Thoughts of a Child

Please ignore the grammar. This is a thought stream.

I remember how big everything seemed…The aisles, the racks of toys, the awesome ten-speed I wanted to ride down the street in my neighborhood. I was four years old and with my mother at the local Kmart in Anderson, Indiana. It was always an exciting experience to take a trip into town because of one thing: toys. It didn’t matter what we were there to purchase.. I always wanted to hit the toy rack.

I specifically remember that day. Matchbox had just released a new car. I don’t remember exactly what the car was.. I assume a red ferrari? Assumptions always have there place in memories. I wanted it. I remember picking up the glossy package with a shiny red car… begging for me to drive it down the driveway of my Lego mansion.  I wanted it…so naturally, being four years old, I assumed mom would get it for me. I stood on my tip-toes, reaching over the iron grate of the shopping cart.. gently dropping the box to the bottom. I knew mom wouldn’t notice, because well… she had better things to do than worry about me.. her four year-old. Unfortunately my four year-old mind was completely wrong and she told me I didn’t need the car right now. Well that didn’t make any sense to me whatsoever… Why not? Why didn’t I need the car? I only had six for my Lego mansion and any four year-old worth their spit needed to have seven cars parked outside my multi-colored building. What would my friends say?

I was upset and rightfully so! She handed me the car and told me to put it back where I found it… maybe Santa Claus would bring it to me for Christmas. CHRISTMAS! That had to be fifteen months away! I would have a new mansion by then.. maybe even two! I pouted and went to put the car back.

When I turned around my mother was gone. She had completely vanished out of thin air. I hurried through the aisles looking for her. I was terrified. What did I do? Did my mother just abandon me? I would have picked the blue car instead… if that is what she wanted.

I remember crying in the aisle because I was completely ruined. I couldn’t find my mother. I can still remember the desperation I felt. The thoughts I had going through my head on why she would leave me.

At that moment I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around.. It was her. I can’t really explain the feeling I had when I saw my mother’s face. Nothing else in the world mattered to me. I completely forgot about the red car… everything in my small world completely made sense. I had no worries, no thoughts of desperation.. not a care in the world. All that mattered was that I was safe and with my mom.

I can’t explain why I remembered this specific incident in my life. I can’t recall much of my life before seven or eight years old. It made me think about the stresses and worries we have in life. The problems that are blown way out of proportion because we forget the simple nature of life itself. The simplicity of just caring for each other.

I can distinctively remember the feeling when I saw that red sweatshirt. Comfort. Peace.  I encourage all of you to think back on that day in your childhood where everything made sense. Where the only thing that mattered was the one thing that brought you comfort.

The Self-Centered Tech World and Voicemail

hat tip to Doug Karr for the link to TechCrunch

I have read and re-read a post by Michael Arrington or Tech Crunch called Think Before You Voicemail.

The first line of the post states:

Voicemail is dead. Please tell everyone so they’ll stop using it.

Now, I happen to agree with Michael when he comments on voice mail being a little dated in the new world of email, instant messaging, twittering, and SMS texting. I would rather email a person than listen to a voice mail but that is my personal opinion.

The problem I have with Mr. Arrington’s post is the fact that it is all about HIS well being, HIS time, HIS technological prowess. ME. ME. ME. When did the tech world become this self-centered?

I can understand that it takes time to leave a voice mail. It takes time to pick up your phone, hit the little green phone, and listen to 30 SECONDS of a message.

Voicemail should be given up if and only if your peers/clients/partners/whatever have chosen not to use the service. I am not going to sit here and say voicemail is dead when 85% of my clients would rather leave a voicemail than send me an email.

Just because I would rather not leave a voicemail or listen to a voicemail does not mean I should decide to leave an away message saying, “I would prefer it if you didn’t leave a voicemail. I wont check it. I would rather you email me and inconvenience you for a second time. Because you will learn, my young one, that it is my time that is more important…not yours.”

Voicemail is only an inconvenience if you are thinking only about yourself. If my clients, prospective clients, or friends would rather leave a voicemail I am going to listen to it and return it.

In the world of business there is no ME factor. It is all about THEM.

**disclaimer**
Doug, I still love you.

The Death of Marketing and Sales: Open Source

(hat tip to TechCrunchIT for the story)

Recently Sun Microsystems announced the layoff of 1,000 employees (with the potential layoff of 2500) at their main headquarters, Menlo Park Campus, and employees in Colorado. According to TechCrunchIT’s post, Sun will be laying off 60-70% of Sun’s sales and marketing departments.

60-70% cut from their marketing departments? As a professional in the marketing arena it is hard for me to believe that a company would actually cut a department that drives revenue into the company. Cut marketing and sales for the betterment of the company? Does it make any sense? According to Sun CEO Johnathan Swartz, it makes a lot of sense.

I have always related the Sun name to their open source offerings (MySql and ZFS). The company boasts a 70,000 a day download rate from the technology they have leverage in the open source community.

From TechCruchIT:

Schwartz pointed out that even though there were users of Sun products in those areas, it was accomplished without requiring Sun sales or Sun marketing in those countries or cities.

Are we seeing a paradigm shift in the world of traditional marketing and sales for technology and Internet companies? Will companies like Sun Microsystems continue to cut departments that have always been known as the revenue drivers of the bottom line? Will budgets be focused more toward technology development and customer service rather than marketing and sales?

Is this concept suicidal for Sun Microsystems and their other product offerings? OR Is a paradigm shift about to happen?

New Zealand Takes On YouTube.

We have been talking extensively on Smaller Indiana about using social media in the political forum. Mashable had a great write up about New Zealand using the YouTube platform to promote their soon to be election for the 49th New Zealand Parliament.

I have been preaching the value of using social media in the political forum and THIS another reason to start investing.

Call me stupid but people crave authenticity when it comes to politics. I do not need some Jo-schmo schmuck telling me what is good for the country. I want someone that is authentic. I want someone that comes across as a real human being.

Social media provides a platform for politicians to express who they really are, if they are even wanting to. Authenticity is king on social media. It should be the same for politics.

Blog Away Mahmoud Admadinejad.

I trust everyone had an excellent 4th of July!

After enjoying a robust display of fireworks in the wonderful city of Peru, Indiana I decided to sit down and hit up Google Reader for an RSS update.

Mashable had a great post recently regarding politics and social media/blogging. I was surprised to find that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has a personal blog. Now, I assume that many of you have known this for awhile but it was new to me! I decided to take a look and read some posts from the Iranian President. I have come to couple of conclusions.
1. After reading a couple of posts from Iran, I realized how small the world has actually become. I can sit at a Martin’s grocery store in Logansport, IN, click twice, and automatically be reading posts from the Iranian president.

2. There are comments from all over the world on this blog. Unfortunately most of the comments from America range from “bullet in the head” to “die slowly.” I am not defending Iran but many comments from this side of the world show the sheer ignorance and stupidity of some Americans. Why isn’t intelligent thought put in some comments?

3. The Internet has allowed for political thought of all nations to be posted for all to read. Who knows whether or not Ahmadinejad is actually writing and posting on his personal blog? Who knows if he actually means what he has says? The simple fact remains, information is being shared and we, the American people, have a place to debate.

I can’t say I agree with anything Mahmoud Admadinejad has posted. It could be a political hole of lies but I give him credit for recognizing the importance of the Internet and the sharing of thought and information.

I have further realized that Thomas Friedman was right when he said:

It (the Internet) created a global platform that allowed more people to plug and play, collaborate and compete, share knowledge and share work, than anything we have ever seen in the history of the world.

I say, “Blog away, Mahmoud Admadinejad! We will either find out you are a bold faced liar or there may be some thread of truth in all of this. “

Friends Review of Wall-E

Thanks to Collin Trent for this excellent review of Wall-E.

“First, I didn’t fall asleep in the theater. You all know this is an accomplishment for me. The movie started at 9:00 PM, so it wasn’t exactly an early showing.

Second, the animation is great. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Pixar , though. A few of the shots in the opening scene look very realistic. There’s also quite a few nods to Apple. I’m not exactly sure of his title or position, but Steve Jobs has his hands in Pixar; he may be an exec or on their board, not sure.

Third, the comedy used and script are pretty catchy. Though there’s not a terrible amount of dialogue, because the two main characters are essentially robots, it’s pretty funny.

Lastly, the plot is amazing. The social and political underlying themes are awesome. I don’t want to give anything away, and though it may be a little extreme, it’s a great representation of today’s society, the dangers of conformity, etc.

The reviews I read prior to last night were all very positive. I wasn’t expecting to be impressed like I was, though. Rotten Tomatoes give it a rating of 96, which from what I understand is pretty high. Disney & Pixar have done a great job at creating an adult (oriented) movie and marketing it towards children.

If you see the movie in the theater, make sure you’re there on time for the previews. There’s a great short-film before the feature.”

A Picture is Worth $10,000? Give me a Break, McCain.

I am sitting here drinking coffee, watching Channel 6 News, and finishing up a blog post. I am having a pleasant morning, thank you for asking! Unfortunately, now I am a little upset because of a picture worth (brace yourself) $10,000.

John McCain is visiting Indianapolis today and, of course, he is having a dinner/fund raiser/$1000-$3000 a seat/shaking hand hoopla. What a great way to raise money for your campaign! Pay the money. Get some food. Shake hands with the future President of the United States. You can even get your picture taking with John McCain. Step right up. Wait. How much did you say you gave to the McCain cause? $9000? $5000? Sorry, only $10,000 and above donors get to take a picture with Mr. McCain.

What?

Excuse me?

I can’t get a picture at this party without giving $10,00?

CAN I HAVE some personality in politics? I am not supporting or defending either campaign, but I feel like there is no personality, no authenticity.

Yes, the Obama campaign has done an EXCELLENT job in creating a juggernaut of a brand. And yes, McCain and Obama both have emotionally charged words in their campaign like “Change, Hope, Resilience.” Whatever.

Can I get someone real? Maybe? Can I get a PERSON. Someone that doesn’t sound like a political-byte robot. I have heard both speak and they BOTH bored me to death.

McCain needs $10,000 to blink.

Obama has $10,000 from a cheat.

I think I will use my $10,000 not for a picture but to buy a car, which I will drive off a cliff. Money well better spent.

Should A NFP Use Twitter?

I had a great question posed to me by Scott Semester of Smaller Indiana in relation to my post about Comcast .

The question follows:

Kyle, can you talk a little more about (or recommend online resources that can explain) how companies and nonprofit organizations can use Twitter to connect with their target audiences? I have a Twitter account, but it’s just for personal stuff and I usually forget to use it at work. How might I and my colleagues add value for donors via Twitter?

What a great question!

The first step in utilizing a social tool like Twitter is to understand the human element in relation to social media. The human element can be referred to as an underlying form of authenticity when using social tools for communication. Scott made reference to using Twitter for “personal stuff” and he is on the right track. When consulting with a company, I tend to recommend two separate accounts. You should always have social media tools for your personal life, which SHOULD ALWAYS BE separate from your business.

When a person is seeking out information on your company they want two things concrete information (hard data, contact info, about us, etc) and the human element (owner, employee, company mission, etc). Twitter, not to mention every other social media outlet, gives you the opportunity to show a more human side to your business/organization.

Next step: Just try it out. Start an organization Twitter account (ie. Comcastcares). Search for people in your area and start following. See what happens.

Put some HUMAN into your COMPANY. Believe me, it is worth it.

After all, an empty, heartless logo is the last thing a donor will give money to.

Has Google Met Its Match In Yandex?

A recent post on BusinessWeek.com clued me into a new search engine on the Eastern side of the world called Yandex .

According to Business Week,
Few outside of Russia have heard of the Yandex search engine, but that may soon change. Yandex has 44% of the Russian market—10 points ahead of Google—and is now the No. 2 search outfit in Europe, according to researcher comScore.

I am interested to see if Yandex can hold its own to the search giant. Google is pushing deep into the Russian market and has forecast ad revenues to jump from $200 million to $1 billion in the Russian market by 2010.

I would love to give a run down of the Yandex search engine but unfortunately I am not that familiar with Russian. But from what I have read Yandex is making headways to combat Google.

Can Yandex keep the motherland or will Google create a heavy enough force to drive Yandex down?

Something TRULY From George Carlin

Honesty may be the best policy, but it’s important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

-George Carlin