So is it OK to blog about a friend's blog? I guess it's ok when you are the friend referenced within it! Check out what one of the smartest people I know had to say about this app that we've been using at ESG.
http://www.lisabreytspraak.com/2010/09/best-10-ipad-app.html
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Strong signs . . .
Had the privilege of speaking about the Corporate Express success story with Salesforce.com Service & Support last Thursday at the Grand Hyatt in Denver (we pushed the limits of the application back in 2005 when consolidating 28 customer service centers into a single, state-of-the-art 'Customer Experience Center' in Aurora Colorado). The Service and Support components of the app that are now available 'out of the box' are just awesome. Add to that the rapidly expanding collaboration tool 'Chatter' and its just awesome.
But what was more exciting than speaking Thursday was the fact that the room was packed with businesses and people that I thought had a ton of energy and enthusiasm. Was interesting to hear the SF execs share that this was one of the best-attended events in Denver in years, and a very startk contrast to an event held only one year ago. Coupled with the pace of our work at ESG and what our partner firms are experiencing from a growth and new business development / recruiting perspective, I'd say that Denver is just a fantastic place to be right now. We are really proud to be a part of the business community here! Proof that the economy is improving, and that Salesforce.com is a world-class, enterprise-grade, extremely powerful cloud-based business platform (we saw that when new put 6,500 users on it at CE!).
But what was more exciting than speaking Thursday was the fact that the room was packed with businesses and people that I thought had a ton of energy and enthusiasm. Was interesting to hear the SF execs share that this was one of the best-attended events in Denver in years, and a very startk contrast to an event held only one year ago. Coupled with the pace of our work at ESG and what our partner firms are experiencing from a growth and new business development / recruiting perspective, I'd say that Denver is just a fantastic place to be right now. We are really proud to be a part of the business community here! Proof that the economy is improving, and that Salesforce.com is a world-class, enterprise-grade, extremely powerful cloud-based business platform (we saw that when new put 6,500 users on it at CE!).
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A Great Poem by Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Stephen M. R. Covey - Fantastic!!
My great friend Pat Janssen invited me as his guest to hear Stephen Covey speak last night at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Topic was 'The Speed of Trust'. On the surface, it seemed like a simple topic (trust), but the way Covey presented and forced you to think about it was really impressive.
Consider this . . . think about a person in business that you have a solid trust relationship with -- think about how fast things move, how you debate and discuss, how open you are, clarity of intent and understanding, and so forth. Now contrast that with someone that you don't trust . . . things are guarded, you write everything down, time together is unproductive and you can't wait for it to end, and progress just languishes, if it is ever made at all. Great perspective.
Lots of great stories around Warren Buffet's style and effectiveness, and a number of other business titans that have founded their success on trust. Jim Burke, former CEO of J&J, puts it best:
"I have found that by trusting people until they prove themselves unworthy of that trust, a lot more happens."
Good stuff . . .
Consider this . . . think about a person in business that you have a solid trust relationship with -- think about how fast things move, how you debate and discuss, how open you are, clarity of intent and understanding, and so forth. Now contrast that with someone that you don't trust . . . things are guarded, you write everything down, time together is unproductive and you can't wait for it to end, and progress just languishes, if it is ever made at all. Great perspective.
Lots of great stories around Warren Buffet's style and effectiveness, and a number of other business titans that have founded their success on trust. Jim Burke, former CEO of J&J, puts it best:
"I have found that by trusting people until they prove themselves unworthy of that trust, a lot more happens."
Good stuff . . .
Saturday, April 24, 2010
On Living in Downtown Denver . . .
ESG wrapped up another fantastic week with two new client engagements launched and a Friday afternoon verbal commit on another large proposal. Celebrated with some Infinite Monkey Theorem Chard (try it if you haven't) with my team, then was looking forward to an evening with my daughter and her boyfriend, maybe some dinner and bowling and then the Nuggets game. But she works in a really busy flower shop, and she let me know how slammed they are with prom season so she had to cancel.
Funny how networking takes over though . . . not ten minutes later I get a call from a great friend who wants me to join him in a suite at the Rockies - its an event hosted by Agility Solutions and there are a number of top Colorado CIO's and execs slated to be there. So in my sudden state of having no Friday night plans, I wandered down to the Icehouse and met up with what turned out to be a fantastic group of people - Agility has an awesome practice and some real top talent. Got to learn a lot more about them when the game got rained out, and the craziest thing is that they are headquartered in the the same building as ESG! Potentially some opportunities to collaborate - their services are often sought by our clients, so we'll see where that goes.
Connecting expertise has turned out to be a really important part of our business - its great to foster relationships with really smart people and firms that make solutions entirely turnkey for ESG clients.
Funny how networking takes over though . . . not ten minutes later I get a call from a great friend who wants me to join him in a suite at the Rockies - its an event hosted by Agility Solutions and there are a number of top Colorado CIO's and execs slated to be there. So in my sudden state of having no Friday night plans, I wandered down to the Icehouse and met up with what turned out to be a fantastic group of people - Agility has an awesome practice and some real top talent. Got to learn a lot more about them when the game got rained out, and the craziest thing is that they are headquartered in the the same building as ESG! Potentially some opportunities to collaborate - their services are often sought by our clients, so we'll see where that goes.
Connecting expertise has turned out to be a really important part of our business - its great to foster relationships with really smart people and firms that make solutions entirely turnkey for ESG clients.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Great morning in Denver . . .
Spring is on its way for sure. Just look outside this morning - incredible!
So this is the start to my blog - more to follow soon, just finally getting things all set up.
So this is the start to my blog - more to follow soon, just finally getting things all set up.
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