

In a month at GigaOm Structure I'll be moderating two panel discussions. 

One with following title and presenters

Compute everywhere: the architects behind the change

Chandra Pandey, Vice President, Platform Solutions, BTI Systems

Lane Patterson, CTO, Equinix

And the other

How infrastructure can transform business success

Cynthi Stoddard, SVP & CIO, NetApp

David Giambruno, SVP and CIO, Revlon

I could try to interject something like the above into a typical data center conference, but it is a lot of work.  The above people are presenting because of the GigaOm brand and its audience.  Also, I'll most likely be jumping into a mode of business value of IT, not data center infrastructure.

The data center infrastructure is important and many of the changes going forward are how the data center infrastructure supports business innovation which is what CIO's care about.  It will be interesting whether data center conferences can change to more than a DCIM and Cloud discussion.

I'll be at GigaOm Structure given I work for the GigaOm folks and am a speaker.  Here are some of the interesting sponsors that work in the data center industry.

 

And Open Compute Project will participate.

Facebook and the Open Compute Project are hosting their second hardware hackathon with the winners presenting at GigaOM’s Structure conference on June 19. So start thinking about your idea, and go register.

If you want to hear a different discussion of the cloud you may want to trying something different for a change, or you can keep on going to the same conferences and hope they get more interesting.

What our attendees are saying

 

• Structure has always been, and continues to be, the place with the most vibrant and provocative cloud discussion. I’ve tracked cloud for a long time and still find Structure to be an essential meeting in order to keep up.

  - Peter Christy

  Co-Founder, Internet Research Group

   

  Structure is a ‘multi-phasic examination’ report on Cloud. In two days, one gets a reading on the state of the technology, the commercial aspects, and the ability to engage in conversation with the people most influential in its evolution.

  -Rich Miller

  CEO, Telematica

   

   
• Structure has always been, and continues to be, the place with the most vibrant and provocative cloud discussion. I’ve tracked cloud for a long time and still find Structure to be an essential meeting in order to keep up.

  - Peter Christy

  Co-Founder, Internet Research Group

   

  Structure is a ‘multi-phasic examination’ report on Cloud. In two days, one gets a reading on the state of the technology, the commercial aspects, and the ability to engage in conversation with the people most influential in its evolution.

  -Rich Miller

  CEO, Telematica

   

   
• Structure has always been, and continues to be, the place with the most vibrant and provocative cloud discussion. I’ve tracked cloud for a long time and still find Structure to be an essential meeting in order to keep up.

  - Peter Christy

  Co-Founder, Internet Research Group

   

  Structure is a ‘multi-phasic examination’ report on Cloud. In two days, one gets a reading on the state of the technology, the commercial aspects, and the ability to engage in conversation with the people most influential in its evolution.

  -Rich Miller

  CEO, Telematica

A Data Center Thought Leadership Social, built on quality of friends

Management and other marketing recognize using the words thought leadership are good, but mistake claiming thought leadership doesn't you a thought leader.

January 09, 2009 

 

Monday night we had a data center social with thought leaders.  Thought leadership is not how we market what the event is. Thought leaders are the type of people we are looking to invite.  So, why do the thought leaders we invited make time in their  busy schedule and some flying in from Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, NY, and Seattle?  The event works because it is about friends being able to chat in a comfortable environment.  Spending 10 minutes, 20 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes just chatting about whatever they want.  There is no hurry, there is hovering salesman looking to interject.  In fact some of the vendors who we let come in because they wanted to meet with some others who were in town recognized that they need to tread softly as the slightest hint of someone to sell a product, get a business card could set you in a bad light in front of influentials.  

 

People catching up what's up with their kids, their latest vacation or hunting trip, funny data center stories, doesn't fit in with someone who is trying to explain the value of their product/service.

 

So, what is the value of people attending? It's about friends catching up who haven't caught up in months, maybe years, and making new friends in the data center industry.  The #1 type of people we almost always welcome are data center operations people.  These are the people who many times who are so busy running the data centers, they don't go to many conferences.  Also, there are some of the people who make the data center circuit, but want some downtime to just catch up with friends.

 

How valuable are data center friends?  Oprah.com has a post that will help explain the value.

Why do you want authentic, deep friendships? Friends touch your heart, challenge your mind, inspire you to pursue your passions, double the good times, halve the bad times and make your life a happier and more fulfilling place to be.

And that's not just my opinion! Here are the researched facts from Tom Rath, a researcher at Gallup:

• If you feel close to other people, you are four times more likely to feel good about yourself and life.
• People who claim to have five or more true friends with whom they can discuss important problems are 60 percent more likely to say that they are "very happy."
• People with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work! However, only 30 percent of employees report having a best friend at work!

"Friendships are among the most fundamental of human needs," Rath says. "When we asked people if they would rather have a best friend at work or a 10 percent pay raise, having a friend clearly won."

It is a little corny to read the "friends who touch your heart." In thinking  though, the one friend who touched all our hearts is our departed Olivier Sanche.  One of the best qualities of Olivier is we all remember the first time we met him, and how everyone can recall that first conversation.  Olivier is a true friend and one we all miss so much in the industry.

And a great lesson is the quality of your friends can make life so much better.

 

 

 

A strategy to have meaningful data center socials, listening to the infuentials

I have known a few people who thought it was a good idea to start a conference.  They thought it was a great way to make money from attendees, exhibitors, and sponsor.  Many of these people were people who didn't have technical expertise in the area of the topic, but worked on many conferences and saw the money flow through.  

Sometimes I think these are the type of people who are running many of the data center conferences.  They are playing around with the sponsorship packages, how much it will cost to exhibit, and how much they will charge attendees.

A different strategy is focus on the dynamics of the groups who attend.  Back in Aug 2010 I wrote about Steve Manos's data center social events in Chicago.

http://www.greenm3.com/gdcblog/2010/8/6/first-reaction-to-lee-tech-on-tap-in-chicago.html

First reaction to Lee Tech on Tap in Chicago,

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010 AT 11:38PM

The energy was high at Lee Tech on Tap in Chicago and I can see why people keep on attending.  Given how much I have written about the event many people were surprised this was my first one to attend and I am glad my first was where it started.

There are some great people I met there and discussed ideas that wouldn't have happened if  I wasn't at the event.  Usually when you go to an event you feel good if you make a couple of good contacts.  In one night, I made at least 7 good connections that I will follow up on.

The benefit of an event is finding people of the same mindset and people who are different who stimulate new thinking.

...

Attending Lee Tech on Tap in Chicago - Aug 5, 2010

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010 AT 1:04PM

Thanks to the folks at Lee Technologies I was extended an invite to attend the Lee Tech on Tap event in Chicago on Aug 5, 2010.  I've written about the event so much, it will be good to see the people and event in person.

I would live blog the event, but I think I'll be too busy talking to people.  I don't expect any press releases surrounding the event so there is no need to hurry and post.

Some of the decline of revenue, sponsors, and attendees for some of the data center conferences is caused by event folks focusing on the numbers and not looking at the dynamics of the groups. 

A key set of people to listen to are the influentials.  The people that almost everyone knows or want to know, and listen to whether they find the event useful.  If not, you need to figure out what will get them to attend.

When is the last data center conference you said I am so glad I went.  That hosted reception in the exhibit area was worth the trip.  Not.

Whereas most of those who attend data center socials, see the benefit and will attend again.  

Another Data Center Company targets the GigaOm audience with the Cloud

Part of hanging out with GigaOm is seeing how the rest of the data center industry interacts with their audience.  I've consistently seen Dupont Fabros, Softlayer, and Verizon Terramark sales teams at events, and they are quite happy with the audience they talk to.

What got my attention today is Internap sponsored a post on their webcast on GigaOm.

Sponsored post: Cloud and co-location hybridization (live webcast)

• A
• A

 

SUMMARY:

Learn how hybridization of the cloud and co-location can result in improved visibility and flexibility in our June 5 webcast, “Hybridization: shattering silos between cloud and co-location.” We’ll discuss the benefits of a hybrid environment and use cases in which co-location and cloud efficiently work together.

...

Attend this webcast to learn:
• Advantages of both co-location and cloud solutions
• How hybridization of the cloud and co-location can result in improved visibility and flexibility for your IT infrastructure
• Real-world use cases in which colocation and cloud efficiently work together

Here are descriptions of them media, event, and research products.

Disclosure: I work freelance for the GigaOm Pro Research group.

• NEWS

  GigaOM articulates a vision for the future of connected technology in its news and analysis, enabling business and tech decision-makers to shape that future by helping them better understand the evolving landscape, latest trends and how key startups will disrupt these.

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    GigaOM events bring together executives and innovators from across the tech landscape to make news, spark discussion and deliver high-end networking opportunities. Our team consistently brings the most sought after, interesting speakers to the stage.

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