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Today Is A Big Day For Me And 39 Good Friends Of Mine

Today is the final class meeting for the 25th anniversary class of Leadership Tuscaloosa. This afternoon, we graduate.

I’m feeling…really overwhelmed by it already.

When I applied for Leadership Tuscaloosa, I knew it would be great. Even Running Antelope knew how important it was to me. When my acceptance letter came, I was away travelling somewhere. She called to tell me, and I yelled out loud wherever I was at. I remember people looking at me.

In 9 months, my 39 classmates and I…

• Looked at what has gone on in Tuscaloosa’s past, and what it needs for the future.
• Participated in a SIMSOC, an eye-opening simulation, about society.
• Talked about leadership, especially what it is, and what it isn’t.
• Spent a day roleplaying as someone with needs trying to navigate the labrynthian maze of social service agencies.
• Saw the political system, and city and local government in action in Tuscaloosa
• Discussed ways to foster the growth of the local arts and cultural resources.
• Worked in a team of 8 to helped a very worthy non-profit with their annual fundraiser, which brought in double their target amount. Also, helped get them squared away in some key operational areas. And…helped them request a $105,000 technology grant to fund all their technology needs, which is still pending approval. While our 32 classmates worked on equally important projects, with equally stunning success.

Plus…I got to be 8 years-old again for half a day, which was priceless.

And even though it wasn’t part of our Leadership Tuscaloosa class, certain of my classmates helped make West Alabama’s inaugural E-Cycling Day an unqualified success, thanks in total to their talent, dedication, hard work, and commitment to our local community.

I mentioned Leadership Tuscaloosa during the final session in New Orleans this past weekend, which happened to be on “Community” in an unannounced, last-minute change.

I talked about what Leadership Tuscaloosa had done for me, both personally and professionally. How it was far far better than I ever could have imagined it would be, and that I know it is an investment in the future. That the deep relationships I forged with these amazing amazing people will continue to grow stronger over time.

During the session, because I knew that Jason Leib had been through a Leadership program in the Kansas City area, where he lives, I asked him to stand and tell the crowd what the experience of going through that program was like.

I thought his answer was absolutely perfect.

He simply paused a brief moment, then said, “Life-changing.”

I couldn’t agree more. And all for the better.

|| posted by chris under biz, community, epiphany, more cowbell, rx, thumbs down || comments (0) || ||

Between A Rock And A Hard Place: The War On ROMs

Again…let me tell you how astonished, humbled, and amazed at how many of you got real, tangible value out of the talk on Mobility I delivered in New Orleans this weekend.

I appreciate EVERYONE who has already filled out the Mobility Survey. I will be responding to each of you individually about your awesome awesome comments. that’s least I can do for the amazing outpouring of support this community has show to me over the years, and to the ideas I have about Mobility.

I’m worried though, that one of my answers during the Q&A session might not have been as clear as it should have been. I’d like to get the chance to clarify it now for both those who were there, and even folks who were not there. It’s a VERY common question, that comes up all the time in the Mobile world, and is a complex, frustrating, and bothersome issue, as it veers in the very real and nasty world of software piracy.

Let’s start with the question. A gentleman in the audience asked if I would explain how he could get Windows Mobile 6.1 for his device, even tho it’s not slated for a release. He knew that there were unofficial sources out there, but wanted some guidance how to do it, the tools needed, the best sources, and how to avoid destroying his device.

I will tell you…I was taken aback. Here’s why. I will state this in no uncertain terms…

When ANYONE uses an unofficial ROM update to upgrade their device, they are…at best, risking rendering their device useless (bricking it) or exposing themselves to embedded data exploits. However, even if those don’t happen, ANYONE who uses an unofficial ROM update it committing SOFTWARE PIRACY!

Seriously. No different than grabbing a copy of SBS 2003 or 2008 off a warez site.

So…this person was asking me to tell an assembly of roughly 200 SMB IT pros how to commit illegal software piracy, while at the same time potentially giving them information that could destroy their devices, or expose them to hidden data exploits they might never know about.

Not only that…but everything I was saying was being recorded, by a professional audio and video crews being paid by Microsoft, to create videos that may be rebroadcast on the Microsoft Partner site.

If I seemed nervous, I was. I was trying to pick my words very carefully. My first reaction was to simply say…

DON’T DO IT! DON’T THINK ABOUT IT! IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK! NO WAY!

I didn’t say that.

What I did was hold up my personal mobile device, a Palm Treo 750. I did not use it for the WM 6.1 demo at all, on purpose. I used Microsoft Device Emulator running Windows Mobile 6.1 images. Which is not only free, but an official tool. I talked about how this is the best way to learn for everyone, etc.

I did say tho…that my Treo was running Windows Mobile 6.1 and that it was a pirate build. That I do NOT have direct access to the Windows Mobile team, nor any mobile operators. So that ROm came from an unofficial source.

However, I have vowed to never ever EVER disseminate, distribute, or otherwise give out information to anyone about how to find, use, or otherwise commit software piracy with pirate ROMS.

Think of this like…the War On Drugs. We’ll call it The War On ROMs.

If I get a pirate ROM for personal use and use it, then I’m roughly the equivalent of someone busted possession. Most times…nobody does much of anything.

But if I am directly involved in the distribution, dissemination, and the use of pirate ROMs, then I am the equivalent of a drug dealer. And that’s some seriously bad juju.

Let me ask this question…

How many of you help your clients commit software piracy on their PCs? Do you load warez or illegal OEM copies of Windows, Office, or other software for them?

I hope not. I sure don’t.

In fact, as Running Antelope says…

You Are Mr. Super Straight Arrow About Software Licensing

So much so that even in our own house, we follow software licensing to the letter. Because as I understand it, if I commit, or help commit software piracy, MS has the right to revoke all my certifications, everything.

Basically all the knowledge and certification equity I have worked so hard to build my entire 14 year IT career.

All because someone at a conference wants to use pirate ROMs.

[EDITED: Ending removed on the advice of people much smarter than me. Thank you Susan! Thank you Mark!]

|| posted by chris under clueless, community, hardware, it pro, kma, mobility, opinion, thumbs down || comments (14) || ||

Let’s Be A Choir

I want to say BIG HUGE thanks to everyone who has filled out the Mobility survey so far.

I am truly, honestly, and utterly amazed, humbled, and grateful at all the fantastic response from those folks who attended my talk on Mobility at the SBSmigration conference in New Orleans this weekend.

I really hope that the rest of you who were in attendance (and there are a WHOLE lot of you left) would please please take the time to finish the survey.

I know all of you are back home now, back to work…and have tons of stuff demanding your attention. I know I’m asking a lot of you. Seriously, I do.

The survey has taken most folks a max of 2 minutes. But the feedback that being generated is stuff that has some serious serious opportunity to shape Windows Mobile. No kidding!

In the interest of full disclosure, and so you all know exactly why I put the survey together, here are my reasons…

First, I did want some feedback that would let me know how well my session came across. Was my delivery OK? Did I make sense? Were the demos compelling? All that typical presenter-y stuff. Mainly to help me be a better speaker in the future. And, also…to hopefully get on a speaking slate at other conferences about this topic of Mobility in SMB.

Here’s why.

I have been trying to get Mobility as a topic on the agenda at all the SMB conferences and tech conferences you know and love for almost 3 years now. And have had NO success at cracking that.

You know why I think that is? Because, quite frankly, the approach toward Mobility I outlined in my talk is a unique enough approach to be completely foreign to 99% of folks. Including conference organizers. Including…heck, especially including MS.

And I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter what one insignificant person like me says about something, no matter how passionately or often I do it. Because I’m only one voice.

Sometimes, it takes a choir to move people.

Ever hear a choir sing, and something about the way the voices all come together just send shivers up and down your spine, and makes your soul jump around inside you?

That’s what I’m hoping this survey feedback will become.

If everyone who was in the session would complete the survey, it would be a chorus of voices louder than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, all stuff that is super fooking awesome about how MS could improve Windows Mobile. And maybe, just maybe…

Would actually compel some change for the betterment of the platform, which ends up bettering us, MS’ Partners.

Because let me tell you…the things that have been posted already are super compelling, awesome awesome stuff that I think the Windows Mobile team would like to hear, and be able to make things happen.

In fact, I know they would like to hear it. Because MS and specifically the Windows Mobile team is right at this very moment doing some amazing amazing things to open up the channels of communication about Windows Mobile, which is totally and utterly new.

And best of all, these channels are open to ANYONE. Anyone who is willing to engage in reasonable, constructive, positive (altho not white-washed) feedback that can help make Windows Mobile the truly kickass platform we all know it can become.

Honestly, I had hoped to have time to talk about these very initiatives during my session. But my session was chopped to 35 functional minutes very early in planning, so I couldn’t get everything in.

So here’s a link to the survey again…

Mobility Survey

Thanks in advance for filling it out. I promise to be a good steward with your feedback and to get it where it can do the most good.

Now, hopefully…

No one will think that anything I said in this post comes across as elitist, exclusionary, or otherwise a-hole-ish.

Evidently, according to some people…I have a real problem coming across like that.

|| posted by chris under biz, community, epiphany, it pro, mobility, more cowbell, shoutout, thumbs up || comments (6) || ||

Mobility Survey Responses Are Coming In

Folks are starting to respond to the Mobility survey I posted for NOLA conference attendees. Which is awesome!

Thanks to everyone who’s responded so far. If you haven’t responded yet, please do!

And if someone you know was at the conference, please remind them to fill out the survey. Gracias!

You can get to the survey by clicking…

Mobility Survey

Thanks for taking a minute to respond. The awesome feedback and responses I’m getting will be going directly to folks responsible for the Windows Mobile platform, BTW. 

|| posted by chris under biz, community, it pro, migration, mobility, thumbs up || comments (0) || ||

Mobility Session Survey Available Now for NOLA Attendees

Sorry for the long long delay in getting this info posted up here.

I know that I announced to all the attendees at the NOLA conference that the survey would be posted by EOD. Unfortunately, some unforeseen logistical snafus kept me from getting this posted during the conference itself.

Here’s the dealio…

I cooked up a short survey about the Mobility talk I delivered at the SBSmigration.com conference in New Orleans this week. It would REALLY help in some key ways (which I’ll talk about later in this post) for EVERYONE who attended the Mobility session to please please PLEASE fill this out.

It should be quick quick quick. As in, it should take you less than a minute or 2 to fill out.

It’s available on the demo SharePoint site I used in my Mobility talk. So, as an added bonus, you get to see yet another example of a kickass way you can use SharePoint for and with your customers.

You can start the survey by clicking on this…

Mobility Survey

And yes, you will quickly notice the survey’s got that Chris Rue kinda flavor, just like the session had. Being a semi-professional smart aleck isn’t something you can just turn on and off.

Check out the screenshot…

Couple of things…

• Please fill out the survey completely.
• 10 is a GREAT number. Feel free to use that one liberally
• Please please please take just a moment or 2 and put some actual words in the final comment section. If you thought the Mobility session rocked, please say something to that effect. If you’d like to see more stuff on Mobility at other conferences, please SAY that as well.
• Be SURE to click FINISH, or your feedback answers won’t be recorded.

Also, if you didn’t get a chance to get or let me know that you wanted either the Windows Mobile Enterprise Resource Kit (ERK) and/or Developers Resource Kit (DRK) discs I had at the conference, please indicate your preference at the end of the survey. Also please put your e-mail address (this is required if you want to receive discs). I promise not to spam you, or share that info with anyone else. 

One goofy caveat: Yes, I know the session was all about Mobility and mobile device stuff and how much SharePoint kicks ass with Windows Mobile. Unfortunately, you must use a PC to fill out this survey, as surveys in SharePoint3 do not support mobile views. Another feature request for the dev team, obviously.

Thanks in advance for your patience, and for taking just a couple of moments to fill out the survey.

|| posted by chris under biz, community, freebie, it pro, mobility, opinion, shoutout, thumbs up, webcast || comments (2) || ||