Career Meta http://www.careermeta.com aim high · step up · move forward Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:48:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en How to Ask Your Boss for Telecommute http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-ask-your-boss-for-telecommute.html http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-ask-your-boss-for-telecommute.html#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:40:16 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=309 The key is to demonstrate the business benefit of telecommute and make it too expensive or excruciating to refuse a request for it. No doubt there are tones of benefits for employees, — save gas (who can afford it today?), cut off commute time, flexible hours, work while babysitting, work wearing pajamas, share work hours with your own business, etc.  but what’s good for the company?  There are plenty too, the main benefit is increasing productivity, if you can approve it.  Here’s how you approach:

1. Prepare your telecommute proposal
2. Make a case of increased productivity
3. Ask for a short trial
4. Document and demo your increased productivity
5. Ask for longer period of trial
6. Ask a few more times to make it permanent

Timothy Ferriss’ best selling “The 4-Hour Workweek” offers a real-life case. Sherwood is a mechanical engineer.  Before he asked for telecommute, he took a few days of sick leave but worked at home to make twice outcome as much as he worked in office.  Then he went to ask his boss Bill.

Sherwood: Hi. Bill. Do you have a quick second?

Bill: Sure. What’s up?

Sherwood: I just wanted to bounce an idea off of you that’s been on my mind. Two minutes should be plenty.

Bill: OK. Shoot.

Sherwood: Last week, as you know, I was sick. Long story short, I decided to work at home despite feeling terrible. So here’s the funny part. I thought I would get nothing done, but ended up finishing three more designs than usual on both days. Plus, I put in three more billable hours than usual without the commute, office noise, distractions, etc. OK, so here’s where I’m going. Just as a trial. I’d like to propose working from home Mondays and Tuesdays for just two weeks. You can veto it whenever you want, and I’ll come in if we need to do meetings, but I’d like to try it for just two weeks and review the results. I’m 100% confident that I’ll get twice as much done. Does that seem reasonable?

Bill: Hmm… What if we need to share client designs?

Sherwood: There’s a program called GoToMyPC that I used to access the office computer when I was sick. I can view everything remotely, and I’ll have my cell phone on me 24/7. Sooooo . .. What do you think? Test it out starting next Monday and see how much more I get done?

Bill: Ummm … OK, fine. But it’s just a test. I have a meeting in five and have to run, but let’s talk soon.

Sherwood: Great. Thanks for the time. I’ll keep you posted on it all. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Sherwood didn’t expect to get two days per week approved. He asked for two so that, in the case his boss refused, he could ask for just one as a fallback position (bracketing). Why didn’t Sherwood go for five days remote per week? Two reasons. First, it’s a lot for management to accept off the bat. We need to ask for an inch and turn it into a foot without setting off panic alarms. Second, it is a good idea to hone your remote-working abilities—rehearse a bit-before shooting for the big time, as it decreases the likelihood of crises and screwups that will get remote rights revoked.

Sherwood ensures that his days outside of the office are his most productive to date, even minimally dropping in-office production to heighten the contrast. He sets a meeting to discuss the results with his boss and prepares a bullet-point page detailing in¬creased results and items completed compared to in-office time. He suggests upping the ante to four days per week remote for a two-week trial, fully prepared to concede to three days if need be.

Sherwood: It really turned out even better than I expected. If you look at the numbers, it makes a lot of business sense, and I’m enjoying work a lot more now. So, here we are. I’d like to suggest, if you think it makes sense, that I try four days a week for another two-week trial. I was thinking that coming in Friday would make sense to prepare for the coming week, but we could do whichever day you prefer.

Bill: Sherwood, I’m really not sure we can do that.

Sherwood: What’s your main concern?

Bill: It seems like you’re on your way out. I mean, are you going to quit on us? Second, what if everyone wants to do the same?

Sherwood: Fair enough. Good points. First, to be honest. I was close to quitting before, with all the interruptions and commute and whatnot, but I’m actually feeling great now with the change in routine. I’m doing more and feel relaxed for a change. Second, no one should be allowed to work remotely unless they can show increased productivity, and I’m the perfect experiment. If they can show it, however, why not let them do it on a trial basis? It lowers costs for the office, increases productivity, and makes employees happier. So. what do you say? Can I test it out for two weeks and come in Fridays to take care of the office stuff? I’ll still document everything, and you, of course, have the right to change your mind at any point.

Bill: Man, you are an insistent one. OK, we’ll give it a shot, but don’t go blabbing about it.
Sherwood: Of course. Thanks, Bill. I appreciate the trust. Talk to you soon.

Sherwood continues to be productive at home and maintains his lower in-office performance. He reviews the results with his boss after two weeks and continues with four remote days per week for an additional two weeks again and them it beccme permenant.

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-ask-your-boss-for-telecommute.html/feed Why Americans Chase the Success http://www.careermeta.com/daddy-how-was-i-born-2.html http://www.careermeta.com/daddy-how-was-i-born-2.html#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:12:31 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=296 An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna.

The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.

“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the Ameri¬can then asked.

“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.

“But… What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”

He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, sefior, how long will all this take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years. 25 tops.”

“But what then, sefior?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos …”

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/daddy-how-was-i-born-2.html/feed How To Get A Raise - The Bum’s Appraoch http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-get-a-raise-the-bums-appraoch.html http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-get-a-raise-the-bums-appraoch.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:37:31 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=304 I work in downtown area started around 10 years ago. During work I go out to take a walk couple of times a day. My regular route passes a convenient store where a bunch of beggars hang around in front of it.

For long time beggars asked “Do you have changes?” when they saw me. Most of the time I gave them pennies, nickels, and maybe dimes. But I didn’t give quarter. I saved quarters for parking.

From a few years ago, they started to ask, “Do you have a quarter?” or “Do you have quarters?” I continued to give them small changes, but I did give a quarter in addition, if I was in good mood. As I heard more and more requests specific for “quarters” rather than “changes” in general, I got used to hand out quarters, but only one or two a time.

One day a nice lady asked me, “Honey, do you have three quarters?” I answered “Yes” and then gave her 3 quarters although I thought I should only give her one or two.

Right questions make difference. If she had asked “Can I have 3 quarters from you?” or “Could you give me 3 quarters?”, I could answer either “Yes” or “No”, both answers were technically correct. But she, and other beggars, never asked me to give them money, they only asked me a fact, - did I have a small amount of money in pocket. In this case, I was obligated to tell the truth. I did have more than 3 quarters in pocket, so that I answered “Yes” since I didn’t want to lie. Than, a “Yes” answer meant I wanted to meet her request, thus I gave what she demanded. That was just a hypnotic mind-setting process.

Recently, they often asks, “Do you have a dollar?”

They keep asking, and asking more, why? Beggars are self-employed professionals, just like our independent consultants, they are very motivated to take care of business. In fact, they are facing the same changes and challenges of the world as we are facing, - raising cost of living, instability, globalization, etc. To keep the same living standard, they need to adjust the salary. They truly believe they deserve a raise.

Back to the topic, what can we learn from beggars? Many. Look at how they make themselves visible, their persistence persuasiveness. They know how to ask right questions in right place to right people in right time so that they get the most they possibly can.

To make it simple, there are three things you can do to get a raise.  Maybe because they were less educated, the bum’s approach is smart easy:

  1. Ask
  2. Ask more
  3. Keep asking

Ask your boss for salary raise, bigger bonus, better benefit package, flexible hours, tele-commute, and more. Whatever you want, whatever you need, you have to ask. If you don’t ask, you’ll never get it.

Do you deserve all of the good things? Only God knows. What you’ve had, you deserve, because otherwise God wouldn’t give to you. What you haven’t got, does not mean you don’t deserve, because you didn’t ask.

If you keep asking, you boss will think you deserve it. “This guy has asked for promotion 10 times. He must have done a good job. I think his raise is due. Let’s give him a 15% increase.” That’s how you get it.

I don’t give money every time when beggars ask. But if I recognize one who had asked me several times before, I usually hand out a dollar. As a reminder, they don’t ask for changes any more, they want dollars, and they can get dollars, only because they asked.

Is this a good lesson? I think it’s great, and easy too. Just ask, ask more, and keep asking. As my bum friends can do it, you can do it too.

Walk to your boss’ office and ask now…

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/how-to-get-a-raise-the-bums-appraoch.html/feed Microsoft Is a Little Bit Tender http://www.careermeta.com/microsoft-is-a-little-bit-tender.html http://www.careermeta.com/microsoft-is-a-little-bit-tender.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:20:24 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=300 It is interesting to see how hi tech brands and names were creatively translated into other languages.  Microsoft called in China?  Microsoft in Chinese is kindly referred as “a little bit tender”. Smart translation, isn’t it? Here’s how the name is converted to a great Chinese brand. Cutting the name “Microsoft” to two parts, “Micro” is translated to “Wei” which means “a little bit”, and “soft” to “Rien” meaning “tender”, that makes Microsoft a little bit tender in China. Kind of funny.
Many global tech companies are nicely branded in China with smart names translated/converted. The general practice is to translate company name based on the sounding to Chinese pronunciation and then pick up the Chinese words which give a kind of meaning. Take a look:

Microsoft -> a little bit tender
Oracle -> divine’s word
Cisco Systems -> think science
HP -> benefiting the public
Sun Microsystems -> raising sun
IBM -> just IBM, no translation
Apple Computers -> still apple, the same fruit

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/microsoft-is-a-little-bit-tender.html/feed The Dog and Tiger’s Evil Fight in China http://www.careermeta.com/the-dog-and-tigers-evil-fight-in-china.html http://www.careermeta.com/the-dog-and-tigers-evil-fight-in-china.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:16:15 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=298 In the Chinese IT community, a hot, funny topic is about the fight between the dog and tiger for China’s territory. There is big argument about who is going to win the search engine market. Here the tiger is Yahoo, translated into Chinese by pronunciation as “elegant tiger”, and the dog is Google which means “ancient dog” or “dead dog” in Chinese pronunciation.

Yahoo is happy with its Chinese name “tiger”, but Google don’t like to be called “dog”, especially “dead dog”, thus a few month ago Google announced its official Chinese name as “harvest song” which is also based on Chinese pronunciation (Gu-Ge). But no one wants to use its official name because it’s not fun. Therefore Google is still a dog in China.

As the search engine market competition heats up in China, the tiger and dog become evil. Yahoo, in order to obtain fervor from the Chinese communist party, had released Yahoo email accounts personal information to the communist party. Using this information, the party’s secret police had put several pro-democracy activists to jail. Recently a Chinese couple sued Yahoo and its Chinese affiliates, alleging the Internet firms provided information that helped the Chinese government persecute the man for his Internet writings.

Google the “don’t be evil” dog also surrendered to the evil communist party. If in China you search Google for keywords such as “June 4th”, “Tian An Men Square crack down”, “Falun gong”, “free Tibet”, you get either “page not found” or the communist party’s propaganda page. Google in China voluntarily blocks information based on the communist party’s request. These are the information the communist government doesn’t want Chinese people know. The evil party is afraid of letting people know the truth. The evil dog helps there to hide the truth and tell lies.

That’s not a joke. The tiger and dog is hurting people.

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/the-dog-and-tigers-evil-fight-in-china.html/feed Project Management Resources http://www.careermeta.com/project-management-resources.html http://www.careermeta.com/project-management-resources.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:05:47 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=292 It makes a great career path to move from IT technical focus to project management. IT project managers earn more, and their jobs are more secure. While programming jobs are moving to offshore, IT project management jobs are more likely to stay. Whether or not you consider IT project management in career plan, you need to obtain basic knowledge and skills in IT project management. The following online resources should help you gain some expertise in IT project management.

  • All PM - The project managers homepage. Contents related to project management.
  • ProjectConnections - Comprehensive knowledge and information about project management. Good resources provided in the links page.
  • PM Forum -Information rich site covers all issues about project management.
  • TenStep - Features ten step project management process. Free PM templates available.
  • 4PM.COM - A broad range of resources for project managers, including PM training, books, free tools, templates, and articles. Very good PM knowledge base.
  • PMI - Project Management Institute website. Offering PMP certification.
]]> http://www.careermeta.com/project-management-resources.html/feed Semantic Web Resources http://www.careermeta.com/semantic-web-resources.html http://www.careermeta.com/semantic-web-resources.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:04:26 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=290 The Semantic Web is a mesh of information linked up in such a way as to be easily processable by machines, on a global scale. You can think of it as being an efficient way of representing data on the World Wide Web, or as a globally linked database. There is a dedicated team of people at the World Wide Web consortium (W3C) working to improve, extend and standardize the system, and many languages, publications, tools and so on have already been developed. However, Semantic Web technologies are still very much in their infancies, and although the future of the project in general appears to be bright, there seems to be little consensus about the likely direction and characteristics of the early Semantic Web. The following online resources should help you learn more about semantic web.

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/semantic-web-resources.html/feed XML and Web Services Resources http://www.careermeta.com/xml-and-web-services-resources.html http://www.careermeta.com/xml-and-web-services-resources.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:03:28 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=288 Web services and XML are the core technologies at the heart of recent software development industry. The software world is changing dramatically by recasting software applications as ’services’ and the Service Oriented Architecture is dominating the trend. In this emerging trend XML and web services become the leading force for process automation and integration in complex and fast changing environments.

]]> http://www.careermeta.com/xml-and-web-services-resources.html/feed Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Enterprise Software Resources http://www.careermeta.com/cots-enterprise-software-resources.html http://www.careermeta.com/cots-enterprise-software-resources.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:02:32 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=286 Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software is a major trend in software industry. Implementation of COTS packages in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Production Lifecycle Management (PLM), and Strategic Asset Management (SAM) are increasing significantly. Many IT professionals plan their career path with focus on ERP, CRM, PLM, and specific COTS software packages.

  • Fusion Fans - Resources for enterprise software packages under Oracle’s flag - PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, Siebel, and Oracle Fusion.
  • ERP Fans - The ERP fans club and user forum.
  • CRM Guru - Largest CRM Community may help you understand the value of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and make it work within your business.
]]> http://www.careermeta.com/cots-enterprise-software-resources.html/feed Systems and Network Resources http://www.careermeta.com/systems-and-network-resources.html http://www.careermeta.com/systems-and-network-resources.html#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:01:22 +0000 admin http://www.careermeta.com/?p=284 Operating systems, networking, and security are important aspects in IT career. System administrators, network administrators, and security specialists play critical roles in IT and they are well paid. The following online resources provide information and knowledgebase in systems, networking, and security areas.

Systems

Networking

  • Search Networking - Networking specific information for enterprise IT professionals.
  • ITPRC - IT professional’s resource center, focused on networking issues.

Security

eSecurityPlanet - Resources covering IT system security issues.

CERT Coordination Center - Features security practices and evaluations, survivality research and analysis.

SANS Institute - Security related resources for systems and network professionals.

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