Is This Thing On?

Testing, testing. Microphone check.

It's been awhile, but I think it's time to knock the dust off this blog and once again add some occasional short, witty, and insightful thoughts to the blogosphere.



You've been warned my loyal readers (all 3 of you)...I'll be back soon. Here's to more John Blog in 2010!

Freedom In Letting Go

I once heard a quote about love that was something along the lines of "if you really love something, you must let it go." I remember that quote striking me as odd. If you love something, why wouldn't you want to hold onto it forever. And if someone wanted to take it away, they would have to pry it from your kung fu grip. Right?

But the older I get, the more I realize (ironically enough) the truth of those words. The fact of the matter is, there's a freedom in letting go of something. In fact, sometimes once you actually let it go, you realize it was never yours to hold in the first place.

The same is true for control. A friend of mine recently wrote about that very thing: learning how to let go of her sense of control. And more importantly, learning what happens when you do let go. Because the truth is, you and I have control over far fewer things than we think.

It only takes a few minutes of CNN or CNBC to realize just how little we actually are able to control. Even Uncle Sam, in all of his power and strength can't snap his fingers and pull our nation out of a recessapression. (It's my new favorite word to explain our current economic condition.)

I think the same thing applies on a more micro/personal level too. You and I may think we have a secure job or a relationship that will always be there. But that's simply not true. Everything vanishes eventually. Even you. I don't mean to be overly abrupt, but it's true.

The fact of the matter is, we can't control most things in our lives. Therefore the best that we can do is to work on the things that we can control, and learn to let go of everything else.

Working on it,
John

An Open Letter to HR

Growing up, I can remember hearing my step-dad talk about an entity he called Personal. It was a department at his company, every company really, that served one primary purpose: to take care of it's employees.

Sure they also happened to hire people, fire people, pay people, settle disputes, etc but all of those functions served the before mentioned main goal of keeping their employees happy. A happy workforce = a more productive workforce = greater profits. A simple enough formula, right? You would think.

But sometime between my step-dad retiring from BellSouth after 35 years of service (gold watch in hand) and today, something changed. Corporations' Personnel departments changed. It didn't happen overnight, and I'm not sure what started it. But slowly and surely, they shifted from mainly looking out for the individual to looking out for the company's best interests. Aka, avoid any and all potential lawsuits at any costs: including productivity, practical business sense, and even common sensical human behavior.

That shift gradually led to a point in time (we'll call it today for the sake of argument) in which companies existed solely to create profit and yes, consume resources. Enter Human Resources. No longer are we personnel, but rather a resource that is to be consumed. Ouch.

Now don't get me wrong. I certainly appreciate making a profit. In fact, I am a big fan of it. But what happens to an entire workforce when they are coddled to the point of being herded around as yes men/women and actually heralded for their abundant use of politically correct statements.

So I propose this...moving forward let's re-org Human Resources into two new departments: Talent and Drama. There marching orders will be very clear. Talent will be responsible for finding and recruiting all new talent for the company. The actual hiring of people will reside where it's always resided: management. Talent will be a small team of unique individuals who, like Major League Scouts, comb the country looking for the top performers in a wide variety of categories or roles.

But what about solving all of the petty (or not so petty) disputes that arise between people within the organization? I'm glad you asked. The second half of the newly designed organization will be somewhat reminiscent of high school: Drama Department. I'm not talking about the one that put on pre-pubescent versions of Shakespeare's Hamlet. I'm talking about the other kind of drama. (If you're not sure what I'm describing, please click here.)

Drama Department will be responsible for dealing with all civil disputes between employees. But only if it's really ridiculous. That's relative you say? Ok, the first round of mediation will be held with a neutral third party from another department. That person will decide, over lunch/cup of coffee, whether or not the dispute needs to be elevated to the Drama Department.

Anything elevated to the Drama Department will have serious and lasting consequences...when deserved. If someone is just being petty and frivalous. They will be told so. If their pettiness continues, they will be asked to return to high school. Companies are for grown ups.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate the ever so difficult chore of dealing with people. Something I know little of or have any real knowledge of beyond what I've read from some text book you probably wrote yourself.

Good luck,
Just Another Concerned Employee

The Almighty Status Update

Six words. One question. "What are you doing right now?" It's staring you in the face, almost mocking you. That's right, mocking the fact that it's been three days since you've updated your circle of friends with a catchy status.

They're dying to know what you're doing this very second. Maybe you're "going through pictures of a schizophrenic poet" or you "will not be taking up rollerskating as a back up profession anytime soon." And if nothing comes to you, there's the all encompassing "is." It's the postmodern take on "Cogito, ergo sum."

To find the origins of this microcosm of monologue, you have to reach way back. I'm talking old school...or at least high school. Back when you first discovered the instant messaging phenomenon.

You would run home from school in order to dial up America Online, wait for that annoying tone, and before you knew it you were conversing with the same friends you hung out with all day long...without even picking up a telephone.

Back then, status updates were known as Away Messages. You might be sitting three feet away from your computer, but you had to tell the world something clever to sustain them while you were taking a hiatus.

Flash forward back to today. Twitter, Facebook, SMS, FriendFeed, and yes IM. We have a nearly unlimited number of tools at our disposal to instantaneously apprise the world with our every thought or action.

This newfound freedom is a double-edged sword. If you're a very interesting person with a healthy dose of humor, the internet is your oyster. If however you lack either one of those. Don't fret. You too can have award winning status updates. It just means you have to work a bit harder.

What do you think...are status updates the greatest thing since AIM or a thorn in your side?

2009: Re-Focus Everything

From time to time, I like to brand certain seasons with a particular theme that I feel sums them up appropriately. In the past there was the "Summer of No Regrets", a year of "Stop Thinking, Start Doing", and "2008: Year of Change".

With our economy in a meltdown, two questionable wars being fought, continuing unrest in the Middle East, job losses crossing into the millions, and countless cases of social injustice...it's time for action.

As I begin to think about what our collective future in 2009 will hold, it seems to me that it's time to re-focus...everything.

We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines as the world spins madly on. It's time for us to step up to the plate, and begin making some tough decisions.

Maybe you're living in a house two sizes larger than what you wallet can bare. It's time to downsize. Maybe you're working in a dead end job. Yes the market is tight, but it's time to dust off the 'ol resume and get back out there. Perhaps you've been watching from afar as some struggle to find clean drinking water an ocean away. It's time to sign up to help.

In fact, I think the toughest (and most immediate need) we have hits a bit closer to home. I think we, which means me, need to spend the next year re-focusing our hearts, goals, and passions.

Like I said, it's time to get off the sidelines. It's time to act. It's time to change. It's time to re-focus.


Re-focus your reading in 2009, subscribe to john blog.

You. Are. Great.

Here's something we could all use a little more of...



(if you're reading this on Facebook, click here for the video.)

Thanks for the Memories

If you know me, you know that I'm obsessed with good music. There's something about the right lyric or soaring melody that can speak volumes to your circumstances at a given time. Often it's a relationship that's just beginning or maybe one that's on the rocks.

I remember back in high school when couple's would pick "their song" that somehow represented their love for one another. I always thought that was dumb for two reasons: 1.) It was extremely cheesy and 2.) I could never pick just one song.

For me, it's less about picking a single tune from the proverbial jukebox and more about a particular song/band representing a moment or a series of moments spent with someone. Here's a few that have memories attached. Some great, some bittersweet...nostalgic all.

WARNING: (Some) Sappy Love Songs Ahead...

"Ocean Avenue" - Yellowcard
"Such Great Heights" - Iron & Wine
"The Compromise" - The Format
"Hey Now" - Augustana
"Most Uncommon Thing" - Five Times August
"Flake" - Jack Johnson
"Thunder" - Boys Like Girls
"Be Still My Heart" - The Postal Service
"Sugar, We're Goin Down" - Fall Out Boy
"Meant to Live" - Switchfoot
"A Message" - Coldplay"
"Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
"Oxford Comma" - Vampire Weekend
"Dark Blue" - Jack's Mannequin
"The Blower's Daughter" - Damien Rice
"Livin' in the Good Ol' Days" - Zane Williams
"Running Down a Dream" - Tom Petty

Here's to creating more memories in 2009 and having some great tunes to provide the soundtrack. I can already tell that The Fray's new album will accompany some of them in the near future. Right now I have "Where the Story Ends" stuck on repeat.

Generosity As A Marketing Strategy

What if companies created marketing plans for something more than money? What if goodness and happiness were baked into the product or service? Sound crazy?

Neil Perkin doesn't think so. The presentation below is more than worth five minutes of your time.

Goodness And Happiness - Why Generosity Is The Future Of Marketing Strategy

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: digital planning)

Signal to Noise Ratio

We live in a fast-paced, in your face kind of world. Messages seem to bombard us from the moment we rise to the time we go to bed at night. Some of that noise is a choice, and some of it isn't.

I know for sure that I spend way too much time online. And I also have a tendency to turn the TV on the minute I walk in the door...often just for background noise.

But something occurred to me this week is how much power you and I have to weed out the noise. DVR, RSS feeds, power off buttons, etc give us the power to either scale back noise or shut it out completely.

Ironic isn't it? Technology has not only given us an unprecedented amount of noise, it has also given us the ability to tune that noise out (and simultaneously amplify the signal.)

But technology aside. I think the same thing can apply to our friendships and relationships. We often spend a ton of time practicing the noise (daily conversations, routines, etc) and forget about what signals we've been sending (love, joy, affirmation or a lack there of).

Here's to a broadcasting a better signal, and reducing some of the noise.

iMix: A Dustland Fairytale

Looking for some new jams? I recently made an iMix for a friend and thought I would share with you too. Enjoy...

If you're reading this on Facebook, click here to view the iMix.

Fistful of Dollars: The Kiva Story

Wanna change the world? No, I'm not kidding. You can do just that with $25 and 10 minutes.

I'm 97% sure that if you're reading this right now, you have both. Either way, you should check out this powerful video.


A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.

Kiva.org is not waiting around for any politicians or parish to try to change the world. They are doing so, one person at a time. You can donate directly to someone in the world, which means you are contributing to their startup capital.

In essence, Kiva is turning the world into a massive network of mini-VC's and entrepreneurs. I'm pumped about where this road will lead.

But regardless of whether you donate to Kiva or a similar fund. The main idea is that you are blessed. And I am blessed. And with that blessing comes responsibility.

It's time to stop thinking about changing the world, and get busy changing it. Beginning with just one person: you.

You Influence Me

If you're reading this right now, you've influenced me. You may not realize it. Perhaps it was in a major way with a close friendship, or just something you posted a few days ago that I read in passing.

Either way, I want you to know that it affected me. I share that, to say this: you have more influence than you know.

In today's hyper-connected world, we encounter hundreds (if not thousands) of messages a day. Phone calls, text messages, banner ads, emails, tweets, facebook posts, etc.

Our generation can't lift a finger without telling the world about it. And the interesting thing is, influence is a double edged sword. There's the positive kind and the negative kind. But regardless, you are influencing those around you (and virtually connected to you) in more ways than you can begin to fathom.

So why not dial down the negative banter, and step up the inspirational blog posts and words of advice? I for one would really appreciate it.


Get your weekly influence fix, subscribe to john blog.

Bush vs. Obama: Tag Cloud Edition

Two men. Two speeches. Two watershed moments in our recent history. Seems to me President Obama really highlighted a "New Nation" where President Bush had a lot to say about "Freedom."

Obama's First Inaugural Speech (2009)



Bush's Second Inaugural Speech (2005)



gracias to ReadWriteWeb

From MLK to Obama: a (very) brief history

Tomorrow our great nation will inaugurate the 44th President who also happens to be the first African-American to hold this ultimate office. But today we remember one of our country's greatest leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Two score and five years ago, he headed to Washington, D.C. to give a speech entitled "Normalcy Never Again" (aka "I Have a Dream.") On that day, our country finally began the healing process that President Lincoln laid the groundwork for with his great proclamation.

I can hardly imagine how Martin Luther King, Jr. would feel if he had lived to see today. In theory his dream has become reality. His sons and daughters have the freedom to play with children of all colors.

But what about that other bit? You know the one about being judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin. Well, that gets a bit more tricky.

We have Civil Rights Laws, Affirmative Action, NAACP, and countless other measures to try to ensure that his dream continues to become reality.

I use the word "continues", because I don't think we're there yet. We've made a ton of progress, but I believe we have a long way to go. From Rodney King to the Jena Six, racially motivated hate crimes have not gone away.

As talented and controversial poet, Kanye West, coined "Racism still alive, they just be concealing it." It's all around us. You've seen, and I've seen it. Today we call it by different names, but prejudice will not die at the stake tomorrow as President Elect Obama takes the oath of office.

But one thing should happen. We should all pause to take a step back. Take a giant breath. And realize just how far we've come.

Tomorrow our country will turn a figurative page in yet another chapter in our storied history. Our Union may still be imperfect, but we're striving feverishly. And that gives me great hope.

Normalcy, never again.

Apply Now: Best Job in the World!

Out of work? Looking for a job? Or better yet, looking for a better job than the one you currently hold? Look no further...

From Tech Crunch:

Australia’s Tourism Queensland is looking for a caretaker to live on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Job duties include fish feeding, snorkeling and blogging about your experience.

Pay? AU$150,000 for six months (about $100,000). Plus “return airfares from your nearest capital city (in your home country), accommodation and transport on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period, computer, internet, digital video and stills cameras access."



You can apply here. Applications are due by February 22.


Looking for (one of) the best blogs in the world. Look no further...subscribe to john blog.

In God We Trust?

I received the following email this week...

"Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation. NBC is taking a poll on "In God We Trust" to stay on our American currency.

Please send this to every person you know so they can vote on this important subject. Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off the web page.

Poll is still open so you can vote. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

This is not sent for discussion, if you agree forward it. If you don't, delete it. By my forwarding it, you know how I feel. I'll bet this was a surprise to NBC."


After thinking about it for a few minutes. Here was my response...

"86%. I would say "In God We Trust" is staying put.

But does God really care whether his name is on our money? Maybe we should ask Him. And if money is the root of all evil, perhaps He doesn't want to be any part of it.

Just a thought."


What do you think? Is it important to you to have God mentioned on our money?

Social Media: Hip Hop Edition

It's 2009. Are you tired of explaining social media to your friends and co-workers?

Why not let Poetic Prophet handle it for you...



If you're reading this on Facebook, click here for the video.

iPhone App Wish List

Dear iPhone Cocoa Developers,

Here's a Top 10 list of iPhone Apps I'd like to see in 2009...

10. iLike
9. Super Mario Brothers 3
8. Grand Theft Auto
7. Qik*
6. Kayak (w/ online booking)
5. Slideshare
4. ESPN
3. eTrade
2. Contra

1. Hulu

What really awesome apps would you wish for in 2009?

If you're on Facebook, be sure to check out the group I recently created: Really Schweet iPhone Apps.

Twitter Me This...

Barack Obama does, Don Lemon does, heck you dad might even dabble in it. Twitter was the Facebook of 2008. By the end of next year, most of you're friends will be micro-blogging their most intimate moments to you through tweets.

There are a handful of different kinds of Twitterites, but the way I see it there are three main types:

1. Yaks - You're addicted. In fact, you're probably twittering about this post as you're reading it.

2. Wanna Be's - You post anywhere between once a day and once a month.

3. Foreigners - What's a tweet?

There's nothing wrong with any of these three categories. I think there are a thousand different ways to use it, and to each their own.

Do you tweet? If so, which one of the three are you? (I'm just beyond the wanna be stage currently.)

Friends that tweet together, stay together. Follow me on Twitter.

Here's to Bigger Failures

In lieu of resolving to exercise, learn a new skill, or travel somewhere exotic my New Year's Resolution is simple: I want to fail, more.

I know that on the surface that sounds ridiculous. But let's unpack it for a second. Some of the most successful people talked a lot about their willingness to fail. And fail often.

Edison said he wasn't failing with his first 10,000 attempts at creating a light bulb...he was just learning what didn't work. Brilliant.

Or consider these...

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

"You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” - Walt E. Disney

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." - Babe Ruth

Why do so many famous people talk a great deal about failure? Simple, their willingness to fail is directly tied to their ability to succeed.

So the logic goes: the more risks you take, the more often you fail. And the more often you fail, the greater chance you have to succeed.

Over the next year I am hoping to increase my failures significantly. In doing so, I hope to achieve great things. Now, I just need to figure out what I want to fail at first.

Any ideas?


Learn about more of my failures and successes, subscribe to john blog today.

My Predictions for 2009

It's several days into the new year, and no doubt you have read a whole host of predictions for the year ahead. Some serious, some hilarious, and some downright useless.

I decided to combine all three in my predictions for 2009...

10. iTunes U puts community colleges out of business
9. Facebook grows to 500 million members worldwide
8. Mike Tyson vs. George Foreman
7. Chysler/GM merge to form even worse business model
6. Spirit Airlines will begin service to Cuba!
5. Larry King finally admits the truth: he's Elvis Presley
4. Reality TV will outnumber all other TV shows 2:1
3. First black President will take office (oh wait, check.)
2. Oprah bails out 100 million Americans

1. Your mom will began following you...on Twitter


What do you think will happen in 2009, any predictions?

Tune in to see how my predictions play out over the next 361 days, subscribe to john blog.

Poker 101: A Lesson in Business

There's an interesting post on Zappos' blog right now with the CEO explaining how he learned everything he knows about business from poker.

"Don't play games that you don't understand, even if you see lots of other people making money from them.

"Act weak when strong, act strong when weak. Know when to bluff."

"Table selection is the most important decision you can make."

Brilliant.

If you're interested in poker or business (or both), give it a read.


Pull up a chair, the ante is free. Subscribe to john blog.