Job Hacking

Average of <1 post per month.

April 12 — 07:46 AM

When do you have them?

I've been spending a few working hours (and a few non-working) thinking through Retention and Customer Loyalty, primarily from an on-line, B2C business focus.

One of my favorite conundrums: When do you acquire a customer? 

Turns out this is a tough one to answer, primarily because of the proliferation of the free trial offer, in whatever form that takes. Most will say that the answer is after the trial, when a customer puts their credit card number into your system for a purchase. Certainly, Finance-types will agree with that one, an item of value has been given and another item of value has been accepted in return; the classic definition of a transaction. 

Or is it after they've crossed the bridge using your product and are so in love with it that they recommended your product to someone else? And how do you measure that?

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March 30 — 07:00 AM

Last minute meeting with the investors, and what to do about the kids?

We entrepreneurial-types always have something going on. Mostly, more than one thing at once. And, sometimes our work commitments run smack into our family commitments. And suddenly, you have the kids, and an investor/client meeting, and what to do?

Well, if you are anywhere near downtown Issaquah, there's a new drop-in daycare service you should check out, Adventure Kids Playcare (775 NW Gilman Blvd., C-3, Issaquah, WA 98027, 425.391.5358, Issaquah@adventurekidsplaycare.com). That's right, drop-in daycare, as in call, check to see if they have space, and then drop your children off for that hour-long lunch meeting at nearby Tutta Bella. So, go get the 1st time visit form, send them in, and add a little more flexibility to your life!

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March 27 — 08:20 AM

Let's say it's that time when your computer starts acting funny...

Computers, and more importantly, the software that runs them, do odd things from time to time. Even the best Hardware and Software Engineers sometimes shrug their shoulders, turn the device off, then on, and hope for the best.

Currently, this solution gets recommended for all kinds of strange Computer  behavior:

  • Software freezes
  • Program slows way down
  • Device slows down or freezes
  • Data transmission fails
  • Operating System seemingly stops

Now this is all well and good, so far as it goes. But what if this solve-all doesn't work?

Head scratcher, huh? Especially after you've performed various maintenance tasks like deleting files off the hard drive, defragging, etc., etc.

How about checking the date and time on the device? More than one PC has been fouled up by the battery dying that controls the system's clock, let alone a clock that has gotten set forward into the future or backward into the past!

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March 24 — 07:30 AM

HR, Unvarnished

The best blog posts are those that rip the facade off the wall and expose the truth behind. Laurie, of Punk Rock HR has one of those posts with, The Future of Work & The Matrix. If you ever wanted to know what your HR Pro is thinking about when they say, "Here's how we can accomplish that, and there are a few things to take into consideration...", in response to your insane Zombie-Manager request, go back and read Laurie's post.
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March 23 — 07:41 AM

And what was on Marcelo's mind today?

There are a number of entrepreneur-types in Seattle and many of them blog. And you should be reading them.

Marcelo Calbucci is one, and he has a G-R-E-A-T post today about how your ignorance might be costing you. Given that he, like many of the people in the Seattle start-up scene, uses these tools himself to improve what he does, his comments have a ring of truth to them. Ignore at your own risk!

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March 17 — 07:45 AM

Why does the name Hearst suddenly appear in my head?

Robert X has a thought-provoking post today about Google News.

Many of you may not read Google News, at least not right now. But, as more and more on-line news sites go to some sort of payment model, this will shift. 

Sorta makes you want to say, "Rosebud", doesn't it?

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March 12 — 07:26 AM

re: The 5 Biggest Lies in HR

I've been following a series of posts over at HR Capitalist, and they need to be read by everyone who works in the U.S, for Kris speaks the truth. 

It's a good Friday read, and it will give you an ah-ha moment or two. Very worthwhile in that sense. One slight problem, he's not yet posted the last one, so I'll add that link when its time comes. Until then, plenty to read for today! 

They biggest HR Lies are:

5. We're responsible for Work/Life Balance...

4. It's our Parental Desire to Provide Great Benefits...

3. We're into Pay for Performance...

2. All A Players is a Possible Outcome...

1. TBD

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March 11 — 07:23 AM

Global Warming is...

There are a few conversational hand grenades out there that really get people heated up:

  • Abortion v. Right-to-Life
  • Taxes
  • The best Religion is...
  • Global Warming

Now, think about your gut.  How's it feeling? A little knotted up? See...

On this last point, Global Warming, David Brin has several nice observations today, regardless of whether you think it's like the Boogie Man and doesn't exist, or it's happening now and you sold your car yesterday and are riding a bike everywhere. It will open your eyes to a possible future altogether different. 

I guess that's what Science Fiction Writers do for a living...

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March 10 — 03:00 PM

re: The biggest triumph is getting out of bed

Sometimes you are going about your daily path, and you bump into something that really resonates with you.

"Wow, that's a nice thing", you think.

For me, this post really resonated with me yesterday, The biggest triumph is getting out of bed. Because the best wins are the ones where you are scraping hard for yourself.

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March 9 — 03:30 PM

Don't feel like you've found your niche yet?

Well, join the club!

I don't know that I agree with the Michael Jordan pick for this list, but, hey, it makes you think.

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