Issue #40 Fighting Boredumb

January 27, 2010

MSM: Welcome back. I beleive that the following article is a must read for anyone in business. It doesn't matter what you do for a living. YOU are the most important and valuable asset for your business or your employer's business. When it comes to taking inventory have you checked your head lately?

Maybe You're the Reason Your Job Is Boring.
By Susan Cramm

If you are finding your job a little boring, you aren't alone. There are many who feel trapped in their current jobs since the economy has removed a few of the seats in the corporate game of musical chairs. But I challenge you to see that it's actually you, not the job, that's boring. First, see if you recognize any of these hard truths:
You're on autopilot.
When bored, our brains shift into autopilot. This isn't a good thing for you or your company. Unfortunately, shifting into autopilot is what our brains do best. Our past experiences create the neural pathways upon which our survival depends. The brain interprets current reality and responds to similar situations using behaviors that have served us well in the past. These shortcuts help us save time, but can also sap our interest.
Your energy level is less than impressive.
When we are bored, our energy level dissipates and we lose the focus and purpose so necessary to excel at the job at hand. Our brains no longer work for us and actually start working against us.
You've become a conformist.
It's not unusual for leaders to start sleeping on the job once they hit year three or four. At this point, they have molded the organization in their own image. They know their people, processes, and technology aren't perfect, but have adjusted to their imperfections and lose sight of the opportunities for improvement. Every day brings the same set of problems and the same responses. From a performance perspective, the sharp "blacks" and "whites" so obvious on Day 1 become indistinguishable shades of gray. "I can't believe what's going on here!" slowly but surely becomes "I can't believe how tired I am!"
So what's the solution?
Wake yourself up by renewing your leadership agenda. Re-engage by mentally firing yourself and spending the next few weeks acting as if you just joined the company. This entails assessing the current situation anew with the help of key stakeholders. Make it a disciplined process. This isn't as easy as it sounds. Although you are bored, you are also extremely busy. It's time to make sure that the "First 90 Days Attitude" activities take priority in your calendar. Activities such as clarifying strengths and opportunities, confirming the mandate for change, and determining how to better allocate existing resources.

This approach is uncomfortable and definitely not boring. But it's far better to fire yourself mentally today rather than wait for your organization to do so — for real.


Susan Cramm is the founder and president of Valuedance. A former CFO and CIO, she is an expert on IT leadership. She is the author of 8 Things We Hate About IT



MSM: Boredom may be sapping the strength from you, your company, employees, even customers and costing you money
The fight is on. Take Back Your Brain, Protect It From Boredom.

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Don't let the Boredummies get you!
Stay in a Good Mood,
Brad

Issue #39 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Thank you for spending time with The Moodswing Minute during (most) of 2009. Next year we promise to tackle the hard issues of "Is Customer Satisfaction overated?" "How to Over Promise and Under Deliver with a Straight Face." "How to Run Your Business as if you were an Elected Politician." And so much more..
To my Moodswing Media clients, thank you for your support in our first full year in business. Your faith and trust is much appreciated and I look forward to working with all of you in the new year. To the readers of MSM, it is because of you that I do this. I hope that you have enjoyed it and have picked up a few new tid bits that have helped you in your business life over the last year. I sincerely appreciate your time and feedback.
For this week, let's take time for a smile.

Jeff Dunham (the most viewed person on YOU TUBE for a good reason; he is one of the very funniest people out there) He gets the last word for 2009. Enjoy.


Stay in a Good Mood,
Brad

Issue #37 Master of Your Domain

October 28, 2009

Recently I had the experience with a “cyber squatter.”
Cyber Squatters are people who list hundreds of unused domain names and wait for the call. And then they will offer to sell your name to you.
A Moodswing Media client has owned the trademark on his business name since 2006. The squatter listed the name and its various on line versions in 2007. (.com, .ca, etc)
There were 4 domain names that my client needed to continue to grow his business. The offer from the squatter was $4000.00 US dollars.
There must be laws in place to protect you and your property, your NAME. That’s what I thought. So after a little research:
"Cases of Cybersquatting often cause the most concern to trademark holders and have been the subject of the majority of litigated disputes. Generally, however, if someone who lacks a legitimate claim registers a domain name with the intent to sell the name, prevent the trademark holder from gaining access to the name, or divert traffic, this activity will be considered Cybersquatting. The case law in the area of cybersquatting is settled. No cybersquatter has won a court case against an intellectual property holder anywhere in the world. When confronted with such bad faith behavior courts have stretched existing law in order to prevent the cybersquatter from maintaining control over the domain name".
Sounds simple enough, but the problem is that you have to sue the cyber squatter to get your own name back in your possession. That can be an expensive, drawn out process and the squatters know it. They bank on the fact that you will weigh the legal cost, the many months it will take for lawyers to go back and forth, the possibility to end up in court, not to mention the lost opportunity cost and you will settle and pay them.
In our case we made a decision to buy his names and after negotiations we were able to get the names for $2,750.00 US.
Yes, it sucks and it’s wrong, but yet there it is.
Cyber Squatters are pros. Most have been doing it for many years. They have heard it all, the yelling, the threats and will still make a very nice living while waiting for your call.
Until the laws are modified and caught up to the speed of the internet, these parasites of the web will continue to thrive.
Large companies such as McDonalds, Nike or some other version of multi-national companies that may have an army of lawyers to go after the basement dwellers can quickly scare them off. But if you are not one of these large companies, you need to take preemptive steps. Most victims of cyber squatting are small to medium size businesses or entrepreneurs. Even companies with “tech guys” get burned.
Here are a few suggestions that may help you;
- Go to one of the many domain registries and buy as many variations of your business name as possible with as many available extensions as possible. It only costs around 10.00 a year.
- If you are even thinking about launching a new business or name change, first go online and see if the name is available.
- If it is, buy it and then trademark the business name.
- Buy YOUR name as a domain name. Think about the future and primary points of contact. Currently 75 to 85 percent of potential customers have visited your website prior to first contact. How long do you think it will be before everyone branches beyond Face Book?
- If you find that there is someone sitting on your name, there are great sites that will help you with a secure purchase and execute the transaction. Escrow.com, Domainsatcost.ca. In Canada you need to be registered with CIRA (Canadian Internet Registry Authority).

Take a few minutes and avoid the “dough-main” name scam.

Since you were probably thinking that this edition of the MSM would focus on the famous Seinfeld episode… here’s your payoff.
If you are too young to remember with this particular episode, ask your mom and watch her face.

Stay in a good mood
Brad