Breaking: WSJ Exclusive. Covid was leaked in China

Just 24 months or so ago, this would have been banned on Twitter, and FB and been tagged with those annoying "Learn More About Covid-19..." snippets.

The media, and the liberal mass,  lambasted anyone who suggested this possibility calling those who talked about it "racists".  

Today, the Wall Street Journal report supports all those folks who asked the question.

"Where did this come from?"

The Real Science on Masks: They Make No Difference

Breaking news: masks found to be as effective as wearing a unicorn costume

Summary:

1. The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
2. Masks may keep out some pathogens but their inner surface can also trap concentrations of pathogens that are then breathed back into the lungs, offsetting any theoretical benefits.
3. Public health officials continue to recommend or mandate masks without proper evidence of their effectiveness or any cost-benefit analysis, and masks can cause social, psychological, and medical problems.

The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Whatever theoretical benefits there might be, in clinical trials the benefits have turned out to be either illusory or offset by negative factors. 

Oxford’s Tom Jefferson, the lead author of the Cochrane review, summed up the real science on masks: 'There is just no evidence that they make any difference. Full stop.'

The Singularity of Remote Work: The End Of Generation Gaps

When boomers and zoomers unite over Zoom, you know the Singularity is here.

The fear of Covid, remote work, and artificial intelligence is destroying the Generation Gap.  

We are the Last Generation.  No really, it is. Hear me out.

1. The fear of Covid affected the entire Globe, regardless of age.
2. Remote work helped us realize what's important, regardless of age.
3. ChatGPT(AI) is a linguistic program that is changing the way everything gets done, regardless of age.

I do not like defining individuals as a 'generation'.  The new work environment promotes more deliverables, and less judgment on the adherence to a process - regardless of color, age, or gender.  Interesting, right?

Proof Social Media is Rigged

Diana Rigg as Emma Peal, The Avengers

How Twitter Rigged the Covid Debate

The platform suppressed true information from doctors and public-health experts that was at odds with U.S. government policy.

Inspiration from an article about the connection between the US Government and ALL the tech companies written by David Zweig at The Free Press, here.

Summary via ChatGTP:

It is alleged that both the Trump and Biden administrations in the United States pressured Twitter to moderate content related to Covid-19 and the pandemic in a way that aligned with their agendas. The Trump administration was concerned with preventing panic buying and sought help from tech companies, including Twitter, to combat misinformation. 

#WorkingFromHome Is A Battlefield

I received this message in my LinkedIn box, a few weeks ago:

"Thank you for pressing the #WorkFromHome influencing messaging. Many of us out here can't say it and don't react to your posts because we're afraid our companies will see us advocating for something that can be construed as self-interest rather than company interest. Makes us targets if we do. You're blazing the trail for all of us.  KEEP IT UP PLEASE”

Pretty cool, eh?  I've been remote for just over a decade, outside sales is conducive to working at Starbucks, and parking lots - it was the beginning of work from anywhere.  Indeed,  I was cold calling businesses, on my Nextel, from the beach in SoCali back in 2003.

Consider this rudimentary timeline:

• Data(files) were always at the office; everyone had to be under one roof just to be 'on the same page'
• Fax machines allowed us to send copies around the world
• Email helped us share bigger documents with prospects and clients 
• Laptops made us more mobile; I could now bring my files home to work on over the weekend
• Pink phone message notes were the standard until numeric and alpha-numeric pagers became the rage
• Cell phones replaced pagers
• Smartphones let us connect to email from the palm of our hand
• Ubiquitous WiFi gave us the ability to conduct online meetings from hotel lobbies and poolsides
• Today, with data in the cloud and apps on phones, the CEO can track revenue, sales reps can monitor delivery schedules from the 9th tee or pontoon.

Who wouldn't want to be free to work from anywhere?

Here's why the establishment doesn't want you working from home:

The Managed Print Services Renaissance is here.

"Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come,
In yours and my discharge..."

The die was cast a decade ago; the rise, fall, and rise again of managed print services was foreseen. Even as office printing wanes, and withers, we are amid a Managed Print Services (MpS) Renaissance and age of enlightenment.

"Remote work is accelerating the A4 shift at lightning speed, ransomware and bad actors heighten the need for analog backups (paper), user authentication and print tracking/control are becoming normal, and that all adds up to new ways of doing business and new opportunities to manage that print."

Those survivors stand at yet another precipice:

Do we move forward with managed print services, or do we leave it in the dustpan of history?  

How AI, Remote Work, and Covid Reshape the Workplace

"We are moving away from the "normal" industrial economy where labor, equipment, and capital produced reliable outputs; a handful of media gatekeepers provided reliable access to people's attention, and it was relatively easy to keep winners and make plans." - Dror Poleg

The adage, "If somebody else says it, it must be true..." works here.

I've been going on about how the convergence of the fear of Covid, the work from anywhere movement and now Ai/LLMs annihilates current social, and business models.

What do, the Anti-WorkFromAnywhere movement, the Biden administration, and "V is for Vendetta" all have in common?

#WFA, Fighting for the Soul of Society

What is the common thread?  How do these points connect and what constellation is formed?

The Answer:

• Centralized, Authoritarian rule.  
• Propaganda-fueled messaging through controlled media.  
• Self-centered interpretation of established norms.  
• Elimination of a "higher power" and inalienable rights.  
• The demonization of those holding differing views. 
• Maximizing fear to leverage and presenting their solution as final.

What's this got to do with selling #copiers?  Nothing. EVERYTHING.

Why The Work From Anywhere Movement Is Important & What Your Peers Are Saying.

At one time the range of ‘office technology’ consisted of expensive devices and platforms like networks, printers, copiers, filing cabinets, desktop computers, postage machines, telephones, and fax machines to name a few.

Technology evolved. Fewer company networks, smartphones in every pocket, laptops instead of desktops, faxes in the form of email attachments, and filing cabinets in the Cloud.

What remained was the physical place to meet – meeting rooms, company kitchens, watercoolers, open

and shared areas, and the essential, Executive Conference room.

"Fighting for the Soul of Society: The Impact of Politics on Business"

In this society, where politics and business blend,

We must stay informed and not pretend,

To think that our work is separate from the rest,

For copier sales, like all, are affected by the test.

The pandemic has shown us, all politics is local,

It shapes the economy, it shapes the vocal,

It shapes the way we sell, the way we lead,

It shapes the future, of which we are the seed.

As copier salespersons, we must be like "V",

Well-versed in all aspects, vigilant,

From elected leaders to local school boards,

We must stay informed, and not be ignored.

We must anticipate regulations and laws,

And make strategic decisions, without pause,

We must stay informed about the latest trends,

And understand the needs of our friends.

We must pay attention to our community,

And tailor our strategies accordingly,

For the survival of our business is tied,

To the soul of society, on which we must rely.

So let us stay informed, let us be "V",

For victory in copier sales, and all we do,

For the fight for a sustainable future,

Is a fight for the soul of society, and our culture.

In today's society, politics and business are inextricably linked. The common thread that connects them is centralized, authoritarian rule.

Eight Reasons the MetaVerse is better than Hybrid Work

#WorkFromAnywhere #wfh is all the talk now and so is:

• the effect of Covid vs the effect of the fear of Covid
• gas prices are too high
• increased productivity
• happier with 'work', vs working
• office appearances are lower in priorities than family, fun, Netflix, & sweatpants 
• real friends (vs work friends)
• lower crime in the 'burbs
•  etc., etc., etc.

New to Copier Sales: Cold Calling Post COVID-19 is More of the Same

There is great pressure in the sales realm no matter what you’re selling. But for those of us in the imaging industry, the stress is exacerbated. Our volumes were dropping before COVID-19, consolidation was a daily occurrence, and layoffs happened almost every month. COVID-19 kicked all that into high gear, accelerating the transformation in a most turbulent way. 

Today the talk about town is working from home, the death of the office, and surviving the next month. Few meetings are centered on new copiers and toner supply management. When the world presents chaos and uncertainty, returning to our core values and foundational skill set is both rational and confidence building. 

Back to the basics like blocking and tackling, throwing, catching and batting, dribbling, jump shots and layups — for the selling professional it’s more like clear messaging, open-ended questions, relevant talk tracks, and phone calls. 

That’s right. Cold phone calls. Chills run down your spine, don’t they? 

Fear not – there are volumes of books on coaching, dozens of techniques, and hours of seminars chock full of advice and wisdom. 

 Unfortunately,... Read the Rest, here.

Amazon Plant Just Voted to Unionize: This is What Happens Next

Robots Don't Strike -

Or catch Covid or spread Covid, for that matter.  Robots don't mind the commute, need few employee benefits, work three shifts, and couldn't care less about "Blue Jean Friday" or "Taco Tuesday".

Robots hate corporate picnics

Of course, robots may break down or need routine service - but that's what Service Drones are for.

Hailing from Detroit, I know a bit about unions - maybe no more than you, but most of my friends' fathers were either in or despised unions.

All I need say is "Jimmy Hoffa" and watch for the response.  Either you know or you don't.

Today, 2022, unions are making one last grab at members as the times are skewed towards the employees. The Great Resignation is upon us, 24 months of Covid scare has illuminated for most the futility of empty work and little recognition.

Folks "on the line" are motivated into hating ownership, C-level executives, management, and stockholders. If not hate then at least envy.  

The caldron requires little stirring

Resisting the Return: Executives Ditch the Copier for the Comfort of Remote Work

Executives to Corporate: You Can Take Our Office, But You Can't Take Our Pajamas

Executive Bullet Points:

1. Top-tier executives are leading the resistance to the five-day office week, with many willing to trade more than 20% of their compensation for the flexibility of remote work.
2. Despite the push for a return to the office, data shows that office attendance is still below pre-pandemic levels, with employees spending less time in the office than before.
3. Companies are exploring creative solutions to encourage in-person work, including relocating offices to more enticing locations and offering flexible work-from-anywhere policies.

Greg's Words

The battle goes back and forth - but the lines are beginning to solidify.  Employees want to work from anywhere - as the fear of Covid revealed.

But today it seems even the C-Suite sees the value of working from anywhere(#WFA).  No surprises there, but what is remarkable is that the #WFA movement has forces aligned with the most demographic.

Who still resists?  Commercial property management companies, commercial real estate organizations, firms heavily invested in commercial real estate(banks), peripheral businesses,(coffee shops, taxis, tow trucks, food trucks), and mayors(no tax base).

In the end, it just doesn't matter.  The #WFA movement would prevail on lessons learned during the Covid fear alone - but there is more.  Enter artificial intelligence.  Today, AI is allowing two employees to do the work of ten.  AI can be accessed from any connected point on the planet.

The office-work environment has dissolved.

How is the alignment between executive and employee going to impact the resistance to #WFA?

__________

Maybe We Shouldn't Get Into Managed IT Services

Are we marketing the edge of forever or yesterday's Enterprise?

I'm beginning to think the road to #digitalTransformation, for #TheImagingChannel, doesn't require stepping into the managed (IT) services niche. 

Maybe we've been looking at and been told the wrong thing by well-meaning yet misguided know-it-alls. (me included).  

I.T. isn't all that sexy. 

I know, I know, compared to #copiers, firewalls and anti-virus are #seductive.  

Wouldn't it be easier to deliver, and install coffee machines connected to the IoT? Or design and implement an IoT Connectivity Policy? Or how about looking to the fringe of technology beyond the curve? 

“Fewer clients. Less money. More attention. Caring for them.”

Speaking to the next generation of copier dealers - those who have survived, inherited, or still fly under their original colors - If every copier, printer, and paper document disappeared tomorrow, what would you do? 

What would you sell? 

Copywriters Evaporate: Why the Audience is Finally Taking the Stage

Where the audience reigns supreme.

In the world of art, there has always been a false notion that the artist, performer, manager, and provider hold the key to success. This idea has been reinforced by the numerous award shows and accolades given to those who create. However, with the advent of the fear of Covid (#WFA) and AI (#ChatGPT), it seems that the tide is finally turning. The audience is now being recognized as the true driver of success in the entertainment industry.

"DaVinci had a great mind. But, it is how the product (Mona Lisa) impacts and makes the customer (beholder) feel."

Greg Walters, Inc./DOTC & All Associates Reignite Relationship

 The DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem Expands R&D Division

Plotting the Data-Based Course Into a World Without...

Our crack team of researchers, data scientists, investigators, and web-surfers have been enhanced - dare I say, 'augmented'.  

We've rekindled an alliance with a company known by the biggest players in the industry.  Their computational analyses comprise more than 1,000 variable elements and scientific approach has been referenced in thousands of client engagements. 

I've worked with All Associates Group on many projects from Mayo to Mission Health - indeed, back in the IKON days, their analytical engine was available to every salesperson in the company.  The cream of the crop professionals engaged the tool often, with resounding results.

Tigerpaw’s Women in Technology: Creating an Environment for Careers to Thrive

Executive Summary:

1. Tigerpaw Software showcases an above-average number of women technologists through their commitment to diversity, career growth, work-life balance, mentorship, and education, thereby cultivating an inclusive and thriving environment.
2. The organization employs diversity-focused recruitment practices to ensure the hiring of the most qualified individuals, regardless of personal attributes, which has led to more women in tech and leadership roles.
3. Amid challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tigerpaw stood out as a "family-first" employer, providing flexible working conditions to ensure work-life balance, and continues to encourage personal growth and professional development through mentorship and educational opportunities.

Architect reflected, “I had 2-3 mentors that were wonderful. It was the best on-the-job training I could possibly have asked for. It accelerated my learning, and I was able to jump in with both feet.” - Shelly Miller, Database Architect 

________

Stop saying you're going to save customers 30% in print costs.

How Long Until We See "Work from the office" mandates?

"We need people back to work."  Is this the new mantra? 

Is getting back to the office a matter of national security?

Could a "Back to the Office" mandate be in your future?

Why would back-to-work mandates evolve?

1. The powers believe in mandates.  
2. The powers know how to spin anything into a National Security issue.
3. Getting the economy going again is "a national security issue".
4. The powers are influential.
5. The powers know the populace is numb to being directed.

Consider Canada.

Our cousins to the north have always been the most polite society in our hemisphere.  Easy going, if not over-apologetic. So it was refreshing to see protests occur without burning buildings, smashing windows, or occupying city blocks.  

The juxtaposition of Canadian police horses stomping a woman and law enforcement kicking a protester while he was down was shocking.  It seems in Canada, authorities are more violent than the protesters - a testament to how far an unhinged government will go.

Consider Australia.

Australia, another western, free society has locked down society, built and populated Covid quarantine camps.  

They've banned singing and dancing. 

Enough cannot be said about the situation down under. One can only imagine what the next global crisis will instill.  All this took place over a willing populace.

Consider New York City "Shattered".

 

  "This town's full of money grabbers. Go ahead.  Bite the Big Apple.  Don't mind the maggots."