Today’s fire recalls my memory of attending GrowthDay live at the Alex theater in Glendale. My plane trip, Uber and lodging went without a hitch. Inspiration hitting me like columns of light penetrating the shadows. The anticipation of being in the room together with other Growthdayers, the energy of Ultra permeating us.

The streets of Glendale were clean. My cohort well dressed, friendly, sharing supportive and encouraging things with each other, all expectant for something special to happen. Oddly, feelings of high expectations came with a sense of casual relaxation, like southern California. We were impatient for it to begin, but OK with waiting for the doors to open. Many of us were strangers, but connected by our interest in GrowthDay, while the sun shone. Then the event happened, we ate lunch together, made new connections, and we departed.

I was struck most deeply on that plane ride home, above the clouds blanketing the world below, silver linings everywhere. Those feelings are a far cry from last night. Happy Friday.

If you’re looking to go deeper with self-development, self-improvement from someone that genuinely leads in the domain, check out his GrowthDay program on a free trial basis.

The post GrowthDay in Glendale first appeared on Honest Intentions.

My day of transformation happened when I made enough money from commissions in one day so that I could buy a respectable 57-point diamond engagement ring for my fiancé.

It started when I graduated from UC Berkeley. I was expecting to take over the world in my new job. This was a time when Wall Street had the whole country stoked on the American dream. Michael Douglas depicted a mythic Wall Street Bonfire of the Vanities hero. He told us, “Greed is good”. Lots of economic optimism, money was flowing, and I expected to make big money in my career after my diploma from a top-notch public university.

 
My new boss fired me up. He stoked my dream from the interview. That’s all I had. But without skills or worldly experience, there were no employment offers forthcoming. One remaining course of action I took was to apply for self-employment with a company called Transworld Systems and my boss was a dynamic executive, Tom. He gave me a roadmap, a promise of training in sales skills, and expectations. I supplied the hope. Our agreement later became much valued motivation.

The Vision

I began with belief that I could be successful, begin work, be self-employed, and have the No-Limits mindset. That my high-income objective was possible and preferred over employment. Tom gave me a respected cohort that helped me through the darkness with this dream. They included the other TSI salespeople and management leaders, among them Floyd Watkins, the founder of the company, who was extraordinary in his ability to inspire aspiring sales professionals, generate top line revenue and be giant income generators.

There were a whole bunch of legendary sales leaders, like Bruce. Who’s placard on the wall depicted multi-million-dollar sales revenues bagged. Bruce ran his book of business on the coattails of cable TV companies like TCI telecommunications franchises all around the country. He opened offices in New York on Wall Street. Epic sales closer.

His example and others were top drawer sales inspiration for a wannabe salesperson like me, just beginning with a zero-commission check. Another luminary on par with Mr. Wall Street Bruce was a guy named ‘Cash’ like Johnny Cash the singer, and just as badass but in sales. I built my personal brand on the notion that my middle name was ‘Cashflow Skinner’ and introduced myself that way to everyone. Mr. Cash was not offended at all, but genuinely friendly, approachable, shared his knowledge, wanted others to succeed like him.

Locally, in my Redwood City office, I had sales pro examples like Geoffrey, who came to the sales meeting always wearing his sharp pinstripe suit, once celebrating three sales from TCI Communications from local franchises in the Bay Area. His earnings for those was $6,300 in commissions just in one period.  For me, a college student, off the farm in Iowa making $2 per day picking, sweating, and hauling rock in the fields, it was stellar.

The Blueprint

So, my dream solidified at TSI from the beginning. My cohort of other optimistic hard working, inspirational salespeople included Mr. Hope, Phil, Rey, Chuck, Ray, Stan, Grayson, Kelly and Nelly. These professionals over two years were my competitors, and my cohort. We would meet once or twice a week in sales meetings, share success stories, figure out what’s working, share references, arrange to collaborate to prospect in the field together.

Some of my most impactful field cold calling events were with Mr. Hope. He and I would work the same industrial park from opposite sides of the street or in loops around the block and meet in the middle at lunchtime or the end of the day to compare stories and signed contracts. We started the day with no pipeline, no appointments; we had no commissions, and by the end together we’d bank $500 on a good day. We started with zero leads, only a pocket full of our business cards, some order forms, and we would take our presentation on the road, meet decision makers, and make appointments, and sometimes sales on the spot. We both got a charge. Mr. Hope was effective, holding the office record of 34 sales in a month. I made it in the top 10%, but only half his record on number of orders. There was only a couple other reps in the company of 1,000 reps who could do 30+ in a month, Rick out of New Mexico and Bob from Newport Beach. Mr. Hope led me to critical insights and my performance led to my promotion as District Manager. This may not seem extraordinary, but almost all reps in the entire company worked from appointments in a two-stage format. Having our one call close approach available in the toolbox meant we had savage advantage. From his example and others, I drew the necessary focus, confidence, and skills to emerge greater through sales challenges. I summoned the mindset of victory, very important.

Another sales master, Rey taught me the power of attentive observation, listening, patience, self-improvement. We would go out together and he reinforced for me the notion that I could be a model for others, that I wasn’t just making sales. I could also be a leader of others in the most noble of professions–sales.

Stan showed me that all types of personalities can do it. I could do it. And I was probably a nemesis for Stan, because when he sold the co-op in Palo Alto, I would go and sell the co-op in Berkeley. When he sold the Stanford Daily newspaper, I would sell the Daily Californian paper in Berkeley, and on and on.  He showed me the ropes that first year.

The Collapse

During the first year it was very dispiriting, and I became frustrated because I worked very hard to make a living and my income was so small. I knew it was possible to thrive, but there was such a gap between how much I was making in year one compared to what reps around a while like Bruce or Geoff were making. Astonishing that they all could make in one day what I made all year. This amazing dichotomy forced me to wish I was better, not make excuses or complain that it was too hard.

At the time I started this new career at TSI, I lived in the Haight Ashbury district on Belvedere Street. Lucky for me, my girlfriend rides along. She is a godsend who believes in me. We were on this journey together. We needed vehicles for our California lifestyle. I drove a Toyota Tercel and had a Yamaha motorcycle for kicks, that I hadn’t yet sold. She drove an Audi Fox that saw it’s better days. The Fox was problematic because the engine would easily overheat. We constantly filled water jugs, used them to top off the low radiator water levels. Jugs of water sliding around the back seat.

Make 0r Break Moment

One day, second month on my new sales job. February. I’m heading to an appointment with a paint manufacturer south of market, San Francisco. I’m driving the Tercel on Oak Street to the freeway. It is raining. The streets are wet. A bus slams into my car at the corner of Oak and Buchanan Streets. It is a school bus sliding through the intersection. My green light doesn’t matter. The school bus can’t stop, T-bones me. My car is totaled, and I’m angry. Heading to an appointment. If I’m late, no sale, no income, more stress.

Now my shoulder is jammed up, my car front end munged, the right wheel busted at 45-degree angle. I filled out the paperwork, did the police report, and jumped into my car as it still barely rolled, on my way flashers blinking, slowing roadway traffic to make my meeting and sale. I thought ‘I must be at my appointment and make the sale’, but I missed it. On top of this, my car was totaled.

I was broke, angry, car-less. I was at my wit’s end. I was two months into a new commission situation with no money. The stress mounting on how I would make this work. I was frustrated, feelings of failure creeping close. I was thinking it can’t get worse.

Nightmare

It got worse. I had borrowed my girlfriend’s Audi Fox. She let me use her car when it was raining. On one trip home, I drove up a steep 17th Street from Market and Castro into Cole Valley, Haight Ashbury. The Audi started belching smoke again and I was fed up with it. I was done filling those jugs. I didn’t care that it was getting tighter and hotter every moment. I wanted to escape this madness. I kept pushing it out of angst. The engine seized up at the corner of Mars and 17^th. I had it towed to Cole St Auto Repair, where it sat for a couple months before going to car heaven.

Now, I would have to tell her I killed her car on Mars. In one month both cars were dead. But she and I could get to work riding my motorcycle. And with rainy days in San Francisco that winter, it was ugly, uncomfortable, wet. She was brave and scared straddling the seat with me driving the streets of San Francisco on the Yamaha motorcycle. Me clutching the bike gears, she’s clutching me. Not the kind of endorphin rush everyone wants.

The next Monday, I show up at the sales office with my motorcycle helmet and rain suit. Sales manager says firmly, don’t show up here again with that. Get a car. I did. I signed my life away on little more than a faint hope it would somehow work out. I blocked out doubting voices from those in my life seeing these events unfold. This situation qualifies for fake it ’til you make it.

Road to Perdition

I heard family say, “Get a job”. “Why are you doing 100% commission?” They knew I was struggling. I didn’t know what I was doing. I wasn’t making much money. The little I made came from sheer effort of numbers, working my butt off. I lost both our cars, and we were getting around together, exposed on a motorcycle. Physically and financially we’re clinging with bare knuckles to scraps of our California dream life. I’ve got a signed lease in San Francisco. Yeah, the bad dream becoming a nightmare.

At the nadir of my initiation to the adult world, I asked my boss Tom to suggest some books I could read to get out of this SLUMP. Reading works for me. One he suggested was “How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success through Selling” by Frank Bettger. It was a formative book for me. It served me as a baseline for mindset and attitude. It addressed vital issues about my mental state, my attitude, and it helped me construct my future.

My Pivot

My manager’s suggestion to read Frank Bettger’s story was pivotal. It chiefly revolved around a rep getting out of a slump; and his attitude improved when he compared himself to his prior personal best, using his progress as a benchmark, not comparing to other people. So I stopped comparing myself to kingpin Wall Street mythic Bruce. Things began to change. Although his influence was legendary and his performance had a gravitational pull, it was not stress inducing for me. It was simply that I just become better. I sharpened my skill. Kept my work ethic. Remained humble. One of the other books he suggested was Charles Roth, “Secrets of Closing Sales”. Tom Hopkins, Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Earl Nightingale, and Tony Robbins were in my self-development mix too. And so, I continued my journey, learned the craft, became the professional salesperson that was inside me all along.

In the following months, I knew that I was going to make it and be successful. My day of transformation happened in the second week of December of year one at TSI, I sold three 200 account sales. I made $1,350 in one day commissions. One was with Lonely Planet Publications in Oakland – Emeryville. The second was with Dick, who designed and manufactured football shoulder pads called Protection, and the third one was the Daily Californian newspaper.

Victory in Sight

I said to my boss, “I have something special to show you.” He invited me to his home in Pacific Heights, where I presented him three checks for large orders paid in full. I needed to prove it to myself and we celebrated.

The Commitment

I decided that night, I was ready to buy a big diamond. I bought one. Later, I asked my girlfriend if she’d take my hand forever.  She said yes. I glowed inside because I decided that day, I could make commitments work, realize dreams of greatness, and it was going to be me and her. I could do this sales thing. This TSI thing. Cashflow Skinner on the move. It was going to work. My takeaway? Never underestimate the power of belief.

The post How One Day Transformed My Entire Career Path first appeared on Honest Intentions.

We were flying colors above board on the Navy Vessel SS Jeremiah O’Brien on Friday. I first viewed the partly exposed propeller churning, then later sat in a gun turret crows nest to observe the fantastic Navy Blue Angels’ air show. From stem to stern the day turned wonderment into emotions.

The airshow coupled with being on a Navy ship during Fleet Week exercises gave rise to a groundswell of emotions anchored in my childhood to a Navy family. The reason I am a Californian is because my father chose to join the Navy and our family became stationed here during the Vietnam war.

The airshow stirred memories and convictions about American Freedom and the promise of peaceful times. I reflected on the duty of sailors and airmen who volunteer to defend our country against threats from overseas. The sacrifice they make for our safety. The feeling of gratitude for their service.

 

Fantastic Blue Angels Air Show on Fleet Week

We spent hours below deck discussing challenges and opportunities for Chief Marketing Officers today. All is not hunky-dory with many of our would-be customers, software companies, silicon valley startups, growth companies, scaleups in a hot chase to grow revenues, build pipeline, burnish their brands.

Marketer’s Engine Room

Today CEOs are skeptical of CMOs’ ability to drive growth. CMOs need to batten down the hatches of budgets provided to be successful. While visiting the Engine Room of the Jeremiah O’Brien I learned that it has a triple expansion steam engine, similar to the one on the Titanic vessel. SS O’Brien’s is fully operational and the ship is seaworthy. I heard the reciprocating engine thundering, running smoothly dressed in lubricants. The walking planks and surfaces were completely clean of oil. The heat was present from boiler furnaces, generating steam. The fire boxes were lit burning fuel and pressure from steam could be felt too.

Salty marketers who won’t sling their hook find themselves in the doldrums. One example, the spam cannon lost it’s effectiveness. There are many other examples: misalignment or not partnering with the finance team, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), the Chief Revenue Officer or RevOps. Celebrating MQL targets when the sales team misses quota.

Marketers who know the ropes grip today’s strategy of PEG (‘profitable efficient growth’) over yesterday’s GAAC (‘growth at all costs’). They can clearly navigate marketing spend to revenue.

Unfortunately for others who don’t understand these distinctions, they may be taken aback because they don’t know their unit economics. All is not blue skies. Some marketers will settle for any port in a storm, and they soon will become the ones high and dry.

Haze for Marketers that Ignore Metrics

C-suite executive team and investors have finished pushing the boat out with the CMO who doesn’t toe the line. Successful marketers who toe the line won’t depend on windfalls.

They need to provide air cover for brand building. How do we become a category leader? How do we measure and grow brand equity? How do we build a vibrant community?

They know arguments about attribution may lead to loggerheads. They clear the deck with objective results of contribution, how much new business will marketing source? They have a lead forecast and know the cost per lead to arrive at an estimated budget.

 

Unit Economics

They might use what mariners call nautical guidance with a logbook to arrive at a theory of enterprise value, the order of operations, phases of growth, and the importance of unit economics.

The NorthStar is profitably and repeatedly generate a return on invested capital. Today it is known as unit economics, backed by data-driven analysis. Some metrics examples:

Inspiration for Marketers to Take Aim with ICP and Validate the Buyers Journey

Many companies underinvest in marketing based on a lack of understanding of unit economics. ~Sam Jacobs

Enterprise Example:
Average deal size is $1,000,000 with 80% margins
Customers stay onboard for four years
Company offering the services wants a 5:1 LTV:CAC ratio
The amount OK to invest in marketing and sales to acquire a customer is $640,000.

We evaluated the first rate Premonio assessment and design strategy platform, offered by Johannes Hoech. Jim McHugh and Daniel Raskin offer similar guidance for their clients at Mperative too. I could fathom from the sounds of jets swooping overhead that it was time to cut and run from the marketing approach demonstration.

If you’re at a loose end to reach an even keel with your customer over marketing strategy it may be a great excursion to leave the boardroom behind and have them meet you onboard the Jeremiah O’Brien instead. This landlubber found the crew onboard showing their true colors. They were welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable, and shared their wisdom about seafaring ways. I recommend you give the Jeremiah O’Brien a visit. 

 

The post Marketers in Close Quarters on Navy Vessel Jeremiah O’Brien first appeared on Honest Intentions.

Working from home has become the new norm for many of us, and that’s why I decided to remodel my den into a home office. I wanted to add some style and character to the background, to use lighting to transform my home office space. I am experimenting with different types of lighting, making use of what was already in the room. I made one little tweak, adding the backlight to this scene.

Optimizing Light

Natural light pours into the space through the window behind my computer display screens, providing a great source of illumination. To create a more professional look, I added two floor lights on either side of my desk, which could be considered my ‘Key light’ and ‘Fill light’. While I don’t have a ‘Rim light’ overhead, I found that mounting a practical light under my bookshelf cabinets overhead and behind provided the perfect amount of light for the background.

I’m still experimenting and may add a ‘Z strip’ light to the background that can be colorized and attached to my desk. With these simple additions and thoughtful placement, I now am approaching a more perfect work from home lighting situation that makes working from a home office a more productive and welcoming space.

The impact of the lighting in my redesigned home office has been transformative, both aesthetically and functionally.

WoW Factor

The abundant natural light flooding in from the window creates an inviting atmosphere, greatly enhancing my mood and boosting productivity throughout the day. It is similar to creating a feeling of WoW factors that I wrote about from Nido Qubein.

The blinds let me block direct sun coming in from the west in the afternoons.

The strategically placed floor lights complement the natural light, ensuring that during the evenings or cloudy days, the space remains bright and energizing. This mix of light sources—natural and artificial—not only adds depth and dimension to the room but also highlights my design choices, making the space feel more cohesive and well-planned. Even with these lighting elements at work, the before picture of the space without backlighting shows a drab corner, before adding the new light fixture.

The practical light mounted under the overhead bookshelf cabinets has further contributed to this effect, providing focused illumination that emphasizes the details and texture of my decor. The particular item featured here is called the ‘GM Under Cabinet Lighting Slim Edge Light Strip’ that I purchased at LampsPlus which came delivered as promised.

It did not have the conduit that I used to cover unsightly lose wires dangling. For the wire skirt, I used the brand LaGrand from Ace Hardware. It would be better if the glue strip on the guidewire track had a longer life. Overall, the thoughtful integration of lighting has elevated my home office experience, promoting both creativity and focus in my work.

Questions

Here were some of the questions I had for my lighting specialist out of Pleasant Hill LampsPlus.
How Easy is the Slim Edge Under Cabinet Light Strip to Install?
The installation process was straightforward and quick, making it an easy addition to my setup.
Is the Slim Edge Light Strip Good for Under Cabinet Lighting and Zoom or Teams meetings?
Yes, it provides excellent brightness and focus for under cabinet areas, enhancing visibility and ambiance.
Is the Slim Edge Light Strip Worth the Money?
Absolutely, considering the quality of light and ease of installation, the impact lighting up a dark corner, it offers great value.
Should You Buy the Slim Edge Under Cabinet Light Strip?
I highly recommend it for anyone looking to improve their lighting setup, especially for under cabinets.
Where to Buy the Slim Edge Under Cabinet Light Strip?
It is available at major home improvement retailers and online marketplaces, making it easy to purchase.

Future

Looking ahead, I’m considering adding a Z strip light or programmable LED Neon Rope Light that can be colorized, controlled with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or major electronics vendors that adopt Matter’s smart home standards protocols, linked to my compute devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and physically attached to my desk or credenza in the background. This level of enthusiasm may be for the YouTuber with a fame quest.

Guidance using Light in home office for Web Meetings

Of course, there are some gotchas to know about when setting up your lighting for optimal results. It’s crucial to ensure that both the subject and the scene are well-lit; otherwise, you might end up with unflattering shadows or uneven lighting. Strong overhead lighting, for example, can create harsh shadows, giving subjects a “Frankenstein” appearance, generally undesirable. Additionally, the positioning of the light and camera is vital; improper angles can flatten the scene, reducing depth and dimension. Another aspect to consider is the mixing of color temperatures. When using key, fill, and back lights, it’s essential to match their color temperatures to maintain a cohesive look; mixing warm and cool lights can lead to an unappealing color cast. Moreover, hard lighting without diffusion can create sharp shadows and unflattering highlights, so employing diffusers can greatly enhance the overall quality of light. Lastly, pay attention to catch lights—the reflections of your light source in subjects’ eyes or glasses—too much or too little can significantly impact the visual appeal of your shots. Being aware of these potential pitfalls will help you create a well-balanced and professional lighting setup.

With the right work from home lighting and under cabinet lighting for my home office, I am now able to work productively in a space that comes closer to my model home office studio representation.

The post How To Use Lighting To Transform Your Home Office Space first appeared on Honest Intentions.

Experts in the field of employee engagement and wellness who need to determine the nature of problems that potential employees face, can start to identify the top set of problems that a few segments of companies face, like small medium large enterprise and angel or venture funded firms.

According to Robert J. Vance, Ph.D. report from SHRM Foundation on Effective Practice Guidelines, the following are common themes for How Companies Measure Engagement:

• Pride in employer
• Satisfaction with employer
• Job satisfaction
• Opportunity to perform well at challenging work
• Recognition and positive feedback for one’s contributions
• Personal support from one’s supervisor
• Effort above and beyond the minimum
• Understanding the link between one’s job and the organization’s mission
• Prospects for future growth with one’s employer
• Intention to stay with one’s employer

More recent employee engagement trends in 2023 for employees show improvement, as shown in the survey from Quantumworkplace. 

While the specific challenges can vary depending on the industry, location, and organizational culture, here are the top 10 problems that each segment small, medium, large, and angel or venture funded companies commonly face in the areas of employee engagement and wellness:

Small Company Challenges

• Limited Resources: Small companies often struggle with limited budgets and resources to invest in comprehensive employee engagement and wellness programs.
• Lack of Structure: The absence of dedicated HR departments or specialized personnel can result in a lack of formal structures and processes for managing employee engagement and wellness.
• Work-Life Balance: Balancing work demands with personal responsibilities can be particularly challenging for small companies, where employees often wear multiple hats.
• Communication Gaps: With fewer employees, communication gaps can arise, leading to misunderstandings and reduced employee engagement.
• High Workload: Employees in small companies may face heavy workloads, leading to stress and burnout if not properly managed.
• Limited Benefits and Perks: Small companies may struggle to provide a competitive range of benefits and perks, affecting employee satisfaction and retention.
• Lack of Training and Development: Limited resources often translate into fewer training and development opportunities for employees, which can hinder their growth and engagement.
• Limited Growth Opportunities: Small companies may struggle to offer significant career advancement opportunities, which can impact employee motivation and engagement.
• Employee Recognition: Small companies may struggle to establish formal recognition programs, potentially leading to a lack of appreciation and motivation among employees.
• Employee Retention: Attracting and retaining talented employees can be challenging for small companies, especially when competing against larger organizations with more resources.

Medium Company Challenges

• Scaling Employee Engagement: As companies grow, maintaining consistent and effective employee engagement practices becomes more challenging.
• Alignment with Company Values: Ensuring employees’ values align with the company’s mission and culture becomes more complex as the organization expands.
• Limited Leadership Development: Medium-sized companies may face difficulties in developing leadership skills across various management levels, hindering growth and employee engagement.
• Collaboration and Communication: As teams and departments expand, effective collaboration and communication can become more difficult, affecting engagement and productivity.
• Balancing Autonomy and Control: Finding the right balance between granting autonomy to employees while maintaining necessary controls can be a challenge in medium-sized companies.
• Maintaining Work-Life Balance: As workload increases, maintaining work-life balance becomes more challenging, potentially leading to increased stress and decreased engagement.
• Hierarchical Structures: Medium-sized companies may struggle with overly hierarchical structures, inhibiting open communication and collaboration among employees.
• Evolving Policies and Procedures: With growth, companies often need to update and adapt policies and procedures, which can create confusion and impact employee engagement.
• Employee Wellbeing Programs: Implementing comprehensive wellness programs that cater to a diverse workforce becomes more complex as the company size increases.
• Retaining the Start-Up Culture: Medium-sized companies may face difficulties in preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and agility that characterized their early stages.

Large Companies

• Siloed Departments: Communication and collaboration barriers can arise in large organizations due to siloed departments, hindering employee engagement.
• Managing Diversity and Inclusion: Large companies often have diverse workforces, requiring robust strategies to foster inclusion and ensure equal opportunities for all employees.
• Change Management: Implementing organizational changes smoothly and effectively becomes more challenging in large companies due to their size and complexity.
• Leadership Development and Succession Planning: Identifying and developing future leaders and implementing effective succession planning can be more complex in large organizations.
• Employee Disengagement: With a larger employee base, disengagement can be a significant concern, resulting in decreased productivity and increased turnover.
• Streamlining Communication: Large

Structure of the HR Organization

The following three tables correspond to small medium and large firms that describe the organization of the typical Human Resources department. They describe the individual contributor or specialist title, their core responsibility to the executive management team or owner, their value to the organization, their typical periodic tasks:

Medium Company HR Department

Large Company HR Department

Please note that the titles and responsibilities can vary across organizations, and these tables provide a general representation of typical HR roles in different company sizes.

Engagement Function for an Angel or Venture Funded Firm

The engagement function in a startup entity that is angel or venture funded can differ in several ways from the examples provided for small, medium, and large companies. Here are some key differences:

• Focus on Rapid Growth: Startups funded by angels or venture capitalists often have a primary focus on rapid growth and scaling. This emphasis on growth can impact the engagement function by placing a higher priority on attracting and retaining top talent to drive expansion.
• Agility and Flexibility: Startups typically operate in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. The engagement function in such startups needs to be agile and adaptable to quickly respond to changing business needs and employee requirements.
• Limited Resources: While small companies may also face resource constraints, startups often have more limited resources available. The engagement function needs to be creative and resourceful in designing initiatives that can effectively engage employees without significant financial investments.
• Entrepreneurial Culture: Startups tend to foster an entrepreneurial culture that encourages innovation, risk-taking, and employee autonomy. The engagement function plays a crucial role in nurturing and maintaining this culture by designing programs that support and reward entrepreneurial behavior.
• High Employee Expectations: Employees in startup entities often have high expectations regarding growth opportunities, learning experiences, and the impact they can make. The engagement function must focus on providing meaningful work, development opportunities, and avenues for employee involvement in decision-making processes.
• Startup Perks and Benefits: Startups may offer unique perks and benefits to attract and retain top talent, such as flexible work arrangements, stock options, or opportunities for career advancement. The engagement function plays a role in designing and implementing these perks to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement.
• Close-Knit Team Environment: Startups typically have smaller teams, leading to a close-knit and collaborative work environment. The engagement function may focus on fostering strong team dynamics, encouraging cross-functional collaboration, and creating a sense of camaraderie among employees.
• Investor Relations: In startup entities, the engagement function may also involve managing relationships with angel investors, venture capitalists, or other stakeholders. This includes providing regular updates on employee engagement initiatives, demonstrating the impact on business outcomes, and addressing any concerns or expectations raised by investors.

Other Resources:

1. HBR: https://hbr.org/2021/10/how-companies-can-improve-employee-engagement-right-now
2. Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/266822/engaged-employees-differently.aspx
3. Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2020/09/11/how-leaders-can-improve-employee-engagement—even-during-challenging-times/
4. Achievers: https://www.achievers.com/blog/empower-leaders-become-engagement-champions/

The post Characteristics of Employee Engagement first appeared on Honest Intentions.

How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves by Tristan Gooley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Best Companion Guide for Walker among Trees

Enjoyed Gooley’s fresh perspective, did not want the book to end, and had trouble putting it down. One of many transformations inside me was to let go of the notion that I need to know the exact age of interesting trees, but I’d have to cut it down and count the rings to know that information. Always a downer thought. Not going to happen in the Oak Tree Meadow of Heather Farms. Then Gooley introduces me to Raimbault’s ten stages and suddenly I have a new framework to gauge the tree’s life stage.

Going, further It made me remember trees at one of my favorite places that I take dog Bravo for a walk–The Oak Tree Meadow of Heather Farms in Walnut Creek.

Last night about 7pm immediately upon finishing the book, I went along selected trails along nature lake and took a couple dozen pictures of OAK TREES, where I often immerse myself, reading trees.

Reading the book has served me to become a more informed explorer of trees, forests, and nature.

I thought there must be some way I could share my enthusiasm about the trees topic with my reading friends; and so, I created a guided tour of an exceptional place of vital interest to me. An oasis escaping the pavement of a parking lot, amidst the concrete urban jungle. The journey I crafted shows trees along trails I walk as exhibits to illustrate concepts introduced in Gooley’s book.

The book served as a catalyst for my armchair naturalism and I combined it with my software analysis and development passion and I added a dash of data from the large corpus of Google Earth, US Navy, Geological surveys and more to offer an enriched perspective that can make a great story or a biology lesson about the Oak Tree Meadow of Heather Farms.

Please accept my invitation to go on my guided google earth journey that combines my loves of walking in nature at sunset with silver linings everywhere, OAK Trees centuries older than the enlightenment period and nearly as old as the Renaissance, and learnings of Tristan Gooley.

Here’s a link to a webpage called google earth where the digital journey I mapped for you begins and ends ==>
https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1K96…

The entire digital tour renders in a browser just like any webpage. There’s nothing to download, and it is best to look at it with a laptop or desktop display screen, but if you want to view it on your mobile phone, you’d definitely want to go to the app store or google play store to download the google earth app.

View all my reviews

The post Best Companion Guide for a Walker Among Trees first appeared on Honest Intentions.

What caught my eye happened at the close of CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote, where he highlighted the work of Microsoft towards humanitarian relief. The technology in his spotlight is AI technology.

According to Microsoft President Brad Smith, Artificial Intelligence promises to save lives and he pledged Microsoft will bring $40 million in relief to benefit the following humanitarian causes:

Disaster Relief

• Machine Learning for identifying the threat of famine, to predict where it’ll break out, to move relief food in ahead of time.

Needs of Children

• Teaming people in nonprofits with new tech, and resource expertise to combat social perils like displaced children, and literacy programs for families
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), sometimes called crib death
• Operation Smile uses a facial model algorithm to improve surgical outcomes

Human Rights Abuses

• Grants to nonprofits to address the needs of vulnerable refugees, human trafficking victims, and those who are sexually exploited.

Brad cautions AI industry leaders to ensure as we power computers with AI, we do so responsibly in these areas:

-impact on jobs
-privacy and data concerns
-ethical questions over use

Who will stop AI from being deployed before it’s ready? Otherwise, AI may for example limit people from going into a public space, expressing themselves.

He noted that cybersecurity is job number one at Microsoft, because there are plenty of governments that worry about each other. We’ll need stronger international laws in this space. In some respects Microsoft is an international cop. They used AI recently to stop a Russian hacker group interfering in the upcoming midterm elections.

To make a broader point, ever since Bill Gates published his trustworthy computing initiative in 2005, Microsoft has embraced at its core, attention to the need for security throughout its product development lifecycle. Today, Microsoft has 3,500 security engineers dedicated to first line of defense. AI has elevated the role they must fulfill.

Grant for Humanity

In case you’re looking to Microsoft as you become more involved, here’s the AI accessibility grant application, of which humanitarian aid is one third.

I expect the AI and Humanitarian themes to emerge with Marc Benioff this week at the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco. Remember Benioff wanted to buy LinkedIn, but Nadella swooped in with cash to buy it for Microsoft. I know Benioff with his charismatic and passionate leadership has a lot happening. His deal to buy Time Magazine is just the tip of the iceberg.  He would not shed tears if Nadella’s ship ran into the CRM berg.  He will not want to be shown up again.  It should be interesting.

The post Ignite, Dreamforce Feature AI and Humanitarian Efforts first appeared on Honest Intentions.

What are some ways to Determine a Good Match between Customer and Web Designer?

Doug:  What are good ways to determine whether there’s a good match between a web designer and their customer?
Eve Lurie:  Try to determine how well do they know their craft, their targeted audience, their value proposition. Next, how can you review samples of their work? Are you impressed? Following that ask yourself, is the engagement process illuminating, insightful, inspiring, instructive. Finally, are the references pleased with the outcome?

Doug:  How does growth happen in your business?

Eve Lurie:  I cater to freelancers, professionals and individuals that support small groups or persons on their own I put up a site for them so they can increase their business.  Previous clients refer me new business.

Doug:  What if you hear someone say or know they’re thinking, “I just saw a commercial showing me I can put up my own site.  Why do I need you?”

Eve Lurie:  I tell them, they can do that. There are lots of websites where they can go in there and pick a theme, put up a site.  Some of them have beautiful templates but the reason they are not going to work with me is because they may not know about the many features they have to increase their visibility across the world. What about all the features they may not know exist? There’s a lot to creating their content. What kinds of calls to actions might they want? What they can do with their website is amazing. They can manage their office out of it. People don’t know that. Most people think in terms of a brochure site. Where they put up only an image and a description of their services and that’s it. But there’s so much more than that. The other thing is having a customized site. One that embodies the way they work, the features, that it takes into account who is their audience, what they want for their business.”

What is the Road Map for Building a Website and Online Presence?

Doug: What does your website or online presence road map look like?  What are the milestones on the pathway?

Eve Lurie: The main elements include these items:

1. Is there a needs assessment and other project expectations?
2. What are the elements of success in the following areas: architecture, design, future-proof development, and integrations?
3. Are there subject matter experts (SMEs) on the team? Who are they?
4. Who is creating your content?  Is it you or somebody you hire?
5. How are you managing the risks or the costs in the following areas? Business continuity and disaster recovery, security, performance, and vendor lock-in.
6. What is the end of life for the particular product, platform, subscription, or service offering?

It’s important that whatever technology she recommends, it be sustainable into the future.  Is it fair to anticipate WordPress will be here for the next 10 years?  Yes.  At this stage, 25% of the World Wide Web is using WordPress, so there’s a lot of expectation that it will continue to be useful.   Software companies who write code and make ancillary products coupled with WordPress like widgets, themes, and plug-ins; and who deliver services and training will change like the shifting sands when customer’s needs change.  That’s the nature of the community–adapt or perish.  Sometimes the cookie cutter web design doesn’t work.

Doug: What do you advise website owners do if they’re going to work with a designer on a building website?

Eve Lurie: If they’re going to work with somebody, check out their website. Some of their sites will give one more information. When one contacts the designer, look at everything the designer offers. Is the designer trying to be a jack-of-all-trades website builder, master of none? Or is the designer specialized in the area that the customer needs help in the most?

Doug: What’s the life cycle of engagement of a client?

Eve Lurie: First, I post samples of my work on my website so that visitors can see it. I tailor my showcase so they can learn what kinds of features are available, some which may not be obvious to them. Secondly, I do a behind the scenes look to see how they might enhance their business. The way I work is I have people fill out the discovery form. It’s like four questions, no big deal but it gives me a chance to get a sense for who they are, their expectations, their budget.  Third, is a period of discovery. These may be a series of meetings or calls. I do charge for these.  Forth, I write an estimate and submit it to them. It describes step by step and how long it’s going to take and what I’m going to charge.  After that, they can take the notes, work with me or shop it. Many of my clients tell me “Thank you for the discovery period, because it helped me to organize my ideas about what I’m after.”  I’ve received feedback that prospective clients appreciate greater clarity about the outcome of the process, if they like me: and I can evaluate whether I’d be interested in having them as a client.

Genius of a Designer like Eve Lurie

Doug:  What kinds of things are you doing to improve your ability to deliver on behalf of your clients, and how do you get visibility with new clients?

Eve Lurie:  I am working with Tumikia on a Workshop called ‘Website in a Day’.  We use the Genesis theme and framework, SEO solutions and semantic markup. So my customers get a really great site, rather quickly.  It’s fantastic for those who don’t necessarily have the means to make a big commitment, to pledge big time or money. The benefit is they get their site in and up. And they get the proper framework, which they can build on. Hopefully, every business will grow and its needs will change over the years, necessitating the requirement to have the proper framework in place up front, and to have clean code. This will save big overtime. A tremendous value to online businesses is to have the right architecture and therefore framework. It’s amazing how much will be changing five to ten years into the future. It’s important to be associated with a company that will support your chosen framework into the future. I believe in themes like Genesis, Copyblogger, and Studiopress who provide regular updates, are supported by a solid team, and millions of people are using it.

Doug:  Business owners, like the professionals in my quickbooks ProAdvisor community may be holding the idea of refreshing their online identity. Going to their next step they don’t know what they don’t know. How much would you like to help a business person like them?
Eve Lurie:  For many, I will do migration to a new site. If someone wants to try Wix and get the results they want to get they can do that, but it may be disappointing. Also, I have a team, a bunch of people in my professional group. If I feel my customer can use services from a specific marketing person, an SEM specialist, or get a logo design update, I’ll make sure the best designers photographers or branding experts contribute so the client gets best resources and materials to work within the scope of their website project.

Doug:  One thing I notice about you is an insatiable curiosity about your customers, your opportunities, technology advances, design trends and you communicate your efforts around being creative and resourceful. It strikes me that these are your star qualities. How do you express the value of these underpinnings in your work, and your marketing? Especially for the business person who believes a plain old vanilla website is going to be enough?

Eve Lurie:   Thank you Doug, for the compliment!  This is a really hard question. I have trouble communicating all of the wonderful value added that goes into building an evelurie website. I think the most hidden features that add value to my serivces are the great code (built for security and speed), knowledge of hosting plan needs for a good site, a knowledge of security issues, and best practices that it takes to guide website content towards readability, establishing goals and target audience. Coaching I have not spoken about but it is often a large part of the process.

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Click to access WEF_FII_Internet_Fragmentation_An_Overview_2016.pdf

Covers different types of fragmentation: Technical, Governmental, and Commercial.

The post Dangers of a Non-World Wide Web first appeared on Honest Intentions.

Unicorn image courtesy of noodlemonstah

The post Find your Persona Targets Using LinkedIn first appeared on Honest Intentions.