I wish my Monday mornings included a good dose of interoffice wars such as these...
Jun 30, 2008
Jun 28, 2008
I'm Not That Cool
I'm not that cool. Four words that I have been reminded of over the last week or so. I consider myself to be a pretty inclusive guy that has moved beyond the world of high school cliques and certain social behaviors. In fact, I've often made comments towards others that are well beyond their college years, but still struggling with trying to fit in and becoming comfortable in their own skin.
If someone were to ask me, I would say that the coolest people I know are those that set their own trends, march to their own beat, and have learned the fine art of just being themselves. These people are easy to point out, mostly because they are in short supply.
And now back to those four words: I'm not that cool. Over the last week or so, I have caught myself thinking that I was too (fill in the blank) to associate or befriend certain types of people. What would people think?
Then suddenly, something hit me...who cares!? I'm not that cool, that I am above talking to or associating with anyone. It doesn't mean I'll become best friends with every stranger I meet. But it does mean, I want to be open. Open to making friends with people from unexpected places, different backgrounds, and "unique" personalities.
If someone were to ask me, I would say that the coolest people I know are those that set their own trends, march to their own beat, and have learned the fine art of just being themselves. These people are easy to point out, mostly because they are in short supply.
And now back to those four words: I'm not that cool. Over the last week or so, I have caught myself thinking that I was too (fill in the blank) to associate or befriend certain types of people. What would people think?
Then suddenly, something hit me...who cares!? I'm not that cool, that I am above talking to or associating with anyone. It doesn't mean I'll become best friends with every stranger I meet. But it does mean, I want to be open. Open to making friends with people from unexpected places, different backgrounds, and "unique" personalities.
Jun 25, 2008
100 Thing Challenge
I just found this site the other day via a Time article about a guy that's decided to whittle his belongings down to 100 things.
It's call the 100 Thing Challenge and the idea has recently taken off. It's simple. Some guy decided we live in an extremely cluttered society. Instead of having the occasional yard sale every half decade, he decided to do something a bit more drastic.
I applaud him not only for his dedication to de-clutter, but for his stance on simplifying his approach to life. I wonder what my life would look like if I began to whittle away at all of the things I don't really need or even use for that matter.
In fact, I wonder if this concept applies to more than just material things. What would our lives look like if we reduced emotional, relational, or psychological clutter that affects us and builds up like piles of old used junk. I wonder what sort of things we would be able to focus on that really matter.
Just a thought.
It's call the 100 Thing Challenge and the idea has recently taken off. It's simple. Some guy decided we live in an extremely cluttered society. Instead of having the occasional yard sale every half decade, he decided to do something a bit more drastic.
I applaud him not only for his dedication to de-clutter, but for his stance on simplifying his approach to life. I wonder what my life would look like if I began to whittle away at all of the things I don't really need or even use for that matter.
In fact, I wonder if this concept applies to more than just material things. What would our lives look like if we reduced emotional, relational, or psychological clutter that affects us and builds up like piles of old used junk. I wonder what sort of things we would be able to focus on that really matter.
Just a thought.
Jun 23, 2008
Jun 20, 2008
It's A Google Life for Me (and you too)
As I've said before, I love me some Google. I've helped set up a few friends recently on iGoogle, Google Reader, etc. Some of you use Google to do everything but brush your teeth, and some of you use it to search for things online. The rest of you are somewhere in between in your Google relationship.
Just in case you're in the "search only" camp, I thought I would share a few tools you might enjoy. If you like Google for search, there's great news! Just as search helped organized the intricate world wide web, these services bring the web to you in a very personalized way.
Here are the 3 steps for revolutionizing your web experience (trust me, it's easy and you'll never look at the internet the same):
1. iGoogle - It's your own personalized home page that you can customize with widgets, templates, etc. No Google Account required.
2. Gmail - Once you've found your way around iGoogle, may I suggest upgrading from your old school web mail client (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) The way it organizes emails into conversation threads is something you don't know you need until you use it a few times.
3. Google Reader - Now that you are using iGoogle and easily switched over your Hotmail to Gmail, you're ready for that next step. Sign up for Google Reader, and enjoy the entire web served up on a RSS platter just for you. I use it to subscribe to close to 100 RSS feeds. Everything from friends' blogs to ESPN, Mac, and business news gets fed to my iGoogle in real time.
Along those lines, if you do have Google Reader, I just added an RSS feed to my blog. So now you can read it at JohninOrlando.com, on Facebook Notes, or in your RSS Reader of choice.
Keep on reading (all four of you, you know who are) and thank you to those of you adding your two cents and encouraging notes along the way. You rock!
Just in case you're in the "search only" camp, I thought I would share a few tools you might enjoy. If you like Google for search, there's great news! Just as search helped organized the intricate world wide web, these services bring the web to you in a very personalized way.
Here are the 3 steps for revolutionizing your web experience (trust me, it's easy and you'll never look at the internet the same):
1. iGoogle - It's your own personalized home page that you can customize with widgets, templates, etc. No Google Account required.
2. Gmail - Once you've found your way around iGoogle, may I suggest upgrading from your old school web mail client (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) The way it organizes emails into conversation threads is something you don't know you need until you use it a few times.
3. Google Reader - Now that you are using iGoogle and easily switched over your Hotmail to Gmail, you're ready for that next step. Sign up for Google Reader, and enjoy the entire web served up on a RSS platter just for you. I use it to subscribe to close to 100 RSS feeds. Everything from friends' blogs to ESPN, Mac, and business news gets fed to my iGoogle in real time.
Along those lines, if you do have Google Reader, I just added an RSS feed to my blog. So now you can read it at JohninOrlando.com, on Facebook Notes, or in your RSS Reader of choice.
Keep on reading (all four of you, you know who are) and thank you to those of you adding your two cents and encouraging notes along the way. You rock!
Jun 18, 2008
Politics 2.0, welcome to a new democracy
If you've been keeping up with the presidential nomination process over the last year or so, you're probably very familiar with how web 2.0 is changing the political landscape.
Here's a mashup of many of the videos that have graced the internet. Some have helped the candidates, some hurt them, but all of them influenced those of us that watched them.
Enjoy...
Full post at Ad Age
Here's a mashup of many of the videos that have graced the internet. Some have helped the candidates, some hurt them, but all of them influenced those of us that watched them.
Enjoy...
Full post at Ad Age
Jun 16, 2008
Jun 14, 2008
Adding Value
Have you ever known a "friend" that's always in it for themselves? You know the one, where they seem to try to get much more from your relationship than they are contributing to it. I think we've all encountered those people from time to time. Annoying isn't it? Relationships should be a two way street of give and take.
The same concept applies to marketing. There's a lot of buzz in the industry right now around "adding value" to the customer relationship. Simply put, if I'm going to give your business something (money, time, viral buzz, etc) what are you going to give me in exchange (beyond just a basic product/service)?
I think today's consumers demand more than a simple business transaction. They want to connect with brands that mean more to them than the sum of the services they provide. Think Apple. How evangelistic is that recent Mac convert you know? Be careful calling their new Macbook just another computer. Or try comparing Starbucks to your local 7-11. Both may offer a hot cup of joe, but one offers a unique experience.
What I'm getting at is its the same when it comes to business or personal relationships. People want to connect with things that add value to their lives. So how are you personally adding value to the people you interact with on a daily basis? And if you're in business, how are you adding value to your marketing and sales channels? More about that another time.
The same concept applies to marketing. There's a lot of buzz in the industry right now around "adding value" to the customer relationship. Simply put, if I'm going to give your business something (money, time, viral buzz, etc) what are you going to give me in exchange (beyond just a basic product/service)?
I think today's consumers demand more than a simple business transaction. They want to connect with brands that mean more to them than the sum of the services they provide. Think Apple. How evangelistic is that recent Mac convert you know? Be careful calling their new Macbook just another computer. Or try comparing Starbucks to your local 7-11. Both may offer a hot cup of joe, but one offers a unique experience.
What I'm getting at is its the same when it comes to business or personal relationships. People want to connect with things that add value to their lives. So how are you personally adding value to the people you interact with on a daily basis? And if you're in business, how are you adding value to your marketing and sales channels? More about that another time.
Jun 9, 2008
Jun 6, 2008
Celebration, FL - The Town that Disney Built
A friend sent me this Current TV segment recently featuring the town that I live in: Celebration, FL. It was one of the first master planned communities in the U.S., but certainly has something that sets it apart.
Enjoy.
Thanks to Megan for sharing!
Enjoy.
Thanks to Megan for sharing!
Jun 4, 2008
If Only...
I heard a message recently that dealt with just two words: "if only." Two very simple words that affect you and I more than we may even realize. This simple phrase is one of the most leading thoughts I know. It's a wanting statement in search of an answer. Sometimes the person using it doesn't even know the thing for which they're searching.
Here's just a few I can think of: If only I had a better job, bigger house, nicer car, more friends, significant other, etc. The list goes on and on, but at its core it's a statement of incompletion. The second you say or think "If only..." you are stating that you are somehow incomplete. What ever you have it's not enough.
This idea hits a bit too close for home at times for me. If you know me, you know that I'm not one to be complacent about most anything. This can be both good and bad. But at the heart of it, I admit, there's a pursuit of something more than what I have today.
The pastor that delivered the message boiled it down to this, we all deal with the "if only" scenarios. But one definite way to squelch those flames is to just be content. To be thankful for the things you have today, right now. That might be easier said than done for some, but it's true.
Here's just a few I can think of: If only I had a better job, bigger house, nicer car, more friends, significant other, etc. The list goes on and on, but at its core it's a statement of incompletion. The second you say or think "If only..." you are stating that you are somehow incomplete. What ever you have it's not enough.
This idea hits a bit too close for home at times for me. If you know me, you know that I'm not one to be complacent about most anything. This can be both good and bad. But at the heart of it, I admit, there's a pursuit of something more than what I have today.
The pastor that delivered the message boiled it down to this, we all deal with the "if only" scenarios. But one definite way to squelch those flames is to just be content. To be thankful for the things you have today, right now. That might be easier said than done for some, but it's true.
Jun 2, 2008
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