Blah-blahmeter, Don't Leave Home Without It

In today’s technology-rich world, words come at rapid fire from e-mails, text messages, pop-ups, blogs (like this), mobile phones, and so on. Always on, always connected is the norm for today. We attend meetings, hear speeches, attend classes, read newspapers, and watch television. We are taking in messages continuously which creates the perfect storm for brain overload. If a message requires too much effort to comprehend, it may be tuned out.

Too many words, wrong words, confusing words, deceptive words, or strange words will trigger the blah-blahmeter meaning the odds are high that the message will sound more like “blah-blah-blah” (2011). According to author Dan Roam in his enlightening and entertaining book Blah-blah-blah What to Do When Words Don’t Work, we need to be deliberate in the words we use as well as to draw the message. He states that “pictures are the part of thinking that provides us guidance and direction. It’s the ‘big picture’ that lets us see where we are going. Pictures aren’t training wheels, they are the front wheel” (Roam, 2011, p.22). If you have difficulty understanding or drawing the message, it may be rift with blah-blah-blah.

Note how the two statements below demonstrate the concept of blah-blah-blah from Roam’s book:

1. “Typically, a position will consist of the ownership of 30-35 S&P 100 stocks, most correlated to that index, the sale of out-of-the-money calls on the index and the purchase of out-of-the-money puts on the index…..”

Looking at statement number one above we think “what was that all about? Does the speaker even know what he was trying to say?” This actual statement was Bernard Madoff explaining his investment strategy. He was covering a bad idea with blah-blah-blah by distracting listeners.

2. “This is the captain. Brace for impact.”

Statement number two was made by Captain Chesley Sullenberger who safely landed passengers aboard US Airways flight 1549 on January 15, 2009. He was direct and to the point, no blah-blah-blah there.

If a message is unclear, the blah-blahmeter helps tune in and read between the lines. If we are the speaker, the blah-blahmeter is effective to reduce the blah-blah-blah in order to communicate effectively.

Effective communication includes much more than the vivid visual tools as charts, maps, and graphs that we currently employ. Mr. Roam’s book provides numerous ways of using vivid visuals or drawing the message to eliminate the blah-blah-blah. A variety of real-world corporations and individuals throughout history are included to illustrate his points. It is a fun, thought-provoking read.

With the blah-blahmeter, we can eliminate the blah-blah-blah and clearly see the forest (big picture) and the trees (words). Carry a blah-blahmeter with you, use the tools of this innovative book and watch how effective you are at changing the world through your clear communication.

Reference:

Roam, Dan. (2011). Blah blah blah, what to do when words don't work. New York, New York: Penguin Group.

    

The effects of Social Networking and Communication in Teen

I enjoy the freedom and the access to friends and family near and far, social media has given me. The world is constantly evolving and this outlet has allowed this enormous earth to become even smaller. The airline industry had its effects; the postal service had a good run as well. But the advances of social media devices have totally changed the game. I can recall the not so recent past when the cell phone was the latest and greatest communication device, well those days are gone. Then the pager or as the kids would say the beeper was a quick turnaround from hot to not and then totally obsolete. Now we have wireless communication in the form of Twitter and Facebook via the internet.
I have mixed opinions of the social juggernaut that strangling the traditions idea of friendships. I do not how ever have any problem saying that this is bad for kids. Not only do we have another outlet for evil intentions but we have opened up another Pandora box for children. Kids have too many ways to get them involved in the wrong situations but the new outlets have changed the game. I have read numerous articles of child predators having unlimited access to kids now and it has become harder to catch them due to the web. The social network allows for access the children in various states at multiple times. I do however support the idea of technology advancement and improvement of communication. But this is different the idea that I can have friends and the only interaction we have is in the virtual world is baffling to me. We have reached a new low as a society we can simply sit in front of a computer to get our laughs and discuss our troubles with the people we value in our lives. I have seen people have thousands of virtual friends, never see them yet put information in a status slot that that allows your personal information to be vied by an infinite number of people. This now creates another problem identity theft and yet more work for the already overwhelmed legal system. The point is the virtual world has opened the door to numerous malicious activities and evil people. I hate to be so cold and opinionated about something that so many enjoy on a daily basis but reality is most do not think about how the most innocent conversation on the web can come back to bite you in so many ways. The instant information at times is troubling, as soon as anything happen in the world there is no filtering or fact finding it simply hits the web, true or false we have been dumbed down to wait for the actual facts, we prefer opinion more.
Parents please pay attention to your kids, if you do not believe me watch a few episodes of Intervention on television, or watch To Catch A Predator with Chris Hanson on MSNBC or perhaps just pick up your local newspaper, the news is not good in these cases.
• Mikami, A. Y., Szwedo, D. E., Allen, J. P., Evans, M. A., & Hare, A.L. (2010) Adolescent Peer Relationships and Behavior Problems Predict Young Adults’ Communication on Social Networking Websites

The effects of Social Networking in Adolecences

I enjoy the freedom and the access to friends and family near and far, social media has given me. The world is constantly evolving and this outlet has allowed this enormous earth to become even smaller. The airline industry had its effects; the postal service had a good run as well. But the advances of social media devices have totally changed the game. I can recall the not so recent past when the cell phone was the latest and greatest communication device, well those days are gone. Then the pager or as the kids would say the beeper was a quick turnaround from hot to not and then totally obsolete. Now we have wireless communication in the form of Twitter and Facebook via the internet.
I have mixed opinions of the social juggernaut that strangling the traditions idea of friendships. I do not how ever have any problem saying that this is bad for kids. Not only do we have another outlet for evil intentions but we have opened up another Pandora box for children. Kids have too many ways to get them involved in the wrong situations but the new outlets have changed the game. I have read numerous articles of child predators having unlimited access to kids now and it has become harder to catch them due to the web. The social network allows for access the children in various states at multiple times. I do however support the idea of technology advancement and improvement of communication. But this is different the idea that I can have friends and the only interaction we have is in the virtual world is baffling to me. We have reached a new low as a society we can simply sit in front of a computer to get our laughs and discuss our troubles with the people we value in our lives. I have seen people have thousands of virtual friends, never see them yet put information in a status slot that that allows your personal information to be vied by an infinite number of people. This now creates another problem identity theft and yet more work for the already overwhelmed legal system. The point is the virtual world has opened the door to numerous malicious activities and evil people. I hate to be so cold and opinionated about something that so many enjoy on a daily basis but reality is most do not think about how the most innocent conversation on the web can come back to bite you in so many ways. The instant information at times is troubling, as soon as anything happen in the world there is no filtering or fact finding it simply hits the web, true or false we have been dumbed down to wait for the actual facts, we prefer opinion more.
Parents please pay attention to your kids, if you do not believe me watch a few episodes of Intervention on television, or watch To Catch A Predator with Chris Hanson on MSNBC or perhaps just pick up your local newspaper, the news is not good in these cases.
• Mikami, A. Y., Szwedo, D. E., Allen, J. P., Evans, M. A., & Hare, A.L. (2010) Adolescent Peer Relationships and Behavior Problems Predict Young Adults’ Communication on Social Networking Websites

Small Business Hacking

Should we fear hackers? Intention is at the heart of this discussion.
-Kevin Mitnick


In a volatile national economy, the recovery efforts will largely be placed in the hands of small business owners who must operate their businesses in a cyber secure fashion. We are hearing constantly how important the small business plays in our recovery. The small business person still faces cyber security threats as larger companies do, and possibly with even more significant consequences. Some of these businesses lack the basic principles to combat and preserve the integrity of their business’s electronic transactions and create a cyber secure electronic infrastructure.

There is an inherent need for hacking, so that anti-hacking efforts can also be refined. The efforts of anti-hacking cannot keep up with the pace of those who are hacking. There are several methods for attack, such as e-mail viruses sent to the business, or through an employee’s personal e-mail that is accessed on company equipment. Also, these attacks can come through a business’s websites, whether they are intranets or extranets. Some of these companies may be specifically targeted, or could be the victims of mass virus deployments. Attacks such as these can span several websites or multiple users. These attacks can cost several small businesses smaller amounts, but in total do significant damage to targeted sectors of the businesses and the economy as a whole.

Cyber security specialists need to create and provide training strategies to further educate small business owners about cyber security threats and prevention methods. Simple attempts at deploying anti-virus software may not be enough to protect a business, therefore small business owners must consider their vulnerability to hackers and hacking activities.

For those who like to create “chaos” in the kingdom, they need to understand that they are only allowing a further repression of national and economic recovery efforts. They are also damaging the dreams of several million Americans who want to do nothing more than conduct business in an ethical and successful manner.

-Brent

References:
Byron, A., & USA, T. (n.d). Hackers target small-company sites. USA Today.

Quote from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/k/kevin_mitnick.html

Small Business Hacking

Should we fear hackers? Intention is at the heart of this discussion.


-Kevin Mitnick

In a volatile national economy, the recovery efforts will largely be placed in the hands of small business owners who must operate their businesses in a cyber secure fashion. We are hearing constantly how important the small business plays in our recovery. The small business person still faces cyber security threats as larger companies do, and possibly with even more significant consequences. Some of these businesses lack the basic principles to combat and preserve the integrity of their business’s electronic transactions and create a cyber secure electronic infrastructure.

There is an inherent need for hacking, so that anti-hacking efforts can also be refined. The efforts of anti-hacking cannot keep up with the pace of those who are hacking. There are several methods for attack, such as e-mail viruses sent to the business, or through an employee’s personal e-mail that is accessed on company equipment. Also, these attacks can come through a business’s websites, whether they are intranets or extranets. Some of these companies may be specifically targeted, or could be the victims of mass virus deployments. Attacks such as these can span several websites or multiple users. These attacks can cost several small businesses smaller amounts, but in total do significant damage to targeted sectors of the businesses and the economy as a whole.

Cyber security specialists need to create and provide training strategies to further educate small business owners about cyber security threats and prevention methods. Simple attempts at deploying anti-virus software may not be enough to protect a business, therefore small business owners must consider their vulnerability to hackers and hacking activities.

For those who like to create “chaos” in the kingdom, they need to understand that they are only allowing a further repression of national and economic recovery efforts. They are also damaging the dreams of several million Americans who want to do nothing more than conduct business in an ethical and successful manner.

-Brent

References:

Byron, A., & USA, T. (n.d). Hackers target small-company sites. USA Today.



Quote from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/k/kevin_mitnick.html