Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

After seeing the love heart in my steam on Facebook last night, I tweeted that I’d never include my relationship status on Facebook because my life, believe it or not, is actually very private. A few people asked me for clarification so I decided to write a post to explain in more detail and to solicit your contribution to the conversation. 140 characters just isn’t enough right now.

You might think I put everything online, but I’m sure you’ll now realise that I never tweet, blog or facebook anything that’s private such a family matters - with the exception of one of my sisters, Deirdra, as I want to help promote her fantastic artwork.

Someone DM’d me to say that I was right because Facebook is so open. Facebook isn’t open, it’s a platform that allows you to put everything out in the open. It’s how you use it that matters. If you don’t want people to see pictures of your kids, don’t upload them. If you don’t want people to see you drunk at a party, don’t get drunk or don’t allow people to view pictures of you online by using your privacy settings - this one is particularly easy.

So, how much do you put online? What do you exclude if anything?

So, what’s wrong with it? It’s an entire page dedicated to Twitter in Square Meal magazine, entitled ‘To Tweet or Not to Tweet’, aimed at people who host parties and events and it doesn’t have a single quote from me. Why is that wrong? Let me explain…

1. I have more than 4,000 followers - more than anyone else who’s involved in UK based events
2. I run an events company
3. I have (arguably) been responsible for some of the most successful marketing campaigns on twitter - specifically for events promotion (for example, selling more than 200 tickets in less than 12 hours, during the night)
4. I own some restaurants
5. This is the best bit, the author of the article is none other than my bloody flatmate who knows all of the above.

Brilliant. By the way, this post is in jest so don’t think for a second I’m being serious. I just couldn’t stop laughing when Mike showed me the article this afternoon. One word for him - git! I’ve decided not to read it out of protest.

Am I being harsh on the git? Whatever you do, do not follow him on twitter!

Twitter has been responsible for my lack of blogging of late, so rather than try to write about all the stuff I’ve been up to over the past couple of weeks, I’ve posted some pictures and a video to help capture the essence of my recent shenanigans.

Pictures taken include the breakfast that Jeff Pulver and I hosted at Kettners with over 90 companies present - it was a great morning but as you can see from the video below, I was a little worse for wear and should never appear in front of a camera that early in the morning. Other pictures were taken at various dinners and of course, the pool shot was in South of France.

Jeff Pulver, Loren Feldman, Pat Phelan Andrew Keen and JP Rangaswami.

Watch this video on 1938media.com. If you want to leave a comment re the video please do so on Loren’s blog as I’ve just ripped it from his site.

I’m not sure I agree with the IAB setting up an award for the mobile industry. It’s not as if it’s one of many online advertising categories - it’s aimed specifically at the mobile industry and from what I can see, will end up covering just about every type of mobile application.

This type of award in my opinion, is best left to the mobile related associations such as the MMA (who I don’t think do much, but hey…) or better still, Mobile Monday - who I respect and admire.

Am I a little harsh?

Taken from the Metro:

Using Facebook or Twitter may make you a bad person because it ruins your moral compass, it has been claimed.

Fast-paced modern media, such as Facebook updates and news feeds on Twitter, do not give us time to reflect and could make us indifferent to human suffering, according to a group of researchers.

Children could be particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing, it was claimed.

‘If things are happening too fast, you may not ever fully experience emotions about other people’s psychological states and that would have implications for your morality,’ said researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, from the University of Southern California.

Yet another dumb ass quote from another dumb ass lecturer. Why do respectable publications such as the Metro (well, I enjoy reading it anyway) continue to quote people who’s job it is to come up with new opposing opinions to that of the general public?

Dear Metro, please try to interview people who know what they’re talking about. Stop interviewing people who sit on the fence commentating on the theory of everything, without actually delving into the real world of practise.

Facebook and Twitter brings out the best in us in my opinion. People have an instinct to help others by sharing opinions, contacts, advice, gossip and the like. What are your thoughts?

Since we introduced a £5 price tag ticket sales have been steady with about 200 sold already.

You can buy your ticket here.

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Looking for a COO to launch and run this new StartUp.

Many companies and people court the attention and resources of StartUps.

But who to believe?

• What is the best SEO company?
• Who is a good StartUp lawyer?
• Know any great web designers?
• I think I have some IP, who’s best to help me protect it?

How can I get my first bit of funding?

Some think I’m a trusted source of recommendations and am asked these sorts of questions on a daily basis. The idea is to put the answers to these commonly asked questions in one online repository evolved into the “StartUp Marketplace”.

The portal, will allow start-up businesses to connect directly with hundreds of hard-to-reach early-adopter investors in possession of digital funds that range from £6,000 to £600,000.

Marketplace users will also be able to access proven business-plan templates, which can be filled in online and sent directly to interested parties.

A wealth of professional business advice on subjects such as, obtaining Government grants or how to get start-up businesses up and running, will also be freely available.

A special section for aspiring business mentors will ensure that the Marketplace will work as both a business networking portal and a business providing valuable information and leads.

Off-line activity will include regular meet-ups, mentor breakfasts and other opportunities for users to enhance their business potential.

Unfair advantage

I have amassed the list of the people I know and trust in order that they are happy with being involved. Once this list was assembled it occurred to me that I had, in my opinion, THE best team any start-up could have. It occurred to me that StartUp Marketplace could be a StartUp Business itself.

Industry & market niche

I know the StartUp space. Some think I’m also a trusted name within it. So I’m leveraging this trust for the StartUp Marketplace. It’s my name and reputation at risk if I wasn’t to uphold quality and standard of the recommendations.

Marketing & sales process

Good amounts of focused user traffic will be achieved through group recommendation through social networks and word-of-mouth positive referral.

The Marketplace is also plugging straight in to a number of other trusted social networks - which I’m keeping to myself for now…

Management

Little ole me and CFO to start-ups and entrepreneurs, Rob Carter CA.

If you think you have what it takes to create and launch the StartUp Marketing, please email me paulatsegala.com

Remuneration: Equity!

Yippee.

Quick.TV is quite possibly one of the smartest technology companies I’ve come across in a long time. In short, it’s a new platform that allows users to edit videos and make them interactive. It allows you to embed hyperlinks, forms and other smart features. I’ll write a more in depth piece when I’ve got a show reel.

Here’s the Red Herring list.

Disclaimer: I’m an Advisor.

I was asked by the FT to comment on the UK Government’s decision to increase business rates by 5% this morning. I’ve yet to do so because I’ve just learned about it myself.

Refusing to scrap the rise that’s 50 times the current level of inflation, will save the Government £1billion. This couldn’t possibly come at a worse time for business owners!

“Let’s push those close to the edge that bit further” is obviously the Government’s moto.

I launched a new events based startup last week and I’m launching an online marketplace for start-ups soon. I’m wondering if I should incorporate in a country that doesn’t try to rip us off.

I’m looking forward to hearing what Tom Watson has to say on the matter, as he asked what the Government should do to help small businesses on Twitter recently.