There are two Shels
For many years, being named Shel had the advantage of uniqueness. “What an unusual name,” people would say. “Is it short for something?” I was never confused with anyone else.
Then along comes “Naked Conversations.” Not only is one of the co-authors named Shel, but we wind up at a lot of the same events. We write blogs on a similar topic. In the last 24 hours, I’ve received a comment on my blog that reads: “Nice to meet you Shel, and I enjoyed your lunchtime presentation with Robert Scoble.” My post praising the Ether launch prompted a trackback to the Ether blog linking to my post but reading, “Already on the first day there’s an incredible energy flowing out there in the ether: the super-quick Mike Arrington, Stuart Henshall, Shel Israel, Tom Keating, Mitch Ratcliffe, Rich Tehrani and the super-genuine Robert Scoble.” Even when my name is in the blog URL, they thought I was the other guy just because they saw the name “Shel.”
And these are just the two most recent examples. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve received from people asking me how “Naked Conversations” is selling and how I liked working with Scoble. (I’m sure I would have liked it had I done it.) Even at the TechCrunch party, where my name tag clearly displayed my first and last name, people thought I was the guy on the other side of the tent signing books.
So let’s get this straight once and for all, okay? There are two Shels out there now. Two of us. Shel Israel co-wrote Naked Conversations. He’s a helluva nice guy. I like him a lot. But I’m not him.. I’m Shel Holtz. Okay? The other Shel. Got it? Ask me how “Corporate Conversations” or “Blogging for Business” are selling. Ask me about the podcasting book Neville Hobson and I are writing for McGraw-Hill. But I didn’t write “Naked Conversations” (which is a wonderful book), so please take that question to my friend, Shel Israel.
I have black hair and grey in my full beard; Israel has pretty much just grey in his goatee. I only wear reading glasses; Israel wears glasses all the time. I was born in 1954. Israel was born…umm…earlier.
Just for purposes of additional clarification, see below. I’m on the right. Israel is on the left. Any questions?
Photo credit: Josh Hallett
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03/04/06 | 12 Comments | There are two Shels