Important Notice: Food Truck Fridays!

There seem to be some changes brewing here at CBS Interactive. This week our “No longer the new guy” sitting in the corner office announced Food Truck Fridays for the month of June. Only in San Francisco can you find such gourmet food delivered via an ultra styled food truck!

At first glance, most folks smile at the promise of a free lunch. Today being the first of the Food Truck Fridays was every bit what you would expect. (I know… it is Thursday – the first one was an exception) However, what was more important then the choice between Curry wraps or Vietnamese noodles – was shared experience of all of 235 Second Street coming out to grab their grub and enjoy some sunshine.

Beyond the coolness factor of a free lunch – My take on the biggest wins, were in the conversations I had and overheard among the folks in our soon to be named front plaza. I have been here at CBS for 5.5 years, and I eat my lunch in the plaza nearly every day. (Rain or shine) – but today I met a number of folks for the first time, and sensed that many others also chatted it up with people they had not known prior.

Here in lies the greatest result from this afternoon. It has little to do with what you chose to eat… but in the choice to participate. We have some new leaders here in the building and with that will certainly include some level of change.

The interactive space is one of constant change. The technology and presentation that is used to bring value to the user does NOT (and never will) stand still. For me, this is honestly the most exciting aspect of working with new & interactive media. It is the wild west! We don’t have the benefit to look back in time to see what our predecessors did to be be successful – the coolest stuff has yet to be done.

The first and most noticeable change here at CBS, was in getting folks out of their cubes and offices so that they could wait in a line and talk it up about a free meal. This may seem a bit obvious… but at the end of the day we are a bigger collection of talented folks who spend our day’s trying to solve very similar challenges.

Our industry has an implied urgency to stay ahead of the pack, and to solve yet unknown challenges. This by itself can be a daunting, but is a super cool and awesomely fun challenge. So at the end of the day, many folks may have simply enjoyed a great free lunch (Thanks Mr. Lanzone & Mr. Moonves!) But the value of bringing the larger group together has a bigger pay off – A shared understanding of the challenges and possibilities for the road ahead. But more important, a deeper connection with the with a broader group of passionate folks who are likely just as hell bent on knocking one out of the park!