Archive for the Category ◊ Business ◊

Patience is torture
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 | Author: kevin

I tried to get Mis Tribus into the TOC Startup “Showcase Showdown,” but I was forced to make a decision. Since I’m in the design and customer development stage, I don’t really have much to show, even less so, if the idea behind pitching a company is to potential investors. That was clear to the judges (although I was not alone amongst the proposals), and when I was asked whether I would have something viable to show. I ultimately decided that it might be a good idea and heed someone’s suggestion to be patient. It was a hard choice to make, however, it’s even harder living with that choice.

Being patient does not come naturally to me. I am challenged by balancing my racing intellect with the asynchronous feedback from life; with it’s boundless miss-met expectations. I can will Mis Tribus into existence, but I can’t expect anyone else’s will to get on the bus. All I can do is make the invitation. I have to earn the privilege of gaining someone’s attention.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Execution, Software Development, Startups, Web Development  | Comments off
Take the time and do your research!
Friday, January 21st, 2011 | Author: kevin

Can I get a seat?

Can I get a seat?

I’ve got the introduction of “Guagua Pública: The New Transmedia Producer” written, but my good friend Marcos Polanco introduced me to the theories of Steve Blank. I see now how we should have done things differently with Dónde Es.com. All I can say is we didn’t do enough customer development. We should have spent more time trying to understand (to iterate to) what our customers wanted. I’m certain Steve’s theories, especially as interpreted by serial start-up leader Ash Maurya, CEO WiredReach, together I believe they have distilled one of the most agile, but achievable web start-up software development process to launch a website on the web. In a traditional business environment, the only other similar activity is known as customer research. So I’m taking the time to understand my tribe, before I get deeper into the software design of Mis Tribus.com, the open transmedia producer community.

One resource that I’m finding absolutely fascinating is the research of Paco Underhill on shopping. His book “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping
” is an eye-opening crushing view into the extent we are manipulated and influenced by companies to buy. It’s actually so amazing it is fascinating now the veil has been peirced, take this gem:

“In the majority of stores through out the world, sales would instantly be increased by the addition of one chair. I would remove a display if it meant creating space for a chair [I'd say going, it gets old standing around in a store while someone else shops]. I’d rip out a fixture. I’d kill a mannequin. A chair says: We care.”

Short, funny, but how critical, how does an author say I care? How does a web community say I care? It’s important that I clearly communicate “transmedia production” in a way that says I care, because I am just like you. I want be recognized for my effort, my passion.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: Sanctu

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Execution, Inspirational, Personal, Software Development, Writing  | One Comment
Forecast: Doom and Gloom
Tuesday, August 01st, 2006 | Author: kevin

From the we are so totally screwed department:

In a Caribbean Big Business Profile, from July 27, 2006, Jose J. Villamil, president of the island’s principal economic and planning and consulting firm, Estudios Technicos, the top ten jobs list through 2010 are in order of highest percentage growth – administrative support, sales personnel, manufacturing, transportation, food preparation and service, security, construction, education, healthcare, and finally (drum role, please) cleaning and maintenance.

So summarizing, we are going to build a shit load of fast food restaurants, that will require security, because hardly no one will be earning more than minimum wage. there’ll always be room for people to take of our fat and pyshopathic lives, and clean up after us as we completely buy a bunch of crap we don’t need. No one will be able to afford gasoline so, “guaguitas” will be our only way to get around. As it happens today, those that can’t actually get a real job will end up teaching, and the rest will be administrative assistants in the Department of Education. Now isn’t that a pretty picture of our future. Deal with it. It does’t get any realer than this.

From the need anymore proof department:

In the same issue of the Caribbean Business, Archer Lebron, chairman of the board of the Internet Society of Puerto Rico (I-suck-PR) and executive vice president and managing partner of Softek Inc. (gee doesn’t sound like someone’s compensating for something?) said “We talk a lot about a new economy and the Internet is the infrastructure that this new global economy runs on. Right now, only 35% of Puerto Rico’s population is online. [...] In order to be a real player in today’s global markets, Puerto Rico’s Internet penetration must be at least 70% to 80%”

Yes, because the world is holding back the Internet because more Puerto Ricans can’t access the Internet to buy more crap. If this guy is the chairman of I-suck-PR, and doesn’t get that a)Nearly almost all of our major businesses are online already; and 2)Consumers are not needed in Puerto Rico for any company here to join the global economy on the Internet; then what can you expect the brain dead followers that are members of this organization or the clients his company are supposed to think?

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Internet, Puerto Rico  | Comments off
Planning ahead
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 | Author: kevin

For anyone considering a jump into starting their own company, forming or joining a startup, the next few posts will offer a few quick words of advice. As I share them, I’ll also give a brief description of my work efforts.

1. It is said that planning for any project is indispensable, while the plan you create for that project is disposable.

If you’re going to make the jump, make sure you take a parachute along with you. A parachute in this sense is a fall back position that can carry you through the extended “project initiation” phase. It is going to take way more time than you ever believe to get rolling. Whether that means landing the first contract or making the first sale. You’re going to need some insurance. Your insurance could be an existing client. Like quitting your job and being able to contract yourself back to them and continue to provide services.

This is proof that no matter how smart someone might seem, or claim to be, reality is quite often more brutal. I know this rule, but yet I wasn’t actually able accomplish creating a fall back position. While I have a proposal pending with my ex-client, I’m still waiting for feedback. Therefore, I didn’t plan ahead successfully. Many excuses what I didn’t incorporate sooner, build the web site sooner, create a capabilities statement early, for I need them now; and they’re not ready.

Although I did pick up a great sideline gig by becoming the new Editor in Chief of TUX Magazine, it’s not directly on my path to create a startup or software and services company. I’m working on my third issue and it is a lot of fun. It is very helpful in bringing closer to reality my life long dream of authoring a technical book. And in a weird sort of Moebius strip, infinite loop, sort of a way it takes me back some 25 years to when I started Journalism school at Ball State University.

Creating passionate users as I launch my software and services company

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Computer, Opportunity  | 2 Comments
Methods of Execution
Monday, March 20th, 2006 | Author: kevin

I was having another lively conversation with my friend Marcos Polanco this evening. At one point I reminded him that I was through with accepting and dealing with the seven rings of bullshit that surround most business conversations here in Puerto Rico. It seems that every conversation I witness is an endless stream of exaggerations, mis-representations, and even flat out lies.

There is one special version of this business exchange that I find incredibly vile. I call it building castles in the air. It involves in stating that something will be done. However, the conditions necessary to make that thing possible don’t exist. Let me illustrate my favorite, I want to build a company to make widgets. When asked if I will out-source the making of those widgets to China. I respond by saying, I’d prefer to get Puerto Ricans to make my widget. Yep that’s right if any body makes my widgets they’re going to be Puerto Ricans. A very patriotic and noble ideal. But then you ask me, are there a lot of people in Puerto Rico that know how to make widgets? Looking at the floor, I respond in a low voice. I can’t find any qualified widget makers. You press me farther and ask, are the universities actively producing knowledgeable widget makers? I respond proudly, yes. UPR-Mayaguez produces some of the most talented and sought after widget makers. So you ask, so you’ll be able to hire some of those recently graduated widget makers, right? Once again I look at the floor and say, barely audible, no. They’ve all accepted jobs to go make widgets in China for 3 times what I can pay them. And just in case your going to ask, no I’m not actually doing anything to produce more people capable of making widgets.

As I thought about writing this, I recalled what Larry Bossidy admonishes in his book “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” that the first rule in successful execution is eliminating all confusion and grasping the truth about a situation. When are the business leaders of Puerto Rico going to grasp the reality of the complex set of lies that they use to build more castles in the air? However, as I was was googling for a nice link about execution, I found a link about Methods of Execution.

Ha, LOL, the same word that we use to exult companies that operate efficiently is the same word we use to kill people. After reading the source, wouldn’t you know it from all places. The third highest ranked link about execution is from Indiana (my birth place, my home state). And people say God doesn’t have a sense of humor.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Puerto Rico  | Comments off
Gartner Presents 10 Year Scenario for Information Technology, Business and Society | Tekrati Research News
Saturday, March 18th, 2006 | Author: kevin

In this article Gartner Presents 10 Year Scenario for Information Technology, Business and Society | Tekrati Research News there is a quote which I believe is the clearest description of what is wrong with nearly all businesses:

“The challenge to established companies comes not from other established players, but from start-up entrepreneurs who will use technology to upset the status quo.”

Think about it…

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Computer  | Comments off
Stupidest Use of a Religous Debate Cliche
Monday, February 27th, 2006 | Author: kevin

In an interview for Open Business Esther Dyson included this in an answer about whether Yahoo or Goolge are open businesses: “In many ways, Yahoo! believes in smart, “intelligent design” and careful strategies, while Google follows blind evolution and operates a Darwinian fitness landscape within its development organization.”

P.S. I’m back and there’s going to be hell to pay….

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Computer, Internet, Open Source  | Comments off
The hardest battle is often within
Friday, October 21st, 2005 | Author: kevin

By far the challenge I face in trying to be remarkable and do remarkable things is resisting the sweet temptation that surrounds. It’s everywhere, pervasive, you can never hide from it: MEDIOCRITY. The battle I most hope to win in the rest of days is the battle against mediocrity. When most everyone around us seem committed to mediocrity, it makes it a struggle to remain committed to excellence.

Seth Godin asks “Why are we willing to settle for work products that just isn’t that good–while at the same time we vote with our dollars to buy things and experiences that are exceptional?” Why indeed?

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Opportunity  | Comments off
Shit happens…
Thursday, October 06th, 2005 | Author: kevin

One time I was with a group of senior executives and we were talking about a deadline. They were very interested in hearing when I thought this task would be complete. I walked them through the steps to complete the task: “first this, then that, then some other stuff, ….” when I threw in “and then shit happens” and then finally it will be ready. There eyes bugged out and looked amongst themselves like “Oh no you didn’t!”

Of course what I meant, which I explained, was that something always goes wrong. When it does it will delay the task, but it will not be a “show stopper”. We’ll adapt to the situtation, work around, over, or through the temporary obstacle, and finally complete the task. It was a choice moment. The looks on their faces was pure gold. I just didn’t feel like getting into the gory details so I , uhum, papraphrased. :)

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business  | 2 Comments
This just in…
Wednesday, October 05th, 2005 | Author: kevin

While scanning through my feeds, I occassionally come across something that seems important. It seems important but I’m not sure why and what category to place this new information. Here are few such items:

  • The $90 billion advertising industry will be catapult into the 21st century with ConfirMedia Online, from Verance Corporation. ConfirMedia Online will provide for the first time ever a fully automated system to track actual airplay on a next-day basis across all major electronic media including TV, radio and cable. A revolutionary solution to the media industry’s biggest challenge — accountability — ConfirMedia Online allows broadcasters and agencies to simultaneously track and report airplay in real-time with complete transparency and pinpoint accuracy.
  • In the wow, wish I was going catgory! – Guidewire Group, the producers of BlogOn 2005 Social Media Summit, today revealed the impressive roster of speakers and exhibitors who will participate in its upcoming executive conference for Internet marketing professionals. Seth Godin, David Weinberger and Gil Schwartz will headline the speaker program. The summit will also name 20 companies as Social Media Innovators, including these never heard of companies…
  • Are you keeping up with this? – Bingo Bango Software Inc., an Atlanta- based start-up, announced the release of Elicit. Elicit, a desktop blogging client, integrates leading web and RSS Services from the internet’s giants in one application for the purpose of creating content for blogs. Elicit’s service integration is one of several productivity innovations for bloggers.
  • It’s a SaaS-y future after all – A new report from IDC, the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events, ranks WebEx Communications number one among the top 25 on-demand software providers and number one among the top five Software as a Service (SaaS) providers.

    The report also states that, “IDC finds that not only are cost-savings benefits and rapid implementation times fueling overall SaaS adoption, but also intangible benefits such as increased employee productivity and efficiencies are being recognized.”

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Business, Computer, Internet  | Comments off
« Previous Entries