So you’re good at figuring stuff out.
That doesn’t mean your co-worker or student or spouse isn’t.
Of course, you’ll never know unless you let him or her try.
And chances are, they want to.
Author Archives: ljgale
Difference between Facebook and Google
Two tech giants are in the news lately for making big changes to their products.
- Facebook. They’re FORCING users to download their messaging app. It’s now the only way to send messages across their network. Facebook says it’s to improve the user experience. Many, however, are finding it tough to see the benefit for anybody other than Facebook and its shareholders. Privacy and unwanted, direct solicitations are a main concern.
- Google. They’re RECOMMENDING websites switch to SSL encrypted URLs (green verified https) to get preferential treatment on organic page rank. Google says it’s to improve user experience. They’re citing more secure, identity-verified sites makes a better internet. It also means fewer spammy sites (unwilling to pay for SSL encryption) and better privacy for your (now encrypted) information.
Users are strongly against the former and are racing to adopt the latter.
I know my site will have SSL encryption (https) in the next couple weeks.
So many lessons here…
But the bottom line?
Which tech company will your business be like?
Ice Bucket Challenge: A new type of chain letter
Chain letters for a cause were common back in the day.
“Pass this to ten friends or else kids in Africa will be eaten alive by mosquitos.”
We all participated in the first one we received, right?
Here’s a new type of chain letter that’s going viral.
And it’s for a real cause: ALS.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s one of the most fucked up bad beats you can get. And the prognosis hasn’t changed in nearly 100 years. Five years and you’re done.
It won’t be long before 100’s of copy-cats doing similar chain letter challenges for their cause.
Glad it was THIS cause, first. Because chances are, I ignore similar challenges like I ignored 99% of chain letters.
Alas, here’s my acceptance of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Thank you for challenging me, Rachel and Elliott Califf.
I now challenge, Nick Fisher, Brad Rozran, Chris Tonkin, Mark Adams, James Bradley, Shalva Geffen, Mike Neiman, Danny Abrams, Leigh Waterman. You have 24 hours to accept or donate $100 to ALS research.
Human humans
Perfection, resilience, and underdoggedness runs its course.
After a certain point, perception of such successes turns.
So it’s okay to tell the world you made a come back. Or that you sell awesome apparel. Or that you have some good really good advice.
But once in a while, people love to see you be vulnerable, look ugly or fail again.
Humans like human humans (and businesses).
An investment idea
Investments usually cost money.
Stocks. Bonds. Mutual funds.
The return isn’t guaranteed, but it’s expected.
So could there be an investment that, instead, saves you money and has a guaranteed return?
Yup!
Fire your cable company.
You’ll get an extra $100 per month and yield incredible returns.
Time of your life
Waiting in line is a fact of life.
- Traffic.
- Airports.
- Everywhere in Las Vegas!
And according to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, if you spend one hour per day waiting in line, that equates to five year of your waking life.
No, it doesn’t take an astrophysicist to do that math.
But it might take a guy like me to remind you that five years is enough time to get a masters education.
A masters!
So, be kind, have fun and better yourself while you’re waiting in line.
Because college is supposed to be the time of your life.
So tronley
They may catch you off guard. Or confuse you. Or shock you with their bravado.
But anyone who wants to pick a fight with you or your business in the public arena of cyberspace (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is just a troll.
So remember this:
In real public arenas, trolls don’t sound so tough. And in reality, they aren’t actually that mad at you, if at all.
It’s just that misery loves company.
So either join the misery by fighting or happily let them be lonely by not.
Budget-support business
IT directors have a budget.
Stay-at-home mothers have a budget.
Event planners have a budget.
Seek them out.
They’re all in the position of use-it-or-lose-it.
And if you can help them not lose their budget, it doesn’t really matter what you’re selling.
They just have to like you.
#NOWNOW: Modified Tim Ferris 30-Day Challenge
Looking for more confidence? Trying to be more productive? Seeking heightened awareness?
No, don’t do drugs, people.
Do the opposite.
Do this.
Or, rather, don’t do these two things.
There’s scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of abstaining.
And, of course, there’s living, breathing proof from people (like yours truly) who have tried their own version.
Maybe it’s #NOBNOM. Maybe it’s #NOWNOW.
Whatever is more challenging, why not give it a shot?
I’m guessing 10,000 (conservative estimate) will be joining Tim Ferris in #NOBNOM. And I can think of at least 10 (conservative estimate) of my friends who ought to join me in #NOWNOW.
As I stated in this comment, I’ll be leading #NOWNOW.
Starts tomorrow.
Let’s get weird.
And after 30 days, we can circle-up again.
Ready? Break.
P.S. Sorry, Nana.
P.S. Sorry, Mah. This should be good for business.
Swiffer
When moving into a new home with hardwood floors, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
“Oh. We’re gonna need a Swiffer!”
In reality, of course, you don’t need a Swiffer. Several different, as-effective floor-cleaning methods exist.
But Swiffer’s marketing created that need.
If hardwood floors, then Swiffer.
So the question becomes obvious for business owners:
What’s the if to your then?
[RIP to my friends’ munchkin cat (and my pal) Swiffer]