Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 126

Screen Time Is Now Good For Us 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 – about 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 of me blathering on about what’s happening in the 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:

We spent years talking about how bad too much screen time is for kids. Now, if your kid is distant learning (like ours), they are on their laptops (usually alone, in their room) from 9 am – 3 pm. Beyond that, kids seem to be on screens all day now. So, screens are now our saviors? This is something I have been thinking about (a lot). The Washington Post has too. They published an article titled, ‘Screen time’ has gone from sin to survival tool. Are screens good or bad for us?
I wrote an article about how to rock your Zoom (or video conference) meetings. Let’s review some of the tips and gear that can make you a video conferencing rock star: How To Rock Zoom Meetings In 10 Easy Steps.
ESPN tries to get celebrities to join their Zoom and it’s hilarious.
Every sporting event and league is shut down. But not Nascar? Well, kind of. Have you seen their virtual races and the iRacing model (Twitch and beyond)? It’s incredible. Here’s an article from The New York Times about it: The Best Thing About NASCAR’s Virtual Races Might Be the Real Competition. 
App of the Week: WeTransfer.

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio.

Alex Tapscott On Blockchain And Business Transformation – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #718 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

I’ve known Alex Tapscott’s father (famed digital visionary, Don Tapscott) for close to two decades. Together they co-authored the prescient book, Blockchain Revolution (over four years ago – which is hard to imagine). Alex is back his latest book, Financial Services Revolution, where he acts as writer, editor and curator for some of the latest thinking on how the blockchain is changing how we buy, save and spend. Alex is a globally-recognized writer, speaker, investor and advisor. His TEDx talk (Blockchain is Eating Wall Street) has been viewed over 700,000 times. Alex co-founded (with Don) the Blockchain Research Institute, a think-tank that is investigating blockchain strategies, opportunities and use-cases. Let’s dive into the blockchain. Did it deliver on its promise? Is the hype real? Still early days? 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 #718.

SPOS #718 – Alex Tapscott On Blockchain And Business Transformation

Welcome to episode #718 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #718 – Host: Mitch Joel. I’ve known Alex Tapscott’s father (famed digital visionary, Don Tapscott) for close to two decades. Together they co-authored the prescient book, Blockchain Revolution (over four years ago – which is hard to imagine). Alex is back his latest book, Financial Services Revolution, where he acts as writer, editor and curator for some of the latest thinking on how the blockchain is changing how we buy, save and spend. Alex is a globally-recognized writer, speaker, investor and advisor. His TEDx talk (Blockchain is Eating Wall Street) has been viewed over 700,000 times. Alex co-founded (with Don) the Blockchain Research Institute, a think-tank that is investigating blockchain strategies, opportunities and use-cases. Let’s dive into the blockchain. Did it deliver on its promise? Is the hype real? Still early days? Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 59:36.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Subscribe over at iTunes.
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 Alex Tapscott.
Financial Services Revolution.
Blockchain Revolution.
Blockchain is Eating Wall Street.
Blockchain Research Institute.
Follow Alex on Instagram.
Follow Alex on Twitter.
This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #718 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #511

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, 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: 

Photographer Captures Frozen Waves of Colorado Lake Looking Like Glass Dunes – My Modern Met . “You’ve probably heard of those rocks that appear to move across flat deserts. Well, did you know waves can suddenly freeze solid? If you can’t get outside much, these shots will make you smile.” (Alistair for Hugh).
I Have Important New Questions About The Johnnycabs In Total Recall – Jalopnik . “We can all use a little relief from the constant barrage of news, statistics, and newly-minted bloggers. So, I’m going to change it up a bit this week. If you’re like me, the nineties adaptations of Sci-fi flicks like Total Recall, Johnny Mnemonic, and their ilk were goofy and ham-fisted, but fun. Revisiting them (which you may be doing on Netflix anyway) is fascinating if only to see what we got wrong (An SD card under Keanu’s skull would have solved a lot of problems, TBH). Anyway, here’s a take on the self-driving cabs of Total Recall, seen through modern eyes. Predicting the future is hard, man.” (Alistair for Mitch).
13 Levels of Beatboxing: Easy to Complex – Wired – YouTube . “How to beatbox. Boots. Ts’. Cats. Ts’. Boots. Ts’. Cats. Ts’.” (Hugh for Alistair)
Oceans can be restored to former glory within 30 years, say scientists – The Guardian . “Some good news?” (Hugh for Mitch).
Why it’s too early to start giving out “immunity passports” – MIT Technology Review . “I saw someone post this comment on Facebook when this concept was mentioned: ‘What color will the star be that we have to wear?’ It really hit home. As much as we’re worried about Covid 19, we have become a very strange society. Watching our neighbors, seeing who is a passenger in a car, analyzing people in the park… in the supermarket. Before the pandemic, we worried about big companies and their surveillance. Now, it’s all of us doing it to all of us. How will this shake out? At what price our privacy and security?” (Mitch for Alistair).
SlowTV – YouTube . “How to chill… YouTube style. Endless videos of endless scenes to help you take it easy in a world where nothing is easy anymore.” (Mitch for Hugh).

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

How To Rock Zoom Meetings In 10 Easy Steps

It’s the new reality.

We’re all working from home. We have learned to deal (and be understanding) when kids, pets, spouses, parents, and other humans walk in on our business meetings on Zoom. This is all a part of our current reality. They are all business-acceptable realities that we should all be cool (and comfortable) with. It’s human, we’re at home and this is us. Still, there are many ways to make Zoom (or any other video conferencing platform) that much better. This matters even more for leaders, or those who are leading/presenting during a virtual meeting.

Here’s 10 ways to make video conferencing meetings rock (and make you a rock star in the process):

Position yourself. Sit close-ish to the screen. If you are using a good headset (see #4 below), I’d recommend sitting a little bit further back than having your face fill up the whole screen, and even a little off of center. It creates more of an atmosphere and makes the overall shot a little bit more interesting to look at. Zoom has fun feature called “touch up my appearance” in the settings (under video). Try this if you worry about things like acne, make-up, four o’clock shadow, etc… I don’t use it, but many swear by it.
Position the camera. Ensure that the camera is at eye level. You don’t want your audience looking up your nose, and you don’t want to look like you’re looking down on them (so lower/raise your seat, use a box from around the house to prop up your computer, put some books under your laptop, buy a laptop riser, etc…).
Look at me… in the eyes! As much as possible, look at the camera (and not the screen) when you are speaking/presenting. If you struggle with this, Mark Bowden had a great tip in a video (see the link below): put a post-it note on top of the camera with a big smile on it… or a picture of someone that you care about.
Sound quality matters. Do not use the mic that is built into your computer, smartphone or tablet. It sucks. A simple solution is to get a headset with a mic built into it. There are many options. I use HyperX Cloud Pro (mostly). You can do better. You can do worse. You also buy an external microphone (try USB ones to start off, you can get fancier with professional studio microphones if you have to). The main thing about great audio is also using headphones (this way the audio that is coming in doesn’t bleed into your microphone then back into the chat as feedback). I also use in-ear monitors and a more pro mic (depending on how important the meetings is).
Silence is golden. This is a rule that I picked up from my early days in podcasting. When you’re not speaking, use the mute button. As a recent meme put it: Not muting is the new reply-all (don’t do it). Zoom has a very cool trick for this: Stay on mute, and just hold the spacebar when it’s your turn to talk (when you let go of the spacebar, you’re back on mute). Many of the better quality headsets and external microphones also have mute buttons.
Sounds that don’t come from speaking. Avoid eating, shuffling and typing during a call – you may as well not be present. Stay present. If you need to do something else, excuse yourself via texting in the chat, and ensure that both your audio is muted and the video is off. Some people have not turned off their video, and let’s just say that there are plenty of new and viral videos giving overly personal tours of the bathroom. Don’t become the next viral video.
Let the light shine on you. Good lighting is important. Don’t sit with windows behind you. Ideally face as many windows as you can. If you have bad lighting, add some lamps. If it’s still bad, invest in a ring light (Amazon has many options – see the link below). I had to reorganize my home office so that I am facing the windows. It was a worthy investment of time.
It’s not easy being green. Virtual backgrounds and screens seem to be the new “wallpaper” these days. Here’s a thought from Laura Gassner Otting that I prescribe to: don’t use a green screen or a virtual background. It’s fake. Fake makes it impersonal. Zoom and all video conferences already create these weird impersonal barriers. Make Zoom better by being more personal than fake. Put some nice and memorable objects in the background (books that you love, pictures of your kids, etc…). The idea is to make this experience personal… not fake.
Steady now. Try to keep the camera as stable as possible (this is especially true if you’re using a laptop or smartphone). Some smartphones have built-in stabilizers, but it’s often not enough. I’ve seen some pretty shaky cams, and it’s like being on a roller-coaster ride after eating way too much fish n’ chips. Don’t turn your Zoom meeting into a vomit comet.
Don’t worry, be happy. As my friend Mark Bowden says: Smile. Be happy. We’re all struggling. Be the one that everyone else wants to see on screen. With that, these are long and hard days. Keep the content short and often rather than one long session.

Bonus: Always password protect your sessions (it matters) and – if possible – don’t use wifi. Plug your computer directly into your router and shut down all other software that is running on your computer. This will make the connection much better. Promise.

Two other great resources on this that provided some inspiration for this article were:

Seth Godin – Zoom & Skype call tips (the secrets of video conferences).
Mark Bowden – Best Tips for Virtual Meetings & Presentations Working From Home with Expert Mark Bowden.

As for the gear mentioned in this article (and more), I have compiled a massive list on a private Amazon wishlist. Please note, this is the Canadian site, so all you have to do is replace the .ca with .com in your browser bar. I don’t know if this is an affiliate link. If it is, all proceeds will be donated to the Kids Help Phone: Amazon – Mitch Joel – Video Studio Wishlist.

Any other ideas for optimizing video conference calls?

Joe Ayoub On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

Joe Ayoub 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 #64 – Joe Ayoub.

Groove – Episode #64: Joe Ayoub by No Treble

Who is Joe Ayoub ?

You have to be the kind of player who can play just about anything to get the gig in the American Idol house band. From genre jumping to knowing how to read music effortlessly, to figuring out the right tones and instruments to make the singers sound their best (which is more pressure than you might imagine). It’s the kind of job that Joe Ayoub shines at. The Los Angeles-based bass player, writer, producer, arranger and musical director can (and has) done it all. Prior to being in the American Idol house band, Joe earned his stripes laying it down for the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Leonard Cohen, Shakira, Liz Phair and many more (including The Carson Daly House Band). He’s frequently been featured on No Treble for playing in videos with Pomplamoose and the amazing covers that Scary Pockets continue to deliver. If you have not spent any time checking out Joe Ayoub, here’s your chance. Enjoy the conversation…

Listen in:  Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #64 – Joe Ayoub.

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.

Just Write

If I only had time to write…

That blog post.
That Facebook post.
That article.
That poem.
That book proposal.
That white paper.
That first draft of a keynote presentation.
That business plan.
That idea for a podcast.
That online course.
That list of ideas.
That list of dreams.
The places that I want to visit.
The friends that I need to follow-up with.

The list goes on…

Grab a notebook.
Not today… but right now.
Not Evernote.
Grab a pen.

Now stop.

Go for a brisk walk first.
Maintain your distance.
Don’t listen to music.
Let your feet and your mind wander.

Come home.

Find a corner.
Find a desk.
Sit down.
Write.
Don’t stop writing.

Then…

Just before you go to bed… 
Read.
Start with 15 minutes.
Read every night.
Don’t stop.
Keep going.
If you don’t read, you will never write.

Write.

Write more.
You don’t have to publish that article.
You don’t have to publish anything.
Just write.
It will change you.
It will change your perception of the world.
It will give you ideas.
New ideas.

It will become a fountain of inspiration in your life.

Carry around a small notebook in your back pocket.
Take notes.
That’s writing too.
Write down everything that you observe.
The real.
The strange.
The people.
The things those people say.
If you never had the time to write, now you do.
It’s one of the few things that can thank the virus for.
Permission granted.

Just write.

Zoom Brings Us Closer Together 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 – about 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 of me blathering on about what’s happening in the 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:

Video is (really) all the rage these isolated day. From hosted trivia nights to playdates for kids to standing meetings with your team at work. Zoom has been under fire for their security measures. They have responded. Just how impactful is video conferencing and how has it changed (improved?) our current lives on a daily basis? In a word: massive.
What are your reading during this lockdown? I have a few gems. Currently, I am re-reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, but here are some other suggestions in terms of business and non-fiction books:
Daring Greatly – Brene Brown.
The Happiness Trap – Russ Harris.
The Art of Stillness – Pico Iyer.
Limitless – Laura Gassner Otting.
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield.
The Advice Trap – Michael Bungay Stanier.
Restoring The Soul of Business – Rishad Tobaccowala.
App of the Week: Not an app, but please watch this from TED: Bill Gates and Chris Anderson discuss Covid 19 – How we must respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio.

Vinh Giang The Magic of Better Communication – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #717 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

This is the first conversation that I recorded in our current Covid 19 world. I wanted to discuss the power of communications, and how we can get better, and add much more empathy to the way that we are connected. Especially in a world that is now work from home, remote and more isolated than ever before. I knew that I wanted to have that conversation with my friend, Vinh Giang. For more than 15 years, Vinh has dedicated himself to mastering the art of performance-enhanced communication, helping thousands of professionals worldwide do the same through the power of magic. In his inspiring keynote talks, workshops and presentations, Vinh integrates storytelling and magic to share key business strategies while motivating his audience to embrace change and see the “possible in the impossible.” His backstory? With only six months to graduate, Vinh left his degree in commerce and law to become an online magic teacher. This leap of faith became a hugely successful online business, 52kards, which now serves over 800,000 students globally, and earned Vinh the award of Top Young Entrepreneur in Australia. Vinh is also the CEO of Luminary Productions, which produces exceptional video for individuals and companies all around the globe. Enjoy the diversion and 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 #717.

SPOS #717 – Vinh Giang The Magic of Better Communication

Welcome to episode #717 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #717 – Host: Mitch Joel. This is the first conversation that I recorded in our current Covid 19 world. I wanted to discuss the power of communications, and how we can get better, and add much more empathy to the way that we are connected. Especially in a world that is now work from home, remote and more isolated than ever before. I knew that I wanted to have that conversation with my friend, Vinh Giang. For more than 15 years, Vinh has dedicated himself to mastering the art of performance-enhanced communication, helping thousands of professionals worldwide do the same through the power of magic. In his inspiring keynote talks, workshops and presentations, Vinh integrates storytelling and magic to share key business strategies while motivating his audience to embrace change and see the “possible in the impossible.” His backstory? With only six months to graduate, Vinh left his degree in commerce and law to become an online magic teacher. This leap of faith became a hugely successful online business, 52kards, which now serves over 800,000 students globally, and earned Vinh the award of Top Young Entrepreneur in Australia. Vinh is also the CEO of Luminary Productions, which produces exceptional video for individuals and companies all around the globe. Enjoy the diversion and enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 56:39.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
Subscribe over at iTunes.
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 Vinh Giang.
52kards.
Luminary Productions.
Stage Workshop.
Follow Vinh on Instagram.
Follow Vinh on Twitter.
This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #717 – Host: Mitch Joel.