Archives for January 2015

Use Google Translate App for Conversations

January 30, 2015 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

A new version of Google Translate is now available that includes the ability to translate signs using your iPhone camera. View the sign using the iPhone screen /camera and the App will translate the words on the sign to another language. You can also translate using your voice. These are additions to the ability to use a keyboard to translate into written and spoken words with Google Translate.

The free App:

• Translates 90 languages
• Converse naturally and let Google translate
• Translate with your voice, camera, keyboard or handwriting
• Star your favorite translations for quick access even when you’re offline
• View dictionary results for single words or phrases

*Voice translation in two directions

Google claims you can translate spoken words on two sides of a conversation to facilitate an exchange of information. Initially, this translation capability works between English and French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, with more languages to be added (per Google’s blog).

Available on iTunes or Google Play for download.

Terrifying Implications of Artificial Intelligence?

January 28, 2015 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

This could be the next major inflection point for industries.

It might make or break company strategy. Those who capture the lead could be the “Google” of their industry. Individuals will need to see what impact it might have on them.The ability to solve what were unsolvable problems may be within our reach.

The seeds of this capability were developed in the 50’s and 60’s. “Artificial intelligence” had this promise and threat in the 70’s. About the same time, “cashless society” was seen as close to reality. Both artificial intelligence and the cashless society faded to the background in the 1980’s. Those promises never materialized … until now.

Forty years later, the technology and data has caught up with the vision. Just as we are close to achieving a “cashless society” … computers that can learn to be smarter than the individual are also close at hand. The computer technology that learns how to win in chess or helps Google find what you are looking for is rapidly growing in capability. This technology can drive cars for a million miles without an accident. It can teach itself to translate English to Chinese and then be a translator as we speak.

In addition, it can “see pictures” and understand them to drive a car. It can help diagnose medical situations and help research cancer causes.

TED Talk – December 2014

The implications of this technology include the possibility of solving medical questions in minutes rather than years; it also has the potential to revolutionize 80% of the jobs in the “developed world” in much the same way that machines for production of goods created the Industrial Revolution. Jeremy Howard’s TED Talk in December 2014 outlines what has already happened, and what is likely to occur in the not-too-distant future. The next revolution can be exciting or terrifying, depending on how it is used … and by whom.

Jan 2015 – Change Masters President’s Letter

January 25, 2015 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

All of us at Change Masters wish you a very happy 2015!

I am grateful for all the support from our customers and friends. 2014 was a challenging year in many ways. The blessings far outweighed the challenges. Two successful back surgeries in 2014, which has helped me feel 20 years younger, are near the top of my blessings list. Our business has continued to be very strong. Our excitement about new opportunities for the Change Masters Academy is higher than ever.

Some people have told us we can never retire from our work. We love what we are doing and our biggest reward is hearing how we have dramatically helped people improve their lives. I cannot think of much in life that would be more rewarding for Carol and me. No retirement plans are on the horizon.

January is always a great time to look back and look forward. Going forward, we will be spending more of our energy on building the Academy. The Academy is already having great results as a cost effective impact on a global level. We plan to expand that impact in 2015. Our customers are our greatest source of inspiration as they ask us to help them meet their global needs. We want to hear from you any time.

Here are some abstracts of our blog entries for the past month with links to the full blog entries. I hope you find them helpful.

There are always three speeches + one

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”

– Dale Carnegie

Most of us can relate to Carnegie’s three speeches. I would add a fourth speech … the one we [More]

Coffee tastes differently based on the color of the cup — perception is reality

The Journal for Sensory Studies (July 2012) reported the color of the cup matters in terms of how we perceive the taste. In interviews with Roberto A. Ferdman, Washington Post, the authors of the study said:

“Coffee-drinkers tended to experience the same cup of coffee differently depending on the color of the glassware [more]

IPhone Subject Lines

Subject lines for text messages can be as helpful as they are for emails. When using the iMessage on your iPhone you can use subject lines. To turn this function on, go to SETTINGS > MESSAGES and turn on “Show Subject Field”. When you send a message, you will have the option to insert a subject line. It will make your messages easier to understand and easier to find if you need to go back to prior text messages. [more..]

Confidentiality and Trustworthiness

This is one of the biggest challenges to the confidentiality principle; especially when there is important uncertainty or perceived injustice. Grapevines of information naturally form when the official information is not available.

Reorganizations and divestitures are of high importance for individuals. They also necessitate confidentiality as a part of the decision process. Most people understand the importance of confidentiality but many would like to be an exception (to be “in on” the confidential information). In the case of perceived individual injustice in a corporate environment, only one side (the complainer) story can be told in most cases.

One response

One response you can use when asked about confidential information is, “I’m sorry, if knew or didn’t know the answer, I would need to respect the confidentiality of the situation.” [more …]

Have a wonderful 2015!

We wish you the very best for 2015. We hope we can help you make it a great year!

Confidentiality and Trustworthiness

January 22, 2015 By Tom Mungavan Leave a Comment

We have a number of groups who have used our “23 Mundane Moments that Can Make or Break Your Career” video services as excellent material to create team discussions on important topics.

One of those groups, a P&G group that is globally dispersed, has used small group discussion followed by an email summary to the rest of the group. I have been very impressed with their insights and results. They use the “23 Mundane Moments” as follow-up to our high impact “Persuasion, Perception, and Executive Presence” (PPEP) workshop.

One that occurred this week was on #12 Keeping Information Confidential

They identified how difficult it can be to keep information confidential and yet not cause others to feel that you do not trust them because you keep confidential information to yourself until the appropriate time.

The Real Test

One response

One response you can use when asked about confidential information is, “I’m sorry, if I knew or didn’t know the answer, I would need to respect the confidentiality of the situation.”

It is not about trusting someone

Being unwilling to share confidential information with someone who does not have the ‘need to know’ is not a statement about not trusting the receiver of the information. If someone ever raises that as an issue you can deal with it directly as inherently untrue.

I live in a world of confidential information. I often have a ‘need to know’. Being totally trustworthy every time is essential for leaders to trust me. No exceptions! Also, I do not buy stock directly in the companies I serve. I would love to invest in these premier companies; however, I need to avoid being subject to “insider trading” whether true or suspected.

If you inappropriately share information with someone you trust, they may rightly hesitate to share information with you that you might, in turn, share in places they do not think appropriate (and you do). Being known as someone who keeps confidences of all kinds and does not make exceptions for “”friends” will continually build trustworthiness. The trust will be well deserved.

Avoid the temptation to share confidential information even with those you trust if they do not have a need to know. There are confidences I will carry to my grave. It’s often difficult. It is always necessary if you want to be trustworthy.