[Aztlan] 2012 Conference Trailer

[Sid Hollander]

It's interesting to me how many of the professionals are reacting to 2012.
Reacting is the key word here. The two conference are not competing for the
same audience, although I have not attended (nor will I) the 2012.  Let me
make a distinction between two groups of professionals. ProfessionalsA are
the Academics  they are the 'good guys'.  Professionals2012 are the ..err
you know what I mean.

I.  What's the big difference between the two groups
+They appeal to different audiences
+Professional2012s don't care about smaller audience of ProfessionalsA
+ProfessionalAa care about the larger audience of Professionals2012
+ They both write books.
ProfessionalsA's cost more and keep repeating what other ProfessionalsAs
said before.
ProfessionalsA's have too many footnotes. (there are only 17 people who need
them and they are all personal friends and colleagues who could email them
on challenges)
ProfessionalsAs write to an academic base and when they don't they say its
'popular' but still write to the same academic base
ProfessionalsAs work 'in the field' in secret (or they charge you $2000, tax
deductible of course, to watch and to "groupy" I know it costs a few bucks
to hammer in a few sticks and string a soga between them but wouldn't it be
a service to let people watch... knot hole in the fence)
+ ProfessionalsAs have an exclusive base of operation in an expensive (and
really isolated even in mid-town) ivy covered classroom or an expensive
seminar.

I could go on and so could you.  I am not here to bash ProfessionalsAs, but
is there a term like 'pro bono' in this field?  When was there a free talk
(I mean free in the sense of audience AND in the sense of pro bono) away
from the university setting where the folks going to 2012 'hang' and where
most of the rest of the world (most who travel and see your sites and work)
live.  Sad but true, but you folks are out of contact when out of your
academic nests.

Professionals2012 appeal to a broader base
Professionals2012 books read easier (MANY less footnotes also)
Professionals2012 books are less expensive (and not because they are
thinner)
Professionals2012 promote themselves better and have better promoters.
Professionals2012 are not restrained by academic standards (the others will
have to fight harder)

2. What's the same between the two groups
Most are looking to make a living and doing what they like to do most.
Very few of them in either group are independently wealthy although I sense
that ProfessionalsAs can and do live on less!

One problem here is that the ProfessionalsA's are too late to market. The
threat is here upon you because you were not doing the right things long
ago. You needed to promote your profession to the masses a long time ago.

I for one, like to see a good fight.  I am waiting for one or more of the
ProfessionalsA's here to climb down from your tower and fight where the
battle is; on the ground with the masses. Challenge yourself  to put out an
article (no cost there) and fight the battle that you feel is already here.
It will be your pro  bono for the cause.

-- 
Sid Hollander
Merida, Yucatan