m-Bossed

Thank You! m-Bossed.com Passes a few Milestones

photo by: Aidan Jones

To all of those who have visited, read, and commented, Thank You! You are the reason that this print media blog has continued and was able to pass a couple of recent milestones.

If have visited but not signed up for the RSS feed or e-mail subscription (on the left), please take the time so you do not miss any of the posts.

If you have comments or suggestions on the what topics you would like to see this year, please e-mail.

@All
How are you setting your bar? Do you put more emphasis on unique page views, comments, link backs, or longevity?

Thanks Again!

DIY Printing

Cloud Software + Digital Printing + Distribution Channel = Rise of DIY Printing

photo by: rynosoft

Legions of do-it-yourselfers are creating and selling goods over the Web since technology and infrastructure have driven down the barriers of entry to almost nil. Stay at home Moms and other crafty people are making small batch products to sale sell on Etsy. Tinkerers familiar with computer aided design (CAD) are selling design plans and products from lamps to toys on Ponoko. As of now, there is no marketplace with equal sophistication for printing but might be possible.

Do you use Yahoo! Mail, gMail, or maybe even Hotmail? Each of these is a cloud based application that is used remotely from any computer with an Internet connection accessing the "cloud." Flash, XML, CSS, PHP, HTML5, et al., represent the nerdy backbone that powers all of the sophisticated uses of the web we know and love from checking e-mail to watching Hulu. These sites provide one basic functionality, respectively e-mail and video streaming, but there are cloud based applications that are quite advanced. Salesforce and Google Docs are just two examples that are full featured, cloud replacements for traditional software. Software as a service (SaaS) offers many benefits to the end users such as accessibility, price, maintenance, backup, and overhead. As for a print application, the key is in the ability to make the software accessible and sophisticated yet overly simplistic for the end user. The application would also need to interface on the back end with a number of digital printing devices. EFI's recently released Fiery Vue (movie) application shows promise in two of the three areas but still requires client software installation.

The second issue to address for DIY Printing is the actual printing devices. Whether it is a digital proofer or digital press, the device itself is dumb! It is the software interfaces that drives the true capabilities and output of the machine. Such software must be able to control and monitor every aspect of the device to offer absolute automation. The machines must also be equipped to offer the most automation similar to what has been done with the Espresso Book Machine. With the correct mix of software and hardware end users using a web interface could submit, pay, and monitor their printed creativity.

Unlike Etsy or Ebay, a DIY Printing operation needs physical equipment to produce the goods instead of pooling a a vast amount of finished goods from individuals. If you want to offer pickup service instead of shipping the printed product, which could be cost prohibitive, a DIY Printing operation would need the infrastructure and distribution possibilities of a FedEx Office (formerly Kinko's). Contrary to what you may be thinking FedEx Office or similar does not currently offer this type of service. At these outfits, you need to upload or hand over your files to an operator and pay high rates in return for your printed product - no cloud, no end user control, no automation. Naturally this leaves two possibilities, partner with an existing national outfit or possibly franchise a low cost, high profit outfit similar to the promises of the Social Print Experiment.

Services and marketplaces like Etsy and Ponoko suggest a market exists for DIY Printing, the only question is who will build it?

Career Redux: Forward Progress

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Career Redux Series

10 Steps after being Laid Off | Find Your Zen | Forward Progress

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The initial shock has passed, you have found a zen like calm, and now you are ready to move on. Brace yourself. The average job search is running at all time highs of six and a half months. The job pool is loaded causing downward pressure on the unemployed as the few employers, who are hiring, are holding all of the cards. Now is the time to break out the job search arsenal and prepare an attack.

Remember to continue with your exercise plan and reading to stay energized and mentally fit. If cash flow problems start to pop up during the waiting period of severance or unemployment, then consult the personal finance resources mentioned in the 10 steps.

During the months and years of being "on the job" also translated into making contacts both within and outside of your previous employer. Write every name and contact information down in a list if you have not kept up with this information in the past. After you have the work contacts, write down every non-work contact. Next, categorize the list by a contact method such as phone call, e-mail, etc. Now work your network by reaching out to explain how much of an influence each person has had on your career or life, thanking them for this role, and asking for suggestions, guidance, and leads to assist in the transition. Do not procrastinate because of embarrassment or unwillingness to broach the subject. Call or e-mail now. Really.

Redux Action Plan

• Exercise • Continue Reading • Work Your Network • Become a "Social"ite • Revisit Campus Life • Accumulate Experiences

Socialites of the past probably conjure a stuffy, heir apparent image. No longer, they are the masses that are finding a purpose and honing their voice through different media outlets. Are you a disbeliever? Go do a Google name search, after all potential employers will be. Odds are the search will return more information than expected. Start controlling that information through the use of the big three: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Fortunately, the hardest part of using these social platforms is just getting started. Go now and sign up for an account, seek out others, and try to mimic their success. Be sure to observe others while creating your unique "voice" and then start expanding your network.

• Facebook Tutorial
• Twitter Tutorial
• LinkedIn Guidelines

Take this opportunity to push yourself professional and personally. This might include signing up for continuing education courses either online or at a local community college. Also consider volunteering for a local non-profit which will offer perspective on your current situation. Finally, consider joining Toastmasters or a local comedic improvisational troupe to sharpen your public speaking skills.

Career Redux: Find Your Zen

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Career Redux Series
10 Steps after being Laid Off | Find Your Zen

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Losing a job is a life changing event. Life changing events, by nature, throw you for a loop. The loss of a job, particularly the longer your tenure, can trigger an emotional roller-coaster reaction that clouds your judgment. This is exactly why after performing job triage, you need to re-focus, re-balance, and find your place of zen. Although this might sound new age and hokey, the mind needs time to process what has happened and what needs to happen to move forward. A week's worth of time should allow for much needed physical exercise, relaxation, and self evaluation.

During this week it is important to get moving with an exercise routine. Instead of spending money on a gym membership, think of different ways to break a sweat. Much delayed house repairs or yard work not only adds value to your home but offers a mental distraction and physical labor. Search out state or national parks in your area that offer hiking, swimming, or canoeing. Maybe participate in low cost groups sports such as bowling. The activity is not as important as the positive affect from the physical challenge, so get moving.

Redux Plan

• Exercise • Creative Relaxation • Reading • Self Reflection

Odds are that you have been a dedicated employee for quite some time, so it might be hard to adjust to the new reality of not having a set schedule. Allocate part of your time during the first week to pure relaxation but be aware not to dwell on negative thoughts or the past. Try to do activities that you find enjoyable whether it be watching movies or reading books.

Looking for a Tony Robbins style motivational pick me up? You might want to use some of this week's time to brush up on the reading you have previously neglected. Consider it constructive help from a few of today's business and human resource thought leaders. The following books should give you encouragement and insights to plot your next steps.

	48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller
	The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
	Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuck
	Linchpin: Are you Indispensable? by Seth Godin
	Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi
	The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell