Losing sight of business

Early morning today on another casual and brief face to face chat reminds me of the fact that we loose sight of the nature of our business.

We are getting so used to be fixated on a set of screens day to day, that we forget what's behind all those screens. It is people, we all make the business.

From our micro-company to the largest corporations, none of those entities would exist without us.

Please go back to basics. People is the target, whatever our position is in this place; focus on people.

We'll find it more rewarding when we add the P factor to the routine equation.

Good job, people.

Winter approaching

I happen to live in a place where summers are great, but winters are, well... Winters.

As December approaches, winds are stronger, power lines get cut, rain makes some telecommunications spotty at the best of times; and when snow is finally here, it takes more time than average to get to the places we want to get to.

All these combined create an interesting array of corrective measures most of the times. So, we find ourselves immersed in a waterfall of tasks that prevent us from checking the scenery, an enjoy it.

Today, for instance, wind blew most of the day, and at times it joined forces with heavy rain. That made driving a nightmare. Walking commuters obviously paid a higher price.

However, it is until late at night that I find the whole thing beautiful. The rain is present and so is the wind. The temperature outside is nearing the point of freezing, but all in all the night is beautiful. Can't see stars, can't hear the birds or bugs, but even so, the blurry shape of distant trees moving in waves makes the landscape unique. The wind has brought distant scents of nature that we definitely can't appreciate on warmer days. All in all I just notice how little times we "stop to smell the flowers".

This is one of such moments I realize I've wasted so many precious moments thinking that it would be a waste of time to make a pause on daily chores and admire the surroundings.

Pretty sure my mind will be fresh and in better shape tomorrow after this delightful break.

(Sniff...) Hah... It takes my breath away.

I hate Outlook

Well... I like it when I use it myself. But hate it when I or any of my peers needs to troubleshoot a client problem.

I do not really hate it now. I did before the 2003 edition, this one was ‘alright’ and presented a very useful interface and set of features. The most recent one is even more capable and useful than its predecessors, obviously; and most of its hidden features still lay dormant waiting to be discovered by most of us.

MS-Outlook is the most ubiquitous email program there is on businesses Windows computers: Although the 98 and previous versions seem to have disappeared entirely; I've seen 2000 editions, 2002 (XP), 2003 and up to version 2007. Outlook 2003 seems to be the most predominant version used nowadays.
Even so, most users do not know the real capabilities of the program. Most of us simply use it as a very basic email tool, and although we manage to quasi-configure it for our likes, or are able to change the main signature and a few other minor tweaks; less than 20% of its capabilities are put to work on an everyday basis.
From the technological behind-the-scenes point of view, there are so many items in the wish list and unanswered questions. Among them:
+ How come Microsoft did not make the installer for 2003 and mainly for 2007 convert the old PST file format version to the new at install/upgrade time?
+ How come it does not compress the files automatically?
+ Why it does not backup the files automatically?
+ How come the ribbon is only present when creating a new item and not on the main interface?
+ Why do we always have to have the main file open and it becomes kind of cumbersome to switch to a different file; if we so wish?

Although I use a couple of different product for my email; I’ve started to like Outlook for the other features such as calendar, to-do tasks, contact and mainly because of all the plug-ins and add-ons capable of taking advantage of Outlook. Needless to say, synchronizing to a Domino or Exchange server makes it even more powerful.
I’m eager to see the 2010 version which surely addresses most of these questions and wish list items (according to MS people, the 1st beta is “around the corner”).
Will this version convert me to an avid Outlook user? It depends: the price is still bloated and I’m used and very comfortable with the other products I use for email, contacts and calendar.

So, let’s see. The, umh, outlook for Outlook 2010 seems promising.

Feel like running, or praying, or simply thinking? But please do not give up.

This one is also great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfQbvn2ACzc

Lyrics:
Mother,
I've gotta get out of here
So I can save our family
From this poverty
And when I make my money
I'll send it back to you

Father,
Give me strength, I pray
I have to end this misery
It's causing too much pain
I'm gonna look for richer lands
Where the money's made

I'm gonna put my whole world
In your hands
I have to put my whole world
In your hands
In your hands

Mister,
Please let me work somehow
You've kept me waiting eighteen months
And still I'm not allowed
And every time you promise me :
"Not much longer now "

I've to put my whole world
In your hands
You've got my whole world
In your hands
In your hands
Listen to me, listen to me

Mister,
Mr ! You say you're trying
But don't you know my brother's dying
You say "It won't be long"

But why am I so cursed
For where I am born?

You've got my whole world
In your hands
I've had to put my whole world
In your hands
I'm gonna put my whole world
In your hands
I've had to put my whole world
In your hands
In your hands.

Aren't we lucky?

At soccer practice. A good break on the day and suddenly I have more information than I can consume in the palm of my hand: news, dozens of email messages, weather updates, a few text messages, facebook notifications, etc. And the ability to browse the Web if I'm inclined to.

Long are the days in which I would take a newspaper and browse thru its pages trying to find anything attractive to read. Or waiting for the evening news hour in order to be updated on world developments.

Nowadays even teenagers can get (and create) news or simple posts without even the need to know how to spell words. Pix, movies, short sentences... Whatever they can get from their phones and PDAs can easily and quickly be on the Internet.

The good news too is that we can as easily filter the information to the one we only want to receive.

We are SO lucky to live at this pace...
...sorry, gotta go. New message notification.

C U l8r.

Sports and biz do not mix

Two months ago I attended a huge technology related event. The place contained more than 500 attendees, some very young, some others more mature.

At breakfast and lunch I looked for people I knew who shared the same interest I have. When I was unsuccessful in getting together with any of them I would look for an empty chair in a table with people my age or older. My intention to hear from them about industry trends and mainly business.

Much to my surprise, when trying to establish conversations about business strategies, modes, recent experiences and such; the topics would immediately switch to technical stuff of popular sports. I felt out of place when two or three of them started talking about the new guy(s) in the local team: names and last names were mentioned but none of those I'd recognize. I felt like an idiot when one of them asked my opinion about how the team would make this season; I felt blushing trying to answer a very simple question about something most of them knew about. I don't even remember my answer, just babbled about -as politely as I could- the unimportance of such topic to me.

They carried on, excluding me from the conversation from that point forward. I do not think any of them believed me when I pointed out there were way more important developments in our world than a sports team, whether local or not.

How is it that a “The Yankees won the series” headline is more attractive than knowing 700 people got their job back yesterday? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy success at sports and arts, but it is enjoyable when I or a member of my family or even a friend, or someone I know personally wins. But a bunch of unknowns?

Come on! Let's go back to what is really important in this life, that's the first step to fix the mess we've dumped our world in.

What was the score? ...or maybe I should ask first: what was the sport?

Ubuntu 9.10 and Open Office 3.1

My little netbook working like a charm. I love this combination of technology: a very affordable long-lasting battery device that does not require an OS license neither an expensive Office product. It is even more powerful that a full fledged desktop system 5 years ago, at a less than 20% the price. All works, sound, video, wireless, and printing. What a wonderful machine.

My only wish is I could type faster on such a tiny keyboard; aside from that I could not be happier.

I am certain nascent companies that start using these elements and don't look back or to the sides to see what everybody else is using will be as competitive as any other organization utilizing commercial products. There is practically no difference now on the basic office applications and the way we use the Internet and email have become easier and more intuitive now. In a matter of a few years we will be able to open files created in a different platform without noticing any differences. THAT is the best thing about all this affordability and Open Source initiatives.

Thank you GNUses. You really did see the future long time ago.

Cheers!

Of secondary priorities

Strange how we tend to put thing in inverse order sometimes. We work like 19th century donkeys and some times more hours than what a healthy environment should be.
We answer the phone and/or reply to EM messages on our PDA even when we are supposed to be enjoying the game or watching our kids do a new trick.
Which begs the question: shouldn't we focus more on family 1st and work 2nd? What is it that forces us to check the screen at the slightest vibration or ring?

Sounding like a broken record, I've learned that work will be waiting for me every time. No matter how little or how much I accomplish today, tomorrow will be full of to do lists and new2 tasks too.

I am trying to focus more on enjoying my family yet again. I'm wishing me luck.

Stoic enterprises

It might seem like the R season is finally over. The victims of such couple of years we all know about will become just a memory in a few years.

However, as of today there are more SMEs wounded than we know. They are never mentioned in the news but only as a collective number on statistical presentations way after the fact. Some of them have presented a strong, fierce and very honourable fight. They’ve withstood their ground for most of the storm.

It is until now that the inflicted wounds start to become unbearable, the strength has waned and they are about to fall, or close their eyes never to open again.
I’ve seen a few of such warrior SMEs play the entire game with a drive to win right up to the final whistle. What a lesson.

I salute you all, great captains. Your members will disband perhaps but they know the quality of your leadership now. They will be back at first call, whichever boat you happen to get now.

Thanks for the active lecture, the inspiring show and the great relationship we made. I will be back too, just let me know you are ready to sail again.

With the uttermost respect and admiration,

Where are all the sales people?

Trying to establish a new partnership for a week now: they have been very slow to respond.

Not a surprise most of the times, but for some coincidental reason it is right now that we need to be able to provide some clients with the type of technology and products this particular partnership would make.

Strange: when you can offer good solutions to most clients, they seem not to need anything. Now that we can’t supply the specific products, most are demanding it.
Kindda Murphy’s law. Isn’t it?

Oh! Well...

Still waiting for the phone to ring or the email pop-up to appear.