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 

A sight to behold

Seeing Eye co-founder Morris Frank with Buddy, the first Seeing Eye dog. Frank and his German shepherd are shown crossing a busy street in New York city while onlookers marvel.

The Seeing Eye, Inc. is a registered United States nonprofit under IRS section 501(c)(3) with tax ID number 22-1539721.

I started my business career in 1983 selling 'Car Phones' for NYNEX Mobile on 18 Bank Street in Morristown, New Jersey. At the time, there were 9 (nine) Cell Towers in the entire CGSA (Cellular Geographic Service Area) of the United States. Car Phones were EXPENSIVE, and had to be installed into the vehicle. And it cost around $29 per month PLUS around $0.50 per minute to make or receive a domestic phone call from the car. Service was very spotty. 

Think about the people that you would meet - who they were - what they did for a living - that they needed to make $0.50 per minute phone calls from the car in 1983. Plus taxes and fees. 

It was during this time that I first learned of The Seeing Eye, Inc. Almost every day I would watch with amazement guide dogs being trained on 'the green' in Morristown, New Jersey. To the untrained eye (see what I did there?) watching a guide dog navigate traffic, stop at crosswalks, and master the sighted world was mesmerizing. 

"The Best Place to get a Guide Dog." Since 1929, people who are blind have been discovering the exhilarating experience of working with a Seeing Eye® dog. The Seeing Eye is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs.

I write this Sunday Blog in April of 2025, more than 40 years after first learning of The Seeing Eye, or of the raising of Seeing Eye puppies. 

Puppy Raising Program

When Seeing Eye puppies reach the age of seven or eight weeks, they are delivered to the homes of volunteer puppy raisers (like me). Puppy raisers are foster families, from all walks of life, who nurture and care for their charges until they are about 13- to 16-months-old. They teach the puppies house manners, basic obedience, and socialize them to a variety of social situations. 

Training Process

When Seeing Eye puppies are between 13 and 19 months old, they return to The Seeing Eye. Initially, they undergo health screenings, are neutered or spayed, and receive a dental cleaning.

Each dog is assigned to a Seeing Eye instructor for four months of training. Basic training begins on The Seeing Eye campus before moving to the streets of Morristown. Dogs are trained in rural, suburban, and urban environments, including the ultimate urban environment: New York City.

Seeing Eye dogs are trained to guide their handlers around obstacles, whether on the ground or overhead. They alert their handler to changes in elevation, tripping hazards and stairs. Most importantly, they learn to navigate street crossings and are taught “intelligent disobedience.” This is the principle that separates guide dog training from other types of dog training. Seeing Eye dogs are taught to ignore a command that would jeopardize the safety of the team, such as crossing against oncoming traffic or a command to step off a vacant subway platform.

The bond between Seeing Eye dogs and their instructors forms quickly and is strong. Repetition and praise are the cornerstone of the training program. Instructors evaluate the dogs’ abilities by taking blindfolded walks halfway through and at the end of the training cycle.

Instructors train approximately eight to ten dogs from start to finish. After the four-month training cycle, instructors train the dogs with their new partners for 25 days (or 18 days for returning handlers). This bonding period is crucial for the effectiveness and safety of the Seeing Eye dog and handler.

Now in the year 2025, my 'day job' is running the Distance Learning Association. Teaching, training, coaching, mentoring - via technology. Delivering knowledge, technology and talent to all those who need it, all around the world. "We are democratizing education on a global basis via disruptive technology." 

Tell me more about The Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Program

When Seeing Eye puppies reach the age of seven or eight weeks, they are delivered to the homes of volunteer puppy raisers who live in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and certain counties of Maryland, Delaware, and New York.  

Puppy raisers are foster families from all walks of life who nurture and care for their charges until they are about 13—to 16 months old. They teach the puppies house manners and basic obedience and socialize them to a variety of experiences that range from shopping and car trips to visiting airports and boarding airplanes. Trips to dog parks, public parks, even baseball parks. 

When I learned that The Seeing Eye needed Puppy Raisers - I knew this was for me. But it was only recently that I realized the (now obvious) connection for training. Teaching, training, coaching, mentoring. Helping people to THRIVE in the world. 

With dogs. Lives made better....because of.....with the help of... dogs. 

The Seeing Eye is now the official charity of the GlobalDLA.org and MyTeachingPartners.com 

www.SeeingEye.org