Goggle can detect flu outbreaks
By Ron | November 13, 2008
I needed a break from writing my board report and decided to surf the Internet for about 10 minutes. I do not go to the coffee pot nor do I take regular breaks during my day. Guess what I found? Google can detect flu outbreaks from people doing searches for certain flu terms. I find that amazing. You may think as I did that my mouse had a new censor for monitoring my fever or checking my pulse. But neither is the case. They can detect the origin of all the searches and determine possible outbreaks to alert you to higher activity of flu in your area. In fact, Google claims it may predict flu outbreaks in your area up to two weeks faster than the CDC. Pretty brilliant.
Google already has automated ads that pop up by search terms. SO let’s walk through this scenario. You go to Google. You type in Fever, Achiness, Sore Throat and No Energy. The results tell you that a flu outbreak is occurring in your area as several ads pop up offering home delivery of Tylonal for the fever and aches, Halls for the sore throat, and a reprieve from a board report because of a lack of energy. Oh yes, back to work and with all of you testing this out, I suspect the flu outbreak is going to reach epic proportions.
Topics: Miscellaneous | 1 Comment »
10 Ways to Make Press Releases More SEO Friendly
By Ron | November 12, 2008
Sarah Evans wrote this blog post found at “10 Ways to Make Press Releases More SEO Friendly” and I thought it worth sharing with all my readers.
We all try to get attention with our ideas. We want people to notice us, our message, our products, and our organization. She outlines ten very powerful ways to stand out and be as Seth Godin would say a “Purple Cow” or a “Big Moo.”
Sarah talks about knowing your key words before you even write one word. There have been times I have written my blog and then started down the Word Press fill in stuff and started noting the key words and immediately thought I should go back and reshape my thoughts. She is right on the money when she says if you start there - your outline will be stronger and message more memorable.
My favorite quote from her is, “Be the content that interests your audience NOT that which interrupts them.” Thank Sarah for a most excellent blog post!
Topics: Miscellaneous | No Comments »
Juggling Chainsaws
By Ron | November 10, 2008
At times, I feel the team and I are juggling chainsaws. Is this hazardous? You bet it is? Is there an adrenalin rush? At times. With every rush there is an accompanying drain on energy and emotions. So, how many chainsaws can we keep up in the air?
Most can juggle their calendars with all the attached appointments, tasks, and projects. Then some can add the conferences, extra projects, and travel. Few can juggle large quantities of chainsaws for a sustained amount time without getting nicked or risking the loss of a limb. Sometimes people’s hair cuts looks like they had some close calls.
For me, when the pace reaches a “sustained extreme,” I begin to feel weariness. Why does it take that long for leaders to reach those warning signs? Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership | No Comments »
Pepto-Bismol Ice Cream
By Ron | October 24, 2008
When you get that churning feeling in your stomach, you know you have been thrown a curve ball. That sinking feeling is not always the result of the stomach bug. Sometimes you feel this way after unexpected news or a bad report. I read such a report recently and if anyone knows me really well, they know I do not always read every word of my emails. My administrative assistant and the leadership team have learned to give me smaller chunks of information. I am a visionary by nature and do not like getting bogged down with internal details. I know I am being really vulnerable with you but this is who I am. I am working on this weakness but my short attention span keeps getting in the way.
This post is a tribute to those who Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership, Randall House Talk | 1 Comment »
Plugs
By Ron | October 22, 2008
The TSA agent who screens bags notes how many electrical items that are a part of one’s brief case these days. Screeners often do a double take on my bag because of all the cords. I have a cell phone wall charger cord, cell phone auto charger cord, a GPS auto cord, RCA cables for power point, headphones, I-pod charger, computer cord, and a handful of dongles, adapters, and then the actual electronics themselves.
When I get to my hotel, I immediately unpack and set up shop. That means plugging in my computer, my cell phone for recharging, but then you run out of outlets. If the hotel really is not traveler friendly, they will Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Travel Tips | 2 Comments »
Birds go south. What do leaders do?
By Ron | October 20, 2008
Pam and I have noticed the humming birds have not been around and the regular birds have left a lot of seed in our feeder out back. This seems to have stopped about three or four weeks ago. For a while I was refilling the humming bird feeder every week.
It is that time of the year. This morning we got our first frost. I rolled up the hoses and brought in my timers this weekend. My firewood is stacked and ready for that first cold day or when my wife says it is time. It is this time of the year that prompts me to recognize that changes are inevitable and preparation for them is essential. I have been giving lots of thought to what is important for 2009. What hoses will we need to roll up and what hoses will we need to roll out? What needs to stack up and what should we get ready to utilize?
Birds migrate south for a better environment. Leaders create better environments.
Topics: Leadership | 2 Comments »
Taste the fine print
By Ron | October 6, 2008
When I travel by car, I usually buy snacks to keep my mind alert. One of my favorites is great tasting pork skins or pork rinds. Realizing this is an acquired taste, one that you will never acquire if you read about how they are made or their nutritional value. For those of you not familiar with this southern delicacy, they often come in flavors such as barbecue, spicy, vinegar, and plain, each clearly marked and sometimes color coordinated with packaging.
While traveling last week, I stopped and my favorite brand was not on the shelf. Sometimes taking a risk on other brands often pays off and makes the preferred list, so I selected the one pictured here (taken with my cell phone). Plain pork rinds would be great for this trip. The attractive bold color of the packaging should have alerted me to something, but not this time because I read the front of the packaging.
Accelerating down the on ramp of I-65 south, I opened the package, selected a nice medium size rind, popped it into my mouth, and crunched down on it. Taste buds need very little time to assess the situation and mine sent me unexpected signals. This was no plain pork rind; Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership, Travel Tips | 9 Comments »
777 drop – The Bull bungee jumps on Wall Street
By Ron | September 30, 2008
Bungee jumping is one extreme adventure I have not experienced. I have jumped out of airplanes, walked down side of buildings face first, repelled out of helicopters and many other courageously stupid acts. The bungee jumps I have watched has a person plummeting down until the cord stretches almost to the point you expect it to break as it pauses momentarily at the bottom and soars upward but not anywhere near it started followed by rapid bounces up and down landing at the bottom. The bottom where it settles is nowhere near where it stretched to its lowest point. Then slowly a wench pulls it back upward at a snails pace until it reaches the apex or origin.
Wall Street right now is a bungee ride. We have all heard congress and politicians say they do not want to bail out execs on Wall Street without helping those on Main Street. I know very few people on Main Street that are untouched by Wall Street. They are either personally invested or work for a company that is invested at some level. (PDF of failed bill voted down by congress) So the people who are hurt by not passing a bill are those of us living on Main Street because over 50% of Americans are invested in the market. Helping Wall Street (without giving golden parachutes or even bungee cords to the CEOs) will help those of us with a main street address. Normally, I would be opposed to government involvement. After all, where were they in the Enron debacle?
The media would sound as if we should Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership, Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »
Standout Group
By Ron | September 29, 2008
This is the third time this season. See those branches sticking up higher than the rest on the same bush? I wonder why some limbs grow literally a foot taller than three or four more on that same branch. Are the others not getting the same water the whole bush gets? Why are just a few actually rising to the occasion? Do the smaller limbs not want to grow tall like their overachieving cohorts?
As I pondered the shrubs, I saw the workplace right there before my eyes. In every organization that is growing, there are some who keep pace with growth. There are some who develop a problem and shrivel up and dye. But then there are a few that are standouts and rise above their peers. They reach further, stretch themselves, and noticeably grow the organization. So why is it that my wife wants me to clip these overachievers? I can’t do that at work and now have convictions about not punishing these performers.
Topics: Leadership | 5 Comments »
Leadership Without Easy Answers
By Ron | September 22, 2008
This book, written by Ronald A. Heifetz, was a required textbook in my MPA program from University of Colorado. Drudgery often accompanies textbook reading but not this one. He states that the heart of this book is “mobilizing people to tackle tough problems” (pg 15).
Heifetz, professor at John F. Kennedy School of Government, did not have to quote some book or popular case studies to validate his principles. He reached back into history and brought the context of major points where leaders make significant impacts in history and shows us behind the scenes insights we do not read in history. This type of information helps us understand leadership, influence, and policy formation in a whole new light. We lived many of these news stories, but had no idea how they came about. If you love history you will love seeing how history was shaped and formed by leaders with authority and those without authority. If you love presidential history, you will enjoy a look into cabinet meetings, the oval office, and relationships to which few have access.
While I do not know this for sure, Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Book Reviews | No Comments »
