May 29, 2008 | blog
Ok, I’m quite happy that Google released a Google Calendar Sync tool for Microsoft Outlook. Really happy.
Sure, I’m a Microsoft guy and have been for quite awhile. Because of that I’ve got significant investments in money & time in the mainline business products, namely Windows, Office, and Windows Mobile.
On the flip side, I’ve moved a number of tasks and work that I do to web based systems. GMail is obviously one of those, and earlier this year moved my calendar to GCal.
Since late March it’s been great to sync GCal with Outlook – works darn well. Now, since I use GMail (and Google Hosted Domains), I need to have all my contacts there & up to date as well. Also, there are dozens of contacts in GMail that I would like to sync to my Windows Mobile phone via ActiveSync. Currently, there is no easy way to do that.
Nearly the same time that Google released it’s GCal-Outlook sync tool, it announced a Google Contacts Sync API. I’m sure there are good things coming for everyone on nearly every platform for syncing Google Contacts with the major mail clients – at least I hope there is!
So Google, can you drop a few hints, or some info on plans to release a Google Contact Sync tool? We’d be very grateful.
May 27, 2008 | blog
I’ve been doing a lot of local networking this past month & and have met so many talented people. With the exception of SOBCon08 at the beginning of the month, most of the events I’ve been to and people I’ve met have been local.
What I’ve found in this very busy month, has been a consistent mix of people from all sorts of industries and business fields all looking for new ways to connect with each other. The main interest these folks have, is to find better ways to connect with their audience.
The most fascinating part for me recently, is just how much talent there is right here in my home town. I’ve no illusions of Minneapolis being a center of cutting edge web 2.0 startups. However, there is a rich history of successful, community-oriented and customer focused organizations that developed here and still call Minnesota home.
That, in combination with strong focuses on healthcare, non-profit, educational, and retail markets makes it a progressive environment. Minneapolis has a diverse, knowledgeable, community-driven population of professionals that are looking to enhance their interactions with clients & peers. They’re engaged in improving their game and providing improved services to their customers.
It’s this excitement that I hadn’t seen until recently. The interest in making things happen is here, the knowledge to do it is here, and the determination to push boundaries is also part of this community. I’m looking forward to continuing to look for ways to make things happen, to find those talented individuals who share this vision. To make sure that they find ways to reach the right people with their ideas, and solve real problems that aren’t being addressed today.
Have you tasted the local flavor in your community? I urge you to get involved. Find a way to get yourself in the process, find how you can bring value and help build something for your community or customers. How are you getting things started in your community?
Photo credit: strange librarian
May 25, 2008 | blog
Hi folks, hope everyone is having a good weekend everywhere! I’ve been quietly busing working on some improvements for the blog here and getting ready for my wife’s birthday today. So, I’m a little thin in the post department this weekend, and I apologize for that. Have been finding a lot of organizational work on the back end, thinking, coding, and a little writing.
It’s been three weeks since SOBCon08 and a lot of what I learned there and talking with folks has started to coalesce and become clearer. So that thought process and the results are taking up quite a bit of time to organize and plan around. Thanks to all the folks who I’ve talked with and learned from this past month, it’s been really fun.
Now, make sure you get out and do something this weekend – have fun!
May 22, 2008 | blog
So I was working on some planning for various things when I ran across this post by fellow blogger Joanna Young. It really got my attention on planning and generating ideas.
I’d heard a lot about mind-mapping and the great results that many accomplish by using the technique, but for some reason over the years, I’d never tried it out. Sure the odd brainstorming session at work, but nothing to promote my own agenda. Aha! Another tool to use for my own purposes!
So being the typical geek I am, off I went to find a simple, inexpensive (read: free) tool to do this with. I’ve found a few to try and will do a roundup of what I found – but won’t try to do a review by any means. However, the consensus from my Twitter friends is that pen & paper rules the day.
With that said, here are some mind-mapping sites & software that my Twitter query came up with:
There may be one or two I somehow missed – but that’s what I find in my Replies & DM pages.
I’d like to thank Twitter friends @inkedmn, @andytinkham, @suzemuse, @joannayoung, @amypalko, @rosasay, and @pfhyper for their suggestions and sharing their successes with me! You guys are great.
I happened to work through two mind maps in an hour or so that got a great start on direction on business plans, and some post ideas. Have you tried mind-mapping? What were your results? What tools did you find that work best?
Technorati Tags: Mind Mapping, Organization, Thinking, Brainstorming, Twitter, Rick Mahn
May 21, 2008 | blog
So, sitting outside during lunch today led me to think again about the opportunities presented to each of us for improving our working conditions. It’s not entirely our employer’s responsibility to improve things.
Ok, maybe you don’t have the kind of job where you can walk away from the desk and still get work done. Maybe you should look for one! Regardless, many businesses have remote work opportunities via remote access technologies. Take advantage of them when you get a chance.
There is nothing worse than having the opportunities in front of you and not using them. Get out there! Take your laptop, a notepad, your phone or whatever the minimal toolset you need to do some work for an hour and just GO.
Grab an iced latte, take 15 minutes to unwind, and 30 minutes to brainstorm, organize, think, ponder, work, or whatever. You’ll be refreshed and the 2nd half of the day will go much smoother because of it. Trust me.
Now go!
Technorati Tags: Remote, Work, VPN, Access, Outdoors, Employer, Rick Mahn
May 19, 2008 | blog
Chris Garrett had a great post about Gravatars last week that got me thinking. While we talk about branding, one of the easiest way to remind people of you is your image. For consumer products, it’d be called a logo. For those of us that are marketing ourselves, our image really is our logo and an important integral piece of our brand.
Clear Message
When you think about it a bit, it’s quite clear. How better to promote your brand than putting a face to it? If we associate stylized imagery with consumer products & brands, wouldn’t it be wise to do the same with your brand? Putting your image forward gives people an easier way to associate with you and the specialty or service that you offer.
When you start using your image as part of your brand, it needs to be consistently applied when possible. Most all sites of the social web have the ability to upload a profile picture. Using the same picture for all services helps promote your brand and is easier than somehow putting a link or your tagline there.
Brand Association
People will associate your picture with your comments and your words. More easily remembering what value you would bring to their efforts or solve their problem. Helping prospective clients or simply online friends remember who we are across the Internet, from one site to another helps build the consistency you want in your brand as well. The other, bigger part of consistency, of course, is your message and how you deliver it across the various tools you use of the social web.
The Real You
I think it’s very important to use a picture of you rather than a logo. Yes, you may have a nice logo designed for your website or blog, but it isn’t as true a representation of you then you are. Sure, you may have an aversion to having your picture taken, and may dislike every single one ever taken of you. However, you need to remember that other people won’t be looking for flaws in your picture, but will be looking to associate it with that great person they know in you.
So go get a professional “head shot” done, just like executives would do. Or, have a talented photographer friend help by taking a few picture so choose from. If you really hate having your picture taken, find backgrounds to shoot in front of that help you relax, or are also representative of you. While “professional” photo’s may be nice, it’s probably more important to simply make sure it’s a clear, positive reflection of you. It doesn’t have to be perfect, so don’t make it. Often, some spontaneous, candid shots work out to be very nice indeed. I’ve taken to using pictures that I capture through my webcam, and change them up when I have a notion to. Rather than some schedule or plan, it’s more often because I want a current picture of myself than any other reason.
Your Turn
I’m finding more people who once used an avatar or graphic design are switching to a personal picture on many services that I use. I welcome this greatly as it let’s me see who I’m talking to and further develops the relationship with my friends and contacts. What’s your take on personal logo’s? Have you tried a logo, or stick with your pic? What do you use & where else should we use it?
Photo credit: Sumit
Technorati Tags: Personal Brand, Personal Picture, Photo, Logo, Personal Logo, Social Media, Social, Media, Branding, Personal, Rick Mahn
Ok, I’m quite happy that Google released a Google Calendar Sync tool for Microsoft Outlook. Really happy.
