An Executive Blog: In the World of Technology

On Cloud computing

I added a new blog to my feeds and one of the first posts I read really rang a bell of truth. Needless to day I am sharing it here for those interested in the shift to the cloud.

The original Post is here with snippit below.

"Fellow TechWeb contributor Michael Biddick recently offered some great information on the cloud computing movement by taking a look at the factors that drive people to the clouds. He also addressed issues that keep people on the sidelines.

While cost was on the top of everyone's mind, other things such as 'going green,' and fixing internal IT issues were among the motives that sent many in search of better IT on the Web. However, some people said "Not so fast," especially when they considered the recent outages that demonstrated the downsides of depending upon SEI (Somebody Else's Infrastructure). "

A whole new Transparency

Yes,  blogging has changed my life and when Typepad reached out for stories I shared a bit of my own.  Wow, they posted it here.

SixApart does it again

Despite the reality that software changes every day (that is what development teams do all day) and that new features are released regularly on almost all software I depend on, I am always pleasantly surprised when new options just pop up in my day in the world of cloud computing.

After blogging on TypePad for 4+ years you can imagine how I might feel when I logged in this morning and the editor has changed and yet that is not how I felt.

The new features are not a culture shock. I did not even have to think about how to do what I needed to do. I simply had more power and more options.

For some reason over the last 4+ years the team at SixApart has managed to just continue to do that. Small changes that offer new options and yet don't cause earthquakes and disruption in my world.

A Hearty thanks to the SixApart team!

Mobile Utilization

I have the option to update my blog via my mobile device and yet I have not yet added that as a habit. Needless to say as I move more and more into text and quick updates my blogs get updated less often this will change, but it is what it is right now.

What is particularly interesting is that I do use my device to update Twitter. In fact I update and read twitter more often than not from my mobile. Are you Twittering yet?

The people you meet on planes

The next time you take a flight consider opening up a bit to the person sitting next to you. You might be surprised.

I have met some incredible people in the air including one of the designers of the space station, a person who invented a new technique for seperating conjoined twins (that uses sound waves instead of heat to catertrize bleeders) and someone who works for the secret service on biological substance risks, that of course, couldn't tell me much because well he works for the secret service.

All in all I have been fascinated with all the great people I have talked with and I often look forward to the next great flight opportunity.

Favorite Learning Techniques

What are some of your favorite ways to learn?

• Classroom
• Online/Self Paced
• Reading
• Interactive Online material
• Online classes (such as the Online College Classes)
• Flash cards
• Peer Groups
• Team Building Fun activities

Internet TV

I missed a show I wanted to watch so I thought I would search the internet to see if I could catch it. Low and Behold the world of TV is way beyond where I thought it was (nothing like working way too many hours to loose track of that one) I found the show I wanted to watch on Tidal TV.

http://www.Beta.Tidaltv.com

Learning New Software

One of my first initiatives in my new position is to learn and master a new software application. One of the techniques I  just realized has increased my retention and attention span is to focus on preparing questions with answers about the material that is being digested. This act forces a sort of regurgitation of materials.

"Tell me and I forget.
Show me and I remember.
Let me do and I understand."

Quote by:

Confucius [Kung Fu-tse] (551-479 B.C.)

"The key to wisdom is this --
constant and frequent questioning ...
for by doubting we are led to question and
by questioning we arrive at the truth."

Quote by:

Peter Abelard (1099-1142)

Ramping up on ConnectWise

As I ramp up on ConnectWise I have been amazed at how much is built into this software package. The mantra is that ConnectWise is the Business Operating system and it is a really good point.

All of the things that a typical IT Services company would need to do are handled in this application. This includes scheduling (a feature difficult to find in other robust packages), service ticket management, help desk, dispatch, sales (complete with sales process and sales funnel management), marketing (including the abililty to send out mass mailings and track responses) and more.

Fun Stuff!  

Florida DMV wins my Customer Service Award

In no less than 20 minutes total I was able to

1) Go online and make an appointment with Florida DMV for a new drivers license

2) Show up for my scheduled appointment 15 minutes early

3) Be serviced within 2 minutes (despite the 2 hour wait for those who did not make an appointment)

4) Walk out the door with license in hand within 15 minutes of arriving.

If I compare this to the process and headache I had to endure in Texas to do the same thing it was radically different. Texas took me no less than three seperate trips to DMV, each of which took  at least an hour or more of time (time away from work I might add). I also had to wait 6 weeks to get my actual license forcing me to fall back on my passport for photo identification during that time.

Kudos to Florida!