Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 106

What’s Next For Jeff Bezos? – Tech Tuesday In Two Minutes

What will Jeff Bezos do next when he is no longer the CEO of Amazon?

Everyone knows that Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO from Amazon. What he should do next? What do you think? Blue Origin (his space company)? The Washington Post (he owns it)? A massive charitable foundation? Imagine if he did focus on charity? He could make a bigger dent in our world than the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation… or… will he just play golf and grow a fried chicken gut? I believe that Jeff Bezos without a full-time job may be the most productive version of Jeff Bezos that the world will see and remember him for.

This is what Heather Backman and I discussed this morning over on Jack 103 FM for a couple of minutes.

What is Tech Tuesday?

If you ever find yourself wondering… What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….

Mitch Joel · What Will Jeff Bezos Do Next? – Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – February 9th, 2021

A Surprisingly Fun Year For Super Bowl Ads And More On CHOM 97.7 FM

Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am on air at CHOM 97.7 FM radio out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 10 minutes every week – to decode the future. We discuss everything that is happening in the world of technology, digital media and culture. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly on i Heart Radio, if you’re interested in hearing more about what’s happening in the transformation of our digital world. I’m really excited about these weekly hits, because this is the radio station that I grew up listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.

This week we discussed:

What was your favorite Super Bowl ad from last night? As you know, I ran a marketing agency for close to two decades, and was the Chair of the Canadian Marketing Association, so I’m an advertising nerd, and I do pay attention/care about this. Do the TV ads matter? Each ad was sold for about $5.5 million for a 30 second spot. Who will be remembered… who will be forgotten? Living in Canada, we missed a lot of the better ones, and I would argue that a big part of the entertainment value that is the Super Bowl are the ads. Thankfully, Vulture has a great rundown (with all of the ads ready to watch) right here: All the 2021 Super Bowl Commercials. We spoke about Clubhouse the other week, and it continues to grow and grow – which is astounding if you consider that it’s only available on the iPhone (no Android or desktop versions). The company has received enough investment that its valuation sits around $1 billion. Now, Twitter is about to launch Spaces – which is a direct competitor to Clubhouse. Discord has already been in market for many years (and also has a valuation of well past $7 billion). This week, there were Clubhouse rooms that featured Elon Musk, one with Mark Zuckerberg, a book launch for Adam Grant with Malcolm Gladwell, and a lot more. The new world of social audio is evolving and grabbing attention at a quick clip. Clubhouse is HOT! App of the Week: iCloud Passwords allows you to use the same strong Safari passwords you create on your Apple device with Chrome on Windows.

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio. 

Mitch Joel · CTRL ALT Delete – CHOM 97.7 FM – February 8th, 2021

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Dave Crenshaw On How To Master Your Productivity – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #761 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

There are days when I am not feeling at all productive. I usually think to myself, “WWDCD?” Or… “What Would Dave Crenshaw Do?” That’s how much Dave has inspired me, since we both met in a mastermind that was formulated during the early days of the pandemic. What I didn’t know, when I first met Dave, is that he is more than an author, speaker, and famed online trainer, but he really does know how to help leaders master their productivity. If you don’t believe me, look no further than his courses on LinkedIn Learning. The sheer popularity and volume of his teachings are on display (over 35 different courses!). Dave’s courses on LinkedIn Learning – such as Time Management Fundamentals and Improving Your Focus – are consistently among the most popular in the world, and have received tens of millions of views. He has written five books that have been published in eight languages, the most recent/popular of which is The Myth of Multitasking, which just came out in a second edition. He is the founder and CEO of Invaluable Inc., a coaching and training corporation that promotes productive leadership on both the personal and organizational level. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #761.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #761 – Dave Crenshaw On How To Master Your Productivity

Welcome to episode #761 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #761 – Host: Mitch Joel. There are days when I am not feeling at all productive. I usually think to myself, “WWDCD?” Or… “What Would Dave Crenshaw Do?” That’s how much Dave has inspired me, since we both met in a mastermind that was formulated during the early days of the pandemic. What I didn’t know, when I first met Dave, is that he is more than an author, speaker, and famed online trainer, but he really does know how to help leaders master their productivity. If you don’t believe me, look no further than his courses on LinkedIn Learning. The sheer popularity and volume of his teachings are on display (over 35 different courses!). Dave’s courses on LinkedIn Learning – such as Time Management Fundamentals and Improving Your Focus – are consistently among the most popular in the world, and have received tens of millions of views. He has written five books that have been published in eight languages, the most recent/popular of which is The Myth of Multitasking, which just came out in a second edition. He is the founder and CEO of Invaluable Inc., a coaching and training corporation that promotes productive leadership on both the personal and organizational level. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 57:06.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Dave Crenshaw.The Myth of Multitasking.Dave courses on LinkedIn Learning.Follow Dave on LinkedIn.Follow Dave on Instagram.Follow Dave on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #761 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #554

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Social media study finds words that reveal end of romantic relationship – The Times. “I’d like to preface this with the fact that I am in a good, healthy relationship, in case my partner reads this. Researchers looked at 7,000 people who’d announced a breakup on Reddit, and then analyzed their use of language in the months leading up to the breakup. They found a number of changes that suggest we can predict emotional states through the use of certain articles and words. Setting aside the inherent survivorship bias here—what about the people who started using words this way, then didn’t split? It’s a fascinating example of how much metadata can be extracted from online posts. Should we intervene if we think someone might be suicidal? Should we surveil someone who’s becoming radicalized? Ah, the semantics of thoughtcrime.” (Alistair for Hugh). According To Super Bowl Ads, Americans Love America, Animals And Sex – FiveThirtyEight . “I only watch the Super Bowl for the ads. And, since less than a third of America watches this, perhaps it should be titled, ‘Advertisers think Football fans love America, animals, and sex.’ But this is still quite the roundup of Superbowl ads over the years, with some analytics sprinkled atop it.” (Alistair for Mitch). The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald – LibriVox . “I re-read The Great Gatsby last year, and it’s really a great book. Even better, as of January 1st, 2022, it’s in the Public Domain (out of copyright). Kayray, one of LibriVox’s original volunteers, reads a free and fabulous version here.” (Hugh for Alistair).  Chorégraphie d’Excavatrices! – Bertrand Ostiguy Inc. – YouTube . “Excavator choreography to the music of Metallica.” (Hugh for Mitch). How to think about Clubhouse audio strategy – Pacific Content . “It’s been quite the week in social media. Have you been watching the rise of Clubhouse (now a unicorn of valuations)? So, what is Clubhouse? How does it fit into the work of social media (and beyond)? I’ve been tinkering away in there (follow me: mitchjoel). And, with everything that is fascinating about, it’s equally frustrating. The great: start a room (a clubhouse) and it’s live talk radio with live guests This can lead to some great conversations and debates. The bad? Humans can be terrible. Talking is hard. I think people underestimate what it takes to be a good moderator, and what it takes to be compelling. Lots of blah blah blah, if you know what I mean? Still, it’s early days. The competition is heating up (Twitter is rolling out Spaces, Discord, and there are others). Still, it’s a mad dash these days for all things Clubhouse.” (Mitch for Alistair).  How to enjoy coffee – Psyche . “I’m late to the coffee party (it’s been years that it’s been a daily ritual, but not forever). Especially these days… it’s a welcome/much-needed break. I look forward to my first cup in the morning, and it really does give me just a little bit extra when it comes to my energy and focus. So, it’s time to explore coffee a little bit deeper. There’s Lots to learn, and this is a good primer. If you’re looking for a well-deserved break in the day, I highly recommend a hot cup of java… and reading this article.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;): 

David Ellefson From Megadeth On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

David Ellefson is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #74 – David Ellefson.

Who is David Ellefson ?

When you have a guitarist who can create riffs like Megadeth‘s frontman, Dave Mustaine, you just know that the bottom end is going to be driving too. And, in this case – and for many decades – David Ellefson has delivered the goods. Listen to songs like ‘Holy Wars… The Punishment’s Due’, ‘Hangar 18’, ‘Peace Sells’, and the list just keeps on going. David is not only the bass player of Megadeth, but the co-founder and second-longest serving member of the band (after Mustaine). And, while he has been active with Megadeth since 1982 (with a break from the band for a few years), he has always been busy. With various side projects like F5 and Metal Allegiance to authoring books (My Life With Deth, More Life With Deth, and even a fiction thriller titled, Rock Star Hitman), he has his own record label (where he has signed Canada’s Sword and released his latest offering – an album’s worth of covers – called, No Cover) and he even has his own brew of coffee (Ellefson Coffee). For true bass believers, we can’t not mention Altitudes & Attitude (his band with Anthrax‘s bassist, Frank Bello). When we talk about the metal genre, we always talk about the “big four” (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth). It doesn’t get bigger than that, and things can’t get much heavier than the deep bass chops and skills of David Ellefson. Personally, Megadeth’s 1990 release, Rust In Peace, is one of my favorite albums of all time and all genres. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #74 – David Ellefson.

Groove – Episode #74: David Ellefson by No Treble

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends ;). 

Are You Clubhouse Curious? Join Us This Morning…

Have you been following the Clubhouse buzz?

If you’re curious about what Clubhouse is (and if it’s worth you’re time), you can feel free to join Rahaf Harfoush, Laura Gassner Otting and me for a special event titled: Thinkers∞ – A Clubhouse Conversation For Big Idealists. In this event, we are pulling together a gathering on Clubhouse of fellow business/non-fiction authors, professional speakers, thinkers, strategists, and big idealists to discuss ways to get your ideas to spread, and where great ideas come from.

The event is happening today (Wednesday, February 3rd, 2020) at 9 am (EST).

If you’ve never been on Clubhouse, there are some things that you need to know:

The platform is new. It’s scaling fast. This might crash and burn. This is a test.It’s a social audio platform (which is a new concept for many). Yes, Rahaf, Laura, and I will be moderating, but everyone can (and should) contribute to the dialogue.Think of it like talk radio, but everyone can talk… and all at once (thankfully, Rahaf and Laura are skilled moderators).The platform currently only works for iPhone users (Android and desktop versions should be coming soon).Clubhouse is currently by invite only. I have a few guest invites, so if you’re interested please send me a private message and I will do my best to hook you up.The chat should last for around an hour (it will probably stumble on after that).If you just want to listen in, you can… but it’s more fun to hear from many diverse voices.

So, are you Clubhouse curious? Join us: Thinkers∞ – A Clubhouse Conversation For Big Idealists.

And, feel free to follow me over there: mitchjoel.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends). 

Tech Tuesday In Two Minutes

Ever find yourself wondering…

What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….

Here’s what Heather and I discussed over the past few weeks (and you can scroll down to the last one for today’s show on Reddit and GameStop!):

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – December 1st, 2020

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – Webcam Tricks – December 15th, 2020

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – Travel Shaming – January 5th, 2021

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Banning Politicians – Jack 103 FM – January 12th, 2021

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – In Facebook We Trust – January 19th, 2021

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – The Rise of Clubhouse – January 26th, 2021

Mitch Joel · Tech Tuesday – Jack 103 FM – Reedit GameStop Debacle – February 2nd, 2020

Don’t Clip Your Toenails On Your Next Zoom Meeting And More On CHOM 97.7 FM

Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am on air at CHOM 97.7 FM radio out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 10 minutes every week – to decode the future. We discuss everything that is happening in the world of technology, digital media and culture. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly on i Heart Radio, if you’re interested in hearing more about what’s happening in the transformation of our digital world. I’m really excited about these weekly hits, because this is the radio station that I grew up listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.

This week we discussed:

Are we all tired about the GameStop and Reddit debacle? I completely understand, but this is the top story in the technology world these days. A group of folks on Reddit used their stimulus cheques to completely dismantle the hedge funds that were trying to “short” the retailer, GameStop (and other businesses as well). Now, what we’re all seeing (what many knew) is this: Some knowledge about how to utilize certain financial instruments can topple the hedge funds. And, as these hedge fund companies complain that it’s unfair, many are left wondering if those complaints hold little water, considering that what has happened to them is similar to how they have been hollowing out businesses (and making billions) through the suffering of others. The financial mechanicals are complex, but the ethics seem pretty simple.Spotify has a patent to monitor their user’s speech, intonation and emotion to “better” recommend music. We already know that Amazon’s Alexa system can tell by the timbre in your voice if you may be dealing with depression, but how far has this technology evolved? Can it figure out things like your emotional state, gender, age, accent and more? Might this make for better recommendations, or is the data of this information way more valuable than just trying to figure out if it’s a Morrissey kind of day for you? If you’re on a Zoom for work and you are working from home, is it ok to smoke on your call? What about clipping your toe nails? Eating cereal? What about a messy bed in the background? Have we stopped caring about office etiquette even though we’re working for home? If we have, I’d argue we have a problem. It seems like Wired Magazine is on my side.App of the Week: Screenity – A Google Chrome extension for screen recording and annotations.

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio. 

Mitch Joel · CTRL ALT Delete – CHOM 97.7 FM – February 1st, 2021

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Anne Janzer On Writing A Book That Makes A Difference – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #760 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

I have this weird obsession with books about book writing. I collect them. I search them out. I devour them. With that, you would think that I would have written more than two of them myself (not there yet). One of my favorite books about writing is The Writer’s Process by Anne Janzer. The book came out in 2016. A few years back, I started a private Facebook group for business and non-fiction book authors. Writing and coming up with ideas to write is a solitary (for most) experience, so it’s an amazingly powerful space for fellow business and non-fiction book authors to congregate. That’s where I first “met” Anne. She’s authored other books: The Workplace Writer’s Process, Writing To Be Understood, Subscription Marketing, and her latest, Get The Word Out – Write A Book That Makes A Difference. Who should write a book? How do you market a book? If you’ve ever thought about writing a book or how books can be a great way to tell your story, this show is for you. Anne is a fellow writing geek and non-fiction author cheerleader. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #760.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.