A New Beginning

Along with many millions of people around the world, I’ve been watching closely the transition of the presidency in the United States.  Of course that transition ended yesterday with the formal Inauguration of President Barack Obama.  An inuaguration, literally defined as a new beginning, gives us great opportunity to assess the changes around us and think about how many ‘new beginnings’ are actually happening in parallel today.

Professionally, we’ve just completed the first fully Internet-immersive election cycle in the US.   From the astounding fundraising statistics where Obama himself raised over half a billion dollars online, to the amazingingly thorough websites, massive social media outreach, and the dawn of a new generation of Twitter users and YouTube videos from the politicians themselves.  

Faces In The Crowd

Personally, I was blessed to have the opportunity to be in Washington for the inauguration.  Over a million joined me on the National Mall and some small percentage busily Twitter’d and Facebook’d their every emotion in real-time.  It would have been fabulous to also have some real-time location based services on my mobile to find friends and scout optimum locations.   At the same time the true digital impact yesterday is still being fully measured.  Akamai, Adweek, and many others have chronicled record levels of combined online and offline traffic including more than 7 million simultaneous data streams most carrying live video.  The informal endorsement the Obama family has provided to J Crew has resulted in extraordinary publicity, as well as equal levels of traffic to their website which have at times overwhelmed their ability to keep up.

More important than all these digital events, it was the energy and enthusiasm of every person I met that struck me as the most profound ‘new beginning’ that yesterday held for us.  From the 85 year-old woman next to me on the mall, to the fellow CEOs at a TechNet reception, to the Iranian-born cab driver on my way to the airport at the end of the day.  Universally they were all excited about the possibilities for our country and how each and every one of us can make meaningful contribution to a better future.  Whether you use an iPhone app, social media, or an old-fashioned helping hand and a smile.

Parade Reviewing Stand and White House