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No Pets, No Plants
No pets!* No plants!**
This is how my friend Deb describes me to people who wonder how as a
single parent I work full-time and raise two children without the help of
1) a significant other or 2) my birth parents. What Deb doesn't mention is
that Sun is a great place to work and as a Sun employee I'm provided
with a great benefits package and a flexible environment which enables
me to do both.
I've taken advantage of Sun's:
Adoption
Assistance Plan
Child
Care Benefits (including a 10% discount on community tuition rates!)
And on top of the list is Sun's Open Work environment and the ability
to work anywhere, anytime!
I sometimes wonder how many employees fully utilize our benefits
package.
Did you know Sun is part of Bright
Horizons Network
Access Program which features free back-up childcare, primarily at
its centers in Cupertino, Burlington and Broomfield (Boulder)? When I
was a mother of one, my eldest daughter Xiaoya would occasionally
accompany me on non-customer facing business trips to the Broomfield
campus. I'd simply buy her an airplane ticket, pay for the cost of
renting a car seat from Avis and of course her meals, and she'd attend
the Boulder Journey
School while I was at work in Broomfield -- and I didn't pay a
dime for her to attend daycare in Boulder as she was already a student
at one of Bright Horizons' centers in suburban Chicago. Now six and a
recent kindergarten graduate, Xiaoya still asks to go back to "the school in
the mountains."
And as part of my ongoing professional development at Sun, I recently
participated in Ragan's
Corporate Communicators Conference in Chicago to help get me
up-to-speed on the whole social media thing--so here I am writing my
first blog entry.
*Since I have no pets, I thought I needed an appropriate engagement
into dogblog.
**I must confess, I just bowed to kid pressure on a recent trip to IKEA and I bought some bamboo; we've
read too many stories about bamboo-eating pandas who share the native
homeland of the People's
Republic of China with my kids.
Posted at 02:38PM Jun 01, 2007 by leslieh in Humor | Comments[0]
Small world
Seven years ago, my husband (Chris) lost one of his favorite things while hiking at the Delaware Water Gap- his college ring.
Last week, Chris received an email at work from a man who claimed to have found his college ring. Apprehensively, Chris contacted the man who sent the email, and was able to determine that, yes, this man had in fact found his ring.
Chris asked him "How did you find it?" The man said he was hiking at the Delaware Water Gap, wandered off trail to use "the facilities" and saw the sun glaring off something shiny in the ground. When he looked more closely at the object, he saw it was a ring, so he picked it up and took it home with him.
Then Chris asked him "How did you find me?" The man said, "Your name and school is on the ring, so I looked you up on LinkedIn."
Social media sure makes this world smaller, doesn't it?
Posted at 02:01PM May 21, 2007 by gillian in Sun | Comments[1]
Am I agile enough?
I'm usually pretty risk averse and fairly traditional when it comes to communications approaches and tools. But the buzz about social media is ear-splitting! It's fun, cool and hip! And who doesn't want to be fun, cool and hip? Everyone is trying stuff out. Some of us more aggressively and more succesfully than others, but we're all giving it a try. I have to admit that it's a really big leap for me and I'm not really sure if I'm as agile as some of my colleagues-however, it occurred to me that I could learn a lesson from my cat, Maui. (No, he's not a dog, but it's relevant so stay with me)
Maui is 19 years old. I think he's still pretty cute and although he's not the fierce hunter, loner or acrobat that he once was, he's still full of spunk- teasing and delighting me with his feline tricks and foibles. Lately, I noticed that although he's still willing to explore and try new things, he can't do everything the way he used to-he's slower and much more cautious. Case in point, in the past he'd take a running leap to jump to the top of our fence. Now, he's figured out a way to carefully climb up. The end result is the same. He's on top of the fence, king of the yard and in charge! Hmm! That's what I would call "adaptive agility". I'm going to have to get me some!
Posted at 03:39PM May 09, 2007 by italiana in Humor | Comments[3]
Irritating Business Jargon!
Bucket.....Empower.....Win-Win.....Client-Centered.....Solution.....Others?
The Boston Business Journal has a survey where you can vote for the business jargon that irritates you most.
I just voted and chose OTHER and submitted the word LEVERAGE.
Everytime someone tells me that they want to 'leverage' something that I do, I think, "What do you mean by 'leverage' my work? Are you, in fact, asking if you can 'steal' my work and claim it as your own?"
Once you vote for your favorite most irritating business jargon word/phrase, you can view the unscientific results and read some of the comments that others submitted. (I found myself nodding as I read thru the list -- one even made me laugh out loud!)
As a one of Sun's internal business communicators, I think that the less jargon (especially with a global audience!) the better. While it may not make for especially 'sexy' reading, using straight-forward, non-jargon words builds a sense of trust with your audience.
It's all about transparency -- which, BTW, is one of the words submitted via comments to the survey!
Earlier today, Grace felt empowered to dig this hole in my garden - notice that it's as big as she is!
Posted at 01:12PM May 07, 2007 by sandyb in Sun | Comments[2]
My Double (Second) Life
In my quest to master the world of social media (ha ha!), I have set up an account on just about every cool new site I've come across.
I've got my bookmarks saved on del.i.cious, my addresses in Plaxo, and I have a flickr account - albeit one with no photos. I even took the time to create a pretty slick-looking avatar in Second Life, but now that I did, I'm not entirely sure what to do with her, I mean, me.
- LinkedIn - The Financial Times of social networking sites. Decidedly professional. Makes me feel slightly guilty about updating my profile, as though I'm cheating on Sun, though I know that's not the case.
- Facebook - I'll call this one Newsweek. Less professionally-oriented than LinkedIn, but heck - Jonathan Schwartz has a profile, so it must be legit.
- MySpace - Teen People. Frankly, I feel a little sketchy working on my profile here. Like, why do I need to tell people my marital status or musical preferences at this point in the game? I think this one's best left to the young'uns. Although - I was able to add my all-time favorite band, Depeche Mode, as a friend. That felt very cool, if very juvenile...but what the heck.
Most recently, I registered for Twitter. I guess the idea here is that you can log on and tell your friends (or anyone, depending on your preferences) what you are doing right now. So far, I have no friends and I refuse to believe strangers care that I'm writing a blog entry right now.
Anyway, I may not entirely know what I'm doing in this brave new world, but like my colleagues, I'm giving it the old college try. More to come on the tools that emerge as my favorites.
And now, because this is the dogblog and it's Lily's 2nd birthday, here's an extreme close up of my girl.
Posted at 01:08PM May 03, 2007 by paris in Sun | Comments[3]
New Google Feature Concerns Me
Some folks might call this new Google feature a "service." Personally, I'm not one of them. I received the following information from my friend, Connie, who happens to be an phenomenal dog trainer in Los Angeles (thus the connection to the DogBlog). Here's the scoop:
Google has implemented a "nationwide reverse directory" feature that enables users to type a telephone number into the search bar, hit enter, and receive a corresponding name and address. Then, by selecting Map, the user will get a map to the person's address. When I tested the Google feature, the address came up as a city and ZIP code only.
If you're running a business, this feature is a positive. But if a child gives out his or her phone number, it's not too difficult for an undesirable, devious person to find out where the child lives. Not good.
Note that Google allows you to have your phone number removed or blocked. Well, that's a good thing
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Posted at 11:02AM May 03, 2007 by caramela in Sun | Comments[4]
Belated Blog Birthday
I'm always up for a party, especially one that lasts a few days!
While I missed the actual day, I'd like to extend the celebration of
the third birthday of blogs.sun.com by sharing a few of my favorite
online spots. This is not an exhaustive list like the Webby Awards,
which recently announced its 11th annual winners, and will likely change as quickly as the
Web does!
Favorite Podcasts
- Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me: If you want your news in gameshow format, this is the program for you.
- Grammar Girl: I thought I was the only one who listened to
grammar girl regularly...and then she shows up on Good Morning America.
- Marketplace: Rundown on business news - not as boring as my brief descriptions suggests!
- The Onion: What can I say, I like fake news. The real stuff can
be so depressing.
- TripAdvisor: This is for the travel junkie who wants to post and
read reviews about the hotel that looks too good to be true.
- evite: What did we do before online invites? Easiest way to get everyone together and to figure out who's bringing what so you don't end up with 10 desserts and nothing to drink!
- Tmac: Who wouldn't want to know what's on the boss' mind and
learn something in the process?
- Jonathan: Class is in session. Required reading.
- Flex Rex: This is one of the first blogs I started to read after seeing my favorite work-from-home 'role model', Flex Rex in action.
Posted at 01:10PM May 02, 2007 by suzannem in Sun | Comments[2]
Who Let the Dogs Out?
The Sun Communicators Blog (aka: Dog Blog) did, of course.
Our dogs (and I bet even some of our cats!) want to join in the celebration of the 3rd year anniversary of blogs.sun.com! (And the one month anniversary of the Dog Blog!)
Grace wishes that her person didn't work in Marketing!
Just 4 weeks old, our group blog - the Dog Blog - is still a puppy! Over the past few weeks, we've opened our eyes, are starting to venture around and are stretching our comfort zones.
Some members of this group blog are considering straying from our little pack to start their own blogs to run with the Big Dogs! (aka: the bloggers who have been doing this since Sun offered this benefit to us 3 years ago today!)
Others are thinking about going for a little walk to work on wikis or social networking sites, instead.
And yet a few of us still like the comfort of our (play) group blog as a way to continue learning from one another and the blogging experts at Sun! (but we're definitely ready for more intermediate-advanced level training as Sun employees start their 4th year of blogging!)
Thank you Sun! And Happy Anniversary Blogs.Sun.com!
Posted at 04:01AM Apr 27, 2007 by sandyb in Sun | Comments[0]
Could there be a better way?
A friend sent me this video of a dog who discovered an innovative way to do the same old thing.
Social media technologies also seem to find better ways to, well, do social media! For example, many users found mySpace to be a better solution
than Friendster to connect with others. And I recently read a blog about how some users who
are getting turned off by wikipedia are turning to Citizendium because of the "gentle expert oversight" it offers.
So I couldn't help but wonder (very Carrie Bradshaw of me), could there and will there be a new and better way to blog?
Posted at 11:52AM Apr 18, 2007 by gillian in Sun | Comments[2]
You Googled My Blog?!?!?!
...But all you found was a Wiki?
A few years ago, the title to this blog entry would have been complete nonsense to us.
But with the web, comes a lot of new words and phrases. Words that are being embedded into our everyday language -- some words are even universal and understood to mean the same in many different languages (that in itself is amazing!)
Google is a good example - especially since it now means so many things (it's a noun, it's a verb, it's a brand, etc), when just a few years ago, the only reference to google was for phrases like "googly eyes."
Another example is "Technoceleb" coined by one of Sun's most popular bloggers, MaryMary.
There's an interesting article in a recent Business Week called Keeping Up with the Web's New Lingo.
It's a quick read. I find it interesting how all of these new words are creating havoc for so many people -- including the editors at Merriam-Webster (the dictionary people.) Figuring out which words will stick around (and if they are even spelled correctly!) must be a very stressful job these days.
As a communicator, I pay attention to these kinds of changes in our culture - it helps me to be better at my job and make the right recommendations to the executives whom I support.
As a recreational Scrabble player, keeping on top of these new words can make a big difference in a winning score. (and the best thing, a lot of these new words include letter tiles with high scores!)
BLOG = 7 points; VLOG = 8 points, WIKI = 11 points, CYBRARIAN = 16 points (DOGBLOG = 11 points!!)
Question: Can I really use these words in Scrabble (let alone in real-life communications)? Are they valid?
Answer: It depends! Am I using the 'reference dictionary' (from pre-Web1.0 days) that is stored with the Scrabble board in my closet or am I using a browser to use Merriam's online dictonary?!?
Woohoo! CYBRARIAN on a triple word square!! I'll confirm that one online the next time I'm challenged.
Posted at 12:28PM Apr 17, 2007 by sandyb in Sun | Comments[0]
No, I have the best job
tMac's blog, "The Best Job At Sun" provided a lot of food for thought. You see, when people ask me about my job, I don't say I have the best job at Sun, I say that I have the best job in the world.
Okay, maybe a little hyperbole. But I do have the best job for me when you consider the challenge and the flexibility, the company itself, and all the smart, fun, caring people with whom I get to associate. Unlike a some, I'm energized by change, which apparently is Sun's middle name. Plus no more daily commute since I work from home most days. For my last job I commuted 25 miles each way -- every day -- much of it in bumper-to-bumper L.A. traffic. I tried to make good use of that time (listening to books on tape; learning to speak Italian), but it was about 10 hours a week, being held hostage on the freeway. A big waste.
Having a cool job adds to everything in my life because I truly enjoy what I do. When you meet folks who don't enjoy their work or the folks with whom they work, you see how it wears on them and slowly sucks the joy out of their lives.
Posted at 09:49AM Apr 16, 2007 by caramela in Sun | Comments[1]
Paraskavedekatriaphobia
That's a fancy word for fear of Friday the 13th.
It's been estimated that $800 million is lost in business on this day
because people will not fly or do business as they normally would
(Dossey). With eight
concalls today, I find that hard to believe! By working from home and
not having to travel, I've rendered paraskavedekatriaphobia
irrelevant.
In honor of this day, I'm posting a shot of my aptly named cat, Dante, who as you can see is as menacing as they come.
But remember: there's nothing to fur, but fur itself (bad pun intended ;). Yes, my black cat has crossed my path several times today, just like any other day. And, no I haven't had a safe fall on my head on the way to Starbucks. Sooo, happy Friday everyone -- whatever day of the month it is!
Posted at 05:09PM Apr 13, 2007 by suzannem in Sun | Comments[4]
Significance vs. Success
Last night, I watched a bit of an Oprah I recorded earlier in the week. The subject was happiness, and how to assess your own degree of happiness in life. Of five regular folks on stage, one of the happiest was a funeral director. (Go figure.) And he said something that I haven't been able to get out of my head. "It's not about being successful; it's about being significant."
I think that's a good mantra.
Posted at 10:27AM Apr 13, 2007 by caramela in Sun | Comments[0]
Say What? I Heard You, But I Wasn't Listening...
There was a 'Far Side' cartoon several years back with a dog apparently listening to it's owner -- all it heard was, "Blah, Blah, Blah...Ginger, Blah, Blah, Blah...Ginger..."
I think of this cartoon every time when I get caught 'multi-tasking' especially while also trying to participate on conference calls. (Even we communicators are have our faults from time to time!)
I know that I should be listening, but someone drops a note to me on instant messenger....or I have an important email to respond to from yesterday...... or I'm trying to figure out how to resize a picture of my dog for this blog....etc, etc!
Then I hear my name and am caught -- I'm 'hearing', but not 'listening'!
But this time, my 'listening' skills should have been put into better use when a co-worker whom I was meeting with (in person!) in California was sharing the excitment of adding a new dog to her family. Of course, this interested me and I asked what kind of dog.
This is what I 'heard' when she responded about the breed: "A something-something spotted dog." (A few others in the meeting remarked, Oh, yeah, I had to look that up on Wikipedia to see what one looked like.)
So now, 3 weeks later, I'm looking at my entries on this blog -- my communications peers are a little behind on their postings (hint! hint!) to the DogBlog andI need something other than ANOTHER Grace picture/story to share.
Ah-ha! How about that 'spotted dog' that Deanna told me about?!
Well, great idea, but I had to get a picture and kind of admit that my listening skills were not as keen as I had been trying to exhibit when I saw her a few weeks ago.
For the sake of keeping this blog fresh and interesting, I broke down and finally asked Deanna for a picture but had to ask a few times for the exact name of the breed. (Apparently, I'm still not listening!) BTW - it's not one of those fancy new breeds that we used to call 'mutts' when I was a kid. (At least I don't think it is -- maybe I should look it up on Wikipedia to make sure?!)
So, now that I've finally listened (and have seen the name in written format!), I can now share the name of this breed with you and introduce you to the new addition to Deanna's family......
It's Sydney........Who happens to be a Louisana Catahoula Leopard Dog!
(Ok, now I see why I kept thinking of something 'spotted'!)
Posted at 06:06PM Apr 11, 2007 by sandyb in Sun | Comments[0]
That'll Do Pig...That'll Do
One of my favorite movies Babe tells the story of a cute little piggy who, in a quest to fit in with the other farm animals, rises beyond his 'pigdom' existence to become a champion sheepherder. After Babe successfully performs his herding duties, Farmer Hoggett lovingly pats him on the head saying, "that'll do pig...that'll do."
So, what does that have to do with this blog post? Brady and Mocha - my fine furry feline friends pictured below - are now rising beyond their feline existence to become a contributing member of Sun's internal communicators' dog-blog community.
Like many of my colleagues on Sun's global employee communications team, I am embracing the social media
explosion by taking my first leap into the blogosphere with this
post. To me, blogging is one of the many many cool benefits of working
@ Sun and I'd be crazy not to take advantage of it.
But,
let me be clear. It's not just about being cool either.
Connecting Sun's employees to our strategy, to our leadershp and to
each other is the charter of this team. So, we must continuously
refine the way we make those connections -- enabling the conversations
our employees want and the company needs.
Now, balancing when and how to use these new communication methods will be a challenge for all of us in the information-overloaded environment we work in. In the words of our leader tMac - thus is the promise and predicament of social networking. It's a perfect time for us to re-think what we've done in the past and what makes most sense moving forward.
I for one, am excited by that opportunity and look forward to the new communications ideas & best practices this team will be contributing to the blogoshpere and to Sun!
Brady & Mocha: Dogs For A Day
Posted at 05:45PM Apr 11, 2007 by lauradav in Sun | Comments[2]
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