For years, I have used Facebook simply to replicate the articles I’ve published on Sword Tips, the Exkalibur blog.
I rarely provided anything else on the Facebook platform to help you and other business leaders solve their everyday problems … even though that’s what I do every day everywhere else.
That’s not really what I intended, but it was early in the Facebook lifecycle and I wasn’t sure what I should be doing differently on the Exkalibur Facebook page.
Maybe you’ve faced the same questions as you’ve surfed the Internet waters, uncertain about what you may find where and what you can do to more efficiently to find just that exact piece of information to help you with a particular issue?
Don’t you think we’re both trying to figure out how to manage the information tsunami flowing fromblogs, RSS feeds, Facebook pages, twitter feeds and a host of other sources?
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Wanna have some fun? How about logistics? Now that’s some fun, ain’t it?
Social media has stimulated countless phenomena … but connecting with our communities is probably one of its most valuable outcomes … which is why this new UPS commercial really caught my eye. Remember the lesson that if the railroads realized they were in the transportation business, they might not have collapsed?
UPS believes they’re really in the “life” business … that logistics is making life better … parts on time, always in sync, compete effectively, track everything, no lost gifts … logistics just “makes the world work better”.
So, isn’t that the shocking truth about having fun … that it’s actually possible to build it into our work if we work at it? If UPS can put fun and some pizzaz into logistics, shouldn’t we be able to add some fun and excitement to our products and services?
Surely they’re more exciting than shipping and delivery? Am I right? Am I? Right?
No news flash here … except that many of us share the frustration over the relentless flood of email that washes ashore 24/7. There is a nugget somewhere in various ideas companies are trying to dam the waters, particularly with internal email.
This Wall Street Journal article summarizes some of those ideas … one from Success Factors, (a company for which I have served as the guest speaker in several national webinars) that banned internal email for an entire week.
What are you doing to get control of this email hydra?
Wow! According to a NY Times report, a recent study at the University of Maryland found that business plans really don’t matter!
Their study found that VC’s pay little attention to the business plan and rely upon their instincts, networks and other sources to vet business plans and assess the wisdom of an investment.
I don’t think this tells the whole story, however, so I’ve posted a LinkedIn discussion of this topic. What do you think?
The Obama administration has unveiled a program to help small businesses, including R&D and innovation credits, ELIMINATING capital gains on small business stock … we really need to see those details because that will attract investment at an accelerated pace … extending Net Operating Loss carryovers. A lot of this money will reportedly be taken from the tax loopholes available to large businesses operating internationally.
Business Week recently published a summary of some of the challenges facing companies seeking venture capital. Most of the advice is pretty common, and I think, applies to obtaining capital of any kind.
In short, demonstrate a realistic value proposition, plan for positive cash flow and show a sustainable, lean organization. if you have the right idea now, push forward now to obtain the capital to bring your idea to fruition . . . despite the economic turmoil.
Recently, an erudite friend of mine referred me to the provocative article by Nicholas Carr in the Atlantic Monthly, Is Google Making Us Stupid? Since both of us are avid readers, it was probative of our ability to continue to read thoughtfully despite the increasing intrusion of cryptic data bytes in our everyday lives. You can read more about this in Carr’s book, The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, From Edison to Google.
Damon Darlin writing in the NY Times recently, Technology Doesn’t Dumb us Down. It frees our Minds, inquired if we shouldn’t have the opposite reaction and welcome, with outstretched arms, the advance of technology harking back to the printing press.
It’s an intriguing debate so far ….
BW reported this week on the accelerating trend toward home offices. Even such office-centric firms as BDO Seidman are finding ways to save money by encouraging home offices – and outfitting at company expense. Capital One – health care companies – and others are cited for recognizing the cost savings to the company, and the “hidden raise” it provides to employees who save on commuting, lunch and clothing costs.
It’s also a timely way of expanding during difficult times with minimal new office expense.
Welcome to Exkalibur. I’m Lary Kirchenbauer, President of Exkalibur Advisors, Inc. Please take advantage of our resources to help you build your business ... and let me know what more we can do to serve you.
Read my latest column from the NY Times affiliate, the North Bay Business Journal.
Lary began advising our company when we were going through some difficult challenges, and now, two years later, we are in a completely different and significantly better place. His advice was specific, direct, and not always what we wanted to hear, and that was invaluable. Lary has been quick to cut through to the heart of an issue. His coaching, prodding, and tough questioning helped us to make changes that truly and measurably have helped both our top and bottom lines.
Paul Levitan, CEO Galaxy Desserts, Inc.
