Pomp & Surkanstance: November 2010

24 November 2010

This Week on Bear radio: Investment advice for time travellers – hindsight isn’t everything

In this week’s episode we discuss how investing can be difficult even with the benefit of a time machine and perfect hindsight. We also discuss the jitters in the European debt markets, Irish political instability and the recent volatility in municipal bonds. As if any more proof were needed, our commentators point out that the recent run on deposits with Allied Irish Banks despite the fact it had been given a clean bill of health by regulators earlier this year underscores the fact that policy makers lie.

Download the sound(right click and save as link) : Download

You can find all the Optimistic Bear shows here: Optimistic Bear

You can find all the Entrepreneurs Northwest shows here: Entrepreneurs Northwest

21 November 2010

Linked:Seattle makes the news!

Wow! Our Linked:Seattle meetups were written up in the Seattle Times. Our monthly gatherings may have started as just an ad-hoc experiment this summer, but they have grown so much they are getting attention from the media.

http://bit.ly/lsintime

This article does a great job of discussing how Linked:Seattle meetups can be useful for job seekers, but it’s useful to point out that our gatherings tend to be very broad, drawing in business professionals and entrepreneurs as well as those seeking employment. Actually, this is what makes our group so unique (and useful).

When it comes to meetups and social networking, be sure to check out the video Susan J. Moore and I made with advice on how to make the most of networking events.

NOTE: Click here for a list of all the Linked:Seattle radio show recordings. You can also check out my own "Entrepreneurs Northwest" podcast shows (http://bit.ly/epnwfeed).

19 November 2010

Job search tales: The brand of you - take charge of your image on the internet to help your career

In this episode Stephen Rose explains how everyone has a brand (or image) on the internet, whether they want one or not. The oft-told advice to watch what you say on the web is certainly important, but Stephen suggests that social media provides an opportunity for everyone to develop their career (and find jobs) by purposefully building their brand. A resume is just not enough to find a job anymore, your career will depend on how you are perceived on the web. Stephen recommends creating your own blog as the place to start with managing your brand, allowing you to show your expertise and to serve as a tool for making connections.

You can follow Stephen on twitter here:
http://twitter.com/stephenlrose

Here is the IT Pro community Stephen manages at Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/springboard

Download the sound(right click and save as link) : Download

NOTE: Please contact Michael if you are interested in being a guest on "Tales from the job search trenches" podcasts. Michael would like to discuss your job search strategy, and brainstorm ways to improve it with you.

SEP Radio: Can agile methodology be applied to all software development projects?

I’ve been involved with software development for many years and very rarely have I ever seen “agile” process methodology work out. Could this be because of the nature of the software development projects I tend to specialize in or is it just that none of the product teams I have worked with understood agile methodology properly? In other words, are there some software projects where agile methodology will never work due to the very nature of what the software is? Listen to experts from the Software Engineering Productivity group on LinkedIn discuss where it makes sense to use agile methodology.

Our guests include:

Download the sound(right click and save as link) : Download

You can find all the Optimistic Bear shows here: Software

You can find all the Entrepreneurs Northwest shows here: Entrepreneurs Northwest

17 November 2010

This Week on Bear radio: Is perception really reality when it comes to economics?

In this episode we discuss whether market perceptions of weakness in Ireland (or other nations) can force defaults. We also discuss how Quantitative Easing by the Federal Reserve is already backfiring with rising interest rates and a falling dollar. The show closes with a chat about the re-emergence of debtors prison in the United States.

This show is sponsored by:

Charlesfund

13 November 2010

EPNW: Putting it on the line – social media success comes through expressing yourself

In this episode Chris Pirillo explains how business success through social media requires putting your personality out for all the world to see. Bland content, lacking in personality, won’t go very far in a world crowded with media. Chris also tells how the quickest way to get people following you is to start following others, and joining in their conversations. The art of marketing through social media is a messy one, but with a willingness to lay things on the line and actually talk with people on-line can lead to success.

You can check out Chris' web site here: http://chris.pirillo.com/

Download the sound(right click and save as link) : Download

NOTE: Check out the complete podcast directory of discussions with entrepreneurs. If you would like to be a guest on Entrepreneurs Northwest, to talk about your business venture, contact Michael Surkan.

12 November 2010

SEP Radio: Client-side PC apps - an endangered species?

With the huge efforts being put into web and mobile apps these days it would seem that client-side PC software has become an endangered species. Is anyone out there still writing NEW client-side applications? Listen to experts from the Software Engineering Productivity group on LinkedIn discuss the future of client applications.

Our guests include:

Listen to internet radio with Software Engineering on Blog Talk Radio

NOTE: Practical Software is the official podcast for the Software Engineering Productivity group on Linked:In. You can listen to other episodes of Practical Software.

EPNW: The entrepreneur transition doctor is in

In this episode Michele Mattia talks about how her own experience of transitioning to becoming an author, speaker and life/business coach from the tech industry mirrors what many people are going through these days as they try to re-define themselves as entrepreneurs. There are no miracle cures for successfully transitioning to entrepreneurship, but it’s hard to go wrong to start by following your passion.

I couldn’t help but think of Doctor Mumford, and his effective methods of helping people find their own answers, during my conversation with Michele. I’ve always wished I could find an sympathetic, yet helpful, Dr Mumford in the real world, and now I have.

You can check out Michele’s web site here:
http://www.michelemattia.com/Home.html

10 November 2010

This Week on Bear radio: The recent Bitcoin bubble and the psychology of jumping back into high risk investments

In this episode of the Optimistic Bear show, marking our first anniversary, we discuss the recent collapse of the Bitcoin bubble, the “prosperity certificates” of Canada’s William Aberhart and the history of failed currencies. We also delve into the psychology of bubble investing, and propose some theories as to why investors seem so willing to get burnt with the same bad investments again and again. Lastly, we explore Harry Brown’s 16 golden rules of financial safety.

07 November 2010

EPNW: Zen and the art of making money

After 30 years of being an entrepreneur in the banking business (starting no less than 3 banks) Jesse Tam shares the principals he has learned about making money. In this episode Jesse explains that getting to know one’s own values, and motivations, is the first step on the path to wealth. Understanding the true “value” of money is a philosophical journey that everyone has to take on their own path to success. Life may not be fair, but with Jesse’s tips each of us can carve out our own bit of happiness.

04 November 2010

Self re-invention through social media: the case study

In this episode Bob Fine recalls how unemployment led him down a path of discovering the power of social media, and a new world of possibilities leading to setting up conferences around the world. It sounds a little like déjà vu, seeing as how I’ve gone down this same path myself.

Now Bob has even put together a book highlighting experiences of numerous people who have re-discovered themselves, and found opportunities, just like Bob.

You can check out Bob’s book here at http://thebestofsocial.com/.

03 November 2010

This Week on Bear radio: What does the rise of Republican power in congress mean for the economy?

With election results coming in from across America today, we discuss what impact change in congressional leadership will have on the economy. In this episode we also ponder whether the Republicans will regret their victory if the Great Recession has a double dip. Politicians may have relatively little impact on the economy, one way or the other, but they get the blame when things go wrong as well as acclaim when there is prosperity.

You can check out our special guest Chaster Johnson's unique investment fund, run by the investors themselves at Charlefund.

01 November 2010

Making the most of Linked:Seattle meetups

Michael Surkan and Susan J. Moore discuss how a little preparation can turn the large Linked:Seattle meetups into successful social networking events. Whether you are an executive, professional, entrepreneur, job-seeker or recruiter, Linked:Seattle meetups offer one of the best ways to make valuable connections to help with your business or career needs. Anyone can join Linked:Seattle (http://bit.ly/LinkedSeattle).

Don’t forget to tell your friends about the upcoming meetup. You can check out the attendee list, and RSVP yourself here:
http://bit.ly/lsmeetup

A special thanks to Greg Palmer for producing this excellent video.

NOTE: Click here for a list of all the Linked:Seattle radio show recordings. You can also check out my own "Entrepreneurs Northwest" podcast shows (http://bit.ly/epnwfeed).