Tipper Gore, No Hats, And Unintended Consequences
Living in such a rich age when it comes to communication tools means that your words and actions can have a far reaching effect. How many companies and individuals have been embarrassed by a tweet, video, or other method? How many times have they brought it upon themselves?
The focus of my post was about lessons to be learned around how a campaign to empower consumers ended up producing results counter to that goal. However, it's important to realize that now, more than ever, what we say is as important as how we say it. Make sure that you truly have the "pulse of the people" before you execute an initiative, particularly a highly sensitive one.
The focus of my post was about lessons to be learned around how a campaign to empower consumers ended up producing results counter to that goal. However, it's important to realize that now, more than ever, what we say is as important as how we say it. Make sure that you truly have the "pulse of the people" before you execute an initiative, particularly a highly sensitive one.
Superheroes Can't Fix the Economy
This was just an excuse to poke holes in the solitary hero myth. Oftentimes we look at our current conditions and imagine someone else will come along and make it better. While having someone with the knowledge and ability to correct issues is a wonderful thing, it shouldn't be the thing that's holding you back from making an impact all on your own. Results most often come from small efforts, built on top of each other.
The other reason I wrote the post was to exercise my geek muscles, referencing works from Neal Stephenson, Shaw Brothers movies, Sergio Leone Westerns, and other cultural sources which tap into what Joseph Campbell calls "The Hero's Journey."
Don't judge me.
Leadership Lessons from Dr. Klawe
This was just an excuse to poke holes in the solitary hero myth. Oftentimes we look at our current conditions and imagine someone else will come along and make it better. While having someone with the knowledge and ability to correct issues is a wonderful thing, it shouldn't be the thing that's holding you back from making an impact all on your own. Results most often come from small efforts, built on top of each other.
The other reason I wrote the post was to exercise my geek muscles, referencing works from Neal Stephenson, Shaw Brothers movies, Sergio Leone Westerns, and other cultural sources which tap into what Joseph Campbell calls "The Hero's Journey."
"Until a man is 25, he still thinks, every so often, that under the right circumstances he could be the baddest motherfucker in the world. If I moved to a martial arts monastery in China and studied really hard for ten years. If my family was wiped out by Columbian drug dealers and I swore myself to revenge. If I got a fatal disease, had one year to live, devoted it to wiping out street crime. If I just dropped out and devoted my life to being bad."--Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
Don't judge me.
Leadership Lessons from Dr. Klawe
I was inspired by her story from the moment I started reading it. What's she's been able to accomplish at Harvey Mudd College, while retaining what appears to be a down-to-earth personality, is very inspiring to me. Considering the cost of tuition, and the continuing debate on whether a college degree is worth the cost to obtain it, Dr. Klawe presents a great value proposition for the school she manages.
This post also gave me an opportunity to avoid dedicating space to emerging issues in the news. I'm not opposed to using hot news items for inspiration, but most tend to leave me feeling unsatisfied. I don't want to just add "noise" to the discussion; sometimes silence is the best way to communicate. I try to write about subjects I feel I can add something worthwhile to--a unique point of view or perspective perhaps--and I'm confident that someone else will not have covered it the same way.
This is hot news worth talking about!
I've been focused on issues related to tech and business for a while. This industry is transforming different facets of life--business, politics, culture--on a national and international scale. The details of this acquisition needed to be discussed via the blog. I've received great comments (both on and off the blog), so it clearly resonated with other professionals.
Thanks this week goes to...
The readers, of course. In addition, I want to thank everyone that contributed to the successful launch of Project: Social HR. It's been an amazing experience thus far, working with enthusiastic partners who want this mentoring program to succeed. It's helped me stretch, by shifting my focus away from content generation (which is what I do here on this blog) to being an editor, marketer, community manager, and all around proud participant in building something beautiful. I'm having a great time, and I hope you are, too.
If you're interested in learning more about Project: Social HR, go see me look awkward on video here.
This post also gave me an opportunity to avoid dedicating space to emerging issues in the news. I'm not opposed to using hot news items for inspiration, but most tend to leave me feeling unsatisfied. I don't want to just add "noise" to the discussion; sometimes silence is the best way to communicate. I try to write about subjects I feel I can add something worthwhile to--a unique point of view or perspective perhaps--and I'm confident that someone else will not have covered it the same way.
- Giving Women the Access Code (via the New York Times)
- Computing Degrees and Enrollment Trends [pdf] (via the Computing Research Association)
- THE NUMBER OF FEMALE COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS HAS TRIPLED AT HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE — THANKS TO THIS WOMAN (via The Mary Sue blog)
Instagram, Influence, HR, and Lottery Tickets
This is hot news worth talking about!
I've been focused on issues related to tech and business for a while. This industry is transforming different facets of life--business, politics, culture--on a national and international scale. The details of this acquisition needed to be discussed via the blog. I've received great comments (both on and off the blog), so it clearly resonated with other professionals.
- Facebook Buys Instagram for $1 Billion (via the New York Times)
- Tech workers stress over skills gap (via PC Advisor)
- Social At Work: Facebook's Lessons for The Enterprise (via Forbes)
- Enforcing Social Media Mindsets at the Workplace (via Small Biz Technology)
- Jumpstart our Business Startups (JOBS) Act (via Wikipedia)
Thanks this week goes to...
The readers, of course. In addition, I want to thank everyone that contributed to the successful launch of Project: Social HR. It's been an amazing experience thus far, working with enthusiastic partners who want this mentoring program to succeed. It's helped me stretch, by shifting my focus away from content generation (which is what I do here on this blog) to being an editor, marketer, community manager, and all around proud participant in building something beautiful. I'm having a great time, and I hope you are, too.
If you're interested in learning more about Project: Social HR, go see me look awkward on video here.
Victorio,
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your work on Project: Social HR. The Beta was a tremendous help to me, and I hope that more HR pros will click the link and sign up to be paired with a mentor.