Solopreneurs Sharing Resources: Analyzing Ethical Scenarios
February 22, 2010
Is it okay to share a PDF ebook link?
I recently found myself in an interesting situation/ethical grey area and I wanted to see what the community thinks. I was collaborating with another freelancer and we were each going to buy an ebook (different ebooks, same author) and then exchange and share the PDF links. However, she got nervous because the author had a big disclaimer about punishing violators up to $100,000 for sharing and distributing the link.
Is this wrong?
This scenario has met with VERY different reactions from a few people that I casually polled. One person I know said it was wrong because the author had a disclaimer. Another person said that she thought it was fine and ranted that “solopreneurs and freelancers are already at such a disadvantage because we don’t have collaborative set ups with corporate departments, colleagues and bosses” and that this was as close as we could get and was justified.
I wanted to run some other scenarios by ya’ll to see what you think:
- Does it change the situation if these were PHYSICAL books (not ebooks) that we exchanged?
- My father-in-law shares his Atlanta Business Chronicle with me when he’s finished reading it. He has a subscription and I don’t - is this wrong?
- Certain individuals in a LinkedIn group that I’m a part of are going to get together occasionally and share resources such as magazine subscriptions, reports, and other paying items.
- Sharing a PDF transcript link from a teleseminar I paid to attend.
- Sharing a PDF transcript from a teleseminar that was free.
- Attending a paying seminar and then making a copy of the handouts with a colleague or friend.
How do these scenarios change if the sharing was going on between coworkers vs. independent freelancers? I’d love to hear what ya’ll think about any of the scenarios.
Thanks!
2-Minute Video Book Review: Million Dollar Website by Lori Culwell
February 10, 2010
Hello there! Today I’m bringing to you a book review called Million Dollar Website by Lori Culwell. I read this book twice, and the second time revealed some very surprising results, which you’ll hear me explain in the video.
Context is everything! Enjoy the book review.
Reverse Mentoring: How to Tap Into the Millennial Generation
February 2, 2010
I read a really interesting article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle last week. The article, Why 25- to 34-year-olds matter in Atlanta, resonated with me for obvious reasons. First, I am a Millennial whose age falls smack in the middle of this range. Two, which is what I want to discuss today, is how businesses can tap into this very driven and social media-savvy group to boost sales and create new online business models through reverse mentoring.
As the author correctly observes, Millennials can “easily translate their social skills into the business environment – turning social media skills into customer communication skills.” I have seen the need for these skills (and more importantly, the need for access to people with these skills) increase every day. Business owners are hungry for knowledge of how to generate online leads and gain more prospects through innovative techniques using social media. As I tell colleagues all the time (and to whoever will listen), it’s NOT about the technology, it’s about the message. Social media, used correctly, is just another medium to use in which you can spread your business message. But I digress.
I propose that business owners tap into the millennial generation through Reverse Mentoring. Here’s a few interesting definitions I found online about it:
- ”It’s a situation where the old fogies in an organization realize that by the time you’re in your forties and fifties, you’re not in touch with the future the same way the young twenty-something’s are.” – Matt M. Starcevich, Ph.D. CEO, Center for Coaching & Mentoring
- In reverse mentoring a senior employee is also mentored by the junior employee. The traditional one-way street becomes a two-way thoroughfare where employees of all ages can learn from each other. -Diane Piktialis
- Reverse Mentoring is the mentoring of senior personnel by younger people. Reverse mentoring aims to help older, more senior people learn from the knowledge of younger people, usually in the field of information technology, computing, and Internet communications. -Dictionary definition on BNET
- A younger or less experienced Executive helps a more senior manager gain insight into areas, such as computers and changing IT technology, changing mindsets & expectations of the younger generation, new business concepts, thinking out of the box etc.”
So where do you find Millennials who might be inclined to help you? For those solopreneurs and small business owners who may not have access to younger employees, check within the networking groups you belong to. Also, visit coworking spaces, which can be a goldmine for discovering talent.
Lastly, it’s important to determine two things: 1) what you have to offer that young people would want to know in return and 2) be specific and realistic about what you want to know. Spread the word out there abuot what you’re looking for to see who might be a good, mutually beneficial match for your needs. Reverse Mentoring is economical, smart, and done correctly, is guaranteed to produce results.
Good Resources to Learn more:
http://www.coachingandmentoring.com/reversementoringresults.htm
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/Articles/a2003-09-17-mentoring.html
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