Polly Pearson's Blog

What is it like, venturing out on one's own? So Far So Good! Chock it up to the power of blogging, and building networks outside of where you go to work each day. I've been delighted with the reception for my new venture. While I've yet to pro-actively pick up...

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Readers of this blog know that I recently left my place of work -- after 20 years! How did that happen? Why did that happen? Is this a good thing? The root of this change happened in 2006, four years ago, nearly to the day. I had just returned to...

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For my co-workers that I did not get around to sharing a personal farewell to, and anyone else interested ... following, below, is what I sent around EMC as my good-bye note about a week ago. I actually wrote the essence of this story as well here on my blog...

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About a month ago, my colleague, fellow EMC blogger, and frequent collaborator, Steve Todd, swung by my office. "Free for lunch?" He said. As we finished our salads, and talked about his next book, and my projects, I made a deep sigh and said, "Steve I have something to tell...

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Kurt and I celebrated 23 years of marriage this month. Generally on our anniversary, we're at the ocean and hunting art galleries for a painting to buy as an anniversary gift to each other. This year we did all that, and a card arrived to. He said, "I know we...

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One month ago, or thereabouts, a surprise and torrential downpour killed the blackberry I had left out on a table on my backyard deck. My daughter suggested I put it in a tupperware container with rice for the night. Feeling foolish, I did just that. The next day, the water...

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The Untapped Business Opportunity of "Emotion." When communicating professionally, you use lots of data to support your facts, right? You share a plan, and set expectations, right? Is that the best approach to connect with your audience, and draw them to your desired conclusion? Consider opening this other...

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Does business really have to be so Macho? Or so proud? Does that behavior drive business, or in fact, hurt business? Two great posts came out this week on the subject. I highly encourage you to read them both. "Why Friends Matter in Work and Life" by Peter Bregman on...

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I'm proud to share with you the most up-to-date look at EMC as a place to work. EMC: Innovation, Passion, Success You can view/download this content -- which covers how we celebrate, develop, care, hire, inspire, communicate, compensate, and more in this document emblazoned with EMC's 3 cultural core traits:...

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I'm in the middle of a lot of meetings and conversations lately that could be summed up as, "Everything has changed. Have you?" It is getting kind of fun, actually. Seeing the light bulb go on. A year ago, you could tell people just weren't there. "All that stuff" was...

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I had an impromptu and brain-tingling lunch today with two of my engineer friends here -- Rob Masson and Steve Todd. I was telling them about this eBook I'm working on filled with quotes from IT professionals on their careers, and what they find to be exciting today. One of...

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Do you feel stuck, or under appreciated, in your job? Have you ever been passed by for a promotion? Ever wonder what it really takes to get ahead? Then, read this post written by EMC's Chuck Hollis. When you're done, come back. Let's talk about it. ---------------- Talk Back -----------------...

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"Business is all about the Network!" Here's a line of logic I started toying with. Thoughts? ***** The OLD NETWORK ****** THEN: Two Men Talking Business, possibly over Drinks or Golf. Tone: friendly Scale: one to one Reach: close proximity Since the beginning of time, business gets done through the...

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Is championship play "hard?" Is it also "fun," for the right people on the right team?...

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It has been a while since I've done a disgusting "EMC is great" post. So many cool things happened this week I can't resist. I promise to keep it short. Each event reinforces who we are at our very core. Best in Market Share. IDC came out with new data...

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There are actually a couple of openings here in EMC's Employment Brand Office, one for a savvy assistant and another for an Employment Brand Leader. Who do you know? Following is the job description -- or at least an attempt at one. I'm sure I forgot major elements of the...

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Comments on how social media participation can bring you unexpected gifts -- like finding diamonds on the soles of your shoes....

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New-found appreciation for workplace perks. I saw a world without them today....

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Don't let the lawyers scare you away from allowing social media at work....

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Some real-time updates and examples on our Workforce 2.0 Journey: Net, no size fits all. [Photo: Barb Robidoux] "Yes, I see Work is an Activity, Not a Place -- But MY Group is Different." Or is it? A Marketing VP here, Barb Robidoux, is seeking to answer this question. She...

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This interview was just released -- I love, love, love it. If you're interested in topics such as Getting Social Media behavior/tools going at your company How to get bloggers blogging at your company What "good" looks like in internal and external social communities The relationship between social media strategy...

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Why bother with "The People," given other loud business priorities?...

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An exclusive, video interview with one of the world's best known CEOs, Michael Capellas, together with EMC EVP of HR, Jack Mollen; also joined by questions and comments from EMC Marketing CTO Chuck Hollis, EMC Storage Platforms CTO Barry Burke, and yours truly. Included within: The video starts with Michael...

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Here is a video that has 3 contextual messages that I think are rather cool (see my prior post for how this video came about): 1. Some execs are so 2.0 savvy, ... they "so get" the concept of transparent, human (vs. "corporate") sharing, and the value of modern communication...

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So I'm here in the bloggers lounge at EMCWorld, and in comes a bunch of EMC's top folks. Joe Tucci, CEO; Jeff Nick, CTO; Jeremy Burton, CMO; Jack Mollen, EVP of HR. Whatever. (smile, wink) I keep blogging; keeping an ear out toward what was happening on the stage. I...

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