Dopplr lets you share your future travel plans with a group of trusted fellow travelers whom you have chosen
Dopplr is an online travel plans private social network, in my own words. You are able to share your future travel plans with a group of trusted fellow travelers whom you have chosen.
Dopplr also reminds you of friends and colleagues who live in the cities you are planning to visit. You can use the service with your PC and mobile phone.
Currently the Dopplr service is invitation only. Once invited by an existing member you will be able to invite others to join Dopplr and share your travels.
They Raised:Not disclosed amount..
More at:http://www.dopplr.com/
Thursday, September 6, 2007
For Your Budget Planning
This site offers a different service in the way that it presents its data, focusing on the future instead of the minute details of everyday. It really gets you to see easily what your budget is very quickly. There is not much to distract you on the site, so you can easily see the information that’s important to you.It’s helpful for when you want to view the money you’ll be making and spending long term. With this information, you can decide when and if you can take a vacation, or if you can afford that new jacket. Based on your income and expected monthly expenses, it tracks how your money will be flowing over time, so that you can see if you need to save up, or have a bit of cushion to play with. You can also add in your daily costs and savings to keep track of it all, and you can check out how your spending and earning patterns are going compared to others from your same demographic. It’s a useful site for if you want to really get a picture of the future of your income and expenses.
More at:http://www.budgetedge.com/
More at:http://www.budgetedge.com/
restaurantdiary.com, a booking management system that will give you your money back if your restaurant doesn't increase revenue with their online ways
restaurantdiary.com, a booking management system that will give you your money back if your restaurant doesn't increase revenue with their online system. It is a web-based 'smart booking system' that maximizes utilization of tables through a customized booking system. All of your bookings are managed through the central system, whether they are walk-in, online or phone bookings. Staff then operates the restaurant through this hub and everyone from staff, to owner and to the customer benefits. The service can even be used for outside 3rd party reservation systems and its web interface system can be integrated to a restaurant's web site. The site charges a monthly booking fee.Commission free restaurant reservation system with Full Customer Relationship Management.
More at:http://www.restaurantdiary.com/
More at:http://www.restaurantdiary.com/
ConvertTube is a service that will let you convert and download an online video by simply providing the URL.
ConvertTube is a service that will let you convert and download an online video by simply providing the URL.
The options for file conversion let you convert for Windows, Macs, Flash files, audio only, iPhone, iPod, PSP or mobile. Once the conversion is complete, you can download the file to your computer and have your way with it. The name of the service and the icon imply that the service is specifically for YouTube videos, and I think that’s the point. While this isn’t stated anywhere on the site, I tried videos from other online sources that do allow for video download, and found that only YouTube videos will be converted for this service.
Oh, did I mention the site is for sale? You can buy it direct for just under $14,000.
More at:http://converttube.com/
Via-Mash
The options for file conversion let you convert for Windows, Macs, Flash files, audio only, iPhone, iPod, PSP or mobile. Once the conversion is complete, you can download the file to your computer and have your way with it. The name of the service and the icon imply that the service is specifically for YouTube videos, and I think that’s the point. While this isn’t stated anywhere on the site, I tried videos from other online sources that do allow for video download, and found that only YouTube videos will be converted for this service.
Oh, did I mention the site is for sale? You can buy it direct for just under $14,000.
More at:http://converttube.com/
Via-Mash
Air-Savings.com is a certified organization that specializes in designing comfortable and affordable travel packages tailor-made to your requirements
With international travel taking off in a big way, there aren't that many big name sites that cater to the international travelers. Air-savings.com hopes to pick up on that and build their own client base with more international travelers.
Air-Savings.com is a certified organization that specializes in designing comfortable and affordable travel packages tailor-made to your requirements. Their services are not limited to just airfares, they also provide excellent car rentals, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, group travel, corporate travel, and a bunch of other travel related services. Air-Savings.com is a group of dedicated travel professionals, who have spent years in the travel industry. They keep up to speed with the trends in the travel industry by constantly upgrading their knowledge and technology. They offer published, as well as private airfares to India, Kenya, Dubai, and The Philippines. This site also offers car, hotel, cruise and vacation packages.
More at:http://www.air-savings.com/
Air-Savings.com is a certified organization that specializes in designing comfortable and affordable travel packages tailor-made to your requirements. Their services are not limited to just airfares, they also provide excellent car rentals, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, group travel, corporate travel, and a bunch of other travel related services. Air-Savings.com is a group of dedicated travel professionals, who have spent years in the travel industry. They keep up to speed with the trends in the travel industry by constantly upgrading their knowledge and technology. They offer published, as well as private airfares to India, Kenya, Dubai, and The Philippines. This site also offers car, hotel, cruise and vacation packages.
More at:http://www.air-savings.com/
RedHotFranchises.com allows prospective entrepreneurs to browse through hundreds of the most popular, most profitable, and most interesting franchises
RedHotFranchises.com allows prospective entrepreneurs to browse through hundreds of the most popular, most profitable, and most interesting franchises easily and quickly. With a few clicks info will be speeding its way to the future business owner.Prospective business owners can get info on franchise fees, start-up costs, royalties, and even earnings claims. Visitors to the site can search by industry or investment level. The site hosts a dynamic franchise articles section, a franchise news section and even a franchise contest.RedHotFranchises.com allows leads to be filtered by investment level and geography. Leads are routed in real time and prospects are required to complete all fields resulting in a better qualified lead. Multiple feature opportunities include anchor positions, rotating banners, article sponsored links, and featured franchise section.
More at:http://www.redhotfranchises.com/
More at:http://www.redhotfranchises.com/
At LifeOnTop, they are committed to all things luxury; discerning themselves from others by providing both national and regional guides
At LifeOnTop, they are committed to all things luxury; discerning themselves from others by providing both national and regional guides. So no matter where our readers reside, LifeOnTop’s dedication to all things affluent, guarantees uncompromised refinement and piques passion for the posh. In order to provide a more targeted offering to their readers they are maintaining high standards in the content delivered by staying on target with the topics that readers really care about.
All you will find on this website is luxury.There aren’t over there many sites that offer this service. LifeOnTop.com provides tons of material for the ones that love luxury.
More at:http://www.lifeontop.com/
All you will find on this website is luxury.There aren’t over there many sites that offer this service. LifeOnTop.com provides tons of material for the ones that love luxury.
More at:http://www.lifeontop.com/
Get Paid For Your Content
Triond is a comprehensive publishing service that enables users to publish quality content of any type while maximizing its revenue-generating potential.
The Triond vision is to support quality user-generated content online by allowing authors to earn royalties for publishing their work on the Web.Triond is a middleman company that links your submitted content to buys who visit their site or the sites of their affiliates. Content creators including artists, writers, audio/video producers, etc. register an account, submit their work to triond.com and once it is approved Triond posts it on the site they deem most appropriate, either on their networks or an affiliate’s network. From then on, you will receive 50% of the monthly ad revenue generated by your content. Monthly payments will be sent by check, Western Union money transfer, or directly to your PayPal account. The coolest part of this site is the wide variety of content they accept. Accepted content includes content in any subject, any language, writing, videos, pictures, podcasts, original recorded mucis, and the list goes on.
More at:http://www.triond.com/
The Triond vision is to support quality user-generated content online by allowing authors to earn royalties for publishing their work on the Web.Triond is a middleman company that links your submitted content to buys who visit their site or the sites of their affiliates. Content creators including artists, writers, audio/video producers, etc. register an account, submit their work to triond.com and once it is approved Triond posts it on the site they deem most appropriate, either on their networks or an affiliate’s network. From then on, you will receive 50% of the monthly ad revenue generated by your content. Monthly payments will be sent by check, Western Union money transfer, or directly to your PayPal account. The coolest part of this site is the wide variety of content they accept. Accepted content includes content in any subject, any language, writing, videos, pictures, podcasts, original recorded mucis, and the list goes on.
More at:http://www.triond.com/
Pay Per Sale And Earn Cash With Blogkits.com
Blogkits.com is the best way to earn money on a blog is NOT pay-per-click, but rather pay per sale. Bloggers who sign up for Blogkits.com agree to have ads from various sectors located somewhere on their blog. If a blog reader clicks through to the ad’s site and makes a purchase, the blogger earns a 10% commission. The ads chosen for a specific blog are relevant to the intended audience and should therefore bring in some money for the blogger. To sign up Blogkits.com requires all the usual information plus a social security number.This seems like a good option for bloggers who are desperate for some extra cash however I am skeptical of how much money will actually be accumulated. Blogkits.com acts as the middleman and after stores report the commission then Blogkits.com sends the money. It is a long line of transfers. However, if a blogger gets lucky with a good ad during Christmas shopping time they could really make some big bucks.
More at:http://www.blogkits.com/
More at:http://www.blogkits.com/
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Rate Your Financial Advisor
Imagine having the ability to search for a financial advisor and to read how that advisor is rated by current and past clients. You are able to decide whether to engage an advisor or firm before you even interview them. By the same token, advisors and firms will no longer be able to make unethical recommendations, churn client accounts and, after investing the client's money, simply not service the client because they've already received payment. Moreover, you can continually monitor your advisor, watch how they are servicing their other clients and discern whether any of those clients have concerns with the advisor's services (and why).
Financialjoe is a place to rank and rate financial advisors. You simply register, post and rank the info about your advisor, and browse through other rankings. You can also read the blog and/or the forum, which has some good links. I think most of us have experienced the tough choices in investing our precious dollars and sought out the advice of a financial advisor. But usually we remain fearful and skeptical of their advice, because different investments benefit them personally in different ways. How do we know they are not steering us in the wrong direction? How do we know they are not charging us too many fees? This site helps the consumer level the playing field and hold advisors accountable. It is also a great place to find a highly ranked investor.
More at:http://financialjoe.com/
Financialjoe is a place to rank and rate financial advisors. You simply register, post and rank the info about your advisor, and browse through other rankings. You can also read the blog and/or the forum, which has some good links. I think most of us have experienced the tough choices in investing our precious dollars and sought out the advice of a financial advisor. But usually we remain fearful and skeptical of their advice, because different investments benefit them personally in different ways. How do we know they are not steering us in the wrong direction? How do we know they are not charging us too many fees? This site helps the consumer level the playing field and hold advisors accountable. It is also a great place to find a highly ranked investor.
More at:http://financialjoe.com/
Bing Bong Tables As A Big Business Opportunities
Adam Wasserman, 25, left his job with a mortgage company and sank a big chunk of his savings into a Los Angeles warehouse where he builds portable beer-pong tables that start at $99 apiece. Many of his customers are recent graduates. "When you move into a new place, you need the basics: a TV, fridge and a beer-pong table," he says.
Juan Aycart, a 27-year-old South Orange, N.J., graphic designer, recently paid $150 for a portable beer-pong table from Bing Bong Inc. of Philadelphia. "I'm not invited to parties anymore, my beer-pong table is," says Mr. Aycart.
In 2005, brewing giant Anheuser-Busch Cos. sponsored tournaments across the country in a promotion called Bud Pong. But the company abandoned the game after media reports suggested it promoted binge drinking.
Stepping into the breach were Billy Gaines and Duncan Carroll, Carnegie Mellon University grads who in 2004 developed Web site bpong.com and a multiplayer online beer-pong game. Last year they played host to the first World Series of Beer Pong. "Those who dislike parties, pong, music, girls, trash-talking, and gambling need not apply," the tournament's official Web site says. The tournament this year attracted nearly 500 pongers to Mesquite, Nev., for a four-day tournament and $20,000 in prize money raised by charging $550 entry fees. Mr. Gaines, a 26-year-old Chicago lawyer, says he and Mr. Carroll, a 26-year-old graphic designer, haven't taken profits from the tournament yet. For now, they say they are building their brand by buying tables, balls and cups and reselling them emblazoned with their tournament logo.
The World Series and local leagues and tournaments have helped increase the market for beer-pong gear. Since Penn State University grads Tom Schmidt, 29, and Matt Brady, 30, started Bing Bong three years ago, they estimate they have sold more than 10,000 beer-pong tables. The 7- or 8-foot aluminum tables are collapsible, folding up into a briefcase. They say they expect $1 million in revenue this year. They sell to college students, recent grads and bars, which "are now accepting the game," Mr. Schmidt says, as something that increases sales.
More at:http://www.bingbongtables.com/
Juan Aycart, a 27-year-old South Orange, N.J., graphic designer, recently paid $150 for a portable beer-pong table from Bing Bong Inc. of Philadelphia. "I'm not invited to parties anymore, my beer-pong table is," says Mr. Aycart.
In 2005, brewing giant Anheuser-Busch Cos. sponsored tournaments across the country in a promotion called Bud Pong. But the company abandoned the game after media reports suggested it promoted binge drinking.
Stepping into the breach were Billy Gaines and Duncan Carroll, Carnegie Mellon University grads who in 2004 developed Web site bpong.com and a multiplayer online beer-pong game. Last year they played host to the first World Series of Beer Pong. "Those who dislike parties, pong, music, girls, trash-talking, and gambling need not apply," the tournament's official Web site says. The tournament this year attracted nearly 500 pongers to Mesquite, Nev., for a four-day tournament and $20,000 in prize money raised by charging $550 entry fees. Mr. Gaines, a 26-year-old Chicago lawyer, says he and Mr. Carroll, a 26-year-old graphic designer, haven't taken profits from the tournament yet. For now, they say they are building their brand by buying tables, balls and cups and reselling them emblazoned with their tournament logo.
The World Series and local leagues and tournaments have helped increase the market for beer-pong gear. Since Penn State University grads Tom Schmidt, 29, and Matt Brady, 30, started Bing Bong three years ago, they estimate they have sold more than 10,000 beer-pong tables. The 7- or 8-foot aluminum tables are collapsible, folding up into a briefcase. They say they expect $1 million in revenue this year. They sell to college students, recent grads and bars, which "are now accepting the game," Mr. Schmidt says, as something that increases sales.
More at:http://www.bingbongtables.com/
SaleHoo to be the most informative and comprehensive wholesale directory available.
They've created SaleHoo to be the most informative and comprehensive wholesale directory available. Not only does SaleHoo have suppliers for virtually every any product or brand name you can think of, but we take particular attention to insure that our information is reliable and current, so you're not purchasing information that is three years out of date!
SaleHoo gives you access to Product suppliers you won't find anywhere else as well as clothing, electronics, everyday goods and big ticket items, super-cheap no-name brands and top-label products at unbelievable prices. And every supplier is thoroughly reviewed, so you get no nasty surprises.
More at:http://www.salehoo.com/
SaleHoo gives you access to Product suppliers you won't find anywhere else as well as clothing, electronics, everyday goods and big ticket items, super-cheap no-name brands and top-label products at unbelievable prices. And every supplier is thoroughly reviewed, so you get no nasty surprises.
More at:http://www.salehoo.com/
Manage Your Project Online
ProWorkflow was developed after the founder needed a solution for his own business. Since then we've talked to many other co's and continuously improved the tool. It's becoming a really solid solution now with a heap of flexibility built in. Companies can easily tailor the solution to their particular project and workflow requirements.
ProWorkflow uses smart screens to show assigned projects and allow staff to easily track their time. Management can easily view top-down reporting and progress. The solution is easy to use, powerful and has been designed for small to medium creative & tech business. The functionality within ProWorkflow has been developed through customer feedback; therefore the system delivers what the majority of users require within small to medium businesses. The solution is easy to implement and has a professional, intuitive interface. ProWorkflow has an affordable price of $15 per user (staff) per month on subscription (code is available).
More at:http://www.proworkflow.com/
ProWorkflow uses smart screens to show assigned projects and allow staff to easily track their time. Management can easily view top-down reporting and progress. The solution is easy to use, powerful and has been designed for small to medium creative & tech business. The functionality within ProWorkflow has been developed through customer feedback; therefore the system delivers what the majority of users require within small to medium businesses. The solution is easy to implement and has a professional, intuitive interface. ProWorkflow has an affordable price of $15 per user (staff) per month on subscription (code is available).
More at:http://www.proworkflow.com/
Startup Schwag will make this much easier for you if you are unable to go to the many conferences in Silicon Valley
Startup Schwag is a web2.0 startup schwag tshirt of the month club. It’s based on a simple, wonderful idea recently abandoned by RubyRed Labs in San Francisco: Valley Schwag. They shipped Silicon Valley schwag to subscribers every month. In April 2007, they stopped shwagging.
Startup Schwag was launched in early September 2007 to fill the void left by Valley Schwag’s departure. I like schwag. I know I’m not alone. I wear logo shirts, event shirts, like they were band t-shirts. I get strange looks wearing my del.icio.us shirt around people who don’t know what it means. I don’t care. It’s web culture.
Startup Schwag will make this much easier for you if you are unable to go to the many conferences in Silicon Valley. They promise to offer a new shirt each month that carries the logo of different web 2.0 sites. For $14.95 per month, you can subscribe to get a new logo shirt delivered to your door. They may be offering buttons, stickers, and other various schwag, but currently only the t-shirts are a definite so as to make sure that they can sustain the site. So if you are looking for some web 2.0 schwag to show just how much time you spend surfing the latest sites on the net, subscribe now and get this month’s first shirt displaying TechCrunch’s logo, among other surprises.
More at:http://www.startupschwag.com/
Startup Schwag was launched in early September 2007 to fill the void left by Valley Schwag’s departure. I like schwag. I know I’m not alone. I wear logo shirts, event shirts, like they were band t-shirts. I get strange looks wearing my del.icio.us shirt around people who don’t know what it means. I don’t care. It’s web culture.
Startup Schwag will make this much easier for you if you are unable to go to the many conferences in Silicon Valley. They promise to offer a new shirt each month that carries the logo of different web 2.0 sites. For $14.95 per month, you can subscribe to get a new logo shirt delivered to your door. They may be offering buttons, stickers, and other various schwag, but currently only the t-shirts are a definite so as to make sure that they can sustain the site. So if you are looking for some web 2.0 schwag to show just how much time you spend surfing the latest sites on the net, subscribe now and get this month’s first shirt displaying TechCrunch’s logo, among other surprises.
More at:http://www.startupschwag.com/
Cosmodex is a revolutionary new search engine that will help you save thousands of dollars a month in your net advertising budget
Cosmodex provides free, targeted web traffic to owners and affiliates of websites, personal home pages, webmasters, and bloggers. Simply register to Cosmodex begin using the search engine and get free web traffic.Cosmodex is a revolutionary new search engine that will help you save thousands of dollars a month in your net advertising budget and promote your site for free. The Cosmodex system is extraordinarily easy to use: simply search or surf through the websites in our search engine database and, in doing so, earn Points that automatically send Targeted Traffic to your desired website. Unlike other web traffic driving systems, with Cosmodex you receive real targeted traffic for the Points you earn--your Points turn directly into live, targeted website traffic.
More at:http://www.cosmodex.com/
More at:http://www.cosmodex.com/
Mobile Marketing
Their proprietary system provides real estate agents and brokers with a new marketing tool that manages leads and sends property information directly to clients on their mobile devices
MLScodes.com enables home buyers to receive property information via text messaging. Buyers call a local number from the comfort of their cars or while standing in front of the home for sale and enter in the property MLS code. Within seconds, they receive a reply including property information and the agent's contact information. When interested, the buyer can request a callback from the agent, a property brochure via email, or schedule a showing. The agent receives qualified leads and closes more sales, more profitably.
More at:http://www.mlscodes.com/
MLScodes.com enables home buyers to receive property information via text messaging. Buyers call a local number from the comfort of their cars or while standing in front of the home for sale and enter in the property MLS code. Within seconds, they receive a reply including property information and the agent's contact information. When interested, the buyer can request a callback from the agent, a property brochure via email, or schedule a showing. The agent receives qualified leads and closes more sales, more profitably.
More at:http://www.mlscodes.com/
Internet Job Fairs
Their site offers a lot of features and benefits for both job seekers and employers. For job seekers, theirr service/site allows them to interview from anywhere, even from their desk at their current job. They can attend a fair for a city they may be moving to and they can save themselves the hassle of driving anywhere regardless of where they live. Job seekers are also able to talk with multiple employers at the same time through our exclusive chat program.All you have to do is log on to eJobFairs.net on the date and time of our job fair in your city and interview live from your computer. This service is free for job seekers and costs employers less than half of what traditional job fairs cost, while at the same time providing them the opportunity for more interviews.
more at:http://ejobfairs.net/
more at:http://ejobfairs.net/
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Hotels Combined is a unique free tool that searches multiple hotel reservation websites simultaneously to help you find the lowest rate instantly
Hotels Combined is a unique free tool that searches multiple hotel reservation websites simultaneously to help you find the lowest rate instantly.
They eliminate the need to search major websites one by one in order to compare prices and availability. Our free service is an amazing time and money saver.
They comb all the online hotel reservation sites to find you the best rates for the time and place you prefer. You can even refine your search to tell them the star ratings you want the hotel to have, or the max/min price range. It is quite a deal and totally free (not to mention available in 9 different languages and currencies!). The only downside, if there is one, is that you cannot make a hotel reservation directly through this site. When you find the deal you want, you link to the hotel reservation site it came from and make the reservation there. Hotels Combined makes money by collecting a fee from each of these hotel reservation sites. And apparently there are quite a few (over 30), as the site brags about how their system searches over 600,000 hotel deals including over 2 million consumer reviews and 2.4 million hotel pictures and hotel descriptions.
More at:http://www.hotelscombined.com/
They eliminate the need to search major websites one by one in order to compare prices and availability. Our free service is an amazing time and money saver.
They comb all the online hotel reservation sites to find you the best rates for the time and place you prefer. You can even refine your search to tell them the star ratings you want the hotel to have, or the max/min price range. It is quite a deal and totally free (not to mention available in 9 different languages and currencies!). The only downside, if there is one, is that you cannot make a hotel reservation directly through this site. When you find the deal you want, you link to the hotel reservation site it came from and make the reservation there. Hotels Combined makes money by collecting a fee from each of these hotel reservation sites. And apparently there are quite a few (over 30), as the site brags about how their system searches over 600,000 hotel deals including over 2 million consumer reviews and 2.4 million hotel pictures and hotel descriptions.
More at:http://www.hotelscombined.com/
Fast Pitch is a one-stop shop for professionals to network and market their business
Fast Pitch is a one-stop shop for professionals to network and market their business. Empowered by members across the world, Fast Pitch has become the premier destination for professionals who want to connect and share business related content.
It has a bit of PRWeb.com, a bit of Linkedin.com, and quite a bit of their own. Some of the most important features that they boast are, that members can create a highly interactive profile that includes video, podcasts, logos, headshots and more... Additionally, users can post and distribute press releases to other members, promote blog articles within the network, advertise events, and, of course make connections, which is the main purpose of this site. Members can also localize their experience on the site and attend offline Fast Pitch! events facilitated by a select group of members in most major U.S. cities.
More at:http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com/
It has a bit of PRWeb.com, a bit of Linkedin.com, and quite a bit of their own. Some of the most important features that they boast are, that members can create a highly interactive profile that includes video, podcasts, logos, headshots and more... Additionally, users can post and distribute press releases to other members, promote blog articles within the network, advertise events, and, of course make connections, which is the main purpose of this site. Members can also localize their experience on the site and attend offline Fast Pitch! events facilitated by a select group of members in most major U.S. cities.
More at:http://www.fastpitchnetworking.com/
Icantrack.com is an online tracking and monitoring platform for System Integrators and Device manufacturers to package their solutions
icantrack will reduce the amount of investment required towards deploying a tracking application and make it available to the smallest of companies.Also icantrack will be a good use of because the application uses some smart electronics which make the on site deployments extremely fast. For example on the RFID tracking side icantrack uses mobile connected readers which can be deployed anywhere on the globe and use the icantracks online app for tracking.
Icantrack.com is an online tracking and monitoring platform for System Integrators and Device manufacturers to package their solutions around icantracks.com tracking and monitoring application suite. Why time, assets or staff need to be tracked? There are many reasons for it. High value items are subject to theft, risk and liability is associated with such losses, insurance premiums are function of such losses, there is an inefficient use of assets or underutilisation of staff, the ability to service items which need to be regularly maintained and time lost is money lost for many professionals because of unbilled time.
more at:https://www.icantrack.com/
Icantrack.com is an online tracking and monitoring platform for System Integrators and Device manufacturers to package their solutions around icantracks.com tracking and monitoring application suite. Why time, assets or staff need to be tracked? There are many reasons for it. High value items are subject to theft, risk and liability is associated with such losses, insurance premiums are function of such losses, there is an inefficient use of assets or underutilisation of staff, the ability to service items which need to be regularly maintained and time lost is money lost for many professionals because of unbilled time.
more at:https://www.icantrack.com/
Fundraising "Anyone with a valid Pay Pal account email can register their events on FundRaisera.com and have funds sent directly to their account"
Fundraising is not an easy task to do it involves persuasion, heart, and a lot of phone calls. This website won’t change any of that but it will make the money collecting process very simple. Anyone with a valid Pay Pal account email can register their events on FundRaisera.com and have funds sent directly to their account. The one who registers is the sponsor of the event who must invite at least 2 co-sponsors. Potential donors are contacted with invitations sent by either the sponsor, co-sponsors, or contributors. However, invites can only be sent to known friends or relatives. If invites are rejected by unknown recipients the event and account will be terminated. This is a very smart idea to uphold the success and trust of FundRaisera.com. Currently, political fundraising is very popular on the site but sponsors can also fund raise for personal, non-profit, church, school, and sports events. There are strict privacy and security guidelines that ensure the safety of funds and events.
more at :http://www.fundraisera.com/
more at :http://www.fundraisera.com/
ClearCheckbook For Tracking "Your All Purchase And Deposits"
ClearCheckbook was originally created by Brandon O'Brien in June 2005 as an alternative to using excel to keep track of all my purchases and deposits. When I first created the program I didn't have any intention of releasing it as a site for others to use because it was pretty tailored to my needs. I wanted something simple that I could add my purchases and deposits to and also track my credit card purchases.
What's great about ClearCheckbook is that it's very simple and straight forward. This is the ideal way for high school or college aged people to learn how to manage their money. The reason I say high school or college aged is that they don't have as many finances to track as adults do and all the programs geared towards adults have an overabundance of useless features that someone who doesn't have a lot of finances would never use and just cause confusion.The best facet of ClearCheckbook is that the site is not cluttered with options and text you don’t need. Programs such as Quicken and Microsoft Money bombard the client with too many intimidating financial features while other sites charge high fees. ClearCheckbook is free and also help users create spending lists, set up bill reminders, and will import any existing records into the new format. Checkbot is the cherry on this sundae offering users who are out shopping to text an SMS (for free) to their account with the money spent.
More at:http://www.clearcheckbook.com/
What's great about ClearCheckbook is that it's very simple and straight forward. This is the ideal way for high school or college aged people to learn how to manage their money. The reason I say high school or college aged is that they don't have as many finances to track as adults do and all the programs geared towards adults have an overabundance of useless features that someone who doesn't have a lot of finances would never use and just cause confusion.The best facet of ClearCheckbook is that the site is not cluttered with options and text you don’t need. Programs such as Quicken and Microsoft Money bombard the client with too many intimidating financial features while other sites charge high fees. ClearCheckbook is free and also help users create spending lists, set up bill reminders, and will import any existing records into the new format. Checkbot is the cherry on this sundae offering users who are out shopping to text an SMS (for free) to their account with the money spent.
More at:http://www.clearcheckbook.com/
How To Increase Revenue From Cellular Phones Users
innerActive Smart Media is a software technology company that provides innovative ad-funded mobile advertising solution for mobile operators, portals, advertisers and digital content providers. innerActive's platform enables scalable and dynamic product placement solutions for rich media mobile content as well as digital coupons management, according to the users' profile and interaction with the content.
The company technology enhancing mobile operators, portals and digital content provider abilities to use a new creative business model in order to increase revenue from cellular phones users. innerActive's platform enables scalable and dynamic product placement solutions for rich media mobile content as well as digital coupon management according to the user's profile and consumption behaviors.
More at:http://www.inner-active.com/
The company technology enhancing mobile operators, portals and digital content provider abilities to use a new creative business model in order to increase revenue from cellular phones users. innerActive's platform enables scalable and dynamic product placement solutions for rich media mobile content as well as digital coupon management according to the user's profile and consumption behaviors.
More at:http://www.inner-active.com/
FusedWorld is an international real estate advertising portal which connects property seekers and buyers world-wide
FusedWorld is an international real estate advertising portal which connects property seekers and buyers world-wide. We facilitate listing and advertising of any type of property anywhere in the world, whether it be luxurious villas, simple bungalows, houses, flats, condos, apartments, vacation properties, timeshares, offices, or even land parcels.This site focuses on real estate all over the world. Browsing the site is free, and no registration is necessary. Additionally, property seekers can customize number formats as well as preferred units. All owner contact info is also provided gratis. Property owners, agents, and managers are given free support, unlimited listings with an unlimited number of pictures, videos, and other media, statistics and reports of how many people have seen their listings, and links to their own website to generate even more traffic (all for a rather inexpensive fee). So far, FusedWorld has 12,030 properties for sale and 1,727 for rent.
More at:http://www.fusedworld.com/
More at:http://www.fusedworld.com/
Monday, September 3, 2007
What's In The Name?
A clever or humorous business name is enough to make one in four people take a closer look, according to new research.
Small business insurer More Th>n conducted a poll to find the most catchy and creative business name in the UK, and the resulting effects clever names had on potential customers.
Three-quarters of those surveyed admitted to being influenced by a catchy name, while 58% said it would make them remember the business.
“Our research confirms what the UK’s most creative business owners already knew – that the right business name can offer a real advantage in the battle for customers,” said Mike Bowman, head of insurance at More Th>n Business.
“With over 400,000 new start-ups each year, it is becoming increasingly difficult for business owners to settle on a catchy yet original name, but the research shows that it’s definitely worth putting in the time and effort to get the right name.
“High street shops across Britain have built a tradition for creative, catchy names, so the number and quality of entries we received was no surprise.”
More Th>n awarded the title of most creative British business name to Aisle Alter Hymn, a wedding shop for gay and lesbian couples in South Shields.
Other businesses in the top ten included Battersea Cods Home, a fish and chip shop, Mr Bit, window cleaners, and Vinyl Resting Place, a secondhand record shop.
Via-Startups Uk
Small business insurer More Th>n conducted a poll to find the most catchy and creative business name in the UK, and the resulting effects clever names had on potential customers.
Three-quarters of those surveyed admitted to being influenced by a catchy name, while 58% said it would make them remember the business.
“Our research confirms what the UK’s most creative business owners already knew – that the right business name can offer a real advantage in the battle for customers,” said Mike Bowman, head of insurance at More Th>n Business.
“With over 400,000 new start-ups each year, it is becoming increasingly difficult for business owners to settle on a catchy yet original name, but the research shows that it’s definitely worth putting in the time and effort to get the right name.
“High street shops across Britain have built a tradition for creative, catchy names, so the number and quality of entries we received was no surprise.”
More Th>n awarded the title of most creative British business name to Aisle Alter Hymn, a wedding shop for gay and lesbian couples in South Shields.
Other businesses in the top ten included Battersea Cods Home, a fish and chip shop, Mr Bit, window cleaners, and Vinyl Resting Place, a secondhand record shop.
Via-Startups Uk
2007 Leadership in Venture Capital - One Day Event
2007 Leadership in Venture Capital - One Day Event
Location:
New York City
Address:
New York, New York 10022
USA View Map search google maps
From: September 5, 2007 @ 08:00:00 AM to: September 5, 2007 @ 06:00:00 PM
Organizer: Argyle Executive Forum
Email contact: Lucas J. Gochanour
Tel: 646.839.0027
Fax:
Conference description:
Argyle Executive Forum is pleased to present its 2007 Leadership in Venture Capital. The event, to take place in Manhattan, will bring together 135–150 CEOs & Board members of public and private large cap and mid cap corporations, complementary areas of executive leadership (CFOs & COOs), members of the endowment, foundation, and family office community, select advisory firms, and select founders / senior managing partners of investment firms.
This event is by invitation only, and an invitation code is required. If you did not receive an invitation but would like to inquire about attendance, please visit http://www.execforum.net/Forms/at_rq.html
Location:
New York City
Address:
New York, New York 10022
USA View Map search google maps
From: September 5, 2007 @ 08:00:00 AM to: September 5, 2007 @ 06:00:00 PM
Organizer: Argyle Executive Forum
Email contact: Lucas J. Gochanour
Tel: 646.839.0027
Fax:
Conference description:
Argyle Executive Forum is pleased to present its 2007 Leadership in Venture Capital. The event, to take place in Manhattan, will bring together 135–150 CEOs & Board members of public and private large cap and mid cap corporations, complementary areas of executive leadership (CFOs & COOs), members of the endowment, foundation, and family office community, select advisory firms, and select founders / senior managing partners of investment firms.
This event is by invitation only, and an invitation code is required. If you did not receive an invitation but would like to inquire about attendance, please visit http://www.execforum.net/Forms/at_rq.html
Young Social Entrepreneurs Contest
Global Young Social Entrepreneurs' Competition, deadline extended to 9 Sept
The most famous social entrepreneur today is 2006 Nobel prize winner Mohammad Yunus. Less famous, but equally inspirational are young up-coming social entrepreneurs – over 500 have so far applied under the Global Young Social Entrepreneurs’ Competition 2007 and more are doing so every day.
Young women and men that have latched onto the vision of changing the world through business: business with a social or ecological twist. Given the tremendous interest, Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is extending the Competition deadline to 9 September 2007. The Competition is supported by GKP members UN Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
54% of the world population is aged below 25 years old. Many of these youths – in developing and developed countries alike – are motivated by a job that helps make the world a better place, yet also earns them a living. Enter the young social entrepreneurs of our time.
These young and up-coming social entrepreneurs from all around the globe are in good company – for example the company of Mohammad Yunus, the most prominent social entrepreneur these days who received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering microfinance social business in Bangladesh (Grameen Bank). But high-profile social entrepreneurs have also made their entry into the World Economic Forum and taken top places in awards programmes such as the World Challenge 2006. They all testify to the increased interest in the concept of social business over the last years, resulting in the coining of the term ‘social enterprise’.
What exactly is a social enterprise? Mohammad Yunus in his Nobel Lecture said: “Let us suppose an entrepreneur, instead of having a single source of motivation (such as, maximizing profit), now has two sources of motivation, which are mutually exclusive, but equally compelling − a) maximization of profit and b) doing good to people and the world.”
Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director of the GKP Secretariat, says: “The quality of applications received to date indicates that there are a lot of ingenious, innovative young entrepreneurs who are contributing towards a better future with new business models. With our support, they can go a long way”. All submissions are viewable by the public.
The Competition is part of GKP’s ongoing programme in the area of youth-led social enterprises. It is fully web-based and open to applicants worldwide until the (extended) closing on 9 September 2007. 100 winners selected by an international online jury will be announced on 20 October 2007.
The winners receive more than just sponsorship to attend the dedicated Young Social Entrepreneurs’ Forum, 11-13 December 2007, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. In true entrepreneurial spirit, they are presented with the unique opportunity to potentially secure funding, networking, mentoring and knowledge for themselves – key areas in which young social entrepreneurs need support, especially in their early years.
10 of the winners will pitch for secure funding in real-time sessions. All 100 winners will meet various funding organisations, mentors, experts, potential partners or the media; be part of a crowd of innovative and motivated young social entrepreneurs; network and showcase with the 2000 participants of the larger GKP Event on the Future (GK3) – of which the Forum is a special highlight.
The Competition is supported by GKP members UN Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
How to apply?
Apply online:http://www.globalknowledge.org/ysef07/index.cfm?&menuid=7
Application criteria:http://www.globalknowledge.org/ysef07/index.cfm?&menuid=11&parentid=7
Deadline: 9 September 2007
The most famous social entrepreneur today is 2006 Nobel prize winner Mohammad Yunus. Less famous, but equally inspirational are young up-coming social entrepreneurs – over 500 have so far applied under the Global Young Social Entrepreneurs’ Competition 2007 and more are doing so every day.
Young women and men that have latched onto the vision of changing the world through business: business with a social or ecological twist. Given the tremendous interest, Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is extending the Competition deadline to 9 September 2007. The Competition is supported by GKP members UN Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
54% of the world population is aged below 25 years old. Many of these youths – in developing and developed countries alike – are motivated by a job that helps make the world a better place, yet also earns them a living. Enter the young social entrepreneurs of our time.
These young and up-coming social entrepreneurs from all around the globe are in good company – for example the company of Mohammad Yunus, the most prominent social entrepreneur these days who received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering microfinance social business in Bangladesh (Grameen Bank). But high-profile social entrepreneurs have also made their entry into the World Economic Forum and taken top places in awards programmes such as the World Challenge 2006. They all testify to the increased interest in the concept of social business over the last years, resulting in the coining of the term ‘social enterprise’.
What exactly is a social enterprise? Mohammad Yunus in his Nobel Lecture said: “Let us suppose an entrepreneur, instead of having a single source of motivation (such as, maximizing profit), now has two sources of motivation, which are mutually exclusive, but equally compelling − a) maximization of profit and b) doing good to people and the world.”
Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director of the GKP Secretariat, says: “The quality of applications received to date indicates that there are a lot of ingenious, innovative young entrepreneurs who are contributing towards a better future with new business models. With our support, they can go a long way”. All submissions are viewable by the public.
The Competition is part of GKP’s ongoing programme in the area of youth-led social enterprises. It is fully web-based and open to applicants worldwide until the (extended) closing on 9 September 2007. 100 winners selected by an international online jury will be announced on 20 October 2007.
The winners receive more than just sponsorship to attend the dedicated Young Social Entrepreneurs’ Forum, 11-13 December 2007, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. In true entrepreneurial spirit, they are presented with the unique opportunity to potentially secure funding, networking, mentoring and knowledge for themselves – key areas in which young social entrepreneurs need support, especially in their early years.
10 of the winners will pitch for secure funding in real-time sessions. All 100 winners will meet various funding organisations, mentors, experts, potential partners or the media; be part of a crowd of innovative and motivated young social entrepreneurs; network and showcase with the 2000 participants of the larger GKP Event on the Future (GK3) – of which the Forum is a special highlight.
The Competition is supported by GKP members UN Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
How to apply?
Apply online:http://www.globalknowledge.org/ysef07/index.cfm?&menuid=7
Application criteria:http://www.globalknowledge.org/ysef07/index.cfm?&menuid=11&parentid=7
Deadline: 9 September 2007
M&A Summit
On the back of 9%+ GDP growth, ever-bullish capital markets and unshackling of regulatory restrictions, Indian entrepreneurs are looking outwards like never before in their goal to create truly global businesses. And M&A is proving to be a popular tool in this pursuit.
The ever increasing number and size of overseas companies being acquired clearly demonstrates India Inc’s rising confidence and vigor to plant its flags around the globe. However, amidst all the euphoria surrounding global acquisitions, there are several key questions that need effective addressing to ensure that such deals create long term value.
Questions like
Are cross-border acquisitions the latest seasonal fad?
What type of company is ready for such a deal?
Can SMEs play this cross-border game?
Identifying targets: Look East or West?
What are the pitfalls to watch out for – political, regulatory and cultural?
Can uncertainty concerning the rupee throw a spanner into the works?
What are the key red flags that due diligence should look out for in such deals?
How can key management talent be retained post acquisition?
What are the financing options available?
Who Should Attend?
Top executives from companies across industries like IT, Auto Components, Pharmaceuticals, etc.
Private Equity, Venture Capital and other investors
Service Providers including Investment Banks, Consulting Firms, Law Firms, Risk Consultants, Rating Agencies, Academics/Researchers, Media
For Registration:http://www.ventureintelligence.in/MAS07-Registration-Form.doc
The ever increasing number and size of overseas companies being acquired clearly demonstrates India Inc’s rising confidence and vigor to plant its flags around the globe. However, amidst all the euphoria surrounding global acquisitions, there are several key questions that need effective addressing to ensure that such deals create long term value.
Questions like
Are cross-border acquisitions the latest seasonal fad?
What type of company is ready for such a deal?
Can SMEs play this cross-border game?
Identifying targets: Look East or West?
What are the pitfalls to watch out for – political, regulatory and cultural?
Can uncertainty concerning the rupee throw a spanner into the works?
What are the key red flags that due diligence should look out for in such deals?
How can key management talent be retained post acquisition?
What are the financing options available?
Who Should Attend?
Top executives from companies across industries like IT, Auto Components, Pharmaceuticals, etc.
Private Equity, Venture Capital and other investors
Service Providers including Investment Banks, Consulting Firms, Law Firms, Risk Consultants, Rating Agencies, Academics/Researchers, Media
For Registration:http://www.ventureintelligence.in/MAS07-Registration-Form.doc
Elephants Business
Darwin pointed out that if you take one pair of breeding elephants and make some conservative estimates about their fertility, you would have more than 15 million elephants in less than 500 years (if none of them died an early death.)*
It's pretty clear it doesn't work that way. Perfect viral growth, even slow viral growth, rarely happens. If it did, we'd have an elephant problem.
The same thing happens with your idea. If one person told four and the cycle repeated itself for a few generations, everyone would know about it. But they don't. It tails off. One person often tells zero. Or people hear about it but forget.
Real viral growth comes from one of a few likely paths:
Someone sneezes your idea with amplification. They show up on Oprah, or you have $100 million to spend on ads. Great work if you can get it...
The idea spreads with fidelity. One person really does tell four, and there's not a lot of leakage. Starbucks worked this way, largely because the chain grew at just the right rate and kept its character as it did.
The idea is particularly 'viral' (using a popular understanding of the word.) One typical person doesn't tell four, she tells 400. This is the blogger effect--lots of small amplifiers, working in unison.
The idea lives a very long time and spreads slowly. In our rapid-fire world, this one is pretty rare.
It's possible to combine some of these tactics. When a political candidate starts out, for example, it's almost certainly with a grassroots approach, but then, perhaps, once enthusiasm picks up, he or she shows up on TV. You can organize around this and plan for it, but you certainly can't guarantee it.
Here's the big news: it doesn't matter much how many elephants you start with. In other words, big launches don't necessarily scale. What matters is how fertile your elephants are (number of babies per generation) and how long they live. If Darwin's elephants managed to squeeze in just one more generation, they end up with 30 million.
[Via - Seth Godin]
It's pretty clear it doesn't work that way. Perfect viral growth, even slow viral growth, rarely happens. If it did, we'd have an elephant problem.
The same thing happens with your idea. If one person told four and the cycle repeated itself for a few generations, everyone would know about it. But they don't. It tails off. One person often tells zero. Or people hear about it but forget.
Real viral growth comes from one of a few likely paths:
Someone sneezes your idea with amplification. They show up on Oprah, or you have $100 million to spend on ads. Great work if you can get it...
The idea spreads with fidelity. One person really does tell four, and there's not a lot of leakage. Starbucks worked this way, largely because the chain grew at just the right rate and kept its character as it did.
The idea is particularly 'viral' (using a popular understanding of the word.) One typical person doesn't tell four, she tells 400. This is the blogger effect--lots of small amplifiers, working in unison.
The idea lives a very long time and spreads slowly. In our rapid-fire world, this one is pretty rare.
It's possible to combine some of these tactics. When a political candidate starts out, for example, it's almost certainly with a grassroots approach, but then, perhaps, once enthusiasm picks up, he or she shows up on TV. You can organize around this and plan for it, but you certainly can't guarantee it.
Here's the big news: it doesn't matter much how many elephants you start with. In other words, big launches don't necessarily scale. What matters is how fertile your elephants are (number of babies per generation) and how long they live. If Darwin's elephants managed to squeeze in just one more generation, they end up with 30 million.
[Via - Seth Godin]
G-Pay
Google patent has come to light related to mobile payments. The so-called “GPay” patent doesn’t propose a direct Paypal competitor, however: instead, it covers a text message-based payments system. The patent was filed on February 28, 2006 and published on August 30, 2007. Google already holds a patent for a cross-platform micropayments system.
Google’s Eric Schmidt said back in March 2006 that GPay is “not made to compete with PayPal or to replace existing peer to peer payment systems but that it’s meant to be a new solution to a new problem.” However, that occurred right as Paypal launched its own mobile payments service, and it’s possible that Schmidt refers to the entire Google payments system (including Google Checkout) as GPay, not just this latest patent application.
Regardless, the patent covers:
A computer-implemented method of effectuating an electronic on-line payment includes receiving at a computer server system a text message from a payor containing a payment request representing a payment amount sent by a payor device operating independently of the computer server system, determining a payment amount associated with the text message and debiting a payor account for an amount corresponding to the amount of the payment request, and crediting an account of a payee that is independent of the computer server system.
I think it’s generous to say this isn’t a Paypal competitor, since Paypal is clearly keen to dominate mobile payments. We’ll wait and see what product, if any, materializes from the patent.
[via SEO by the SEA via Seoptimise]
Google’s Eric Schmidt said back in March 2006 that GPay is “not made to compete with PayPal or to replace existing peer to peer payment systems but that it’s meant to be a new solution to a new problem.” However, that occurred right as Paypal launched its own mobile payments service, and it’s possible that Schmidt refers to the entire Google payments system (including Google Checkout) as GPay, not just this latest patent application.
Regardless, the patent covers:
A computer-implemented method of effectuating an electronic on-line payment includes receiving at a computer server system a text message from a payor containing a payment request representing a payment amount sent by a payor device operating independently of the computer server system, determining a payment amount associated with the text message and debiting a payor account for an amount corresponding to the amount of the payment request, and crediting an account of a payee that is independent of the computer server system.
I think it’s generous to say this isn’t a Paypal competitor, since Paypal is clearly keen to dominate mobile payments. We’ll wait and see what product, if any, materializes from the patent.
[via SEO by the SEA via Seoptimise]
QuickInsert plugs into your existing website to protect and sell content
QuickInsert plugs into your existing website to protect and sell content - no programming necessary! Simply copy your content, documents, or images into QuickInsert and paste the provided line of Javascript code onto your site. Users can register, pay, or surf your content on your site without visiting ours. That's it; you can forget headaches and focus on building a user community.
You can set your website so that users must pay, which you do using Paypal or Google Checkout. QuickInsert protects your membership content so that non-users cannot see it. Creating an account is easy, simply insert your account information, then your website URL, then sync with the website. QuickInsert is free and easy to use giving you access to all the tools you need for user management, editing your sites content and establishing subscriptions to your site.
More at:https://www.quickinsert.com/
You can set your website so that users must pay, which you do using Paypal or Google Checkout. QuickInsert protects your membership content so that non-users cannot see it. Creating an account is easy, simply insert your account information, then your website URL, then sync with the website. QuickInsert is free and easy to use giving you access to all the tools you need for user management, editing your sites content and establishing subscriptions to your site.
More at:https://www.quickinsert.com/
Managing your digital assets is made easy with Fluxiom
With Fluxiom you can tag all types of files and documents, or put a group of files in one archive and upload them at once. You can brand your Fluxiom account by personalizing its appearance. You can also receive updates of content that interests you, by joining the global RSS feed which is continuously updated when new files are added or updated. You can also do a metadata search by color, author, resolution, etc. Managing your digital assets is made easy with Fluxiom.
fluxiom makes it easy to organize and share your digital assets within your company, your colleagues and friends. Manage any kind of file like corporate media assets, marketing materials, product folders, contracts, images, text documents, logos or artwork – you name it.
More at:http://www.fluxiom.com/
fluxiom makes it easy to organize and share your digital assets within your company, your colleagues and friends. Manage any kind of file like corporate media assets, marketing materials, product folders, contracts, images, text documents, logos or artwork – you name it.
More at:http://www.fluxiom.com/
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Marshmallow Test For Entrepreneurs
The Marshmallow Test, which was done back in the early 1960s by Walter Mischel with 400 four-year olds at Stanford University.
Children were put in a room by themselves with a two-way mirror and filmed. On the table in the room was a marshmallow. The researcher then told each child that, “I’ve got to leave for about 10 minutes. You can eat this marshmallow now if you want. Or if you wait till I get back, you can have two marshmallows when I get back.”
The researchers continued to track these children throughout their school careers and into early adult life. The results were dramatic.
Those who had deferred eating the marshmallow for 15-20 minutes in order to get the bigger prize just a few minutes later were more socially competent, personally effective, self-assertive and better able to cope with the frustrations of life.
As entrepreneurs, the decision to defer eating the marshmallow is a challenge we continually face. Let’s face it; thinking long-term is often an oversight when getting past the next month is the major focus.
Having been a venture capitalist and an entrepreneur over the last twenty years, one observation that is evident today is the environment for entrepreneurs is more favorable than ever.
Think of all the elements of today’s market that didn’t exist ten years ago - cheap computing, low-cost storage, open source software, inexpensive bandwidth, immediate access to customers through the Internet, advertising, etc.
For the first time in history, it is possible for a couple of entrepreneurs to build a services business on the web, launch it, and get profitable in a short period.
More at:http://venturebeat.com/2007/08/23/the-marshmellow-test/
Children were put in a room by themselves with a two-way mirror and filmed. On the table in the room was a marshmallow. The researcher then told each child that, “I’ve got to leave for about 10 minutes. You can eat this marshmallow now if you want. Or if you wait till I get back, you can have two marshmallows when I get back.”
The researchers continued to track these children throughout their school careers and into early adult life. The results were dramatic.
Those who had deferred eating the marshmallow for 15-20 minutes in order to get the bigger prize just a few minutes later were more socially competent, personally effective, self-assertive and better able to cope with the frustrations of life.
As entrepreneurs, the decision to defer eating the marshmallow is a challenge we continually face. Let’s face it; thinking long-term is often an oversight when getting past the next month is the major focus.
Having been a venture capitalist and an entrepreneur over the last twenty years, one observation that is evident today is the environment for entrepreneurs is more favorable than ever.
Think of all the elements of today’s market that didn’t exist ten years ago - cheap computing, low-cost storage, open source software, inexpensive bandwidth, immediate access to customers through the Internet, advertising, etc.
For the first time in history, it is possible for a couple of entrepreneurs to build a services business on the web, launch it, and get profitable in a short period.
More at:http://venturebeat.com/2007/08/23/the-marshmellow-test/
What Is Driving Factor For Peoples Who Start Up?
It's fascinating to hear other people's success stories. One of the most interesting parts is learning how successful entrepreneurs got their start and how they overcame challenges and adversity. Did an idea flash in their minds like a lightning bolt? Or was it something that percolated over the years? How did timing play into their launch? Did experience or desperation drive their plan forward?
When I researched my new book, Secrets of Millionaire Moms, I asked 17 highly successful business owners for the personal inspiration and catalyst that moved them to take action. For each woman, it was different. Some were motivated by years of experience and the seed money that enabled it to happen; others launched out of a financial or emotional need.
The common ground all these entrepreneurs shared was financial success and the gratification of creating something larger than themselves. Here are a few excerpts of their experiences:
Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic
Ashwell left school at age 16. She separated from her husband in her mid-twenties--with two babies under the age of 2 to support. These circumstances drove Ashwell to take a chance and start a retail business--Shabby Chic. With her babies by her side, she scouted flea markets for items she could refinish. Her pieces became an instant hit in her California store. The rest is history. Her company has since expanded to include a national line of slipcover furniture, bedding, home accessories, a TV series, design books and a line of home furnishings called Simply Shabby Chic sold exclusively through Target stores.
Julie Clark, founder of The Baby Einstein Company and The Safe Side
Money was never the motivating factor for Clark. A teacher, she founded her first company, Baby Einstein, to provide educational videos for her own babies--something that was lacking in the marketplace when her children were young. Clark grew Baby Einstein into a cultural phenomenon and sold it to The Walt Disney Company for $50 million, using some of the proceeds to launch her newest venture, The Safe Side--a company that produces products to help keep kids safe from strangers and child predators. "I didn't start Baby Einstein or The Safe Side because I felt like I was going to make a million dollars," said Clark. "I really started them because they were something that I loved and wanted to do."
Tomima Edmark, inventor of TopsyTail and founder of HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com
Edmark was working a corporate job in the late 1980s when she felt she'd hit the glass ceiling. She knew this wasn't what she wanted to do for the rest of her life and took action to make a change. She had an idea for a hair accessory, but didn't have the funds to build the injection mold to manufacture it. So she wrote a book on kissing, sold it to a publisher, and used the proceeds to launch TopsyTail, which became an overnight success and garnered more than $100 million in sales. She has since built on the success of TopsyTail by launching Internet retail websites HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com.
Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game
In 2000, Gault was working three jobs and knew there had to be a better way. So despite the lack of funds and lack of time, She got creative and managed to stretch both to get her concept--The Grocery Game--off the ground. (She used rolled coins to purchase her business license.) Today it's a multi-million-dollar service business that provides members with information on rock-bottom sales at their local grocery stores--matched up with available coupons to help save shoppers up to 70 percent off their grocery bills every week. She found inspiration in the money-saving strategy she'd been using in her own life, which she expanded to help more than 100,000 members nationwide.
Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop
Clark was highly successful when she began creating the Build-A-Bear concept. A seasoned retail executive with more than 20 years' experience (including three years as president of Payless Shoe Source), she fully understood the power of merchandising, marketing and product development. She harnessed that power to create a vision for Build-A-Bear. She used her own savings and with the help of an investor, launched the company in 1997. She says that she could have easily retired on her earnings from the corporate world. But instead she was inspired to build something special that would touch the lives of children across the world.
Debi Davis, founder of Fit America
Her first business failed and forced her into bankruptcy. But Davis refused to wallow in self-pity, so she sold her wrist watch and used the proceeds to fund what became a $45 million business--FitAmerica. Faced with a major business obstacle again, years later--her business went from $45 million to $5 million in an hour, due to circumstances beyond her control-- Davis once again faced the prospect of failure. But she reinvented her business yet again, and today, FitAmerica MD is a highly successful company that helps people lose weight and live healthier lives.
What inspires and drives you? Is it a great idea, a lack of fulfillment in your current job, the excitement of taking a risk or the fear of not taking one? Whatever your motivation, I encourage you to look to those who have beaten a path before you. These people, for very different reasons, all ended up in the same place: at the top of multi-million-dollar companies where they call the shots, make the money and have the flexibility in their lives to create their dream.
Via-Entrepreneur
When I researched my new book, Secrets of Millionaire Moms, I asked 17 highly successful business owners for the personal inspiration and catalyst that moved them to take action. For each woman, it was different. Some were motivated by years of experience and the seed money that enabled it to happen; others launched out of a financial or emotional need.
The common ground all these entrepreneurs shared was financial success and the gratification of creating something larger than themselves. Here are a few excerpts of their experiences:
Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic
Ashwell left school at age 16. She separated from her husband in her mid-twenties--with two babies under the age of 2 to support. These circumstances drove Ashwell to take a chance and start a retail business--Shabby Chic. With her babies by her side, she scouted flea markets for items she could refinish. Her pieces became an instant hit in her California store. The rest is history. Her company has since expanded to include a national line of slipcover furniture, bedding, home accessories, a TV series, design books and a line of home furnishings called Simply Shabby Chic sold exclusively through Target stores.
Julie Clark, founder of The Baby Einstein Company and The Safe Side
Money was never the motivating factor for Clark. A teacher, she founded her first company, Baby Einstein, to provide educational videos for her own babies--something that was lacking in the marketplace when her children were young. Clark grew Baby Einstein into a cultural phenomenon and sold it to The Walt Disney Company for $50 million, using some of the proceeds to launch her newest venture, The Safe Side--a company that produces products to help keep kids safe from strangers and child predators. "I didn't start Baby Einstein or The Safe Side because I felt like I was going to make a million dollars," said Clark. "I really started them because they were something that I loved and wanted to do."
Tomima Edmark, inventor of TopsyTail and founder of HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com
Edmark was working a corporate job in the late 1980s when she felt she'd hit the glass ceiling. She knew this wasn't what she wanted to do for the rest of her life and took action to make a change. She had an idea for a hair accessory, but didn't have the funds to build the injection mold to manufacture it. So she wrote a book on kissing, sold it to a publisher, and used the proceeds to launch TopsyTail, which became an overnight success and garnered more than $100 million in sales. She has since built on the success of TopsyTail by launching Internet retail websites HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com.
Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game
In 2000, Gault was working three jobs and knew there had to be a better way. So despite the lack of funds and lack of time, She got creative and managed to stretch both to get her concept--The Grocery Game--off the ground. (She used rolled coins to purchase her business license.) Today it's a multi-million-dollar service business that provides members with information on rock-bottom sales at their local grocery stores--matched up with available coupons to help save shoppers up to 70 percent off their grocery bills every week. She found inspiration in the money-saving strategy she'd been using in her own life, which she expanded to help more than 100,000 members nationwide.
Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop
Clark was highly successful when she began creating the Build-A-Bear concept. A seasoned retail executive with more than 20 years' experience (including three years as president of Payless Shoe Source), she fully understood the power of merchandising, marketing and product development. She harnessed that power to create a vision for Build-A-Bear. She used her own savings and with the help of an investor, launched the company in 1997. She says that she could have easily retired on her earnings from the corporate world. But instead she was inspired to build something special that would touch the lives of children across the world.
Debi Davis, founder of Fit America
Her first business failed and forced her into bankruptcy. But Davis refused to wallow in self-pity, so she sold her wrist watch and used the proceeds to fund what became a $45 million business--FitAmerica. Faced with a major business obstacle again, years later--her business went from $45 million to $5 million in an hour, due to circumstances beyond her control-- Davis once again faced the prospect of failure. But she reinvented her business yet again, and today, FitAmerica MD is a highly successful company that helps people lose weight and live healthier lives.
What inspires and drives you? Is it a great idea, a lack of fulfillment in your current job, the excitement of taking a risk or the fear of not taking one? Whatever your motivation, I encourage you to look to those who have beaten a path before you. These people, for very different reasons, all ended up in the same place: at the top of multi-million-dollar companies where they call the shots, make the money and have the flexibility in their lives to create their dream.
Via-Entrepreneur
Mogad only tracks the things you’ve sanctioned on your personal whitelist
Mogad allows people to share information on what is consuming their attention. It depends on a browser plugin.
mogad only tracks things on a whitelist
you control who sees what
the attention data mogad collects is yours
listeners for sites are off by default.
Mogad only tracks the things you’ve sanctioned on your personal whitelist. You choose who sees what—you can choose to share with just a handful of friends or with the world at large, or with no one at all. To use Mogad you’ll have to download a browser plug-in. From there you can add sites to track or pick from their predefined lists.
more at:http://www.mogad.com/
mogad only tracks things on a whitelist
you control who sees what
the attention data mogad collects is yours
listeners for sites are off by default.
Mogad only tracks the things you’ve sanctioned on your personal whitelist. You choose who sees what—you can choose to share with just a handful of friends or with the world at large, or with no one at all. To use Mogad you’ll have to download a browser plug-in. From there you can add sites to track or pick from their predefined lists.
more at:http://www.mogad.com/
Music Arsenal is a music industry business management tool
Music Arsenal is a music industry business management tool. Their web application helps record labels, booking agents, managers, promoters and anyone else in the music industry manage their companies in an easy way.
They don't think you should need 10 different programs to run your label and we believe everyone in a company should be able to share information. That's why we've brought everything together and created Music Arsenal. Whether you're a one-man show or work with many others, we're sure you can benefit from Music Arsenal.Music Arsenal, however, has come up with just the thing to help label managers keep their company together. The service comes with a project management dashboard which allows for coordinating tasks and notes, tour date scheduling, and contact management, along with press, radio and venue management. Arsenal requires no additional software or downloads, backups are performed each night, and it can be accessed whenever, wherever. Pricing is pretty cheap, with plans starting at $18 a month. There’s also a free thirty day trial version.
more at:http://www.musicarsenal.com/
They don't think you should need 10 different programs to run your label and we believe everyone in a company should be able to share information. That's why we've brought everything together and created Music Arsenal. Whether you're a one-man show or work with many others, we're sure you can benefit from Music Arsenal.Music Arsenal, however, has come up with just the thing to help label managers keep their company together. The service comes with a project management dashboard which allows for coordinating tasks and notes, tour date scheduling, and contact management, along with press, radio and venue management. Arsenal requires no additional software or downloads, backups are performed each night, and it can be accessed whenever, wherever. Pricing is pretty cheap, with plans starting at $18 a month. There’s also a free thirty day trial version.
more at:http://www.musicarsenal.com/
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Ocean Tomo Auctions
Ocean Tomo Auctions will offer the “Jaipuria Patent” for sale, U.S. Patent 7,047,202 which was filed back in 2001 and is considered one of the most important patents related to social networking. It will be offered as Lot 54 at the Ocean Tomo Fall 2007 Live IP Auction on October 25th at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
The patent claims priority to an earlier Indian patent and describes many of the fundamental workings of social networks, including creating an online social network including individual users and groups, accessing and using social network via the Internet or wireless devices, and advanced user privacy features.
In other words, this patent describes much of how all social networks are created, and thus gives the owner a significant advantage over the competition. If the hype surrounding this one is true, MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook and others may all be using processes covered by it.
More at:http://www.oceantomo.com/
[via Forbes]
The patent claims priority to an earlier Indian patent and describes many of the fundamental workings of social networks, including creating an online social network including individual users and groups, accessing and using social network via the Internet or wireless devices, and advanced user privacy features.
In other words, this patent describes much of how all social networks are created, and thus gives the owner a significant advantage over the competition. If the hype surrounding this one is true, MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook and others may all be using processes covered by it.
More at:http://www.oceantomo.com/
[via Forbes]
Vcasmo is an online presentation tool that lets you mash your video and images with audio or webcam video
Japan-based Vcasmo is an online presentation tool that lets you mash your video and images with audio or webcam video.
There are several ways in which you can use this service: combine your PowerPoint presentation with a video of yourself speaking, or mix a voice over with images from your last trip abroad. You can also choose what part of the video you’d like to insert voice-over. The result is a very helpful tool for combining different aspects of media to create an online presentation. The completed product can be embedded in your personal website or blog. This is not primarily an editing tool, however, so you won’t find many options for adding things like text or graphics, and you can’t add videos directly from a webcam.
On the site itself, you’ll find a community of users. You can subscribe to a user, and add them as a friend. View all of the presentations they’ve posted, leave comments and ratings, or add a presentation to your favorites. Adding some editing options, perhaps some text notes that users or the video creator could leave, like Veotag or MyPlick, and some chapter selections could make this even more useful for things like educational videos, which is a primary objective for Vcasmo.
more at:http://www.vcasmo.com/
Via-mash
There are several ways in which you can use this service: combine your PowerPoint presentation with a video of yourself speaking, or mix a voice over with images from your last trip abroad. You can also choose what part of the video you’d like to insert voice-over. The result is a very helpful tool for combining different aspects of media to create an online presentation. The completed product can be embedded in your personal website or blog. This is not primarily an editing tool, however, so you won’t find many options for adding things like text or graphics, and you can’t add videos directly from a webcam.
On the site itself, you’ll find a community of users. You can subscribe to a user, and add them as a friend. View all of the presentations they’ve posted, leave comments and ratings, or add a presentation to your favorites. Adding some editing options, perhaps some text notes that users or the video creator could leave, like Veotag or MyPlick, and some chapter selections could make this even more useful for things like educational videos, which is a primary objective for Vcasmo.
more at:http://www.vcasmo.com/
Via-mash
How to Make Money By Renting Baby Cloths
Since newborns grow out of a clothing size every month or so in the first half year of their lives, German Lütte-Leihen came up with a solution: a layette rental service for a fixed fee per month.
Parents can choose from different sets of onesies, pajamas and outerwear. The clothes are delivered by post. Once babies grow out of a size, the set can be exchanged for the next size up, free of charge. Like Netflix for baby clothes.
The clothing may be used, but it’s in great condition; the items are only used for a short while by each baby, and there’s not much wear and tear in the first six months.
Moreover, most of the clothing provided by Lütte-Leihen is made from 100% organic cotton.
Besides saving parents the expense of clothes that are only worn briefly, Lütte-Leihen’s service spares them the hassle of shopping for new items in a period when time is at a premium.
more at:http://www.luette-leihen.de/
Parents can choose from different sets of onesies, pajamas and outerwear. The clothes are delivered by post. Once babies grow out of a size, the set can be exchanged for the next size up, free of charge. Like Netflix for baby clothes.
The clothing may be used, but it’s in great condition; the items are only used for a short while by each baby, and there’s not much wear and tear in the first six months.
Moreover, most of the clothing provided by Lütte-Leihen is made from 100% organic cotton.
Besides saving parents the expense of clothes that are only worn briefly, Lütte-Leihen’s service spares them the hassle of shopping for new items in a period when time is at a premium.
more at:http://www.luette-leihen.de/
OURthreads is a social marketplace designed specifically for users interested in fashion, clothing, and accessories
OURthreads is a social marketplace designed specifically for users interested in fashion, clothing, and accessories. Their goal is to create a positive community experience for all of users. Members are given a ‘closet’ where they can showcase their threads and sell them. Search for closets by style (grunge, preppy, modern, label junky, trendy, etc.), by user name, or by hometown. Should you be looking for a certain item in particular, hit the ‘go shopping’ link at the top and enter in your search criteria (e.g. brand name, clothing type, size, etc.). If shopping’s not your thing, you can propose a trade and see if there are any takers. While the site is somewhat on the bare side, being new, it looks promising. Sign up for free today and show off your wardrobe.
more at:http://www.ourthreads.com/
more at:http://www.ourthreads.com/
Fly In Sky?
The Stellarium team is proud to announce the release version 0.9.0 of Stellarium, the open source planetarium for your computer. Stellarium shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like you would see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. Just set your coordinates and go.The view is incredibly realistic (3D) and exactly like what stargazers see with their eyes and viewing instruments. Stellarium has an impressive list of its capabilities broken down into four categories: sky, interface, visualization and customizability. A few shining examples are a default catalogue of over 600,000 stars, extra catalogues with over 210 million stars, realistic sunrise and sunset, a powerful zoom, projections options (used in many planetariums), stars twinkling, equatorial and azimuthal grids, and custom features that will drop jaws. Stellarium invites users to check out and contribute to the wiki with information about the program, and also with Sourceforge which is the main site for collaboration on Stellarium. Fly into the sky with Stellarium, but be careful- you might not make it back. Before you go make sure to support the site by donating through pay pall.
More at:http://www.stellarium.org/
More at:http://www.stellarium.org/
ContentSyndicate offer a bouquet of customized content services, based on the client's specific requirements
ContentSyndicate offer a bouquet of customized content services, based on the client's specific requirements.
They're talking news, feature articles, translation, brochures, journals, press releases, white papers, websites and marketing campaigns across platforms, media and languages. Utilizing a worldwide consortium of creative talent – editors, writers, translators, photographers and freelancers located in all the major cities of the world.
Making the content you receive not simply that of the highest quality, but something that has been crafted solely for your particular needs. Delivered right to your laptop in the quickest possible turn-around time. Effectively, harnessing the potential of the internet to create a global creative platform. One that makes a powerfully positive impact on your bottom line.Content Syndicate also provides tons of resources such as consulting, small business assistance, market research, tips on website building, etc. In addition to textual prose, images and photos are available for buying and selling as well as other media formats. Currently audio and video content is not involved but they promise that AV support is on the way. For an instant quote sign in to ContentSyndicate.com and get rolling.
More at:http://www.contentsyndicate.com/
They're talking news, feature articles, translation, brochures, journals, press releases, white papers, websites and marketing campaigns across platforms, media and languages. Utilizing a worldwide consortium of creative talent – editors, writers, translators, photographers and freelancers located in all the major cities of the world.
Making the content you receive not simply that of the highest quality, but something that has been crafted solely for your particular needs. Delivered right to your laptop in the quickest possible turn-around time. Effectively, harnessing the potential of the internet to create a global creative platform. One that makes a powerfully positive impact on your bottom line.Content Syndicate also provides tons of resources such as consulting, small business assistance, market research, tips on website building, etc. In addition to textual prose, images and photos are available for buying and selling as well as other media formats. Currently audio and video content is not involved but they promise that AV support is on the way. For an instant quote sign in to ContentSyndicate.com and get rolling.
More at:http://www.contentsyndicate.com/
Friday, August 31, 2007
CJReport is a citizen journalism website
CJReport is a citizen journalism website.Unlike other pro-am sites, CJReport admits anonymous posts, and edits. Also it’s got a Digg-like component, whereby users vote for the top stories to appear on the front page. Stories are categorized by topic, switch through the tabs to browse them. On the page bottom, you’ll find the latest releases. Contributing to CJ is similar to using a wiki. There are tabs for viewing, editing, images, revisions and votes. Revisions are equivalent to a story’s log—all edits are shown here. Anyone, even non-registered users can edit and submit stories.
Citizen journalism brings a more democratic stance to the news. CJReport makes it very easy for everyone to contribute. The UI is of the familiar wiki-type and the overall layout is clean and focused. Particularly nice touches are the ability to submit stories via your mobile, and the anonymous feature.
More at:http://www.cjreport.com/
Citizen journalism brings a more democratic stance to the news. CJReport makes it very easy for everyone to contribute. The UI is of the familiar wiki-type and the overall layout is clean and focused. Particularly nice touches are the ability to submit stories via your mobile, and the anonymous feature.
More at:http://www.cjreport.com/
OF ETHICS AND EFFICIENCY
Case Study:
Steven Fraser was in a fix. His efficient man friday Dilip Khare was found to be corrupt. Should Khare be asked to go, or should he be given another chance?
STEVEN Fraser read the fax message as it rolled out of the machine. "We have discussed Tapas Roy's case amongst ourselves, with our legal advisors and HR director Maya Suri. We have also given due consideration to your feelings on the matter.
However, we feel Roy's involvement in the accident was marginal, unpremeditated and his subsequent actions a result of panic. We feel it would be too harsh and unnecessary to terminate his service. The matter has been recorded in his personal dossier...."
Steven, the country manager of Pemento India, shook his head. "Very well, so be it..," he muttered, not entirely happy. Personally, he had nothing against Roy, but the entire episode was fraught with callousness and insensitivity, he felt.
Four months ago, Roy, a salesman with Pemento, had hitched a ride with a friend on his bike. Roy was attending to a sales call at Masjid Bunder in Mumbai and since he was late for a post-lunch area review meeting, he jumped on to a friend's bike to make it to Flora Fountain before 3 p.m. In the rush to get Roy to his office, the friend jumped a red light at Mohammed Ali Road and that was when he hit a pedestrian.
Intending to help the lady, Roy got off the bike, but his friend sped off. Rattled and fearing mob fury, Roy got into a taxi and fled too, but not before the public got the cab number. The lady, it turned out, was a school teacher whose husband was a lawyer" he filed a hit and run case.
Unable to find the bike rider, the police traced Roy through the cabby to the office of Pemento India and what followed was a nightmare. Roy claimed he did not know the person who drove the bike, that he had simply hitched a ride. That did not wash with the police or the lawyer who threatened to file a case of negligence. Eventually Roy was forced to identify his friend.
Steven was hopping mad. "This is absurd," he yelled. "It is a matter of a serious human rights violation and at Pemento we take a serious view of these issues. Roy is guilty on two counts: one, neglecting to help an injured party when he was partly responsible for the injury, and two, lying that he didn't know the driver of the bike. Clearly, he will have to leave Pemento.;"
HR director Maya Suri tried hard to defend Roy. "There is no court proceeding against him" the law has declared that his responsibility was minimal because he was not the driver. Roy simply happened to be there," said Maya. "Nonsense!" said Steven. "What view the law takes has nothing to do with human rights. That a responsible member of the company, on duty, acts in a manner not befitting the image of the company is the issue.
How can we take a lenient view of his lying, of ignoring a pedestrian who has been hurt by the very friend he was riding with? If he could act thus to save himself, could he not similarly lie to the detriment of the company to benefit himself? Can we be seen as a company that protects such a person?"
"Steven, Roy is young and ignorant," said Maya. "He `lied' as you say, but that was because he panicked. He had intended to help the victim, but fearing public ire, he fled. This is India, Steven, where mob fury is unmitigated and lethal. Then again, just because a friend was in the wrong does not make Roy an accomplice. Roy was in a fix and he was trying to manage it somehow. The fact that he came straight to the office and didn't disappear is proof enough of his honest intentions. To now say that Roy was also guilty of negligent behaviour appears unfair to me. We must stand by him."
"People must learn to accept responsibility even for their ignorance and for their inability to act responsibly," said Steven. "Social responsibility is an integral part of being a corporate citizen." Maya had then taken up the matter with the board, whose verdict was now lying in print on Steven's table.
Steven shrugged his shoulders and put the fax into a tray. Looking up he saw Dilip Khare, his personal assistant, standing before him with a pile of papers. "Dilip, Roy stays, that's the board's decision," he said. "What do you think?" "It's best to forgive and forget," said Dilip.
Steven considered the remark as he watched Dilip potter around the room putting away papers and files, pulling out folders and setting the alarm for a meeting at 4.30 p.m. As he put a post-it sticker which read `Stockist Mathur' on the clock, Steven smiled. "What would I do without you, Dilip?;" he asked.
Dilip was more than a personal assistant. He did much more than his job called for, which meant managing the life of his boss too. When the Frasers came to India, it was Dilip who arranged their stay, accompanied them on shopping sprees for linen and upholstery, cutlery and gadgets, even helped with their house lease, bought the car chosen by Mrs Fraser, organised its servicing, the petrol account, a driver... In short, he was the one person who had made their India posting manageable.
Steven was enormously overworked. If he left the workplace at 7 p.m., it was only to return to his study at 10 p.m. and slave away at market reports, plans, etc. Often he would call Dilip at 7 in the morning to dictate the tasks for the day, before he left for the plant. To make matters easy he had given Dilip a cellular phone. Later in the day they would talk and check on work done and new jobs to be done.
Dilip in turn managed Steven's deadlines, meetings, follow-ups on action plans etc. He was very efficient and Steven, who had come to India wondering about the quality of assistance he might have, was relieved. He encouraged Dilip to study further -- a course in sales management -- and promised him that his dream of getting into core operations would be fulfilled before Steven left India.
After 18 months in the country, Steven had come to rely on Dilip Completely. He was his coping mechanism in the hectic life that the indian operation entailed. Now Dilip managed a lot more independently
At 26, Dilip was very ambitious with dreams of making it big, even to step into Steven's shoes if he could. So enamoured was he of Steven's style and demeanour that, within a few months, he took to growing a small French beard like his boss. Steven had no class biases, shared his cigars with Dilip and often took him out to lunch at the various five-star restaurants he dined at. It was Steven's desire to treat him as an equal, socially.
By the end of 18 months, Steven had come to rely on Dilip completely. He was Steven's means of coping with the hectic life that the Indian operation entailed. Now Dilip managed a lot more independently, like collecting sales reports, collating them and e-mailing them to Steven wherever he was. Or issuing print orders for new stationery, buying supplies and even deciding on the supplier. Steven did not have the time, or the inclination, to look into such detail. He had trained Dilip adequately so that Dilip knew what was needed, anticipate them and execute them as necessary. The odd query that came directly to Steven from the market was efficiently passed on to the functionaries concerned for action. Pemento was now on the threshold of bigger things and the routine had to fall into place
But Dilip's airs and his demeanour irked the managers. It was common to see him, feet on the table, a cigar stuck between his lips, talking on the phone when Steven was not around. At such moments if any of the managers walked in, Dilip would not correct his posture, but gesture to the visitor to sit, which was rather unbecoming of an personal assistant, it was felt.
Dilip's growing irreverence towards his seniors did not escape Maya Suri's eye. "When you are working with a senior person like the country manager, your conduct comes under scrutiny. It is very important for you to be respectful and courteous, no matter what pressures you may be under," she had said to Dilip. "For instance," she said, "I wouldn't walk into Steven's room with a cigar stuck between my lips, as you are now doing." Dilip grinned and readily pulled the cigar off his mouth and stubbed it out on the floor.
Tough though she was, Maya knew that Dilip carried an efficient head on very young shoulders. At 26, he was like any youngster, full of cola and MTV and an attitude to match. But when it came to work, Dilip was the personification of efficiency and agility.
Read full text On:Click
Steven Fraser was in a fix. His efficient man friday Dilip Khare was found to be corrupt. Should Khare be asked to go, or should he be given another chance?
STEVEN Fraser read the fax message as it rolled out of the machine. "We have discussed Tapas Roy's case amongst ourselves, with our legal advisors and HR director Maya Suri. We have also given due consideration to your feelings on the matter.
However, we feel Roy's involvement in the accident was marginal, unpremeditated and his subsequent actions a result of panic. We feel it would be too harsh and unnecessary to terminate his service. The matter has been recorded in his personal dossier...."
Steven, the country manager of Pemento India, shook his head. "Very well, so be it..," he muttered, not entirely happy. Personally, he had nothing against Roy, but the entire episode was fraught with callousness and insensitivity, he felt.
Four months ago, Roy, a salesman with Pemento, had hitched a ride with a friend on his bike. Roy was attending to a sales call at Masjid Bunder in Mumbai and since he was late for a post-lunch area review meeting, he jumped on to a friend's bike to make it to Flora Fountain before 3 p.m. In the rush to get Roy to his office, the friend jumped a red light at Mohammed Ali Road and that was when he hit a pedestrian.
Intending to help the lady, Roy got off the bike, but his friend sped off. Rattled and fearing mob fury, Roy got into a taxi and fled too, but not before the public got the cab number. The lady, it turned out, was a school teacher whose husband was a lawyer" he filed a hit and run case.
Unable to find the bike rider, the police traced Roy through the cabby to the office of Pemento India and what followed was a nightmare. Roy claimed he did not know the person who drove the bike, that he had simply hitched a ride. That did not wash with the police or the lawyer who threatened to file a case of negligence. Eventually Roy was forced to identify his friend.
Steven was hopping mad. "This is absurd," he yelled. "It is a matter of a serious human rights violation and at Pemento we take a serious view of these issues. Roy is guilty on two counts: one, neglecting to help an injured party when he was partly responsible for the injury, and two, lying that he didn't know the driver of the bike. Clearly, he will have to leave Pemento.;"
HR director Maya Suri tried hard to defend Roy. "There is no court proceeding against him" the law has declared that his responsibility was minimal because he was not the driver. Roy simply happened to be there," said Maya. "Nonsense!" said Steven. "What view the law takes has nothing to do with human rights. That a responsible member of the company, on duty, acts in a manner not befitting the image of the company is the issue.
How can we take a lenient view of his lying, of ignoring a pedestrian who has been hurt by the very friend he was riding with? If he could act thus to save himself, could he not similarly lie to the detriment of the company to benefit himself? Can we be seen as a company that protects such a person?"
"Steven, Roy is young and ignorant," said Maya. "He `lied' as you say, but that was because he panicked. He had intended to help the victim, but fearing public ire, he fled. This is India, Steven, where mob fury is unmitigated and lethal. Then again, just because a friend was in the wrong does not make Roy an accomplice. Roy was in a fix and he was trying to manage it somehow. The fact that he came straight to the office and didn't disappear is proof enough of his honest intentions. To now say that Roy was also guilty of negligent behaviour appears unfair to me. We must stand by him."
"People must learn to accept responsibility even for their ignorance and for their inability to act responsibly," said Steven. "Social responsibility is an integral part of being a corporate citizen." Maya had then taken up the matter with the board, whose verdict was now lying in print on Steven's table.
Steven shrugged his shoulders and put the fax into a tray. Looking up he saw Dilip Khare, his personal assistant, standing before him with a pile of papers. "Dilip, Roy stays, that's the board's decision," he said. "What do you think?" "It's best to forgive and forget," said Dilip.
Steven considered the remark as he watched Dilip potter around the room putting away papers and files, pulling out folders and setting the alarm for a meeting at 4.30 p.m. As he put a post-it sticker which read `Stockist Mathur' on the clock, Steven smiled. "What would I do without you, Dilip?;" he asked.
Dilip was more than a personal assistant. He did much more than his job called for, which meant managing the life of his boss too. When the Frasers came to India, it was Dilip who arranged their stay, accompanied them on shopping sprees for linen and upholstery, cutlery and gadgets, even helped with their house lease, bought the car chosen by Mrs Fraser, organised its servicing, the petrol account, a driver... In short, he was the one person who had made their India posting manageable.
Steven was enormously overworked. If he left the workplace at 7 p.m., it was only to return to his study at 10 p.m. and slave away at market reports, plans, etc. Often he would call Dilip at 7 in the morning to dictate the tasks for the day, before he left for the plant. To make matters easy he had given Dilip a cellular phone. Later in the day they would talk and check on work done and new jobs to be done.
Dilip in turn managed Steven's deadlines, meetings, follow-ups on action plans etc. He was very efficient and Steven, who had come to India wondering about the quality of assistance he might have, was relieved. He encouraged Dilip to study further -- a course in sales management -- and promised him that his dream of getting into core operations would be fulfilled before Steven left India.
After 18 months in the country, Steven had come to rely on Dilip Completely. He was his coping mechanism in the hectic life that the indian operation entailed. Now Dilip managed a lot more independently
At 26, Dilip was very ambitious with dreams of making it big, even to step into Steven's shoes if he could. So enamoured was he of Steven's style and demeanour that, within a few months, he took to growing a small French beard like his boss. Steven had no class biases, shared his cigars with Dilip and often took him out to lunch at the various five-star restaurants he dined at. It was Steven's desire to treat him as an equal, socially.
By the end of 18 months, Steven had come to rely on Dilip completely. He was Steven's means of coping with the hectic life that the Indian operation entailed. Now Dilip managed a lot more independently, like collecting sales reports, collating them and e-mailing them to Steven wherever he was. Or issuing print orders for new stationery, buying supplies and even deciding on the supplier. Steven did not have the time, or the inclination, to look into such detail. He had trained Dilip adequately so that Dilip knew what was needed, anticipate them and execute them as necessary. The odd query that came directly to Steven from the market was efficiently passed on to the functionaries concerned for action. Pemento was now on the threshold of bigger things and the routine had to fall into place
But Dilip's airs and his demeanour irked the managers. It was common to see him, feet on the table, a cigar stuck between his lips, talking on the phone when Steven was not around. At such moments if any of the managers walked in, Dilip would not correct his posture, but gesture to the visitor to sit, which was rather unbecoming of an personal assistant, it was felt.
Dilip's growing irreverence towards his seniors did not escape Maya Suri's eye. "When you are working with a senior person like the country manager, your conduct comes under scrutiny. It is very important for you to be respectful and courteous, no matter what pressures you may be under," she had said to Dilip. "For instance," she said, "I wouldn't walk into Steven's room with a cigar stuck between my lips, as you are now doing." Dilip grinned and readily pulled the cigar off his mouth and stubbed it out on the floor.
Tough though she was, Maya knew that Dilip carried an efficient head on very young shoulders. At 26, he was like any youngster, full of cola and MTV and an attitude to match. But when it came to work, Dilip was the personification of efficiency and agility.
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On Money Making
Penns Grove, N.J. (FSB Magazine) -- I am the CEO of Parkway Corp., a Philadelphia company that operates 100 parking facilities in the U.S. My second business, breeding koi, started as a hobby. I bought about 40, to study what makes these beautiful fish so valuable. What is the best body shape? Is that brilliant red pattern going to disappear in six months, leaving the customer with an inferior fish? Many dealers base a koi's price on what it looks like today. We grade them according to what they'll look like over the years.
I launched this operation in southern New Jersey in 2002. Most U.S. koi breeders sell to the mass market; I saw an opportunity to breed better-quality fish for serious hobbyists. Most U.S. dealers fly to Japan and buy everything but tategoi, the highest-quality koi. They are too expensive. A five-inch fish, which will live about 50 years, costs more than $1,400 wholesale.
At Quality Koi (qualitykoi.com) we sell that same fish for less than $1,000. We breed 40 types of koi and sell 20,000 to 30,000 fish a year, 90% of which we sell wholesale to dealers. Their customers are hobbyists, who pay $15 to $5,000 a fish. Some have won prizes in fish shows against Japanese competitors. I've invested more in the farm than I ever thought I would. We expect to turn an operating profit at the end of this year, with revenues exceeding $500,000.
We've had many surprises. Four years ago thousands of fish disappeared in one day. We tested the water and found nothing wrong. A Japanese consultant visited and told us, "You have to walk the ponds." With each step, you release methane trapped beneath the clay bottom. Unless you release the gas regularly, it can erupt with such force that it disintegrates the fish. After five years we're still learning how to run the farm.
More at:http://www.qualitykoi.com/
via-FSB Magizne(http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/23/smbusiness/breeding_koi.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2007082708)
I launched this operation in southern New Jersey in 2002. Most U.S. koi breeders sell to the mass market; I saw an opportunity to breed better-quality fish for serious hobbyists. Most U.S. dealers fly to Japan and buy everything but tategoi, the highest-quality koi. They are too expensive. A five-inch fish, which will live about 50 years, costs more than $1,400 wholesale.
At Quality Koi (qualitykoi.com) we sell that same fish for less than $1,000. We breed 40 types of koi and sell 20,000 to 30,000 fish a year, 90% of which we sell wholesale to dealers. Their customers are hobbyists, who pay $15 to $5,000 a fish. Some have won prizes in fish shows against Japanese competitors. I've invested more in the farm than I ever thought I would. We expect to turn an operating profit at the end of this year, with revenues exceeding $500,000.
We've had many surprises. Four years ago thousands of fish disappeared in one day. We tested the water and found nothing wrong. A Japanese consultant visited and told us, "You have to walk the ponds." With each step, you release methane trapped beneath the clay bottom. Unless you release the gas regularly, it can erupt with such force that it disintegrates the fish. After five years we're still learning how to run the farm.
More at:http://www.qualitykoi.com/
via-FSB Magizne(http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/23/smbusiness/breeding_koi.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2007082708)
PaceTat offers on-skin advertising in the form of pacing guides
Washington, D.C.-based PaceTat offers on-skin advertising in the form of pacing guides. Pacing guides are used by runners in marathons and races to help them maintain the speed needed to finish a race within their goal time. Existing solutions include paper or plastic bracelets, which have a tendency to chafe and get in the way. PaceTat offers a comfortable and easy to read alternative: pacing guides transferred directly onto the skin of the forearm, like a temporary tattoo.
What's interesting for marketers is the branding opportunity: PaceTat offers custom branded versions for advertisers. Priced from USD 0.39 each, depending on order quantity, PaceTat's pacing guides present marketers with a unique canvas for conveying a message that literally sticks with the consumer until it’s washed off. The company, which was founded earlier this year, has already sold over 30,000 branded pacing guides. (They picked a desirable audience, too. In the US, the running market is notable for its median household income of roughly USD 113,000, according to Runner's World.)
PaceTat isn’t currently offering franchising or partnering arrangements, but the concept should inspire advertising mavens to find other methods of ‘skinvertising’. As a marketer, you know you're doing something right if consumers merge your brand with their own self-image. If they actually tattoo your logo directly onto their skin? Well, it doesn't get much better than that. ;-) Related: Advertising after dark—branded nightclub hand stamps.
Website: www.pacetat.com
Via-Springwise
What's interesting for marketers is the branding opportunity: PaceTat offers custom branded versions for advertisers. Priced from USD 0.39 each, depending on order quantity, PaceTat's pacing guides present marketers with a unique canvas for conveying a message that literally sticks with the consumer until it’s washed off. The company, which was founded earlier this year, has already sold over 30,000 branded pacing guides. (They picked a desirable audience, too. In the US, the running market is notable for its median household income of roughly USD 113,000, according to Runner's World.)
PaceTat isn’t currently offering franchising or partnering arrangements, but the concept should inspire advertising mavens to find other methods of ‘skinvertising’. As a marketer, you know you're doing something right if consumers merge your brand with their own self-image. If they actually tattoo your logo directly onto their skin? Well, it doesn't get much better than that. ;-) Related: Advertising after dark—branded nightclub hand stamps.
Website: www.pacetat.com
Via-Springwise
Get paid For Watching TV
BrightSpot TV, will deposit US $.50 into your BrightSpot TV account every time you watch a commercial. How does it work? First, you’ll need to sign up for a free account on the website. The site will then ask you for some personal information so they can cater advertisements to your interests. Then, all you have to do is watch the commercials that BrightSpot provides for you, answer a few questions from the advertisements for feedback purposes, and then you can begin to reap the benefits. If you don’t like the commercials you’re watching, you let the advertisers know; the more you give them feedback the more they’ll adapt the commercials to suit you.
BrightSpot delivers the power of choice to the people. It’s our right to define our own media experience. BrightSpot.TV allows their members to benefit from advertising without being intrusive or annoying. My time is precious and BrightSpot respects that. I only login to watch commercials when I have time. When I login, I have six commercials that match my interests in my SpotQueue. I can choose to watch all of them or none of them…it’s up to me.
More at:http://brightspot.tv/
BrightSpot delivers the power of choice to the people. It’s our right to define our own media experience. BrightSpot.TV allows their members to benefit from advertising without being intrusive or annoying. My time is precious and BrightSpot respects that. I only login to watch commercials when I have time. When I login, I have six commercials that match my interests in my SpotQueue. I can choose to watch all of them or none of them…it’s up to me.
More at:http://brightspot.tv/
For Your Project Solutions
LetsProve was found in 2006 with the vision of offering all business unit a new software-as-service model. Our first product is called "VO". VO steamlines Project planing, Task management ,Resource management, Document management, Issue management, Team collaboration, Time tracking and Analytics to help you maximize your productivity and returns. Based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Our vision is to offer a world-class software services for every business units. We accomplish this by remaining focused on inventing new technology with high-quality services.Their first product is "VO", which is an online time and project management solution. VO helps every member of the team be more productive from executives to customers. VO enables executives to track their projects status and expenses and it also allow customers to connect to the project and get the solutions they need. VO allows you to communicate with international team members so your project can be finished quickly. LetsProve.com gives businesses options so they can be more productive.
More at:http://www.letsprove.com/
Our vision is to offer a world-class software services for every business units. We accomplish this by remaining focused on inventing new technology with high-quality services.Their first product is "VO", which is an online time and project management solution. VO helps every member of the team be more productive from executives to customers. VO enables executives to track their projects status and expenses and it also allow customers to connect to the project and get the solutions they need. VO allows you to communicate with international team members so your project can be finished quickly. LetsProve.com gives businesses options so they can be more productive.
More at:http://www.letsprove.com/
Freelance Folder is a multi-authored blog dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and freelancers
Freelance Folder is a multi-authored blog dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and freelancers. Whether you're a blogger, writer, publisher, designer, artist, small business owner or entrepreneur, Freelance Folder is for you. At Freelance Folder you will find articles that provide you with the tools and information you need to succeed.FreelanceFolder.com posts daily on advice to become more successful in your entrepreneurial endeavors, with 32 different categories ranging from Advertising to Work-At-Home.The site appears to have very sound advice from the articles that I read with some very helpful tips about time management and expanding your customer base. The site links in to many other different sites that FreelanceFolder.com links to that can be very helpful for aspiring entrepreneurs as well. The site only shows posts for the last two months but already they have a vast array of articles on different subjects.
More at:http://freelancefolder.com/
More at:http://freelancefolder.com/
Thursday, August 30, 2007
8mysite.com provides a forum where site managers can post their new site for review by representatives of the general public
8MySite.com is a place to submit your web site for review and rating by our readers like you! We welcome you to our grand opening. If you need a category created: info@8mysite.com Enjoy.8mysite.com provides a forum where site managers can post their new site for review by representatives of the general public. Readers and reviews can make comments, suggestions, ratings, and offer different perspective to help the site manager improve their product. To post or review on 8mysite.com there is a free simple registration and log-in process. For reviewers, the sites are organized in 24 categories including humor, images, shopping, web tools, mobile, etc. Also, reviews can search by day, month, or year. The site is consistantly updated and has a live section displaying the progress of reviews and posts. Website managers can post their site and get feedback, but also have the opportunity to check out what other sites are up for review. This is a good way to see what competitors are coming out with and how their site compares.
More at:http://www.8mysite.com/
More at:http://www.8mysite.com/
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