Square Zebra

To Update:

I got my notice today: Update my subscription or dink SQ.  (In case you are missing the point of this text, I've renewed my subscription.)  Although I really haven't added any value here at all.  Maybe it's time?

Quick Biz Update:

1 - Square Zebra is no longer "officially" running.

2 - Why? Because I was lured in by the Wireless Company.

3 - Am you giving up the Entrepreneur thing? Nope! I'm just gathering more education and background experience that was lacking in my skill set.

4 - So what do you do?

I work in the Network Technical Training Department. I'm currently manage the Motorola training across the enterprise, along with all of the "smaller" (under 500M) vendors. My goal, my mission statement if you will, is to ensure that our network employees are the smartest of the smart, the best of the best, the happiest of the happiest. That they have, at their fingertips a plethora of knowledge they can tap at any time, to build, grow, and learn to their hearts content.  Or to the content of their manager's heart.  *grin*

There we go... summery of the last year... *ehem* :)

Hello Moto:

Today I got a private little tour of the Motorola museum by two charming business managers.   Although I tried desperately to talk them into taking me to Fry's instead.  Did you know that Moto has been around for a good 75 years or so. Dabbling in a multitude of technologies from pocket radios to national defense.

And Moto, being a good vendor they are, thoroughly kissed my backside with lunch, compliments and travel mugs.   ThankYouMoto.

Now back to our regularly scheduled techy silence....

Oh, ps: OneCare Live

Ain't I supposed to...

Ain't.... I supposed to be updating this darn thing? 

Alas for those of you that don't know last fall I accepted a small consulting position that has now turned into a full time gig. (Just imagine me lording over 4,000 networking geeks… oh my gawd, I’m in HEAVEN!)

1 - Yes, Square Zebra is still running.

2 - I'm not giving up the 'change agent' mentality.

I am contemplating hiring someone on to handle the over flow.... (and maybe to update this blasted page.)

In the mean time if you have an questions, needs, or concerns  I can always be reached via email.

Marketing Ninnies:

I have this weird love/hate relationships with most marketing departments. Love because they are usually the most creative groups to be involved in. Hate because more stupid ideas come out of these departments then anywhere else in a company.

Two cases in point:

1 - So … in an attempt to slice market share from Apple, the Real Networks Marketing Department came up with the BRILLIANT idea to run a three-week clearance sale on its digital inventory of music.

As Seth Godin wrote in the Purple Cow … a low price strategy is the last refuge of a marketer who is out of great ideas [Purple Cow, page 106]. - Blog

2 - It seems the marketers behind the new Resident Evil computer game sent out unsolicited SMS messages to cell phones users telling them their phone was infected with the T-virus. People panicked. The Register points out it isn't the first time marketing ninnies have done this. - Blog

To paraphrase a friend, (a Director of Marketing no less!), told me the other day, "Most of these companies need to slash 40% of their marketing personnel and stop hiring people who shop for Hello Kitty lunch boxes."

Commercial...

Funny little commercial from Centry21

A professional dressed, petite, blond woman is talking with a male real estate representative in his office:

Man: Shouldn’t we wait till your husband gets here?

Woman: I’m not married.

Man snickers

White text on black screen: “Not getting the most out of your real estate agent?”

Man: How about a nice townhouse? Girls love those!”

:)

"Fox: A Division of Orange Julius."

As I look into the possibility of doing some advertising... I've started to inspect the good vs. the bad. But some are just diabolically wrong.

1 - Oral B's "Brush-Ups" Although the product I promote, especially for those of us who must spend time in close proximity with those who still have spinach in their teeth from a salad they ate 3 weeks ago... the commercial is lacking in ... well... everything except annoyances. A bunch of peppy-pretty-people in an array of blue suits prancing up and down a subway station singing dancing the new, soon to be released Broadway hit "Ohh, Awww, Brush!" I haven't found the commercial online - but the blue enhanced flash url is NYC overload for even the trendiest of people: www.oralbbrushups.com

2 - Pepto-Bismol has gone to some low forms in advertising but when a petite blond standing in line to use the copier needs to grab her butt and start singing about diarrhea, I change the channel in horror. I guess the clincher is the website url: www.diarrhea.com (I kid you not!)

3 - Any add promoting the new Fox Summer line up. Seriously, even the summer is to long to put Method and Red on the air. http://www.fox.com/methodandred

I miss the good ol' days: http://www.roadode.com/classic.htm

Web Site

I know we did a sneak peek of the new front end design last month.. but it has been ditched. If you are curious to what I went with.... here's a small sneak peek of the future of Square Zebra design... (well at least for right now.) Whatcha think? :) ****"Whatcha think" is in reference to good thoughts only****

Moving Business Forward:

Two weeks or so ago, I started goal writing for Square Zebra and personal accounts. This is the first time I have actually written anything down on paper in a formal fashion. (Writing down on napkins while drinking martinis apparently doesn't count.) Anyways I realized there were some inner blocks going on to some of these goals. Things I actually tackle pretty much on a daily bases. For example, I'm shy and loath initiating first or even second contact. That's not so good in the networking world. I was in the middle of looking towards others blocks to building this business when I ran across re:invention post on the 15th:

A great read for those of you who are passionate about digging your own business grave. The short list:

1. Ignore your own strengths and weaknesses
2. Stop learning, reading, listening altogether.
3. Believe that you can succeed for free without sweat equity.
4. Try to get before you give.
5. Fail to set goals and measure results.
6. Forget about focusing.
7. Fail to change with changing circumstances.
8. Try something once and then quit.
9. Consider yourself to be more important than your customers.
10. Sit back and wait for "it" to happen.
11. Listen to other people's negative words.
12. Don't believe in your ability to succeed and let every feeling of discouragement prey upon you.

Kirsten goes on with some of her own added reasons. I think I have fell into the trap of every one of these at least once. (Maybe some more then that... say like 64 times.) Thing is now that they are in black and white for me to stare at I don't have an excuse to not succeed. Do you make excuses for your failures?

New web front end coming...

I have spent the last few days during my free time working on the real company front end design for Square Zebra.

Although the links are hidden right now - You can get a sneak peek here.

:)

Busy and yet...

Been very busy these last few days and yet having a very hard time pinpointing what is sucking up all my time! (Now that just can't be a good sign.)