Connecting the Dots: How Technology is Uniting Industries and Revolutionizing Business Models

Humans tell immortal stories about figures in the sky by creating illusions by drawing imaginary lines from one point of light to another. 

Connecting the dots illuminates a pattern and tells a story. For instance, the "lights" in the nighttime sky that we see as the belt of the constellation Orion - Alnitak, a triple star system located several hundred parsecs from the Sun; Alnilam, a massive blue supergiant star some 2,000 light-years distant; and Mintaka, a multiple-star system some 1,200 light-years from the Sun - are visible throughout the world.

We are adept at making connections and telling stories - it is in our nature. At first, industries may appear unrelated and vaguely disconnected, but just like the constellations, when observed from afar and with a fanciful, imaginative eye, connections are made and great stories are revealed.

I Conducted a #ManagedPrintServices Assessment and Analysis - Then Gave it to ChatGTP

ChatGTP is a linguistics program that interrupts and responds to questions.  It's getting lots of attention on social networks.  The program either excites or intimidates, depending on perspective.

I loathe automatic proposal generators.  But this thing is incredible.

First, I asked the Super Smart Thing in the Sky:

What are the components and process of a successfully managed print services program the costs involved with implementing a program for a 400-bed hospital network?

Five Points About Artificial Intelligence You Won't Like

Inspiration: a question on Reddit,

"Why everyone keeps on saying A.I. will replace accountants it's just getting annoying now this makes me feel like I am pursuing something which would be worthless in the near future"

My response:

"Functions that require a 'process' to complete, which is every, single accounting function, will be taken over by a faster, more knowledgeable, entity. 

Functions that require a 'process' to complete, which is every, single accounting function, will be taken over by a faster, more knowledgeable, entity. 

Think of AI as the smartest, most educated employee with 500 years of experience in accounting and is updated every second with the latest GAAP, legislative, tax, and legal changes.  

How would you compete with this 'person'?  How could you?

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.

Words Only Mean What We Let Them

I love words and phrases.

The power of words, separates us from lower-order species - sure dolphins communicate with sound, but can a dolphin make a good Old Fashion?  No, dolphins cannot make an old fashion, drive a car or hit goofballs on the moon.

Words mean things.

I asked the super-duper AI thing to summarize the meaning of, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." 

This is what came back: 

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is a proverb that is meant to encourage resilience and to suggest that physical injuries are more significant and lasting than verbal ones. It suggests that people should not be affected by hurtful words and should instead focus on ignoring or brushing against them. The phrase is often used as a way to encourage people to not let insults or verbal abuse get to them and to instead focus on building resilience and inner strength. 

 - Not Bad for an algorithm imitating speech patterns.

2023 Predictions - "After The Fire, the Fire Still Burns"

Past and Future According to Greg Walters

Here we go...

Upon an ocean of auguries and reflections, my contrarian tendencies pull me into ignoring if not despising each "end of the year" account and "predictions for next year".  So many articles and pontifications - it's stifling.  

Who needs it? 

Well, low and behold, I've surrendered to the waves, to the Fire.  Here is my contribution to the deadwood of 2022 and the albatross of 2023.

*SPECIAL NOTE IF YOU WANT TO SKIP TO SEE YOUR FUTURE SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO "Artificial Intelligence" becomes simply "Intelligent".*

Marc Benioff Is Wrong young, remote employees are Not hurting the company's productivity. It's the Software.

The pre-Covid commute has been replaced by entering data into the CRM.

Maybe Salesforce just isn't that good of a product. 

He overhired.  The market changed.  Remote professionals discovered that they don't need a manager.  Oh...and SalesForce isn't that good of a system its customers are old-school, command and control, status-quo, adhere to the process not deliverables, CYA, types that demand Walk Around Management, and define productivity as staying" between the lines."

And another thing - all these professors coming out of the woodwork and pontificating, are the propagators of the " old-school, command and control, status-quo, adhere to the process, not deliverables, CYA, types that demand Walk Around Management, and define productivity as staying between the lines." mentality - they taught it.

The world is in a place nobody has been before and comparing anything today with what was done just 48 months ago is foolish.

The Greg Walters Show with Mike Stramaglio

Copiers, Family, and Frank.  

What is up with all the industry shows? A candid conversation about the changes we’ve seen in the industry over the past few decades – media, consultants, merges, OEMs, motorcycles, and Frank.  What’s around the corner and over the horizon.  Yes, there will be bourbon.  Yes, there will be Frank and maybe a cigar or two.

Today's Artificial Intelligence is Like an Abacus

"The ratio of total digital to total biological compute is the key metric to watch – it is rising incredibly fast..." - Musk.

This guy just Tweeted the above but there have been many (including me) saying for years, 'digital AI will always be artificial until computers are biologically grown, carbon-based*, and analog."

Digital is 'on and off' at a faster and faster rate. But nothing in nature acts this way.

The Difference Between Analog and Digital -

What did CIOs Read in 2022?

Inspired by the WSJ article, here.  Paywall.

Patton said it best, "...I read your book!"

Relevance, shared experience, and trust are currencies of the Post-Fear-of-Covid Age so knowing what your prospects view as important enough to spend time-consuming is a step in identifying with prospects and improving your worldly knowledge.

Will Artificial Intelligence Take Your (copier, MPS, IT) Sales Job?

Artificial Intelligence Tells You How to Sell Managed Print Services

I tried it.  I asked the screen, 

"How do I use artificial intelligence to sell managed print services?"

Then I asked it again.  I asked the same question twice and was given two separate responses.

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.