Do you believe in what you do? Most people will say yes, but the answer to the question is not as obvious as it might appear. It is not skillset, or the ability to sell a product, or even the desirability of the product itself. Rather, it deals with whether or not you, personally, believe in the value that you are providing.

Try this. The next time you are discussing a project or task, don’t focus on the “what” or the “how” but rather on the “why”. This method, expertly discussed by Simon Sinek in his fantastic TED talk, allows you to speak to customers on an emotional level, and to recruit a following of believers rather than customers.

What does “why” mean? It has little to do with sales numbers, paychecks, or any of those business issues. Instead, it deals with the motivating factors behind how you live your life. Why do you want money? To travel? To buy a fancy vehicle? Even those do not go far enough. Why do you want those things? Freedom? Respect?

Go far enough down the rabbit hole and eventually you will discover the essence of what you believe. Only then can you communicate that belief to customers, and build a true community rather than a sales base. 

It’s typical for local publications to showcase the yearly keynote speakers at SXSW Interactive here in Austin where Journyx is based, but there’s always one speaker that shines just a little bit brighter than the others.  This year it was Cyborg Anthropologist Amber Case:

Case is responsible for the app Geoloqi and speaks at many tech conferences.  She even has a TED Talk under her belt called “We Are All Cyborgs Now.”  I find Case fascinating because she speaks about technology like she’s already seen how it will ultimately develop. Case isn’t afraid of the fact that we are dependent on technology.  Rather, she sees power in mobile technology becoming an extension of ourselves.  Case has convinced me that we need more philosophical discussions of our developing relationship with technology as new tech is developed.

Ultimately, what Amber Case has to say about technology makes me very excited, and a lot of other people are taking notice as well.

Many U.S.-based companies (including Journyx) didn’t have a company holiday for President’s day this past Monday.  Why is that?  It’s not a surprise that many Americans found themselves at work last Monday considering that we work more hours than almost any other industrialized country.  Watch what David Lazarus of The LA Times has to say about American work hours:

Maybe you are currently trying to implement a paid time off (PTO) policy in your company.  If so, read what our CEO has to say about starting a new PTO policy.  Even though the U.S. government doesn’t mandate it, vacation time is important to provide for your employees.  Not only does it boost morale and decrease stress, but some of our most creative ideas happen during times of rest.  Remember, you’ll need an easy way to approve and track time off in your company so that PTO will be a great benefit instead of a headache.

Do you like your company’s PTO policy?  Tell us with a comment.