Category Archives: Business

Business, News, Technology, Things We Love

A $200 iPhone mini?

Posted by bobbyjimenez on February 13, 2011 at 1:52 am.

Small iPhone

Steve Job’s crew at Apple are reportedly back at their secret lab working at a new smaller, cheaper iphone to compete with Google’s Android platform.

A person who said he has seen a prototype told Bloomberg that Apple is preparing a mini version of the existing iPhone but said they haven’t seen the device since last year. The Bloomberg source also claims that the device will cost around $200 to purchase without a contract.

This new development means Apple would be looking to compete against the likes of the HTC Wildfire in the global mid-level mobile phone market, largely dominated by HTC, LG, Samsung and Nokia.

According to the report, Apple is aiming to unveil the smaller incarnation of the iPhone near the middle of this year. But before we all get excited they also said that there is a very good possibility that these plans have been delayed or even scrapped.

We’ll just have to wait and see…

Business, How To's, Networking, News, Rants, Raves and Ramblings, Social Media

Why women are such bad networkers (Response to The Times Online)

Posted by Gina Romero on March 12, 2010 at 7:08 pm.

Times Online Why women are such bad networkers (Response to The Times Online)

So there has been quite a bit of hoo-ha the last couple of days over an article published yesterday by Antonia Senior at The Times Online titled: ‘Why women are such bad networkers‘.

Apart from the fact that this has opened us some interesting debate particularly in the women’s networking circles, it seems that headline of the (original) article has confused the issue from the offset.

Are we talking about the aggressive tactics of corporate ladder climbing or women’s inability to network? The headline suggests the latter however the content covers networking in the broader sense. In my humble opinion the article merges two very separate issues into one.

Sadly we can’t argue the stats that so few women reach the top of the world’s largest corporations, but that is a debate on women and the glass ceiling and not on networking. I don’t profess to be an expert in this area, however as this comment thread highlights, it is a sensitive issue and there is still much work to be done in terms of finding the right balance.

My definition of networking however is creating connections with people to build long term relationships for mutual benefit and success. There is no argument whatsoever that women are naturally excellent at this, in the social and business sense. Women that have never heard of the term networking do it brilliantly without even realising it.

We may not (as a general rule) be as good at blowing our own trumpets as our male counterparts but we make up for it by being fantastic at raising each others profiles, providing support and inspiration (and being open to it) and collaborating. This is a clear example of how as women, we can be outstandingly successful by leveraging our strengths rather than trying to emulate the competitive techniques that work better for men.

I agree that some women are not comfortable in the testosterone driven male dominated networking world. That said, neither are some men. I don’t lack confidence but I do need to be in the right environment. There are a number of different networking platforms – informal, structured, social both online and offline. Everybody will have a different style of networking that suits their personality and regardless of your gender; one of the important factors for networking success is to attend the right networking events.

Ideally this should be with a group of likeminded people, where you feel comfortable and you can be yourself. When we are authentic it is easy and fun to build relationships that have integrity and therefore long term value. Make sure you have a well thought out strategy, follow through with disciplined execution and have a genuine desire to help others.

And yes networking can also be about asking for what you want from others, but first you have to earn the right to ask for it by proving your ability to deliver.

Most importantly networking should be fun. If you aren’t enjoying your networking activities AND getting fantastic results – then talk to me ;)

Here are 10 of my top tips for networking success:

1. Listen, be sincere and responsive (strong eye contact and open body language puts people at ease)

2. A warm smile and a firm handshake go a long way (remember first impressions count for a lot)

3. Focus intensely (there is nothing worse than talking to someone while they look around to see if there is someone better they should be/could be talking to)

4. Show confidence (I believe this comes with being authentic and being in the right environment)

5. Have conviction in your own expertise – but don’t bullshit (if you aren’t convinced that you know what you are talking about, why should anyone else!)

6. Think about long term connections not short term gains (consider at least one thing you could do to help each person, this is a skill that develops with time)

7. Pay attention, have genuine interest and an open mind (we all need tone willing to learn something new)

8. Set goals and create a strategy to reach them – they do not have to be selfish ones! (otherwise it’s not networking it’s just chatting)

9. Follow up – but not just for the sake of it (please don’t clog up my mailbox to tell me the same thing you told me when we met, unless I have asked you to)

10. Authenticity is the best networking virtue – be yourself, relax and have fun (if you aren’t being genuine it will show and if you aren’t having fun, you aren’t doing it right)

I welcome your comments.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings

Finding the Kwan (& the formula for success)

Posted by Gina Romero on February 22, 2010 at 11:53 am.

Waterloo sunset1 Finding the Kwan (& the formula for success)

Success. In our society we hear a lot about success. Successful people, successful companies, successful projects, success strategies, methodologies, formulas.

But what exactly is success? According to webwords:

~ Success: An event that accomplishes its intended purpose.
~ Accomplish: Cause to happen; complete successfully – achieve.
~ Purpose: An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions.

So if success = achieving an anticipated outcome for an intended purpose
Then the formula is: (S) = achievement (A) + purpose (X)

By the very definition of success, in order be successful we need to have an outcome or purpose in mind.

In the movie Jerry Maguire, Rod Tidwell refers to ‘The Kwan’. Jerry: “Kwan. That’s your word?”, Rod: “Yeah, man, it means love, respect, community… and the dollars too. The whole package. The kwan.”

This definition rings true for me because material gain alone has never been my outcome in mind. My personal measurement for success is based on achieving a set of defined goals coupled with my purpose, which is contentment.

~ Achievement: The action of accomplishing something.
~ Contentment: Happiness with one’s situation in life.

So my personal success formula is as follows:

Achieve Kwan (love, respect, community and money) + Contentment = Success

Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks - my all time favourite song, inspires me in my personal quest for success. Why? Because success doesn’t necessarily come wrapped in fancy car or a big house.

The song inspires me because Terry and Julie have found their Kwan.

“Millions of people swarming like flies
round Waterloo Underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And the don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset
They are in paradise”

Have you defined your measure of success?

——————————————————————————————————————————-
Dedicated to Bobby - my partner and my best friend - for our 9th anniversary.
Follow your heart darling.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings

The Devil’s Name is Dullness

Posted by Amanda Blum on February 15, 2010 at 6:24 pm.

so this is a very nice and boring song2 300x299 The Devils Name is Dullness

“Names are an important key to what a society values.  Anthropologists recognize naming as ‘one of the chief methods for imposing order on perception.’”  ~David S. Slawson

Coca Cola and Google are companies who’s brand speaks volumes. But what about their names?
If you’re a company with that much sway you probably don’t need to worry about it. Google could be called Snitzel and it wouldn’t change a thing. But for SMEs a name can say it all. A name can endure or speak for today. It can be bold or claim modesty. A name can portray caliber, a sense of humor or values.

As a picture says a thousand words, a name can bring to mind a thousand images. It’s possible to pick a name that encapsulates your perception, your voice, your story.

When picking a name, be original, be authentic, be you.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings

Sunken Beauty (and the Success Conundrum)

Posted by Gina Romero on February 12, 2010 at 7:33 pm.


Sunken Beauty

Sunken Beauty


I recognize in thieves, traitors and murderers, in the ruthless and the cunning, a deep beauty – a sunken beauty. ~ Jean Genet

In business misplaced trust comes at a high price and being open and transparent is a vulnerability. On the other hand, how many opportunities have you lost to fear?

So do we need harden up & close ourselves off over time, building an inpenetratable forcefield to protect us from potential risks? Must we become ruthless and clinical to survive and succeed in the dog-eat-dog business culture? Do we stop sharing and collabourating out of concern that someone will steal our idea and do it bigger and better?

Bad experiences may hurt us but they do not need to change us – unless for the better.

Steve Jobs summed it up beautifully when he said:

“.. almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

So I choose good faith over paranoia, vulnerability over cynicism and integrity over self preservation. And if this means I end up as the dog chow of the business world then so be it.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings, Social Media, Technology

Tribes & the Death of the Dodo (Social Media as a Cultural Revolution)

Posted by Gina Romero on December 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm.
Tribe Tribes & the Death of the Dodo (Social Media as a Cultural Revolution)

Tribes

Once we were tribes. Whether we were a township in Dorset or a village in Africa. We were tribes and life was hard yet uncomplicated, there was less confusion, less noise. Skills passed down generation through generation. Life was simple and choice limited.

With the birth of the Digital Revolution and the Internet, the natural barriers were broken down and all of a sudden our world grew smaller yet more immense at the same time. While we were privileged with the ability to communicate vastly with our global peers, it diluted our tribal culture and in a sense made our world a more isolated place than ever.

Man however, is a great problem solver and although the online culture has existed without the boundaries that our tribal nature longs for, Social Media is evolving in a way that allows digital man to reclaim his tribal heritage. Communities are rebuilding at the speed of thought, in a way that is different to anything we have ever experienced before.

Those of us who have become part of this collective consciousness, seek solace among our enlightened peers who can see the truth as we see it. The more we use Social Media and understand its benefits, the more of an advocate we become -evangelical, fanatical even – like perhaps many of you reading this post.

But where does this passion come from? Erik Qualman Author of Socialnomics  (Social Media Revolution) explains it like this:

“As human beings, we have the dichotomous psychological need to be our own individual, yet we also want to feel like we belong to, and are accepted by, a much larger social set.”

I believe the fascination runs deeper than the need for validation and connection and stems from a primeval survival instinct. The need to rebuild the tribes that were broken down when the internet opened the floodgates of the Information Era.

The death of the Dodo

The death of the Dodo

In his book ‘Tribes’, permission marketing guru Seth Godin defines a Tribe as ‘a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea that inspires their passion.’

His philosophy is that humans need ‘to be part of a tribe, to contribute to (and take from) a group of like-minded people.’

With the emergence of the Social Media phenomenon, we are at the forefront of a cultural revolution.

Just like the discovery that the world is round, the non-believers are unaware of the paradigm shift taking place or are afraid of the new concepts so prefer to cling to the notion that they will fall off the edge if they travel too far.

And just like the companies who once claimed that they didn’t need a website because ‘their customers have been finding them without one for the last 20 years’, they will get onboard now or get on board later.

Or perhaps they will become extinct like all other species that either refused to change or were unable to evolve with the cultural landscape.

Business, Humour, Rants, Raves and Ramblings

The Legend of Leeroy Jenkins (and the importance of Plan B.)

Posted by Gina Romero on November 26, 2009 at 12:49 am.

Teamwork

Teamwork

Any self respecting World of Warcraft fan (and a fair few who have never played the game) would have heard of the Leeroy Jenkins phenomenon.

World of Warcraft is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (or MMORPG), which isn’t as geeky as it sounds – in fact it is a serious game of strategy and execution, much like chess.

Anyway, players can create characters and play as Gnomes, Night Elfs, Undead or other fantasy creatures and battle, in real-time Lord of the Rings style, against other online characters. Which really isn’t as geeky as it sounds.

Just like in real life, as you progress through the levels, success is based on the ability to build teams & collaborate with others.

One aspect of the game is the dungeon raids, which become increasingly hard and team work is more of a necessity than a nicety as you advance through the levels.

A famous legend in the World of Warcraft community is that of Leeroy Jenkins – an in-game ‘incident’ where:

*thanks to a video of the game that circulated around the Internet, has since spread beyond the boundaries of the gaming community into other online and mainstream media.

The video features a group of players discussing a detailed battle strategy for the next encounter while one of their party, Leeroy, is away from his computer. Their plan is ruined when Leeroy returns and, ignorant of the strategy, immediately charges headlong into battle shouting his own name as a battle cry. His companions rush to help, but Leeroy’s actions ruin the meticulous plan, and all of the group members are killed. Leeroy’s response to the other players chastisements, “at least I have chicken,” was much parodied.

The point is that despite the painstaking strategic planning that we carry out in business, the delivery is often out of our hands and dependent on all team members contributing and performing effectively.

Whether you play for Alliance or Horde as Goblin, Blood Elf, Human or Draenei, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” (Robert Burns).

The lesson? Always have a Plan B.

In-game footage of Leeroy Jenkins in action (contains some emphatic swearing):

*text from Wikipedia – click here for full Wiki article on Leeroy Jenkins

Business, News, Technology

Google + Bing = Twitter Bling (& The Secret of Twitter’s Success)

Posted by Gina Romero on November 20, 2009 at 4:54 pm.
Money Whale

Google + Bing = Twitter Bling

In a recent interview with Jonathan Fildes of the BBC, Biz Stone Co-Founder of microblogging service Twitter suggests that that we can finally expect to see an attempt by the company to earn some revenue from the currently free service.

Almost entirely funded by venture capital investments, the Social Networking giant secured an additional $100m dollars earlier this year to add to its previously raised $55m.

With the site now valued at an astonishing 1 billion dollars since it’s public launch in 2006, even more astounding is the fact that the company has yet to make any money.

On the company’s success Stone said:

“the secret really is that it’s not about technology it’s about humanity, it’s what people do with the tool that really matters, it’s about people helping each other find fuel during shortages or protest or geopolitical events – and those are things that opened our eyes to the potential of Twitter.”

According to the co-founder, the company’s expected growth to 1 billion users by 2013 is based on Twitter’s ‘DNA’ having roots in the mobile SMS service. The combination of the 1.65 billion active web accounts and 4 billion active mobile phones plus the ability for the service to work over the most basic internet connection is where Twitter sees it’s unique potential for growth in the industry.

And finally, in answer to the all important money question, Stone answers:

“Yeah people are very curious about exactly how we make our money and we’re going to be entering that this year. There are several ways that we’re looking at making money and we’ll see what works best.

One of the first things we’re going to do, sort of explicitly, is commercial accounts and that is providing a special layer of access – you’ll be able to pay for an additional layer of access to learn more about your twitter account and get some feedback, get some analytics, so that you can become a better Twitterer.”

He stresses that despite the concept of a new chargeable model which gives access to potentially valuable information to users, Twitter will “always be free to everyone whether it’s commercial or personal”.

Additional options for monetising the service include the potential for licensing and syndication of the real time data to companies such as Google and Bing.

You can watch the YouTube version of the interview here courtesy of BBC Mundo.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings

The Market for Comedy Socks – Silent Uprising In the Face of Conformity

Posted by Gina Romero on November 17, 2009 at 11:10 am.
Unique large The Market for Comedy Socks Silent Uprising In the Face of Conformity

Comedy Socks - A silent uprising in the face of conformity

Whatever path we end up on, we all have expectations to fulfil, a certain image or reputation, to be supplemented by suitably matched exterior packaging.

Smart, reliable, trendy, corporate, respectable, successful, sophisticated. Our personal brand evolves, all too often defined by how we would like others to perceive us.

I have lived a life of pseudo-uniformed compliance, forever in awe of tattooed mutants, human canvasses of living art, their unique existence punctuated with bull-like nostril piercings.

So few follow a path in life that allows them to be 100% authentic. For the rest of us, they invented comedy socks.

You see some bright spark saw the need for the drab masses to reclaim a molecule of originality in the face of corporate tedium.

Animal from The Muppets in mad drumming frenzy, Homer Simpson’s oafish form drinking Duff beer, cartoon duck bound and gagged with the caption ’shut the duck up’. Our secret unseen declaration of independence.

Comedy socks, the smug existence of which gets me through my day with a smidgen of rebellion. A silent uprising in the face of conformity.

The market for comedy socks appeals to the small child in us, who despite being suited and booted – briefcase in one hand, phone poised ready for deal-making action in the other – reminds us of who we were before we became the person we were pretending to be.

So I gaze curiously at the Goth on the train, with the green spiked hair and studded dog collar, warrior for the subculture of self expression. And I wonder if under the uber cool exterior of the artistically radical fashionista, hides a pair of M&S navy blue wool blends.

Business, Rants, Raves and Ramblings, Technology

Steve Jobs and Darth Vader – The Dark Lords of Perfectionism

Posted by Gina Romero on November 10, 2009 at 7:25 pm.
Mediocrity Steve Jobs and Darth Vader The Dark Lords of Perfectionism

Mediocrity

Mediocrity has spread through industry and society like a plague and it seems that standards are universally low. Hospitals are criticised for hygiene levels that would cause Florence Nightingale to weep, the mantra of manufacturing for the most part appears to be ‘faster, cheaper, more’.

I admit to being an over thinker, borderline perfectionist and habitual tweaker. This blog post will probably take me no more that 20 minutes to write, then I will waste at least an hour laying out the line spacing to my satisfaction.

It seems that perfectionism is all too often subject to negative connotations and bad press, however I am a firm believer that the pursuit of perfection inspires innovation.

But do the perils of perfectionism lead to greater evils than those of mediocrity?

Let’s use Darth Vader as an example.

As we follow his epic journey in search of perfection and power, beginning with his ascent from modest roots as pod racing engineering prodigy to supreme commander of the Galactic Empire, perfectionism could be blamed for Vader’s intolerance of weakness and merciless leadership style. After all, perfectionist dictators have neither time nor inclination to stand for incompetence or mediocrity – particularly in themselves.

Of course this behaviour could also be attributed to stress, only to be expected when working under an authoritarian master with the associated threat of death by Force Lightning.

Either way, Vader displays certain positive traits synonymous with perfectionism that would be not go amiss in a leadership role i.e. his ‘failure is not an option’ attitude, meticulous attention to detail, determination to succeed and propensity for self motivation (fear of grisly death aside).

Steve Jobs is another example of ‘a tyrannical perfectionist’. Obsessed with fine detail Jobs has managed to deliver technology that is near perfect in simplicity and elegance. For many years now, the Steve Jobs perfectionist approach to product development has been an experience enjoyed exclusively by MacHeads. Now we, the lowly PC’s, can also taste this very special flavour of Apple perfection.

Jobs maybe a perfectionist, but he had the vision to move computing away from the stereotypes of spectacled Microsoft geekiness to bring us the sleek, shiny must have gadgets of the uber-cool masses. Apple’s products have de-geekified the love of gadgetry and turned Apple into Silicon Valley’s most valuable company, with Jobs being named by Fortune Magazine as “CEO of the Decade”. Like Vader, his climb to the top has been a tough one, subject to criticism and negative press.

What we can learn from this, is that while perfectionism can drive success, it can also be a lifelong struggle ending in self-sacrifice and death. Admittedly, we have yet to see this kind of weakness in Steve Jobs.


Darth Vader Cartoon

Darth Vader Cartoon