Thanks for acknowledging the possibility that Fast Company’s “intention was pure and the purpose noble.” As I admitted in my first reply to you, our experiment isn’t perfect. No journalistic assignment ever is. We ask questions that we don’t know the answer to. Sometimes those questions make people uneasy. Sometimes the answers make us uneasy. But all of it is in pursuit of better information, knowledge, understanding.

I wish this project had unfolded differently–mostly because I would prefer to have people like you as supporters of Fast Company’s efforts. Our credibility is on display with every magazine article we print, with every post on fastcompany.com. We know that we cannot please everybody with everything, but we hope that in total our efforts make a positive contribution. Our goal is to encourage businesses and businesspeople–many of whom are less enlightened and progressive than you–to embrace change and possibility and new ways of thinking and working. That is delicate territory; not everyone wants to hear that message. But it is one that we believe is important to deliver.

You are engaged in a similar pursuit, and in that way we are partners. Those of us at Fast Company will continue to work, to try to earn your trust.

In time, I hope you’ll be able to see the Influence Project in a somewhat kinder light: as a heartfelt effort to engage in an important area, and as part of a larger portfolio of efforts, where the goal for Fast Company is neither fame nor riches but the continuing education and encouragement of our readers and the business community at large.

Bob

The continuous effort of some people/companies to attempt to measure digitally what can only be determined organically is driving me mad. I have to admit – I get caught up in sometimes. Yes – on occasion I do go to Klout. Just to laugh at myself.

Please keep up this great writing and the calling out of BS like this. Especially if I ever get caught up in it (again). I hope FC take this to heart.

Patrick Allmond

I will take one of the two complaints back then, you did come back to engage in dialog — but cannot say that you did not plastered the exact same message in at least 3 blogs I found out. Why does this matter?

Fast Company earned my trust and respect some time ago as a cornerstone for the new generation of corporate america. Some of the articles you published we would have never found anywhere else, and the concept of Brand: ME was ahead of its time, and quite valuable for a lot of people trying to figure the world of business as the changes from the internet were taking place. In other words, you were a big influencer.

Now, the problem is that with this lapse in judgment you are destroying that early trust and respect. Is it unrecoverable? probably not, you have not done a lot of other stupid things behind it (like attacking those that criticize you, not engaging in dialog), but you have made other small boo-boos as well (plastering the exact same message among those that were not kind to you). I don’t disagree with the concept, don’t get me wrong — I do congratulate for taking the time to engage with critics.

I also congratulate you for sticking to your beliefs, and I am anxiously waiting for the November issue of the magazine to see the coverage you give to this. However, it would be interesting to see you concede that even if the intention was pure and the purpose noble, there was some backfire on this attempt. Were you wrong? I say yes, you will say no – publicity-hungry hounds will also say no. Time will tell… but a mea culpa may be in place now. Just saying.

Thanks for talking to me, much appreciated… btw, you can follow this link http://blog.attensity.com/2010/07/08/influence-me-this/ to get an idea of the sentiment analysis behind the initiative (which I am sure you already have anyways) and add more kindling to the fire.

Thanks for stopping by!

I would like to think that is a withdrawal that will never happen, but — you never know… we all make mistakes here and there. No worries on the other stuff, you are still tops in the book of goodness!

Thanks for the read!

I am with you on that feeling, FC was a great part of the last few years and building the new corporations, I’d hate to see them go down for an error in judgment. I guess we will need to see what the magazine says in November…

Thanks for the read!