The Genie is out of the bottle - and you can't put it back. Two recent events are telling examples of the fact that no one knows how to effectively utilize (but not abuse) the internet.

#1) - the wiki leaks - - I'm reminded of how Charlie Wilson helped the Afghans in 1980 and, today, those important meetings would never happen.

#2) - Facebook's new look - I understand that you can now more easily categorize your life for your friends. But I'm not sure anyone at FB fully understands the importance of what they're doing today will be in 2 years - let alone 5.

As I watched the programmers racing against a clock (on a recent 60 Minute Show) I wondered if anyone had stopped to explore if the result was a good thing - or just the next thing.

The bigger challenge, though, is how the internet is used/abused when it comes to either: a) looking for a job; or b) checking out/finding new employees. While there are laws, on the books and defensible, that doesn’t mean they are consistently followed/implemented. Also, there is strong evidence that building a cohesive team (whether athletically or in business) plays a huge role in the success of a team or business. For most employees, they will be part of a team and their success (and the company’s success) will be directly tied to how well they work together. So EQ, while not as measurable as IQ, is important.

Personally, when faced with discrimination (or a challenge) I chose to step back, figure out a defense, and then proceed forward. My goal was to be successful and I did not want to waste time/energy fighting an uphill battle when I could go around, go a different direction or just simply prove, over time, that I could do the job. I believe the statement “Life isn’t Fair”…but Life can be fun and rewarding. Nelson Mandela did amazing things when he became President of South Africa – what he did not do was punish those who had imprisoned him, make others pay for his long years of incarceration. He reached out and welcomed everyone. For me, and for those who I coach, I always suggest they focus on a solution to move forward.

wikipedia.org - where you have a voice in the definition of words, people and events. We can all now make a contribution to knowledge - and, surprisingly, the information is quite accurate on wikipedia.

Resume Bear - the fuzzy line of legal as it relates to hiring/recruiting. No one knows what the future of recruiting/hiring will be, but for today and the forseeable future - if you put it on facebook - youtube - or myspace, et al - - - it is there for everyone to see and copy - forever.