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As many of you may know, a few weeks ago, Google launched Chrome, their new internet browser.Since this site is all about “getting lucky”, I decided to wait a little while before posting about this major step for Google so that I can apply a lesson to Chrome instead of just announcing the browser and what it can do for you.If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I am big fan of Google and what they are doing for the internet and the end user.
Do We Need Another Browser?
Everyone has been wondering and talking about why Google would come out with a browser especially since they aren’t making any money off of it.Some people say that Google is trying to take over the word, dominate the net and have as much control over what surfers do as possible.Although there is probably some truth to that, I believe that Google is just trying to give the end users what they want.They want to simplify everything and give their users as many free (or advertise based) tools as possible.Current browsers were built based on the internet of the 1990’s where the average website was a document online.Now with web 2.0, sites are going interactive and cannot be viewed through the same lens as we’ve been using all along.The entire browser is open source so anyone can use it to build or improve their own browsers and applications.
What do People Think About Google Chrome?
I happen to love Chrome and have made it my default browser on all of my computers but I have been getting mixed reviews from others in the blogosphere.There are some plug-ins and features that Chrome is missing right now that Firefox has but I’m pretty sure that Google will catch on quickly and surpass the capabilities of the other browsers.The majority of the negative opinions on Chrome that I have heard are from the web designer’s side.Now designers and webmasters have one more browser to optimize their sites for.From the consumer side, it’s pretty much all positive except for a few sites that have not yet been optimized for Chrome and look a little messed up.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom line is that Google is making things easier for the end user and in this world that is all that really counts.The lesson we can take from Google is to do as much as we can make the end user happy even if it inconveniences us a little (or a lot) in the process.Companies are no longer in the position to tell their consumers to “take it” or “leave it”.If we don’t give the consumers what they want, they’ll leave and let the whole world know about it.
On Thursday I wrote that Seth Godin only likes to do something if he can do it “really well” which is consistent with his message to companies to be “remarkable”.Now while that is great advice for a company to only do things well that you can be remarkable at, I don’t believe it to be true for the individual in general.
Companies, to be successful must have a mission and have everything they do fit into that mission.If they put in half efforts, they will get less than half results.It is the additional 20% or the “extra mile” that gives a company their results.
Individuals are different in that sense because people have to discover their mission in life.They don’t have a great idea one day and define their life based on that idea.They have to keep trying new things and see what they enjoy and what sticks.People go to school to get a rounded education to see what is out there and hopefully begin their journey in life.Each new day brings new opportunities to the individual.He can change jobs, careers, start new businesses volunteer, vacation and retire.Each step of the way he can try new things and adopt them or drop them on his journey through life.It is the trying new things out that will prepare him to get lucky down the line.I must say though that this advice is only when you are playing around on your own and testing out the waters.When you are starting a business, applying for a job or to a school, or giving a presentation, the individual must also be remarkable.It is the best way to guarantee that you will be successful.
For companies, every step has to be so well thought out and they can’t just pick things up and drop them whenever they feel like it.It would look terrible for a company to start a blog and not update it for a month or to get a twitter account, collect followers and never update.An individual can do these things.If he enjoys keeping the blog or updating his tweets, he can do something with it.But if he doesn’t, nobody is really going to think differently about him.
If you are a business, be remarkable and only do what you can do better than anyone else.If you are an individual, try anything and everything that even remotely interests you because it is the journey that defines who you are and who you become.
Problogger posted a while back about a conversation he had with Seth Godin about Twitter.Seth mentioned that he doesn’t use twitter and barely even uses Facebook.He feels that if he does something, he wants to do it really well (which is a whole other post) and it’s better not to do it at all than do a mediocre job.
If Seth Godin Doesn’t Use Twitter, Who is Using His Name on Twitter?
Whoever it is has thousands of followers who think they are following him.That person isn’t really trashing Seth Godin’s name or reputation, but he could if he wanted to.There is so much possible damage that can be done by someone taking your name, so why let them?
Take Ownership of Your Name
Buy the domain name of your name, preferably .com if it’s available.You may even want to buy the .net, .info, .name and any others that are available.At $7/year, you can’t really lose.You should also secure your name on twitter, blogspot and any other Social Media tools that can be hijacked.
The web is growing exponentially and the amount of time we spend online is increasing as well and will continue to increase.Even if you just get your name now to secure it for the future, it is a good investment.Who knows what you will need it for in 10 years.You should even consider buying your kid’s names, I know one person who already does.
Five years ago, it was almost unheard of to buy your name’s domain.Now it’s almost common practice as people are using their domain for their blog, business, resume, or just a place to show things off online.
If you want to get lucky in 10 years when having your online identity is crucial, get it now.After all, Luck is all about being prepared for what lies ahead.
One thing I am realizing more and more is that nobody likes you more than yourself.You can learn many lessons from this, here are a few:
By liking yourself, you allow others to like you
If you love yourself, you give off a glow that people want to be part of because it makes them feel good.They can improve themselves by being part of whatever you are doing.On the flip side, if you hate yourself, people run from you because they get depressed just being close to you.
For Someone to do Something, It has to Benefit Them
People are interested in helping themselves get the most out of everything.If you ask a friend to go to a movie, they will only go because they want to see the movie, because they want to spend time with you or some other reason that helps them, like just not being bored.A friend will do you a favor because they know you will pay it back and/or because they want to keep you as a friend.Some people help others out because it feels good to them or they feel that they are making the world a better place.
People Don’t Care About What You Do, Unless it Benefits Them
People may ask you what you do for a living, during your vacations, or during your time off but they don’t really care.They ask you to get ideas for themselves, to network, or to make conversation and hear themselves speak by telling you what they do.
Nobody Cares About A Product Until You Prove Why it Benefits Them
As a marketer, you have to take a product and prove to people why they should care about it.A vegan does not care how many delis there are on his street but he will start to care when they start offering vegan menus.
I don’t mean for this to be a pessimistic post about how selfish people are, I want this post to help you have better social interactions with everyone and make the world a better place.There are simple things that you can do to help such as:
Give someone a complement
Listen when someone is speaking to you
Give people the time of day
Encourage your friends to reach for the stars
Be social
By doing these, you will feel good about yourself which will lead to your liking yourself even more, people wanting to be close to you, Spend time with you and listen to you.You’ll notice that it goes in full circle.Help others to help yourself or “what goes around comes around.However you want to put it, changing the world starts with liking yourself.
