business cards...really?
The other day we rush printed new business cards for some of us heading to SXSW. (Check out my new title!)
You can't go to a major conference like SXSW without cards, right? Wrong. I handed out about four cards. Maybe five, if you include the card that was required to get a free t-shirt at the Veer booth.
And for me, SXSW was all about meeting people. I met hundreds of new people. Some amazing people. Some really smart people. The thing is, they don't need my card. And I don't need theirs. If we made a mark on each other, we know how to find each other - and we've probably already connected on Twitter.
People like Steve Rubel are really proud of the fact that their Twitter ID is now on their card. (We've been doing this for years.) I ask: do we really need cards at all?
We are in desperate need for a universal contact exchange (that people are willing to adopt) that does not involve paper. Plenty of companies have invented this, but no one has created a product that's hit the hot button. Yet. This has to come soon. Maybe Google, Facebook or Twitter will make it happen. Or maybe we'll just keep printing rectangular squares with website addresses on them.
How many pieces of paper have you left behind, recently?
Labels: green, productivity, sxsw, trends, twitter, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
1 comments
Thursday, March 11, 2010
i don't need your card
I've been saying this forever, but Chris Brogan just perfectly summarized what should be the new business card etiquette, everywhere:
Unless you want to do business with me, don’t give me a business card. We both know how to reach each other, so unless one of us asks for one, let’s not hand them out. We tend to give out business cards because we’ve been taught this is what to do. It’s not. It’s the old way. In the old way, we just blast people with messages whenever WE need something. In the new way, you and I should only exchange cards if we’re looking to do future business. Otherwise? We roughly know how to reach each other, don’t we?
Save a card. Save the planet. Rewire the way humans do business.
Seems like common sense, right? Yet how many meetings did you sit through in the last week, where everyone in the meeting did the card exchange? Even though everyone in the meeting is already on the same email thread.
Business cards: only when you absolutely need them. (Pictured above: the single best business card, ever.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
1 comments
Monday, March 08, 2010
if you still write on paper, you'll dig this
An entire blog devoted to creative ways that Moleskine notebooks have been customized by their owners. Wonderful.
Labels: creativeinspiration, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
0 comments
Friday, March 05, 2010
why do day traders need better setups than internet workers?
Couldn't you use few more browser windows? Wouldn't this make your cube just a little more delicious? Just wondering.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 25, 2010
easy reader RSS ready for action
I'm always surprised at the number of people who don't use RSS readers. (In reality, it's probably the minority of internet users that do.) And if you're not using an RSS reader, you're probably spending way more time reading a lot less than the rest of us.
If you fall into this category, Laura Newman points to a really simple, fun reader called Feedly that looks almost like a magazine page. Looks easy, looks nice, and will save you hours and hours of reading and clicking the old fashioned way.
Labels: productivity, rss, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:03 AM
0 comments
Friday, January 22, 2010
why you're not getting any work done
Ever wonder where your ten hour work day disappears to? Check out the Hierarchy of Digital Distraction, and all will be clear.
Labels: productivity, social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 AM
0 comments
Friday, January 08, 2010
tweetdeck: should be required in the workplace
Sky News is requiring all of their journalists to install Tweetdeck - so that they might better gather and share news. Hmmm...seems like this Twitter thing is getting really popular.
If the old school, dying news industry can integrate Twitter with their employees, maybe this is just the story you can send to your boss, to convince him to require the same of all employees at your company.
Why shouldn't everyone in the company be aware of what's being said about their brands and industry (and be a part of the conversation?) They all have phones, right? From @MattCeni.
Labels: news, publishing, social media, twitter, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
0 comments
Thursday, December 31, 2009
a fun way to stop looking like an idiot
Send this to everyone in your office (we did), and get them schooled on the 10 words that are embarrassing to spell incorrectly. This is especially important in the age of email and tweetdom.
If you're making New Year's resolutions, you might want to start with making sure everyone on the team knows the difference between there, their and they're, as well as your, and you're.
Pretty pictures and excellent copywriting make it feel like fun, instead of learning. From @gregverdino.
Labels: blogging, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
how to make your ppt deck seem like a visit to disneyworld
There was a great story yesterday on NPR about a psychology researcher at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. Aaron Sackett's research shows that people think they're having more fun if it seems like time is going by faster.
At your next client presentation, let your audience know that you have a twenty minute presentation. Only deliver a ten minute presentation. They'll walk away feeling like that was the most fun they've ever had. Well, maybe not the most fun...but Aaron's study proved that if people actually believe time is moving faster, even the most mundane tasks (and presentations) can seem fun. Interesting.
Labels: workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
you're out of work. you need another system.
If you've been downsized and are looking for new, fresh places to get your brand out there, check out Brazen Careerist.
The Brazen Careerist is more than a job posting site - it's a community that encourages members to share ideas and opinions, and collaborate with other workers, entrepreneurs and reporters. Being in more places is a great idea!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:26 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
coworking space can look hot, too
Check out this coworking space in Dallas, Texas. Cohabitat is an excellent example of two things:
1. Coworking space can be as unique and as engaging as the population that it serves,
2. You can turn former residential space into original, cool workspace.
Nice joint.
Labels: adindustry, interior design, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
what you can learn from jason fried
We could all learn a lot from the work habits of Jason Fried. Inc Magazine has a super nice profile on the web2.0 entrepreneur who founded 37 Signals.
Jason doesn't believe in alarm clocks, work schedules, or office time. He does believe in mixing work with reading, office vacations and virtual collaboration over meetings.
We're not only users of 37 Signals products, we also subscribe to many of the same work philosophies at the world's hottest agency - and can say for sure that they work. Send the Inc article to your boss and see if you can get her to adopt at least one of these philosophies in your joint. Happy people = maximum productivity.
Photo: Chris Strong for Inc Magazine.
Labels: plaid, smallagency, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:54 AM
2 comments
every creative person could learn from this math teacher
By now you've probably seen this clip from Matthew Weathers, the greatest math teacher that ever lived.
The Denver Egotist points out that this is fantastic inspiration to look at your own work place, work style, work solutions and explore a more creative way. This is great advice. What kind of over-the-top creativity could you bring to your day?
Think it doesn't belong in a meeting? An account presentation? A contract? You could argue the same for a math class. Go wild.
Labels: adindustry, creativeinspiration, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:52 AM
1 comments
Monday, October 12, 2009
social media blocked at work? pass this to the boss.
A study released last week by Robert Half indicated that 54% of company CIO's say they block employees from reaching social media while they're at work.
Shel Holtz has an outstanding post on why this is ridiculous. Seriously awesome arguments. Send this to your boss, your IT dude, or put it together in a PowerPoint and send to the entire company.
Labels: social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
best career advice ever
World famous creative super hero Alex Bogusky has some pretty awesome career advice for those just getting their careers into gear, or about to enter the advertising/design/creative industry.
His post is geared toward students and young creatives, but I think you'll agree that it applies to just about everyone. Send this to any students or youngsters just starting out in the biz, and then read it yourself as a reminder to keep "success" in check. Beautious.
Labels: adindustry, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:05 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
jobs!!
We all have at least four friends who have recently been downsized, laid off or thrown out. There's a new site that aims to help people on both sides of the fence.
Koda is a social recruiting site. We met Katie from Koda while visiting LaunchPad in New Orleans on the Plaid Nation tour. And we just now got around to checking it all out. And WOW.
First: there are JOBS. Real jobs. For smart, cool, awesome people. Send your unemployed friends in this direction.
Second: There are some awesome candidates for employers. Sure, there are hundreds of candidates lined up at your door, but Koda takes the time to measure the details and help you search for just the right candidates.
Nice tool, please pass it to your friend who's looking!
Labels: adindustry, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
0 comments
Monday, September 21, 2009
social media policies: what others are doing
Mashable points to the details on what over 80 organizations are doing with their social media policies. This may be helpful if you're in the process of drafting your own, or just want to be nosy and see what everyone else is doing.
Labels: social media, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
Monday, September 14, 2009
resume richard is not so bright
Resume Richard is kind of a jerk. Not a Kanye West kind of jerk, but more of a dumbass kind of jerk. So he's the perfect central character for a new campaign for ResumeEdge, a service that helps you produce good resumes.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
reinventing the resume
If you've wondered how your resume might stand out against a sea of similar resumes, you've got to check out Michael Anderson's "resume". He reinvented the presentation of talent, skillset and experience representation.
If resume "rules" didn't exist, what could yours look like? Maybe now is the time to think different. From @benkunz and the Denver Egotist.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
1 comments
Monday, August 10, 2009
don't forget the elevator
Your lobby looks awesome. Your conference room kicks ass. Your workspace is inspiring. What about...your elevator? This is one part of the workplace that's often overlooked - mostly because companies with elevators usually share the building with other firms.
This elevator in Antwerp features the work of Darrin Umboh. If you also own your elevator space - does it reflect your brand?
(But really, you should do your lift like the Haunted Mansion elevator.)
Labels: interior design, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
1 comments
Thursday, August 06, 2009
clean up your messy desktop
PC users: here's what looks like a cool new tool that lets you organize your messy desktop into need little groups. Without losing your Hannah Montana desktop background. From Steve Rubel.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
0 comments
Monday, July 27, 2009
just how cool is your workspace?
AS COOL AS A FLEX? If it is, Lifehacker wants to see it. Just check out their Flickr page and add yours. But please, tidy up first before shooing. Or not.
Labels: interior design, workplace
posted by mtlb @ 12:05 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
in the olden days of the ad industry...
Adbroad points us to the Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies, so that we may never forget that prior to the button pushing futuristic world that we now live in, artists and ad people actually had to work. Like getting ink on their hands and stuff. Gross.
Labels: adindustry, creativeinspiration, photography, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
5 comments
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
only old people install software on their machines
Not to be outdone by Google and the many other online office tools, Adobe has officially launched Acrobat.com, a suite of online tools that let you write documents, create PDFs, store files and share it all with your friends and coworkers.
Remember in the olden days, when you had to spend $600 on a suite of office tools to type a letter? Yeah, that was silly. More on Ars Technica.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
ibm says it's ok to use the cloud
If you work in the type of corporate environment controlled by an old school IT department that won't allow new technology until everyone else has moved onto something else, today may be your day.
IBM just announced that it's ok to use cloud computing.
That's kind of like the Gap selling skinny jeans and cool t-shirts. Or McDonalds selling the most delicious cupcakes. Rejoice cubicle drones, a new world is upon us. This internet thing is really going to catch on. From When More PR?
Labels: technology, trends, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
0 comments
Monday, June 15, 2009
whiteboard anywhere
This is one of the best product inventions that we've seen in a long time. Paint that turns anything you want into a whiteboard. So you can go crazy with markers and draw flow charts and diagrams or write grocery lists on any wall you want. Entire walls. Ceilings. Anything that you can paint with the magic Tabrasa Idea Paint.
Visitors to NeoCon in Chicago this week (a big deal if you're a decorator or architect) will be treated to artist Phil Lubliner illustrating live at their booth in the show. Here's what's fun: whatever you tweet - he draws. Want him to draw "We (heart) Brand Flakes for Breakfast?" No problem. Just tweet it to @mdctabrasa and add the hashtag #mdctabrasa to the end of your tweet. My guess is that he won't draw phallic symbols or naked people, but you could give it a shot.
This is a product with cool opportunities. I want a brainstorm room that's painted from floor to ceiling in it. What about interactive public spaces? Let's paint the town white. Wait...that doesn't sound right...let's paint the town with ideas.
Labels: architecture, interior design, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:12 AM
3 comments
Thursday, June 04, 2009
what's inside the facebook space?
Facebook just moved into new digs, and if you're interested, Sir Robert Scoble has a preview photo tour. The full tour will be posted at the mysterious Building 43 in a few days.
Things that I wish were in our office:
+ A soda machine
+ A "culinary overlord"
+ Mark Zuckerberg's wallet
Normally, it's contrived and silly when people name their conference rooms "creatively," but I have to admit that "Mega Mustard Man" is pretty sweet.
Labels: architecture, facebook, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:02 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
not all newspapers are dead
Some journalists are actually using the internet.
Check out the insides of five innovative "newsrooms" that embrace technology or are otherwise interesting. Granted, many aren't for old school newspapers - but this is still a pretty sweet peek inside some places you're not normally allowed into.
From Eugene Driscoll, via Facebook.
Labels: blogging, publishing, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
keep your coworkers focused on the deadline
Memorial Day is only days away. Your coworkers are taking smoke breaks and eating lunch outside and looking for any reason they can to leave their cube. When they really should be focused on helping you meet that deadline for Friday.
Not to worry. With the new office ball and chain, you can keep your coworkers focused on their tasks for a set period of time. Created to keep students from leaving the library, this is an actual 20 pound ball connected to a cuff that unlocks based on the time period you select. Genius. From BuzzFeed.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productdesign, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 16, 2009
send large files super easy
Need to send a large file to a client or vendor, but don't have access to FTP? Confused by FTP, or not even sure what the heck it is? Not to worry.
Senduit allows you to upload a file, send a private link to your recipient, and give it a deadline. Like that. Simple. Easy. Awesome.
Labels: productivity, technology, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:06 AM
0 comments
Thursday, March 12, 2009
meet saul colt.
Saul is one smart dude. And he's got a pretty cool business tip that is especially appropriate while we're in the middle of this depressacession. A tip that's so simple, and yet so powerful that it could have your customers loving you forever.
We suggest you find a way to work this into your brand plan, your life plan and general way of doing business. Just follow Saul's advice, and you can be spectacular, amazing and wonderful. It's easy.
Labels: branding, creativeinspiration, marketing, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:48 AM
1 comments
Friday, March 06, 2009
stuff for your laid off friends
Send this to the 12 people that you know who have lost their jobs. 100 of the best blog posts about career advice.
From Steve Woodruff. (Photo from Drew's Marketing Minute, who happens to have quite a few posts on the list.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:56 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 02, 2009
how to actually get some work done
Social media tools getting in the way of your productivity? Too many tweets, blog posts, Facebook updates and FriendFeeds? Not to worry - Mac users. Freedom is here.
Freedom is a tool (Mac only, for now) that disables your network for a time period that you assign. So you can't check Twitter or Facebook. No matter how much your brain says you need to. The only way to get your social fix back is to restart your computer - which should be enough of a deterrent to make you wonder...do I really need to tweet? Now?
(It's like having a militant IT staff that you control!)
From Tim Ferriss, the President of productivity, via Twitter.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
We're hiring: the best job in the entire world
It's true.
The greatest agency in all of the land is looking for the greatest Project Manager/Producer/Master-controller-of-the-universe.
We're not big on titles, but some agencies might call this a Project Manager. Or Office Manager. Or Producer. We like to call it the glue that holds us together.
You'll be working with our creative team, working with our clients and working with our partners to be sure we deliver spectacular creative on time, on budget and with everyone smiling.
What it's all about:
Manage all aspects of projects for a super fantastic creative firm.
Interact with (mostly cool) clients, (totally cool) creatives and (awesome) partners from around the country.
Get stuff done.
Get stuff done on time.
Get stuff done on budget.
You totally rock because:
You're a great communicator, with fantastic people skills, and organization/planning skills that would make our heads explode. You might even have previous agency experience, or interactive experience. You likely have an understanding of the production process relative to a design and brand firm. And you'd be even more awesome if you're already on Facebook or Twitter.
Work at the best agency ever created by humans.
+ Open office, open books. No politics. For real.
+ Really fun, collaborative and energetic work environment.
+ Half day Fridays in the summertime, planning trips to fun places, and an office Segway.
+ 100% paid health benefits, 401(k) plan, and super aggressive profit sharing.
(Must be willing to work in our CT office, located in the grayest state in the union, where it's cold during the winter and the skies are usually not always sunny. But everything else rocks.)
Send your details to darryl AT thinkplaid DOT com, with "greatest job in the world" in the subject line.
Labels: plaid, self promotion, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:00 AM
1 comments
Monday, February 09, 2009
school that you don't mind going to
Omnisio has a great collection of videos with slide presentations from Startup school 08. This is a pretty cool conference of geeks talking about all of the things that you love: startups, business and the internets. Take 20 minutes a day this week and watch some of it. Your inner geek will love you more.
From StyleTime and Problogdesign, via Twitter.
Labels: adindustry, blogging, education, strategy, video, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 29, 2009
we don't need money
There's a nice post on ThreeMinds that reminds us of why and how people work in the new digital economy. For decades, studies have proven that employees are not motivated primarily by money. Lori's post is a nice reminder to this point, and has some nice links, quotes and thoughts on the topic. From an older Seth Godin book:
The passionate worker doesn't show up because she's afraid of getting in trouble, she shows up because it's a hobby that pays. The passionate worker is busy blogging on vacation... because posting that thought and seeing the feedback it generates is actually more fun than sitting on the beach for another hour.
Seth had another great related point in Tribes, about how so many people spend 50 weeks in jobs they hate for 2 weeks of time they can enjoy. Shouldn't that be the other way around? For many digital workers, that's definitely the case.
(Coworker Chris ponders this while working in a spinning teacup, above.) Thanks Lori for a great reminder to why we're all here, and to make sure our priorities are aligned for the rest of the year!
Labels: productivity, trends, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 26, 2009
some wise career advice. pass it on.
Brian Morrissey has posted some really, really good career advice from David Verklins (the guy in the suit, pictured above). Here's what Mr. Verklins recommends to people just getting their careers going:
1. Work harder than your boss.
2. Never follow a superstar.
3. Look for turnarounds
Details on the three magic points to success at Brian's blog.
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
1 comments
Friday, January 23, 2009
super niche advertising: brought to your office by hand
This is a super cool concept, with a seemingly cumbersome delivery. To promote Bring Your Kids to Work day, BBDO New York produced acetate sheets with kids scribble on them, and talked security into unlocking 500 offices so they could place them on people's computers in the dark of night.
Workers walked in the next morning thinking that the bosses' brat had vandalized their monitor, and instead see the headline on the piece: “Bring your kids to work day.”
Labels: adindustry, ads, nonprofit, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:54 AM
2 comments
Monday, January 19, 2009
paper: never crashes.
You're a creative person. You wear a bunch of hats. Sometimes during meetings, you need to take notes. Sometimes you need to draw pictures. Now there's a notebook that lets you do both. The Doane Paper notebooks feature grids and lines. So both sides of your brain can be splendidly happy.
Lovers: these will make excellent Valentine's Day gifts for the creative superstar in your life. From Mark Wolfe, via Twitter.
Labels: productdesign, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
where do you work?
Where we do what we do is an awesome collection of workspaces. Wonderfully designed workspaces. Horribly messy workspaces. And everything in between.
You can submit shots of your own place, or just browse around other people's joints. Found at Coudal Partners.
Labels: architecture, creativeinspiration, interior design, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:03 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 05, 2009
be ready to fail
Eric Karjaluoto from SmashLab, and creator of MakeFive, has some very realistic but depressing advice for you. If you're considering a startup this year, you should expect to fail.
Eric shares in Why your web startup will fail the things that you can expect to happen in a typical year of a startup. He details the stuff that the retired dude from the Small Business Administration might not be able to tell you over coffee at the community center. And he speaks from experience.
This is a great reality check for anyone planning a new startup this year. Do it because you love it. Because you believe in it. Not because you think you're going to get bought by Google and sit on the beach. Get ready to fail!
(Failed cake image from the yummiest fail blog in the land, Cake Wrecks.)
Labels: productivity, smallagency, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
pass this to your friend who's in danger of losing her job
Church of the Customer has some outstanding advice on how to deal with a layoff: Start your prep well before the layoff ever happens.
They suggest taking three steps that will help position you better in the marketplace, should your job disappear:
1. Blog
2. Tweet
3. Join niche communities.
The coolest thing? Even if you're NOT losing your job, these actions can help you in your current position. Now's the time for making resolutions, right?
Labels: blogging, facebook, social media, twitter, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:34 AM
0 comments
Monday, December 29, 2008
what you can learn from a rented dvd
Chris Brogan writes about how he was inspired after watching the special features portion of the Iron Man DVD. He sums up how success can be reached by achieving three layers: vision, creation and execution.
He's onto something. Every successful director needs to communicate his vision to hundreds (if not thousands) of people involved in the production process. And if that process is going to work, then the creation and execution have to be aligned with his/her vision. Not an easy feat.
There's a great lesson here for any leader of any organization, team, or brand, large or small. Check out Chris' post, and the enlightening discussion in the comments over at his blog.
Labels: branding, creativeinspiration, film, inspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
poker: the ultimate business learning tool
Tony, the world-famous CEO to Zappos, has a wonderful post illustrating how everything that he knows about business, he learned from playing poker. He's actually working on a book with the same theme - so consider this your sneak peek!
Labels: creativeinspiration, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
how to defend your marketing budget
Marketing Sherpa has a helpful piece on how to defend your marketing budget. All really great advice for marketing geeks who may be fighting a good fight in 2009.
Geez, that image makes this post even more depressing. Let's just pretend that he's removing glitter from his hair. Glitter that the employees threw in the air at the company parade. The parade that the company produced in his honor, to celebrate the massive success of his new social media campaign. Better, right?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
0 comments
Monday, December 22, 2008
how to make a good impression
BusinessWeek has some smart advice on making a good impression. Seven rules that should be common sense to each of us, but sometimes you need a good reminder on how things work. The end of the year is a good time for that.
This was the number one bookmarked site on Delicious yesterday, so apparently we could all use some brushing up. Pass it along.
(If all else fails, you can show up with a plate of burgers. Sara says that works like a charm.)
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:21 AM
4 comments
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
purple: it's the new black.
One of the smartest people in the social media/internet/whatever-you-call-this-stuff industry - Ryan Kuder, and his business partner Jonathan Tarud have started The Purple People Collective.
Is it a dance troupe? A rock band? A children's television show? Nope. The Purple People Collective is a resource to connect recently laid off Yahoo (and other tech workers) with awesome opportunities.
Are you looking for an uber smart tech geek to help you on a project or fill a position? There's a boat load of incredible talent out there waiting to do amazing things. Go purple.
Labels: social media, trends, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:01 AM
1 comments
Thursday, December 11, 2008
appy holidays from google
If you've thought about totally dumping that Microsoft Office application that takes six minutes to startup on your computer, now may be the time to check out the Google desktop apps. They've bundled everything together in a cute holiday way. They call it Appy Holidays.
The Google elves have created templates, holiday themes, and everything that you'll need to organize, communicate, print or publish your holidayness. Mmmmmm. Google. Almost as good as chocolate.
Labels: google, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, December 01, 2008
what do you wish would happen by the end of the day?
There are less than 30 work days left in 2008. What will you do with them? Today's a great day to to look at what's left in the year, and figure out how to use it best.
This inspiring video found on Thought Gadgets may help get you started.
Labels: creativeinspiration, inspiration, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:26 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
stop checking your email. right now.
You've read all of the productivity books, and subscribed to the work efficiency theories. So you know it's a bad idea to let your inbox control your every moment of every day. And yet it's got a hold of you, like heroin. Or a good chocolate chip cookie.
Thankfully, you can let go. Because Jared and his team of super geniuses have created a wonderful new tool. AwayFind. The video above explains exactly how it works better than I could ever write in a sentence here.
We met Jared at SXSW last year, and were immediately impressed. We just hope that he remembers us when Google buys his new product for 86 katrillion dollars.
Labels: productivity, web2.0, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
awesome signs for your cubicle
How Magazine points to some new signs/posters/artwork that will look really sweet in your cube. Or in your shop window. Or on your front door. So many signs, so many possibilities. We're sorry.
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, design, pointofpurchase, retail, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:34 AM
0 comments
Friday, November 14, 2008
we're going to disneyworld!
Not a lot of posts today, as Plaid heads to Orlando for our annual planning meetings. Each year we take a long weekend, go somewhere fun, and reinvent our company. We look at every process, procedure, success, failure, goals and desires and ask ourselves how we can do better.
We've held these meetings for years, and with great success. Each year we get better, grow faster and evolve our brand. We highly recommend the same for any small agency, business or even divisions from larger companies.
We bring the core team from our CT office, and it's a blast. Yes - there's hours of meetings to be had, but they're done by the pool, at the bar, or anywhere where the sun shines or cocktails are served.
We'll also get some free time to visit DisneyWorld. A few of the Plaid crew have never been there, which should be a gas. We're already talking about which Disney characters we need to get pics with. I'm on a quest to find the love of my life, Snow White.
Plaid (and BrandFlakes) will be back in action on Monday morning, with mouse ears on.
Labels: plaid, productivity, self promotion, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
1 comments
Monday, November 10, 2008
send some art students to india, to do real work
Our former intern Parker is out making the world a better place. Not content with staying in her comfy dorm and living on Facebook like most college students, Parker is planning a quest to India.
As a school project, they created an information design system to help communities in India understand the basics and importance of clean water. Now they actually want to go to India, implement the campaign and drill a well. Or something like that.
I'm all for college students getting their hands dirty and appreciating the slacker keyboarding jobs they'll enjoy after graduation. But it costs big money to send students to India. So Parker needs your help. Make a donation of $10 trillion dollars. Or whatever you might be able to afford. (BE SURE to choose the "other gift destination" in the giving form, and indicate that it be allocated to VCD India Project).
In the process, you'll be helping a community in India, and getting some art students dirty and tired. Always good.
Labels: design, inspiration, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:40 AM
3 comments
company wikis: document culture for employees past and present.
Ann Handley from Marketing Profs has a beautious blog post about some of the fantastic stuff that happens in life, that many of us take for granted. But that's not even the great part.
As in most of Ann's posts - the community is deep and the comments are insightful. There's a treasure in one particular comment from Mike Volpe at HubSpot. (Go here - and scroll down to his comment.)
Mike works in a company where they value their culture and work environment. They have fun goofing on and pranking their coworkers. (One prank even has it's own website, for germaphobe Jonah.) And they've setup a private COMPANY WIKI to document the company's culture.
This is GENIUS. Forget employee manuals. What new employees really need to know are the inside jokes, the internal lingo, and the history behind these important items. Like at our firm - why the corner bodega is called "triple B" instead of it's given name. Or where the Harry Dick building is (pictured above). Or the trillion other little things that make up a company's culture.
A wiki will also serve as a historical reference for those that have left the company. Wouldn't you love to have that for some of the places in your past?
Awesome goodness from a wonderful post. Thanks, Ann and Mike!
Labels: blogging, inspiration, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:15 AM
5 comments
