The Exception That Proves The Rule

Don't. Never. Ever.

Appear too busy to an employee, or a team-member or a colleague.

Take the time out if they want to chat. Spend whatever little time it means and communicate. Without a point. If you actually are too busy, take a rain-check. And get back to them later. But do it.

Not because it's good corporate behaviour (though that it is).

But because it's good.

Because.

Being Specific is Good

... generally speaking.

What I said yesterday applies in equal measure to all professional communication. E-mail, snail mail, blogs, meetings - everything.

Distill it down to one point - and if you can't, redesign.

Presentations...

Are they a means of presenting a point?

Or are they a platform for being really cool and jazzy? With animations and fade-outs and what-have-you's.

Question: Can you sum it all up in one point?

If not, get back to the drawing board.

... and on the other hand...

The iPod is awesomely cool.

What amazing genius. Just the one wheel and just the one button to do everything? Brilliant.

And in comparison, the Zune could not suck more. Not if it tried.

So here's the thing - if your competitor comes up with something that cannot be beaten, because it is probably the coolest ever, then don't waste time. Accept that they won that battle, and congratulate them. And then...

Go build something else that is equally cool.

It's All Relative

I use Microsoft Vista on my notebook - an HP Pavilion.

I like the notebook, it's been a little more than a year and a half that I have been using it, and so fat, it has provided stellar service.

Here's the thing - I like Vista too. I'm aware that this makes me part (whole?) of a very minuscule minority, but I don't mind saying it. It's never crashed (so far), is pretty easy and intuitive to use, and has a host of features that I think make it better than XP.

Admittedly, I'm not a very technical user, so I may be missing some of the finer points - but isn't that the point? For a relatively basic user, this is just fine!

My point is - I don't think Vista is all THAT bad, and I don't think the Macs are all THAT good. The rest is all hype if you're a cynic, and all marketing if you're not.

Disclaimer: Not a Microsoft Stooge. Not by a long way.

In line with yesterday's post...

Have a look at this report.

Selling vanilla is good. Really good.

Adding fancy toppings is nice as well. It'll probably get you higher revenues in the long run. And making fancy toppings is very cool.

But if the kid has a cut in his pocket-money, here's the thing -  he'll still eat ice-cream.

It'll be plain vanilla without the toppings though.

And can your business adjust for this?

Divorce!

And I'm not happy.

I own, and really like, Sony Ericsson phones. I don't know if it is because I've gotten used to it, but I honestly think the interface is very easy to use.

But I'll say this much for the entire range. If it's cheap that you're looking for (and reliability in terms of being long lasting), you'll never, ever, think Sony.

And in times like these, that's not a good thing.

Is that a branding thing? Did SE choose not to position themselves as a low-end alternative? Or did just happen?