Reinaldo's Blog

Creating an Online Internet Profile (OIP)

For a music band that isn’t connected to a record label, OIP is vital.

The notion that alternative music need not use social networking tools because of pop fads or trends is now outdated. Whether you produce folk music, death hip-hop or political punk rock or even opera, a credible internet presence can do nothing else than enhance your reputation.

Currently the internet is an inexpensive medium that reaches a mass audience of distinct ages and demographics. Being accessible to distant fans can take your success higher than what was possible ten years ago, and this is possible without much budget spent on advertising. Now let’s look at the tools available.

Social Media

The above concept has changed the way we view networking and even critics cannot play down the influence and significance of this trend called web 2.0.

There are more than enough useful applications to use on the internet. While it is advisable to have several appearances or entrance points online, it isn’t necessary to use every one available as maintenance becomes time consuming. It’s best to stick with the most common ones as the audiences there are larger. Now let’s investigate the crucial applications you need to have to create that mass following. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most difficult aspects for IT professionals is gaining support for IT spending. Executives are skeptical about IT solutions and are very reluctant to release any funds.

This article will focus on the difficulty encountered when trying to sell information security projects and Disaster Recovery Plan projects to business managers or financial officers.

Why is it that so many managers view IT as an additional component of their business operations?

I can suggest a few possible reasons:

• Bad experiences in the past
• IT is viewed as a liability instead of an asset
• Lack of knowledge, complexity, technical language, all intimidate people from becoming IT fluent and aware
• Inability to perceive the Return On Investment  of any IT-related project
• Misconceptions about the reality of their current IT situation and state of the organisation
• Lack of planning. No IT strategy, No roadmap
• Business plan does not factor in any IT elements or spending

The reality is this. There are two ways to spend money on IT.

1. You can undertake planned spending OR
2. You can undertake un-planned spending.

Do you want to allocate $0 to an IT budget forecast and pay as you go along?

Sure, make inaccurate predictions for the next fiscal year that look impressive and then bleed funds from the company’s bank account during the year as incident behind incident occurs.

At the start of the year, your predictions look healthy. The balance sheet is in your favour and you have the extra money to buy more assets. During the year, IT costs go from $0 to $10 000 – sometimes overnight – to cater for your unprecedented incidents or minor disruptions. At the end of the year, 5 disruptions later and $20 000 afterward…you’ve moved from point A to? Read the rest of this entry »

I was lucky to stumble across a Youtube video in 2007 about shaving the old fashion way with a badger hair brush and barber’s soap. Thanks to the Mantic59 Youtube channel and blog, many men around the world now enjoy a satisfying shave every morning.

I will use this post to introduce the basic equipment needed for a good shave. Here is the list:

• Badger hair shaving brush (synthetic or bristle brushes may also work)
• Shaving soap or cream (Nothing out of an air-compressed can)
• 1 double edged shaving handle (also known as, safety razor)
• 1 double edged razor blade
• 1 non-alcoholic after shave or skin moisterizer
• Hot water, cold water
• Towels (optional)
• 1 bowl, 1 mug and a sink

You always hear about the importance of networking as if it were a must do task in order to find success in your professional career. This idea can seem as intimidating as blind dating but it’s not too hard to do.

The other day I realised that out of the seven jobs I have attained in my life only one of them was achieved without networking. I don’t think this reflects badly on nepotism but demonstrates the relevance of networking and establishing relationships with people from all walks of life.

Not all networking needs to be related to careers and ambitious people. You can establish meaningful relationships with people without ever calculating the benefit you can obtain. The jobs I have done in the past came through people I knew directly but every person was known through a different aspect of my life. Read the rest of this entry »