Up Market |
- Transforming IT: A Manifesto for Tech-Savvy Entrepreneurs
- Beyond your Mind
- Time Management For Unmanageable People
- Networking Tip: 21 Questions to Break the Ice
| Transforming IT: A Manifesto for Tech-Savvy Entrepreneurs Posted: 15 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST Something fantastic is happening. We are emerging as a new breed of young, tech-savvy, small-by-design, agile, and innovative businesses. We are businesses that aren't just changing the rules on how to run a business in our respective industries, we are changing the relationship that work has with our lives. We are a generation of entrepreneurs that aren't simply using the Internet, we are part of the Internet. We work, play and learn through the Internet. We grow and share through the Internet. If we don't know something, we know the answer typically a simple search away, always at our fingertips. Most of the time, we can even hack at the solution enough to solve our own problems. We are citizens in a world that is changing faster than anyone of us can comprehend. This is a manifesto for those who have a desire to be liberated from the chains of traditional IT. I am actually an IT consultant by trade and I must admit, some consider me a bit of a nihilist (a title I am perfectly fine holding). I have noticed that something fantastic is happening on in the world of IT: it is being transformed. Our battle is with a 20th century mindset in which groups of IT experts deploy monolithic commercial software and hardware solutions for small business. It is being toppled by a new do-it-yourself paradigm focused on an information culture that is quick to embrace new technology built on the mobility, open standards, and this "thing" we call the cloud. This new paradigm is quick to hop onto the latest mobile device, sync tool, web app, or social network to solve real problems, collaborate, and get amazing things done. In many cases we are shifting to tools that make the traditional relationship with IT professionals obsolete. But there is a caveat. For many small businesses: there is a gap. There is a gap in knowledge between being good at using the tools we are provided with and the knowledge to craft these tools. There is a gap between using a tool that makes life convenient and the philosophy that goes into making the tool work. There is a gap between the ooie-GUI comfort of a graphical user interface and the raw power of the technology churning away underneath. For many of us, as we go down the path path of the new paradigm, we are also met with greater resistance by the very community that holds the keys to the kingdom: traditional IT. The biggest criticism of this new paradigm shift by traditional interests is the "consumerization" of IT in small business. Consumerization describes the phenomenon of electronics made for the consumer that eventually make their way into the work place (think Apple). Overall, I see this as a good thing. Instead of electronics manufacturers developing "business" tools designed for old-school top-down IT deployment by Fortune 500 companies first, and then passing crumbs down to the rest of us, we have effectively democratized, through the market, the way in which we can interact with the world. But moving away from traditional IT leaves us with strange bedfellows. In many cases we are trading Nick Burns for Gizmodo. That of course trades trusting the advice of the IT professional and leaves us at the mercy of trusting advice from sales reps, tech bloggers, and vendors. In doing so, we embrace a brave new world which ultra-small businesses can thrive by leveraging tools that let us compete against companies that are, at times, hundreds of times larger than we are. But, we must acknowledge that we are also taking on significant risk if we do not educate ourselves in the technological choices we are making. I am telling you all of this as an IT professional, because I see the writing on the wall. Here is what I feel the future holds.
What I am getting at is this: armed with the proper knowledge and tools, most of the time, you won't really need somebody like me. And, armed with the proper knowledge and tools, you can help make the Internet a better place for all of us. My goal with this article and future articles is to aid in propelling this movement forward. I want you to know more about all the geeky stuff that I know. I want you to know more about the philosophy that goes into being an "IT expert". I want you to be empowered with the philosophy behind encryption, security, internet protocols, networks, backups, coding, and more. Think of this as a useful tool on a journey, not a guide to a destination. We never be able to know everything, but knowing more will empower us to know when (and where) to find help and how to find the best help (…and avoid bozos). We are all citizens of the internet, and as a firm believer in the power of direct action, the only way we can encourage the Internet as a healthy and open place is by educating ourselves and participate in it. I am really looking forward to sharing with you in the future and I hope to pass knowledge that both inspires and empowers you to grow and learn. Photo Credit: Illusive Photography  |
| Posted: 15 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST According to your mind you become what you think about most often. Even though that might be the case you still have to physically move. When I say move I mean it takes way more than just mind control to get what you want and to go where you want to be in life (making your vision manifest). It takes you getting up off of your tail and shaking the earth (I almost mean that literally!). You must wake up with the desire to do something great. Something that makes most people cringe. It’s not the watching of television and shopping at the mall that changes the world. You wouldn’t be persuaded by Obama (or any other powerful figure for that matter) to follow his lead if all he did was watch episodes of “Friends” everyday. The reason you watch what he does or listen to his speeches (whether you like him or not) is because of the difficult task he’s trying to accomplish everyday. The task is to change the world for the better while pleasing and persuading the world that what he is doing is the best option for a majority of our citizens. It takes courage, faith, and true character to ask to become the change maker. It’s even more difficult to actually get great results. Be a change maker. Get off of that stupid couch or that time wasting (yet still mind stimulating) video game and become an individual of change. Photo Credit: m.a.r.c.  |
| Time Management For Unmanageable People Posted: 14 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST Do you feel like you lack time management skills? No worries, you can harness time and make it work with you, not against you, with the aid of this handy book.  |
| Networking Tip: 21 Questions to Break the Ice Posted: 14 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST It's a rare person who enjoys networking. Even more unique is the person who's actually good at it. If you find yourself sweaty and anxious the moment you enter a networking event, you've stumbled across the right article, my friend. Often, the hardest part is getting started. Once the conversation is in motion, it's much easier to simply maintain the momentum. So, to help you break the ice, CBSNews.com recently shared the following 21 questions to help make the first interaction comfortable, friendly and positive. All of these questions are engaging and thought-provoking. They're specifically designed to help create connection, which is sometimes hard to do at fast paced business events. Take a look and see which ones resonate with you. 1. What is the best part of your job? 2. What is the best part of working at your company? 3. When did you know that you wanted to work in your field? 4. Who was the most influential person in your career choice? 5. What was your biggest accomplishment in the last year? 6. Who do you look forward to seeing when you come to work? 7. What are you most excited about that you see coming up in the next six months? 8. What was the most impressive thing you saw happen in your industry in the last year? 9. Which company in your industry is the pacesetter and what are they doing? 10. What’s the smartest thing your company’s done in the last year to deal with the economy? 11. What’s the best technique you have been using to better manage your time? 12. Which of your company’s initiatives for next year has you the most excited? 13. If you had only one accomplishment on which to base your annual review, what would it be? 14. What’s the secret sauce for managing people to their highest success? 15. Who is the best leader you know that you personally try to emulate? 16. Where do you think the big innovation in your industry will come from in the next year or two? 17. What was your best decision in the last year? 18. Who are the best thinkers in your field that you follow? 19. What sea change do you see coming in the next year or two in the business? 20. What technology has made the biggest difference in your personal work in the last year? 21. What is the biggest thing you will stop doing next year? What do you think of these questions? Would you comfortable asking them of someone you just met? Share your thoughts in the comments! Photo Credit: Richard.Asia  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Upmarket To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu