Does that Drill come with AI?

 

My brilliant friend and NYDLA.org member Jon Stark made a post this week that made me pause and reflect. One of his clients was asking about how 'AI' would impact his freelancing business. In the scenario described the customer, armed with AI, thinks they can create what they believe to be the same deliverable. BUT!

The deliverable is not the value. 

The effectiveness of the deliverable is where the real value usually lies. So... If a prospect asked: “Couldn’t I just use AI to do what you do?” Jon would say: “If you think so, give it a try. I’ll loop back in 3 months and see how effective it was for you.” Jon is saying that clients don’t want deliverables.

Clients want results.

For a freelance SEO contractor - if they can get results with AI, then yes, you are in trouble. If they can’t, you aren’t. It made me think about the old joke about "People don't want to buy a drill... they need a hole." 

This past week was InfoComm - 'THE' ProAV show of the year. It was great. Earlier this year, we attended the HIMSS.org event. It also was great. Ah, but WHY was it great? And was it great for just ME, or was it great for everyone? In July, there will be an event in NYC - 'AI in Healthcare' once again from our friends at HIMSS. Because it is right in my backyard (NYC) it will be easy for me to attend. Round-trip for me via train from BOONTON USA to Pennsylvania Station NYC will cost me around $15. So I can attend THIS (or almost any other event) in NYC and still sleep in my own bed at night. Yes, I am spoiled. 

One thing that I noticed from the InfoComm event is that many vendors use this event in Orlando as their annual meeting with their remote staff. Other than events in Las Vegas, if you are going to fly to a venue Orlando is pretty great. This year, we had a staff training event at The Disney Institute parallel to InfoComm. So, being in Orlando this month we were both effective and efficient. 

46,900 folks attended our HIMSS.org event this year in Vegas. 41,300 attended InfoComm LIVE in Orlando. Many times that number attended some or all of these events virtually. All in, it is easy to spend thousands of dollars to attend a trade show LIVE. Hotel, travel, and if you are the vendor a proper trade show booth could easily cost $10,000 to $100,000. I have seen vendors bring 100+ staff to man a trade show. So that is 100 plane tickets, 100 hotel rooms, plus a few days of meals for everyone. 

So this brings me to the point of today's Sunday Blog: are you buying a drill - or do you simply need a hole? When you try to justify the expense to a CFO why attending (or presenting) LIVE at a trade show, what is the criteria that you use to explain the effectiveness of the investment? I still see people attending trade shows simply because their competitors are going. I see people buying plane tickets and hotel rooms with a clear mission - and others are just caught swimming in the current. 

We use Adobe and Dotdigital and Orum (three NYDLA.org vendors) to follow up, Follow Up, FOLLOW UP with all attendees of all the trade shows that we participate. Our rule is this: if we are going to attend a show, we will spend the time and money necessary to properly follow up. There is always another show - just like there is always another bus. And, because we are an 'Association' when our members attend a trade show LIVE, our members can meet other members IRL (not just Zoom). Many times for the first time (the only time?) if it were not for trade shows like InfoComm or HIMSS or ISE or CES (I can keep going) we would never, ever, ever meet each other in real life. I also recognize that my living 30 miles West of the Center of the Known Universe (NYC) I am spoiled. I can wake up, jump on a train from BOONTON USA and be at 11 Times Square or Javits Center by 9:00 AM easy. And I can be back in BOONTON USA to take my dog to the park before dusk. I can use my laptop on WiFi the entire time (usually 90 minute commute, door to door). 

So, I am a big fan of the ROI of trade shows - especially those in NYC. Attending a FREE webinar is nice. But when someone spends real money - spends their after tax dollars - to attend a trade show - or host the Happy Hour - they are going to be looking for an ROI. They are going to be looking for a way to measure the effectiveness of attending the show LIVE. They want the hole from the drill. 

Oh, by the way - the Lenovo | Meeting Owl Happy Hour on Thursday at InfoComm - bravo! It was..... a hoot. 

www.NYDLAatInfoComm.com

There will be pens.....

This week is our big ProAV show InfoComm in Orlando. We already have 41,300+ NYDLA.org members signed up to attend LIVE. I figure around 800 trade show booths. Some will be your classic 10x10 booth with a table, tablecloth, and.....pens.

Others booths will be more like small houses constructed indoors. It is not unheard of to have a vendor spend $100,000+ on their booth. Zoom will have at least 20+ staff attending while vendors like Sennheiser typically send 100+ to such trade shows. 

Hey Grok, how can I get my boss to pay for me to attend InfoComm this year?

Subject: Request to Attend InfoComm 2025 – A Strategic Opportunity for Professional Growth and Business Impact

Dear [Manager’s Name or Management Team],

I am writing to request approval to attend InfoComm 2025, the largest professional audiovisual (AV) trade show in North America, taking place June 7-13, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This event presents a unique opportunity to advance our team’s expertise, enhance our company’s competitive edge, and drive innovation in our AV-related projects. Below, I outline the key benefits of attending InfoComm 2025 and how it aligns with our organizational goals.

1. Access to Cutting-Edge AV Technologies and Trends

InfoComm 2025 will feature over 800 exhibitors showcasing the latest advancements in audio, video, conferencing, digital signage, enterprise IT, security, VR, and live event solutions. The exhibit hall offers hands-on access to emerging technologies like AI-driven decision-making tools, advanced audio systems, and AV-over-IP solutions, which are shaping the future of our industry. By exploring these innovations, I can identify tools and strategies to improve our workflows, enhance project outcomes, and ensure we remain at the forefront of industry trends. For example, sessions like “2030 Vision: The Future of AV” will provide insights into long-term industry shifts, enabling us to future-proof our technology investments.

2. Comprehensive Educational Opportunities

The event offers over 100 sessions across 11 educational tracks, including AI in AV, business and project management, and enterprise IT. These sessions, led by industry experts, provide actionable knowledge to refine our skills and processes. For instance, workshops on AV system monitoring and Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) preparation can directly enhance my technical expertise and contribute to our team’s ability to deliver high-quality projects. Additionally, sessions like Yamaha’s ProVisionaire Ecosystem and Panasonic’s automated conferencing solutions will equip me with practical tools to streamline our operations.

3. Unparalleled Networking Opportunities

With attendees from 125 countries, including AV and IT integrators, enterprise buyers, and industry leaders, InfoComm is a hub for building strategic relationships. Networking events like the AVIXA Women’s Breakfast, the Night at Universal Studios, and guided show floor tours (e.g., Smart Workplace & Classroom) offer opportunities to connect with peers, vendors, and visionaries. These interactions can lead to partnerships, new vendor relationships, and insights into competitor strategies, all of which can strengthen our market position.

4. Market Research and Competitive Insights

Attending InfoComm allows me to observe competitors, engage with industry experts, and gauge reactions to new products. This firsthand market research can inform our business strategy, helping us identify gaps in our offerings and capitalize on emerging opportunities. The show’s Trailblazers Zone, featuring innovative solutions from new exhibitors, will provide a glimpse into disruptive technologies that could shape our future projects.

5. Cost-Effective Professional Development

The show floor is accessible for free since we are a paid member of the NYDLA.org. This makes InfoComm a cost-effective way to gain high-value training and exposure to global AV trends. My attendance can maximize our return on investment by bringing back knowledge and connections that enhance our team’s capabilities.

6. Alignment with Organizational Goals

By attending InfoComm 2025, I can acquire skills and insights that directly support our objectives, such as improving project efficiency, adopting innovative technologies, and strengthening client relationships. The knowledge gained will enable me to contribute to our team’s success by implementing best practices and staying ahead of industry developments.

Conclusion and Request

InfoComm 2025 is a critical opportunity to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving AV industry. I propose attending the event as an NYDLA.org member to participate in educational sessions, explore the exhibit hall, and network with industry leaders. I am happy to provide a detailed cost estimate or discuss how my attendance can be tailored to specific company priorities. 

Thank you for considering this request. I am confident that attending InfoComm 2025 will deliver significant value to our team and organization.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]  

Grok says: This letter highlights the key reasons to attend InfoComm 2025, tailored to persuade your management by aligning the event’s benefits with professional and business goals. Let me know if you’d like to adjust the tone, add specific company objectives, or include a budget breakdown.

Oh, and we shall be giving away 100 $250 TAC-USA.com Gift Cards powered by Tremendous.com to the first 100 NYDLA.org members that shoot our 'QR Code' at our vendor booths. 

And pens. There will be free pens. 

www.NYDLAatInfoComm.com

Partners and Agents and Resellers - Oh My!

The phrase "Lions, tigers and bears" comes from a passage spoken by the Tin Man, Dorothy, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

"Lions and tigers and bears" is an expression from The Wizard of Oz where it symbolizes an unknown danger. Dorothy asks Tinman what might lurk in the woods and he replies "Lions and tigers and bears" even though he clearly has no real, concrete idea.  The Oh My! - It's rare to have lions, tigers, and bears share the same range.

Partners and Agents and Resellers - Oh My!

In my world (telecom and technology) it is common for a major company (Zoom, Microsoft, Verizon, et.al.) to have Partner Programs. They often allow for Agents. Sometimes MASTER AGENTS. And sometimes they allow for entities to RESELL for them (buy wholesale, sell it to customers). We call them Resellers. 

I have been in the telecom and technology game since 1983. I have sold NYNEX Mobile 'Car Phones' in the 80s. I was a Bell Atlantic Agent in the 90s. Over the past 40 years I have experienced life as an agent, as reseller, as a VAR (Value Added Reseller). Every possible combination. And here is my muse for this Sunday Morning, June 1st, 2025:

You got your Lions, you got your Tigers and you got your Bears. And many times you CAN find them in the same range. 

Some programs are AMAZING. From time to time you will uncover a Partner Program and/or an Agent Program that is totally professional. It becomes obvious from the first 'Welcome!' email that a tremendous amount of time and money has been invested in this channel partnership. There are teams of people with a mission to run the program, run the portal, run the show. Other programs, it seems like they are saying, "Hey Joe, do we have a (checks notes....) Partner Program?  Oh yeah, right. OK kid, click here. Call me if you need me. Oh, and try not to need me...

Sometimes Partner | Agent | Reseller programs are activated because the leadership or management of the parent company feels like everyone else is doing it - so we should do it too. Sometimes the parent company is '100% Channel' which means they do not sell direct. If you want to buy their product or service, they introduce you to one of their partners. ( I like that ). Sometimes you will have 'Channel Conflict' where the agent | reseller | VAR is competing against the house. "Why should I buy it FROM YOU when I can get it from THEM, directly?" 

THIS month is one of our largest industry events of the year. InfoComm. If you are in the 'Pro AV' business, you probably know about InfoComm. If you are a buyer of telecom or technology (for schools, hospitals, business, etc.) there is a good chance that you are going to be in Orlando this month. As of this blog, 40,000+ members of our Distance Learning Association (NYDLA.org) have already registered to attend InfoComm. 

I predict that there will be around 800 'Vendor Booths' at the InfoComm event. Some of these booths will look like small houses. Others will be the typical 10x10 trade show booth, with a table, a tablecloth and some brochures. I know for a fact that some of OUR vendors will be sending a small army of people to InfoComm, and will spend well over $100,000 for the show. MASSIVE shows like CES can cost $500,000 for a proper trade show experience. Ahem. 

The main moral of "The Wizard of Oz" is that you already possess the qualities you're seeking (courage, brain, heart) and that "there's no place like home." It emphasizes the importance of friendship, the value of self-discovery, and the realization that things that seem powerful or scary are often not what they seem. 

Partner Programs | Agent Programs | Reseller Programs can seem big and scary. But if you grab on to the right ones, you will find 'your home' with friendship, a chance at self-discovery. You will need to be vigilant and not give up. You will learn that ordinary people (like you) have power. 

Even the most ardent admirers of the Wizard of Oz story often fail to learn its simple lessons: Don't get stuck on the yellow brick road; don't blame others for your circumstances; don't wait for wizards to wave their magic wands and never expect all of your problems to disappear. 

A good, solid Partner Program will remind us that the qualities we seek are often already within us. I hope that you will meet us at InfoComm. I'll be the guy in the Ruby Slippers...

Oh, one of the things that I am very proud of - we are an AireSpring MASTER AGENT. We have been their Master Agent for 25 years. I hope to have 1,000 Sub Agents making $100,000 per year. That is an annual payout of $100,000,000. { Not a typo....}  

There's no place like home.... There's no place like home.... There's no place like home.....

www.NYDLAatInfoComm.com

How do you take your Zoom?

 

How do you take your Zoom? 

I have been using and promoting all things Zoom long before Zoom became a verb. Because I have been running the Distance Learning Association since 2008, it makes sense that we would have a deep relationship with Zoom. (And I've been running MTP - MyTeachingPartners.com since 1983!)  But that is true for GoTo and Google and Cisco Webex and Adobe and Microsoft Teams and the rest of the players in the space. We work with all the TBLS vendors (Technology Based Learning Systems). 

When I started doing my video podcast, it was PoweredByZoom.us from the first VIP interview. When FortierPR.com has a new book to launch, we do the virtual book launches via Zoom. And those 'Zoom Talks' become multimedia, transmedia, omnimedia experiences reaching people all around the world. Sometimes the person that I am interviewing is super famous, with millions of followers. 

Earlier this month, we attended the Zoom Education Summit in Utah. Teachers, trainers, coaches, mentors from all around the world attended both LIVE and virtually via Zoom to learn best practices on how to do all things Zoom.  

Our vendor Wander.com is a luxury vacation rental platform that blends the comfort of private homes with the consistency and amenities of high-end hotels. Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur John Andrew Entwistle, Wander aims to "hotelify" vacation rentals by offering a standardized, tech-enabled experience across its curated portfolio of properties. 

What Makes Wander Unique

Top 1% of Vacation Homes: Wander selects only the top 1% of vacation rentals, ensuring guests have access to exceptional properties with inspiring views and luxurious features.

Hotel-Grade Amenities: Each property includes hotel-quality cleaning, dreamy beds, modern workstations with fast Wi-Fi, and 24/7 concierge service.

Smart Home Technology: Wander integrates smart-home tech and automation through its proprietary WanderOS platform, delivering consistent quality and operational efficiency.

End-to-End Travel Platform: Beyond accommodations, Wander offers a comprehensive travel experience, including trip planning, concierge services, and curated experiences.

Wander.com operates properties across the United States, including destinations like California, Texas, Hawaii, and the Hudson Valley in New York. Each location is chosen for its stunning natural beauty and potential for memorable stays.

Recently we started shipping Meeting Owls to Wander locations. The folks at Owl Labs in Boston make a very unique video camera that puts you 'in the room' from anywhere in the world. So, you can place a Meeting Owl in the center of the table in the living room (or the home office) at a Wander location, and have the best meeting (or teaching, training, coaching, mentoring) sessions of your life. All Wander locations have super fast WIFI and HDTV displays. 

One cool trend is for companies to reward staff with 'Wander Weeks' where they can work from a Wander.com location for the week, on the company tab. Ah yes, Zoom meetings from a Wander. I had the idea to record VIP CoffeeInTheClouds.us interviews with the special guest, and 10 to 20 people joining us LIVE for Q&A. And of course, since it is PoweredByZoom.us you can have 20 people LIVE in the room, 200,000 LIVE via Zoom and 2M+ watching the archives of the meeting via Workvivo by Zoom. I love all the vendors and sponsors of the (now) GlobalDLA.org but I must say the Zoom + Wander + Meeting Owl 'bundle' is pretty impressive. 

Convene in NYC (and now London) is another NYDLA.org vendor sponsor. They have the most amazing venues for hybrid meetings and events, all with super fast WIFI and big screens. You can invite people to take the train down from Boston or up from Philly, and host your meeting or event at Convene. I live 30 miles to the West of 11 Times Square in North New Jersey. I can be in NYC in less than an hour, just in time for an amazing breakfast at one of many Convene locations. I really think this is the future of work - the future of education - the future of entertainment. You can have the best company offsite events, for the company holiday party or to celebrate a big team win. Everything, especially new product launches can be PoweredByZoom.us 

I have also noticed that many new cars come with "Zoom on board" so that you can attend Zoom meetings and events from the road. I assume that you can host calls and meetings from the car with GoTo and Webex and Teams but Zoom makes it simple, easy and elegant. Ah yes, the new AI features of Zoom and Zoom Workplace from your (self-driving?) car. Impressive. 

Zoom Workplace is an AI-powered collaboration platform developed by Zoom Communications, designed to streamline communication, enhance productivity, and support flexible work environments. It integrates various tools such as meetings, team chat, phone, scheduler, whiteboard, and more, all within a unified platform enhanced by Zoom AI Companion. 

AI-Enhanced Collaboration: Zoom AI Companion assists users by summarizing meetings, drafting emails, generating chat responses, and more, aiming to reduce mundane tasks and improve efficiency. 

Unified Communication Tools: Combines video conferencing, team chat, VoIP phone services, email, and calendar functionalities to facilitate seamless communication.

Productivity Enhancements: Features like Zoom Whiteboard for brainstorming, Zoom Clips for recording and sharing video messages, and Zoom Docs for collaborative document creation are integrated to boost team productivity.

Employee Engagement: Incorporates Workvivo, an employee experience platform acquired by Zoom, to foster a sense of community and engagement within organizations.  

Zoom Workplace is available FOR FREE (first seat) to all (now) GlobalDLA.org members on various platforms, including desktop and mobile devices, and is designed to cater to businesses and schools of all sizes seeking an integrated solution for modern collaboration needs.

AND SO....... the world is indeed......... PoweredByZoom.us - join us and THRIVE in the GLOBAL Cloud Community. Yours. 

www.GetZoom.us

www.CoffeeInTheClouds.us interviews

are PoweredByZoom.us

Just me and my Robots

I believe that within the next 10 years, there shall be a Billionaire Solopreneur. 

I have been in business since 1983. So I have seen much. I was in the room when Priceline went live. I was there for the birth of AOL. I was the 3rd person in the USA to sell NYNEX Mobile Car Phones. I was one of the first to have a LinkedIn account. When LinkedIn hit 100,000 members, we all got a letter (in the mail!) from the founder, thanking us for our support of their little startup. Maybe I should retitle this blog "Damn, I'm old". 

It was out of tragedy that we found our niche: Education. Lifelong Learning. Teaching, training, coaching, mentoring in the GLOBAL Cloud COMMUNITY. My journey into the 'TBLS' world (Technology Based Learning Systems) world was due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

When the Statue of Liberty was CLOSED due to 9/11, the idea was to allow the kids to do 'virtual field trips' to via videoconferencing. MTP - MyTeachingPartners.com was born to deliver DSL (Digital subscriber line) and videoconferencing hardware and service to all the K-12 schools in the NY/NJ/CT region. I was in the right place at the right time. Over the years this is why we became a Zoom Partner (GetZoom.us)

I am reflecting to how we went from selling 'car phones' to selling everything in the world of telecom and technology. Next month is the amazing InfoComm show in Orlando. We go to InfoComm every year. This year we already have 38K+ people registered to attend InfoComm, all from our (now) NADLA.org community. I know how hard it is to promote and run even small events. So, I get to tell the world to simply meet us: NYDLAatInfoComm.com. And we do just that. We get to tell everyone from our 174K+ K-20 schools, our 16K+ municipalities, and our 6K+ hospitals (and their employees / students / alumni) to simply meet us in Orlando every year. Thanks, InfoComm! You made it easy. 

Our 'store' is a BigCommerce.com store. We have the entire line cards of TD SYNNEX, D&H, Jenne, IngramMicro, TeleDynamics, Midwich and many (many) more 'loaded' into our E-commerce solution. So, we not only USE BigCommerce but we are also a BigCommerce Partner (GetBigCommerce.com). We offer 'shelf space' in our TAC-USA store for all of the vendors attending InfoComm. This same offer goes for all of the vendors attending ISE, or CES, or Enterprise Connect or (I could keep going). Simple. Easy. Thanks, BigCommerce! I was in the right place at the right time when I met the folks at BigCommerce. 

We became a Kajabi partner, and MightyNetworks, and Shopify, and Adobe, and (I could keep going). The 'technology of the day' allows us to teach, train, coach, mentor from ANYWHERE in the world. Tools like Kajabi allow an author to convert their paper books into not only audio books (ala Audible.com) but into multimedia, transmedia, omnimedia COURSES. Their subject matter expertise becomes part of TheCloudUniversity.com  So, via technology anyone from anywhere can teach, train, coach, mentor as we all live, learn, work, play in the GLOBAL Cloud COMMUNITY.  I was in the right place at the right time when I met the folks at Kajabi. And the folks at Shopify. And Adobe. (I could keep going). Once again: right place, right time. 

I wrote this blog myself, there was no AI involved. Yet. I am sure that it is only a matter of months before writing a blog WITHOUT AI will become rare. I do ask humans (my wife, my staff) to always 'proof my blog' because I don't like to look, well.... bad. Hmmm... maybe I can also ask AI to proof my blog for me? 

2025: and now we have AI - everywhere.  

Zoom + AI. Shopify + AI. Kajabi + AI. Dotdigital + AI. Over the next 10 years, the TBLS (Technology Based Learning Systems) and the E-commerce systems of the world will have more AI, and less people. A company that would normally need 100 people in their back office will become 10 key people who have Mastered AI. And at some point 10 key support people will become 5. And then, at some point, it will be one single solopreneur and their AI robots. It will happen soon, I predict before 2035. 

Think Luke Skywalker PLUS R2-D2. A human and lots of droids who work 24x7x365. 

A $1B company of one. 

www.CoffeeInTheClouds.us

www.PoweredByKajabi.com

Car Wash University

 

So, they are the new kid in town. It started with an email to me ( and my wife, and my kids ). If my dog Konta had a working email I am sure that he would have received one too. 

OK, so we all got the email. And then we all got the follow up emails. And the follow ups to the follow ups. And so, yesterday was the big day. Yesterday was the visit to the new Speeders Car Wash in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. 

I live in Boonton Township, New Jersey. We're the next town over from Mountain Lakes. There is a Boonton, New Jersey, and we share a Zip Code. So you have Boonton and Boonton Township. The kids living in Boonton go to Boonton High School, but the kids that live in Boonton Township go to Mountain Lakes High School. But ALL OF US live in Morris County, New Jersey. 

THERE IS ONLY ONE BOONTON USA. Boonton became a separate municipality, and was incorporated as a Town under a charter granted by the State Legislature in March, 1867. The area within the limits of the new Town was formerly part of the old Townships of Pequannock and Hanover. Under the charter, the new Town was governed by a seven-man Board of Trustees, but, by an amendment to the charter in 1872, authority was vested in the Mayor and Common Council, which later became the Mayor & Board of Aldermen and is now known as the Mayor and Town Council.  

Boonton's charter of 1867 was a milestone in the long history of the Town. More than a century earlier the village of Boonetown (Booneton, Boonton Falls) was established on the Rockaway River, about a mile and a half downstream from the center of the present Town. As early as 1747, Obadiah Baldwin operated an iron refining forge at that place, where water power was in ample supply, and raw materials, such as iron ore and wood for charcoal, were not too far away. Under David Ogden, the owner of the site and a large tract of surrounding land, and, later, under his son, Samuel, the ironworks was enlarged, and a village of workmen and their families emerged. This village was named by the Ogdens "Boone-Towne" in honor of the Colonial Governor, Thomas Boone, in the year 1761.

AND SO.... yesterday was the day to get the car washed. The new Speeders Car Wash on Rt. 46 in Mountain Lakes New Jersey had me in their tractor beam. Their emails have 'locked on' and I was being pulled out of my driveway and right down the boulevard to their new location. 

I was impressed. There are several Car Wash locations within a mile or two of home. In fact, there is one right in BOONTON USA. But again, immediately, this place was DIFFERENT. It felt like a mash up of Walt Disney World and Chuck E. Cheese for cars. And a little bit like the drive through at Chick-fil-A. The efficiency was palatable. You can just feel in your bones that someone engineered this to be different. Different by design. I counted around a dozen staff, and they all had uniforms like an Indy Car pit crew. Everyone was smiling, everyone was happy. 

In the most professional way, they took my electronic coupon off my phone for the FREE car wash. And then, as the seconds clicked by, I was braced for the sales pitch. In three.....two....one..... and we're off! It's all about the subscription. It's all about the monthly Car Wash Club. Netflix, for cars.

I knew it was coming. The kid giving me sales pitch however, did not. I told him "THIS IS FANTASTIC! This is great! I am impressed! Ah, but this is my wife's car and she has to decide. Can you sign up online?" < sigh >  

I could watch his eyes blinking, as his brain was processing the answers from his training. What do you say when they say this, what do you say when they say THAT.... I told him: Congratulations! You made a sale! I am sure that she will be back to sign up one day soon. 

Now he had a choice: keep working me, or pass me through, as there was a line forming behind my car. I quickly said "Good job! Keep up the good work, I'm sure you will have a fantastic day selling..." 

So here's the deal. The Car Wash was the best of my 64 years. When I got home, I told my wife. I posted on Social Media. And then I got an email and a text from RussellSpeeders.com reminding me that if I 'tell a friend' to get a free car wash, I would also earn points. From their website:

Russell Speeder’s started over 50 years ago in Norwalk, Connecticut, and currently operates 32 car washes in Connecticut, New York, Nebraska and Kansas City. In that time we have washed millions of cars and have evolved our process for providing customers with a fast, clean, shiny car. We are obsessed with offering an amazing customer experience delivered by our hundreds of hard working associates.

Over the last several years we have been laser focused on providing over 150,000 monthly members the best unlimited car wash program in the country. Stop by today to experience all we have to offer, and enjoy the ride!

WOW. Free Air! Free Vacuum! So on my ride home (just a few miles) I reflected on what just happened. The email campaign, worked. The first customer experience worked. I told my wife that I just had the best car wash ever. I told my kids. I told my dog Konta. I posted on Social Media that I had the best car wash, ever. And this was BEFORE I got the text and email prompting me to tell my friends to earn friends and family points. 

And now I'm BLOGGING on it.  I'll even email hello@russellspeeders.com to tell them 'read my blog!' 

It made me think about how in BOONTON USA there are probably a dozen Pizzerias. There are many coffee shops. There are many nail salons. MANY to choose from. I love BOONTON MAIN STREET in the one and only BOONTON USA with the shops and the many (many) amazing places to eat. There are many choices for getting a car wash near BOONTON USA. 

Or is there really now just one..... ?

https://russellspeeders.com/locations and now...Welcome to New Jersey! 

https://russellspeeders.com/elevateher-2025  You gotta like these folks already, right? 

Eventful things

Is eventful good or bad? Let's ask The Google.....

Eventful things are exciting, important, or full of incidents. Your eventful life might inspire you to write a fascinating autobiography one day. If your day is eventful, a lot of things happen — it can be good or bad, but it's certainly not boring.

"Eventful" means full of significant or interesting happenings, or having important consequences. It can describe a period of time, a person's life, or a situation, implying it was not ordinary or uneventful. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Full of events: An eventful day or year is one that is busy, with a lot of activity or changes happening.

Important or memorable: An eventful life or decision is one that had a significant impact or is remembered for its importance.

Not boring: Eventful things are exciting, interesting, or packed with incidents. 

This upcoming Friday we have an EVENT at Yale in Connecticut. We have it listed on Page 1 / Slide 1 of NYDLA.org. I am looking forward to presenting - to a room of around 300 people. Give or take. Use code 'NYDLA' and save $300. And on Day 2 everyone in the room will get a $250 Gift Card from TAC-USA.com powered by Tremendous.com. Cool. 

That is it. It is a LIVE event. There will be no streaming media, no Zoom. The event begins on Yale campus on Friday morning 5/9 and goes to 5/10 midday. Technically it begins at the Cocktail Reception on the evening of 5/8 (ahem.) 

NEXT month, we have InfoComm. As of this blog post, we already have 37,250 members of the NADLA.org registered to attend LIVE. By event time, expect 40,000 NADLA.org members to have registered, with 10X that number of NADLA.org members to attend InfoComm virtually. I tip my hat to the organizers of InfoComm, every year is better than the year before. We have invited the 174K+ *schools, the 16K+ municipalities and the 6K+ hospitals of the NADLA.org to attend InfoComm this year. Many NADLA.org members will attend - virtually. {*and the alumni of the schools}.

In 2024 we attended a Cybersecurity Summit on THE INTREPID Sea Air Space Museum in NYC. Figure 900+ were LIVE at the event, 900K+ LIVE via Zoom and 9M+ (to date) have watched the archives of the event via Workvivo by Zoom. I am sure that number will 10X over time, with tens of millions of views via YouTube. 

Last month, we attended the Microsoft Summit at 11 Times Square NYC. I have been on the 6th floor of that building more times than I can count. Microsoft is an amazing vendor and sponsor, and very generous. I noticed that the large room holds 364 people, according to the Fire Code. The event last month was very (VERY) good, but there was no risk of breaking the law. I figure the were 200+ people in the room, tops. 

Right now, I am enjoying an Audible book from Jefferson Fisher. I will be doing a 'CoffeeInTheClouds.us' interview with him next month. We will gift his book to all who watch our interview. Technically, I will 'reimburse' the cost of the Audible book (we are an Audible partner) by giving 1 month membership credit to the NADLA.org for everyone who buys his book. ($25 credit). Jefferson started out making YouTube videos from his car, on his phone. He had no office, he had no team - he had no money (no sponsors, no backers). 2025: Jefferson has 10M+ followers on Social Media, 500M+ views on Social Media and 1B+ views across all media platforms. That is BILLION with a B. 

Here is where I am going with this: Is my time with Jefferson Fisher in the local dog park an event?

When I am walking in the park with my dog (every day) I am in my personal cloud university. I am listening to a book read by the author (this time Jefferson Fisher). I really love books read by the author - it feels like they are talking directly TO ME. I follow Jefferson on social media, I am one of his tribe. 

It will cost me around $100 in gas, tolls, parking to attend the event at Yale next week. I am getting $500 in travel stipend as a speaker, and a hotel room on campus. Cool! It will cost me $1,000+ next month to attend InfoComm mostly due to travel expenses, food and hotel. I have a free pass to the event. Ah, but no speaker stipend, no travel reimbursement. Boo! It costs me $18.50 in bus fare (round trip) from BOONTON USA to 11 Times Square NYC to BOONTON USA. So, right now, today, as I live in North New Jersey (30 miles West of Times Square) the 'events' that give me MAXIMUM ROI are the events in NYC, especially at 11 Times Square (Microsoft).

Or is my maximum ROI the dog park, courtesy of Audible? I think Konta votes for the dog park. 

I won a Meeting Owl from the Microsoft Summit!  

Hoot!

We are Hootin' in Boonton

A Meeting Owl is a 360-degree video conferencing device that acts as a camera, microphone, and speaker, designed to make hybrid meetings more engaging and immersive for both in-room and remote participants. It captures the entire room, intelligently focuses on the speaker, and provides clear audio to all attendees. Here's a more detailed look at what a Meeting Owl is:

360° Camera, Microphone, and Speaker

The Meeting Owl is an all-in-one device that captures the entire room's view, and also acts as a microphone to pick up audio from all directions and speakers to project sound to those attending. 

Intelligent Focus

It uses AI to automatically zoom in on the person who is speaking, making it feel more natural and engaging for remote participants. 

Immersive Experience

The 360° view and intelligent focus create a more immersive experience for both in-room and remote participants, making hybrid meetings feel less like a video conference and more like a real meeting. 

Works with Popular Platforms

The Meeting Owl is designed to be plug-and-play with most major video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype for Business. 

Flexibility

You can also connect multiple Meeting Owls or pair them with other Owl Labs products like the Owl Bar or expansion mics to enhance coverage in larger rooms. 

Privacy and Security

The Meeting Owl does not record or transmit any video or audio data, it only streams it to your computer. 

Evolution of the Meeting Owl

Owl Labs has continued to develop and improve the Meeting Owl, with newer models like the Meeting Owl 3 and Meeting Owl 4+ offering even more advanced features like 4K video and improved AI. 

In essence, the Meeting Owl aims to bridge the gap between in-person and remote collaboration, making hybrid meetings feel more natural and engaging for everyone involved. 

BOONTON USA is located around 30 miles West of New York City. Boonton has been home to abolitionists, a stop on the Underground Railroad and home of the world famous Boontonware. Trolley cars, vaudeville theaters and hotels thrived on Boonton Main Street at the turn of the century. The settlement was originally called "Boone-Towne" in 1761 in honor of the Colonial Governor Thomas Boone.

Boonton Iron Works ~ 1900 

Main Street BOONTON USA became home to BoontonWorks.com - a business foundry. In the spirit of the old Boonton Iron Works, the cloud technology of the day allowed for anyone (from anywhere) to launch and run a business from good ol' BOONTON USA. For some time, the old Boonton Opera House was converted into office space / coworking space in the spirit of WeWork or Regus or Convene. 

AND SO.... located in the heart of Morris County, New Jersey - just 30 miles West of Times Square NYC - BOONTON USA (there is only ONE Boonton in the entire USA) has found a new purpose via BoontonWorks.com. Companies like Shopify and BigCommerce and WooCommerce and Adobe and many others can run their entire enterprise from laptops with high-speed Internet from anywhere up and down Main Street Boonton. Work from the Boonton Opera House - work from Boonton Coffee Co. - work from one of the dozens of restaurants and eateries of BOONTON USA. Or work from home and come to BOONTON USA for your meetings. Or coffee. Did I mention the dozen coffee shops on Main Street BOONTON USA? 

Boonton has a train station and bus service that runs up and down Main Street all day long. You can be on BOONTON MAIN STREET at 8:00 AM and be physically in a LIVE meeting at 11 Times Square (Microsoft) in less than an hour via the Lakeland Bus Line. I have personally made that round-trip over a hundred times and counting. 

OR.... you can STAY in good ol' BOONTON USA and have your meeting via the Meeting Owl with anyone living anywhere in the world. You can live, learn, work, play, teach, train, coach, mentor anyone from anywhere. You can take a course - teach a course - create a course from BOONTON USA. 

Yeah, now that's something to hoot about. 

GetMeetingOwl.com 

Boonton Opera House ~ then and now.

The evolution of the Meeting Owl

The Meeting Owl was created in 2014 when Mark Schnittman, a former iRobot engineer, experienced firsthand the challenges of remote meetings. He found that traditional video conferencing setups were often awkward, noisy, and ineffective. Inspired to find a solution, Schnittman partnered with his former iRobot colleague, Max Makeev, to create a video conferencing device that would make remote collaboration more natural and engaging.

After many months of development, the first Meeting Owl was launched in 2016. The device quickly gained popularity for its innovative features, including a 360-degree panoramic camera that automatically focuses on the speaker, a built-in microphone array that captures sound from all directions, and a noise-canceling speaker that ensures clear audio.

The Meeting Owl has evolved over the years with the release of the Meeting Owl Pro in 2019, followed by the Meeting Owl 3 in 2022. The current flagship model, the Meeting Owl 4+, was released in 2024 and features a high-resolution camera with 4K ultra HD video capability, improved audio quality, support for artificial intelligence (AI) features that further enhance the meeting experience, and the ability to enhance your audio pickup by attaching an Expansion Mic.

Easter Eggs and the Messenger of Joy

If you’re Catholic, you’ve likely heard the famous Easter quote from Pope St. John Paul II — “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” Did you know that he said this not at Easter Time, but in November — almost 40 years ago?

He proclaimed these encouraging words during his Sunday Angelus on Nov. 30, 1986, on his papal trip to Australia that year:

“We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery — the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’ We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the ‘fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy.’” 

So what if you are not Catholic but simply Christian? Today, Easter Sunday 2025 there are 8.062 billion people in the world. It is projected that we shall reach 9 billion in 2037 and 10 billion in 2058. 

Approximately 31.2% of the world's population identifies as Christian. This makes Christianity the world's largest religion, with over 2.38 billion followers. In 2022, around 31.6 percent of the global population were identify as Christian. Around 25.8 percent of the global population identify as Muslims, followed by 15.1 percent of global populations as Hindu.

The Catholic Church (Latin: Ecclesia Catholica), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.28 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2024.

Tom, there better be an 'Easter Egg' hidden somewhere in this Blog.........

There was a time when I was studying to become a Roman Catholic Deacon. 

In the Catholic Church, a deacon is an ordained minister who is called to serve and witness Christ's love in the world. They are part of the clergy, along with priests and bishops, but their role is distinct, focusing on ministry and service, rather than presiding over the sacraments like priests. Deacons are ordained to proclaim the Gospel, assist at Mass, and perform various works of charity and outreach. 

My Spiritual Advisor was Fr. John Catoir.  He was an amazing man and teacher. It is a 5 year 'formation' to become a Roman Catholic Deacon. I lasted for 2 years of the 5. At the time I had young children, and my family needed me. So, I put my Diaconate Formation on pause. 

Fr. Catoir was an amazing communicator. He asked me, "Tom, why do you want to become a Deacon?"

My answer was to give back. To make a difference. To be of service to others. His words were clear and powerful: "So, do it. Make a difference. Be of service to others. You can start today, you don't need to wait 5 years. Right now, today. Begin. You don't need an Alb to be a Messenger of Joy."

In 2025, Americans are projected to spend $23.6 billion on Easter. This is up from $22.4 billion in 2024 and approaching the record $24 billion spent in 2023. The largest spending category is candy, with $3.3 billion projected to be spent on sweets. 

Here's a breakdown of the spending: 

Overall Spending: $23.6 billion

Candy: $3.3 billion

Food: $7.4 billion

Gifts: $3.8 billion

Clothing: $3.5 billion

Decorations: $1.7 billion

Flowers: $1.9 billion

So to review: there are approximately 2.38 billion Christians worldwide, making up about 31.2% of the global population. This figure represents the largest and most widespread religion globally. Christianity is the primary religion in many countries and territories, including the Americas, Europe, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa.  

I can hear Fr. Catoir's words in my head this Easter Sunday Morning. 

"So, do it. Make a difference. Be of service to others. You can start today, you don't need to wait 5 years. Right now, today. Begin. You can become a Messenger of Joy."

https://www.johncatoir.com/MessengerofJoy.html

 

"Hi, I'm Tom and I'm in SALES..." 

Last week we attended the two-day Microsoft Solutions World Event in NYC. 

11 Times Square (Microsoft) is 33.7 miles EAST of my home in BOONTON USA. Well, technically Boonton Township. 41 minutes by car or bus. I can jump on the bus, sit in the last row (center seat, maximum leg room) use my Lenovo laptop the entire time as I go from BOONTON USA > THE BIG APPLE > BOONTON USA. There have been times where I would actually wish for traffic, as I was getting so much done from Seat 55 on the Lakeland Bus. Round trip: $14. I'm not too proud to take the Senior Discount. 

I have been on the 6th Floor of Microsoft 11 Times Square several dozen times over the years. First things first: Microsoft is an amazing NYDLA.org vendor and sponsor. It would be hard to find a more generous telecom or technology company than Microsoft, full stop. 

The event was very well done. Around a dozen Microsoft partners presented, and the speakers were solid. Now, being in 'sales' since 1983, my mind always is thinking sales, marketing, prospecting, lead generation, etc. You know - REVENUE. At 64 years old, I am older than Microsoft. I remember being at PURDUE when the first microcomputer was shown to the world. "Why would ANYONE ever need a computer at home?" 

I have a very simple business card: front of the card is my contact information. Back of the card: JoinNYDLA.org  

That's it. That is the call to action. JoinNYDLA.org is the money shot. If I can get them to go to www.JoinNYDLA.org my work is done. And that just begins the work for my staff. Follow up, Follow UP, FOLLOW UP! Nurture, nurture, nurture. Grow the global DLA COMMUNITY. 

Years ago, with a tip of the hat to Willy Wonka, we made 'Golden Tickets' to give out at trade shows, events, meetings, Lunch 'n Learns, Sunset Seminars. If we can get people to engage, if we can convert their attention into engagement into adoption into utilization, life is good. Then along comes Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn and Instagram (and...and....and....) and the power of the cloud. TomCapone.com goes to my LinkedIn. TommyCapone.com goes to my new Bluesky account. And ThomasCapone.com goes right here - to my Sunday Blog.  Over the years, we figured out how to make a 'virtual' Golden Ticket: just send them to NYDLA.org/GoldenTicket and save a tree. Also, you can just put a picture of the Golden Ticket up on the big screen in the front of the room. There is ALWAYS a big screen these days, right? At Microsoft, there are many big screens...  QR codes have changed the game of course. Paper Business Cards have never gone away, but they usually have a QR or quick-response code on the card. Outside, on the street at 11 Times Square there are MASSIVE big screens. Just begging for a QR code. (mine) 

From the Google: a QR code, short for Quick Response code, is a type of two-dimensional matrix barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone camera or other digital device to access online information. It uses a grid of black and white squares to encode data, typically a website address, but it can also contain other information like contact details or payment information. Invented in 1994, we are now 'expecting' to see a QR code on everything. 

Microsoft vendors who had booths on the 6th floor of 11 Times Square were keen to engage with the folks that attended the 2-day summit. Being 'old school' I did use the bingo card, get a signature at each booth. Yes, I DO want to receive additional information on the product | service thank you very much! In fact, the millions of members of the NYDLA.org would ALSO like to receive information on these products | services. Looks like these are the folks that make all things 'remote' possible. You cannot do distance learning, or DIGITAL learning, or DIGITAL LIVING without proper technology. 

All the vendors at this Microsoft event (via TD SYNNEX) were responsive, professional as they all had great 'Brand Ambassadors' at the event. One vendor (Logitech) kind of made me pause: they hosted the Happy Hour after day one - and they gave out ONE HUNDRED of their ZONE WIRELESS 2 headsets to all who attended Happy Hour. I got mine and it is amazing. As a business owner (Selling CEO) I did the math in my head: 100 x $200~ = $20,000 give or take. Not a bad goodie bag, right? Hey Lenovo, how about some laptops??? Just kidding. Hmmm.... am I kidding? 

OK, so the big lesson that I learned was this. Room Capacity on the 6th Floor of 11 Times Square is around 350. So, how many of the 350 were from the vendors, and how many were people like me? By my math, figure that there in total around 200 people physically in the room who could purchase something, buy something, use something - or go back to HQ and say "Hey Boss, I just saw this and that (or I just tested this or that) or learned about this or that.... and we NEED IT." 

It always goes Attention > Engagement > Adoption > Utilization. I can't teach you anything if I don't have your attention. I can't sell you anything if I don't EARN your attention. Ah, hey Logitech... you HAVE MY ATTENTION. And thanks for the ZONE WIRELESS 2 - I love it! Me personally, I'll be watching to see who follows up with me from my 'bingo card' as I do indeed want to learn about (checks notes...) all of them. 

I want to see if their products | services would be 'a fit' or a value-added member benefit for the millions members of the NYDLA (now GlobalDLA.org). We expect to be at 10M+ DLA members living all around the world, by 2026. It is amazing what you can do, it is amazing how big you can grow when you have been selling *7 days a week for 40+ years. 

When you have been... A 'SELLING CEO' every single day. For 40+ years. 

*just not in a row.  

www.TomCapone.com

www.GetLogitech.com