Focusing despite the Internet

For a long time, I have been skeptical of exactly how much increased productivity we can claim businesses really enjoy as a result of the Internet. Don't get me wrong, networked apps, apps deployed in browsers, all helpful tools. But on many occasions I ask myself where we crossed the line.
If, like me, you manage by walking around, it should not be lost on you how many of your employees are browsing non-work websites, doing personal e-mails or exchanging instant messages with their friends (often in the next cube). I don't begrudge some of this, but I could also equally argue for blocking many popular websites and instant message ports at the firewall.
Never one to be a hypocrite, I too lose time to the siren song of the Internet: How's the stock market doing?, for example.
Well even if we are not prepared to visit an Internet-free wasteland on our employees, then perhaps, on occasion, it would be helpful to visit it on ourselves by removing ourselves from the distractions offered by the Internet. A recent article in the Economist introduced me to some new possibilities.
Software is available to block your PC from the Internet allowing you to focus solely on the job at hand. This seems to me like an excellent plan. Probably the best is Anti-Social, which just turms off social networking sites. The category leader is Freedom, a gift at $10. Other contenders worth looking at are Isolator or LeechBlock.
These all work a bit differently. Take a look and comment what you think.

Public Affairs 101 -- business politics for beginners

Although the reason is lost on me, many, no, most business executives and owners refuse to become politically savvy. Maybe it's because they think they will be solicited for donations -- not true -- or maybe they are just ignorant of the potential upsides of simply communicating well with your elected representatives.

Regardless of your political affiliation or that of your elected representatives -- on a local or national sphere -- you should let them and their staff know what you are doing, your triumphs, issues and problems. They genuinely want to know and help (mostly). The time to get to know your elected representatives is always before you need help. Your elected reps can be a source of help and referral in ways that may not have occurred to you, however you should always be prepared to answer the question: "How can we help?".

I have found a good formula to be one of hosting a sub sandwich lunch for employees and the Member, where the Member can either deliver prepared remarks or mingle and take questions -- or all three. This is usually preceded by a brief tour of your facility and a conversation of what you do well, current issues and problems, etc.

We recently hosted Congressman Harry Mitchell at our Scottsdale offices. Congressman Mitchell serves on the House committees on Veterans Affairs, Science & Technology and Transportation & Infrastructure. If they are relevant to your business, you should also understand what your Representative's subcommittee assignments and responsibilities are. In later posts we will talk about mobilizing your constituency on issues of importance to you.

The key point is, you can make an impression on your legislators: (I happen to think Congressman Mitchell actually wrote or dictated the letter we received)

Vegas as an economic barometer?

I am beginning to understand why the Consumer Discretionary sector is doing so well in the financial arena. When I was in Las Vegas in February the town seemed quiet once we moved away from the massive trade show we were attending. I'm back in Vegas for the AICPA Technology conference, and my, how things have changed. The conference is at Bellagio, and it's busy. A lot of the guests are from Europe and right now, their currencies aren't that strong against the dollar. However that doesn't seem to be holding them back much. I chatted with some of the hotel staff and they too said there was more work available.

I also too a walk to the new Aria hotel which is part of the massive City Center development, which is funded by two billion dollars from Dubai. That property too is hopping. It has an unusual feel to it -- to me it felt like being inside a space station, which description was confirmed for me by another conference goer I talked with. The accompanying picture is a sculpture outside the Vdara hotel, with the Aria in the background. Long story short, unlike February, there is a lot of money being spent in Vegas, which rather puts the lie to other stories of doom and gloom, notwithstanding the stagnant jobs market. My conclusion is that those with jobs are starting to spend again.