http://christinethompson-blog.com Christine Thompson> What's on my mind Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:07:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Last winter I tried an early version of Acrobat Connect, and panned it. It was unreliable, so using it with clients was too risky. Since then Adobe has overhauled the service, and it's become quite useful when meeting with small groups for online demonstrations or collaboration. I particularly like ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/09/24/acrobat-connect-take-two_83/ This summer I was too busy balancing work with leisure activities to have time for blogging. Instead I enjoyed yoga, sailing, kayaking, tandem biking, some great books and movies -- and socializing with people I care about. Perhaps it's a characteristic of Boomer women -- we'd rather interact with friends ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/09/23/recharging-the-batteries-so-to-speak_90/ Confession: after so many years of composing on a keyboard, I can no longer write or take notes quickly using a pen. Plus, my memory for details isn't what it used to be. My job requires me to interview key stakeholders or subject matter experts on topics that are important to ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/04/10/insider-tip-how-to-remember-conversational-interviews_78/ Entrepreneurs and new product champions are always looking for the secret to market success. A popular formula is to hire "serial entrepreneurs" who've been successful before, assuming that success is transferable from one company to another. This can be risky. As one 8-time entrepreneur writes, Since time immemorial ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/04/10/how-to-succeed-with-a-start-up-or-new-product_77/ The problem with PowerPoint is that it makes it so easy to bore your audience to death. (Been there, done that...) We all know the seductive ease of creating a new presentation: setting up a dozen slides with titles, and then filling in the slides with endless bullet points. ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/04/09/just-the-facts-maam-wrong_76/ At some point in most consulting engagements, someone will ask, "Is everyone else as screwed up as we are?" The answer, of course, is yes. Most consultants' business opportunities are created by their clients' inability to solve (or communicate) vexing problems or challenges. And now there's a deceptively simple ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/04/08/the-power-of-clarity_67/ Today I was struck with how many people are writing and debating about the secrets to successful marketing. Seth Godin has a new book out; the CMO Council has released a major report on B2B marketing; and I stumbled across a blog that challenges the validity of the classic ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2008/01/23/this-is-a-great-time-to-be-a-marketer_65/ As 2008 nears, I'm resolved to make room for a more balanced life, less cluttered with frenzy and meaningless busyness. Yoga helps, but it's time to invest in some mental and lifestyle "housekeeping" as well. As a first step toward de-cluttering, I've decided to consult some expert coaches. I find myself ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2007/12/29/making-room-for-what-really-matters_60/ Wenger, manufacturer of the venerable Swiss Army knife, now sells a 3-pound multifunction "knife" with 87 tools and over 100 uses. No doubt intended for price-insensitive gadget collectors, it carries a hefty price tag of $1200. It reminds me of the current generation of smart phones.   Like ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2007/12/10/giant-swiss-army-knife-a-metaphor-for-smart-phones_55/ A few weeks ago a colleague recommended I try Adobe's new web conferencing service, Adobe Acrobat Connect. The pricing and value proposition looked pretty interesting for a consulting business like mine, so I thought I'd give it a try. I signed up for Adobe's 15-day free trial and did some internal ... http://christinethompson-blog.com/2007/12/10/adobe-acrobat-connect-not-ready-for-prime-time_52/