Communication is Key

We are in a state of transition. We have a new President, new members of congress, new department heads, and pretty soon we'll have a new Supreme Court Justice. That's a lot to take in, especially considering how divided our country has been. Whether it's about race, religion, or politics it feels like we're more polarized than ever.

So, what are we going to do about this? A lot, hopefully. Whether you plan to volunteer your time helping the needy, donate money to causes you believe in, write letters to congress, protest, or even run for office, there's one thing EVERYONE needs to be doing right now - COMMUNICATE!

We want to remind everyone that regardless of your beliefs, the best way to enact meaningful change is with constructive communication with those who agree with you, and those who do not. In case you were wondering, constructive communication does not mean a vicious back and forth on Facebook where the focus is on insulting whoever disagrees with you. We mean real communication - listening, hearing and understanding what others are saying and why they feel the way they do.

Yelling at someone until they've had enough and agree with you isn't a solution (or realistic). Neither is retreating inward and surrounding yourself with people who think just like you do. Instead you have to look outward towards those people who do not agree with you. Engage them! Make a sincere effort to understand their point of view, and then make a sincere effort to communicate your point of view without making them feel like they're under attack.

Lastly, make sure you communicate whatever actions you do take. Let people know what you're doing, why you're doing it, and how they can get involved. Social action is the vaccine, you are the carrier!

Resolving Your Resolutions

Welcome, and happy 2017! This is the perfect time to reflect on the past year - to spend time thinking about your accomplishments, shortcomings, and goals. If you're like most people, this process probably helped you create a few resolutions for 2017. And if you're like most people, you probably gave up on your resolutions about two weeks ago. That's OK, resolutions are tough! But they don't have to be. Here are some great tips for how to follow through on your resolutions!

One of the biggest barriers to achieving your resolutions is, in fact, the resolution itself. It's easy to get carried away with all of your hopes, desires and dreams. But reaching for the stars can easily leave you empty handed. Instead, try focusing on a few simple things you'd like to accomplish. Maybe call your parents or loved ones at least once a month, or give your pocket change to someone in need, or brush your teeth every night before bed (you should all be doing this)!

The point is, don't go crazy with resolutions you won't be able to keep.

Case in point - this year JotCast resolved to identify small feature improvements that will have a substantial impact on user experience, and to release those changes as soon as they're ready (in addition to our regular release cycle). And with that, we're proud to announce:

• Network Disconnect Detection - We've all been there. You take the time to craft the perfect message just to hit send and realize you've lost your internet connection, and your message too. Well, you no longer have to worry about spotty or lost internet connections! You'll now be notified when your messages don't send, and you'll have the ability to resend them.
• Automated YouTube Links - It's now even easier to insert YouTube links into your chat. We've cut out the media insert button, so you can now paste your YouTube links directly into the chat message.

We'll keep you updated with our resolutions as the year progresses. Feel free to comment on how your resolutions are working out for you!