Even if you’ve never tried it yourself, you’ve doubtless seen people doing it. They’re mostly (though not exclusively) men and are recognizable by a bulging cheek or lower lip. The outline of a circular tin is often visible in one of their pockets. The more circumspect ones carry cups or soda bottles unobtrusively and surreptitiously spit into them, while others openly expectorate on the ground as they stand or walk. Specs of blackish brown are often visible between the teeth. It’s not a habit that stays hidden long.
Nearly 12 years ago, on September 20, 2008, I quit smokeless chewing…
Like millions of primary schools across the country, my daughter’s school shutdown in March, and she’s been participating in a new, distance learning curriculum since. It’s been quite an adjustment for her, as well as for her teachers, classmates, and school administration. While it’s difficult to foresee exactly how education will be transformed and delivered next fall and beyond, it’s clear technology, mobile devices, and virtual learning will continue to play an important role.
My daughter’s use of virtual classroom and conferencing software reminded me of an article I wrote the day she started kindergarten — in September 2012 —…
I had the good fortune to attend Social Connections 13 (#soccnx), the international IBM Connections and social business user group conference focused on collaboration, digital transformation, and the future of work. The event took place April 26–27, 2018 at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA.
During Social Connections 13, 37 speakers took to the stage to share insights and use cases about collaboration, discuss trends, give a glimpse of where we’re headed, and engage the audience. …
Reflections on three Disney spring break vacations in three years
“We did it,” I said. “We visited all the Disney parks in Florida and California.”
My daughter nodded, as we walked toward the bus that would take us back to the hotel and our final night of spring break. This was our third consecutive Disney spring break in as many years, this year to visit the California parks.
“So what’s your favorite Disney ride, from all the parks?”
She pondered before answering. “I don’t know. Maybe — Expedition Everest.” The thrilling roller coaster with a guest appearance from a yeti…
Tips for working from home.
So you’ve finally convinced your boss to let you work from home. It’s taken a few months, and you’ve had to lobby for the change with key stakeholders and put together a presentation justifying the proposal, but you did it …and the company has signed off on the decision. Now the hard part is over and you can just wake up on Monday and begin working remotely, right?
Well, not exactly.
Working remotely, despite popular misconceptions, takes hard work, and it all starts with preparation and setting yourself up to be successful. We sometimes forget…
Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life.
By Frank Gullo
Picture a middle-aged man. Shoulders stooped and forehead creased.
He’s dissatisfied with his job but feels trapped and unable to make a change.
He loves his wife and four children, but can’t help but feel that they’re holding him back, limiting him from doing what he really wants and fulfilling his dreams.
Most of all, he hates the town where he lives. It’s small and confining and while others passing through might view it as quaint, he knows that’s just a euphemism for boring.
This is borne out by all the…
The ghosts of Christmas networking remind you to give back.
By Frank Gullo
T’is the season for holiday parties and festive networking events. Bosses and coworkers stroll through the office in better moods and with higher energy. Although it’s tempting to revel in holiday adrenaline, take a moment to reflect on the year behind before gearing up for the next. Consider the lesson at the heart of the film, A Christmas Carol, in which Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by several spirits on Christmas Eve — Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Take a moment to…
When life gives you lake effect snow, make lemonade.
By Frank Gullo
I dislike disruptions as much as the next person. I don’t like when plans change due to factors beyond my control or I’m inconvenienced unduly because of weather. Generally, in these instances, I try to remind myself that things sometimes happen unexpectedly to everyone and it does little good to get angry or upset at events you can’t change.
This winter, though, it’s been a challenge to maintain perspective and patience in the wake of so many weather-related disruptions. This is because I live just outside Buffalo, NY…
Life lessons from a galaxy far, far away
By Frank Gullo
The original Star Wars feature film premiered 40 years ago, in May 1977. At the time, I was six years old and just reaching the age when I could sit still and appreciate a two hour movie. …
Candidate experience isn’t just about your career site
By Frank Gullo
“The last best experience that anyone has anywhere becomes the minimum expectation for the experiences they want everywhere.” You’ll often hear this at marketing and employee experience conferences, and though it’s unclear who said it first, what is certain is that experience matters, and when it comes to technology, it’s always changing.
Discussion about candidate experience often turns to a company’s career site, and rightly so, as the career site is a key destination for candidates considering employment. Are the job descriptions compelling or flat? Is the application process…
Business professional focused on technology, IT, collaboration, security, and the modern workplace. #Buffalo