Thursday LinkUP: Millennials— If You Don't Develop Them, You'll Lose Them

"As a millennial myself, I would say that I connect deepest with brands that keep an active and inspiring social campaign. This means that their post, image, or link catches my attention in my already busy newsfeed, say images and quotes that are industry-related (but maybe not brand related) as well as industry-related articles are my favorite posts from the brands I follow." 

~~ Clark (FSO MVP)

Good Morning Folks,

I've been using Thursdays for throwback posts the past few weeks. Meanwhile I'm amassing more content than I can possibly share on social media, so today, I thought I'd LINK YOU UP to the business world's most forward thinking on my favorite topic: Millennials.

Once upon a time generations of workers had a life-long career in a single company with a progressive path upward inside the company (as in Detroit automakers), the reality is that most of us do not have that option today, and that path is no longer even viable (as in Detroit automakers).

The career escalator is jammed at every level. Unemployment rates are sky-high. Creative disruption is shaking every industry. Global competition for jobs is fierce. The employer-employee pact is over and traditional job security is a thing of the past.

At FSO our managers excel navigating a brave new world in which companies must manage four different generations from Millennials to Boomers — each with different needs and motivations. The challenge for our executive leadership team and in grooming our future leaders is... in an era of job hopping and fast rises, how do you turn young talent into leadership? The answer is if you don't develop them you'll lose them.

“The Millennial Compass“ study was released at this years SXSW holds some answers.

It found that Millennials are focused on achieving through personal networks and technology. They value a good work-life balance, perceive their managers as friends, and don’t want to be tied to an organization, a timetable or a hierarchy.

According to Mashable whose founder and editor Pete Cashmore participated in the study, (Pete Cashmore And Olivier Fleurot: The Truth About Millennials At Work), "The Boomers helped shape some of the great global companies that exist today and the Millennials are turning innovations into new businesses with speed we have never seen before. The boundaries of business today are expanding in America and around the world." 

"Successful leaders must drive constant innovation, manage with ease in a world of change, and must be able to navigate global markets. In that respect Millennials seem to be well prepared for the future. Whether they do that in large companies or in start-ups really doesn’t matter. Entrepreneurial skills should be valued in both."

"The Boomers helped shape some of the great global companies that exist today and the Millennials are turning innovations into new businesses with speed we have never seen before. The boundaries of business today are expanding in America and around the world. Successful leaders must drive constant innovation, manage with ease in a world of change, and must be able to navigate global markets. In that respect Millennials seem to be well prepared for the future. Whether they do that in large companies or in start-ups really doesn’t matter. Entrepreneurial skills should be valued in both."

Among the starkest data points in a different study (Deloitte's 2014 Global Human Capital Trends report) is this one: About two-thirds of companies around the world consider themselves weak in developing millennial leadership. Meanwhile, only 5 percent of companies rated themselves as "excellent" in that field.

The data comes on the heels of other reports showing trouble in leadership development programs. Among those findings: Companies are hurting themselves by failing to differentiate between high-performance and high-potential employees, and though they recognize the importance of talent development they're not putting their money where their mouth is by investing in development programs.

Every brand, well most of them, desperately want to understand millennials – their online behavior, where they spend their time, what they care about, how they work, purchase patterns, etc. And the reason is pretty simple. There are over 80 million of them roaming the Internet, which is by far the largest generation to date.

The only language that really counts is to "level with them". Knowing them is an edge to marketers who can provide efforts that builds awareness and cultivate referrals on long term basis.

At FSO, know we are doing an exceptional job meeting the millennial challenge and making the most of its unique technological skills and brainpower.

But if your company is like most others, you'll need all the help you can get. These article links that follow, the most informative from my large Millennial resources archive, may shed some light. 

And for millennials reading this I've also included a link to a great guide to retirement as many millennials feeling young and invincible live from paycheck to paycheck and may not otherwise consider these issues before it's too late.

Stern Advice - Getting real about retirement  (Reuters)

Get Creative to Recruit Millennials   (INC)

The Millennial Marketing Mix: Community, Innovation And Values  (Forbes)

The Paradox of Generation Y  (Entrepreneur)

Commitment-phobia: Millennials want different models of ownership and brands need to keep up (Marketing Magazine UK)

What We All Thought About Millennials Is Actually True  (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Pete Cashmore And Olivier Fleurot: The Truth About Millennials At Work (Forbes)

Why It's So Hard to Turn Fickle Millennials Into Leaders  (INC)

Millenials Believe Business Can Do More (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Millennials Are Changing the Wine Industry With Tasting Room (HuffPO)

Are Millennials Too Impatient At Work?  (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Sorry Banks, Millennials Hate You  (Ritholz Blog)

Love them or hate them, Millennials are here to stay and they carry the torch to take business into the next millennium and beyond. Therefore to my boomer peers running law firms or corporations I remind you that David Ogilvy once said "the consumer is not a moron, she is your wife" to which I say today "the consumer and brand she or he is buying from aren't morons, they are your kids!"

Next week I will return to the "throwback" mode with a review of the cell phone on its 30th anniversary.

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

Shout Out Wednesday: Our Clients Love What We Are Doing For Them and Want To Tell All

"My job is made easier knowing FSO is there to cover some key functional; areas in the event of a severe weather emergency and service to our clients will not be affected. Well done."

Good Morning Folks,

Seems like only yesterday I was getting calls about how the service in the legacy outsourcing companies that I had built, had fallen short, which began picking up the back of a napkin as a blank canvas to doodle my ideas on how I could come out of retirement and do it right.

Since then not only have we become the fastest growing company in all of outsourcing, but so far in 2014, as companies everywhere and even our competitors are cutting back and being spun off, we've hired a national sales team, on boarded over 200 employees, added operations in LA, Houston, Miami and New York, and best of all we promoted several of our Future Leaders to support our budding infrastructure!! FSO is truly embarking on something remarkable.

It's said that great leadership seems easy when things are good and everybody's happy. When times grow tough, however, a leader's true colors are revealed.

And what a challenging time for those true colors to shine with the severe winter all around us. But as you'll see from the comments below, when clients needed a true strategic partner they could count on, they counted on us. And we delivered.

Here are some of the AWESOME things our clients said about our motivated, team oriented, passionate people in the month of February…Keep up the EXCELLENT work!

Ausberto Falcon, CAPCO

"I wanted to send you a quick note and emphasize on how wonderful Ozzy is. We had our recruiting event the other night and not only did he take the initiative to assist he basically took over all the responsibilities for that night with regards to our catering. He went above and beyond and made it very easy for me and the team. He is a wonderful addition to Capco's building services."

Antonio Torres, OMD

"I wanted to take a moment to let you know how well Antonio is doing at 195 Broadway.  He is extremely diligent with his daily walk through of the office space. His attitude is excellent. When I met with my boss, Gianluca Baglioni, he remarked on how pleasant Antonio was to deal with.  His talents as a handy man are constantly be put to good use at 195 Broadway. He truly is an asset to your company. Please pass this on to the correct people at your company so that Antonio gets credit for a job well done."

Brennan Becker, CAPCO **3 Kudos In 1 Month**

"Thank you so much for arranging all of the food for the Buffalo inductions today!  Everything was there when we arrived in the morning and they were on time/ did a smooth transition for lunch.  It was all really good!"

"I never got around to commending Brennan on her great work on Corporate Services School. She was able to quickly pick up and adopt so many responsibilities that I felt as if she was a member of our team from the start."

"During the craziness of it all she was always so poised and willing to take on more and more responsibilities. It was honestly such a nice and refreshing change for us. Since then she has been a great go-to person for any questions I had about any event. Her work with food vendors has been amazing as well. Brenn is quick on her feet and I am more than comfortable on relying on her for anything. I greatly look forward to planning the next big training event with her."

"Just wanted to send some appreciation for helping with the filming on Friday/Tuesday. Really appreciate it, and you made the process much easier"

==>CAPCO

"Michael and Victor, you've both been a tremendous help so far, not only in reaching this important deadline but also with the day-to-day here. Jonathan, thank you for getting the group together to get everything out the door on time. You really went the extra mile. Ausberto, Gabriel, Roger, and Brennan; Victor and I might still be knee deep in boxes if it we're for you. Thank you."

"My job is made easier knowing FSO is there to cover some key functional; areas in the event of a severe weather emergency and service to our clients will not be affected. Well done.My job is made easier knowing FSO is there to cover some key functional; areas in the event of a severe weather emergency and service to our clients will not be affected. Well done."

==> Centerline

"I just wanted to send you a quick note regarding the Centerline Team.  They have made every effort to get into the office regardless of the adverse weather conditions we have been experiencing this winter.  Charles, Harun, Gene and Kathy have made my job easier as I know they will always be in the office when I cannot get there.  Knowing that they are always there to support me to make the office run smoothly has been extremely helpful.  I just wanted to take this opportunity to 'sing their praises'."

==> Christina Negron, PHD

"I just wanted to shoot you a note stressing how amazing it has been to work with her for the past 9 months or so since I started here.  She has been nothing short of helpful in any requests I've brought to her.  Beyond that, she's been great with my team at large as well.  Eric & Neethu constantly sing her praises.  She has been great both in a professional and personal sense.  When I do have questions, she is quick with great solutions and delivers in a prompt, professional manner.  When it's just crossing paths in the kitchen, she's always great to chat with.  Her ability to distinguish both makes for an welcoming, collaborative atmosphere."

==> Danny Sanchez, Univision

"The main reason that I wanted to recommend Danny is his attention to detail and how I feel that on a daily basis he personally makes my job easier. There has never been a request that he hasn’t been able to complete, but more than that he constantly has a “can do” and pleasant attitude with any request.I have actually come to rely on his help in many areas and feel he is an important part in the Research Team."

==> Jonathan Ramos, Capco 

"Just wanted to take a minute to thank Jonathan for the push he's put in on getting our A/C units in our server room back up and running. While we've had lots of hoops to jump through with the building and A/C company etc, Jonathan's been super diligent offering contingencies and support to keep us solid as possible in the meantime. With an installation confirmed for tomorrow I could only say it wouldn't have been possible without this man's effort!!"

==> Juan Tinch, Univision New York

"Juan did a great job moving our files yesterday.  Thank you for arranging it and many thanks to Juan for executing it so smoothly."

==> Lisbeth Rodriguez, Integro 

"I wanted to again express both mine and Integro’s pleasure with the job Ms. Rodriguez did while here. Many of the employees spoke to me about how well they felt Ms. Rodriguez handled herself, being both organized and conscientious."

==> Monica Veloz and Razelle Townsend, CAPCO **4 Kudos In 1 Month**

"I am writing to let you know that Monica and Razelle do  superb job with scheduling and taking care of the reception area needs.  They are always willing and able to assists with conference schedules and provide any information they can. We are fortunate to have their services!"

"I just wanted to take a second to recognize the incredible work of your team. Raz and Monica have been very accommodating in catering and assisting with the coordination of all New York-based training. Both of them have been incredibly flexible and reliable when it comes to last minute requests. I even appreciate their effort to diversify our choices for lunch. Capco is such a fast-pace environment and I am happy that I have the added support from these two."

"I wanted to let you know that Monica and Razelle have been very helpful in my transition into Capco. They are more than willing to offer an extra hand and have been very helpful in navigating my way to Capco, with who to connect with and how to book conference rooms. Both Monica and Razelle, are valuable assets to Capco."

"I wanted to reach out to you and let you know about the great work that Monica and Razelle have done since I joined Capco. On multiple occasions, I have needed help with some issues that I was having and they were always there to provide a helping hand. They both always go the extra mile and work extremely hard at helping others."

==> Raphael Mata, Liquidnet

"Thank you all for your help today with the MIT meeting on 8. Meeting and logistics were flawless!"

==> Shalaine Adams, FSO HQ **2 Kudos In 1 Month**

"I Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed our training session more than ever due to the fact that you brought light into the room and lifted my spirits (which is pretty awesome due to the fact that I felt horrible after day 8 of no caffeine lol) with the humor and positivity that you exude which made my experience very refreshing. Thank you so much for an amazing time."

"I had a wonderful time at the Experience training this morning. I am excited to be onboard and looking forward to working with a wonderful employer who is truly genuine as well as the wonderful opportunities in store for me. Kudos to Shalaine! Her warm and inviting energy was wonderful. We all felt right at home and like we'd known her for a long time."

==> Stephanie Santiago & the FSO Team at Moses & Singer

"Stephanie and her band of fantastic Records/Hospitality staff does it again! During yesterday morning's snow storm, most of my staff were unable to make it to work. The entire FSO team was here. Wow, the entire team. Stephanie developed a back-up plan which worked perfectly. Heather and Julieta were prepared to cover Reception, Steve handled Conflicts and Mike/ Tyronne were ready to assist the Mail Room. Amazing. Stephanie had most of my key areas covered and this was definitely appreciated. 

Once again, I feel they deserve a round of applause. My job is made easier knowing FSO is there to cover some key functional; areas in the event of a severe weather emergency and service to our clients will not be affected. Well done."

==> 70 Green

"Wanted to take a quick moment to thank the 70 Greene team. Manuela and I both feel Brian has a firm lead on the Front Desk and we welcome the addition of Marisol who has been courteous, professional and has responded immediately and effectively to any all requests.  As always, Brian — a delight — proves time and again he’s our sure-fire “go-to” guy!  Any and all requests are met with a smile and can-do attitude. Also, we wanted to thank Jose, Abe and team for the quick responses on minor issues we’ve had with our apartment — hot water and what-not.  These were quickly and effectively resolved.  And last but not least — the cleaning team who we admire for their continued efforts — in spite of the salt and snow, to keep the building foyer and floors clean — with special attention to waste shute areas. Thank you all and much appreciated."

Whether a salesperson, an experience associate, a records manager, an informationalist, or messenger, what makes our folks so special is their ability to hink beyond their daily tasks and think like our clients. 

"What would the client want? What do they need? How could i be more proactive in their eyes? How could i really impress them?"

Do you know? Have you asked? Or are you assuming?  A true partner who never stops looking out for you, who takes that extra second to ask and then ACTS! 

Never lose the passion, the smile and what makes you special but put yourself in our clients shoes and get to know what they might be thinking! 

All of you are out in the field and have the power to make an incredible impact and a difference in the wealth and success of others.

I look forward to hearing stories from our clients how our team has made an impact by being a leader.

IT IS YOU that makes FSO who we are. Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

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"None of us is as smart as all of us." --Ken Blanchard

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Ted Tuesday: Sir Ken Robinson— How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life

“If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.” 

Good Morning Folks,

As I woke up this morning I wanted to share another inspiring @Ted talk with you.

The Sir Ken Robinson @Ted talk that follows is one of my all time favorites. It reminds me of a book which I also highly recommend called "Finding Your Element: "How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life" which you can find at Amazon.

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk video and groundbreaking book introduced readers to a new concept of self-fulfillment through the convergence of natural talents and personal passions. The book has inspired readers all over the world and has created for Robinson an intensely devoted following. Among the questions that this new book answers are:

• How do I find out what my talents and passions are?
• What if I love something I’m not good at?
• What if I’m good at something I don’t love?
• What if I can’t make a living from my Element?
• How do I do help my children find their Element?

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Sir Ken Robinson:

“If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.” 

“Creativity is as important as literacy”

“Imagination is the source of every form of human achievement. And it's the one thing that I believe we are systematically jeopardizing in the way we educate our children and ourselves.” 

 “We have sold ourselves into a fast food model of education, and it's impoverishing our spirit and our energies as much as fast food is depleting our physical bodies.” 

“Human communities depend upon a diversity of talent not a singular conception of ability. and at the heart of the challenge is to reconstitute our sense of ability and intelligence” 

In his talk that follows which counts 26 million views on Ted.com alone, Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.



What an inspiration Sir Ken is to the very core and spirit of FSO's brand. 

I could not help to be completely Inspired by the great teams and clients we have - so much passion and commitment to greatness and so much opportunity for all.

Nobody and I mean nobody will take CARE of the their customers or employees like FSO USA. 

So good morning. Get those inspiration hats on, put those smiles on, and lets rock the world together. 

I can we 2020 clearly. Hope you can as well. 

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

==> InspireME: Head or Heart? Perhaps Both.

"It is rare to find a job that captures both your head and your heart. However, one’s head and heart must be engaged to live a worthwhile life."

Good Morning to the Best Team On Earth!

I would like on this Friday morning to thank each and everyone of you for an awesome week. I have been to many places this week and many more to come. 

But between our clients. Our employees. Our prospects. And associations and more we are truly on the move. And it could not happen without ur extreme care and commitment  for the success of the company and ur personal and professional goals. 

People want to connect. They want you to do the connecting.

Seth Godin’s new TRIBES book about leadership makes one wonder, where should we put our experience, insight, knowledge and leadership to good use? 

According to Seth, because of fear and discomfort, it makes leadership worth pursuing. Seth explains…

“In other words, if everyone could do it [be a leader], they would, and it wouldn’t be worth much.

==> It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers.
==> It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail.
==> It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo.
==> It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.

If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.

Leadership is a choice. It’s the choice to not do nothing."

Let’s keep in mind … this isn’t a complete summary of TRIBES. One aspect of TRIBES is to inspire us to be leaders at work. Another aspect is to become leaders outside of our day jobs and lead someone and/or something somewhere else.

Any job you work in has the opportunity to capture both your head and your heart. When a business captures your head, you are fully involved with the decisions/outcomes of every business activity. When a business captures your heart you are totally passionate about how the business positively impacts people and society.

It is rare to find a job that captures both your head and your heart. However, one’s head and heart must be engaged to live a worthwhile life.

Last week FSO had its biggest open house turn out EVER!  We had 276 candidates!  Of those 276 attendees, 161 are viable, future hires. This clearly means that FSO is on fire and people want to be a part of our family! If that isn’t a tribute to our brand that captures both your head and your heart, I don't know where else you could find a happier place to work on Earth.

We have an amazing team of people here, and when we all come together to put on an event like this, it’s truly magical. Your passion, professionalism and pride is contagious.

Know that I am personally invested and CARE about every person in our company. It is part of the personal touch that sets us a part in this industry and in business compared to most.

If you are reading this from outside the company and want to put the fun and meaning back into your own workplace or find a new path, give me a call personally and see how FSO can help.

TRIBES is smart stuff worth being influenced by. Get it. Read it. Share it. And be influenced by it.

As we head out for an awesome weekend with Spring in the air, know that the future is bright, and I promise you that I personally could not be more focused on helping each and every one of you achieve your greatest success. 

Have a HAPPY, SAFE and HEALTHY Weekend.

Love Life and Light It UP!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you are afraid.”

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Throw Back Thursday: In 1961 This Invention Revolutionized Business Documents For Lawyers and Enterprises Everywhere

"By 1986, more than 13 million Selectric typewriters had been sold. For more than 25 years, the Selectric was the typewriter found on most office desks. Leaving today 25 years of paper records ripe for retention innovations."

Good Morning Folks,


It was known as The 'Selectric" typewriter. Members of the ALA remember it. It was revolutionary in its day having memory so you didn't have to retype or use carbon paper (covered here before). 

For me as a young salesperson, it meant not having to wait in line for weeks with 20 other sales folks for getting the basically same proposal template output one at a time. Believe it or not sometimes it took a month to get a proposal. You can only compare the frustration to that of getting a trial or hearing date and all the postponements due to emergencies that come up, absences, few backup employees trained on the technology.

We've come so far from then, yet with the pace of invention, the possibilities of technology and employment and economic models changing all around us, looking back ten years from now on today, one can not phantom what business will become. 

That's why FSO is always looking out to your future. So as I bring you this snippet of history from IBM's 100 Centennial and historical record, our (re)IMAGINE teams are hard at work conceiving of business plans will make a positive and powerful impact on our clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

By making the golf ball interchangeable, the Selectric enabled different fonts,
including italics, scientific notation and other languages, to be swapped in

==> Black and white of the Selectric typewriter

.

The Selectric typewriter, launched in 1961, was an overnight hit. “Sales of [the Selectric] in the first 30 days exceeded the forecast for six months. We figured in our branch office that we’d sell 50 or 60 and sold 500 to 600,” IBM salesman John Vinlove told USA Today in 1986 for a story about the typewriter’s 25th anniversary. 




The manufacturing facility expected to make 20,000 Selectric typewriters in its first year. By the end of 1961, they had orders for 80,000. And by 1986, more than 13 million Selectric typewriters had been sold. For more than 25 years, the Selectric was the typewriter found on most office desks.

With 2800 parts, many designed from scratch, the Selectric was a radical departure even for IBM, which had been in the typewriter business since the 1930s and was already a market leader. It took seven years to work out the manufacturing and design challenges before the first Selectric was ready for sale.

At the physical heart of the Selectric typewriter’s innovation was a golf-ball-shaped type head that replaced the conventional typewriter’s basket of type bars. The design eliminated the bane of rapid typing: jammed type bars. And with no bars to jam, typists’ speed and productivity soared.

The golf ball typing element was designed by an engineering team led by Horace “Bud” Beattie. The team members, according to a 1961 advertisement for the Selectric, “began their search by forgetting the past fifty years of typewriter design.” The first type head design had been shaped more like a mushroom, but under Beattie’s direction, IBM engineer John Hickerson revised the type head toward its ultimate spherical configuration.

One other innovation in the design—a changeable typeface—was borrowed from a turn-of-the-century model, the Blickensderfer typewriter. Although it is not documented, it is believed that the Selectric name was inspired by adding this changeable typeface selection to an electric typewriter. By making the golf ball interchangeable, the Selectric enabled different fonts, including italics, scientific notation and other languages, to be swapped in. With the addition in 1964 of a magnetic tape system for storing characters, the Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST) model became the first, albeit analog, word-processor device.

The aesthetic design of the Selectric was the responsibility of Eliot Noyes, an architect and industrial designer who served as consulting design director to IBM for 21 years. The elegant, curvaceous form he created followed the Selectric typewriter’s distinctive function: the golf ball, which moved across the page, eliminated the traditional carriage return. That enabled the Selectric to operate in a smaller footprint and opened up possibilities for a new profile. For the Selectric, Noyes drew on some of the sculptural qualities of Olivetti typewriters in Italy. The result was a patented, timeless shape, and a high-water mark for IBM’s industrial design and product innovation. “A writer’s machine if ever there was one,” noted Jane Smiley in Writers on Writing, Vol. II.

Less well-known is the Selectric typewriter’s role as one of the first computer terminals. While personal computers, notebook computers and word processing software may have relegated the paper-based typewriter to twentieth-century artifact, the Selectric was the basis for the keyboard input on the revolutionary IBM System/360. A modified version of the Selectric, dubbed the IBM 2741 Terminal, was adapted to plug into the System/360, and enabled a wider range of engineers and researchers to begin talking to and interacting with their computers.

Yet to IBM computer scientist Bob Bemer, the Selectric represented “one of the biggest professional failures of my life.” Bemer had pioneered the creation of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, or ASCII, which still defines the alphabet for computers. When prototypes of the Selectric were already being manufactured at IBM’s typewriter plant in Lexington, Kentucky, Bemer reviewed the Selectric typewriter’s specifications. To him, the Selectric would make a natural computer keyboard. He argued that the type ball should be designed to carry 64 characters required for ASCII, rather than the typewriter standard 44. That would make it relatively easy to convert the Selectric for computer input. The response, as Bemer remembers it, was dismissive. As a result, the Selectric never spoke ASCII, instead employing a unique code based on the tilt and rotate commands to the golf ball. While Bemer viewed this as his failure, engineers continued to rig Selectric typewriters to function as the first generation of computer keyboards and input devices.

In 1971, the Selectric II was released, with sharper corners and squarer lines, as well as new features such as the ability to change “pitch” from 10 to 12 characters per inch and, starting in 1973, a ribbon to correct mistakes. The final model, the Selectric III, was sold in the 1980s with more advanced word processing capabilities and a 96-character printing element. But as personal computers and daisy-wheel printers began to dominate, the Selectric brand was retired in 1986.

For those who remember IBM Selectric typing and retyping and previously making "carbon copies" in law firms (and other enterprises too) , it's not a pleasant memory. So while we like to throw back on Thursday, think of it as one of the main reasons everyone is whistling while they work today.

The end of the Selectric ushered in decades of productivity and progress in law firms that their retirees could never have imagined.

On the other hand, with pressure on law firms to cut costs, an obvious starting point is in that expensive real estate you are using to store what may include "carbon copies" that you haven’t looked at in 50 years, nor ever will.

Over time — decades in many cases — the volume of retained records grows, as does the cost of storing them. But by (re)IMAGINING the records retention process, and with a thoughtful policy to change it, law firms (and other enterprises too) who have been pressured to cut costs can find help from professionals like FSO who will help you solve it. 

Have a GREAT Day. Love Life.

I'll be a seeing you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

==> Going Paperless 
We recently completed the largest and most successful document conversion in the New York area, migrating over 35 million pages to electronic format. Savings come not just from eliminating each $900 lateral file, but also from not buying or leasing Class A office space to store paper, and reducing the costs of utilities, equipment maintenance and consumables associated with paper copies.

Can your incumbent do this?

Getting Right Back Up When You Are Knocked Down

"If you know folks who have that “skip, twinkle and fire,” and are ready to get back up, bring them to our family!"

Good Morning Folks,

As I woke up this morning I wanted to share a vintage nugget of advice I came across while revisiting Tom Ziglar's blog from 2009.

A fan names Chis asked:
“When your mind takes a hit after working hard at getting better, how does one get back?”  Chris 

Chris, good news and bad news on this one. The bad news first.  We all get knocked down!  Everyone has to deal with taking a mental hit, even if you are working on staying mentally strong and staying positive. 

Here is the good news. You can decide NOW how you are going to respond when you take a mental hit. Here are a few things to remember. 

“Logic will not change an emotion, but action will.”  Zig Ziglar.  You can not “just” think your way out of a mental hit. It is important to recognize that you have taken a hit, and then you have to take action to get back on track. 

Have on hand your favorite books and audio recordings, and when you take a hit plan some time each day to absorb the good stuff. 

Call a friend or mentor who is positive and ask them for a little motivational feedback. It’s great if you can also be this person for someone else. 

Create a victory list of all of the things you have accomplished and the goals that you are in the process of achieving and review it when you get knocked down. This will remind you that you have been knocked down before and you can get back up and achieve great things.

Take some time for reflection. It is amazing how many times getting knocked down really means that you just stand up and start again, in a slightly new direction!

As you go back about your business this Wednesday, I can't help but think how awesome it is that we have so many cities and teams across FSO USA— how amazing that makes the opportunities for every single person in our great company.

What a time in everyone's careers to live the dream and know that your future is so bright.

So if you've been knocked down but still have that “skip, twinkle and fire,” and a desire to get back up— come on over and give FSO a look.

You'd be joining the right company, at the right time, with the right people that can help you get back on your feet.

We are one blessed company. Communicate. Smile. Treat our clients like gold. Treat your teammates like family and never ever give up and I promise you will thrive.

Keep it up and continue to spread the FSO way.  

Love Life and LIGHT IT UP!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

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"Kindness it is that brings forth kindness always." 
-- Sophocles (447 BC)
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Ted Tuesday: "I Got 99 Problems... Palsy Is Just One"

"I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time," Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it's hilarious.) "I'm like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali."

Good Morning Folks,

Today comedian Maysoon Zayid's very funny talk on not letting anything hold you back.

"If there was an Oppression Olympics, I would win the gold medal. I'm Palestinian, Muslim, I'm female, I'm disabled, and I live in New Jersey." Wow, what an amazing person! I believe we need more people like her in the world. And she is funny as all get out. You have to be willing to laugh at yourself and be confident enough to do what she does.

So without further ado, with grace and wit, Maysoon takes us on a whistle-stop tour of her adventures as an actress, stand-up comic, philanthropist, and advocate for the disabled.



Maysoon Zayid to me is an example of struggle and perseverance, no matter the obstacles she struggled every day to achieve her goals. Never heeded the ridicule of his peers at school or negative ideas about disabled people, but rather those were the inspiration to achieve what no one thought she could do. Also, Maysoon gives an example because the love of the father can do miracles and that we can all achieve whatever we want long as we never stop beating or doubt our own abilities.

We can do anything folks. If you too have got “99 problems”, then you need to watch Maysoon rap about why your issues in life shouldn’t hold you back unless you let them.

Let’s have some fun and lets LIGHT UP THE NATION. ITS OUR TIME, together we can do it.

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer