I've Moved
I have moved all my blogs to http://jaworski.net. Please join me there for all blog activity going forward.
Thank you.
Dave
Can't Stop The Music
Going forward... Dave Jaworski - Can't Stop The Music at davejaworski.posterous.com
Going forward I will be blogging at davejaworski.posterous.com. My family blog is at http://jaworski.net (it is more of an annual newsletter than a regularly updated blog.)
I am keeping this blog as it includes the blogs I migrated from typepad dating back to 2005. Want the early story on my musings on life, music and media? You are in the right place. My latest blogging is at http://davejaworski.posterous.com
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs - Leave a Legacy / This is not our home #SteveJobs #BillGates
http://photos.allthingsd.com/D5/Live-at-D5/Bill-Gates-and-Steve-Jobs/2928590_wgMxc#157981145_QoLtG
These are amazing technology industry times that we are living in... just looking at the past two weeks (just two weeks!?!)...
Wow! There is no doubt that the industry is as competitive as ever. And there is also no doubt about the impact of two people on our world...
Bill and Steve together on stage at AllThings Digital just a few years ago
As many of you know, I had the pleasure of working at Microsoft from 1985 through 1993 as an employee and then again in 1994-1995 as a consultant. During those ten years we created and launched Microsoft Office and Microsoft went from dead last position in every category (other than operating systems with DOS) to first place in virtually all categories. What many may not know is I had job offers from Microsoft and Apple at the same time. I chose Microsoft because, at that time, Steve Jobs believed that the magic was all about the hardware. He later recanted that positioning to state that it was all about software and hardware. In 1985, Bill believed that software made the difference and no matter how great the hardware, software was what brought it to life. I had the joy and opportunity to interact with both Steve and Bill many times over the past 26 years. For that I am very grateful. I got involved in technology because I saw students at my alma mater, the University of Manitoba, using technology to better people's lives. I have been blessed to see that reality brought to life in ways I never could have imagined over the years, largely with impact from the vision and leadership of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Bill retired from Microsoft's CEO position a few years ago to focus on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Here he is continuing to impact world health and education issues. He continues to leverage the position he built in technology to make the world a better place.
Steve steps down this week and also leaves a legacy of impact on the world. "Think different." He did. And now so do we.
To both I say "Thank you!"
One day we will all "retire" from this planet. We all have an opportunity to leave a legacy. Some will be huge like the impact Steve and Bill have had. Others will be small in the world's eyes yet huge in God's eyes. Check out Steven Curtis Chapman's latest song "Do Everything" http://stevencurtischapman.com/updates/news/do-everything-official-music-video-678 if you want a great perspective on this.
I wish Steve health. I wish Steve and Bill a passion for God and Jesus Christ that exceeds their passion for technology. This is not our home.
The $25 Computer and its important role
LOVE this! http://bit.ly/noHHc1 The $25 computer and its important role.
The Importance of Starting Tomorrow This Evening - GTD Productivity Tip
Michael Sliwinski of Nozbe.com recently wrote a post that I agree with. In it he also linked to a great video by John Cleese. I highly recommend Michael's blog post and watching the Cleese video.
http://michaelnozbe.com/prepare-your-next-day-in-the-evening
I have long practiced the suggestion Michael makes of planning the top actions for tomorrow during the prior evening. And I agree that using good old fashioned paper (usually a 3 x 5 card) to focus on the top items is helpful. Our productivity systems have a way of getting over complicated and potentially distracting. A top priority list keeps us focused before we caught up in the busy-ness of the day.
I hope you enjoy Michael's blog and the video as much as I did.
Stop Organizing Your Email... The Fastest Way to Find an Email in a Haystack (And a Paper Filing Tip)
It is nice to see some science applied to email usage. Ever since "Lookout for Outlook", later acquired by Microsoft and then built-in to Outlook, and since using Gmail and the power of Google's search engine built right into the company's email platform, my folder use has been limited. Search is where it is at. Today's search engines can find an email in a haystack faster than hunting through folders. And IBM has done a study and proved this. Threaded conversations, available in Outlook, Gmail, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, and almost every other available platform, let you deal with a string of messages as a unit. The same study by IBM concludes what many have known intuitively for some time... dealing with a threaded conversation is much more productive than dealing with an email conversation spread across multiple individual messages in your inbox. Finding a message furthers the benefit of using conversations. Don't believe me... check out the study: "Stop Organizing Your E-mail" http://zite.to/jVz56t Finally, the same search engine speed can be used to help you manage your paper files. Don't waste time filing in anything more complex than "put it in the next available folder"... Let me explain. A friend of mine, Joel Kanter, told me some years back that he had found a way to find anything in his paper files in a few seconds. What was Joel's secret? A filing method called "The Paper Tiger" by Monticello Corporation which used search and the words that came to your mind about anything you were filing. The Paper Tiger uses a simple and very logical file labeling system. Actions #1, 2, 3, 4... and Reference #1, 2, 3, 4, ... You file Action items in the next available folder and reference items in their next available folder. You enter a brief set of keywords or descriptors that could help you find the file in future into the Paper Tiger software. Then you get back to work. When you need to find the paper you type a word or two that comes to mind into the Paper Tiger search engine and there it is - you are immediately directed to the folder numbers that have any items referenced by the same keywords. After years of alphabetical and categorical and ... (insert your favorite filing method here), the Paper Tiger approach made everything very easy. They even give you a set of pre-printed labels to get you going. If the Paper Tiger software doesn't support your system(s) of choice, you are still okay... Today's software, like my favorite digital file cabinet "Evernote", can be used with the Paper Tiger method, giving you easy reference to the paper in your life if you choose to file versus scan/digitize (and it works on Mac, PC, Android, iPhone, iPad, etc.) Every since Joel's Paper Tiger tip and "Lookout for Outlook" my use of folders has been greatly simplified. I hope IBM's study convinces you to let go of folders for email and to turn on threading... and Joel's tip benefits you as well if you still use paper.
My Next Step in Life's Great Adventure - I have joined NetSteps as VP Sales
I have joined NetSteps as VP Sales. The press release is below. I am excited to join this great team. They have a solid product line, great customers, and a very bright future. I have known Kevin Vitale, their CEO, for 18 years. He is an outstanding leader. Ron Davis is leading the marketing charge. Ron and I worked together back at Microsoft when he was the mastermind/strategist and marketing programs leader for Microsoft's Corporate Account Marketing. Ron and I have maintained a friendship and compared sales, marketing and technology notes over many coffees over the years. It is great to join forces again! Derek Maxfield, the founder of NetSteps, has built a great company. Thank you for welcoming me to the team!
Over the past two years I have been CTO at Intero. I want to thank Charlie Lico and the entire Intero team and wish them the best. Building out the Intero Lifestyle Network, powering AvonVoices, working with Grammy-winning and emerging artists, and working with an amazing Live team that operates 27 Festivals and Tours including events with the PGA, NASCAR and more has been a great experience. Thank you!Onward on life's journey!
NetSteps Announces Executive Team Expansion
Ex-Microsoft Executive Appointed Vice President of Sales
Pleasant Grove, UT – May 3, 2011 – NetSteps, creator of world-class business applications for real-time direct sales company management, today announced the latest addition to its executive management team with the appointment of David Jaworski as Vice President of Sales. Jaworski, who has over 25 years of sales, technology, and executive management experience, joins NetSteps as the company expands its position as the industry’s leader in single-source, cloud-ready technologies. The third employee at Microsoft Canada, Jaworski was instrumental in launching Microsoft’s Canadian operation. He was Microsoft’s National Sales Manager before being promoted to General Manager of U.S. Sales Operations. After leaving Microsoft, Jaworski served as VP of Sales for Arabesque Software, founder and CEO of Provident Ventures, Inc., Senior VP and General Manager of Gaylord Digital, the Internet division of Gaylord Entertainment and founder and CEO of PassAlong Networks - providing Digital Media and Content Management for over 200 clients including eBay. Since 2009, Jaworski has served as Chief Technology Officer for Intero Alliance building the Intero Lifestyle Network, a content management system and digital media store platform with extensive integration of global social media. Intero delivered a customized implementation of this technology to Avon Products, Inc., the world’s largest direct sales company.
“David brings extensive sales experience to NetSteps, with a deep understanding of technology solutions and their application across a variety of industries. Throughout his career, David has succeeded in developing and executing global sales and marketing strategies,” said Kevin Vitale, NetSteps CEO. “David’s technical and sales skills will expand the leadership position of NetSteps’ ENCORE™ platform with our direct sales customers.”
About NetSteps
Founded in 2003, NetSteps provides a complete end-to-end software solution for the global direct-selling industry. ENCORE™ can be implemented Cloud-based, Software-as-a-Service, Hosted Solution or as an Enterprise license. ENCORE provides instant access to the information required to grow direct sales businesses. ENCORE powers real-time content delivery, Party Planning, commerce, compensation, social networking and brand management for globally distributed organizations of all sizes. NetSteps is a trusted strategic partner for companies with a broad range of go-to-market strategies, commission structures, products, and international markets and currencies. Representative clients include Natura, Scentsy, Close To My Heart, Synergy, and Rodan + Fields, among others.
For more information, visit www.netsteps.com
Media Contact:
T. Ron Davis
Intellect Marketing Group, Inc.
Tele: 425-898-9067
Email: rond@intellect.com
My favorite iPad apps
As many people are purchasing the iPad 2, it's time for an update to my list of favorite iPad applications! Where possible, select the iPad version when there is one available (versus iPod or iPhone version.)
First - The Top 10 List! 1) The Holy Bible - Search "YouVersion" - This program includes translations/versions of the Bible that you can read while you are offline. 2) Bible.is - Audio Bible with text as well 3) Evernote: Let's you take notes and sync them to any machine with Evernote. (Free; Paid "professional" version is approx $40 and gives you a few more capabilities.) A large benefit over other options is the ability to work offline. I love Evernote and use it on my phone, iPad and computer. 4) iThoughtsHD - MindMapping ($9.99)Note: It can sync with XMind - an excellent PC and Mac mind mapping tool (Free at XMind.net) via DropBox. (DropBox info is noted above.) 5) Multi G - Access multiple Gmail accounts and quickly switch between them. (Free) 6) Reeder - If you track RSS feeds in Google you can sync and read them offline in Reeder. It is easier than ever to keep up with all my favorite blogs and web sites with Reeder. ($4.99) 7) Dropbox - Set this up on your iPad and on your computer. Then you can simply move a file to your Dropbox on your computer and it will be accessible on your iPad. (Free) 8) The Weather Channel - Great iPad app for accessing the weather forecast. And it includes weather warning alerts. (Free) 9) Dragon Dictation - Speak and your words are instantly typed out for you. Then you easily copy/paste to email, text message or other. (Free) 10) Jump Desktop - Remotely access your PC or Mac. I have tried almost all of the remote desktop applications and this is my favorite. Great mouse control. Fast service. And easy access to any/all of your computers with the install of Jump's free locator for your PC or Mac. ($19.99)
Those are my Top 10. Yet I have even more than 10 apps that I use regularly... Here is the list that rounds out my Top 50... 11) Kindle - Read your Kindle books on the iPad and sync to the latest place read from your Kindle Reader or your computer. (Free) 12) Air Display - Use your iPad as an external monitor for your laptop over wifi. ($9.99) 13) Google Voice - Gives you quick access to all Google apps. (Free) 14) Web Albums - View photos in your Picasa library, upload, edit and share with others and see all albums shared with you all in this great app ($2.99) 15) Twitter - The best Twitter client? Twitter by Twitter! Don't bother with any of the third party Twitter apps. Use the best one made by the folks at Twitter.com. The iPad application is better than their desktop application or any of the phone applications in my opinion. (Free) 15) Gist - If you work in sales and marketing or simply want to keep up with your personal and professional friends, Gist is an awesome tool. Note: Gist was recently acquired by RIM - Makers of the popular Blackberry devices. (Free) 16) Skype - Skype is great for talking and chatting with co-workers, clients, friends and family. And if you travel internationally, put a few dollars in your Skype account and use Skype as your international phone in any wifi area. (Free) 17) ReaddleDocs - Let's you access documents in Google Docs easily as well as DropBox, emails and much more. Includes PDF mark up capabilities. ($4.99)
18) Reunion - I use Reunion for working on our family tree. The iPad version syncs with the Mac desktop version. It is even easier to crop photos on your iPad in Reunion than it is on the Mac. ($14.99)
A long list with many great apps. Enjoy!
Road Trip with Jonathon!
I will always treasure the time just enjoyed with Jonathon as we took our road trip from Nashville to Seattle and then up to Surrey, BC. He is exploring options for the next step in life's journey.
It was so good to have time with family and relatives - Sarah and John, and Amanda and Chris, and Janelle and Darrell and Temprance, and Michael and Mary Jane. Blessings to all of you and the friends visited along the way as well! Jonathon and I are thankful to God for safe travels including safety through two snow storms. Including Susan andI traveling to Winnipeg, I logged over 5600 miles of road travel in the past month! Whew! That is probably the first month in many years where I did more road miles than air miles. No wonder I slept so soundly last night. And now I am thankful to be home and working with Susan, Jennifer and David on our home (getting it ready for the market.)Inception - An Overview of Object Oriented Programming in Film
Spoiler alert - You may not want to read this if you have not yet watched Inception.
I just watched Inception over the holidays with Susan. It is one fine ride of a movie! I enjoy movies that make you think. I was originally going to watch it a month ago. A friend suggested I not watch Inception as a way to unwind after a hectic week. He was right. It is a way to rev up your mind.
Wired magazine suggested Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio is all about Filmmaking. (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/07/the-neuroscience-of-inception/)
As a Technologist, I feel Inception is about software development. The developer creates from ideas in their mind and turns them into reality. A great developer needs to be able think multiple levels deep and must be a great problem solver. Developers also need to hold a lot of detail, sometimes including complex architectures, in their mind. They are bound only by the creativity of their mind.
I particularly enjoyed the idea of levels, going deeper, processing at different levels, and "kicking" up to higher levels. This recursive approach to life in Inception is a nice overview for Object-Oriented Programming. In fact, if I was back to my computer science teaching days from Winnipeg (I taught programming on PDP11's at Red River Community College for a term many years ago), I'd make this a required watch for an Intro to OOP.
I discussed Inception with my Tech genius friend, Kevin Benz, and he agreed on the Tech point of view. Two geeks watching the same movie came to the same conclusion. Not much of a surprise there. If you are a filmmaker, you probably saw Inception as Wired saw it. If code is your life, you may side with us. Regardless, Inception is a fun movie. Applause from this fan.
