It’s been an exhausting month of traveling all over the country for business. However, I feel strangely re-energized from attending one of our clients’ events, Avnet Compass 2009.

This is an annual event that Avnet puts on for its value-added resellers of Sun Microsystems and other solutions. Now, my inner geek loved the event simply from a technology standpoint. I’m definitely a fan of open source and I like how Sun goes to market. It will be interesting to see how the Oracle acquisition will affect its business, but it seems like everyone is in wait-and-see mode.

Avnet also unveiled its SolutionsPath playbooks, which are really nifty tools for its resellers to use to immerse themselves in their customers’ businesses and provide valuable solutions.

The other thing I loved about the event was the format. In addition to the physical event in Denver, Avnet also held a virtual tradeshow. 

Please take a look at our booth and let me know what you think (free registration required.) Oh, and check out my preso on sales and marketing alignment.

Virtual tradeshows allow you to provide information to your target audience without spending a lot on a booth, shipping, travel, etc.

However, I’m glad it wasn’t all virtual because I really think face-to-face interaction is the only way to build a quality business relationship with someone. You can establish it or augment it online, but there’s nothing quite like talking to someone in person.

What do you think of virtual tradeshows? Do you ever think these events will go all virtual? Have you built a great relationship with someone exclusively online?

Today, Canyonites celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the invention of skee-ball.

Ok, maybe we didn’t actually KNOW that skee-ball was invented in 1909, but we’re certainly happy that we got to play.

We spent our lunch hour at Peter Piper Pizza, where an intense skee-ball tournament was held between four teams of highly competitive co-workers. Muscles were pulled and voices were strained, but a good time was had by all.

photo courtesy of mikesalibaphoto

A quick round of arcade games was just what we needed to keep us energized after a hard work week.

Thanks to the Canyon Culture Club planning committee for helping us celebrate this momentous occasion.

Today, we mourn the loss of one of our own. PMS 484, affectionately referred to as “PiMS,” was laid to rest today at 8:04 a.m. in stall number two of the women’s restroom at 1955 S. Val Vista Drive, Mesa, Ariz.

PiMS was a good fish, a friend. Named for his PANTONE Color, PiMS was privy to some of our most strategic thinking, staring out from his fishbowl inside Canyon Communications’ main conference room (also called the fishbowl because it is glass on all sides). If PiMS could have talked in his day, oh the stories he could tell.

I think I can speak on behalf of all Canyonites and contributors to our Think Tank when I say PiMS will be dearly missed.

May you swim on in our memories and continue to inspire all in our Fishbowl.

Rest In Peace PMS “PiMS” 484

Beloved Betta

? – August 11, 2009

With e-verything “e” these days, chatting consists of opening an online dialog box or tweeting with tweeple. Gone are the days when one’s phone used to ring off the hook. Today, it seems everyone is off the hook when it comes to verbal communication.

Recently, I found myself explaining the wonderful world of Twitter (in less than 140 characters of course) to a friend and tenured marketing exec who tends to resist technology.

After fervently flapping about fail whales, becoming entangled in a web of widgets and deciding there wasn’t an app to further this discussion; I realized we should have met for drinks, not lunch.

So, I got back to basics to find our common ground—the telephone. For some reason, the age-old technique of picking up the phone for a real-life conversation is now overlooked.

Don’t get me wrong, e-mail is important and often convenient. However, sometimes it can be impersonal and the writer’s tone easily misunderstood. Likewise, some occasions just benefit from real-time, verbal dialogue.

At Canyon Communications, we have a few best practices when it comes to calling vs. e-mailing (principles apply to personal life too). We pick up the phone when e-mail:

• Becomes too verbose
• Contains an idea that could get lost in translation
• Necessitates more than two replies back and forth

Relationship building is a vital part of every business. Don’t forget that creating and maintaining those crucial relationships requires taking advantage of the entire communication spectrum.

What do you think? How often do you pick up the phone these days? What other best practices do you follow? Share your thoughts in the comments.