Get off your Butt!! Sitting is killing you!

 I sit at my desk during the day and at my computer or in front of the television a lot at home.  I exercise, but this article makes me feel like I should never sit down again!  Check it out. 

Will Technology Make us Less Human?

I'm a techno-junkie, and only half-jokingly say I'm ready for my computer implant. but these two companion articles (of which this is one) really ask some interesting questions. I like THIS ONE because of how important the author believes mistakes are, and as what make us human. I like this idea.

Ray Kurzweil is always a trip, but here he speaks to my soul. I refuse to believe that technology, properly applied, makes us anything less than better humans! This is THE COUNTER-POINT to the other view I find compelling.

Preparing for the ultimate job interview!

It's the new year, and time to revitalize that job search.  This article covers all the basics of a good job interview, from researching your prospective employer to sending thank-you notes. 

What Employers Look For...

I've discussed how to prepare yourself for a productive job interview in print and in my videos.  Here's another take on how to make yourself attractive in a job interview.  Note the suggestion to learn about the company and the job before the interview!

Check out the new Media page!

I've added a new page to the blog, containing media.  First additions are excerpts from a recent educational television interview about job hunting and interviewing.  Check it out from the menu at the top of the page.

Doing More with Less...

Everywhere you go these days, the talk is about getting more results with fewer resources.  In my field of public higher education, we are seeing massive budget cuts, yet the need for our classes is growing faster than ever.  We need to find ways of educating ever more students with less and less funding.

Working people in general have been facing this challenge for years.  As wages have stagnated, costs have risen.  Spending more dollars and getting less for them is a familiar picture to many households.

So what can you do?  As this article from The Economist discusses, creative uses of technology have been saving us, and will continue to do so.  Whether its smart residential electric meters, or smart phones, technology has allowed productivity to soar even with constricted resources.

If you're a business owner, you need to look at your technology platforms, and see how they can solve your problems.  The solution doesn't need to be complex or expensive either.  A client of mine is drowning in paperwork, and was convinced that until he invested in expensive case management software, he couldn't avoid it.  But I showed him how a simple design in Microsoft Excel, a program he already owned, could save hours with far lower costs.

If you rely on a paycheck, you already know how much pressure you're under to get more done.  Marc Lesser's book and practice focus on simplifying what you do to accomplish more. 

Whatever your circumstance, what's important to realize is that you can apply proven techniques to create positive growth and change.  There's always some thing, small or large, that can be improved.  You just have to have an open mind about where to find it.

Traffic Jams and Customer Service...

After a recent visit with family in my hometown of Sacramento, I happened to be browsing the local news magazine.  In it appeared a review of a book about traffic (Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us).  The reviewer listed several factoids about traffic and being caught in a traffic jam that I think apply to managing your customers and other clients.

When you have people waiting for you to finish a step in a project, or to deliver a product, the waiting itself can have a negative impact on your customer's perception of you.  Here's what we can learn from traffic theory:

1.  Unexplained waits are longer than explained waits.  Don't leave your customer guessing about what's taking the time.  Provide a basic explanation of what you're doing, and why it will take some time.

2.  Uncertain waits are longer than known, finite waits.  Always give your customer an idea or estimate of how long it will be before you can deliver.  Even if you have to change it later, never leave your customer in an indefinite situation.  As with traffic, the wait will seem longer if they don't know what to expect.

3.  Anxiety makes the wait seem longer.  Stay in touch with your customer during the delay.  Make sure you keep them confident that you are on top of the matter, and there are no major problems other than simple time to process.

4.  Unoccupied time feels longer than occupied time.  Sometimes, especially with a longer wait, you need to keep your customer working on something else to give them the feeling of progress.  Ask you customer to gather some important information while waiting, or develop delivery details.  Perhaps there is draft language or designs that the customer could be looking at.

Good ideas can come from surprising places.  Who would think that traffic principles could apply to good customer management?  Two lessons here:  handle your customer waits well and you'll benefit, and look everywhere for good ideas!