Crowdsourcing…

Studying for my Information Systems exam I found this really interesting video about crowdsourcing. Check it out…

A Thousand Words…

A friend of mine sent me this video and I think it so evidently speaks the truth. A picture really is worth a thousand words. However, a conversation may in fact last a lifetime.

Everything happens for a reason.

Chase Jarvis this is all your fault!

A few months back a very good friend of mine upgraded his camera from a Nikon D60 to the brand new Nikon D90. He explained to me that he just had too much money and didn’t know what to do with it all. Immediately I was intrigued. I started doing some research and found every excuse in the book to upgrade my $250 entry level camera to a D40. I searched on Craigslist.com and eBay. My friend suggested I go to Henry’s, do some serious research, and talk to the professionals. I’ve been there about 4 times in the last few weeks. It’s incredible how I talk myself in to the best of the best. I also have the tendency to make sporadic decisions that aren’t the greatest and I always end up wishing I would have just saved a little bit longer and purchased exactly what I wanted. So that’s my plan.

In my world, purchasing a used kickass camera is completely out of the question. There are so many issues including warranty, knock offs, and my favourite… choosing a POS! And I know that if I spend the money I will take the time to learn about my new prized possession and incorporate it into my busy lifestyle. Furthermore, I have always had a huge interest in photography and I am sure the Nikon D90 is built to last. With this in mind I urge you to take 5 minutes and 39 seconds out of your busy day to check out the video that made me fall in love. Kevin thanks so much and I hate you… You will soon cost me an arm and a leg for something that I have always wanted but never really taken the time to learn about – until now… Also, Chase Jarvis if you ever read this… THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT…

Post Script: Check out www.chasejarvis.com – this guy is a master at his own domain – a true gem!

Get Connected with Twitter!

Grown Up Digital

Hey Net Generation!
Please, please, please show this video clip to your parents and pick up a copy of Don Tapscott’s new book: Grown Up Digital. Do your parents a favour and leave the book around the house – spark some interest in their old unexercised brains. Educate them! After seeing the documentary Us Now, I tried to discuss with my parents the impact that facebook, youtube, twitter and delicious was having on the world at large… They thought I was speaking a different language. Here are two educated professionals that make good money and have no idea the opportunity that surrounds them. And as far as I’m concerned… they don’t care!

YouTube – Going Educational?

I came across a little contest today. YouTube is asking fans to make a video that is actually worth watching. Interesting concept. I am quite curious to see what the 10 judges consider actually worth watching. Also, don’t be surprised if YouTube introduces a new tool bar titled “Actually Good.” This is new… Oh yeah, forgot to mention… 100,000k goes to the winner. Figure it’s worth a shot. Check it out:

Going Viral with Wario!

A friend of mine sent me a link to a pretty impressive viral video. This particular clip has been on youtube since September 19th and has just reached 3 million hits. The video is promoting a new video game that has come out for Nintendo Wii called Wario Land: Shake It.

Click here to view: http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

Oh, try and pay attention!

Take a guess…

I love this commercial. It’s such a clever idea. Start with a song that both the net generation and the baby boomers gravitate towards. Train an entertaining gorilla to be the star of the ad. And give him a set of drums. Everyone loves drums!

Time for an interview?

I have been speaking with a few of my amigos and they were wondering if I had any advice about how to prepare for an interview and ultimately how to be successful. After being given the opportunity to spend time on both sides of the interview table, I do have a little bit of experience and know what future employers are looking for. Here are my top three rules for a successful interview.

Rule # 1 – Be yourself

If you are not yourself in an interview your future employer will smell you from a mile away. Both parties will be counting down the seconds until the painful first and only interview is over. You will not get a call back, I promise!

Rule # 2 – Be interesting

When you work for a large corporation and you are the recruitment manager a majority of your job is spent finding the most interesting and appropriate people to fit a certain position. As someone applying for that position, be interesting. You have to be refreshing, entertaining and different. Nick Bontis, who was recently named MBA professor of the year at McMaster University, talks about inimitability. You have to be one of a kind.

Rule # 3 – Have fun

Personally, I love interviews. In a nutshell you are selling yourself. Relax. There are hundreds of opportunities out there and if you have to take a few interviews to understand your style and understand how to sell yourself – do it! There is no harm in that. However, please learn from your mistakes. Personally, if I interviewed someone and they were not a perfect fit for the position but they followed up asking what they could improve on, I would have absolutely no problem giving them a few tips. Life is a learning experience. With one step backwards make sure you take a few steps forwards.

After spending some time on monster.com, I have compiled a list of what I think are pretty entertaining interview questions. My advice, prepare answers for as many of these questions as possible so you don’t come across as a complete dud. Try your best to tailor your responses to the current position you are applying for (I have also included some basic answers to help with the writers block). Good luck!

If you are leaving a job

Why are you leaving your present job?

Refine your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. Give a “group” answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated.

Why haven’t you found a new position before now?

Finding a job is easy; finding the right job is more difficult. Stress that you are being selective, and are looking for the right “fit.”

If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Emphasize your skills, and don’t be overly negative about your weaknesses. It’s always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming.

Job Search Questions

Had you thought of leaving your present position before? If so, what do you think held you there?

Explain that your job is no longer challenging and that you feel your talents are best used elsewhere.

Would you describe a situation in which your work was criticized?

Be as positive as you can and emphasize what you learned from the situation.

Your Work Habits and Style

How do you resolve conflict on a project team?

Explain that communication is important, and that you would first discuss the issues privately.

What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?

Try to relate your response to the prospective employment situation.

Salary Questions

How much are you looking for?

Answer with a question, e.g., “What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?” If the interviewer doesn’t answer, then give a range of what you understand you are worth in the marketplace.

What kind of salary are you worth?

Have a specific figure in mind. Don’t be hesitant.

Personality Questions

Are you a leader?

Absolutely! Cite specific examples using your current job as a reference.

What is the toughest part of a job for you?

Be honest. Remember, not everyone can do everything.

How would you describe the essence of success? According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far?

Think carefully about your answer and relate it to your career accomplishments.

Remember to be yourself, be interesting and have fun. Good luck!

Workipedia: Office Wikis and the Collaboration Revolution

Check out this post from fastcompany.com. I’m thinking I should send them a resume!

Gone are the days of paper here at the offices of FastCompany.com. Virtually all in-house office communication is done electronically. E-mail is a given, as is teleconferencing. But what our office does, along with an increasing number of other streamlining-minded businesses, is employ wikis extensively.

The only paperwork I’ve had to do since I began working here is filling out timesheets and filling out W-2s. Having a paperless working environment has done wonders to decrease our carbon footprint while making project collaboration extremely simplified. We use Drupal, an open source content management system, to build our website. We use BaseCamp, a message board project management system as the primary tool of communication about upcoming projects instead of e-mail. No memos, no print-outs of drafts, and best of all no TPS reports. It’s all online.

Tools such as Drupal and BaseCamp make running a website simple and easy (most of the time). But it’s not just businesses that are using wikis to de-clutter their offices and streamline the way they operate: Newsweek reported late last year that the United Nations uses in-house wikis to help facilitate negotiation and debate about various issues of international importance. So too does the U.S. intelligence community; in fact, its collaborative sharing system among sixteen agencies is named “Intellipedia” (aren’t those government types clever?). The movement goes even further – some foreign governments are even using wikis to “involve constituents in policymaking.”

I guess the days of lawmakers hashing out deals in smoke-filled rooms are ending just as quickly as the all-night office brainstorm session. Two heads are better than one, especially when it comes to the kinds of services I talked about. Effective collaboration has always been the make-or-break factor with group projects. Wikis are just the way to do it.