AlphaBit v6 – CES + TV Edition
Hope everyone is have a great start to the New Year! New Year, New name 
A) Advertising
- Super Bowl to be streamed online for first time
- The biggest event on television will now be available to those wanting to view them from their computer screens for free on NBC.
- Interesting to see how this will affect advertising, and if it will draw people away from the television experience or be more of a compliment to the viewing experience of television. Either way, a win for the digital space, next step is how to capitalize on enhancing the viewers’ experience
- Hulu lands exclusive digital syndication rights to TV comedy ‘Community’
- As digital syndication continues to grow, coupled with the growth of Smart TVs that include wifi, will more people cancel their cable subscription for online?
B) Best Buy
- Brian Dunn’s Comments to recent media coverage*****
- If you haven’t seen the article (more of a rant) ran by Forbes, which went viral (2MM pageviews). Brian Dunn concedes that Best Buy made some significant mistakesover cancellation of some internet orders just before Christmas but says BBY is strong, profitable.
- But Dunn has less patience for predictions of Best Buy's demise. "Some believe the Internet has made physical retailing (i.e., stores) irrelevant. There's no doubt that the Internet, and the mobile web in particular, have changed the way people shop, but there is strong evidence that consumers continues to value the experience of shopping in stores.”
- Also today, Best Buy released its December sales results. It said its same-store sales fell 1.2 percent and customer traffic was lower than expected. (Greg)
- Nevertheless, the Richfield-based consumer-electronic giant said its December revenues totalled $8.4 billion, with online revenues up 26 percent. And it still expects to meet analysts' earnings expectations for the full year.
- Trend for connected ‘smart’ homes contines to grow at 2012 consumer events
- One of the already ‘leaked’ buzz trend for CES this year is smart appliances, with home technology being one of the fastest growing trends by businesses in the past few years. Will this be the year it finally takes off?
C) Competitiors
- Walmart acquires app maker
- Walmart purchaces Small Society, a mobile and social network based business. The move is a response to ‘scan and scram’ shoppers who search brick-and-mortar stores for products they like, but then use barcode scanning apps like Ebay’s RedLaser or Amazon’s Price Check to locate them at lower prices elsewhere.
- It will be interesting to see Best Buy’s mobile strategy in-store, considering that many pundits call us ‘Amazon’s showroom’.
- Walmart purchaces Small Society, a mobile and social network based business. The move is a response to ‘scan and scram’ shoppers who search brick-and-mortar stores for products they like, but then use barcode scanning apps like Ebay’s RedLaser or Amazon’s Price Check to locate them at lower prices elsewhere.
Occupation Nation
Occupy Wall Street
Is Government failing its people? Should Government have the ability to fail its people?
Is Big Business failing its people?
Is Occupy about the money? or about the system?
Is the current system broken?
Is it the Government's job to protect, care, and nurture the people? Or is that our job?
This is not an issue of Capitalism. It is an issue of corruption. The corruption of a few.
This is a 21st Century revolution. Good? Bad?
read.
Where do you stand? Or should we be standing together?
Everyone should get this book.
Writing to Write
Here goes a post from my long hiatus.
I have found myself wanting to write but every time I tell myself it will take too long.. Why does action take so much time sometimes?
The 'inner voice' traps you from doing anything. Spewing out excuses that you cannot do this or cannot do that.
My 'inner voice' is strong, but it must yield to what I should do and what I must do.
So, I write.
And the journey continues..
Giving is the New Cool
With the rise of social media, companies have had to react to the social desire for corporate sustainability in the world. We want things green. We want to know that 'you' as a corporation cares for the environment. We want to know you are responsible.
Five years ago, Blake Mycoskie reinvented the wheel on an old marketing scheme. Buy one pair of shoes and we will give one pair of shoes away to someone in need. TOMS began very grassroots in 2006 and has had tremendous growth over the last 5 years. They gave away their 1,000,000th shoe this last September.
Their shoes are unique. Their logo is definable. And their shoes are comfortable, relatively speaking.
With the lastest installment of eyewear to TOMS shoes announced today, I was intrigued by what the prices would be. TOMS shoes have always been reasonable and they partnered with Amazon early on, where you could get them on sale for $30-$50. So when I went to see the sunglasses, I was shocked at the $135 and $145 sticker price! TOMS sunglasses are fairly priced compared to Gucci or Louis Vuitton but you could also get a pair at H&M for $10. If you got a pair at H&M for $10, you could give $100 to the charity of your choice and have money left over. $100 goes a long way in the Philippines or Nepal.
This leads me into TOMS being a 'fashion' brand. In the beginning and by definition, TOMS shoes was not really known. They had to be unique. People wearing the shoes were sole (pun intended) advocates dispersing their shoe to all who were interested and all of those who were not. As popularity grew and you knew the story, the shoes became an icon in mainstream fashion. If you saw someone wearing TOMS shoes, you would understand that that person was 'socially responsible'. An outward sign for their inward desire to help humanity.
Don't get me wrong, I love TOMS shoes and I think Blake is a genius at branding, marketing, and made a brilliant business move. We need more companies who are willing to set aside a retainer for philanthropic efforts, whether it is built in like TOMS One for One motto or done socially through company means.
I am just saying with the new prices for TOMS eyewear; it aligns more with a business move than a social caring action. Sunglasses are easily one of the highest markups in the industry. Understandably, if TOMS wants to be a global brand it will need more capital to expand in different regions. I just don't want them to lose their non-profit-esque flair in the name of expansion.
Making Today Your Masterpiece
As I’ve mentioned a few times on PBJung.com, one of the few heroes I have is John Wooden, the former basketball coach at UCLA in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. I could tell you many things about him, but
I wrote about my favorite John Wooden quotes when he passed and over the years, I’ve read his books and many of interviews he had given.
Simply put, the idea of making each day your masterpiece means that you try to live each day in a way that I would be content having myself judged upon. In other words, would I be happy if, at the end of my life, my entire personhood was judged on the kind of person I was today? It’s a call to do your best each and every day.
A few days ago, I conducted a written interview with a small newspaper (I’m not even sure if the article will be online anywhere – it’s not as of yet). One of the questions the interviewer asked of me was about that “masterpiece” article. How exactly do I make each day my masterpiece?
I offered a few ideas, but this question resided in my head since then and I’ve had a chance to really flesh them out.
First of all, I don’t strive for perfection on any day. The perfect is the enemy of the good, and even the greatest masterpieces in the world aren’t perfect. I strive instead for a day that, on the whole, has much more good in it than bad in it.
I tell the people that I love the most that I do love them, and, if possible, I do something with them to express that love. I’ll kiss my wife and hold her close. I’ll play peek-a-boo with my infant son. I’ll play some variation of tag with my oldest child. I’ll run across the yard and sweep my daughter into my arms in a giant hug. I’ll give my parents a phone call and tell them something that will warm their hearts. It’s these little strokes, done over and over again in alignment with each other, that build a lasting relationship.
I laugh. Any day with laughter is a good day.
I read a book. Sometimes, I’ll read something very deep that makes me think. At other times, I’ll read the fluffiest page-turning science fiction or fantasy you’ll ever see. In either case, the process of turning the words on the page into things in my mind fills me in a way nothing else does.
I learn something new and practice something old. If my mind’s not working and growing, it’s getting old and stale.
I go out of my way for someone. Each day, I try to perform some “random act of kindness,” whether it’s known by a lot of people or by no one else at all. I’ll write a long response to a reader in need and send it to just them. I’ll help an old lady at the grocery store with her shopping. I’ll climb onto someone’s roof to retrieve a tree limb or a Frisbee.
I shoot for as many positive interactions as I can. I’ll talk to people who seem to feel out of place. I’ll raise my hand and get a conversation started. I’ll compliment random people on the street. The more good will I can add to the world, the better.
If I can do all of those things, then that day is a masterpiece. What else can I really ask for out of life?
YesterYesterYear
It is funny what time does.
- Two years ago yesterday was the market low for the S&P 500, ending at 677. For those not familiar, basicly the S&P 500 tracks 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the US. It ended yesterday at 1315.
- S&P 500 has surged more than 95%, as of Tuesday's close.
- That is the strongest 2 year bull market since 1962
- This added $6.2 trillion in market capitalization to the S&P
Those numbers may not mean much to you but it is interesting what time does and lessons I have noticed. Time can torture, trap, and hurt in the immediate. Two years ago yesterday, people were panicked. People were in crazy bad situations financially through the poking of the housing bubble. For those who haven't or can't refinance, there will be more people in crazy bad situations, as Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) change these next few years.
This 'challenge' has helped. Adversity has helped. People (and our nation) were living way beyond our means. Not just the individual, but municipalities, states, and the government were saddled with debt and we still are. Even businesses made themselves lean. Businesses cut off departments that they felt were unnecessary, watched expenses, and cut out excessive expenditures. I believe many of the large US companies are well positioned for future growth. Although we did let the competition gain a few steps on us, we still have the lead.
Two years later, there are still issues but not as dire as we thought only two years ago. Time can trap, torture, and hurt in the immediate. But time will free, save, and heal in the long run.
Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast. Antonyms include hastiness and impetuousness.
Those who were negative and hasty 2 years ago would have lost out on all the gains. People assume time is patience. Patience takes time but time is not patience. You can take time but not be patient. You can be patient but not give it enough time. In either cases, you are not patient. In the definition above, endurance and perserverance mean you are working toward a goal, you are hopeful, you are not negative. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. Patience is a virtue. Why is patience a virtue? I am not entirely sure. I just know that the last two years has helped open my eyes. Patience.
bookface
Wow.
Being away from Facebook for 21 days is possible... and 'freeing'.
Not having Facebook was difficult at first but I realized that you could live without it. If you don't want to be the first to know something, then it is more convenient. The main things get relayed by word of mouth but you won't be the first to know.
Few things I realized while being away from Facebook:
- Facebook seemingly chops time. For instance, you tend to go on Facebook 1) in between activities 2) to take a break from what you actually should be doing 3) to see what is going on in people's lives (so not thinking about your life) All these segmented activities make you feel busier than you actually are. Doing something and getting it off your plate frees up more time or more concentrated time later. So filling these blocks of time takes more creativity, resourcefulness, and management.
- Facebook is a very tempting creature. That little red 1 can be as addictive as sunless tanning to the men of Jersey Shore.
Few things I realized since getting back:
- Double-booked! Looks like there are a lot of events I missed and dates I have double booked because many of my social events are Through Facebook Only.
- You see what is going on in people's lives. Whether it is a photo album of an engagement, birthday parties, or just awesome photography shots. You read statuses to get a mini glimpse into what people are doing, thinking, and had for lunch.
- Facebook gives me more stuff to write about. I don't know why but I get more ideas when 'seeing' more people. Maybe it is the relinked posts. Maybe it is the videos. Or maybe it is the albums.
You don't need Facebook to live but you do need to live to use Facebook. Uh questionable. Here is a 5 step program to happiness with Facebook.
I thought I could have both…
You can get sympathy or you can get better, but you can’t get both. You can be in your comfort zone or you can have growth, but you can’t have both. You can be interested or you can be sold-out-committed, but you can’t entertain both. You can have excuses or have results, but you can’t do both. Choose the path that develops your visceral fortitude.
- Mario Cortes
I thought I could get sympathy and get better at the same time. I was wrong. I thought I could be in my comfort zone and still grow. I was wrong. I thought I could be interested and sold-out committed at the same time. I was wrong. I thought I could make excuses and still see results. I was wrong.
I'm a type of guy who wants to 'have my cake and eat it too'. I thought I could have the best of both worlds. Recently I have been realizing that making a choice nullifies other choices. You made a choice. There are pros and cons to that choice, but you can't make a choice and think you have another choice. I thought I could get results while making excuses. Nope. I was just making excuses. You can't make an excuse and think you can get results. You're excuses will bring you down. Excuses dampen any result, even if it was the result you wanted. When we fail, we always look for an excuse. We take the easy way out. We don't look inside.
I thought I could be sold-out committed while being interested in others... which makes no sense at all now that I am writing this. I was just being interested, never committed.
I thought I could grow while being in my comfort zone. This also makes no sense. Growth can come naturally, through experiences and what life brings. I am talking about purpose driven growth. Growth that comes from trying new things and strengthening your weaknesses. Your comfort zone is just being in an area you are comfortable in. Comfort comes from knowing and also, generally, being good at that particular action. It is easy for you. Comfort zone is ease. Ease of mind, ease of actions, ease from growth (change).
I thought I could get better and get sympathy at the same time. When something troubling happens to you, the initial warmth of sympathy does get you better. However, that sympathy can become a crutch to you getting better fully. Sympathy is the social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings. Initially, having that person stand next to you is what is needed. You don't know what to do with yourself. Your friends and family keep you going. But after a while, the sympathy becomes a detriment rather than a soothing ailment to your suffering and grief. During your state of sympathy, you are not 'getting better'. You are leaning on others. Not on yourself. 'Getting better' meaning further growth, getting on with your life, learning from your experiences.
Choose the path that develops your visceral fortitude.
In other words, choose actions that develop your instinctive (gut feeling/ not intellectual) mental and emotional courage when facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation.