If I am off on a rant here, please forgive me but it seems like time for a reminder on this subject.

We Have Met the Enemy and It Is Us
It seems to come in waves, but this week I received several e-mail hoax warnings ranging from "Chicken Little" type notices that the cyber sky was falling to some great deal to be had merely for passing along e- mail messages.

Virtually all of this stuff is just junk that clutters up bandwidth and slows down the entire e-mail network. It is irritating that it is out there in the first place and it is irritating that so many people just blindly pass it along. The only way to stop it is to have it never leave your desk.

How To Recognize a Hoax
Without researching the factual claims made in a forwarded e-mail there's no 100% sure way to tell it if it's a hoax, but here are some common clues to watch for:

1. Note whether the text was actually written by the person who sent it to you. If not, be skeptical.

2. Look for the telltale phrase, "Forward this to everyone you know."

3. Look for a statement like "This is not a hoax." This usually means the opposite of what it says.

4. Look for overly emphatic language, the frequent use of UPPERCASE LETTERS and multiple exclamation points!!!!!!!

5. If the message seems geared more to persuade than to inform, be suspicious. Hoaxers are out to push emotional buttons.

6. If the message purports to give you extremely important information that you've never heard of before or seen elsewhere in legitimate sources, be suspicious.

7. Read carefully and think critically about what the message says, looking for logical inconsistencies, violations of common sense and obviously false claims.

8. Look for subtle or not-so-subtle jokes, indications that the author is pulling your leg.

9. Check for references to outside sources. Hoaxes will not typically name any, nor link to websites with corroborating information.

10. Check to see if the message has been debunked by websites that cover Internet hoaxes (see below).

11. Virtually any chain email you receive (i.e., any message forwarded multiple times) is more likely to be false than true. Be skeptical.

12. Hoaxers usually try every means available to make their lies believable -- e.g., mimicking a journalistic style, attributing the text to a 'legitimate' source, etc.

13. Be especially wary of health-related rumors. Most importantly, never act on such rumors without first verifying their accuracy with your doctor or other reliable source.

Check It Out First
If you are at all in doubt about whether a warning is valid or not, don't pass it on until you have personally verified it, either by checking with one of the sources below or by contacting the alleged originator of the initial message.

Here are my current favorite sites to check out suspicious messages. Bookmark them and take a second to check things out BEFORE you forward garbage to your friends.

Urban Legends Reference Pages
Symantec Virus and Hoax Encyclopedia

Take responsibility for what you send and it won't come back to embarrass you later.

Thus endeth the sermon for today. I will give you the second installment next week. Oh, and just in case any of this confused you -- or if you just want a smile -- click here for a short message that will help clear up any lingering questions!

The Greening of the Industry

There is a lot of press lately on environmental topics -- renewable energy, recycling, sustainable agriculture, carbon footprints, energy conservation and so it goes.

Companies that have embraced "green" practices are getting increased press coverage -- and perhaps increased guest support -- because of it.

This month we look at the greening of the restaurant industry and what, if anything, you are doing to become part of it.

As usual, I will send copies of the survey results to everyone who participates. In the meantime, you can download copies of all past EHC surveys -- including the massive WOW Ideas collections.

Click here to add your thoughts to this month's survey.

• Do you typically work less than 40 hours a week?


• Can you take all the time off you want ... without feeling guilty?


• Can you be away for extended periods and never worry if the shop is profitable or meeting your standards?

If you answered "No" to any of these questions ... and wish it didn't have to be that way ... join 39 of your peers for a one-of-a kind event: the CEO Foundation Program. It can change your business (and your life) in ways you can hardly imagine.

The Project to Create the Effortless Organization (CEO Project) is a process that will allow you to (finally!) see how to get more done with less effort ... and have a life in the process! It is, without question, the most important personal and professional discovery of my life.

The CEO Project is an evolutionary journey toward a deeper understanding of people and what makes them tick. This "inside out" process results in a shift of understanding of how productive people and highly efficient organizations function ... and that makes all the difference.

The CEO Foundation Program is limited to 40 attendees and is only held once a year. Attendance is generate -- not by wearing you down with long sales letters and escalating hype -- but by expressed interest and invitation only ... much more appropriate for a program of this impact.

I encourage you to learn more about what the CEO Project can bring to your quality of life. If you are intrigued by what I am pointing toward, let me know of your interest and we'll talk.