Learning the ABCs of Success, Social Media Style

[This is a social media-generated post... the views represented here are not necessarily those of the Meme Menagerie, its agents or affiliates... etc. etc..., notwithstanding the foregoing, yeah, these probably are my views... etc. etc... you agree to hold the Menagerie harmless for any damages caused... etc. etc. ...parties hereto... etc. etc... means and methods... etc. [...]

Making Fun (out) of Bad Presentations

This video was posted onto YouTube seven days ago by the folks at Growing Leaders: Within a mere seven days this “Every Presentation Ever: Communication FAIL” video has garnered over 178,000 views — that’s good publicity for an organization that does good work. It’s easy to understand why people like this video… what’s a bit harder to understand is why two of [...]

It’s Decorative Gourd Email Disclaimer Season

You know how some people have, as part of their email signature, a little green tree/river graphic with the words “Please consider the environment before printing this email?”   Well, we’re officially at peak Decorative Gourd Season, so I think I’m going to start inserting random decorative gourds at the bottom of my work emails.  Things like this… [...]

Dept of Abused Terminology: The “Aha!” Moment

Ah, the “aha” moment…  while currently only garnering about 199,000 results on Google, in the circles of training and education where I live, the phrase “Aha Moment” has definitely crossed the annoying- phrase threshold and is well on its way to the point of no return… somewhere between “multi-modal” and ”at the end of the day.”   Recently, I heard someone [...]

Selling Soft Skills Training

Selling “soft skills” is hard, not just because you have to convince people that these skills are 1) crucial to business success and 2) learnable, but also because of the automatically self-referential aspect of the job.  In other words, you’ve gotta sell sales skills training, negotiate negotiation skills training, and present presentation skills training.  One false [...]

The Invisible Ash Cloud

Some people walk around with a metaphorical rain cloud over their head. For others, there’s no rain cloud, but there’s something else: an Invisible Ash Cloud that you can’t see and won’t bother you, as long as you stay on the ground.

Cognitive Ability vs Energy Drink Consumption

Here’s my contribution to the wonderful world of GraphJam…

The Early Worm Gets The Bird

In business, the “first mover advantage” isn’t always an advantage.  The same goes for “thought leadership.” “The early bird gets the worm” applies only if you are high enough in the food chain.

Happy Endings

I Really Believe It Can Be A California Thing…

“..that it can really work out, because, um, we can be rich in cotton, and mining metals, and silkworms, and we can make things, we can make things, cars…  The Machine can make it for us.” 

Viral Video Watch: “United Breaks Guitars” : A Lesson In Baggage and Message Handling

July 6:  The band Sons of Maxwell post this video on YouTube, relating their story of how their baggage — and their complaint — was mishandled by United Airlines: (hat tip to Tricia M) July 7:  The video immediately takes off, tray tables stowed and locked and seatbacks in the upright position, with over 50,000 views in the 24 hours. [...]

July 2.5 – 3.5 :: Fence-Sitting Beige and Other Considerations of Northern North American Dual Citizen’s Day

Update to last year’s misguided concept of Canadian-American Dual Citizen’s Day, via Facebook:   Dan is celebrating Northern North American Dual Citizen’s Day http://danspira.wordpress.com/2008/07/02 Aliza at 8:59pm July 2: Wouldn’t 11:52:30 tonight until 00:07:30 July 3 be the North American Dual Citizen’s minutes of celebration? That’s equidistant from July 1 and July 4. And, everyone deserves their [...]

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