Chased by thieves? Outpace them.

It might be true that there is no such thing as an original idea. Everything, at one point or another, is copied from something else. Some call this inspiration, others, copyright infringement. I call it a fact of life. Yes, it completely and utterly sucks. No one likes to see their blood, sweat and tears earn others business or praise. It’s like seeing someone else take credit for your children, unconscionable.

But what is one to do? Read more…

CSS/Design, Humour, Marketing, Personal Brand Copied

Confucius says, "Say something concrete for once."

I’ve noticed a rise in what I call “Fortune Cookie Bloggers”, essentially so-called Social Media Experts whose blogs read more like fortune cookies rather than anything with any real insight. Their posts tend to all share the same qualities – they’re vague, safe and forgettable.

These bloggers never say anything concrete, don’t take sides, and they start artificial conversations using Yoda-esque happy-talk. Just as a fortune cookie might tell you that patience is a virtue, or that true happiness is enjoying friends’ company (add the words, “in bed” as you wish), fortune cookie bloggers also say things of little to no usable value. Typical advice usually includes phrases like “build your online brand” and “engage your community” without once offering any details about how to do so.

Read more…

Personal Brand, Rant Blogger, Fortune Cookie

In case you were wondering, no, that's not me in the picture.

Call me old-school, but I find the whole “web ninja” moniker ridiculous. I guess when someone calls himself a ninja, he’s trying to imply that he has  mastered a wide array of skills that he uses when he wages war against websites. Wonderful imagery. Honestly – moving.

But I just can’t take people that refer to themselves as ninjas seriously, sorry.

I recently had to wade through a pile of resumes to fill a couple web designer jobs at Concordia University and ran across a handful of applicants who referred to themselves as “web ninjas”. Now I’m fully aware, there are some companies out there that have staff members with titles such as “Web ninja“,etc. That’s fine, I get it. These companies are avant-garde, cutting edge, and hip. Got it. Coo’. But when an individual writes “I’m a CSS ninja” in his cover letter – it makes me pause and wonder, “Can I take this guy seriously?”, then right after, it puts me into, “Let’s-see-how-good-this-ninja-really-is-mode”. Read more…

Personal Brand, Rant Job tips, Job titles, Ninja, Resume