Everywhere you look, it seems like everything has the potential to connect to everything else. This phenomenon is often referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), but the term can be confusing. So, what is IoT, why is it important, and does it matter to you? This blog is the first part of a two-part series where we explore these questions.

At the heart of our design philosophy at JNR Networks is the concept of a Human Network. This idea influences every aspect of our work. While this concept might seem a bit complex at first, let’s break it down.

When I first started my career, I encountered a common issue: the organizations I worked for seemed content to keep me in the same position indefinitely. Seeking career growth, I approached my managers for guidance on building a career path but was met with blank stares. Unsatisfied with this stagnation, I began identifying “vacuums”—areas where there was a need but a lack of skills to fill that need.

As our IT team expanded, many seasoned business leaders and friends advised me on the importance of effective delegation. They emphasized the need to empower team members to take ownership of tasks and even experience failure as part of their growth. Determined to delegate properly, I discovered that while failing to delegate can harm a team, there’s something equally, if not more, damaging: abdication.

When I’m in the process of making a purchase, I often take a step back to observe the experience from a broader perspective. I enjoy analyzing the interactions between the parties involved and their overall approach to the exchange. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that many sales processes involve lies and manipulation just to close the deal. This often leaves me questioning whether ethical sales are even possible. However, I also recall positive sales experiences where both parties genuinely looked out for each other, aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome.

In our previous post, we discussed how to streamline your email workflow and minimize the time spent managing your inbox. Following that, many of you requested more tips on handling emails and reducing inbox clutter. This post focuses on effective strategies and approaches we’ve found beneficial.

Email is a powerful tool for communication, offering efficiency without the intrusiveness of phone calls or instant messages. However, managing the sheer volume of legitimate emails, spam, and irrelevant threads can be overwhelming. Applying time management principles to email can significantly enhance productivity, especially in the IT sector where we often handle a high volume of information.

In today’s fast-paced world, there’s a lot of talk about finding balance in life. For myself, it can feel like there’s immense pressure to maintain perfect balance every moment of every day, and if I don’t, it often feels like I’m failing. This perceived failure can lead to even more imbalance as we scramble to fix things, much like the chaotic factory line scene in the classic “I Love Lucy” episode.

There is something truly remarkable about the people and ideas that defy the norm. Time and again, we find that the greatest dreamers, innovators, and inspirations are those who don’t fit into conventional molds. In fact, many individuals who have achieved extraordinary things were often labeled as highly abnormal. This raises an important question: how normal do we really want to be?.

In Part 1 of this blog, I discussed the two main development processes used by software developers: waterfall and agile. In this post, I’d like to explore how these processes are relevant to business operations, not just software development.