We’ve seen many diversity reports this year, and they all have one thing in common: a relative lack of diversity. Amazon has joined Facebook, Twitter, Google and others by posting its own numbers, and in them we see that same familiar tale comprised of people who are mostly white and mostly male. The company revealed its workforce statistics in a … Continue reading
Okay, this pumpkin isn’t carved but still, it’s freaking floating in the air! Therefore under the rule known as things that can float in the air can be called whatever they want, I name this levitating pumpkin the best and spookiest and awesomest and nerdiest Jack O’ Lantern of Halloween.
You want to be generous and flexible with your employees. Why wouldn’t you? Everybody is working harder. Everybody is under more pressure. Everybody needs more than what they are getting.
If you are the boss, one of the most important parts of your job is taking care of your people. Remember, people work to take care of themselves and their families. They want your help. Some managers consistently do more for their employees. If you’re not one of those managers, what is your problem?
What are the key elements of every job that employees typically care about? Based on more than twenty years of research conducted by my company RainmakerThinking, Inc., including hundreds of thousands of respondents, this is what employees care about:
Most employees have a considerable desire and interest in customizing some or all of these key elements. When you find out what a particular employee really needs or wants from you, it is like finding a needle in a haystack. How do you make those needles work for you as supersonic bargaining chips? Leverage them for everything they are worth to make win-win custom deals whenever you possibly can.
When managers are able to do that, they are giving the employee control over her rewards by spelling out exactly what she needs to do to earn them. In exchange, the employee will probably be willing to do a lot — to work longer, harder, smarter, faster, or better — and you will provide her with an immediate reward that is uniquely valuable to her.
What if you could not only clean the ocean, but turn the pollution you collect into something people want? That’s the basic idea behind Bureo Skateboards.
With the motto “Skateboards for plastic-free oceans,” and the slogan “Ride your Footprint,” Bureo aims to reduce the amount of sea pollution by recycling discarded fishing nets — which make up 10 percent of the world’s ocean pollution — into skateboard decks.
Three surfers and skateboarders — Ben Kneppers of Mattapoisett, Mass., David Stover of Block Island, R.I., and Kevin Ahearn Montauk, NY — co-founded Bureo Skateboards, a sustainable skateboard company based in Santiago, Chile, earlier this year.
The boards are manufactured through the team’s initiative, “Net Positiva” — Chile’s first-ever nationwide fishnet collection/recycling program. It provides fisherman with disposal points for old nets, essentially allowing Bureo to collect the ocean’s recycling bins and mold the old stuff into something of value.
The nets are then separated, cleaned, placed in large reusable sacks and transported back to a recycling and manufacturing facility in Santiago using “dead-head trucks” — otherwise empty trucks already returning to the plant, so as to not waste extra fuel. There, they’re shredded, pelletized and injection-molded into skateboard decks. Each board is then quality tested, with defect boards fed back into the recycling process allowing for zero waste in production.
They’re also providing a free service to the fishermen, who would otherwise have to pay to throw the nets into landfills — a privatized business in Chile. Eventually, they plan to compensate the fishermen, paying them the current market value for virgin fishing net, approximately $4 U.S. per kg.
“It’s a win-win,” said Kneppers, adding that the name “Bureo” comes from the language of the Mapuche, the native Chileans, and means “the waves.”
“It’s not just about the ocean waves, but about what we’re doing — trying to create this wave of change. If everyone does their part to create a ripple, then we’re all part of the bigger solution,” said Kneppers.
I first talked to Kneppers earlier this year when I wrote a story on Bureo for the Boston Globe. A few days ago, I learned that one of the most eco-minded companies around, Patagonia, announced a seed investment in Bureo:
“Bureo is not your typical startup — they’ve invented an incredible recycling program by rallying the fishing industry in Chile to turn plastic ocean waste into a great product,” Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario said in a statement. “We’re investing in Bureo’s vision to scale their business to a global level and make a serious dent in the amount of plastic that gets thrown away in our oceans.”
Patagonia’s investment comes through its $20 Million & Change fund, which they launched in 2013 to help innovative, like-minded startups bring about solutions to the environmental crisis and other positive change through business.
Patagonia actually helped Bureo get started when Chris Evans, director of Patagonia Chile, wrote a letter of recommendation to help them receive a $40,000 grant from Start-Up Chile — a government-sponsored program for startups. Bureo also received $10,000 in gap funding from Northeastern University’s IDEA, a student-run venture accelerator, and ran a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign.
Ian McGee, a film editor at Farm League — formerly Woodshed Films (“180 South,” “Shelter”) — made Bureo’s Kickstarter campaign video, and a short documentary, “Nets to Decks,” which premiered at Pilgrim Surf & Supply in Brooklyn in April.
At MIT’s In-NOW-Vation showcase last spring, Bureo was named “Company Most Likely to Create a Cult Following,” and they can at least count Jack Johnson as a supporter: The surfer/folk singer/ environmentalist jumped on a Bureo plastic cruiser in front of press after his concert in Santiago in March.
“That was such a cool moment, and I didn’t even have a camera on me,” said Kneppers.
Bureo’s first and, for the moment, only board, The Minnow, is made of 30 square feet of fishing net and costs $65 for a deck. He called the Minnow “an ideal mid-size cruiser that can speak to a wide range of the market.” A complete board — with either blue or green Satori eco-cruiser wheels — is $149. The boards can be purchased online.
Learn more at http://bureoskateboards.com.
Lauren Daley is a freelance journalist. http://laurendaley.wordpress.com/
If you’re looking for something a bit more powerful than a Chromecast or similar device, Tronsmart has rolled out the red carpet for a new Android set-top box that boasts, among other things, an octa core processor. Because it runs Android, users can use apps on their television from the Google Play Store, never mind how tricky it might be … Continue reading
Even though all cookies should be eaten so more cookies will be made to be eaten, I would feel so guilty if I ate any of these cookies made by SweetAmbsCookie. They are a work of art. The painstaking detail and beautiful decorations are unreal. You wouldn’t want to eat a painting made by Picasso, right?
These days we could all use a little more mobile bandwidth, and the folks at AT&T and Verizon are giving us some. Let’s break it down, shall we? If you’re on an AT&T single-line plan or have two to three devices, the company is now offering 3GB of…
Career fairs can be convenient, one-stop shopping for your dream job or internship.
But with hundreds of students competing for the attention of fewer recruiters, you must have a plan to make the crucial good first impression that could get you hired.
“Failure to plan is truly planning to fail. Career fairs grant you the opportunity to be evaluated on more than just your resume,” says Veronica Montalvo, senior vice president of the Online Education Institute at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase in person what you can only say on a resume — that you are an effective communicator, critical thinker and team player.
Whether this is your first fair or you’ve attended many, these career fair tips will help you leave a lasting impression on the recruiters you meet.
1. Dress for the job you want.
Pretend that the career fair is your first interview for your dream job. And just as it does at a job interview, how you dress at the career fair speaks volumes about you.
“First impressions are very important, and one’s attire should be appropriate, conservative and simple,” advises Renee Mims Payne, career services associate at Central Penn College in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. For men, she recommends wearing a suit fit for a day at work, and slacks, a skirt, or dress and jacket for women. She also says “accessories, fragrances and makeup should be kept to a minimum.”
According to Rebecca Andrews, dean and associate professor of interior design at O’More College of Design in Franklin, Tennessee, “you can also take a ‘less-is-more’ approach to dress or consider adding an accessory that represents who you are. Employers will value your unique personality and be left with a memorable impression of who you are.”
Once you’ve prepared your outfit, you should ask yourself: “Do you look professional, confident, approachable?” says Jennifer Dillenger, director of career services for The Space in the Mungo Center at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “Make sure you run your outfit, handshake and smile by a trusted friend,” she adds.
2. Do your research.
You’ll need to know a bit about the companies attending a career fair if you want to be perceived as interested. “It is important to know who will be attending the fair and to spend time researching those companies prior to meeting with them,” says Andrews. Doing so “will allow you to create a prioritized list of companies that have positions available that best match your skills, qualifications, and area of interest,” she explains.
Use the information you gather to tailor your resumes to the companies and, if possible, the open positions you’re interested in. That way, you’ll stand out as a serious applicant.
3. Don’t rush in. Rather, create a game plan.
Plan a strategy for whom you’ll speak to first. Before you walk into the fair, take a minute to observe the layout and assess which booths you should target first, Dillenger advises. “Create a strategy for the representatives you want to meet and stick with your plan. Don’t stand in line,” she says. Instead, “use your time to meet with less-crowded tables. If the attendees weren’t announced in advance, do a quick walk through the space and then use your smartphone to research the organizations you plan to target.”
4. Have your elevator pitch ready.
“To make a good impression, have a one-minute pitch that introduces yourself,” says Matt Caporale, executive director of career development at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. Include your name, major, career aspirations and how they all tie in to working for this company.
Your elevator pitch should make you stand out from the crowd as someone employers would love to hire. “Sell yourself,” Andrews says.
5. Make sure your body language conveys your interest.
Whether you’re naturally shy or outgoing, your body language can show how you feel without words. To look confident and assertive, “eye contact, a firm handshake, and a smile are key,” says Payne. “You will want to shake the recruiter’s hand before and after you speak with them.” Make sure to “maintain direct eye contact the entire time you are speaking. Don’t let your mind or your eyes wander,” she advises, as it may draw the recruiter’s attention away from your message. As an inside tip, Payne suggests using a bit of antiperspirant on your hands for a good, dry handshake.
6. Mix and mingle with as many recruiters as you can.
Career fairs are a great place to network and build strong relationships within your future industry. Talk with as many people as you can at a career fair, advises John Bradac, director of career services at Ithaca College in New York. “Even if a company does not offer what you are looking for, you never know who that company representative may know. You may be pleasantly surprised as to who knows whom and where someone may be able to refer you.”
Remember to connect with the recruiters you meet on LinkedIn. The online networking platform is a great way to maintain these relationships, even if you aren’t pursuing a job right away.
7. Ask thoughtful questions.
The right questions will show you’ve put thought into the company and are interested in learning more. Montalvo suggests asking about a “typical day for the position you are interested in. In addition, it’s a good idea to ask about the company’s culture and work environment to determine if the position would be a good fit for your personality,” she says. “Another great open-ended question that demonstrates your interest is to ask what initial training is like.”
But remember, don’t ask questions that you could answer with a quick look at the organization’s website. For instance, don’t ask, “What does your company do?” Montalvo advises.
8. Ask for business cards.
“Collecting a business card from a representative that you speak with can be a really important tool in helping you make progress in your search,” Bradac explains. “You have the opportunity to follow up with questions and, more importantly, you can send a ‘thank you’ to those you spoke with.”
9. Follow up with a ‘thank you’ note.
Just as you would after a job interview, you’ll make the best impression by following up after the fair. As Rachel Cirelli, director of the career development center at Manhattan College in New York, points out, “recruiters are meeting many potential candidates.” Stand out from the others by sending a follow-up note after the fair. “This is a great place to say thank you [and] reiterate your interest in the position and prove you are an ideal candidate. If you can, share something specific about your conversation that will trigger their memory,” she says.
Ultimately, success at a career fair is all about the impression you make. “Employers are [there] to find high-potential candidates for their organization,” says Caporale. “Leave them with the impression that you are that candidate.”
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We in Jocgeekland have been playing with a few items that have absolutely nothing in common, other than their appeal to those of us that salivate over technology and seek ways to get “cool” new stuff.
With that in mind we took a look at the new Nixeus Moda Mechanical Keyboard ($79.99), an Amped Wireless High Power AC Range Extender ($99.99) and Simple.TV ($199.99 plus a subscription fee).
Mechanical keyboards have become the go-to items for gamers and so-called PC power users basically because you can type faster on them and can hear a satisfying “click” every time you press a key. They also tend to last a bit longer than keyboards that come packed with new computers and the other so-called “membrane” or touch units. The downside is that they tend to be heavier than non-mechanical keyboards.
The Nixeus Moda Keyboard didn’t disappoint us. It is much lighter than other mechanical keyboards we’ve tested, weighing in at about two pounds versus three pounds or more for the others. The “feel” of the keys when pressed were also less “mushy” — which we’ve discovered is a symptom experienced when trying to type on a keyboard with rubber domed or scissor-type mechanisms. In other words, you can feel the response of the keys much better using a mechanical keyboard.
The Moda was also a bit smaller than the keyboards we’re used to using. They do this by eliminating many of the extra feature keys (such as dedicated gaming keys or two number pads) found on other keyboards.
But the biggest thing that won us over was the price. You can expect to spend from $130 to $150 for a well-made mechanical keyboard, so being able to purchase the Moda for $79.99 is a pleasant — and welcome — bonus.
Other key features include:
The WiFi Range Extender from Amped Wireless can increase the range of your wireless network by up to 5,000 square feet.
This is a dual-band range extender, which means it can work with 2.4 and 5 gigahertz networks. It’s also compatible with the newer 802.11ac wireless protocol. Plus it can work as a network bridge simply by connecting a device (such as a TV or PC) into its wired network port.
We used it to add WiFi access to weak spots, including our basement (man cave) and deck, where we often lose network connections and it worked with minimal input from us. We simply plugged it into a wall outlet, pressed a button so it could see our wireless router, and we were up and running.
Other key features include:
Are you thinking of cutting the cord and dumping your cable or satellite TV service? If so, you may want to consider installing a Simple.TV DVR, attaching it to an antenna and a hard drive and paying a low subscription fee for the privilege. Basically it is a small box that includes a TV tuner (there are two in a more expensive Silicondust model) and ports to attach it to a hard drive or memory stick and an antenna.
The Simple.TV package allows you to record “over-the-air” broadcasts and stream them to any devices connected to the Internet including computers, an iPad or a Roku media streamer. The company says they are also working on a connection for Android devices.
The company also offers free TV, which allows you to stream and record “live” high definition TV, but doesn’t allow you to schedule recordings, provide access to multiple users (up to five can record and watch at the same time) or include the company’s interactive program guide. Fees for those features are $59.99 per year or $149.99 for a lifetime subscription.
Attention Facebook users: Check out Michael Berman’s Jocgeek fan page at www.facebook.com/jocgeek, or follow him on Twitter @jocgeek. You can also contact him via email at jocgeek@earthlink.net or through his website at www.jocgeek.com.
In case you missed it, Sony has a big community event planned for its gamers this coming December. The company has been teasing this event in bits and pieces, dangling precious few details amidst big promises that things will be spectacular. We recently found out about ticket availability and pricing, and now that sales have started, Sony has again taken … Continue reading
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