Moving on…
As many of you know, I’ve been working with an insurance company for the past few years, however I’ve decided that it is time to move on. Here’s why.
The Internet has changed dramatically over the past few years. When I completed a course in Multimedia Systems in Trinity College 12 years ago, I thought that I would end up creating virtual worlds for people to inhabit. Instead we are still living in the real world (thankfully), but it has been overlaid with myriad digitally facilitated conversations and data units. The digital world is like an invisible but richly decorated tapestry covering the entire planet which anyone can view and contribute to with just a few finger taps on a keyboard or screen. We are at the dawn of a new world that creates endless opportunities for anyone with even the basic tools to access the digital stratosphere.
In my time working as a virtual insurance salesman (the worst kind!) I put a lot of effort into trying to demonstrate to people on the outside that the website represented not just a large faceless institution, but an organisation with people who genuinely have their customers’ interests at heart. Every member of the web team focused on being absolutely customer-focused in everything they did; developing online product propositions and processes that gave customers what they wanted in the manner they wanted it. We engaged with social media as the tool that would allow us to have real conversations with our real customers. We constantly listened to our customers through the range of practices and applications available to us, and changed what we did in order to improve on the service we offered. And we realised that this approach was a key ingredient in the formula for success online.
Personally, I have become conscious that whether it is within large organisations, small businesses, universities, local communities or worldwide networks; each of us is continually seeking to connect with people who share our interests or who have the expertise to meet a specific need. Word of mouth has been complemented by social media in the digital age in helping us find others to connect with. There are many online resources that facilitate these connections, and yet there isn’t one place to go that brings it all together.
So I was particularly curious when Gary approached me about a fledgling Irish venture called Weedle which is setting out to create “new opportunities” for people around the globe by developing a platform that connects people with skills with those that need them. The platform will take a number of the best features of the social web and combine them with some new concepts. At the heart of the platform is a next-generation search algorithm developed in conjunction with the world’s leading experts in the semantic web, based here in Ireland, to create a truly unique and useful online service.
Iain, and the team already in place in Weedle, are passionate about the opportunities such a service can create for people everywhere. For me, this is a great opportunity to be involved in something that seeks to bring people together from anywhere in the world in relationships that are mutually beneficial. My role will be to help make sure that the platform does just that, efficiently and effectively, for all members of the Weedle community.
I will be starting with Weedle in mid-February. I fully intend to keep my own personal blog going here and I hope you will continue to stop by occasionally for a chat.
Trackbacks
- Fluffy Links – Monday January 25th 2010 « Damien Mulley
- I Could Die Tomorrow, so I Plan to live to 100 | Peter Tanham
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Brendan Hughes is an e-commerce, Internet marketing and social media strategist who helps large and mid-sized companies achieve success online. 
Best of luck, boss! From working with you I know you have the right understanding of what the web should be about, so any company is lucky to have you. A big brave move, but one I’m sure you’ll enjoy
Thanks for that Darragh. I learned a lot from our time working together and greatly benefitted from your insights into how brands should behave online. Looking forward to our continued discussions on the subject.
Sounds great, too good a proposition to pass up. All the best with it
Hi Brendan,
just posted what could be construed as a sarcastic tweet on what Weedle was based on enduring a few screens of vague, euphemistic content.
Now that I know you’re involved, I know it will have a great chance of success, so best of luck and looking forward to seeing developments.
Lar
Hi Brendan,
Best of luck in your venture – I’m sure you will help make it a great success!
Niall
Best of luck Brendan! I have no doubt that you will be a great success in your new role.
@Barry, thanks mate.
@Lar I smiled when I saw your tweet and I hadn’t had a chance to respond yet. You’re not the first person to express those views. I believe that the idea for the site at the moment is to act as a placeholder and to generate interest among potential employees. Hopefully more actual detail will be available shortly, but since I’m not yet an employee I couldn’t possibly speak on Weedle’s behalf
Good luck Brendan. Delighted to hear your news
Thank you Roseanne
Niall and Karina, missed your comments earlier. Thank you both for the good wishes.
Best of luck brendan, i hope it is a great success !
conor
ps – you sould have changed your web site temporarily to ‘where has brendan gone?’ ;-0
Hello Brendan,
I wish you every success at Weedle and look forward to hearing more about your new work! Sounds like it will fit your talents very well!
Best of luck Brendan! Looking forward to seeing what you get up too
Sounds like a great opportunity Brendan, best of luck with it
Best of luck with the new move Brendan. Exciting times ahead
Best of luck Brendan well deserved. Looks like this new job is ideally suited to your skill sets and a great opportunity for you. Enjoy
Congrats Brendan. The very best of luck with the new job
Congrats Brendan, sounds very exciting. Good luck.
Sounds like the new company will be one to watch. Slightly uncomfortable with the connoctations Weedle conjours up. I’m sure you’ll help them find the market in that gap they’ve stumbled accross! Best of luck and I think it’s a really cool (and brave) move.
That’s great news Brendan – go for it and I know you will enjoy the ride. We’ll have to catch up and swap stories. I hope it is a great success.
Best of luck Brendan, big changes for you in 2010 – go get em!
Joy
Thanks guys for all the good wishes. “Brave” and “courageous” are two words that people keep using… I’m preferring to use the words “excited” and “optimistic”
@Mark, hopefully in time only one thing will come to people’s minds when they hear the word!
Hi Brendan,
It’s been a great pleasure working with you and I am confident that you will be a huge success in Weedle.
Kind Regards,
Gary:)
Best of luck Brendan. congrats
Congrats Brendan, sounds like exciting times ahead
Good luck Brendan – you are the man
Good luck with the new job Brendan, hope you have a lot of fulfilling fun there. Congrats.
Best of luck.
I’ve been aware od Weedle for a while and I am interested in what they are going to roll out. I sopke to a couple of the guys in there about six months ago and they were expecting a soft launcg by end Dec last. I am still waiting, I like the idea of an Irish team putting out a worldwide app.
Good Luck with the move Brendan! I read from LinkedIn about your move first – LinkedIn seems to be searching for that sweet spot that weedle’s aiming for.
Got me thinking – LinkedIn & weedle – twould be an interesting BuyOut at some future date…
Great to read – too many year in financial services could have led to brainrot
keith
Thanks for the good wishes folks.
@John, I’m glad they didn’t soft launch in December… gives me a chance to get my paws on it before it goes public.
@ConorD, when I look at LinkedIn I certainly see that it has utility more than some other networks, but not in the same way as is being planned at Weedle. Not planning on the buy out just yet though.
@Keith, hopefull it’s not too late.
Hi Brendan,
With every good wish to you in your new venture. Its sounds exciting and I’m sure you’ll be a shining star at it.
Most of all enjoy it.
Lavinia
Hey Brendan,
Sounds like a really interesting move and I’ve no doubt you’ll be excellent and enjoy every minute of it.
Best of luck, Sarah
Hi Brendan,
Best of luck with the new role. Sounds like an exciting move and I am sure you’ll make a great success of it.
All the best,
Aedan
Lavinia, Sarah and Aedan – thanks guys for the good wishes. Another two weeks in the current location before the new adventure begins… but don’t let them know I’m counting down the days!
Congrats Brendan. I’ll check out weedle. If I can help with anything, drop me a mail.
Paul