Removing the "on behalf of" using other Google Apps accounts

Google announced that they have a solution to get rid of the "on behalf of" notification in Gmail by using the SMTP (send mail) server of the address that you are sending mail on behalf of. The process is quite simple:

• Log into your Gmail account
• Click "Settings"
• Click "Accounts"
• In the "Send mail as" section click "Edit Info" next to one of the accounts
• Set your name and click to the next screen
• Click "Use the other e-mail provider's SMTP servers"
• You will be presented with SMTP server address, username, and password fields along with a SSL checkbox and a port drop-down

Here's how to configure an account hosted on Google Apps:

• The SMTP server is: smtp.gmail.com (by default the system pre-populates the custom domain, so you need to make sure that you change this)
• Your username is: @ (i.e., nowhere@loopback.com | you have to put your entire e-mail address in there for the Google SMTP server to authenticate you)
• You password is: whatever password you use for that other account (not necessarily your primary Gmail account password)
• Click the SSL box; the port automatically sets correctly
• The system will verify your credentials and will only return you to the configuration screen if there is a problem.
  

Easy enough.

A quick air travel tip

Here's something you should know: solid deodorant/antiperspirant sticks are not liquids and do not need to fit in your zip bag. The only time that you need to put deodorant/antiperspirant into the 3qt baggie is if you use a liquid form (these typically roll on). You should never have a reason to need to purchase a travel size deodorant/antiperspirant stick; just toss it somewhere else in your bag and make some room for the things that are actual liquid.

PS -- once you clear security, toss your 3qt bag into a one gallon, heavy-duty freezer bag; I've seen 3qt bags fail in containing sandwiches and I definitely don't need it failing while containing spilled liquids.

Picture from bosconet

Serket Telson Watch

Serket, maker of some of the coolest boutique watches in America and owned by a friend of mine, has just released its newest model: Telson.

The Telson is a big watch at 48mm, but unlike Serket's previous two diver-style models, the Telson is a more straightforward and classy design. Additionally, unlike previous models, the Telson is available with different colors in the face: white, blue, and yellow (shown here).

Like the previous Reef Diver 2.0, the Telson has an exhibition back that shows off the Cotes D' Geneve mechanism, which is an extraordinarily dependable manual Swiss mechanism. The watch ships with both a black leather band and a stainless steel strap; the leather strap is pictured above in both shots.

As usual with the Serket collections, only 200 of each collection is produced, so not only do you get a high-quality, beautifully designed watch with a manual Swiss mechanism, but you also get a limited production piece of art.

Link

Book Review: Who's Got Your Back?

I didn't (haven't yet) read Keith Ferrazi's first book, Never Eat Alone. It's sitting here on my shelf (I can see it), but I never cracked it; it was an unfortunate victim of my shift to strictly electronic books and so it's sort of been caught in limbo (sorry, Keith).

Keith's new book, Who's Got Your Back?, had dropped across my radar after reading about it on some blogs, but it wasn't until I listened to Keith's appearance on the first Author Teleseminar with Seth Godin and some others that I knew that I wanted to read the book. In the recording that I was listening to, Keith was talking about "lifeline relationships", the success of forums at the YPO and EO, and how important it is to have strong, trusting group relationships that encourage success and mitigate failure. The timing was interesting for me because I've been evaluating joining groups such as YPO and Vistage, along with re-evaluating the dynamics of interaction within my company.

This book sat on the list on my Kindle for a few days and jumped into it at the gym I couldn't put it down. Unlike some business books that are compelling for the first few pages and then spend the remaining hundred plus pages hammering home the same point, Keith provides useful content and real-world examples throughout the course of the book. Although many other reviewers have criticized Keith for gratuitous name dropping throughout the book, I look at the name dropping as affirmation that Keith is presenting sound concepts that are agreed to be powerful people throughout the world.

There is a good mix of tactical and actionable steps along with theory and real-world examples that make this book one that I will continue to come back to as a strong reference tool. For me personally, I was able to use the book not only to understand more completely how my business teams could be incredibly stronger through lifeline relationships, but also how much I am missing those same kinds of relationships outside my organization; it also helped me more fully realize the value of professional organizations such as Vistage and the YPO (not that you necessarily need them, but it does make you more fully understand what they are trying to accomplish).

Whether you fully embrace everything that Keith has to say in his book is entirely up to you. However, even if you don't believe all of it, there are some worthwhile take-aways:

• Four Mindsets to building lifeline relationships: intimacy, generosity, vulnerability, and candor. (How many of these mindsets permeate your relationship interactions?)
• The need for healthy conflict, what Keith terms "sparring".
• Active listening and the importance of engaging in it.
• Leading by example.
• Happiness and meaning in what you are doing; following dreams.
  
• Commitment, accountability, and ownership.
• The dramatic importance of teams vs. flying solo -- how a team working together can produce vastly greater results than individuals working separately.

There's a lot more than the list above, of course, but my guess is that everything above is enough to get you to read the book. Here's the main thing that Keith wants you to take away from the book: "I hope you'll take away the idea that there is great power in vulnerability (the one mind-set with a bad rap)." My guess is that if you are like me, you never thought of vulnerability as a powerful leadership characteristic -- go pick up a copy of the book.

Kindle version available.

Link -- Amazon

Link -- Kindle version

Link -- Keith Ferrazzi promotion for buying 3 copies (free teleseminar and other items)

PS -- outside of how I will apply the principles of this book in the company where I work, the big thing that this book did was help me crystallize some thoughts that I have had for many years about a vacuum in my industry and provided a road map for creating a group, organization, whatever you want to call it to fill the vacuum. I'm excited about the project and I've invited some really talented people to help me with it. It will start out small (5-6 people to begin with) and will scale from there; I hope to share the project and process with you on this blog at some point in the future.