Now I know how Lebron James feels.
Is Blogger, Tumblr or Wordpress losing sleep over which platform I intend to use? Not sure but they know how to court a brother. And while it clearly isn't the same level of pampering that say, a global multi-million dollar NBA superstar basketball player gets, it's always nice to feel wanted. Besides, the significance of just who will host my poignant insight, slice-of-life-commentary and uncanny ability to relate the seemingly unrelated is critical to my success. So yeah, it matters who gets me too.
My digital media class assignment was to compare the big three sites and choose the one most suitable for my writing style. Like the City of Cleveland, Blogger.com would appear to have the inside track because that's where my rookie blogging season began, albeit three weeks ago. And while posting up on the Internet is relatively new to me, writing is not. As a beginner, Blogger taught me the basics of setting up a blog, commenting and following other people so there is a sense of loyalty. But at the end of the day I have to look out for me and my family. (Don't think I've ever heard that one before.)
Tumblr is an interesting site in that it is mainly geared for shorter dialogues, though I can't see myself crafting twitter-like moves in the post. Portability to my mobile phone is an attractive feature but at this point in my career I want to blog to a larger audience in a much bigger content market.
By far, Wordpress was the most intriguing site where I spent the most time navigating. However, contrary to numerous rumors and erroneous reports, I have NOT signed with them. But I'm not gonna lie. I was very impressed with its ease of use and self hosting capabilities. The consensus over the Internet is overwhelmingly positive as the preferred site, especially for people seeking all-problogger status. That's huge for me because like King James, I truly enjoy performing between the lines.
So it's official. I choose Wordpress. And you're all witnesses.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
21st Century Drug Dealers
"Drug dealers are astute businesspeople. They know their product is so good they're willing to give a little away for free upfront. They know you'll be back for more --with money."
--Jason Fried/David Heinemeier Hansson, founders of 37Signals and authors of the book, Rework
The best things in life should be free. At least, that's what smart companies like Google believe. Interesting concept in an era where "free" television no longer exists. Yet as technology continues to level the playing field at warp speed, Google is doing what most companies staunchly oppose: giving away the store. Already firmly entrenched as the premier search engine and dominant online advertiser, the company is handing over yet another valuable tool to entice an already captive audience that in all likelihood will spend even more time and eventually its money.
Case in point: Google Docs, as defined by Wikipedia is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form and data storage service that serves as a collaborative tool for editing amongst users and non-users in real time. The majority of these document sharing services require user fees but Google Docs is free. As a consequence, the company's popularity among business users is growing rapidly.
Admittedly, I wasn't at all familiar with the concept but a few weeks ago, a New Zealand architect whose family home I greatly admired in Dwell Magazine graciously responded to my email suggesting I send him information via Google Docs regarding a very similar-sized residential Lake Michigan lot we own so that he could sketch some designs (20 or so) for me: for free!
My interest really piqued last week after a brief tutorial in my digital media class and the value became more readily apparent. In effect, this technology allows my wife and I to partner with a critically acclaimed architect from across the pond to help design our own dream home in real time. How cool is that? To a novice, non-techie like me, this is a godsend.
I suspect the technology will have a rippling affect, particularly the collaborative impact on businesses seeking to utilize such ubiquitous tools in the most cost effective way imaginable. Suddenly, geography becomes less of a barrier. Time, energy and talent is better optimized to positively affect the bottom line. And creating that elusive work/life balance everyone craves gets closer to reality.
Oh yeah, this could be addictive.
--Jason Fried/David Heinemeier Hansson, founders of 37Signals and authors of the book, Rework
The best things in life should be free. At least, that's what smart companies like Google believe. Interesting concept in an era where "free" television no longer exists. Yet as technology continues to level the playing field at warp speed, Google is doing what most companies staunchly oppose: giving away the store. Already firmly entrenched as the premier search engine and dominant online advertiser, the company is handing over yet another valuable tool to entice an already captive audience that in all likelihood will spend even more time and eventually its money.
Case in point: Google Docs, as defined by Wikipedia is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form and data storage service that serves as a collaborative tool for editing amongst users and non-users in real time. The majority of these document sharing services require user fees but Google Docs is free. As a consequence, the company's popularity among business users is growing rapidly.
Admittedly, I wasn't at all familiar with the concept but a few weeks ago, a New Zealand architect whose family home I greatly admired in Dwell Magazine graciously responded to my email suggesting I send him information via Google Docs regarding a very similar-sized residential Lake Michigan lot we own so that he could sketch some designs (20 or so) for me: for free!
My interest really piqued last week after a brief tutorial in my digital media class and the value became more readily apparent. In effect, this technology allows my wife and I to partner with a critically acclaimed architect from across the pond to help design our own dream home in real time. How cool is that? To a novice, non-techie like me, this is a godsend.
I suspect the technology will have a rippling affect, particularly the collaborative impact on businesses seeking to utilize such ubiquitous tools in the most cost effective way imaginable. Suddenly, geography becomes less of a barrier. Time, energy and talent is better optimized to positively affect the bottom line. And creating that elusive work/life balance everyone craves gets closer to reality.
Oh yeah, this could be addictive.
Monday, June 7, 2010
I see Yellow Dots
My eyesight is just fine, thank you. It’s just that whenever I walk into Carson Pirie Scott, my favorite department store, I immediately peruse the Yellow Dot display signs throughout the store with laser like focus. You see, these bright round yellow symbols represent the deepest discounts and lowest markdowns on high quality merchandise that leave other retailers seeing double.
For a guy, this may be a departure from the norm. But I have always wanted to look my best on the cheap. It all started about three years ago when I walked away from a relatively “secure” job to pursue a vision for becoming a real estate developer. I made the cardinal sin of leaving one position without having another in tow. Fortunately, I caught a glimpse of a groundbreaking ceremony in a newspaper and parlayed it into a customer care manager position, leveraging my real estate insight and passion for community development.
As owner representative, my primary role was to conduct new home orientations, which included buyer walkthroughs which by the way, were part of the City of Chicago’s ambitious Plan for Transformation, a very high profile effort to replace distressed high-rise public housing throughout the city with new construction in once blighted neighborhoods. So naturally, I wanted to look good.
To set the tone, I upgraded my wardrobe. Never will forget that fateful day in the Lincolnwood, Il Carsons. While sampling a rack of discounted neck ties that in my eyes were attractively priced, out of the blue a sales clerk suggested that I check the box of “yellow dot” ties tucked away near the back wall of the Mens’ Department. And there they were, a hodgepodge of out-of-season neckwear, strewn together and specially marked with a yellow highlighter drawn through the last price. Ah, but that wasn’t the final price. Because when that same clerk rang them up, each registered a fraction of the already low price I was willing to pay.
Think I bought twenty-five ties that day, spending roughly fifty bucks. The average cost was about four dollars. Originally retailing at $45, they included all of my favorites, including Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and Donna Karan. It was unreal. Subsequently the experience led to dress and causal shirts, slacks, sport jackets, overcoats, you name it. (It has recently morphed into houseware as well.) This thing has gotten so good to me that I charted Carsons throughout the Chicagoland area in search of these incredible deals to the point I built an impressive inventory in my basement.
But it’s not just about me anymore. I shop for friends and family, sending stuff to people out of state. It gives me great joy when they send photos of weddings, graduations and celebrations with the stuff they entrust me to buy, often sight unseen. All I need are sizes. The biggest kick I get are the compliments from the women in the stores I typically rub shoulders (and sometimes elbows) with regarding my eye for great deals.
Soon I will launch a long overdue website with merchandise and a blog chronicling some of the memorable stories behind some of the purchases, like the successful multi-state hunt for some incredible clearance furniture bought for a song.
“Come to the Right Place” is more than Carson's tagline. For me, it is a call to order. And in my world, yellow means, “Go!”
For a guy, this may be a departure from the norm. But I have always wanted to look my best on the cheap. It all started about three years ago when I walked away from a relatively “secure” job to pursue a vision for becoming a real estate developer. I made the cardinal sin of leaving one position without having another in tow. Fortunately, I caught a glimpse of a groundbreaking ceremony in a newspaper and parlayed it into a customer care manager position, leveraging my real estate insight and passion for community development.
As owner representative, my primary role was to conduct new home orientations, which included buyer walkthroughs which by the way, were part of the City of Chicago’s ambitious Plan for Transformation, a very high profile effort to replace distressed high-rise public housing throughout the city with new construction in once blighted neighborhoods. So naturally, I wanted to look good.
To set the tone, I upgraded my wardrobe. Never will forget that fateful day in the Lincolnwood, Il Carsons. While sampling a rack of discounted neck ties that in my eyes were attractively priced, out of the blue a sales clerk suggested that I check the box of “yellow dot” ties tucked away near the back wall of the Mens’ Department. And there they were, a hodgepodge of out-of-season neckwear, strewn together and specially marked with a yellow highlighter drawn through the last price. Ah, but that wasn’t the final price. Because when that same clerk rang them up, each registered a fraction of the already low price I was willing to pay.
Think I bought twenty-five ties that day, spending roughly fifty bucks. The average cost was about four dollars. Originally retailing at $45, they included all of my favorites, including Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and Donna Karan. It was unreal. Subsequently the experience led to dress and causal shirts, slacks, sport jackets, overcoats, you name it. (It has recently morphed into houseware as well.) This thing has gotten so good to me that I charted Carsons throughout the Chicagoland area in search of these incredible deals to the point I built an impressive inventory in my basement.
But it’s not just about me anymore. I shop for friends and family, sending stuff to people out of state. It gives me great joy when they send photos of weddings, graduations and celebrations with the stuff they entrust me to buy, often sight unseen. All I need are sizes. The biggest kick I get are the compliments from the women in the stores I typically rub shoulders (and sometimes elbows) with regarding my eye for great deals.
Soon I will launch a long overdue website with merchandise and a blog chronicling some of the memorable stories behind some of the purchases, like the successful multi-state hunt for some incredible clearance furniture bought for a song.
“Come to the Right Place” is more than Carson's tagline. For me, it is a call to order. And in my world, yellow means, “Go!”
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