Corey Graham 2.0 N Biz Blog

Later today the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) is reaching out to the members of the Barbados music scene to come and discuss their ideas and thoughts on the Barbados Music Scene. No matter what role you play you are invited.

I might not be able to make it but I will like to share the following thoughts. In one simple statement.

The internet with all its websites and services is now the world's largest record label. It only shelves artiste who don't participant and cuts very lucrative deals for those who are smart enough to learn its ways. Corey Graham 2.0

Here is an excerpt from Andrea King of The NCF,

Entertainers’ time to talk
2010 has opened with a flurry of entertainment activity, with outstanding performances at the BMA Awards and the Barbados Jazz Festival. What has been most heartening are the comments from international industry officials, who are hailing our local talent.
But in spite of the praises which are being showered, questions remain about the state of the Barbados music industry.

On Thursday, February 4 
At 6.00 p.m. 
Bump and Wine Café
Bridgetown

The NCF is inviting all participants in the music sector  to come have their say about the challenges they face, their expectations, and how to help chart the way forward.

Work Smart,

Corey Graham 2.0

As our world becomes more and more digitally driven, more and more of our work is stored digitally. At the moment I am sure that many of you still keep your most prized works in one location. You might have your accounts, budgets, quotes, proposals, videos, plans, mind maps all on one system and in one place. The problem with this is that the day your pc / jump drive crashes, it sets you back by a mile. I know this from personal experience … from several personal experiences.

Do You Work Between 2 Computers? Imagine Having Your File Always Available

Isn't it very annoying to not be able to access a critical document for a particular project when you really want it? Imagine you are in a groove, getting some work done and you just realized you have to stop because the information you need is on some computer no where near you.

The Solution

I have been using SugarSync for a while now and its been fantastic for me. It allows me to have what I call a "working online back up for my files. 

• It is an online backup facility for my most critical documents, logos, ideas, proposals etc.
• I love that I can set up folders to automatically be uploaded to the internet. As long as the computer has an internet connection and something new is saved in a folder, its automatically uploaded online.
• Online Access to documents anywhere in the world via your browser. The coolest thing is that it will make an automatic gallery for your photos, to make it easy to view / share with others. It will also allow you to stream any music or audio files you upload.
• Folders Automatically sync across all computers you use – basically you can set up special folders that will automatically sync all folders in the different computers you use. Basically if you update a folder on your home pc, when you get on to ur laptop online the folder on the laptop will automatically download all the changes to that folder.

Try it here – you can get 2 GB Free! And I got something specially for you, if you open your account today you will get 250 MB free.

Sign UP

https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=ezp0vzzdwjv9b

What time is morning online???

Is it in UK time? Eastern Caribbean Time? Jamaican Time?

We go through our days not really questioning just what exactly it is we do all day. All my life I have been a late riser. If you see me at 5 am on any given day your best bet is that I have not slept a wink all night. If this post sounds a little biased now you know why. 

Now in many industries getting work done is far more dependant on your team than it is on other factors. The time of day and where you do your work is far less important than 20 years ago. We have several tools now that help us to facilitate us working around the clock. We no longer have to wait for the team meeting to get everyone in the same room to get work done. Simple example in times gone by we needed to be in a room with our colleagues to put a document together. Today though Google docs can facilitate this collaboration along a perpetual team meeting where people can make changes and add their comments at their convenience.

Here is a list of tools of some of the tools that is enabling this phenomenon to happen.

• email
• Online collaboration tools (such as Google Docs)
• Online project management systems (such as  Basecamp)
• online banking 
• and more in your arsenal.

….Yeah I know I can hear you saying it. 

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise. 

I would shoot back .. What time is early? I would agree its very important to be early when you are working on your projects. But what time of the day is "early". Being proactive and pushing your work ahead is always good.

One major thing though, so many of us just love Rush Hour feeling. The thrill and excitement of rushing out the door. We are addicted to it. 

I guess we do what makes sense.

Live Life, Work Smartly
Corey Graham 2.0

Yeah, do it right now, get up and way away.

Go, do it.

I will wait until your return. See you in 10 mins!

Alrite so you are back,

How do you feel? Better? You know that studies show that after taking a break of about 8 – 10 mins your brain is sharper that ever? Its the perfect time for you to make a decision….

Lol, actually not really, lol. But taking a break might put you in a frame of mind where you might let your sense of humour go and have a good laugh – feel good and get cracking on some work again.

More than that its important to take breaks. Stretch your limbs. You can move away from your work. Grab a bite or a quench your thrist with glass of water. Personally I use breaks to take my body and my mind on a journey. I step outside of my work space, and into another world. And then from that place I let my mind wander back into my work space but from this new perspective. Edward De Bono, the world's foremost authority on :thinking said that 

99% of all thinking errors are due to perspective

So armed with the new perspective I usually explore all or any combo of the following. 

• Access my progress on my current task.
• Connect the dots to the big picture.
• Re-focus on key objectives

Its sounds like a alot but really it is not. If you had to capture these for a colleague during a conversation, It would take way less than 10 minutes to explain it.  Doing it for yourself should take you alot less time.

Try it!

You might be amazed at some of the stuff you come up with in these short space bursts. It will go a long way to keeping you motivated too.

Love Life, Work Smart!

Corey Graham 2.0

Ole Years Nite

Happy New Year to you!

The holidays are officially over and we are blasting our way into 2010. Its going to get messy. The frustrations will become overwhelming at times. In some causes these will lead to success and other it will lead to disappointment. There will be moments of happiness that you might wish to last forever. Moments you will remember for as long as you will live. On the first working day of 2010 we stand very aware of all the potential it can bring to us. I know I am a bit late but I wanted to give you a Practical Wish for a Happy 2010. Its just hard when the fireworks are so loud!

New Year Resolutions Are A Great Tool

I know some of you might not believe in setting new year's resolutions. One of the big benefits with setting New Years Resolutions is that there is an automatic reminder system. There are too many things to remind you that is the turn of year and time to set new resolutions. There is also an abundance of inspiration lurking around in places you most expect and in places you least expect. It is a great tool I am telling you. I think the secret to it is keeping a good record of your resolutions you set each year. When you do that it give you the chance to see just what you have been able to accomplish in a year. Yes, Yes there will be some you have not made much progress on but I know you would have learnt something. There will be others on the list for 2 years running that you more than accomplished. You might just be amazed at how powerful these New Year Resolutions can be.

New Year Resolutions are supposed to last the entire year. Yes that means past March, June, September. Its like any other skill you get better over time. 

That's the end of the post 

Corey Graham 2.0 

P.S. Some of the questions that kept popping up over the season

What was my biggest lesson of 2009?

Learning how to take my ideas and make them real. Its a process I am still working on but I realized just how much of implementation we can leave up to chance.

What are you looking to do or implement for 2010? 

Want to focus on my daily process. They are a few little things that we repeated each day will continuously take you to the next level. And a big part of that will be taking my ideas and potential and making it actual. I have been told I am good a networking, but I believe I still have a long way to go, so I am going to be working on that for sure. And yes, expect it to come with a little twist!

If you had to predict something to happen in 2010 what would it be? 

I think we will see major development in online usage in the Caribbean. I think that by summer time Twitter is going to the things that will be massive in the Caribbean. I am hoping to see more Caribbean programmers developing cool programs for the Caribbean public to use. Sorry to say but they are kind of missing in action right now.
Media as we know it will significantly change. I think worldwide there will be major emphasis placed on freelancers/small business people there is a surprising amount of stuff out there now for people in this bracket but much if it is just getting started. I think we will see a huge leap in support services and so on for these people.

What would you like to see happen? 

I would like to see some Transition Towns in the Caribbean. Well most of us watch Avatar, it would be great to co-exist with environment. I have always been interested in ecology and balance. 

Any comments relating to business?

Hmm, At the end of last year it become apparent to me that the least productive meetings I had were the face to face ones. And that is not counting in cancellations and post poned meetings. I'm going to invest more time into making better use of the internet and phone for my business meetings. I am thinking we are living in a global village all connected by phone and the internet. 

Happy New Year to you. Feel free to share your thoughts on the above.