Career Opportunities LIVE from December 29, 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comThis episode of Career Opportunities LIVE was recorded December 29, 2006 using the services of Talkshoe.com.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Complete Career Opportunities Index for 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comA complete index of all Career Opportunities columns and podcasts for 2006 is now available: Career Opportunities Index 2006You can also use the search box in this page to search all 11 years of Career Opportunities.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Career Opportunities Vision for Your Career - December 29, 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comAs we approach the end of the year, we sometimes look to resolutions to guide our way. Instead, this year, I found myself thinking of the Career Opportunities Vision. What goals am I trying to accomplish with this column? What do I want to impart to you? How can I make a difference in your career and, possibly, in your life? This column is the sum of my thinking and will be my guiding light for Career Opportunities in 2007.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Career Opportunities LIVE - This Friday, December 29, 2006
Join me for the next edition of Career Opportunities LIVE! on:
Friday, December 29, 2006 at 6 PM Pacific Standard Time (9 PM EST)
Take your career in to the New Year!.Join the conversation at
RSVPIf you plan on joining us, please RSVP to career@welchwrite.com. This isn't required, but it will give me an idea of the number of folks I can expect. You can participate several way: - Listen Live directly from the web site
This requires nothing but your web browser. Visit the show link (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/7338) and click the Listen Only link. You'll hear the live stream of the show, as it happens.
- Chat and Listen LIVE using the Free TalkShoe client
Visit http://talkshoe.com/ and create your FREE TalkShoe account and register your own unique PIN number (usually your telephone number)
Download the FREE TalkShow client software (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/Downloads.jsp) and install it on your Windows or Mac OS X computer.
Set this up today, and perhaps try it out with another TalkShoe show, so you are ready for the Career Opportunities show when it happens.
Next, visit the episode link (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/7338) and click the Listen, Text or Talk LIVE! button. This will automatically start the TalkShoe software, connect you to the show's chat room and start the LIVE audio Stream. Everyone can see what you type.
- Chat, Listen Live and participate using any telephone
Take your experience to the next level by calling the TalkShoe switchboard ((724) 444-7444) and entering the Talkcast ID # and your PIN. Now you can talk to the host and other listeners.
You can also use popular Voice over IP software like Skype and Gizmo to make your call for FREE. Simply use the phone number, Talkcast ID and PIN listed above.
Drop me a line at career@welchwrite.com if you have any questions or issues with setting up your TalkShoe account.
Your employer needs you as much as you need them - December 22, 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comIt is almost 2007 and yet we still have some archaic views of the employer/employee relationship -- on both sides. We have seen the concepts of corporate loyalty overturned and the paternalistic concepts of group health care and pensions are quickly disappearing. With all these changes, though, there is one change even more important to the average worker. It is an even more difficult change because it has to be developed from the inside, from the individual, rather than imposed by the corporate structure. You must finally take to heart the concept that your company -- your employer needs you, your skills and your intelligence, as much as you need the company. As more companies seek to treat you as an independent contractor, you must embrace that role and make it your own. Otherwise, you are fooling yourself into living in a world where no one is ever outsourced and you spend your entire career working for one company -- a fantasy today if it ever really existed. 
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
A Christmas Carol - A LIVE reading featuring YOU! - This Friday
Update (12/18/06 11:36 PM): The "Christmas Carol Project" has been highlighted on Talkshoe's Blog -- see Don't be a Scrooge - Chime In on Friday December 22nd at 21:00 EST This Friday, December 22, 2006 at 6 pm, I will be hosting a LIVE reading of Dicken's A Christmas Carol LIVE on Talkshoe.com. This is a service that allows LIVE call-in talk shows with audience participation. You can join us in reading the story by visiting http://talkshoe.com and setting up a FREE account. I can also assist you setting up software so you can CALL IN for free, if you don't have free long distance on your cell phone. Being a reader only requires a telephone or a microphone and headet for your computer. I will be joined by my wife, Rosanne, some friends and anyone who calls in and wishes to read a section of the story. We will be using a condensed version of A Christmas Carol, created by Dickens for his own public readings. If you think you might like to join us, as a listener or a reader, please RSVP to douglas@welchwrite.com, so I can get a feel for how many core readers we will have.
Holiday Gift Guide Final - Amazon Gift Certificate
by Douglas E. Welch, myword@welchwrite.comDespite the fact that we live in the Internet Age, shipping still dictates the arrival of mail and gifts. So, we end out gift guide here, a few days before Christmas, since you can no longer expect to receive delivery before the holidays. You can, of course, still purchase an Amazon Gift Certificate which can , since it is delivered via email, still arrive before the big day. I hope you have enjoyed our gift guide this year. I am already collecting ideas for 2007. Please share your comments on the gift guide, or any other portion of the web site, using the comments link below. I wish you the Best and Happiest Holiday Season! -- Douglas More gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate !
See also:#28 Fierce Conversations
#27 The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
#26 The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin
#25 The Victorian Internet
#24 Small is the New Big by Seth Godin
#23 The Secrets of Mental Math
#22 BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go security
#21 Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Show your support! - Digg our podcasts!
There is a new way to show your support of the WelchWrite podcasts, and individual episodes -- give us a "Digg" over at Digg.com Digg is a site where people can submit tech stories which people can then vote on. The most popular stories make it to the front page of the site. Digg recently added a podcast section to allow listeners to do the same with their favorite podcasts. If you enjoy any of the WelchWrite Podcasts, please give us a Digg using the following links:
Digg My Word with Douglas E. Welch
Digg A Gardener's Notebook
Digg Career Opportunities: Helping to Build the Career You Deserve
Many thanks for your support, as always. Keeping listening and be well!
Holiday Gift Guide #28 - Fierce Conversations
by Douglas E. Welch, myword@welchwrite.comThere are times in your life and your career when you have to have certain conversations. Fierce Conversations gives you the guidance and tools you need to make these conversations, in fact, any conversation, as useful and powerful as possible. If you have trouble talking to family, friends and co-workers, this book can help you to understand not only how to hold fierce conversations, but also, why you need to be a fierce communicator in everything you do. (from the Career Opportunities column, Summer Reading List, July 11, 2003)Link: #28 Fierce ConversationsMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#27 The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
#26 The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin
#25 The Victorian Internet
#24 Small is the New Big by Seth Godin
#23 The Secrets of Mental Math
#22 BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go security
#21 Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide #27 - The 48 Laws of Power
by Douglas E. Welch, myword@welchwrite.comI recently picked up The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene from the library to re-read it. I must have read something that spurred my interest in the book again, although I don't remember exactly what it was. Oddly enough, today's Los Angeles Times includes an article on how Hip-Hop artists are using it as a virtual guidebook to navigating the tough music industry. See Laws for an Outlaw Culture, Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2006 While rappers might be reading this as a guidebook, I have always looked on it more as a self-protection manual. For me, learning what you opponents might be trying to do to you is far more important than engaging in the behaviors themselves. The fact is, most of the "48 Laws" carry a heavy ethical, social and personal burden. Anyone attempting to live by these laws would soon find their existence a weird half-life where more time was spent attending to the "Laws" than actually living life. Link: #27 The 48 Laws of Power by Robert GreeneMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#26 The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin
#25 The Victorian Internet
#24 Small is the New Big by Seth Godin
#23 The Secrets of Mental Math
#22 BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go security
#21 Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide #26 - The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin
by Douglas E. Welch, myword@welchwrite.comThe Lost Gardens, the second in a (hopefully) on-going series by Anthony Eglin picks up the story of Professor Lawrence Kingston following the murder and intrigue surrounding the discovery and theft of a unique blue rose, the Holy Grail of gardeners. This story is recounted in "The Blue Rose" and my review can be found in this previous post. In this new story, Kingston is hired to restore a huge manor garden to its former glory after the property is inherited, unexpectedly and unexplainably, by a young, American woman. When a dis-used chapel is found on the property, complete with a skeleton in its well, Kingston is again involved in detective work, archeological mysteries and murder. While not quite as action-packed as the first book, The lost Gardens is a grand combination of gardening lore, history, mystery and action-adventure. Kingston become even more likable than before, less curmudgeonly and might even be falling in love again. Eglin gives a charming feel to the English countryside, despite the untoward events that occur and leads the reader down a wandering garden path to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. I look forward to more books in this series that combine my interests in gardening and my love of a great mystery. See also : The Blue Rose by Anthony EglinLink: #26 The Lost Gardens by Anthony EglinMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also: #25 The Victorian Internet
#24 Small is the New Big by Seth Godin
#23 The Secrets of Mental Math
#22 BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go security
#21 Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Lucky and the Island of the Misfit Geeks - Now Available!
 Friends in Tech Present a new Christmas Special...Santa is trying something different this year and is enlisting all the elves to create a new Massive Multiplayer Online Game for all the girls and boys. Demos have gotten tough reviews and there is a lot of work to be done before Christmas. Can Lucky and Herbert save the Christmas and Themselves? Listen to the Special
Holiday Gift Guide #25 - The Victorian Internet
Career Opportunities LIVE from December 15, 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comThis episode of Career Opportunities LIVE was recorded December 15, 2006 using the services of Talkshoe.com. We talk about an interesting news story about employee sabotage and upcoming Career-Op columns.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Holiday Gift Guide #24 - Small is the New Big by Seth Godin
Elsewhere Online: Productive Talk with David Allen from 43 Folders.com
For anyone who has ever been interested in Getting Things Done (GTD), the productivity system from David Allen, here is a great, free master class in GTD. Merlin Mann sits down with David Allen and discusses the issues with GTD and how you can use it make yourself even more productive and more in control of your life. These interviews assume some knowledge of GTD, so go grab a copy of the book, ( Getting Things Done by David Allen from Amazon.com) and then crank up the audio player to get even more out of it. 43 Folders
Productive Talk Comp.: Episodes 01-08 on Odeo
As promised, here's the single-file compilation of the Productive Talk podcast interviews I did with David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done. The final version's eight episodes clock in at a considerable one hour and twenty-six minutes, so this should give you plenty to listen to while you're in line at the DMV.
Also: Enhanced AAC version of the podcast
(Via 43 Folders.) Technorati Tags: howto, how-to, career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, tutorial, gtd
Holiday Gift Guide #23 - The Secrets of Mental Math
Get your next job by referral - December 15, 2006
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comIf you have been interviewed for even a few jobs, you have realized that the process is biased against you in many ways. Everything is designed to make the process easier and more successful for your future employer rather than for you. Despite your needs as an employee, the process is designed to grind through the list of candidates and spit out a, hopefully, qualified employee. If you want to survive this process and find the job, and the career, you deserve, you need to move beyond the traditional strategies of cover letter and resume. You need to find ways to circumvent the process and develop an advantage over the other candidates.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Elsewhere Online: Tip: When Leaving Your Job At An ISP, Don't Cancel All Its Customer Accounts
 Ok, readers, say it together with me.... "I will NOT destroy my career (and possibly my life) by doing something as malicious and stupid as damaging my former employers systems when I leave." Lather....Rinse...Repeat As if it needs to be said, don't follow this person's example. Why would you risk your new job to take a petty potshot at your former employer? What are you thinking? Additionally, you're also making life more difficult for every single high-tech worker in the world. Stories like these destroy trust between employer and employee, even if neither has done anything wrong. Just stop it! Come on! Really! Sheesh! Tip: When Leaving Your Job At An ISP, Don't Cancel All Its Customer Accounts
It's no surprise that people who are leaving their jobs (especially to go work for a competitor) may have a certain dislike for their ex-employer -- but it's still amazing that people don't realize that attacking them isn't a particularly good idea. A former employee of a wireless ISP in Utah apparently logged back into the computers of his former employer (shame on them for leaving access open to the guy) and cutting off customer accounts by reprogramming customer access points.
(Continued)
(Via Techdirt.) Technorati Tags:
career, job, jobs, work, workplace
Holiday Gift Guide #22 - BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go security
by Douglas E. Welch, myword@welchwrite.comYou know Apple's iPod had become a part of our culture when you started to see clothing designed specifically around iPod use. Here is a T-shirt with an internal pocket to keep your iPod safe whatever you might be doing. From Amazon.com...The BlackCoat-T is designed to allow you to discreetly and safely transport your mobile necessities whether you are wearing a suit or a flannel shirt. This patent pending T-shirt contains 2 specially designed compartments that are interconnected by a single passageway. A zipper opening is strategically positioned in the center of the passageway providing easy storage and removal when worn under a button-down shirt. Most of todayÕs cell phones, music players, PDAs and small digital cameras fit easily through the zipper opening and into or out of the passageway. You can quickly store or retrieve your mobile devices, even in the most stressful situations. Best of all, the BlackCoat-T does not compromise style for utility. Dress up over it and feel confident 24/7. No one will ever know. Link: #22 BlackCoat-T: iPod T shirt for on-the-go securityMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#21 Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Career Opportunities LIVE via TalkShoe
There's a new place for LIVE talk shows on the net and after seeing the success of a fellow Friends in Tech Member, Victor Cajiao of the Typical Mac User podcast, I figured I would try it. So, now you can join me for the next edition of Career Opportunities LIVE! on: Friday, December 15, 2006 at 6 PM Pacific Standard Time. Join the conversation at
RSVPIf you plan on joining us, please RSVP to career@welchwrite.com. This isn't required, but it will give me an idea of the number of folks I can expect. You can participate several way: - Listen Live directly from the web site
This requires nothing but your web browser. Visit the show link (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/7338) and click the Listen Only link. You'll hear the live stream of the show, as it happens.
- Chat and Listen LIVE using the Free TalkShoe client
Visit http://talkshoe.com/ and create your FREE TalkShoe account and register your own unique PIN number (usually your telephone number)
Download the FREE TalkShow client software (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/Downloads.jsp) and install it on your Windows or Mac OS X computer.
Set this up today, and perhaps try it out with another TalkShoe show, so you are ready for the Career Opportunities show when it happens.
Next, visit the episode link (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/7338) and click the Listen, Text or Talk LIVE! button. This will automatically start the TalkShoe software, connect you to the show's chat room and start the LIVE audio Stream. Everyone can see what you type.
- Chat, Listen Live and participate using any telephone
Take your experience to the next level by calling the TalkShoe switchboard ((724) 444-7444) and entering the Talkcast ID # and your PIN. Now you can talk to the host and other listeners.
You can also use popular Voice over IP software like Skype and Gizmo to make your call for FREE. Simply use the phone number, Talkcast ID and PIN listed above.
Drop me a line at career@welchwrite.com if you have any questions or issues with setting up your TalkShoe account.
Killer Innovations Podcast: India China And The Creative Economy
 In the most recent Killer Innovations podcast, host Phil McKinney points out 3 questions that can help you to see if you job is ripe for offshoring, or as he calls it "rightshoring". I highly recommend listening to the entire podcast for some great eye-opening (or should that be "ear-opening") ideas. What do you think? Add your comments below or in the Career Opportunities forums at forums.friendsintech.com. Is your job at risk? If you answer YES to any of the following questions, you are at risk
- Is your job repeatable? (do the same thing such as close the financial books at the end of the quarter)
- Can a computer do your job? (tax, medical diagnosis, etc.)
- Can someone else do it cheaper? (be honest!!)
If you're at risk, then you need to take the iniaitive and position yourself for the coming change.
(Via Killer Innovations.) Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, creativity
Holiday Gift Guide #21 - Radical Careering by Sally Hogshead
Some books offer a careful presentation of facts and figures leading up to the dramatic conclusions of the final chapters. Others are the literary equivalent of "A Whack on the Side of the Head," to quote author, Roger van Oech. Radical Careering: 100 truths to jumpstart your job, your career and your life falls firmly into the latter camp. It is a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stale atmosphere of career books. People who have been "there and back again" are often the best source of frank and useful information, and author, Sally Hogshead has delivered the wealth of her experience in a straightforward and extremely useful fashion. Radical Careering is divided into "100 truths", each 1-2 small pages in length. While some might take issue with the "truth" of each item, I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page. Hogshead has distilled the essence of each topic down to small, useful nuggets that really jumpstart your thinking. This is not a book of exercises, prescriptions and marching orders. This is a collection of career "koans" -- stories and questions that spur, if not require, further thought. Several times as I was reading, I would catch myself staring off into space, lost in thought, the book open in my lap. I was very interested in absorbing this book as a whole, so I read it very traditionally, front to back. That said, the book works equally as well as a sort of career "magic 8-ball", spurring your thinking whenever you need a boost. Simply open a page at random and begin. Of all the "truths", some spoke to me more loudly than others. At the top of the list was this one, "Being in a crap job isn't your fault. Staying in a crap job is." You can't be any clearer, or more truthful than that and I wholeheartedly agree. Others include "Own your career or it will own you.," "Don't work for someone you don't respect," and "Power is the option to say no!" Whatever your career, Radical Careering provides a welcome "kick in the seat of the pants" and might help you take your career to the next level. Read it in one sitting or return to it again and again. Either way you will enjoy it and your career will benefit. Listen to this book reviewFor more information on Radical Careering, visit their web site at radicalcareering.comLink: #21 Radical Careering by Sally HogsheadMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#20 Doctor Who Complete Series 1 DVD
#19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Inflexible projects - from the archives
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.comProjects are everything in your high-tech career. They drive your work from day-to-day. They help you to build the great stories that will get you better jobs down the road. Some people, like Tom Peters, author of “In Search of Excellence” and David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done” say that you should consider everything you do, every goal you want to accomplish, just another project along with all the others. Unfortunately, projects have a way of self-destructing before they ever get off the ground. There are ways, of protecting yourself against project failure. Some of these, though, require addressing your preconceptions about projects.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Holiday Gift Guide #20 - Dr. Who Series 1 and Series 2
Sponsored Review: Nursing Degree Guide
This is the first of my sponsored reviews in coordination with ReviewMe.com, a site that connects information providers seeking reviews of their sites and products with bloggers like myself. You can leave your comments on this review using the "comments" link below. -- Douglas Sponsored Review: Nursing Degree Guidehttp://www.nursingdegreeguide.org/The Nursing Degree Guide is a plainly designed web site -- no sparkly Flash applications, sound or animation -- but it holds a wealth of information on all aspects of nursing. The site provides general information on nursing such as the History of Nursing and Men in the Nursing World, but then goes on to discuss more complicated issues of Educational Opportunities and the complex levels of Degrees and Licenses that are available. While I was familiar with the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and the RN (Registered Nurse), the site also describes a host of additional possibilities, including advanced degrees such as Masters and Ph.D in Nursing. The Nursing Degree Guide also provides interesting information on some alternative nursing career such as school nursing, nursing on cruise ships and nursing for the military. The Nursing Degree Guide also discusses a variety of traditional and online schools available for nurse training along with the programs they offer, prerequisites for admission and basic costs of the program. The site is well cross-linked with acronyms and important keywords linked back to the appropriate descriptions. I did come across a few typographical and grammar errors, but nothing that seemed to confuse the reader. I assume that these will be cleaned up as the site grows. Finally, it appears that the site is sponsored, in some way, by the University of Phoenix, as there are a number of links back to their nursing programs. If this is the case, I would like to see the site be a bit more transparent in its sponsorship, so that their readers would have a clearer understanding of the purpose of the web site, beyond providing the nursing information. Anyone interested in a career in nursing would find a good starting point in this web site. It opens the doors to the basic questions of what, how and why and gives readers the information needed to continue their career search. The Nursing Degree Guide can be found at: http://www.nursingdegreeguide.org/
Holiday Gift Guide #19 - Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 Recorder
After having an opportunity to use this unit and hear its sounds quality, I have decided to add it to my Amazon Wish List and start reserving listener/reader donations towards purchasing my own unit. Special thanks to all who have donated in the recent weeks I used my friend's Edirol R-09 to record my interview with Keri Dearborn, which listener's of A Gardener's Notebook have heard over the last few weeks. This interview was recorded with no additional equipment...just the recorder sitting on a chair between us while we talked. In fact, you can see the unit, tiny as it is, in the photo posted along with that podcast entry. The R-09 also allows you to connect any sort of external microphone to the unit including lavaliere microphones for doing interviews and shotgun mics for long distance recording. My friend, Michael, has also simply fitted the windscreen for his shotgun mic (usually called a "muff") directly over the top of the unit to shield it from wind noise when using it outside. This unit would make it so much easier to do interviews for the podcasts as well as un-tether me from my computer to do sightseeing tours and ad-hoc, man-on-the-street conversations. It would also make it very easy to record conference sessions and speeches that I attend. Link: #19 Edirol R-09 Portable WAV and MP3 RecorderMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#18 Murder on the Rocks
#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide #18 - Murder on the Rocks
I love a good mystery novel, and especially mystery series, where you can really get to know the characters. Murder on the Rocks: A Grey Whale Inn Mystery looks to be the beginning of a very fun series. Natalie, new owner and operator of the Grey Whale Inn on Cranberry Island, Maine is struggling through her first year as an innkeeper. Her niece, Gwen, has been sent from California, after having trouble in her first year of college to take some art classes and help out at the inn. Life gets very complicated when a high-powered developer decides to build his new resort right next to the inn, but is found dead at the bottom of the ocean-view bluffs before the deal can go through. Everyone suspects Natalie, who was working to turn the bluffs and surrounding area into a bird sanctuary. I like the cast of characters surrounding Natalie and would really enjoy seeing them again and again as the backdrop to mystery. Growing up in a small town, I also love to re-visit that time through the stories I read. MacInerney's next book, Dead and Berried, is available for pre-order on Amazon. Link: #18 Murder on the RocksMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player
#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide # 17 - SlimDevices Squeezebox
When I attended and spoke at MacGathering a few months ago, I met the representatives from Slim Devices, who were demonstrating their Squeezebox music player. This is a great device that allows you to link wirelessly to your computer-based music collection (think iTunes, although many other systems are supported) and play this content through your dedicated high-end stereo system. A few weeks later, Slim Devices was kind enough to send me a review unit so I could check it out in my own home media environment. I often work with clients who are very interested in high-end audio and would love a device like this. I have recommended other, similar products in the past, but I am leaning heavily towards Squeezebox these days for several reasons. The Squeezebox is based on a free, open source, music server that allows programmers to easily fix bugs and extend its capabilities. Currently this shows itself in plugins that allow you to display RSS feeds on the device and provide alternate views, including analog VU meters on the display as it operates. My experienceSetting up the Squeezebox was simple and straightforward. First, you visit their web site to download the latest version of the SlimServer music server software which runs under Windows, Mac OS and even Linux. While this is uncommon, I felt that having the user download the current version, rather than providing it on a CD is a great idea. Too often, with other products, I am faced with out-of-date software that causes problems with an installation. This download insures that I am getting the most up-to-date and bug-free version at the moment I begin using it. Next, you install this software which, on the Mac, appears as a Preference Pane in the System Preferences. This program only allows you to turn the server software off and on. To configure the server, you simply use your web browser. The browser interface is easy to use and allows you to set various preferences, such as the name of the Squeezebox (important if you are running more than one) and which system you want to use to manage your music. In my case, I told the Squeezebox that I wanted to use my existing iTunes music library and playlist. Once the server software was setup, it was time to install the Squeezebox itself. Two cables come with the unit -- a power adapter with a much appreciated, small transformer, unlike the power-strip eating monsters from other manufacturers, and an RCA audio adapter cable to connect it to your sound system. A headphone-style jack is also provided on the unit to allow you to connect the unit directly to powered speakers if you wanted to use it in temporary locations, like your patio or deck. When you plug the unit into the power, the Squeezebox steps you through a series of setup options using its large and clear display. You select your location, your wireless access point name and provide your wireless network password using the included remote control. Within minutes I had my unit up and playing my music. Navigating the Squeezebox menus and display was easy and straightforward. It recognized all my iTunes music and playlists (although it cannot play music purchased through the iTunes Music Store due to DRM restrictions.). Selecting music to play was as easy as using iTunes on my Mac and, in some ways, even easier. When the unit is playing music it display information on the current "Now Playing" track using a variety of user-selectable formats which include track name, length, time elapsed, time remaining and different meters. After several minutes of inactivity, the display switches to a user-selectable "screen saver" that can present a wide variety of additional information including analog VU meters, digital audio meters and even a user-provided list of automatically updated RSS feeds from your favorite sources. This was my favorite screensaver and made the unit useful even when it wasn't actively playing music or podcasts. Internet Radio and WebcastsThe Squeezebox can also be used to play thousands of Internet-based Radio stations and webcasts from your favorite traditional radio stations. Several stations are provided in the initial installation and you can easily add more using the SlimServer web interface. Overall, I would highly recommend this unit to my clients. Its setup and operation is top rate, even when located on the fringe of a wireless network and its ease of use and sleek modern design make it a perfect compliment to any high-end audio system. Even in the largest home you can gain room-by-room control over your music preferences without expensive wiring and equipment. Additional FeaturesIf you are a bit more technology-oriented, the Squeezebox also provides 2 interesting features. First, it can operate as a wireless bridge on your existing network. This means that if you have a game console, such as the xBox 360 and want to play games over the Internet, you only need plug a network cable between the console and network port provided on the back of the Squeezebox. Next, with a bit of networking knowledge, you can configure the SlimServer software to share your music collection over the Internet to any network connected PC. You can purchase your own Squeezebox via the Amazon link above or directly from SlimDevices at http://www.slimdevices.com/Link: #17 Squeezebox Wireless Network Music PlayerMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#16 Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
#15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide #16 - Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them
Tell it like it is - December 8, 2006
When you are addressing problems in your work and your career, I usually recommend taking a soft approach. No matter how severe the problem, a few gentle words can often smooth the waters and get people back on track. That said, there will come a time in your career when you simply have to tell it like it is. While it does call for a certain amount of tact, this isn't a time for sugar-coating the message. If you have tried resolving the problem with more subtle methods, then it might be time to sit down with the person and deliver a bit of unvarnished truth.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Holiday Gift Guide #15 - The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny
More good news this week. The highly successful music industry book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting, has just been released in its 3rd edition by my good friend, John Braheny. This edition contains a substantial amount of new content, including a podcasting sidebar written by yours truly. I was honored when he asked me to write the podcasting sidebar for his book. As he prepared this latest edition, podcasting was just starting to enter the public psyche and, even then, I sensed its effects on songwriters and the music industry as a whole were sure to be profound. Since I was an experienced computer consultant, there at the very beginning, (and not a bad amateur guitarist) I was in excellent position to help his readers understand this new technology. For more information on John and the book, visit JohnBraheny.comThe Craft and Business of Songwriting is available via Amazon.com and bookstores throughout the country. Make sure you ask for the new 3rd edition with the cover you see above. Link: #15 The Craft and Business of Songwriting by John Braheny More gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#14 Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Elsewhere Online: Are Background Checks Necessary For IT Workers?
An article over at VarBusiness has started this very good discussion over on Slashdot. Where do you stand? Do you require background checks of all your workers> IT Workers? No one? I once had to be fingerprinted in order to work at a mutual fund company, but I believe that was a requirement for all staff. There are some interesting comments in the thread about how effective/ineffectice background checks are for weeding out those folks with ethics that might allow them to hurt y our company and your customers. Join the discussion here by clicking the comments link below. Are Background Checks Necessary For IT Workers? 4foot10 writes "UBS PaineWebber learned a hard lesson after hiring an IT systems admin without conducting a background check. Now its ex-employee is slated to be sentenced for launching a 'logic bomb' in UBS' computer systems that crashed 2,000 of the company's servers and left 17,000 brokers unable to make trades."
(Via Slashdot.) Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace
Holiday Gift Guide #14 - Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni Published by Jossey-Bass An Imprint of Wiley Books, 2004 Listen to the audio podcast version of this reviewFables have been used for centuries to teach important lessons and, even today, the form has significant advantages. With his series of books, Patrick Lencioni has taken the form from its earliest beginnings into the corporate office of today. His recent book, Death by Meeting, which I only recently discovered, takes on the bane of nearly every worker – the departmental meeting. It is a rare person who hasn’t spent hours in unproductive and unnecessary meetings. Through his storytelling, Lencioni demonstrates a way out of the meeting morass and back to productivity. Like all fables, Death by Meeting is a simplified and idealized view of the business world. Readers will see much of their own experience in the fable, but also a healthy dose of oversimplification. Change, especially corporate change, is rarely as smooth as depicted in the book. In any case, though, storytelling is an effective way of quickly and clearly make a point and educate the reader. I found myself quickly moving through the book, completing it in only one day, but by the end I not only had a clear picture of Lencioni’s ideas, but also a collection of concrete methods of how they might be applied. As with his other books, I found little need for the “Executive Summary” at the end of the book, which explains the book concepts in a more traditional manner. The fable itself was more illustrative and entertaining than this, rather dry, summary. Like all good books, Death by Meeting engages your mind and generates many questions. Is there a better way to run meetings? Are we stuck with our unproductive, and possibly even destructive, meetings? The book offers hope and a starting point many companies would be wise to absorb and apply. Patrick Lencioni’s other books include The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Five Temptations of the CEO and The Four Obsessions of the Extraordinary Executive. I found each one of them useful and enlightening – something not always found in other business books. Related: Mini-review of The Five Dysfunctions of a TeamLink: #14 Death by Meeting by Patrick LencioniMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#13 iPod with Video (80 GB)
#12 The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Helping users help themselves - from the archives
One of your main goals as a high-tech worker is to insure that the people you help -- your freelance clients, in-house staff or fellow high-tech workers -- have the tools they need to help themselves. Whether they are dealing with common computer problems themselves or calling a technical support line for help, you need to give them the tools they need to insure they don't create bigger problems than the one they are trying to solve.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
Holiday Gift Guide #13 - iPod with Video (80 GB)
Holiday Gift Guide #12 - The Blue Rose by Anthony Eglin
I am in the middle of this book, part of a series of "English Garden Mysteries", but I wanted to tell you about it, even before I reach the end. A great combination of gardening and mystery, The Blue Rose, tells the story of a couple who, upon purchasing and refurbishing an old parsonage garden, come across a once in a lifetime discovery...a blue rose. I am in Chapter 9 and things are beginning to heat up as word about the rose leaks out. People and companies across the globe want to have this rose, some more unscrupulous than others. Perfect reading while you sip lemonade in your favorite garden chair. Eglin just released the second book in the series, The Lost GardensLink: #12 The Blue Rose by Anthony EglinMore gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:#11 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd on CD
#10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Other WelchWrite Events: TechnologyIQ on Talkshoe.com - Dec. 6, 2006
There's a new place for LIVE talk shows on the net and after seeing the success of a fellow Friends in Tech Member, Victor Cajiao of the Typical Mac User podcast, I figured I would try it. So, now you can join me for the next edition of Technology IQ LIVE! Technology IQ is a talk show about technology, including, but not limited to computers, home appliances, cell phones and any other technology you might encounter during your day. Join the discussion and ask your most pressing questions LIVE. The show will also be available as a podcast -- meaning you can still receive it automatically, even if you can't attend. If you ever attended one of my computer classes at the Sherman Oaks Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, this show will be along the same question and answer format but the topics will be more varied. The first episode of Technology IQ is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6, 2006 @ 6PM PST, before the Christmas holiday, so you can get some great advice for all those holiday purchases. Please let me know what days and times would be best for you for future shows. We will have a national audience, but I want to include as many of my clients and past students in the mix, as possible. Join the conversation at TalkShoe.com
You can participate in Technology IQ in several ways: • Listen Live directly from the web site This requires nothing but your web browser. Visit the show link ( http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/7488) and click the Listen Only link. You'll hear the live stream of the show, as it happens. • Chat and Listen LIVE using the Free TalkShoe client Visit http://talkshoe.com/ and create your FREE TalkShoe account and register your own unique PIN number (usually your telephone number) Download the FREE TalkShow client software ( http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/Downloads.jsp) and install it on your Windows or Mac OS X computer. Set this up today, and perhaps try it out with another TalkShoe show, so you are ready for the Career Opportunities show when it happens. Next, visit the episode link ( http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=7488) and click the Listen, Text or Talk LIVE! button. This will automatically start the TalkShoe software, connect you to the show's chat room and start the LIVE audio Stream. Everyone can see what you type. • Chat, Listen Live and participate using any telephone Take your experience to the next level by calling the TalkShoe switchboard ( 724- 444-7444) and entering the Talkcast ID # and your PIN. Now you can talk to the host and other listeners. You can also use popular Voice over IP software like Skype and Gizmo to make your call for FREE. Simply use the phone number, Talkcast ID and PIN listed above. Drop me a line at techiq@welchwrite.com if you have any questions or issues with setting up your TalkShoe account.
Holiday Gift Guide #11 - The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd CDs and more
Lucky and the Island of Misfit Geeks - Coming December 18th from Friends in Tech
It's time for Friends in Tech's annual Christmas special. Join us this year for Lucky and the Island of Misfit Geeks on December 18, 2006. You can receive this special, and other great Friends in Tech content automatically, by subscribing, for FREE, to the Friends in Tech feed using iTunes. 
Listen to the Promo for Lucky and the Island of Misfit Geeks
Holiday Gift Guide #10 - A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young
An tiny, yet interesting book, originally written in 1960 and directed at advertising students. It lays out a straightforward, 5-step process for generating new ideas, regardless of the project or subject matter. Can it help you to be more creative? It might. I see hints of my own creative process in the pages and, while a bit vague in descriptions of execution, the general theories on creativity seem sound. Link: #10 A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Web Young More gift suggestions in the WelchWrite Store
Don't know what to give? How about an Amazon Gift Certificate!
See also:
#9 Apple 1 GB Shuffle Metal (2nd Generation)
#8 The Turk by Tom Standage
#7 Targus PA241U Podium Coolpad
#6 Manhunt: The 12-day chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
#5 Apple iPod Nano
#4 Podcast Solutions
#3 A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
#2 The $64 Tomato by William Alexander
#1 Welch Family Christmas Cards
Holiday Gift Guide #9 - iPod Shuffle
Holiday Gift Guide #8 - The Turk by Tom Standage
A Better Way - December 1, 2006
If there is one lesson you can take away from nearly every Career Opportunities column, it is the fact that there is always a better way. I don't care how entrenched the problem, there is a way to solve it that will make your working world a better place to be. You shouldn't simply have to "live with it." Granted, the more difficult the problem the more dramatic the solution will need to be. Having the courage to address the problem is where we often fail, though. We forget that there is a better way and struggle on for months or years.
Support Career Opportunities:Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech
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