In the first of our interviews with Webstock ’13 speakers, we talked with Clay Johnson. Clay has an impressive CV that touches on many aspects of 21st century life — our relationship to technology, our consumption of information and the way these relate to power and politics. He’s also giving what promises to be a unique and, yes, important workshop: How To Take Over Your Town.
Webstock: I want to focus on the workshop you’re giving at Webstock – ‘How to take over your town’. It’s an intriguing title!
So, firstly, what’s been your journey to get here. You’ve been involved in politics with the Howard Dean presidential campaign and with Blue State Digital. You’ve worked with the Sunlight Foundation on making government more transparent. And you’ve written a book, ‘The Information Diet’ about the (pretty poor) information we consume and how to improve that. How has all that lead to you wanting to take over the town?
Clay: I don’t want to take over the town. I want us to take over our towns. Or rather to take our towns from charged up political climates into friendly, innovative communities. All politics is famously local. Power, too, is local.
Our media environment, though, makes us pay attention to large, sexy, national or global issues — issues that we largely can’t do anything about. Here — I’ll ask you three questions. No Googling allowed:
1. Who is the president of the United States of America?
2. How has the child poverty rate in your city/town/community changed in the last year?
3. Which one of the outcomes of the above two questions are you most likely to have an impact on?
Now some may say “That’s not fair! It’s very important to know who the president is!” and they’re right. These aren’t mutually exclusive. But what if I replaced the first question with “Name a Kardashian?”
We — the technology community — have to start paying attention to our communities. Two billion dollars just got spent in the United States presidential election, largely raised from concerned americans who wanted to participate in the election in some way. Thousands of people knocked on doors, made phone calls, and asked for votes. Can you imagine what would happen if that effort and participation went into improving public schools, or heck, street sweeping?
Webstock: The workshop description includes the following line, “The future of government isn’t in the code of law, it’s in the code of software.” What do you mean by that?
Clay: Right now the establishment profession of power is the lawyer. They write the laws, make the rules, determine who follows the rules and how best they get followed. But as technology is famously eating the world, isn’t the developer on the rise? After all, the software developers at Facebook are, through software, creating governing law on our interactions — they’re creating rules in the system about how we can communicate.
I think it’s time to start thinking about this critically. And I think it’s time for developers to start thinking “Perhaps I can make a big difference by making some changes in the way my community works!”
Developers have a skill like no other profession: they can rewire society without having to wait on government to change.
Webstock: Who should attend this workshop and what will they learn?
Clay: The developer who wants to learn how to organize people. Above all else, what I’m going to teach you isn’t a political skill, it’s a critical skill about how to move people. Hopefully, you’ll take this skill — combine it with what you already know how to do, and make amazing things happen for your community. But heck, if you just want to use the skills I teach you to learn how to leverage the ideas from US Political Campaigns in your business — that’s fine too.
That’s going to be the first half of my workshop. The second half of my workshop is going to be about having a healthy information diet so that you can stay focused on making great things happen for you. By the end of my workshop, you’re going to have a system for dealing with incoming crap, and you’re going to leave Webstock with more time. Anybody who wants more time on their hands should come to my workshop.
Also, Nat Torkington. And the lesson that he will learn is that he should have given my book a five star rating on goodreads. He will learn that lesson “the hard way.”
Webstock: Changing tack a little, one of your blog posts that I loved was ‘How to focus’ And I even went so far as to try the Pomodoro Technique mentioned there. How has the “focusing” gone for you? We all know it’s one thing to write or think about focusing better, it’s another to actually put things into practice over a sustained period of time.
Clay: I must confess. Focusing has gotten a lot harder for me since my wife and I brought our son Felix into the world in July. I still need to child-proof my How to Focus technique.
But honestly, I still use that technique a lot. It’s intended to be sort of a recovery program: when you find yourself lost in a rut of things that are asking for your attention, having the focus technique available is the thing that gets you out of that rut and back on track. It works every time.
Webstock: What the one single thing you’d recommend to someone wanting to improve their information diet?
Clay: Write 500 Words, every day, before 8AM. Make it the first thing you do every morning. That way, you’re starting your day as a producer, rather than a consumer. And your whole day will revolve around you making things rather than reacting to things.
Webstock: And finally, what are you most looking forward to at Webstock?
Clay: I’ve heard so much about Webstock that I can’t even begin to anticipate what I’m looking forward to the most.
Webstock: Thanks so much so Clay! We’re looking forward to having you here in February.
See more about Clay’s workshop, How To Take Over Your Town. And then go register for it!
You may have heard that in the second half of 2013, Wellington’s century-old Town Hall – home to Webstock – will be out of action, whilst it receives the full earthquake strengthening treatment. It’s a two year project designed to lift the earthquake rating of the building to 140 percent of new building standard, making it safer than a super safe thing.
This means that Webstock ’13 may be the last, possibly forever, in the iconic Wellington Town Hall.
We believe that the Town Hall is an integral part of the Webstock experience. We are fussy customers and the right venue is paramount. The Town Hall allows us to accommodate the almost-1000 people who come to the event over the course of Webstock Week. It enables us to have workshops running simultaneously. It allows us the social table layout we prefer to aisle and row type seating.
With the Town Hall unavailable, we’re presented with a challenge:
Where do we hold Webstock in the future?
And how many people might we be able to accommodate?
And what impact does that have on the format?
These are just some of the big questions we’ll be considering over the next little while. Cos right now, we don’t know what the future holds for Webstock.
All we know is that it will be very different to the Webstocks that have gone before it. Changes are afoot for Webstocks 2014 onwards. It’ll be Webstock – but not as we know it!
All of which means that Webstock ’13 marks the end of an era. This is the last hurrah to the Webstock experience you’ll be familiar with. And we think that’s a cause for celebration and a right royal knees up! We’d love you to be there so we can make it one mighty send off. [This is where you now consider registering this instant so you don’t miss out!]
To remind ourselves of those special times we’ve had, here are the some photos from Webstocks past. They’re in the nature of our love letter to what’s been a wonderful venue and one that has helped define the very essence of Webstock.
PS – We should also say that we’re REALLY EXCITED about the possibilities for Webstock ’14. It’s a great chance for us to…ah hell, we’re not going to tip our hand this early! Let’s just say: Webstock ’14 is going to be something awesome – something different, but definitely awesome. But bottom line: Webstock ’13 is your last chance to experience Webstock “classic”. It’s gonna be big. It’s gonna be gigantic amounts of fun. It’s gonna be mighty memorable. And it’s gonna be very very exciting. It’s gonna RULE!
A lovely venue, which has accommodated many Webstockers over the years
#1
The inaugural Webstock back in 2006 was opened by Sir Tim Berners Lee via video
#2
Webstock aims to have a diverse mix of speakers
#3
And a feeling of audience participation
#4
The venue provides excellent facilities for the Speakers when they need to take some time out to prepare and relax
#5
The Speakers’ presence on stage is often highly anticipated
#6
VERY highly anticipated
#7
The venue provides the room and freedom for a range of different presentation styles
#8
It’s a venue that works well for workshops, streamed sessions and keynotes
#9
And importantly, it works well for the much anticipated afterparty
#10
The venue provides excellent hospitality staff and a wide range of beverages and tasty morsels suitable for the party environment
#11
Said parties are a great opportunity to discuss issues raised over the course of the day eg the Andriod vs iOS debate raged last year:
#12
As did debate over the HTML5 specs
#13
Debates aside, the environment at Webstock is always a highly convivial and joyous one, bringing wonderful like-minded people together to celebrate their craft and the wonders of the web
#14
————————
#1 Wellington Town Hall interior. Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 13. Ref: PAColl-6407-49. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22813146
#2 Visit of General Evangaline Booth, Salvation Army, Town Hall, Wellington. Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints. Ref: 1/1-032721-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23244296
#3 Reception for Fleet officers at Wellington Town Hall. Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints. Ref: 1/1-032615-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23019450
#4 Hypnotist, Miss Dormia Robson, with the audience at Wellington Town Hall http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22387489 Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1958/1443-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
#5 Judges in New Zealand Brass Band Championships at the Town Hall, Wellington. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1959/0553-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23261700
#6 Police restraining fan during Rolling Stones concert, Wellington Town Hall. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP/1965/0521-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23132666
#7 Teenage fans at the Walker Brothers concert in the Wellington Town Hall. Dominion post (Newspaper) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP/1967/0398-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23033384
#8 Table tennis at Wellington Town Hall. Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints. Ref: 1/1-032037-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22750502
#9 Wool sales at Town Hall, Wellington. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1957/2346b-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22313157
#10 Square dancing at the Wellington Town Hall. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 114/296/06-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22857670
#11 Medicine department at Wellington Town Hall during the 1918 influenza epidemic. Ref: 1/2-C-016207-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22328319
#12 Don Beitelman vs. Ivan Kameroff, wrestling match at the Wellington Town Hall. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/1088-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22907669
#13 Amamus Theatre Group performing in Wellington Town Hall. Dennis, Jonathan Spencer, 1953-2002 :Photographs. Ref: PAColl-7413-13-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22483099
#14 Guests at Plunket Ball at the Town Hall, Wellington. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1956/1414b-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23128050
In continuing with our fine Webstock tradition of losing a speaker at the last moment, we’re really sad to announce the Garr Reynolds has had to cancel his trip to Webstock. He’s come down with a bad case of the flu, it’s very contagious and his Dr has advised no travel. Garr really really wanted to make it here, but:
a) he was so sick his wife had to write us and let us know he couldn’t make it;
b) we didn’t want to be known as the conference that infected the whole NZ web community and various web glitterati from around the world with highly infectious flu!
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that we’ve got a wonderful replacement for Garr at the conference. Amy Hoy, who’s spoken twice at Webstock before has agreed to step in at very late notice and deliver what we’re sure will be a wonderful presentation in Garr’s place. Thank you Amy, we’re extremely grateful!
Another option that was discussed rejected here at Webstock was having Webstock’s own Ben Lampard replace Garr with his own talk, entitled, ‘Presentation Ben’. We’re sure you’ll join with us in being glad Amy was in the country!
We are happier than the happiest happy things in HappyVille to announce that Tony Hsieh and Jenn Lim will be at Webstock.
And with that, the programme for Webstock ’12 is complete. Promise! It’s gonna rock!
We’ve had a great response to the BNZ Start-Up alley, with nearly 30 companies entering. The range, scope and ambition of entrants has been extremely impressive — as convener of the selection panel, Nat Torkington, put it, “there’s been lots of companies entered I’d never heard about, but which are a long way along!”
And as much as we’d love to showcase everyone, there’s only room for the six finalists. So without further ado, here they are!
Educa
“Educa – helping parents stay connected with children’s early childhood learning. We are thrilled to be selected as one of the six finalists for the BNZ Start-up Alley. To see how Educa can benefit you, talk to us at Webstock 2012.”
Nathan Li — CEO
GoVocab
“GoVocab – Go Vocab is a new way to teach, learn and revise vocabulary. It’s fun and it makes sure you actually remember what you learn.”
Michael Dowse — GoVocab
Luumin
“Luumin – We are very excited at being selected for the BNZ Start-up Alley! What a fantastic way to start off 2012. We can’t wait to get to Webstock and share
the Luumin Social Productivity app with everyone.”
Harry Ferguson
My Tours
“My Tours – Webstock really pushes you to up your game in whatever you do and we are really looking forward to pitching in front of 500 of our peers for the BNZ Start Up Alley.”
Glen Barnes — Founder
Pocketsmith
“Pocketsmith – We’re thrilled at being selected as a finalist for the BNZ Startup Alley, and look forward to meeting our friends in the NZ startup community at Webstock!”
Jason Leong — Co-founder
uSnap.us
“uSnap.us – We’re thrilled to be selected as a finalist for the Startup Alley at Webstock and now we can show everyone attending and the judges why uSnap.us will be such an amazing product.”
Owen Evans — Co-Founder
Congratulations to these six finalists! We look forward to seeing them at Webstock.
