May 2009 Entries
Is there nothing safe from the meddling of us baby-boomers? As soon as we discover the “latest new thing” we move in and end up destroying it. Like the Heisenberg factor, our presence in the event fundamentally changes that event into something else. In that spirit, PC magazine recently published an article Are Baby Boomers killing Facebook and Twitter? http://tinyurl.com/qe2thc
We’ve seen this scenario play out on MySpace, and more recently on Facebook. Now it’s starting to happen on Twitter. Since we all arrive en masse, the dynamic of the network shifts dramatically and with it, comes everything from political activity to spam, in an effort to...
Its a holiday, so I feel like departing from my routine content. Before you read any further, answer this question: “Do you ‘get’ Jimmy Fallon?” If you said “No, I think his show sucks” then skip this post. If you have seen it and at the very least are intrigued by its format and content, read on.
WIRED magazine has an article this month entitled “Jimmy Fallon is Out of Beta” http://tinyurl.com/qrd2q6 In it the author discusses Fallon’s decision to design the show around technology, pop culture, and very hip music. It turned out to be a brilliant move.
Say what you will about Jimmy...
OK, most of us have been there. We work with Directors and VP’s every day, but once in a while, we’re called on to pitch the board, or senior executive committee, with our proposals, and additional preparation is needed. If you have ever pitched to corporate level execs, you know:
· They have short attention spans
· They are often separated from day-to-day operations, so sometimes don’t identify with the examples used in your typical presentation
· The demand details, but then interrupt constantly when you try to give them
Perhaps I’m overstating the difficulty, but it is true that you must adapt your presentation...
I have emerged from the dark space (blogging-wise) where I have been during this weekend's National Restaurant Show. I almost skipped the show this year, concerned that the fear I was hearing from the industry would carry over into the show, lowering attendance, and reducing business relations to less than status quo.
Happily, I was wrong on most counts. Yes, attendance was down, but the quality of the attendees and the resulting interactions was way up. Key executives from up and down the supply chain were listening and doing business with each other. I heard a lot of cautious optimism, with the emphasis on optimism, with “caution”...
There have been a lot of conversations lately that ended with this phrase, as old friends and new acquaintances plan to make connections at the restauratn show in Chicago this weekend. After attending 34 of these (yes…in a row) I still really enjoy the chance encounters on the show floor with my "foodservice peeps."
But unlike “the old days” there are a myriad of methods of connecting today that weren’t there even as recently as last year. For example, if you want to find me, you can:
· Call or text me at 404.394.1849
· Twitter me @InfiniTom (add #NRA09 to your tweet)
· Email me at trector@foodserviceu.com
· ...
As many of us prepare to attend the National Restaurant Show this weekend, let me leave you with a thought: Does it ever occur to you that going to the NRA is a little like being trapped in the Bill Murray film “Groundhog Day”? http://tinyurl.com/2y4dj
…walking the same aisles, in the same McCormick halls, standing in line waiting to get a another free Nathan’s hot dog; using a toothpick to stab yet another fried chicken tender from the Tyson booth; having meetings in the Coke booth, being drawn to the Anchor Foods booth to nosh on fried cheese and listen to...
The BNET (Business Network) feed this morning outlined a terrific service from Google: A Google profile. It is exactly what it sounds like: A personal profile that appears when someone does a Google search of your name. If you are like me --- constantly trolling for new clients and industry connections --- a standardized profile collecting all my information in one place is worth its weight. But since it’s from Google, it’s FREE. Nice.
My advice: Create one now to make certain that you can assist anyone searching for you via Google can easily find you. And find the information they want about you quickly. It’s...
In the past few months, articles about Twitter have not been in short supply. Many focus on how you can use it for business, and why your company should embrace Twitter.
I’m no exception. I have been preaching the Twitter gospel as well. But today’s post will try to put some of that hype in perspective.
“If your firm can’t execute a proper Twitter strategy, it may be best to avoid the platform altogether.”
There. It’s out. I said it.
Small Business IT Weekly recently compiled a decent starter list of rookie mistakes made by businesses on Twitter. Here’s a summary:
1. Don’t just think of it as a...
I wasn’t planning to post a blog today, but I saw this interesting article in the current Chain Leader that discusses how restaurants and chains are using Twitter to reach the young, hip tweeters out there. Find it here: http://tinyurl.com/dkb59d
I might be an idea generator for your business, restaurant or not.
Have a nice weekend.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish."
--Antoine de Saint Exupéry, French writer and aviator