Jim Carrillo

I hate cleaning up my office in order to make webcam shots.  I hate cleaning in general.  I was making this elaborate back drop for my camera out of some spare curtains, a curtain rod just behind my chair…. Yikes.  What an ordeal just to hide my mess.  You’d think it would have been easier to just clean up.  Did I mention I hate cleaning?

I found this by accident (can’t even remember how) on the internet.  It’s a product by a company called “The Web Around”.  You can see their website at http://www.thewebaround.com

Very simple to use.  Cost was just right ($29), but shipping killed me ($11).  Maybe when they get their product in stores it will be a viable option for all those of us that have dirty offices/homes.

Jim

I gave a presentation recently where I explained some seemingly confusing concepts in technology to a non-technical crowd.  Sure, I’m a geek, but I empathize with the non-tech crowd, because it seems daily when technology makes me feel inadequate.  This stuff is intimidating -- not just to you, to me too!  I hope you learn something from this 3 minute excerpt of the presentation.  Maybe if  IT professionals can just learn to communicate a bit better, we can bridge that gap between technology, and people like us.

I’m a geek, not a cool guy with a fast car, so you should expect this to be nothing more then a metaphor. Maybe one day I’ll have a car that can go over 60, but until then, I’ll write about business and technology.

I recently decided to deliver webinars to compliment my Professional Speaking, and let me tell you – it is nothing like Professional Speaking as I knew it. When your speaking in front of an audience (at least for me), it’s all about improv. I have my topic and a solid understanding of the material, but I feed off the audience. I look for facial queues (like the audience falling asleep), or audio queues (snoring), and adjust accordingly. It’s like dancing with the audience, and working real hard to count in my head while not stepping on toes. Keep an eye on the toes, and no problem.

Online Webinar and Conference Call
‘Social Networking 101’
With Jim Carrillo and Ian Griffin
Wednesday, July 29 5pm PT

Make sense of Social Networking, with practical tips you can implement today. Join Jim Carrillo and Ian Griffin as they outline a roadmap to the most useful Social Networking tools: Blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and podcasting. Learn how an integrated approach can help grow your brand and your business. Don’t be intimidated. Learn practical strategies that maximize business results. Jim and Ian’s overview explains the basics about Social Networking tools, explains what you can do to get started, and shows you where you’ll get the quickest return on investment for your time.

• Understand differences between a Blog, Website, Social Network Profile.
• Set up your own LinkedIn and Facebook Profile.
• Prevent yourself from making the same mistake 90% of others always make.
• Learn what to post, and what to keep private.
• We guarantee you’ll be online, or we won’t sleep till you are!

I hate taking pictures on my digital camera – because even though it’s easy, it creates 3mb files. That’s great for printing, but when I want to share them with friends via email, I end up sending huge files over email – which is annoying for me, and the folks receiving them.

I’m pretty good at photo editing, and using Photoshop, I can reduce the resolution of the image (note – computer monitors can only show less then 92 dots per inch, and camera’s take well over 300 dots per inch). The problem with Photoshop, or other applications, is it’s not quick and easy.

I’m on the lookout for something easy – and I found it AND IT”S FREE!!!!

The application is Shrink Pic, and you can DOWNLOAD IT HERE

I’ve created a video to show how easy this program is – it monitors your email application, so anytime you send a jpg picture, it shrinks it.

I set my settings to “NOT” run at startup, so it doesn’t shrink images automatically. When I want to use it, I just start the program, and then send my images.

Watch the video to see how easy it is (Available only for Windows).

I just found a free – online – screen capture system. They host your videos too, or you can post them to youtube. www.screentoaster.com

I paid $1000 for my system (AllCapture) four years ago. While it has some features I really like (like being able to cut elements), this one has new features I’ve always wanted, like webcam in video, record audio with video, or separately, etc… If you’ve ever had to walk a client through anything on the computer (even if it’s filling out your order form on your website), this free online system is a no brainer.

Jim

I was asked to produce an event for a new grass roots community organization, “South County Independent Business Alliance”. In addition to producing and promoting the event, I was also a presenter. In this presentation I explained the benefits of a buy local campaign.

Ever thought about hosting a webinar?  What about getting help from a tech support person by actually showing them the problems you’re having on your computer?  Better yet, work directly with your customers when they have problems by viewing their computer screen.

This probably sounds way too techy for the average person (or too expensive), but it isn’t anymore.  Adobe Flash, combined with Open Source projects, is changing the business landscape when it comes to collaboration technologies.

Here are two products that I use quite often that has made me look impressive to many customers.  Their purpose is to collaborate online, but I use them to get things done fast without traveling to meet in person.

DimDim (www.dimdim.com) – Webinar online meeting place

This is the free cousin of Webex and GoToMeeting.  Free  is correct.  You can host up to 20 people at a time, and you can have as many meetings as you want.  Use your own teleconferencing service, or they provide one for free.  Share your screen, power point presentations, PDF files, use a whiteboard, and best of all – record what’s happening in full vidoe.  Many of the recorded webinars you see on my site are recorded through DimDim.  Sometimes I’ll host a meeting that I’m the only participant of, just so I can record the presentation.

Have more then 20 people?  This is still a cost effective solution.  For only $20 per month, you can host as many meetings as you want with up to 50 attendees.  The reason I like this product is that there are no other free solutions that let you host up to 20 people. (note – looks like times are tough because it used to be $8.50 per month for up to 100 attendees.  Oh well, still a good deal)

One of the things DimDim is missing is passing control of your screen to someone else, or taking control of another’s screen.

Acrobat Online (www.acrobat.com) Resource Sharing and Collaboration
This is similar to DimDim, but the focus is on sharing resources – from files to your screen.  Very simple to use (even simpler than DimDim).  The Screen Sharing feature allows you to pass control, and take control of the computer screens.  I use this a lot when helping clients with simple problems (like using applications, training, etc…).

This is a free service too (or I wouldn’t be recommending it), but it’s only free for up to three participants.  Not much of a meeting there huh.  That’s why I only use this to either post files online and share them with colleagues, or more importantly, to share my screen with another person – or view their screen to help them with problems.
Both of these applications work well on PC and Mac – which has become a requirement for me lately now that Macs are more affordable and increasing in popularity.  They both also work with various browsers (like Firefox).

Hope this helps.

Jim

Today I presented at a “Fast Track Back to Work” seminar, where four speakers provided advice on how to land yourself that next job. The focus on my presentation was promoting yourself online. With the advent of Social Media Networking sites, we all have the ability to advertise ourselves, just as much as large companies can – with one advantage. We can take the time to write very targeted, relevant posts about our area of expertise.

If you would like to download the presentation that was given in Power Point format, please CLICK THIS LINK. It is saved in a format that does not require you to have power point on your computer, and will play as a presentation.

I’ve also recorded an online video of the presentation if you’re interested in hearing my voice and presentation to the slides. Bring your Family, Friends, and Neighbors – gather around the computer with popcorn – and enjoy.

Click for Video Presentation

I used to be in awe of those new TV shows that were selected. The Apprentice, Survivor, and on and on. I always wondered what it would take to get that opportunity. I found out that all it takes is action.

(that’s a funny play on words if you look at it from a director’s stand point – I humor myself)

OK, back on topic.

I love business. I eat it, sleep it, and dream it. I love being able to create a product from nothing, and sit down with big corporations representing my small company as if I was equal footing. (PS read “The World is Flat” if you haven’t already).

I took action. I’m a member of the Morgan Hill Access Television (MHAT) and the Community Media Access Program CMAP for Gilroy/Hollister/San Juan. I’m producing my own show for the community TV, and of course, the Internet. It’s called Bootstrapping.

Bootstrapping is a monthly magazine style show (magazine style means it’s like 20/20 format) that celebrates the business approach of bootstrapping – internally funded, cost conscious, and self sustaining.

The Silicon Valley became used to the availability of finance. Businesses were funded by Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, and even the easy equity in homes made money available by the mortgage market. Today, funding sources are drying up, businesses need to cut costs, but they still need to continue operations and grow. Bootstrapping takes a look at local businesses and highlights their attempts bootstrapping efforts.

I need crew. If you live near Morgan Hill, CA and you’ve ever thought it would be cool to participate in a production of a TV show, join in. Here are some examples of roles:

Talent (business to be interview, or the interviewer)
Camera Crew (absolutely no experience necessary)
Editing Crew (I’m learning as I go)
Audio Crew (again, no experience necessary)
Voice Over Talent
Fans

Pass the word on if you know someone that would find this fun.

Oops – one more thing. THIS IS NOT A MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY! I’m not paying anything, and I don’t expect to get paid myself. It’s purely recreational and in an area that I really find interesting.

Hasta.

Jim