Just Cured - Experience Fine Foods

I recall attending meetings when I was in my 20s and early 30s with the men (and they were always men in those days) of a certain age who ran corporate data centers and other “big iron” computing installations.† My contemporaries and I waxed enthusiastically about first our personal computers and later our networks of personal computers.† The men of big iron looked at us with a mixture of amusement and disdain.

First, they would invariably view these new technologies as toys, asking what application they have in the business world.† I could generally answer that question.† In the case of the original PC running the breakthrough application Lotus 1-2-3, I could show a detailed, flexible financial model of a complex transaction — a tool that was virtually unavailable in the big iron only world.† In the case of early networks, I could point to a 100 node PC network for law firm document processing having a cost equal to a dozen or so terminal minicomputer based solution.

Then, the objections turned to the lack of standards, security, control, audit trails, training and management oversight implicit in the new technologies.† If I heard “garbage-in, garbage-out” once, I heard it several hundred times.† Those arguments made sense to me; I understand the “thousand flowers bloom” concept, but never was a huge advocate of it.† Eventually, vendors of all kinds developed the tools that permit innovation and protect valuable corporate assets.

Over the past two days, I have spent several hours each day with enthusiastic men and women in their 20s and early 30s discussing social media tools and their application to businesses large and small.† After leaving those meetings, I realized that I am now one of the men of a certain age looking at those others with amusement (but I am pleased to say with no disdain whatsoever).

All the talk of Facebook and Twitter and the tools related to them being released daily made my head spin.† I admit to using these applications and finding them immensely interesting and enjoyable — a bit addictive, even.† I also see that they have great prospects as business communication, development and marketing tools.† I, like many others, am stuck when it comes to developing both strategies and tactics† for Just Cured to take advantage of these tools that are consistent with Just Cured’s overall strategy and brand identity.

In other words, I am beyond the “cool toy” stage, but haven’t progress in my thinking to the stage of viewing these social media applications as tools integral to the operation of Just Cured’s business.† Like others, I will be trying out some things using social media tools in the upcoming weeks and months.† If you want to go along for the ride, visit, follow or friend me at:

My Facebook page

Just Cured’s Facebook page

Follow Just Cured at Twitter