Mike McBride Online

Career | Links

Linked: What If We Just Stopped Being So Available?
ByMike McBride January 24, 2022January 23, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

This is really the thing. We all know that our devices are with us all the time, and we all know that everyone else knows. So when the notification pops up, there’s an instantaneous thought process that we all go through.

And no, it’s not is this important or can it wait? The actual thought process is “they know I see this and are probably expecting a response”

However the article below also points out that much of the time, that’s isn’t true. Someone was just reaching out and there is no hurry or even an expectation of immediate response but we don’t know that. So, we either drop everything to reply or we apologize for any delay in replying.

Which makes no sense.

I’ve been involved in direct work with clients in half-day training, or multi-hours long workshops and replied to an email afterwards with an “I’m sorry, I was tied up” opening.

Yes, I’m apologizing for doing my job and paying attention to it.

How dumb is that?

Read More Linked: What If We Just Stopped Being So Available?
Career

An Important Balancing Point – Be Professional Always
ByMike McBride January 22, 2022January 21, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

I talk a lot about the Great Resignation and employees taking control over their own careers instead of just following along with what the company wants them to do. I stand by it, and like Mark, I am also thrilled that we are seeing a shift in the balance of power as employees start to recognize their value. But, he also raises an important post in the LinkedIn post.

As long as you are there and getting paid you owe them your best. Be professional, even if the company isn’t. Do your job even if you plan on quitting tomorrow. Commit your best efforts to the project even if you don’t agree with it.

Read More An Important Balancing Point – Be Professional Always
Links | Security

Linked: Malicious QR Codes – The Digital Slip & Fall
ByMike McBride January 20, 2022January 19, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

Sarah makes a valid point. Sure, during the COVID pandemic it’s nice that you can go into a restaurant and scan a QR code to view the menu instead of handling physical menus. I worked in a restaurant kitchen in college, I know how nasty some menus can get. On the other hand, are we teaching people to trust something they shouldn’t trust?

Read More Linked: Malicious QR Codes – The Digital Slip & Fall
Links | Tech

Linked: Cities and States Find New Ways to Tax Streaming Services
ByMike McBride January 19, 2022January 18, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I reject that argument too, and here is why.

In order to be a customer of Netflix, Disney+, etc. you need broadband internet access, which runs through those wireline facilities. The ISP is already paying for using the right of way and passing that expense on to you. Any service, streaming video, audio, websites you visit, etc. is using the connection that has already been paid for and passed on to you. Taxing each individual service simply creates a situation where there is one connection using the infrastructure, being paid for over and over again and then being passed back to you over and over again.

Read More Linked: Cities and States Find New Ways to Tax Streaming Services
Mental Health

Linked: One in two employees reluctant to disclose a mental health condition at work
ByMike McBride January 17, 2022January 17, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Through all of this, we still haven’t addressed the tough parts.

Sure, we’ve offered time off. We’ve told people it’s OK to not be OK. We’ve offered mental health apps for free. Maybe we’ve even offered more significant mental health benefits, or done sessions during the workday on stress and burnout.

What we haven’t done in many cases are the harder things, like creating a culture that is not rewarding all of the things we encourage employees not to do.

Read More Linked: One in two employees reluctant to disclose a mental health condition at work
LawFirms | Links

Linked: Cybersecurity Trends | 25% of Law Firms Have Been Breached
ByMike McBride January 13, 2022January 13, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

Law firms are an attractive target because of the data, but also because it might be easier to breach a firm than it would be to hack the clients they represent. As the rest of the article goes on to describe, there are still too many firms without cybersecurity training, proper policies, or incident response plans. That is not going to keep things secure.

On top of that, as I’ve written before, the whole culture in firms is a problem. Anytime you have a large group of people in charge, (partners), who are often not to be questioned, social engineering gets a whole lot easier, and the likelihood that even some policy that exists might get ignored is pretty high.

Read More Linked: Cybersecurity Trends | 25% of Law Firms Have Been Breached