The King of Couch Co-op

Before the days of smartphones, wireless internet, discord, and twitch, finding an entertainment system to play in-person, on the same couch, with your friends was not a challenge. Every system was offered this way for obvious reason. We also only called them “video game systems” at the time, and not entertainment systems, since their reasons for existence were simple and uncongested. Those days are long gone in only a few decades, and while I love the 4K surround, 3D, intelligent AI experiences that have resulted in years of innovation, it is hard to top the feeling of crushing your friends in Halo or Super Smash Brothers when they are sitting right next to you.

In a home with both a Nintendo Switch OLED and Microsoft Xbox Series X, I can tell you they both have strong advantages. It all comes down to what games you play, how you want to play, what your friends use, and what else you want to use these systems for outside of video games. In this article, I will also compare the newer OLED Switch to the standard 1st and 2nd generation. But with a focus on Nintendo, the true king of couch co-op in 2022, you cannot go wrong for adults and children with a Switch, especially if you have some Nintendo affinity in your DNA.

Specific to the couch (or at least the same room), nothing can beat the Nintendo for the quantity and quality of in-person gaming. Regardless of the console version you have, almost every game they produce (especially with their own IP like Mario) is first designed with in-person gaming in mind. Will this change in the future? No one knows, but even in 2022, the Nintendo is an incredible party and friend choice, offering variety for a spectrum of interests and activities. Their games like Switch Sports, Mario Tennis, Ring Fit, and Mario Kart Live even get you off the couch and moving in fun and creative ways. I love these active games, and they provide an excellent alternative to traditional exercise (while at the same time being loads of fun!).

To Buy or Not to Buy

It might be clear by now that the Nintendo Switch is an absolute “BUY” from me in 2022. I will say the same in 2023. Not only does Nintendo still have a huge collection of new games planned over the next year that have been announced, but they haven’t given an indication that a new system would be released before 2024 at the earliest. Now, anything is possible, but the enjoyment and portability of the Switch will last even after the next gen finally releases. Winding down doesn’t seem to be in the cards either, with massive games like the sequel to Zelda’s Breath of the Wild in the works.

So, the second question, OLED Switch or standard Switch? With the pricing between the two typically within $50, and the upgrades offered on the OLED, that one wins out from my perspective. A few reasons:

• Higher resolution, larger OLED screen (7″ OLED vs 6.2″ LCD)
• OLED offers better color range, contrast and saturation, and overall picture quality
• Hard-wired ethernet connection (great for online play, faster updates and games like Fortnite)
• OLED model offers a much nicer out-of-the-box kickstand that also adjusts
• Twice the internal storage included (64GB vs 32GB)

If you don’t already own a Switch model, the OLED is the one to get. If you own the original Switch model (1st gen), the stability, speed, and screen have been enough for some to upgrade to the OLED switch. If you already own a 2nd gen, it’s personal preference whether you have the extra $350 looking to be spent. The good news is the same joy cons work on either console, and utilize the same HDMI connection to the TV. I plan to review some of my favorite couch co-op, family, and friend games in a future post. Game on!

This should not be discouraging. It should be the opposite. If you have made the conscious decision to invest your time and energy into an idea or passion, the best thing to do is jump in. The water might not be warm, but the only way to get to the other side is to start swimming. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but with the low barrier of entry to starting so many businesses today, why not take the leap? In many cases, you spent some time and money, but the lessons learned will continue to drive better and better decisions in your life. 

So, whether you have an established business in a saturated market, or are passionate about starting a new one–all is not lost. In fact, sometimes a saturated marketplace ends up offering richer returns through a focused effort and unique go-to-market approach. 

Find a Niche

In an overpopulated space, this is a key component of success. The internet created a modern day gold rush of opportunities, but that honeymoon phase did not last forever. From ecommerce to dashboards to reporting to website design to professional services, you cannot take one digital footstep inside the internet without a bombardment of options. Let’s take social media management as an example, a service I offer through Curious Cog. There are hundreds of social media management businesses out there, ranging from 1-person operations to multi-faceted firms. Completely saturated, right?

Well, similar to my focus for website clients, I am passionate about working with small businesses. I focus on small businesses, looking to expand their digital footprint, and make a mark in the busy space their own business specializes in. I look for nonprofits, manufacturing companies, and starter ecommerce and brick-and-mortar businesses. I do this because I am knowledgeable in these areas, appreciate what these companies and individuals do each day, and truly believe that helping these businesses become successful increases my success. My goal is to provide value and insight, sometimes providing consulting services to completely structure their item management process, or advise how to be involved with their customers online. Understanding the nuances of being online can be a daunting task for a small business, but my calm personality, knowledge of digital growth, and ability to explain processes in a simple and consumable way, have allowed me to make a meaningful impact for many small businesses. 

This fills my bucket. I love mutual success. And better than that, this self-awareness of my own strengths (and weaknesses), combined with seeking out clients I am passionate and knowledgeable about, have provided the template for the niche I am continuing to build in the crowded social media and website design space. 

Become an Expert and Be Authentic

Building upon the passion that drives you to a particular niche, you must be an expert in your field. This doesn’t mean to become and act like a know-it-all, but rather you need to understand the needs and desires of your customer base. Once you understand those needs, you need to become intelligible and confident in solving them. Even better yet, you need to be authentic in the services you provide. 

This requires you to take many steps above research and analysis. This requires you go beyond regurgitating information. This requires you to go beyond telling your clients what to do. 

It requires listening to your clients, understanding their problems and goals, and then applying your expertise to provide a tailored solution to help them grow. Your clients are coming to you to help them solve a problem they are unable to on their own. This is a display of trust and respect that should be handled in the same. When you are the only company offering your service, this might be less applicable. But in a saturated marketplace, instilling trust and respect–and returning the same–makes all the difference in the world. 

Put Yourself in Your Customer’s Shoes

Being knowledgeable isn’t enough. The individuals that stand out from the crowd are also trustworthy, respectful, and empathetic. Empathetic means you put yourself in your customer’s shoes, attempt to see the world from their vantage point, and provide a solution based on their specific needs. Those who stand out in a positive way don’t make assumptions about their clients. 

Similarly, no two companies are the exact same, just as no two people are. This goes back to tailoring a solution, even if it requires only slight changes from the previous project. One size fits many can be a scalable model from a cost and time perspective, but the customer will suffer with an inferior result. I want to call out that I am a huge fan of templates and re-using knowledge where possible to give a customer better value, but the end result still needs to be produced for them. 

Whether you offer products or services, especially in a crowded space, customer service shines above all else. Trust, respect, empathy, and listening to the needs of your customers will create a relationship that can bring incredible success to both parties. The path to least resistance is paved with great customer service. The barrier for your customer to move from your company to another is extremely low in this modern era, so you must leave a great impression, and continue to live up to your values. If you are true to yourself, your passion, and focus on the businesses in your niche–you might not get every client–but the ones you have will be the ones you want.

Pros

• Solid exterior body and design
• Beautiful, clean Android experience
• Innovative features
• Crisp display

Cons

• Battery life
• Price

When the Pixel 4 XL was released in October, it was immediately met with a mix of excitement and criticism. As with any new tech product that enters the market, the mantra for many is to get a review out as quickly as possible, without using the product for an extended period of time. My focus and goal for reviewing products or services are to dig in deep, use it in my daily life, and be patient in my discovery. This review is based on multiple months of continuous daily use.

The Exterior

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL are innovative and well-designed new entries to the flagship Google smartphone line. The exterior includes a sleek, aluminum frame with a matte finish, available in three colors: black, white, and orange. The screen is constructed from Gorilla Glass 5 on the face, with a similar glass on the back. The phones are rated IP68, which provides the same dust and water-resistant protection covered by the majority of today’s smartphones.

The Pixel 4 has a 5.7” screen, while the Pixel 4 XL offers a much larger 6.3” screen. Although those numbers sound close, from videos to gaming to reading ebooks, the extra real estate on the XL is something I’ve realized I would greatly miss if I didn’t have it. My last three phones have had a 6” screen size or greater. Using a phone with a smaller screen is much less enjoyable for me. Yes, it does take up more space in a pocket, but the narrow frame makes for a minimal intrusion.

Critically important to any smartphone purchase is the decision on a case. All the fancy Gorilla Glass and drop-protection in the world doesn’t keep cell phones from cracking and breaking, and it is common sense to put your thousand-dollar investment in the best possible cushion from the outside world. I moved to Tech21 for my smartphone case needs 3 years ago, and haven’t looked back. The cases have an innovative blend of thinnest plus shock protection, and their unique design helps protect against any unforeseen ‘accidents’. I recommend having a look at their products here.

Android Experience

The “purest” Android experience has been and is the primary software advantage of a Google-brand smartphone compared to any other company that manufacturers smartphones with Android installed on them. The Pixel 4 series is no different.

I remember the Samsung Android-bloatware experience all too well. A brand new phone, bogged down and cluttered with useless and unimportant apps. Apps I didn’t choose to download. Apps I wasn’t allowed to even remove from my device. LG provides a cleaner experience than Samsung, but nothing can compare to Pixel’s Android. It is beautiful.

I thought I would miss the fingerprint reader, but the biometric facial recognition is accurate and even faster. Android Messages is my favorite SMS/messaging app. Google’s photo software and AI are the best available. They even have augmented reality stickers. You can place interactive Marvel Avengers characters in your pictures! Talk about fun. My Google and Nest based smart home welcomes my Pixel 4, and they interact wonderfully and without pause.

I have no issues with the screen resolution, or the rendering of high quality video. The sound is clear. As for the battery life, I can get through a day of normal use, and through the night, and charge sometime that next morning. There have been days I have reached the single digits within a day, with heavy video, podcast and gaming use. While having more battery capacity always sounds great, this hasn’t been a problem for me.

Summary

I wouldn’t trade my Google Pixel 4 XL for any other phone on the market. I like the feel, the size, and the screen clarity. I love the clean Android experience and Google’s native apps. I love how the Pixel has become a seamless part of my smart home. I love the experience of purchasing a product from Google (I have an unlocked phone, connected to T-Mobile’s network) and working with their customer support. Although I haven’t had any issues or need to contact support for my Pixel 4 XL, I have needed Google for other devices, and their customer service is top-notch.

Yes, it is $1000 (Pixel 4 XL with 128GB storage). But almost any decent smartphone is within $200 of that. Now, is an $800 LG a better value? Well, for the pure Android experience, Google apps and tools, and phenomenal camera, biometric, and AI software, it is well worth the extra money for me. Yes, the battery holds less charge than some competitors, but I can’t think of the last time I didn’t have an outlet or power bank available within 1.5 days of my last charge. If I ever was in a situation where this occurred, then any phone would eventually run out of juice. I highly recommend the Google Pixel 4 XL and cannot imagine going back to any of the other brands I’ve used in the past.

When I found product management, I found a role that changed my career trajectory forever. Since college, I’ve worked in sales, technical support, quality and electrical engineering. After I applied for and accepted my first product management position, I had no idea it would be a journey that continues to evolve to this day. I’ve been fortunate to be a product manager at multiple companies, supporting both hardware and software, both as an individual contributor and a team leader.

Product management is an incredibly dynamic field, a role that truly delivers on the notion that ‘no two days are the same’. It is true. And I love it. As a product manager, I interact with development as much as I do sales, support, marketing, and customer success. I participate in a spectrum of short-term and long-term tasks and initiatives, from strategic planning to business operations to managing partnership decisions. I work with internal and external stakeholders. All of this comes together to help influence that critical component of every product manager’s role: the product roadmap.

While the job description of a product manager varies from company to company, the product roadmap is an important necessity. The style and scope of a roadmap can differ between organizations, but it is the map that guides the direction of the ship. While I hope your company leverages the agile methodology (in one of its many forms and structures), even an organization that uses waterfall still needs to manage a roadmap.

I’ve had to use many different tools to manage a roadmap and backlog, from now-archaic ways like Word and PowerPoint to more current dev management tools like VersionOne and Jira. This can quickly become a fragmented and manual process, spending more time updating documents in multiple places than focused on strategically managing a product portfolio. After completing a deep analysis of product management software, including multiple demos and trials, there was one clear winner in every category: Aha! Product Management software.

It Starts with Vision and Strategy

When you first open Aha!, the sheer volume of options and configuration is incredible, and reports and features are constantly being added. One of the core reasons Aha! wins out over competitors like ProductPlan and VersionOne isn’t the rich functionality alone, but the fact that it is completely focused on being the one and only toolset a product manager needs to efficiently and effectively manage his product portfolio. Take a look at this page:

Before ever building features and releases, it is important to first take a step back and enter the pertinent information in Aha! that is driving the product decisions you make. It starts with a vision, which then builds out to market definition, competition, company mission, and other important guiding factors. Once you have completed these sections to the degree possible, you can next move on to goals:

Aha! allows you to enter goals by company or product, with tags, metrics and progress notes that can then automatically populate to reports that can be shared throughout your organization. In addition to this, you can leverage this effort as you build out your product releases and tie the development effort of individual features to these goals. Setting and managing goals is an effective way to manage your objectives and progress, and this information can be shared with stakeholders at any time. Aha! also supports initiatives, which are the key themes your teams are working on. All of this just builds into an encompassing and visual depiction of where you are spending your development effort, and how it is delivering on the needs and strategic initiatives of your business.

From here, things get even more exciting. Aha! allows you to not only add feature cards to build releases, but you can tie all of the individual effort to the strategic goals and initiatives that you’ve already added into the platform. Here is an example of the power of Aha!, and the tags, categories, effort points, and go-to-market management process around every release.

Aha! has countless reports and dashboards included with the subscription, and the more information you enter into Aha!, the better the reporting and visuals will be that you can share throughout your organization. This truly is a tool that benefits those most who use it holistically, as their sole product management application. With Aha!, the notion of getting out of it what you put into it couldn’t be more true, and the bonus is that the software is incredibly intuitive and effective for product managers.

In a future post, I will take you deeper into the Ideas Portal and other powerful configurations Aha! provides their users. As a product manager who has been forced to use a number of ineffective and inefficient tools in my role, I couldn’t believe how much my focus and effort improved when we added Aha! into our process. Aha! has contributed to greater efficiency, better visibility into my team’s roadmaps, and more effective reporting and decision-making, ultimately tied to our organization’s strategic goals and initiatives. What else could a product manager ask for?

Wendy Zuckerman, the wonderful, engaging, intelligent host of Gimlet Media’s Science Vs takes her listeners on a journey through facts and scientific research, challenging those who are open minded and curious on a wide spectrum of topics. From GMOs to abortion to gun control to true love, Wendy’s podcast tackles the science behind some of the most interesting and taboo themes in our culture today.

For podcast fans like myself, the options to choose from are endless. I hop between an ever-growing catalog of casts, some of which are produced by Gimlet Media. Gimlet Media is the podcast startup turned award-winning company with millions of downloads from listeners around the world every month. Science Vs is just one of many Gimlet productions worth a listen.

Back to Wendy, a scientific journalist from Australian with a sharp mind and a sharp…ish sense of humor. I mean that last part in the most endearing way possible. While the show is incredibly well-produced and flows at an engaging pace, for as many humorous moments that hit the mark, there are just as many that hit for completely ‘missing’ the mark. Wendy plays up this humor, and her personality causes a sincere laugh every time she lands one of those bad jokes in her own wonderful way. She is perfect for the show, both for her scientific passion and ability to keep her audience front-and-center throughout each subject from beginning to end.

With around 40 episodes available as of this article, from themes that range from health to technology to mapping a better future for ourselves, I have found each one both interesting and informative. Wendy herself has noted that she is testing our comfort levels, as many of the episodes will challenge our ethics, beliefs, desires, faith, and more. But that is what is so wonderful about both science and choice! With each passing year, I consider myself a bit more open-minded, and I can feel how my past self may have argued with Wendy’s conclusions in certain episodes. And just as we are pushed to question our personal faiths, and always ask questions, Wendy’s job is to present the best available scientific facts and conclusions based on all available research.

So, this means that if you personally believe that GMOs are awful products that will harm any human being who consumes them, you need to open your mind as you hear what studies and research can tell us about them. If you personally believe that Bigfoot is real, you need to open your mind as you listen to that episode. If you believe that vaccines are dangerous for children, climate change is a farce, and fracking is destroying the environment, I ask you to do the same…and open your mind to listen to what Wendy and her team’s research has to say. You can still choose what you want to believe, but it is always healthy to listen, learn, challenge your own opinions, and continuously grow with them. Wendy has affected my own beliefs on a few topics, confirmed beliefs I had in others, and failed to change my beliefs in specific topics as well. But again, that is what is so incredible about Science Vs! Instead of mind-numbingly flipping through a social media feed, I can spend 40 minutes to a time expanding my understanding, knowledge and perspective on a wide range of topics by tuning into one of Wendy’s shows. I call that a good deal.

If you are deeply entrenched in your beliefs on certain topics she covers, then depending on how open-minded you truly are, maybe start with a different topic. Themes such as hypnosis, the g-spot, and acne don’t have strong political or cultural implications compared to immigration, gun control, and vaccinations. Whether starting on the lighter side, or jumping right into the thick stuff, I have found value and entertainment in every single episode. For context, I should add that I frequently start, stop, change, and come back to various podcasts, as there are just too many of them competing for the precious hours we have in a day. Science Vs is one of the only podcasts I started and habitually listened to from beginning to end until I ran out of episodes. The good news is, the new season is currently in progress.

In conclusion (as Wendy says), I recommend this podcast to anyone with a curious mind and an appetite for science and well-produced shows. I cannot wait to hear what she tackles in this new season, and I’m looking forward to having my personal beliefs challenged…and picking up a few ‘punny’ jokes along the way.

Happy Listening!

Fact: Thanksgiving Day is just a day like any other day on the calendar. When you break it down, just as many friends of mine will celebrate with their immediate family as will spend time with friends as will not hold themselves to a traditional gathering at all. As my son gets older, the day means more to him as well, and he remembers the small moments that make a lasting positive impact. While the fact it is a holiday can make it memorable, the day of gather itself represents something that is culturally important and a key component to developing your sense of self–traditions.

Traditions are a big deal. Now, I am guessing my definition of tradition is different than many reading this article. For some, traditions are tied to a specific location, or an event, or the group, that needs to be consistent in its design and outcome to feel like the tradition is intact. My personal belief in how traditions impact a person’s life connect closely to the definition of the word: “the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way”. This doesn’t mean an event or holiday needs to include the same people, food, experiences, and outcomes to be a tradition. It means the tradition brings those involved closer together through shared emotions, organically creating a means to string together yet another special series of similar moments. Traditions bring familiarity, love, togetherness, experience, and most importantly—a platform to pass each of these from person to person, and generation to generation.

Gustav Mahler said, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” Think about that for a minute. Think about the moments in your life that contributed to the person you are today, the memories that force a smile each time they enter your thoughts; those impactful experiences where you preserved and passed down ‘fire’ to the most important people in your life. Chances are many of those were traditions. From attending hockey games with your son to gathering around the table with family at Thanksgiving to that annual camping trip you look forward to each summer, we all preserve fire with our families and friends in our own way.

During each Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate, we preserve fire with each other, and especially the youngest generation. Some years might include more extended family, or my dad attempting a new way to cook the turkey (which is both amazing and delicious at the same time), a different venue, or even holding it on a day other than Thanksgiving Day…but the core values and sense of togetherness we create stays the same. And this is what truly matters to us as adults, and to the children who cherish and remember these moments. In addition, whether they realize it at the time or not, these moments create a solid foundation as they grow older, and contributes to their internal compass. As they experience their own obstacles, challenges, and ‘forks in the road’, what we each take from our ‘tradition memories’ provide valuable input to making decisions and taking action that represent the best version of ourselves.

We each hold these traditions close to our hearts, and I encourage everyone to find ways to make special moments, events, outings, and gatherings into traditions. Even if decades down the road the people we shared those traditions with are no longer in our lives, we preserved fire with them, and we can continue to pass it on to those we love, who can build and expand that flame in their own lives. I know I look forward to adding logs to our Thanksgiving fire again this year.

As homes get smarter, technology entrenches itself more and more into our daily lives. From smart bulbs to smart speakers to smart thermostats, the overuse of that word makes you wonder how we ever survived in our ‘dumb’ homes in previous generations. Now, I love technology. I love how it improves my efficiency, helps manage my day, and removes manual tasks from my plate. As an early adopter and frequent user of smart gadgets and products, one lesson I have learned is that not all technology is created equal.

Smart robot vacuums are a perfect example. There are countless options from many companies, from long-time juggernauts like iRobot to options from existing behemoths like Samsung, the market is flooded. Eufy, Neato, and Ecovacs are all becoming household names thanks to their robot vacuum lines. So, how do you choose?

Entry Level Has A Place and Purpose

I have direct experience with multiple robot vacuum brands and models, from my own use to close family members and friends, and I spent time researching each product’s options, apps (or lack thereof), AI, and real-world usage. Starting on the economical end, I did not like my experience with the Ecovacs Deebot N78. I understand the price is attractive, but the amount of necessary features and intelligence stripped away to provide that price, no longer makes this a ‘smart’ vacuum. Many of these entry level robot vacuums do not have dedicated apps, and instead require the use of onboard controls or a proprietary remote. What happens if you misplace or break the remote? Well, you can attempt to buy another from the manufacturer, or pay a premium on OfferUp, but until then cannot schedule your vacuum. This is quite annoying. In addition, because of a lack of AI and mapping, these vacuums chart a completely random course, swinging back and forth and around with no apparent logic. It is difficult to trust whether it even covered an entire room before it moved on.

Next, reviewing the Samsung Powerbot R7040, I found that a jump to the mid-tier still generated similar uncertainties. While a dedicated mobile app exists, it does not compare to the features and UI of the iRobot mobile app. Even with the Powerbot’s mapping capabilities, it still did not track it’s movements or follow a logical path as one would expect an intelligent machine to do. To compete with iRobot, many brands, including Samsung and Neato, have designed their hardware with a 90 degree edge to capture dirt in the corners. While the concept seems valuable, the rotating brushes that reach out from the Roomba’s circular design do just as good, if not better of a job. Many robot vacuums in this tier also struggle with efficiency, requiring numerous recharge breaks before completely cleaning a modest sized space. This again might cover the casual needs of many people, at a savings of several hundred dollars to the premium models, but it is important to know what you will be missing.

My Pick: iRobot Roomba i7

Now we come to my recommendation, the iRobot Roomba i7. I love this vacuum. Let’s start with the exterior design. It follows familiar suit to the years of Roomba vacuums leading up to it. It is robust, heavy-duty, and manufactured from quality materials. The rollers are well designed to pick up crumbs of many sizes, and the spinning brush reaches into the corners nicely. I have been operating my i7 for over a year, and have never had a problem with it missing debris, whether on wood floors or vinyl or carpet. It’s adaptation to the floor beneath it is automated and effective. It rolls smoothly over transition pieces, climbs over low desk feet, and navigates around any barriers in front of it.

The i7 picks up a lot of dust, dirt, and crumbs, even compared to well-known high powered vacuums like the Dyson. The first time running it on each floor I had to empty the bin more than once, and that was after vacuuming with an upright a few days earlier. After that first time, it is so simple to run a schedule, or tell Google to start the vacuum, and it can complete a floor and just barely fill its bin to capacity. Emptying the bin is a breeze, and the filters can be dusted off and blown clean with an air compressor for months before needing to be replaced. To be worth the high price tag, the vacuum needed to have the intelligence to clean the entire space reliably, without concern that it was following a random path and missing spots. The i7 delivers, following razor-clean lines, in baseball outfield style perfection. The proof is in the picture:

The lines are so perfect, each and every time, it makes me want to run the vacuum every day just to stare at them. It takes a clean home to another level. I know it seems minor, but I assure you, it is mesmerizing, even one year later. Let’s take one more look.

Fun factor aside, this represents the accuracy in the intelligence of the bot, tracking itself and it’s progress with each and every row. It knows when to go over an area a second time based on its size and location, it covers every edge and corner, and it navigates well around furniture. The i7 is the first vacuum to not only 3D map it’s surroundings, but store this data to fill out ‘smart maps’ of each floor it cleans. You can move it to different floors, and as soon as it undocks to begin vacuuming, it begins visualizing its location and can verify which floor it is on. The result is an accurate depiction of the space, and confidence that every inch was covered. This is verified in the app, which shows everything it covered in green.

Similarly, since it stores this map data, you can segment rooms and sections of your home, name them, and instruct the vacuum to “clean the office”, and it will undock and move directly to that space. It will then return to the dock on its own. The i7 is a value-add increment in iRobot’s line-up, both from a hardware and software perspective. Until this model, I’ve felt the Roomba models have blended very close together. The i7 has a partner in crime, the i7+, which is the same Roomba vacuum, but adds a self-emptying charging base to reduce the need to empty the basin manually after every clean. This is a nice feature, since the i7’s bin typically fills completely after every use. The vacuum will self-empty more than two dozen times before the base bag needs to be emptied.

The iRobot i7 and i7+ are a premium set of robot vacuums. While the cost is higher than most upright vacuums on the market, the cleaning power, intelligent mapping and onboard software are worth the price. The real opportunity cost with a robotic vacuum is the time it saves you, that can instead be spent with your family or other interests. In order for a vacuum to truly take this cleaning off your hands, it needs to be reliable and thorough, and the i7 delivers.

The Look Ahead

This year, iRobot released the new ‘s Series’, which extends their innovation in a unique way. The s9 and s9+ follow a similar naming structure, with the difference being the self-emptying base on the s9+. The primary reason to get this series is that iRobot has added a wireless connection in these models to its new mop vacuum, the Braava Jet m6. When the s9 and s9+ complete their cleaning job, they will dock themselves and then send a wireless signal to the Braava robot mop, which will then take over and mop the newly vacuumed space. It is certainly cool, but does require the purchase of both units to make the innovation worth it.

Regardless of the robot vacuum model you choose, the goal is to have it save you time and energy, which you can invest in other places of your life. Here’s hoping that a future model will be able to climb a flight of stairs!

Please share your smart vacuum experiences below!

We all know what LEGOs are. The vast majority of us have at least held one of those tiny plastic bricks in our hands. And for many of us, LEGOs were a memorable part of our childhood (and possibly adulthood too).

It doesn’t take a toy fanatic to grasp the truly fascinating story of LEGO. Their operation is top-notch, driven mainly by robots and automated processes. This also speaks to the improbable fact that when the box says that Police Station set I’m about to build has 1126 pieces, all different in color, size and function, those 1126 pieces are there. Their yield quality is incredibly high, adding to the more-than-satisfactory experience. We all expect the pieces inside the box create the fantastic image on the outside of the box, and LEGO delivers, each and every time. Most of us work for companies that could take a few yield and quality pages out of this playbook!

I grew up loving LEGOS. I loved the sets, completing pirate ships and police cars and gear and pulley driven Ferris wheels. To the same degree I loved the loose piece sets, which foster creativity, imagination, and countless hours of construction potential. I built castles and bridges and houses and vehicles and jails and thief hideouts and towers and…..you get the idea. The only limitations were my imagination and not having enough of the precise pieces I needed!

In my professional life, I’ve worked in various industries and roles, including product design, quality, and product management. Each of those functions appreciate the LEGO machine for various reasons, but the kid in me shines through the most when I now open up one of these boxes with my son. At seven years old, he passed the ‘Duplo stage’ years ago, and a lot faster than the side of the box recommends, partially due to my excitement to share the experience of building intricate sets with him. His love of building, superheroes and creating stories  has grown exponentially, and I knew he would love the challenge and the result. Plus, his Hulk and Thor mini-figures need somewhere to meet for LEGO coffee and discuss saving the world. How could they not?

I was impressed with my son from the start. At three, he was assembling these ‘big kid’ LEGOs, with some assistance from dad on the complicated sections, but with no shortage of passion. He loved to build a vehicle, then take a break to test it out. Then we would build part of a structure, and take a break to make sure the superheroes or police officers would be proud to call it home before moving on to the next section. Watching his creativity unfold and his fine motor skills improve with each subsequent set is a wonderful thing to watch as a parent. Regardless of the future profession he chooses, he is learning and polishing skills that will extrapolate and benefit him for life. This is the magic of LEGO, and other interactive, imaginative, idea-spawning toys such as MagnaTiles and even classics like Lincoln Logs. He is building cognitive ability, unleashing his creative mind, and having the time of his life…all in unison.

In the four years since introducing him to that first Batman set, we have built up a fun collection. He loves to build them all, break them apart, build them again, smash them in an epic superhero/villain battle, build them into something completely different…build, disassemble, repeat. The backstories he creates each time are worthy of network television. The fact that Hulk sometimes just wants to go hop in a camper with the police officers and drive to the Arctic set to see the polar bears…are story lines I could listen to all day. Part of the enjoyment in having an eclectic collection of sets is the way they interact in his mind, and the way the stories always end with the robber mini-figures landing in jail and the good guy mini-figures celebrating together.

LEGOs are an incredible toy option for kids…and adults. I still love that my son can stroll into our local LEGO Store, and just create custom mini-figures, each with their own history and character. This ability to create with his hands and invent a backstory for the characters never gets old. I’m sure it is only a matter of time before he convinces me we have to start getting into the Jurassic Park/World sets now…because why wouldn’t the Indominous Rex want to play with the Avengers and the LEGO CITY construction workers. It just makes sense.

Happy building!

As my business has grown over the years, I’ve experimented with a number of tools, apps and software solutions to increase efficiency, make it easier to collect payments, and ensure I have visibility into the critical areas of day-to-day operations. 

Another admission: I am a proud Androidian, or Googlian, or Androidifan, or however you would prefer I categorize my fanfare for Google (sorry…Alphabet). For as long as I’ve been able to make the choice, I’ve dedicated more and more of the tools I use in my daily life to those offered by the colorful company with the big ‘G’. (Look out for more blog posts soon on my usage of other Google products)

I have also had extensive experience with Google’s primary competitor in this arena, Microsoft, and their current solution suite, Office 365.  While there are many similarities in feature and function between the two solutions, Google’s fast, cost-effective, cloud-based tools provide an encompassing experience. It has proven to be an excellent solution, especially for individuals and SMBs.

First of all, there is no risk in giving it a try.  From this page, you can try G Suite for free for 14 days. After that, month-to-month pricing kicks in. As with most subscriptions, you can cancel at any time.  

As an added bonus, Google has provided me with promotional codes to offer my readers 20% off for their first full year! Just send me a message and I’ll send one right over (weather permitting)…meaning until the codes no longer work. Reach me anytime at https://curiouscog.com/contact.

Now, let us dig a little deeper into the suite…

G Suite leverages tools from Google most of us already use and love—such as Gmail and Calendar—and layers on business specific cloud storage, business personalization, and support. From scheduling meetings with colleagues and clients to hosting video conferences, G Suite offers cloud tools to take your small business to new heights.  As I’m writing this blog post, G Suite is being used by more than 5 million businesses, which shows that in a short period of time Google has figured out the right tools for the right price. 

In addition, as Docs and Sheets close the gap to Microsoft’s similar Word and Excel, it has become even easier to operate your entire business within Google’s ecosystem. Combine this with the video conferencing features of G Suite, and you have a powerhouse of small-to-medium sized business tools that are applicable to any venture, from an individual service provider to a custom manufacturer. 

From email to cloud storage to documentation applications to video conferencing, G Suite for Business has you covered. I encourage you to do your own research, and give G Suite a try. Anyone can access the free trial from here. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on G Suite! Is it meeting your business needs? 

Setting the traditional mission statement architecture aside and instead peering through the lens into how your organization can become an Exponential Organization introduces the call for an MTP. The term MTP stands for Massive Transformative Purpose, and is the higher, aspirational purpose of an organization that aims to transform “something” (such as their customers, their country, their market reach, the planet, etc.) in some incredible way. These innovative and disruptive businesses look to accomplish near-miracles both in their industry and by global standards. The MTP provides the benchmark to build this type of organization around and drives a company toward exponential attributes.

Does every company need an MTP? No, and you might not think there is value in this exercise for your own business. Your MTP is your organization’s dent in the Universe. Even if that dent is microscopic in size (as most are), that doesn’t discount the benefit of introducing an MTP to your organizational culture internally and corporate representation externally.

An MTP needs to be MASSIVE. It needs to be bigger than big, and stretch feasible physical and potential limits. If a mission statement is easily achievable, or can be planned to an end date, it isn’t an MTP. MTPs scale across state, country, and continental lines. They drive organizations to conquer space, improve global life, and break through the restrictions of “as we know it”.

An MTP must also be TRANSFORMATIVE. Being massive isn’t enough. It needs to be big, but big alone doesn’t drive global change. Just because something is massive, doesn’t mean it will improve your daily life, your intelligence, your abilities, or your worldly limitations. An MTP transforms people, life, understanding, ability, data, technology, consumerism, habits, behavior, and so on…for the better. Although short in length, an MTP’s target dent in the universe should be clear, even if the path to get there is not. The more unachievable the MTP, the more transformative potential it has on the world.

And finally, an MTP must have PURPOSE. The primary reason that tens of thousands of Googlers get out of bed every day to work at the internet giant, knowing the challenges and long hours that usually are in front of them, is they believe in the company’s purpose. A nice paycheck helps, but alone it won’t provide an individual with long-term happiness or purpose. Purpose is an interesting thing. It is intangible even though you feel it when you’ve found it. It is also different for me than for you. When a company purpose reaches the scale and transformation required of an MTP, it can speak to thousands of different people in different ways. Even though no two people have the exact same passions, desires, needs, interests, and personalities, an MTP can still hold a powerful value and strength to each of them.

Paquin Innovation’s mission is “Focus on the person, the service will follow.” For us, this is massive. Whether designing a website, creating a marketing campaign or publishing a short story, this mission is ever-evolving and forever-reaching. There is not a tangible, achievable end to focusing ‘on the person’, meaning the clients and customers. Paquin Innovation exists for and because of them, and only by continuously focusing on those individuals and companies can we truly achieve world-class service. That introduces both transformative and purposeful attributes to the reason we do what we do. If anyone wakes up one morning and decides the customer is no longer the most important part of our business, then that is the day their values (specific to their career) no longer meld with ours. An MTP should grab the right people and drive them forward, so long as the purpose still exists for those individuals.

As a company that amounts to a fraction of a fraction of Google’s financial prowess and market reach, some might ask, “Why come up with an MTP at all?” The answer is in the above. It’s about calling upon people that share your same passion and drive for purpose and success. Every employee brings something unique to the table, and having a solid MTP to rally around only exponentially increases the collective benefit. This results in happier customers, greater market penetration, increased sales, and a great work culture. It also means you have something to point to in every interaction, to help answer the following questions:
• Who are we?
• What are our aspirational goals?
• What attributes and atmosphere do we want to define our culture?
• What underlying strategy and mission defines our roadmap?
• How do we achieve the product/service we want to have in five years…and beyond?
• How do we stay relevant to ourselves and our customers?

The list goes on. A well-placed MTP or mission will be the accelerant that fuels your daily contributions. I encourage you to take on the exercise. Erase the whiteboard. Brainstorm and look inside yourself, your fellow teammates, and your aspirational goals. Rally around the result and go forward with purpose.

Happy transformation.