For example, if you were to say that health is a top value, but you spend minimal time on this – exercising only one hour out of 168 hours in a week — you would want to reevaluate exercise as something that is less important to you.  In my humble opinion, no value is a “bad value” — a value may be different than mine, but that doesn’t make it bad, just different.  Awareness of your values is important to staying aligned with your vision of the life you intend and leader you aspire to be.

Understanding your infrastructure vision

The same can be said about your company’s infrastructure.  Whether it is in-house, managed, or cloud based, none of these are “bad” infrastructure architects, they are just different.  However, the vision you have for your company and your infrastructure plans need to be aligned.  If they do not match up, inefficiencies will build, making the IT plans the wrong ones for the company.

Below is a table with four values to consider for your company and the typical corresponding infrastructure.  Which value ranks the highest?  Is your company infrastructure aligned with the overall vision?  If not, mapping a path to align the company vision with the infrastructure may be needed.

Ultimately, visions for your company should branch to the values that fulfill this.  Tactical functions and resources need to project from these values in order to realize the organizational vision.  Similarly, if health is important to you, spending the time to walk 10,000 steps in a day and skip the fast food line to cook a nutritious meal should replace time spent on activities that are not associated to a core value.

Does your current infrastructure align with your company vision?  What changes do you need to make so the vision, values, and tactical functions align?

As Joshua Foer succinctly stated in Walking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, “Monotony collapses time.  Novelty unfolds it.”  Being able to remember the details of a boy being knighted on his fifth birthday builds memories that ultimately build life.  With technology today, I have a myriad of tools to aid my ability to remember to neatly store my memories in the cloud.

Not only is this useful for sentimental memory purposes, but the business implications, when properly implemented, can reduce note taking, list making, and name remembering. Here are 3 ways technology aids can help your workday recall go more smoothly:

1. Smartphones

They make it easier to have a camera on hand to snap pictures, send faxes, sign contracts.  Additional uses are to snap pictures of the white board with your action items, so you can spend the meeting focusing on the overall strategy, confident that you have the list stored for the tasks that you need to get done tactically.

2. Apps

Multi-tasking is the disease that has followed technology.  With multitasking, focus and memory retention become issues.  Every year, I resolve to stop multi-tasking – this year I decided to embrace the bad habit and I jumped on the Evernote bandwagon to help my skipping mind go back two steps to the thought I started having and never finished.  Quick snaps of screenshots, pictures, and short notes help the user backtrack to the path to productivity.

3. Wearable devices

With cloud for storage, many devices are appearing on the market that let users go back to any recorded events, names, and conversations.  The friendship bracelet has evolved beyond just remembering who made it for you to the actual memories you share with friends.  And potentially coming soon is a wearable that remembers all of your experiences.  If they can get this to work, memory will become a secondary requirement, much like handwriting is to typing.

Before writing off internal memory and pushing it all out to the cloud, it is important to keep in mind that internal memories are what make us human and shape our habits and who we are.  As Joshua Foer memorably stated in his book, “No lasting joke, invention, insight or work of art was ever produced by an external memory.”  And I’m pretty sure if a customer asked you a question about your products and services, the human response to “wait, let me check my cloud” would not be very positive.

What is one thing in your workday that would be easier if your ability to recall and remember it were stronger? How can technology help you record those things that are important to remember?

Spoken word brings pages to life in an experience that reading to self cannot do. I extended this relationship with the performance of the written word to my four- and six-year-old children.  As we listened to Anne Hathaway’s performance of the Wizard of Oz, I began to realize her performance was dependent on L. Frank Baum’s amazing writing as well as a production team.  The old adage is true that success never happens alone.  It is the reason why upon accepting awards, there are countless others to thank.

Delivering a unique and engaging experience to lead to an Audie nomination, is similar to building a cloud solution: best in class components are needed to build a unique, highly effective solution.

Cloud thrives on combined talent:

1. The cloud ecosystem:

One of the great things about working in the cloud environment is that the heart of cloud is an ecosystem of innovation and development driven from sharing resources and ideas.  It brings together a diverse group of experiences and knowledge to create something progressive.  Here are a few cloud nominations that show how award-winning performance is dependent upon multiple factors: For businesses that want to spend more time on activities core to their business, a study from Forrester commissioned by AT&T indicated that businesses found greater efficiencies when working with a single vendor that brings it all together.

2. Solution provider programs:

Allowing the open sharing of ideas can lead directly to what the end users need, particularly with custom end to end solutions.  These programs boost their ability to tie together the best of the components of what the customer has, what the customer needs, and a solution to make it work together in a custom solution.

3. Communities: OpenStack with open sharing of source, design, and development builds community in the purest sense where the greater accomplishment overshadows individual accomplishment.  OpenStack is the aggregator for all the people to be thanked:

Anne Hathaway won an Oscar and is nominated for an Audie.  Her talent is a key component to these successes.  But in her speech, she graciously acknowledges the level of her success is dependent on the team around her. Similarly, best in class cloud infrastructure is a key component to a solution’s success.  However, the solution is dependent upon key components such as the network, proper applications, and an aggregator acting as a director.

Have you worked with an aggregator to bring together best in class components to create a remarkable end user experience?

These emotional associations make a little sister’s reaction to a bankruptcy announcement somewhat unreasonable: “WHY?!  How can my childhood hero be financially troubled?!?!”

The obvious answer: Childhood memories do not keep companies relevant.

When I read Smart Thinking by Art Markman, I realized that making sure you and your business stay relevant is similar to breaking a bad habit.  When business is going well, it’s easy to fall into comfortable habits – especially when they initially had beneficial outcomes.  Repeating these habits without evaluation prevents progress.  Here are 3 ways that Markman recommends to change habits and maintain business relevance:   

1. Change the environment

If the current environment does not promote progress, change it.  Campbell’s CIO, Joseph Spagnoletti, worked with the marketing team to build a digital environment to boost sales.  He pushed out over 100 applications that reside in the cloud.  Changing to a cloud environment minimized the risk of investment allowing for effective testing of multiple possibilities before full roll out.

2. Disrupt the environment

Confuse the current habits to bring attention to what needs to change.  Remember the famous website crash of 2011?  These types of disruptions kept Centre College mindful as they planned to host the 2012 VP debate.  The small college prepared its website by hosting it on the cloud for the scalability needed for the kinds of crowds it did not typically host.  Experiencing a disruption brings attention to details that may be underestimated.

3. Replace old with new

Things can always be better than what they are.  Identify a few ways processes could be better, and find relevant tools to put in place of the old ones.  A small, family-run business had to carry storage drives while traveling.  Forgetting these storage drives would be worse than going on a three-day business trip and forgetting the power supply to your laptop – at least you can run to the store to get a universal power supply.  They identified this opportunity for improvement and moved their backup and recovery issues to the cloud, removing worry of loss and availability. They replaced the old system with a new one.

Evaluating a business’ habits to keep them appropriate to the current environment is critical to maintaining relevance.  I will always love the intermission where the stork brings Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man a baby, but, I haven’t seen it in years.  The new era of memories is hearing John Madden talking to my husband on his PSP.  The next, maybe 3D characters in my living room. The one certainty as things evolve, is that long-term success depends on staying relevant and responsive—things made easier by the cloud.

What habits have you changed in the New Year?  Has cloud changed any of your business habits?

Ms. Snyder’s inspiration came through her father’s encouragement.  As a child, she showed an interest in science and technology that led to working on projects together – a trend they continue today.  Currently, they have been building a programmed train set that controls 8 train engines separately.  She lives a life passionate about technology and passes this enthusiasm to the next generation.

Similarly, Marian Croak of AT&T showed early interest in science and technology and was also encouraged by her father.  Education and hard work were also keys to her success in technology where she feels she helps change the world.

Why cloud provides opportunity to women

While not all women have the same early aged experiences with technology as Ms. Snyder and Ms. Croak, I believe cloud promotes an opportunity to see more women in technology roles.  Here are my top 3 ways cloud can bridge the technology gender gap:

1. Cloud has reach

In my job, I am surrounded by so many tech-savvy women that until I go to a tradeshow or event, I often forget that the industry needs to catch up.   Like Carrie Jo Snyder has commented, “Boys will be around and involved in everything we do in life.”  Cloud is a hot topic affecting IT departments as well as line of business managers in businesses large and small.  It’s not colored blue or made of mutant ninja turtles — it’s a “technology thing” not a “boy or girl thing.”

2. More talk, more attention

One day a few weeks back, I noticed announcements where several companies signed up for the cloud based Microsoft Office 365 all within a short time period.  As more recognizable names sign up, more companies will follow this pattern.  Similarly, as more women show interest in technology, ask more questions, share more answers, the discussion and engagement will expand.

3. Existing knowledge, new area

Cloud is about solutions and solving problems as well as articulating value.  This can come from a variety of other disciplines enabling women who did not share the early tech enthusiasm with Ms. Snyder and Ms. Croak to do more than just wish the next generation well.  Women can apply their existing problem solving skills to the technology industry.

Ms. Snyder once remarked on tech’s limitless reach, noting, “Technology integrates math, science, art, and many other areas.” I couldn’t agree more; technology transcends gender just as cloud users go beyond the IT department.

Do you think cloud will provide a turning point for women in technology?  Who is a woman in technology that inspires you?  Comment with a link to share the inspiration!

Either way, it was a small change in perspective that brought to the masses what my two sassy kids already knew:  it’s not just a “boy or girl thing”, it’s an “I like to construct and eat sweet treats thing.”

Similarly, the belief that coding is just for programmers should be transformed to a new perspective that everyone benefits  from some coding knowledge.  Not because everyone needs to be an expert and build the next best app, but that gaining an understanding of the concepts transfers to other parts of the business — and potentially gives you the insight to make adjustments to out-of-the-box tools like Platform as a Service.

Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook, has said that she believes she would be better at her job if she had more technical skills. Such expansive thinking is about reaching across disciplines and consolidating all you know to be more effective in what you do.

By scratching the surface at learning to code, I have built on my technical understanding of cloud.  And I believe everyone should have some basic knowledge of cloud programming. Here are my top three reasons:

1. 2013 is going to be the year of the cloud.  With an expected rise in the number of cloud consultants, how they help tweak your perception of cloud will make the discussions more decipherable.  On the Chinese calendar, 2013 will also be the year of the snake, a character known for having a good temper and communicating well while saying little.  Knowing the basics will help you ask the right questions to move discussions about cloud forward.

2. People think it’s cool.  Cloud is a cutting-edge growth technology with current relevance regardless of what field is your focus. In Elf, would Buddy have been able to change people’s minds about believing if he went to New York to find his dad around the Fourth of July?  The timing is right for cloud knowledge to have an impact on how cool your business is perceived to be.

3. It speaks globally.  Cloud is a technology that spans across disciplines, industries, and enterprises.  Basic understanding across disciplines can lead to small changes in perception of what the cloud can do.  Small changes in perception can be as impactful as a 13 year old wanting to get her brother an Easy Bake oven for Christmas.  In other words, cloud isn’t just an “IT” thing.

Has a change in perspective ever helped your business to advance new ideas? Do you think learning about the technology behind the cloud could help you maximize its benefits for your business in 2013?

Choice is important: Businesses are not all built with the same infrastructure needs.  And like any innovation, the race to meet everyone’s needs produces a plethora of cloud providers with countless features and functionality to choose from.  This vast amount of choice can create an environment of paralysis.

Imagine a college kid away from home for the first time, at the grocery store planning the first meal they will make as an independent.  Spaghetti.  That’s easy.  Unbeknownst to that aspiring intellectual, aisle four has 36 varieties of spaghetti sauce to choose from.  And that is before the pasta choices.  Should the hungry student just decide to skip dinner and avoid learning how to cook spaghetti?  Do you avoid experiencing cloud because of choice paralysis?

Of course, the “right” answer is “No!”  To help get your business over this paralysis, I have come up with 3 benefits your business may realize by prioritizing a migration plan to cloud – why a faster horse will not do:

1. Stress Management

Keep track of your business wherever you may be.  The cloud helps keep your sales force mobile and engaged with the office.  Business owners can walk out to get a sandwich for lunch and continue to be connected to business activity.  Cloud collaboration tools keep mobile and remote employees engaged relieving the stress of the unknown.

2. Clutter Freedom

Clutter weighs us all down. Whether it is the mess on our desk at work making it harder to find a pen or too many knick knacks crowding the picture of the kids being cute, clutter gets in the way of efficiency.  Taking the bulkiness and the responsibility of equipment off the premise lightens the physical burden as well as the management burden.

3. Environmental Friendliness

With cloud, the usage from multiple companies is consolidated to central points that maximize efficiencies and reduce the carbon footprint.  It helps your business by driving efficiency and in turn helps the environment by conserving resources.

Cloud might not be the magic wand that makes every business challenge vaporize, but it will help put your business on a more efficient path with benefits beyond the bottom line.

If you have already moved to cloud, what have you experienced that will keep you from going back?

1.  Pricey applications delivered as a subscription

While I was in graduate school in the 90s, I had the opportunity to participate in a program nicknamed “NAFTA Exchange.”  It gave the opportunity to work with students from Calgary and Mexico City – spending a week in Mexico, the US, and Canada.  During this three-week period, we had the opportunity to meet local businesses.

One of the Calgary-based companies offered a distribution of expensive enterprise applications across networks to dummy terminals.  I remember asking many questions about this because, while rumored to be a possibility, I did not think the available technology would be able to deliver at the performance level businesses needed.  After being that annoying student administering the MBA inquisition to the poor guy giving the tour, I realized they were delivering a base concept of the full dream.

With the growth of cloud services and online application marketplaces popping up for businesses (not just consumers looking for Fruit Ninja), the whole concept is coming to life and being delivered across the Internet to more than just dummy terminals.

2. Chatting it up at work

I was an early adopter of instant messaging.  Especially when dial up kept my phone line busy and Napster downloads had me online all day.  When I moved to Chicago, I would spend hours chatting with my brothers and friends back in Texas.  It was a great way to keep in touch (long-distance pricing was coming down, but was not “free” yet).

At the time I did not realize the benefits of IM in creating a globally dispersed work environment.  As a matter of fact, I was skeptical of the value of it since I could just pick up my phone and call the person to get the information I needed.  However, as remote peers and conference calls became more prevalent, the importance of IM to keep workflow moving has increased.  Now, when you stop, collaborate and listen, IM is built into almost every cloud collaboration tool a business can subscribe to.

3. Backing up without a floppy

Backing up a PC used to involve a box of 3 ½ inch floppies.  It was a really big deal when I threw down the investment on a CD writer.  And all of a sudden every file on my computer could be backed up to one CD!  Granted, every time I went to back up my files, I had to burn a new CD since they were not re-writeable.   The cloud has brought to life the dream of doing nothing – set it and forget it — and the back up of all business files just happens.

What technology dreams from the 90s has the cloud brought to life for your business?

I love these kinds of stories where people found their “thing.”Whenever I hear stories of these successful small businesses, what’s missing from the story are all the steps, bumps and wrong turns they took getting started.  All the little ins and outs they had to research — because the devil is in the details, and, luckily, he can be unmasked by Google.

The fabulous thing about the Internet is that there is endless information on steps to start a small business — like business plans, funding, and setting up a tax ID.  However, in this age of “even-the-hot-dog-vendor-on-the-corner” has a website, the lists often neglect information on how to set up IT infrastructure.  Having the privilege of working in technology, I have the benefit of understanding that in order to keep a passion, a small business must address technology needs and keep capital expenses at a minimum.

Because information starts the conversation, I have created an addendum to other “how to start a small business” lists.  Realizing this varies by business model, my short list for infrastructure needs assumes a non-IT passion raised to the next level and ready to be shared with the world:

1. Webpage

You’re going to need an IT as a Solution plan.  You may not have the expertise yourself, but many online solutions have extensive tools and templates that can get you started quickly and economically with a webpage on a cloud server.  No upfront capital investment is required, just an affordable monthly expense.  Get it started and let someone else manage it while you do what you love to do.

2. Email Perceptions

Of course, it is cheaper to use a free email service like Gmail or Hotmail, but if perception of professionalism is high on your business model list, an email address reflecting your website should be considered as part of the package.

3. Backup plan

You’re just getting started, so the last thing often considered is plan B.  But IT issues are so much easier to deal with (especially when you are not tech savvy) when you have a back up plan and a disaster recovery plan mapped upfront. Don’t wait until a disaster strikes to prepare.

That’s my top 3 list.  As a small business owner, what do you think should be added to this list?

As I struggle with the basics of coding, I think of Tina Fey and her early beginnings.  She worked the desk at a YMCA on the north side of Chicago before she made her way onto the Second City circuit.  It seems progress can feel slow some days, then an immediate need spawns action and leads to a breakthrough, whether the endeavor is a career in comedy or a coding project. That’s exactly the way it seemed when I discovered an important new cloud computing platform. Here’s my story…

The big move

My family and I are in the process of moving.

In addition to sorting piles for “pack, donate, and toss” (the kids wanted to make sure they were on the “pack” pile) is organizing information like movers, banks, change of address notifications, and other to do’s.  In my frazzled frustration, I thought, “There should be an app for that!”  Then I remembered the wise words of Tina Fey:

“Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.”

So I determined there WILL be an app for that!

Curiosity made the app

This is when my curiosity about Platform as a Service (PaaS) finally got the best of me.  Developers use PaaS to bypass basic coding.   Line of business buyers use it to help with projects while possessing only basic knowledge.

In this category of cloud computing, an intuitive interface is used and complemented with code like Java Script to customize the application.  Behind this interface, the application rests on servers in the cloud.  Knowing AT&T has a PaaS offering with the added bonus that the cloud is in the network, I figured it was worth the couple of dollars it would cost to use it and experiment.

300 seconds to go

I found there are several ways to approach application creation through the PaaS service: using a wizard, using a template, or uploading a spreadsheet.  I chose to use one of the available templates and customize it to fit my needs for moving.  After reviewing the templates that were available, I made my decision and within minutes, literally less than 300 seconds, I was creating my application and tracking expenses and tasks.  Since PaaS automatically mobilizes my app, my husband and I can both access task lists and expenses from our smartphones to keep the move progress, well, moving!

What’s next?

When I heard this season will mark the series finale for “30 Rock,” I was saddened to see it go, but also excited to see what Tina Fey does next.  What will someone with that kind of drive have planned after her current dream job comes to a close?  And now that I have created an application and made it to the center of the cloud, albeit via shortcut, do I go back to learning the basics?  Do I springboard and move forward with PaaS experiments?

How about you? Have you had an experience with PaaS that you’d like to share? Share what you’ve learned in comments.