Monthly Archives: March 2010

Social Media Boardroom Winners
Mar 23 1 Response

Social Media Boardroom Winners

In times of change learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. – Eric Hoffer

For many of us social media is brushing our teeth. We don’t think about it – it’s just part of our daily routine. We forget some of you are still trying to convince some of “them” that your organization is risking irrelevance. With no less than your company’s future at stake, here are three board room winners to help you fight the good fight.

If you want people to pay you, you have to pay attention to them.
People may not understand the warm fuzzy side of social media, but everyone understands money. A recent study shows users are 67% more likely to buy and 79% more likely to recommend if they follow you on Twitter. The game has changed whether “they” realize it or not. The 4Ps we learned in marketing 101 have been replaced by the 4Cs. Communication trumps Promotion, and this shift is growing more pronounced every day.

Facebook is not a country.
If it were however, it would be the 3rd largest in the world with over 400 million people, 200 million of which logged on yesterday. When grandma friend requests you, you know social media has become ubiquitous. There are several studies out there that show just having a link to your social network sites makes users feel you are more customer friendly. 93% want you to have a social media presence. People expect you to be on Twitter. If you’re not, you’re already not meeting your customers’ or your potential future employees expectations.

Interact with tomorrow’s leaders.
The Millennial Generation grew up in this always on, constantly connected world. These are the employees you’ve hired over the last few years and will be hiring for the next several. In order to hire, retain, and grow the best and brightest, organizations are quickly realizing social media is this groups primary method of communication. Understanding and implementing a social media strategy is more than just jumping on a growing trend. It’s insuring your future.

I hate to be the crazy guy standing on the corner with the “end is near” sign, but I’m confident if your organization doesn’t evolve it will be.

The Best Steak Recipe
Mar 21 0 Responses

The Best Steak Recipe

Whether you’re trying to impress your significant other or cooking for one, everyone wants to know how to make the best steak. Originally, this recipe was overly complicated with a lot of ingredients that took away from the great steak flavor. After years of tweaking it became obvious, the way to make the best steak is to let the steak be the star.

Here are two cooking variations to the best steak recipe in the world. Once you nail this recipe and technique, your Black Label Steak will be embarrassingly better than even steaks from finest of restaurants.

Ingredients

  • 2-3″ thick cut of your favorite steak (filet, porterhouse, ribeye, strip, etc.) Just remember, sirlon is a great addition to a hamburger, but life’s too short to eat sirloin steaks.
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • Kosher Salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper

Grilling Directions

  1. Start coals on grill.
  2. Add a chunk or two of your favorite sweet smoking (fruit or nut tree) wood to the coals.

Stove Top Directions

  1. Set your oven top to high heat and put a cast iron skillet on it.

The Technique

  1. Completely cover the steak in Kosher salt (should look like a cow lick) and let sit for 7 minutes per inch of thickness.This pulls water out of the steak to enhance the beef flavor. It also has the nice side effect of adding just the right amount of salt flavor.
  2. Wash all of the salt off the steak and pat dry.
  3. Melt butter and set aside.
  4. Crack pepper and apply to steak.
  5. Start preheating oven to 375° (if you’re grilling, put your cast iron skillet in the oven to heat as well).
  6. Generously coat 1 side of steak with butter and place coated side down of the grill or skillet.
  7. Allow to cook for 2 minutes (if you’re on the grill, you may want to turn 45° about 1 minute in for a nice grill mark presentation). All you’re trying to do here is get a nice crust. Contrary to popular belief, searing does not “lock in the juices”, but it does add a great flavor.
  8. Apply butter to top of the steak (the side you haven’t buttered yet) and flip.
  9. Allow to cook for another 2 minutes.
  10. Move steak to the oven by either moving the cast iron skillet from the stove top or by placing the steak from the grill on the heated cast iron skillet already in the oven.
  11. Cook in oven for another 4-8 minutes (depending on desired doneness) flipping half way through.
  12. Remove steak from cast iron skillet and place on a plate, or I prefer a wire cooling rack.
  13. Tent the steak with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
  14. Serve.

Notes:

  • Once you get this down, it will ruin eating steak at restaurants (you’ve been warned).
  • If you don’t have a good seasoned cast iron skillet, you need one. They’re less than $20 at Amazon.
  • You can use a cheap 2-4″ paintbrush to apply the butter, but for less than $10 you can pickup a silicon basting brush from Amazon and not worry about having little brush hairs end up in your steak.