Author Archive

Overcomplicating the brew cycle

There are all different kinds of coffee makers. There’s the simple pour and brew kind, then there’s the super complicated pod pressing, french pressing, takes scientific scale to measure optimal ground use kind. One is a simplified process. One concentrates on more involved process. As humans, we sometimes tend to overcomplicate even the simplest things. It comes down to choosing whether or not to make a process complicated.

Complicated Process Does Not Ensure Quality
Some people fall into the trap of over complicating simple tasks. For instance, everything in my closet in neatly hung and placed. Nothing is scattered, thrown, or disorganized. Oppositely, I keep all of my gym clothes tossed in a basket. Why? I see no sense in overcomplicating the washing and storing of clothes I wear quite often. The turnaround time on my yoga pants does not constitute the extra time hanging and folding them. Keep it simple: wear, wash, dry, toss. Some of my clothing is more expensive, worn on special occasions, and have a specific use. Due to their specific nature, I take more time in their washing and storage process.

As business processes, life, relationships, economy, etc. evolve, new and old processes change. Take a look at Twitter. In the beginning, it was a very simple process. Type 140 characters and that’s it. One button follow. One button send. Overtime, users have developed hundreds of apps which complicated the entire process. Some of which are incredible useful in order to sort through enormous amounts of data, users, etc. We’ve focused on how to manipulate a very simple communication tool to establish very complicated tasks and applications.

The more we overcomplicate our lives, whether it’s sending an invoice through three personnel before it hits the mailbox or brewing a cup of coffee, we waste precious time enjoying the results. To caveat, some individuals enjoy complicated processes. They thrive off controlling and understanding the inner-workings of every step.

I would venture to say, most of us want to live more simplistic. To wake up in the morning, enjoy a cup of coffee, and move on. We’ve been told the masses of technology is suppose to make our lives more simplistic. Smart phones give us autonomy from a laptop, Google replaces the Yellow Pages, riding lawn mowers versus push, endless edgers, hedgers, and automated poop scoops. The list goes on. We’ve technology laden every aspect of our lives. But does technology really simplify?

Instead of making our lives more simple, technology is overcomplicating everything. There’s no more Sunday strolls or quite neighborhoods. We check our email on vacations, take client phone calls on Saturday morning, not only mow but hedge, whack, and wash our lawn…all to end up running on the treadmill because we rode our lawnmower instead of pushing it. Google is the new yellow pages, which means every business is using numbers resources to get that SEO/SEM to the top page. It’s not simple, it’s complicated.

Eventually some of us will throw all the technology to the wind. Head out to Walden Pond with no networks, laptops, or hedgers. We will go back to using the library instead of Amazon. We will take long strolls for our health instead of the gym contorting machines. We will enjoy a cup of coffee with our friends at a local shop instead of Twittering in our pajamas. We will rise with the sun, bed to dusk, and live a very simple life. Focusing on the only thing technology has not overcomplicated the process.

Random Coffee Grounds

Random collection of thoughts from the past week, which only amount to a shot of espresso.

According to Twellow, anyone and anything can claim accomplishments. Even the Tweeter who states “self-taught lawyer” is listed under “Lawyers”.

The only aspect of life which is not further complicated by technology is love. Our mind complicates it enough.

Greatest Threat To Our World: Cul-De-Sacs!

Incredible video, and more information found at Worldchanging.com

Your Jingle Affects More Than Your Target Market

This afternoon, one of the neighborhood underage kids (6 yrs to be exact) ran up to inform me of the day’s breaking news.

“You won’t believe this!” screams the unemployed, underage, tax benefit sucking creature.
“What? You got a job?”
“No! They changed the “beep beep.com” commercial! I am so angry! They don’t even sing it!” Kid breaks into a semi-1990’s era dance while reciting “beep beep.com” jingle way too much.
“Wow. Call your senator kid.”

The point is, at age 6, this kid is obviously not BeepBeep.com’s target market. Way off. But the changes they made to their commercial (which oddly enough plays on Nickelodeon channel? How many 16yr olds watch Nickelodeon?) and it was noticed by an audience much more diverse then planned. When making changes to your brand’s identity, jingle, yoo-hoo, or whatever it maybe, be aware your current campaign may be more viral then you think.

Why Facebook Will Never Beat Twitter (for me)

All the top dog social media sites are out for each other. Specifically, there has been quite a bit of comparison between Twitter streams and Facebook updates. I can’t imagine how someone’s Facebook updates are anything like Twitter. Unless they live in a community which resembles a bee colony.

My Facebook updates don’t even compare to my Twitter profile. I started with a few friends on Facebook. Some professional and some casual. Then, lurks out the old high school buddy. (OMG, I am WAY too old for this shit) It’s like when you eat Pringles. You might start eating one, but eventually the whole damn can is in your gut. You feel like shit, over stuffed with excess crap you don’t need. My old semi-quasi-kinda know you people started this way on Facebook and grew to fill my homepage with a ton of shit.

And I mean SHIT.
No 140 characters allow my new parent friends fill their updates with how many times the kid shit, ate, burped, and doctor appointments. FUCK! TMI!

The whiny, over boring, updates of “Ya it’s Friday!”…holy fuck, how many people need to say this EVERY FRIDAY!

Then it’s invasion of the long distance relative whose involved in cult like Christianity and they want to be your “friend”. No thanks. I want to say “FUCK” on my updates without getting mailed a King James, New International Version, and the Living Word Bibles at Christmas.

Compare it to my Twitter stream, which can get filled with shit, but mostly I follow people who offer interesting links and snarky remarks. Everything is under 140 characters or less. Thus if your kid shits, it’s going to be short and sweet (unless you blog about, which I don’t have to view unless some sick moment compels me to). Twitter for me is a constant news stream of data. Facebook will never be that way simple because it is inundated with people who actually believe others want to hear about their bathroom habits. That shit don’t fly on Twitter. Not on my stream.

Each social media platform has its pros and cons. Their individualism allows them to compliment each other. Facebook acts a quasi email system for people I really don’t want to have my email (can you imagine the shit emails? ). Yet, Twitter allows me to have a constant stream of information getting thrown at me (like a one way conversation.). LinkedIn, allows me to put my professional face on.

Maybe for some, Facebook resembles Twitter. But as much as I enjoy @thebrandbuilder on Twitter, I don’t feel compelled to stalk him on Facebook too.

Woof!!

I love to read, but end up squeezing it in here and there during the week. Recently, I picked up my first book centered on owners and their dogs. “Woof! Writers on Dogs” is great for those rare opportunities you get to read, but not enough time to dedicate to mulitple chapters.

One of my favorite sections is shared by author, Abigail Thomas:
“Lots of people in my somewhat leaky boat are on the lookout for a human companion. Not me. I have learned to love the inside of my own head. There isn’t much I’d rather say then think. Of course there is the rare bird with whom I am in sync, the odd person who can make me laugh my head off and with whom converstaion is not an imposition or a chore, but these people are few and far between. I can talk to them on the phone. I can invite them for coffee.

So where am I going with this? Probably back upstairs with the dogs. It is starting to rain. I have made my bed, and I want to lit in it (with the dogs)”

Wonder if it’s fate?

The amount of fate plays a role in our lives will always spark a debate. It’s powers and myth can never be proven but always leaves a hint of wondering in our minds. Some individuals leave everything to fate. Other’s will argue you control every aspect of your life. Some of us believe life is little of both.

Being obnoxious about controlling my life, I do wonder time to time if there is an external force nudging me in a certain direction. In regards to my recent career search, it seems as though something is nudging me down one path.

I have stopped counting the number of resume uploads I have done, as it feels like I am counting the Cheerios in my bowl. A lot of work for absolutely nothing profound. Since I am specifically trying to relocate out of my midwest dump, I have started to concentrate my searches to the east coast, uploading 25+ resumes. Though, trying to get the attention of an HR person when you aren’t local is like fly fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. Good luck. I have dabbled a little searching in three other metropolitan areas; one with 7 resumes, one with 10, and the other with 3 lonely resumes floating in the abyss of HR databases.

Several weeks ago I got my first contact back. My only contact back. Statistically it should have come from the east coast since the bulk of my inquiries are there. Nope. It was one of the three lonely jobs I applied for in another city.

This is when I wonder if there is an external factor nudging me to follow the unlikely path. Of course, I can turn down the position if offered, scream obscenities during the interview to control the situation, or just give into a little trust.

Anyone could argue semantics to me on why the location with least concentration was the one to pop. Regardless if there is a little fate, Holy Matter, or just sheer oddness, letting go of control once in awhile can be quite liberating. Maybe this is my (naked) free fall into the next decade of my life.

Ads that I like, and Ads I don’t get

I am not a marketing major or work in advertising. I am simply a consumer. There are advertisements I get, and ones I say “WTF?”.

WTF Advertisments

Cartoon animal that speak? A bunny or owl that uses air fresheners? WTF!

Advertisements I get

Anyone with a smartphone has had the “Oops! I dialed with my ass, lipstick, wallet, or thigh!” accident. I get the butt chops.

This is Spud

This is Spud.
The newest addition to my life. He joins my other four legged roommate from the local Animal Shelter. It’s interesting when you get an animal whose history is a mystery. Kinda like a first date, except it doesn’t end.
At 4am and only just over 12 hrs, this is what I know abut Spud:

He is NOT 1 years old. I remember what a puppy is like, and puppy’s chew for endless hours..on everything.

And finally, he’s the perfect addition at the perfect time.

Search For Inspiration

“Each of the arts whose office is to refine, purify, adorn, embellish and grace life is under the patronage of a muse, no god being found worthy to preside over them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am not creative by nature. Like most, I foster creativity through various outlets which connect me with society. The exchange of thoughts, ideas, and conversation summons my personal creativity. I would safely bet, most of society feels the same way. Thus why masses attract to social networking site such as Twitter and Facebook.

Cease of Inspiration
Creativity to foster new ideas happens most often during our interaction with others. Throughout history, we can read about the great minds of each period discussing and arguing each other’s ideas. Even the great artists would co create next to each other from time to time. It’s surrounding ourselves with other’s who foster our own creativity. In our society today, we are using technology to recreate our inspirational bubbles. What happens if it fails?

Recent research revealed Twitter has an enormous quit rate. Why? Is is boredom with the features, too many established cliques, or personal life not conducive to social networking? It probably is a mix of all the above. The #1 reason being Twitter lacks fueling inspiration for others. Somewhere, users are not feeling connected with others. Their Twitter account fails to share new ideas, thoughts, or profound arguments to wrap one head’s around. There’s a failure to inspire.

Social media is by far an incredible outlet for us to network beyond traditional boundaries. Regardless of how amazing or simple technology is, it fails to satisfy our desire for close proximity relationships. We can see this by the trend of users making dedicated attempt to connect off line. No matter how quit the interface, how imbedded it is in our lives, or wide of a network, the manifestation of ideas created from discussions with others physically around us cannot be recreated.

What happens between two or more people sitting in a Denny’s discussing life, taxes, law, and business is magical. It’s the immediate responses, physical, emotional, and intellectual to which we play off of. There is no technology that can mimic a really great debate. We will never see presidential debates via Twitter accounts or Vimeo. The inspirational magic would never occur.

In our search for inspiration we may look to faith, newspapers, nature, or Twitter, but it only supplements what we can create with other humans. By far, developing long lasting friendships will reward us greater than any exchange of 140 characters or less.