Tag: Technology

The Brand called You…

Starbucks logo
Image via Wikipedia

…is not a new concept — Tom Peters rolled it out a couple of years ago — but it’s just as relevant today as it was then. Even more so!

“That cross-trainer you’re wearing — one look at the distinctive swoosh on the side tells everyone who’s got you branded. That coffee travel mug you’re carrying — ah, you’re a Starbucks woman! Your T-shirt with the distinctive Champion “C” on the sleeve, the blue jeans with the prominent Levi’s rivets, the watch with the hey-this-certifies-I-made-it icon on the face, your fountain pen with the maker’s symbol crafted into the end …

You’re branded, branded, branded, branded.

It’s time for me — and you — to take a lesson from the big brands, a lesson that’s true for anyone who’s interested in what it takes to stand out and prosper in the new world of work.

Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.

It’s that simple — and that hard. And that inescapable.” Source: The Brand Called You | Fast Company

I strongly encourage you to go to the source and read the rest of the article. It’s foundational reading for any thought leader…

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Going mobile!

Here’s a little tuneage from the Who while you contemplate this; if you’re an iPhone, BlackBerry or Android user, you can now view e1evation.com in a special mobile format. Check it out!

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“If I started today”…

Connecting (Chris Brogan)
Image by petermello via Flickr

…is an insanely great post by Chris Brogan on the topic of where I would start today if I wanted to use the internet and social media to promote my thought leadership position — NOW I understand why people like Darren Rowse of ProBlogger rave about him!

I came across it looking for the killer article for a prospective client that I really want to land and I couldn’t have picked a better one to help him make the right decision…

“Okay, so you’ve heard from someone that this social media and social networking stuff is great and you should get involved, and it’s really going to help you out. Maybe it will help you in the economic downturn. Maybe you have heard how you can use Twitter for business. But there’s a lot to it all.

Where would you start? What would come first? How might you think about getting out there and joining in on the experience?” Source: If I Started Today

You’ll have to go to the source to get the answers but it’s well worth the trip — and let’s hope that client ‘gets it’ whatever it is… ;-)

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There is no ‘easy button’…

'THAT WAS EASY!'
Image by spackletoe via Flickr

…for social media, but there are some good, fast, and cheap tools that are simple to use and support the social media lifestyle. Unfortunately, most companies are taking a different approach. My good friend Dana VanDen Heuvel scratches his head here…

“I was in a meeting recently where I witnessed a demonstration of a very well developed internal social network for a fairly sizable, though not very well known company. This particular tool was (almost) completely custom coded by the developer and web design shop for their client. While I sat through the meeting, I wondered “why did they build this from the ground up? isn’t there an off the shelf package to do this?” Which, being one of outsiders, I asked “so, why did you build this from the ground up? isn’t there an off the shelf package to do this and didn’t the client ask for an evaluation of best-of-breed software before giving you the go ahead to do this?”” They chose us because we have passion…

Here’s what I have found. You don’t have to have a spectacular website to dominate as a thought leader, but having a good blog with good content and social media connections helps! Most important? It’s not expensive dollar-wise, but it does take a certain mindset. My formula for using a blog for thought leadership? Good system and process based on a couple of free tools! Questions? Feedback? Leave a comment or use the contact page to reach me…

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The ‘Five Minute University’…

Today I’m announcing a new feature on the site; the ‘Five Minute University’. What’s that about? Well, the tool I use for screencasts, Jing, limits me to a five minute screencast. Todd, you say! Wake up — use Camtasia, use Flashback Express, use something that allows you to record longer. No, I say. I have a tendency to bloviate on topic that I’m passionate about and five minutes forces me to get my thoughts together!

The ‘Five Minute University’ is also an homage to one of the funniest bits I ever saw on Saturday Night Live [back in the days when it was actually funny]; Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci outlines the concept here:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO8x8eoU3L4

Now, here’s my first 5 minute course on using Google Reader as your inbox for the internet…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvf8E6knJtY

Questions? Feedback? Leave a comment or use the contact page to reach me…

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Got Mac problems?

…then you need Pam Lefkowitz of Core Computing.

“Core Computing Technologies, Inc. is a technology consulting firm specializing in Apple Computer technologies.

At Core, every employee is a Certified Member of the Apple Consultants Network program. We hold more OS X Certifications than any other consulting company — including Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator, and Apple Certified System Administrator. As such, you are assured of receiving only the highest quality support and services for your computing needs. ” Source: It’s Always DNS. Apple Technologies, Systems Integration, Network Support

I’ve known Pam for over a decade and her Mac expertise is known throughout the world. If you’re really in trouble, Pam’s the one to call….

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I love ‘Remember the Milk’!

Image representing Remember The Milk as depict...
Image via CrunchBase

The hosted task management system with the funny name is one of my favorite tools. Just this morning as I was hacking through my todo list, I tweeted that I was reminded what a great tool it is. Then, as fate would have it, I saw this post commemorating their 4th bday…

“Four years ago yesterday, we breathed a sigh of relief: after more than a year of development, our super-secret project was finally ready to launch! Little did we know that the adventure of Remember The Milk was only just beginning…

Five days after our launch, there was already a crazy 50,000 tasks being managed with RTM. Perhaps that should’ve given us some indication of what we were in for, but it wasn’t until 2007 that we figured out that, well, we might need a little help. (It turns out that two people and a stuffed monkey working full-time on a free app with some serious hosting bills does not a sustainable service make.)” Source: Remember The Milk – Blog

Remember the Milk, or RTM, is everything a task management system should be and it synchronizes with my BlackBerry and iPhone and integrates seamlessly with my Gmail account through their Firefox plugin. Of course I’m a pro subscriber! Question is, why aren’t you?

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Tactic #1: Master Firefox!

Image representing Seth Godin as depicted in C...
Image via CrunchBase

First, what’s this nonsense about ‘Tightening your Tribe’? Well, it’s a reference to Seth Godin’s social media masterpiece ‘Tribes‘. As I read the book, I really enjoyed the strategic discussion but found any reference to practical, tactical tools was missing. I therefore decided to create a series of posts on tools that could possibly accompany the book. This is the first post — there are 9 more. I hope you enjoy them all!

Just in time for the first major entry in my series ‘Top 10 Tactics and Tools for Tightening your Tribe’, Google was kind enough to do a short video on the topic of browsers…

They even launched a new site called What Browser? for people who are unclear on the concept. The truth is there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of different browsers you can use to view content on the internet, but most people never venture beyond the familiarity of Internet Explorer. Personally, I go back and forth between the 5 browsers [Internet Explorer, Firefox, Flock, Chrome and Safari] I have installed on my computer and many times I have multiple browsers open at the same time because not only is it possible, but also desirable, to use a certain browser for a specific task.

I have joked before that Firefox is my wife and Chrome is my mistress, but my wife does not think that analogy is very funny. Maybe it’s better said that Firefox is my workhorse and Chrome is my show pony. In either case, I do most of my work in Firefox, although I am using Chrome more and more — especially with web-based Google products. So why do I love Firefox so much? Let me break it down for you… Continue reading “Tactic #1: Master Firefox!” →

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I’m continually in awe…

…of great technologists or entrepreneurs whose work solves critical problems, often while battling against great adversity. Despite our obsession with our current high tech culture, not all such stories come from this decade — or even this century.

I just finished watching the first part of a two part A&E series called Longitude based on Dava Sobel’s best seller which I had read a few years ago, but apparently forgotten until I saw the title on Netflix. The Wikipedia sets up the story in this way…

“Determining longitude on land was fairly easy compared to the task at sea. A stable surface to work from, a comfortable location to live in while performing the work and the ability to repeat determinations over time made for great accuracy. Whatever could be discovered from solving the problem at sea would only improve the determination of longitude on land.

Determining latitude was relatively easy in that it could be found from the altitude of the sun at noon with the aid of a table giving the sun’s declination for the day.[3] For longitude, early ocean navigators had to rely on dead reckoning. This was inaccurate on long voyages out of sight of land and these voyages sometimes ended in tragedy as a result. Continue reading “I’m continually in awe…” →

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Making the switch from Microsoft Office to Web apps

Image representing Bill Gates as depicted in C...
Image via CrunchBase

‘For him who has ears to hear!’ as the Good Book says. It’s possible to have a powerful computing experience without using a single Microsoft product [or paying a single penny to Bill Gates]…

“The only reason I’ve opened Microsoft Outlook or any other desktop e-mail program in the last year is to test tips. Since I added my ISP account to my Gmail in-box, and moved my Outlook appointments to Google Calendar, I get all the information I need in my browser.

Now I’m getting ready to boot Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for their Web alternatives, but before I bail on Office entirely, I stuck a toe in the Web-apps water by using the free ThinkFree Online service irregularly over the past few weeks. So far, I haven’t missed Word, Excel, or PowerPoint one bit. In fact, I appreciate the comparative simplicity of their Web counterparts, which have worked without a hitch–so far, at least.”

Click here to read more…

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“Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack…

Microsoft Office PowerPoint
Image via Wikipedia

… for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats” can help! Last week, I sent a PowerPoint preso to someone who couldn’t open it. I suggested that she download and install this free tool that is available at the source…

“By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able to open, edit, and save files using the file formats new to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007. The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats. For more information about the Compatibility Pack, see Knowledge Base article 924074.” Source: Download details: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats

Install it and you’ll never run into those obnoxious Office incompatibility issues again!

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How to save money running a startup (17 really good tips)


Image via CrunchBase

“The HowTo team at Mahalo has been an amazing surprise effort. We didn’t plan on making howto articles, but when we built various how to search pages we realized that many howto articles were, well, lacking. So, we started building select ones where we thought we could help. This one on how to save money is very good.” Click here to read the full article online…

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Learn Google Search Tips From the Pros

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Combining Online Meetings and Skype…

WebWorkerDaily Archive “Combining Online Meetings and Skype”

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I love to see my customers succeed…

wvwatchdogKudos to Steven Allen Adams who was recently named the top political blogger in the State of West Virginia by the Washington post…

“Who is the best political reporter in the Mountain State? That would be Steven Allen Adams, of West Virginia Watchdog, according to a Washington Post Top-50 list. We would like to congratulate Steve on a job well done.

“I’m am humbled to be chosen by the Washington Post for this honor,” said Adams. “West Virginia Watchdog is only two-weeks old, so that fact that someone has taken the time to nominate our website and my writing tells me that we’re doing something right. Now I must work to live up to the honor bestowed upon me.”” Source: Washington Post Names West Virginia Watchdog State’s Best Political Reporter

Steven’s West Virginia Watchdog site is proudly powered by e1evation, llc! Special thanks to my team of Heather and Jesse who did all the heavy lifting…

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Catch the Wave…

Image representing Google as depicted in Crunc...
Image via CrunchBase

Google Wave be the most innovative email tool since the dawn of email itself and the first 100k users have received access…

“Google Wave is one of the most anticipated new products to come out of Google this year. Technology blogs have been abuzz with excitement about this new communications and collaboration tool since Google first showcased it in May.

But so far, Wave, a shared online desktop where groups of users can exchange messages, share and edit documents, drag and drop widgets and play games, has been available only to a select group of developers. On Tuesday, Google is rolling out Wave to a slightly-less-select group: 100,000 users, including developers, people who signed up early on and some users of Google Apps, the company’s package of online applications.

In a blog post, Lars Rasmussen, an engineering manager for the group that created Wave at Google’s Australian offices, said that since the product was first shown publicly, Google has “focused almost exclusively on scalability, stability, speed and usability.” But he warned that bugs are still likely: “You will still experience the occasional downtime, a crash every now and then, part of the system being a bit sluggish and some of the user interface being, well, quirky.” (Of course, well-established Google products, like Gmail, also have had frequent bouts of downtime recently, including last week.)” Google’s Much-Anticipated Wave Opens Up a Bit – Bits Blog – NYTimes.com

Unfortunately, no matter how much I begged, Google wouldn’t include me. Stay tuned for details as they become available…

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I had a great time…

…at the Green Bay Net social media copnvention [thanks Elliot and Gina!] and thanks to my ‘board of advisors’, I revised the ‘tactics and tools’ mindmap and I had a great time with the folks who sat in on the preso. The content was well received so I’m planning on making an ongoing blog series out of the ‘Social Media Tactics and Tools [TNT? ;-)] mindmap. Stay tuned if you want to know all I do about effectively leveraging the same tactics and tools that I do each day…
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Add as Friend…

I looked up an old friend in Facebook yesterday and clicked ‘add as friend’ as I have hundreds of times before. The difference this time is, I know he’ll never accept. Why? Zach’s life was cut tragically short on Tuesday while he was doing what he loved best on this earth; flying…

Firefighting News covers it here, although his name is not mentioned. Details on the accident are sketchy…

“The Lockheed P2V-7 aircraft on the way to drop retardant on a California wildfire was between 100 and 300 feet off the ground when it crashed less than 2 miles from the Reno-Stead Airport on Monday evening, said Tom Little, lead investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.

Little said nothing indicates pilot error played a role in the crash, which brings to 27 the number of deaths in fatal crashes of firefighting air tankers in the U.S. since 1991.” Source: Official: Jet engine on fire before tanker crashed – USATODAY.com

My buddy Craig Hairrell and I were talking about this yesterday as we pored over the reports across the internet over the phone. You read this stuff in the headlines every day, but once in a blue moon it means something to YOU personally.

Zach was a young man of the most exceptional character and potential. We both attended Morningstar Community Church in Aurora, IL when I lived there and we would still visit from time to time when we came back to town to visit family. Later, when I was engaged by LoPresti Aviation on a couple of projects and he was a student at Moody Bible Institute’s Aviation School we would seek each other out after services and talk flying. He was living my dream; young, handsome, gifted, a bright career in aviation ahead of him. His eyes would shine as he shared details about the program and I would hang on every word. All that is over now…

All except the eternal part — the part that really counts. You see, Zach knew Jesus Christ in a personal way and it showed in everything he did. His salvation and eternity are secure. Still, my heart breaks for his parents, Marci and Steve, and the temporary loss they most certainly feel until they are reunited with him in glory. Until then, I imagine that Zach will be testing a new set of wings — one that will never fail him…

Moral of the story? You’ve heard it before. Life is short. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet “Those friends thou hast and their adoption tried grapple to thy soul with hoops of steel”. In other words, ‘add as friend’ while you still can…

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Online Meetings…

With the price of gas as it is, and time always being at a premium, the idea of online meetings is gaining in popularity…

“I’m a big fan of online meeting and collaboration tools. Among other things, they’ve saved me from some of the many flights and hotels that I used to have to put up with. I found this comparison of online meeting tools interesting.” Source: WebWorkerDaily » Archive Online Meeting App Study: GoToMeeting Tops Yugma? «

Personally, I find online meetings both effective and inexpensive. I use and recommend GoToMeeting — I’ll be happy to demo it for you if you contact me…

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Persistence…

“Persistence isn’t using the same tactics over and over. That’s just annoying. Persistence is having the same goal over and over.” Seth Godin

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‘Socialize’ your email…

No, I’m not talking about a plan for government to provide free email for all — that’s Google’s job! What I’m talking about is using your email to drive people to your home base or social media outposts. I advertise where I hang out online, what chat channels I use and what my latest blog post is with every email and all it takes is one, maybe two, free tools…

The first one is called Retaggr. Mashable says…

“What’s great about Retaggr is that it acts as the ultimate business card 2.0 for internet users who want to let people know who they are on the web as well as expand their personal brand. Likewise, Retaggr works as an ideal tool for bloggers who want their community of readers to get to know each other and participate more frequently.

With Retaggr, there is context around the comments on any given site. Names now become links that expand the Profile Card widget and showcase each owner’s virtual information without ever having to leave the site. Plus, blogs and sites that use Retaggr also get the photo tagging functionality which is similar to Facebook and Flickr, but takes it further by letting you see the names and Profile Cards of people in a picture all at one time.” Source: Retaggr: Stepping Up Online Activity with Super Business Card 2.0

Now here’s the cool part. Once you enter all your information into your ‘Super Business Card 2.0’, Retaggr gives you the embed code to create a cool signature file for every email client you use — Windows, Mac, Linux — makes no difference!

I have tested it with Office 2003, 2007, Thunderbird and Google mail — both Google Apps and Gmail — and it works like a charm. One catch, however, Google’s products don’t support html signatures so you need the second free tool which is a free Firefox addon called WiseStamp. The developer says…

“WiseStamp Firefox extension empowers your email signature on any webmail service (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, Hotmail, Google Apps…) Easily customize, Include IM & Social profiles, Automatically share your Blog posts, Quotes, News, Bookmarks and more… Enhance your personal and business email interactions” Source: Drive Traffic to Your Blog Simply by Using Your email Signature | WiseStamp Email Goodies

Using this approach not only makes it easy to reach me but also drives people to my social media outposts and ultimately draws them into my home base. Question is, why aren’t you ‘socializing’ your email?

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