Motivation
What is success? How bad do you want to succeed?
I am watching this everyday for 30 days straight. I'll let you know what comes out of it...
Share on FacebookAlphaBit 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.
Share on FacebookGiving 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.
Share on FacebookMaking 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?
Share on FacebookYesterYesterYear
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.
Share on FacebookGoals: Reloaded
Money! Power! Fame!
I recently read a great article in the Harvard Business Review about not basing your leadership on money, power, or fame. Rather we should be basing our leadership off purpose, passion, and humility. This got me thinking. Are my goals oriented toward money, power and fame or are they directed toward purpose, passion, and humility? I find myself struggling with desires to seek fame or fortune, but is that really the leader I want to be? Leading because I have a lot of money or leading because I have fame of some sort?
Great leaders don't see themselves at the center but rather their purpose. They lead with this sense of passion that attracts others to their cause. They are humble throughout the whole process.
Share on Facebook"Humbition is one part humility and one part ambition," they wrote. "We notice that by far the lion's share of world-changing luminaries are humble people. They focus on the work, not themselves. They seek success — they are ambitious — but they are humbled when it arrives. They know that much of that success was luck, timing, and a thousand factors out of their personal control. They feel lucky, not all-powerful. Oddly, the ones operating under a delusion that they are all-powerful are the ones who have yet to reach their potential...[So] be ambitious. Be a leader. But do not belittle others in your pursuit of your ambitions. Raise them up instead. The biggest leader is the one washing the feet of the others."
What are you reading?
Your raise is only as effective as you are. Things change. Only way to be on top of that is to be reading, growing, studying continuously. #Who are you reading? Why? (I'm reading everything Seth Godin + Jim Collins + Malcolm Gladwell) Learn something. Grow. Let's get some books. Let's read. Let's grow. Let's think. Let's get excited again. Let's dream again. Because people make the mistake that if you start off your life with base knowledge of X and continue on that level of knowledge, you are going to automatically succeed.
YOU DO NOT SUCCEED IF YOU DO NOT GROW.
YOU DO NOT SUCCEED IF YOU DO NOT GROW.
Your income will not go up unless you know something tomorrow that you didn't know today.
YOU DO NOT SUCCEED IF YOU DO NOT GROW.
-these are notes from a Dave Ramsey Podcast
The forever recession
Great post by Seth Godin. We need to change with the times.
There are two recessions going on.
One is gradually ending. This is the cyclical recession, we have them all the time, they come and they go. Not fun, but not permanent.
The other one, I fear, is here forever. This is the recession of the industrial age, the receding wave of bounty that workers and businesses got as a result of rising productivity but imperfect market communication.
In short: if you're local, we need to buy from you. If you work in town, we need to hire you. If you can do a craft, we can't replace you with a machine.
No longer.
The lowest price for any good worth pricing is now available to anyone, anywhere. Which makes the market for boring stuff a lot more perfect than it used to be.
Since the 'factory' work we did is now being mechanized, outsourced or eliminated, it's hard to pay extra for it. And since buyers have so many choices (and much more perfect information about pricing and availability) it's hard to charge extra.
Thus, middle class jobs that existed because companies had no choice are now gone.
Protectionism isn't going to fix this problem. Neither is stimulus of old factories or yelling in frustration and anger. No, the only useful response is to view this as an opportunity. To poorly paraphrase Clay Shirky, every revolution destroys the last thing before it turns a profit on a new thing.
The networked revolution is creating huge profits, significant opportunities and a lot of change. What it's not doing is providing millions of brain-dead, corner office, follow-the-manual middle class jobs. And it's not going to.
Fast, smart and flexible are embraced by the network. Linchpin behavior. People and companies we can't live without (because if I can live without you, I'm sure going to try if the alternative is to save money).
The sad irony is that everything we do to prop up the last economy (more obedience, more compliance, cheaper yet average) gets in the way of profiting from this one.
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