Crowd-Sourced Job Interview

Borrowing a page from things I learned from Mike and from all of the wonderful speakers at our recent incentive2innovate conference, I decided it would be a good idea to crowd-source the interview questions we'll eventually ask of the candidates for the yet-to-be-announced Google Liaison and Community Manager position. In one of my first tweets under the @glxp handle, I asked the community "I'm crowd-sourcing this hiring process: what questions do I think I should ask as we interview potential replacements for @revrev?" Luckily for me, ideas poured in from all around the globe:

@revrev - Which do you prefer: I'm on a Boat or Play 'Em Off Keyboard Cat? Bonus question: now who should I take? [Note: There's some not safe for work language in "Boat"]

@cariann - I second that!

@amianda - consider all sm experience, not just professional. Ask how ppl meet others, hear about opportunities, take advantage of networking ...

@amianda - find out about hobbies, clubs and interests. How do they use sm to communicate. Consider their enthusiasm and creativity.

@amoroso - Q for comm manager candidates: what's most unusual audience segment u were able to reach/generate buzz to in prev experiences?

@Luke_Ubiquitous - Question: Do you like to sleep? If so, you need not apply :-)

@cariann - If they can't answer @revrev 's questions, they are not qualified.

@Murphian - Explain how Social Media fits in2 the strategic plan 4 a non-profit. Specifically how it supports mktg, communications & fundraising

@rsisk101 - Q1: Monster or Mt. Dew? Q2: Name 4 main char. on Big Bang Theory. Q3: Where do they shop; Brookstone or @thinkgeek? Q4: What is 42?

@burninggoats - "Is your name on twitter @burninggoats?" if they answer yes i'd hire them on the spot!

@sa_kyle - is this job open for outside candidates? [Note: Yes, it will be!]

@rsisk101 - Fun Friday idea: compile the crowd sourced interview questions and let us do some crowd sourced answers ;>

@amoroso - Q 4 comm mgr candidate: how would u explain Twitter to a kid? To a PhD? Correct answer: no need to explain Twitter to kid [Note: In a following post, @Murphian provided some data indicating that might not be the case]

@amoroso - Q 4 community mgr candidate: what causes have YOU recently contributed/donated to?

@quarkspin - @glxp So is the interview process more like this or this? [Note: Actually, I expect it to be more like this]

@rsisk101 - oh, oh, another idea.... Is there resume written in 140 characters or less? If not, they are outtta here

@eriklaan - interview question: what is the best method to structurally convert every citizen of planet Earth to become a Universe Explorer

@D_Brooke_Owens - ask them: "are you awesome? [Note: Brooke's in Uganda! I think that makes this our longest-traveled suggestion]

@eriklaan - interview question: what GLXP Android/Iphone application will be downloaded 1 billion times in 2012 because you promoted it?

@matt808 - Q: How do you feel about your interview questions being crowd sourced? How have you used crowd sourcing?

@heathervescent - if I wanted your gig, I'd ask YOU what you want out of your SM endeavors. What kind of community do you want to create? ...

@heathervescent - ... Who is the circle of ppl you want to influence and engage? depending on that, your SM and community bld strategy may take various tactics.

Happy Trails!

Well, I suppose that all things must pass. As regular readers know already, today marked the end of an era: Mike Fabio, our original Google Liaison and the person responsible for building and maintaining the online communities associated with the Google Lunar X PRIZE left for another job as of the close of business today. We're very sad to see Mike go--but we're happy for him, and excited to know that he's leaving us to pursue his first true love, a career in the music industry.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE itself will continue without Mike, as we do our best to fill the big shoes he's leaving behind. The search for a new Google Liaison will begin shortly, and in the meantime, Nicky and I will try to keep the online communities as fun and informative as possible.

But before we turn to that new chapter, let's say a proper goodbye, and pay our respects to the man who built this blog. ¡Adios, amigo!

Some Parting Words

Note: The live video is completed. This is the recording. You might need to fast forward a minute or so to get to the good stuff

At 3pm PDT today I'll be doing a quick live video to say goodbye. I'll be sharing some thoughts on the Google Lunar X PRIZE, where it's heading, and what it means. I'll also be dropping some science on the ins and outs of this job - I know there are a lot of people out there interested in filling it after I'm gone. Tune in, see you there.

Video: Launch of Model SpaceShipOne Rocket

After the success of the Ansari X PRIZE, model rocket company Estes produced a limited edition SpaceShipOne replica, ready-to-fly. We still have a couple unopened ones lying around the office here, but I just stumbled across this video of a launch on YouTube. Sadly, it doesn't have quite as smooth a landing as the real thing, but fun to watch nevertheless.

Google Lunar X PRIZE Featured in The Explorer's Journal

The Explorer's Club, a "professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore," has featured the Google Lunar X PRIZE in it's recent issue of The Explorer's Journal. This issue is devoted to lunar exploration in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo landings. You can download a portion of the issue here.

Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, has contributed an article to this issue, and there is a great feature showing designs and prototypes of all of our Google Lunar X PRIZE teams' vehicles. Other authors in this issue include Apollo Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Bill Anders.

And as it turns out, the Explorer's Club has yet another tie to the X PRIZE Foundation. When SpaceShipOne flew into space in 2004, it carried with it the Explorer's Club flag. This flag was presented to the Foundation in honor of the achievement of the Ansari X PRIZE.

The full Summer 2009 issue doesn't seem to be available for download yet, but if the segment we've posted (with their permission of course) whets your appetite, you should be able to download the full issue eventually--or subscribe to the Journal today--here.

You'll excuse me now, I've just touched something that went into space. I might be a little giddy.

Tales from the Melting Pot: Scott Zeeb to Scaled Composites

One of my favorite things about incentive prizes is the way that they bring talented individuals together and provide a spirit of camaraderie that complements the sense of competition. Since I joined the X PRIZE Foundation four years ago (I can't believe I just passed that anniversary!), I've been pleased to see entreprenuers from different teams come together time and time again to share ideas, tips, and suggestions, even as they each tried to show that their own entry was the best. This collaborative spirit has without question had a "rising tide" effect, floating the metaphorical boats of all of the teams and of the industry in general by leading to more, better, and faster results.

With the friendly way that so many of our teams work with each other, it was only a matter of time until we began to see some real cross-fertilization, with teams merging or hiring each other. We've seen some examples within individual prizes already: for example, Google Lunar X PRIZE team Synergy Moon is a product of a merger between two formerly independent entries, and Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge team Masten Space Systems hired fellow competitor Paragon to build tanks for their rockets.

Now, we've got another example to add to the list. Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge team TrueZer0 just announced that team co-founder and co-leader Scott Zeeb has been offered and has accepted a job at Scaled Composites, the technical team that built SpaceShipOne, the winner of the Ansari X PRIZE. Todd Squires, the other co-founder and co-leader of TrueZer0, writes

[Recently,] we made a small detour to visit to Scaled Composites. I've been a fan of Burt Rutan for some time, and Brooke Owens [a former X PRIZE employee now working with the FAA, helped] us set up a visit. That was an awesome experience. The people at Scaled are every bit as bright and motivated as we expected. They're working on some amazing stuff and were impressively humble, considering what they've achieved. I'd personally like to thank Matt and Ben for taking the time to show us around, and everyone at Scaled for being so open and friendly.

At the end of our visit we got to sit and chat with Burt for quite a long time. How cool was that? After speaking with him, it's easy to see why he's been so successful. He really loves what he's doing. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and his no-nonsense get-out-and-do-it approach to life is obvious.

During our talk, Burt asked if we'd like to move out to Mojave, and work for Scaled. I'm pretty settled in Illinois, and enjoy working as an independent contractor. As undeniably cool as the work would be, tearing up my life and moving to Mojave is not the right choice for me currently. Scott on the other hand, was a little more open to the idea. Recently, he went back for a full-on job interview. Scaled made him an offer, and just a few days ago, he accepted. He'll be moving out there shortly, and starting in early August.

Todd's whole post is worth reading, as it provides some more context.

While we're definitely sad that this move might end up slowing down the incredible progress TrueZer0 is making, we're absolutely thrilled to see Scott end up at Scaled. It's sure to be a good fit, and the world always benefits from having bright folks like Scott dedicate themselves full time to the pursuit of commercial spaceflight.

So, please join us in wishing a hearty congratulations and good luck to Scott, Scaled Composites, and the rest of team TrueZer0!

Scott Zeeb shows team TrueZer0's rocket to judges and NASA Centennial Challenges staffer Andy Petro at the 2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Photo Credit: X PRIZE Foundation

NASA's LRO Returns its First Images of the Moon

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter returned its first images of the lunar surface today. How beautiful, that magnificent desolation...





Visit the LRO homepage to view these images in high resolution.