Scientist. Engineer. Technician.
“The first time you do something, it’s science. The second time you do something, it’s engineering. The third time…it’s technology – being a technician.”
– Clifford Stoll, man of many intellectual hats and author of Cuckoo’s Egg (still a great yarn after all these years), talks at TED in February 2006
Which one are you in your career?
Which one does your company value most?
From both major parties and its candidates, I am hearing the same modifiers over and over again – describing people…voters like you and me…
Everyday people…Common people…Ordinary people…
Everyday = Routine, ordinary, not unique
Common = Lacking special status or distinction; Unexceptional
Ordinary = No exceptional degree of ability or quality
I could think of many ways to describe the people of America. And “ordinary” is not one of them.
If you want to truly communicate and connect with your audience, I recommend:
1. Learning as much as you can about your audience
2. Elevating, rather than denigrating, your audience
I am not sure why the politicians need any such modifiers to describe the majority of the people. In the end, it only creates an uncomfortable division between the speaker and the audience. In the case of the primaries (for both major parties), it feels more like the “Great Divide.”
FOR YOUR REFERENCING PLEASURE: My favorite dictionary – The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language – is worth its weight in gold. That’s saying a lot these days!
If you don’t know about Squidoo, you don’t know what you’re missing. 🙂
What is Squidoo? Another brain child of Seth Godin, Squidoo is a community of single-page websites (each called a “lens”) built with passion and creativity by people like you and me – about the topics of our choice.
Squidoo is like a virtual erector set in that you are supplied all the building parts and limited only by your imagination – except, with Squidoo, anyone in the world can potentially see your creation when it is finished. And also, with Squidoo, your final product is auto-adorned with Internet ads.
Yes, that’s right. Squidoo cleverly combines the compassion of community and the passion of people with the business of advertising. Upon completion, your lens is auto-populated with relevant Google ads. You can also choose to display items for sale from Amazon, CafePress, etc. And if someone buys an item via your lens, you generate a portion of the proceeds – for yourself, charity or a combination of both.
The best part? Creating a lens is so easy that my mother could do it (actually, to be fair, my mother is pretty tech savvy – but you know what I mean).
I have to admit…after creating my first lens (the operative word being “first”) about identity theft, I am completely hooked by Squidoo’s far-reaching, yet benevolent, tentacles. It’s no wonder – the Squidoo community’s vibrant and sunny disposition makes it difficult not to keep returning. And each visit provides a purely painless and pleasant user experience (how rare is that?!).
Folks, do not delay. Build your lens today. Squidoo is an effervescent experience that Squi-don’t want to miss!
P.S. Don’t forget to stop by my new Squidoo lens: Protecting Your Identity: Start with the Basics. I welcome your feedback and suggestions!
I recently asked management at a consumer research firm if they ever had the occasion to strongly recommend killing a product prior to release. The firm said it happened often and with vigor. I was impressed.
We have choices in life. And choosing the path that could potentially jeopardize cash flow is usually not the one we prefer.
So, with that one response, the consumer research firm gained instant credibility, laying the foundation for the big-return bonding experience: TRUST. As we all know, one simply cannot hang a price tag on trust.
Killing a client project, divorcing a significant relationship, kiboshing a product in development, or terminating a new employee ultimately demonstrates leadership and vision because you’re looking out for the long-term big picture. You’re also looking out for the best interests of both parties (although, at times, it may not seem that way). Knowing exactly when to let go is just another form of achieving success.
My hat goes off to those who understand, embrace and practice “the art of letting go.”
RECOMMENDED RELEVANT READING: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
“…the fact that your voice is amplified to the degree where it reaches from one end of the country to the other does not confer upon you greater wisdom or understanding than you possessed when your voice reached only from one end of the bar to the other.”
– Edward R. Murrow, quintessential journalist and pioneer broadcaster, at the 1958 RTNDA conference
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Mr. Murrow’s speech at the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) conference in 1958. It’s ironic how time stands still about some subjects and flashes forward for others. My guess is that Mr. Murrow would have been pleased and proud of our technological advancements, which led to the creation of our awe-inspiring blogosphere.
Note: If you haven’t already, treat yourself soon to the movie Good Night and Good Luck. The film positively inspires the unearthing and sharing of plain truths, particularly for those fortunate enough to tote a global megaphone.