Myth #1: Multitasking is critical in a world of infinite demand. This myth is based on the assumption that human beings are capable of doing two cognitive tasks at the same time. We’re not. Instead, we learn to move rapidly between tasks. When we’re doing one, we’re actually not even aware of the other. If you’re on a conference call, for example, and you turn your attention to an incoming email, you’re missing what’s happening on the call as long as you’re checking your email. Equally important, you’re incurring something called “switching time.” That’s the time it takes to shift from one cognitive activity to another. Read more By Tony Schwartz for Harvard Business Review, 01 Nov 2011.
Tag Archives: Strategy
Great book title for modern business: listen first sell later
Read more By Chris Brogan for Chris Brogan.com, 29 Oct 2011.
Top 10 reasons why darth vader was an amazing project manager
The Sith Lord Darth Vader, of Star Wars fame, often gets a bad rap, particularly in what we all think of as his ‘dark years.’ From a certain perspective his mass murder, brutal oppression, and frequent deception to serve his own ends makes him seem like a pretty bad guy. But if you look past all that to his action, you will find a very capable and effective project manager. In the name of finding silver linings in dark clouds, I’d like to present the top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager. Read more By Brandon Koeller for Geek Wire, 4 Oct 2011.
Facebook to build a huge server farm in the arctic…because it's cold
Facebook will build its first non-U.S. server farm in Sweden on the edge of the Arctic Circle, reports the Telegraph. Lulea, a town in Northern Sweden will be home to an enormous server farm which will use as much electricity as a town of 50,000 people. Some of that power will come from sustainable energy generated by the Lulea river, which reportedly creates more energy than the Hoover Dam. The Local reports that the new facility, comprised of three large server halls will cost $72 million a year to upkeep. Rumors about Facebook locating in Sweden have been circulating since May. Read more By Nick Jardine for Business Insider, 26 Oct 2011.
How to estimate your social media return on investment
Before we go any further, let’s review why we need the social media return and ROI again. You use the return and the ROI to compare the efficiency of marketing campaigns; for an in-house team, you can use these numbers to negotiate budgets with your management; for agencies, you can use estimated numbers toland prospective clients and to retain current clients. The numbers are used in conjunction with social and web metrics to analyze and optimize current and future campaigns. Last but not the least, a primary reason for using the return and the ROI is social media financial accountability. As social media initiatives become mainstream,executives are holding them to the same accountability as other business initiatives, demanding financial returns and ROI on social media investments. Read more By Dag Holmboe for Social … Continue reading
Facebook marketing solutions
Check out Facebook Marketing Solutions Bootcamp, from 1 – 16 Nov 2011. The bootcamp includes: 6 Webinars Live Q&A Weekly Tips Find out more
Check out the wheel of concept
Need some help with your brainstorming? Sometimes you may not have an idea, but you still need to make that meeting. Fortunately, now there’s an easy way to be a “rock star.” Spin the wheel, download your concept board, and seal the deal. Visit site
Social media for small businesses: 6 effective strategies
Many small business owners I encounter are either too busy for social media, or they don’t truly understand Facebook, Foursquare, or Twitter. So they choose to delegate these tools to interns or specialists. This may not always be in the best interest of the company. I’m not a social media expert. Far from it. I haven’t ousted any mayors yet, and probably won’t anytime soon. But I am a small business owner and entrepreneur who truly embraces the unique opportunity that social media offers. Nothing else gives me such a direct way to “talk” with my clients and community on a daily basis. And people are what brought me into business in the first place. Read more ByNellie Akalp for Mashable, 14 April 2011.
The rules of social media engagement
A study published in 2010 surfaced a startling statistic, “75 percent of employers say their business has no formal policy instructing employees on the appropriate use of social networking sites on the job.” The report, “Employer Perspectives on Social Networking ,” compiled data from 34,000 businesses in 35 countries. Does your organization have a formal policy regarding employee use of social media? Perhaps better asked, does your organization offer training, guidelines, and insights to help employees excel in new media on behalf of your business? In the same study, 63% of employers that employed social networking policies reported that those policies improved productivity. More than a third also stated that social media policies helped protect intellectual property. Social Media represents the democratization of information and the equalization of … Continue reading
5 simple web apps for saving time at work
Much has been made of some excellent mobile apps and tablet apps that let users stay productive on the go. But let’s face it—the majority of your work is still done at your desk, and much of it, perhaps, in a Web browser Enter the humble Web apps that, while overshadowed a bit by the smartphone revolution, are still the bread and butter bookmarks of daily workplace productivity. We’ve highlighted five free online tools that are simple, clean and built to knock out those cumbersome work tasks, no downloads required. Read more By Matt Silverman for Mashable, 08 April 2011.