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Stories

December 18, 2008

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What happens after we roll our applications into production? We are left with the stories?

It’s like raising a child, isn’t it? We spent so much time and pour our lives into the development of those much needed applications.  As we trade hours for dollars as we watch them grow…
A problem turns into an opportunity.
That opportunity turns into a solution.
That solution gets a sponsor and a team.
The team raises that young solution.
Suddenly it blossoms into a application…a production application!

It may have taken us weeks, months or even years, but we were given guardianship over that child for a period of time. As it grew, and that production day came closer and closer, we felt the awkward anxiety of letting go. Yes, we know the dangers out there waiting for our young application; potentially low chance of adoption, push back, rejection, even the fear of death.

That young application is safest in the test environment. At least we can control its exposure and limit its risks. But in our heart of hearts, we know that the application was build for production. We know that it was designed to take on the hardest of situations and out perform expectations – that this application will make an impact in the business; making things better, faster, cheaper!

That day comes and we let it go and watch it fly. For a period of time, we watch it closely and ensure its safety. We anticipate the missteps and try to head them off. We add to it and extend its capabilities as new challenges are seen. We pour more and more of our time and energy into that application.

Soon, it grows mature and reaches the stage of life where it takes on its own personality. It reaches critical mass and there is no slowing it down. That application forms new relationships and makes new friends.

Then in a cruel twist of fate, it forgets about you. After all, you have other children to raise. While we may look back in pride, our jobs demand we look forward with a combination of power, agility and leveraged experiences to make an impact for the future.

Now the question remains; “What are we to do about this?” The answer is easy but it does draw against your heart. The answer, my friend, is that we are left with the stories, those fascinating stores of how we did it. Yes, some people call that experience, but who wants to hear about experience when they can listen to a story.

What are your favorite stories?

I’ll never forget leading a large government Oracle-based BI project back in 1998 when you couldn’t get an Oracle person for 100 lbs of gold. I brought in 4 network engineers – yeah you guessed it, they were Novel network managers. I trained one to be a DBA and the other three to be developers. What a time that was; gathering requirements, navigating the murky waters of government contracting, designing complex integration between the US Air Force and the US Navy, data architecture and applications development…and at the same time training four people in the art of Oracle! The point that I remember most was bringing that last person on board. You see, the contract stated that the person had to have a 4 year degree. Well, that last person had only an A.S. degree – well to be exact, she had two A.S. degrees. I remember it well; walking into the General’s office to get an exception. It had come down to that…asking a General! I walked into his office and after I gave my 2 minute context introduction, I said “Sir, this person has two 2-year degrees and the last time I checked…2 plus 2 equaled 4″. Then I shut my mouth and waited for what seemed to be a very long time and he looked me up and down and finally gave me the go ahead to move forward.

What attachment do I have with that application that is still in production today? My attachment is through those stories which make up the sum of my experiences. It is from these stories that I am forming who I am and amassing my worth.

Happy Story Telling!

~Scott Felten

Written by Scott Felten · Filed Under Technology | 1 Comment 

Trust

December 17, 2008

According to a recent report from Forrester, people don’t trust company blogs.  No shocker there.   I would have been shocked to discover otherwise.

“What?” you say.  “Dave, I thought you were really into blogs.”  “Are you not in charge of your company blog?”

I am the guy who is the champion here at LUCRUM for this blog, and I am not the slightest bit surprised that people don’t trust “company blogs.”  People don’t generally trust companies, they trust people.  To be trusted takes time.  People need to understand each other.  People need clear expectations of one another.  People need honest interaction and discussion with other people to create trust.   Need proof?  The same study shows that the most trusted channel of communication is email from PEOPLE YOU KNOW.  (Not SPAM!)  People trust other people.

For a company blog to be successful it needs to be about the people.  It needs to be a forum for honest discussion, creative ideas, and interesting conversations.  The same Forrester report goes on to outline how to create greater trust and improve a “company blog.”

One of the suggestions offered is to write about the problem’s of your customers.  Explore ways that you might be able to solve those problems, and start a ongoing dialog.  This is a great way to drive valuable innovation and demonstrate a willingness to listen to the wants and needs of your clients.

However, my favorite piece of advice from the article pertains to B2B companies.  Forrester advises firms to “let their employees get in on the act.”  Having a sanitized, polished, pre-approved blog, completely devoid of the real input of real people is a sure fire way to destroy trust.  Authenticity can not be manufactured.   This point pertains back to my initial statement that of course people don’t trust company blogs, they trust people – real people.

Another important item to point out is that blogs, social networks, email, phone calls, and all other communication tools don’t live in a vacuum.  They work together.   A blog can be a very important tool in helping people to understand your firm, your culture, and the value you can deliver.  However, the world is becoming increasingly interconnected and transparent.  You can’t be one thing on your blog, another on LinkedIn, something entirely different in your print collateral, something even more different on the phone, and then something else in person.   Chances are that if people don’t trust your blog, it has little or nothing to do with the blog itself.  It has to do with your behavior not reflecting the story you tell on your blog.

People trust people.

People don’t trust company blogs. What you should do about it.

Written by davidebowman · Filed Under Business & Leadership | Leave a Comment 

Snakes in the Office

December 11, 2008

Not really; but there was a toy snake that everyone wanted to get their hands on at the LUCRUM office. You might be reading this and thinking, “what in the world?” Well its really not that crazy. Last Friday LUCRUM had their annual Christmas party hosted in the Bostick Center. We have food, drinks, friends, and a great gift exchange. This years White Elephant gift exchange was intense. Of course some people ended up with the annual regifts like Melissa Park’s Monkeys, Joe Thomas’ tomato and egg plant plates, and Jill Cole’s 1980s style picture frames. Some received the old balls gifts like Eric Duell’s half drank bottle of Hot Damn and Jesse Mathews’ power pack of Energy magazines. Then there was the power play gift; the radio controlled snake! As soon as the first person could steal, the snake was it. The next person; yep, the snake was it again! I think about 6 different people had Sammy the snake (hope you all enjoyed him). But at the end of the day, Dennis Foster became the proud owner of Sammy. Dennis, take good care of him. The rest of you, enjoy the pictures!

Merry Christmas!

Written by Steve McWhorter · Filed Under LUCRUM News | Leave a Comment 

A Secret from an Old Man

December 3, 2008

I graduated college in 1985 equipped with a B.S. in Mathematics and an excellent work ethic. My first position was working for Ross Perot at EDS. I was 21 years old, dressed in a suit and slung COBOL code and stacks of punch cards. I was nervous and insecure. Here is what went through my mind:

In the morning I thought to myself;  “Everyone else was smarter than me.” And “Everyone else is doing a  better job than me.”

Around lunch time I dwelled upon thoughts like; “They like everyone else better then me.”  And “I have to keep this job.”

On the drive home I would usually think; “I wonder what’s happening” And “I wonder who is out to get who and then of course when and how does that affect me.”

Of course I’d stay awake and think dreadful thoughts; “What would I do if I was let go” And “Where could I get a job fast, very fast.” The last thought of the evening was usually something like this…”Man, I gotta get a handle on this because these thoughts are killing me.”

When we are young there is a lot to learn. If only I knew then that I’d be in my career for 24.5 years and never miss a single paycheck or be without a job for even a day. Even more solid than that, I’ve never been without a career for a moment. Not that I knew then or even now what I’d like to do when I grow up, but my career found me.  My skills and talents and experiences guided me naturally to what I was good at and what I liked. Sometimes I strayed a bit off course, but was always lead back to my calling.

Well, back to the late 1980′s and my insecure thoughts. It was then that I met a man in his 70s. He sold encyclopedias door to door. He was smooth and conversation flowed from him effortlessly. He was gentle and kind and my wife and I were enamored by his seemingly command of life. I bought (and still have) a set of those encyclopedias and we spent an evening with him and his wife.  Of course we went to pick the books up and we stayed for 6 hours. He shared with me something that I will never forget and it changed my life. As a matter of fact, I share this nugget of wisdom from time to time when I see someone struggling with the same insecurity. You see, when he was 18 years old he broke 100k in commissions selling door to door and he never looked back. He told me about how he dresses in the morning to engage with people, how he gets their interest and holds their attention. How he genuinely cares for his ‘clients’ and how he wants to get them happily involved with his encyclopedias (not just sell them). He went on and on and we were riveted.

He asked about our plans and future, what we desired and worked for. We shared with him our dreams and our fears. I shared with him about my insecure thoughts and how most of the time I could handle them but at times I felt paralyzed by them. But it was what he said next that changed my life. It wasn’t anything magical or spiritual. It was simple. He said, “Well Scotty, you are only as secure as your ability to handle your insecurity. So, decide this minute that you are secure and there you go.”

You know, I didn’t like to feel insecure. It really played out in so many ways that was destructive; from caving in during negotiations, to acting subserviently, to holding back when you really could have done it, not taking risks, gossip and so forth. The simple truth is that we really are only as secure as our ability to handle our insecurity. Decide that you are secure. Be confident. Take risks, work hard and never give up. For me, this was a transforming time. This position change was noticeable. I went from leaning backwards to leaning forwards. When those feelings of insecurity raise their heads, just stare them down with guts and say to them that you have mastered the ability to be secure.
~ Scott Felten

Written by Scott Felten · Filed Under Business & Leadership | 6 Comments 

Is Privacy an Anamoly? Collective Intelligence

December 1, 2008

The New York Times recently ran an excellent article by John Markoff about the changing concept of individual privacy in the digital age.  The article discusses some of the implications associated with being increasingly connected.  GPS enabled devices, online activity, social networks, credit card purchases, and other technologies can paint a vivid profile of an individual, which could be used by numerous sources for activites both good and bad.

How could such data be used for good?  Suppose a company possessed information about where you are, what you are doing, and why; they could offer you real time incentives to purchase specific products.   It would be analogous to virtual haggling to get consumers to behave a certain way.  Need a pair of dress shoes?  Are you at the mall?  You wear a size 11 right?  Well suppose a retailer within the mall knew you were there looking for a size 11 dress shoe, which they just so happen to have an abundance of in stock.  They could text you a message stating that for the next 3 hours you could redeem the text on a new set of black loafers – size 11.  Not only that, they also know that your spouse has a birthday coming up, and will offer you buy one get one 1/2 off to incent you to purchase more footwear.  They know the correct size, and have the ability to make suggestions based on past purchases and the purchases of similar consumers.

Now suppose that this offer is passed up repeatedly by consumers within a period of time.  Just like that, the deal could be modified until the desired consumer behavior occurs. Hyperefficient capitalism at its best.

How could such data be used for not so good?  Well, that retailer or perhaps the credit card company,  may note that you are buying special shoes designed for people with circulatory issues as well as special clothing to help improve circulation in extremities.  They may also note that you are purchasing sugar free candy at the counter, and that you bought a sugar-free latte.  Later, their video might capture footage of you sitting on a bench eating a cookie and drinking juice you bought in the store.  Now suppose an insurance company is concerned about the cost of covering people with diabetes, and wanted to obtain data regarding consumers of specific items that those with diabetes might purchase.   They could follow your activities thorough data purchased from the retailer and make judgements about your risk profile.  This data could then be used to deny coverage to consumers. Hyperefficient capitalism at its worst.

Both of these scenarios are hypothetical in nature and admittedly oversimplified.  One involves the use of data to help a consumer get something they desire.  The other involves the use of similar data to deny a consumer from something they desire. Both involve the elimination of privacy as more and more data is collected about us – sometimes knowingly and sometimes not.

Still, it seems that people overall are not particularly concerned with the collection of personal data.  The attitude toward the loss of privacy in exchange for convenience is overwhelmingly laissez faire.  As Markoff ponders, in an age of Google, iphones, GPS, and Facebook, has privacy “become an anomaly?”

The question becomes what is your company doing with its data?  For most, the reality of today is likely nothing, or at best very little.  For all of the hype surrounding the potential use of data, much of this valuable information sits fallow within the servers, computers, and files of firms.  The big ideas are out there, and now it is a question of who will capitalize on them – good, bad, or otherwise.

Is your company formally gathering, processing and utilizing data to influence consumer behavior?  Could you?  Are you adequately protecting the privacy of your Clients?  Should you be?  Are individuals within your firm potentially accessing sensitive information for their own interests?  Is your competition doing a better job of mining the collective intelligence provided by data than you are?

The reality of today is that you have an amazing opportunity to impact the lives of those whom you serve through data.  How you do so is largely up to you.  For the record, I am a huge fan of size 10 Adidas Gazelles, and I would love a red pair.  The next time I am near your store, text me and let me know if you have a great deal for me.

You’re Leaving a Digital Trail. What About Privacy? – NYTimes.com

Written by davidebowman · Filed Under Business & Leadership | Leave a Comment