Vivo

Check out our funny video creatively made by some of  the folks at Vivo. Here is the link from our YouTube Channel

Get paid to recycle your unwanted mobile phones

One of the fun things about my practice, is getting to review so many great products and services that answer simple but widely-felt problems, common to all of us. Many of us have encountered the issue of, “what can I do with my old phone and is it worth anything?” Well, I’m happy to tell you that both questions have now been answered.

There is a solution out there that will recycle your old phone and pay you for it. Based in San Diego, California, ecoATM  has developed an automated mobile phone recycling station that takes the guess work out what to do with that old phone. The ecoATM automated mobile phone recycling station looks like an ATM. You place your phone inside and it then visually and electrically inspects and tests the phone and determines its value. Best of all, it pays you on the spot. If by chance the phone you are trying to sell has no secondary market value, then ecoATM will recycle that phone for you – free of charge. Currently, the ecoATM is in limited markets but the company is looking to expand. Who knows, one day you may see one at your local grocery store.

The bottom line is, not only are ecoATM customers doing something good for the environment but they are also getting paid in the process. Check them out when you get a chance and let me know what you think. This may just be the next kiosk you see sitting next to the Redbox DVD Rental and Coinstar machines at your local grocery store – and right alongside the recycling area at large companies everywhere.

Do you know all your "friends" ?

I have 742 Linked In Connections and 373 Facebook friends. One of my employees has 6000 Facebook friends (He is in a band. I do want to keep this in proper perspective.) Some of my employees are “Open Networkers” and have thousands of Linked In Connections. 

So, what guesses can you make about me when you compare and contrast me against someone with thousands of Friends and Connections?

At first blush, you may assume I don’t visit either site very often.  You may also guess that I do not value either for professional and/or personal interactions.  Both assumptions would be incorrect. I am just a “less is more” person. 

Interestingly, my 6000-friend employee said it best last evening. A friend (an “IRL” friend, for those of you needing test/web speak) said to him, “you may have 6000 Facebook Friends. But how many would be there for you if you had a flat tire?”  Now, I’m not going to pretend that all 373 Facebook “friends” would get out of bed for me on a rainy night. But, to be fair, I have triple A and would never put that to the test. But, I can tell you that I know all 742 Linked In connections enough to feel comfortable to reach out and ask for professional assistance. If you tell me you would like to meet someone in my network, I am comfortable enough to ask all 742 personally if they would let me facillitate that introduction.

My own rule: If you wouldn’t enjoy my sense of humor (pure snark), I am not friends with you on Facebook. If I don’t know you enough for me to be comfortable saying “hey, gotta sec?”, I don’t connect with you on Linked In. The former has no professional relevance. But, the latter is huge in my ability to help the other 741 people I am connected to. Rest assured if you see some way I can help you, that I feel 100% comfortable asking the other 741 to help. But please don’t ask me for 2nd level assistance. That’s a whole ‘nother story.

Something doesn't smell right. Should you say something?

Dear VR:

As part of our interview process, we invite candidates in to shadow us for a day. A stellar candidate spent yesterday with me. The problem is he had extreme halitosis.

What should I have done? Should I tell HR the real reason I don’t want him to work here? Should we hire him anyway, and overlook the bad breath? Should we tell him?

PS: I now think this may be the reason he’s been unemployed for the past year.

Signed,

Still Gagging

Dear SG:

That is a tricky situation. It is definitely your right to say nothing and just decline to hire this candidate. You don’t owe him or anyone else anything more. But, just think of how much he might benefit from learning the truth. What if no one has ever told him?

Be honest with your HR department. Perhaps your HR Partner would be willing to speak up.

Each of us has had to suggest deodorant, bathing, and even had to ask consultants to step up their laundry habits. It’s a moment of discomfort for all involved. But once done, we all breathe a bit easier…