Marketing Me! Workaholic

I found this blog post at Seth Godin's blog. It is something he wrote about a month ago..

Seth laments that workaholics operate out of fear. Yep, that is right. And they are right to do so. And that the new class of worker (how quaint) operates out of curiosity and passion.

Somewhere between these fear and passion lies the real world. Yes, we have to love our work but we also have to live with the sword over our head which clearly states, "Stop moving and producing and you will be replaced".

Do I wish it was different? No I don't.

Why?

Because I took someone else's job. And someday, another will take mine. Lack of interest creates another generation willing to take over your desk and customers. I consider that to be evolution which benefits the customer and the marketplace in the end.

Marketing Me! Goodbye email at work, Seth Godin and farewells

From the great Seth Godin on his blog..

It seems to me that you ought to say goodbye with the same care and attention to detail and honesty you use to say hello. You never know when you'll be back.

So remember, when leaving the job, skip the blame, accusations, gossip and rumors. Stay positive, be real and be prepared if you have to come back!

Marketing Me! From Seth Godin...

Some people (a precious few, so far) are realizing that this temporary recession is the best opportunity that they've ever had. They're working harder than ever -- mentally -- and taking all sorts of emotional and personal risks that are bound to pay off.

- Seth Godin

Wonderful quote. Is it true?

With recession, I see more people rethinking risk and dwelling on mistakes ("I should have opted for that 30-year fixed loan and avoided that ARM!"*).

(Or "I should have stayed with that big stable company in avoided the layoff I just went through!" - DotCom employee, circa 2001.)

But the risk is worth it. It is knowing when the risk is risky and dangerous vs. being rewarding with possibility. It is a hard.

But the risk is worth it.

I am a big believer in part-time risk. Build that website at nights and on weekends. Build an audience. Fill a niche. Find a buyer.

If it fails, try again. Try two or three opportunities at a time. Try, fail, try again.

Keep your day job. Work hard to leave it.

Risk is worth it. Stagnation is death.

Happy hunting.

* The ARM loan is worth it if you take advantage of the 3, 5 or 10 year term and pay down the principal.

Blogroll Me!

Sorry, Seth, but I get it even if you don't

Note: Something is really wrong with me. Almost everyone of Seth Godin's posts lately have irritated the heck out of me. I have a theory why and may start an ENTIRE BLOG about the reason why.

In the meantime, I will now start rebutting each of his posts for my own amusement.

Enjoy!


Seth Godin wrote lately...

"It's common wisdom that government regulation is bad for business, and especially bad is regulation that requires change.

I don't get it."

Sorry, Seth, I do.


Here's the deal.

Politicians seldom create laws which are based upon "common good". They create laws and policies (and the fines, fees, tariffs and taxes which always accompany laws) based upon their supporters wants and needs.

I am sure that once in a while, a politician has sponsored a bill which truly was about "good". I just can't think of one right now!

The problem is that politicians today sponsor bills which are based upon input from their supporters and lobbyists.

So when a representative wants to increase emission standards for automobiles it is no surprise you find out that the Sierra Club or Greenpeace is one of the politician's larger supporters.

Or when a legislator wants to tighten up bankruptcy laws, you find his supporters include Chase and Citibank.

Why?

Because politicians are human and thus are susceptible to human emotions, wants and needs including fame, bribery and coercion.

Therefore, many of us are skeptical about the true motivations for most regulations and know full well behind every blustering politician is any number of focused special interest groups attempting to push their agenda on businesses whether it is truly "needed" or not.

The solution?

The market.

Case in point -
Drivers want fuel efficient cars, for instance, the market demand proves it. Fuel efficient cars have better emission standards than many other makes and models.

No legislation was needed only demand by the market place. Only the increase in fuel prices brought about by growing worldwide demand.

Legislation often impairs rather than facilitates business' ability to meet market demand by imposing standards and requirements which have little to do with the original problem.

Further, by the time legislators get around to dealing with a problem, crafting the language of a bill, appeasing their supporters and lobbyists, watering down the original intent through trade outs with other legislators and actually voting on the bill, the result is far from the actual solution needed for the problem and only serves to dishearten supporters and detractors.


Why did they bother in the first place? (Other than trying to look busy!).

Regulation has run a muck in American politics. Let the market decide before letting legislators muck things up further, Seth.

And that is why business gets it and you still don't.

Seth Godin - urgghh...

Seth Godin has a new blog (The Dip) also the title of a new book he is working on.

Godin offers his advice for college applicants (and their parents)- Do not to play the game - that is, the jumping through college admission hoops to make the entrance into the top universities.

Rather, Godin encourages students and their parents to consider other, less known schools and once enrolled, attempt to stand out from the crowd.

Now this is easy to say from someone who already graduated from Stanford (ahem, Seth Godin)!

Stanford grads (especially those with MBAs, oh Mr. Godin, calling you!) have incredible earning power post graduation. Compare that same earning power with the grad from University of Nowhere, College of Nothing and Nobody Heard of U.

As a parent, I will work my tail off to get my kid into the college with the best chance of opportunity for employment, contacts and earning power. That bragging right belongs to the Harvards, YAles and Stanfords.

Mr. Godin, I expect my child to stand out today in elementary school and later in college - no matter where they end up.

But I won't take a chance on a less prestigious university and hope they stand above the crowd in the post-graduate world.

Seth Godin - where will you send your kids?

Will you tell them to take the college with the mediocre reputation and hope they follow dear old dad's advice, read his books and stand out from the crowd?

Or will you have them take the guaranteed winner university, knowing that the degree increases their visibility and then follow your advice in the work place?

I guess it helps if Dad is an alumni, eh, Seth?

Marketing Me - Read, Visit and Watch

Someone asked me the other day, "What is your favorite television show?".

I really don't watch very much television unless it is with my children. Otherwise, I don't have time to follow any particular program like most do. I guess that makes me boring or less interesting in some way. I don't know.

I especially am adamant about not watching the news. I keep up on current events online and find out everything I need to know without some coiffed head explaining it to me.

There are some television shows I find entertaining like Heroes; I Tivo the show, well my wife does and I watch an episode from time to time, but get better synopses from her.

Now what I read is another story.

Magazines

I subscribe to two magazines right now - Business 2.0 and Entrepreneur. Somebody complained that B20 was fluff and spin for VC backed companies only - wow, someone has a full time job pulling that conspiracy off.

Ironically, most of the articles in B20, in my opinion, are directed towards VCs in order to get them to invest in a start up company or industry then might otherwise be unaware of.

What B20 is good for is direction. There are some great companies which are changing the rules which I find both inspiring and prophetic.

Entrepreneur is a good read from the standpoint of starting your own business. But I can do without the half of the magazine which is franchise information like janitorial services, restaurants, etc. I am sure someone likes it because large sections of the publication are geared to that crowd.

Websites - random sampling...

I have a list of links courtesy of Blogrolling which are blogs and websites I read anywhere from hourly to weekly.

Seth Godin - Seth is the king of permission and directed, new media marketing. Formerly with Yoyodine and Yahoo, Seth now has his own company and host of interests (like Squidoo).
I find Seth's blog and books inspirational when marketing you and your product differently. Sometime cantankerous but always eye opening. Good daily read.

Tom Peters - Peters rose to fame over 25 years ago with the publication of "In Search of Excellence" - which explored companies with incredible growth potential and what made them that way. Since then, Peters has written several other books and speaks constantly around the world, a subject which he blogs about often on his site.
Peters regularly interacts with his readers and fans on his blog and the banter is refreshing.

Shoemoney - Jeremy Schoemaker is a web based success story and now shares his wisdom with the world online. Witty, educational and practical, Shoemoney tears through the world of (black, white and gray hat) search engine optimization, ecommerce and marketing with the reverence of a drunk cowboy at a church social. Ignore the grammar and spelling errors, Shoemoney is one of the best sites on the Internet for those wanting to market themselves or products online.

Guy Kawasaki - How to Change the World. First, I have worked for a succession of companies the past 12 years which have been partially or completely funded by VCs making me very opinionated about some capital firms methodologies and motives. Guy appears to be a breed apart in the world of VC's. His blog is eye opening and open to discussion. Great insight on start up companies and the Silicon Valley/Sand Hill crowd.

Freakanomics - Read the book, follow the blog. Economics is fun.

I will post some more titles, sites and reads next time. Keep yourself well read and balanced and expand your mind!

Social Networks and Society

Read Mashable everyday (like you should) and find out about the dozen or so social networks open for subscription daily and you understand what is happening.

Social Networking is hot and big business. And although MySpace will get all the attention, the hot, hot, hot area will be in targeted niche social networks. Think social networks for seniors (hot!), veterans, doctors, and so on.

Work 2.0

My concentration on Marketing Me is using Web 2.0 applications, like social networks, to better market yourself for potential revenue generating opportunities - jobs, contract, consulting, speaking, writing and marketing.

So far, I am still looking for a Web 2.0 application which will help make "job" searches and trusted resume submissions, better. In my world it works for both the job seeker and job finder.
I truly believe we are about to see the end (in the next decade) of several "jobs" as described currently - Full time employment, employer funded benefits, deductions for government programs, etc. Rather, we are going to see a world of part-time, contracted projects with less supervision in exchange for non-traditional work environments.

Charity 2.0

Seth Godin is running a Squidoo Lens on NPO's using Web 2.0 effectively. I think in the very near future, (like tomorrow) this will have the same novelty affect an email address had on a business card in 1994 or seeing a URL on a movie billboard in 1995 - minimal and short lived.

I am not surprised by non-profits using blogs, podcasts or social networks to build "awareness". These people have used mailing lists and phone banks for years. Using scalable Internet applications for the same results is expected.

I will be surprised, however, when politicians actually come down from their ivory towers and join social networks, answer their email and allow their constituents to "digg" legislation. As if...

Society 2.0

Social networks have evolved from "chat rooms" and curiosities and become necessary applications like email and instant messaging. We have take the application from the desktop and brought it truly online.

Will it evolve further into banded, trusted communities which "follow me" through my day and activities? Most surely.

Will social networks suffer and stumble? Of course. But email suffered from spam yet continues as does instant messaging and open websites (remember the concept of websites as channels one would subscribe too?).

Does this cover the world? No, but all of these bolded keywords came up this week and shouted at me. More will come.