Len Devanna offers over 24 years of digital innovation experience at Fortune 500 brands. He helps companies with all aspects of their digital ecosystem, including online strategy, engagement marketing, and social brand management.
Every once in a while, an opportunity lands at your doorstep that you simply can't refuse. Thanks to my friends at the Social Media Business Council, such an opportunity came knocking recently, and it all happens this weekend.
I'm honored to have been selected along with a small handful of folks to spend 24 hours at sea with the Navy, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Launched in 1988, 'Abe' is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier. She's powered by two nuclear reactors, has a crew compliment of 3,200, and carries 90 fixed wind aircraft and helicopters.
While I'm certainly excited to experience and explore Abe, I'm even more anxious to meet the men and women who have chosen to serve our country... Folks who we all owe a debt of thanks to.
During our stay, I hope to learn a lot about how the Navy uses Social Media to communicate, collaborate and recruit. Suffice it to say these folks have a whole different level of complexity when creating and deploying a SM strategy. As one of their social strategists shared with me at a recent event, "loose tweets sink fleets." Glad I don't have to factor such things into our social guidelines.
I'm also keen to learn more about the Navy culture. In preparing for this trip, I've had the pleasure of dealing with a handful of folks from the Navy. Each seems to be cut from a very similar cloth, embracing an approach of integrity, honor, and a commitment to excellence. I'm curious to see not only how the Navy recruits, but also maintains such a high degree of discipline.
I also suspect there will be many lessons to learn around teamwork. After all, over three thousand men and women come together to make this floating mini-city come to life. Among the paperwork I had to sign to participate in this once in a lifetime event were a few pages on inherent risks and next of kin notifications. In other words, this ain't the Love Boat. The risks that come with such a job are significant, and only emphasize the critical need for folks to operate as one - always watching out for one another.
Am I excited about simply being on the ship, grabbing some amazing photos and experiencing this once in a lifetime event? You betcha. But the life lessons I'll bring home, combined with the opportunity to shake the hands of folks who commit their lives to helping maintain our freedom, have me thrilled beyond anything that I could articulate in words.
More next week. Stay tuned.
Update: My 'crew mates' seem as excited as I am. Christopher Carfi has put together a list of others joining for this once in a lifetime trip.
Mark Yolton looks forward to first-hand lessons in leadership, operational excellence, mission, and honor during our trip.
Rob DeRobertis had his first attempt at this trip canceled back in January, but seems pretty excited for the second go.
Scott Gulbransen shares my passion for aviation and is excited to experience his first trap wire.
What a trip! An honor indeed. And yes, we owe a great debt of gratitude to these men and women. I'm sure there will be much learning and appreciation going in both directions. Enjoy!
Gil
Posted by: Gyehuda | April 23, 2010 at 01:52 PM
Now if I could just get my server room powered up by reactors..... *evil chuckle*
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