So part of our blogging assignment is to embed an outside blog source.  Well in my research, I found a most interesting blog in the Wall Street Journal. America’s Newest Profession: Blogging – Mark Penn, WSJ.com – WSJ.com.  In this blog, Penn notes that, “The best studies we can find say we are a nation of over 20 million bloggers, with 1.7 million profiting from the work, and 452,000 of those using blogging as their primary source of income. That’s almost 2 million Americans getting paid by the word, the post, or the click –“.  That’s almost as many bloggers as lawyers and more than computer programmers.  It’s an interesting thought that we as a society are more engrossed with opinion than fact.  It takes a savvy reader to distinguish between opinion and fact.  So should my business school goal focus upon turning my typed opinion into revenue?  Who knows, this class assignment could have revealed a source of income?  Well maybe not but , it’s a good thought and an interested opportunity to consider.

Comparing Job Numbers in America

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The ideal entrepreneur could blend social and financial returns.  Yes some have been able to do so but very few.  One such  example is as the infamous TOM’S entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie.  Yet it’s the profit motive that allows Mr. Mycoskie to engineer his social return or donation of shoes to impoverished children worldwide.  Don’t social goals collide more often with financial goals. Isn’t it really a Money or Mission decision?  In today’s economy social entrepreneurs are having a much more difficult time reconciling mission with finances.  Sustainability is difficult for all entrepreneurs but aren’t social entrepreneur finding sustainability becoming more difficult than the problems their mission address as funding sources dry up.  How to solve these issues?  It seems having financial entrepreneurs working with social engineers is the only answer.  A meeting of the two worlds needs to occur for solutions to happen.  Kind of an oil and vinegar picture but when combined,  a pleasant result.

A Lesson in Apologies from TOMS Shoes | Blog | Daily Dose | Entrepreneur.com

Rescue Plan # 3 for the Greek debt crisis and still no viable solution.  There is positive movement towards writing down the Greek debt held by the private sector by 50% but, this is only one part of the solution.  What about the less than credible plan to shore up other debt such as Italy and even France or what about the restoration of confidence in European banks so they can begin lending again.  History definitely repeats itself but this is on the scale of another Greek Tragedy.

This is the euro zone’s third comprehensive package this year to rescue the euro.  Meanwhile,  the rest of the world looks at these rescues on center stage.    Our world markets are in utter volatility.  Now the US fails to meet its spending cuts package and simply gives up.  I can’t leave beyond my means,  why should government be allowed to?  There’s a fine balance in providing services without overspending.  The time is now to focus on this worldwide but every country seems to be stymied by their politics.  Aren’t governments here ultimately to look out for our best, not to put us at risk?

Photo: http://www.crystalinks.com/greekarchitecture.html

Marc Barros CEO Contour Inc.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Canadian economy added 60,900 net new jobs in September with the unemployment rate falling to 7.1% its lowest level since December 2008 according to Statistics Canada.    This was a sharp reversal after two months of disappointing results.  Of the 60,900 net new jobs, 38,900 were persons going into self-employment positions – the entrepreneur.  “An entrepreneur acts as a catalyst for economic change…” according to Joseph Schumpeter who popularized the use of the phrase creative destruction (changes entrepreneur bring to an economy each time they create a new process, product or service).

Enter Mark Barros, CEO and co-owner of Contour Inc.  Borne out of a business plan competition at University of Washington, their business plan took third place and provided $20,000 of start-up capital for their idea a hands free, high definition video camera intended for outdoor and action sports enthusiasts.  From a heatless warehouse to over $15.1 million dollars of revenue, Contour is proving entrepreneurship, even in a poor economy can payoff.  Borne by a couple of skiers in business school seeking a solution to hands free video. Growth for Contour is 11,662.7% in three years. Speaking from experience, it is the best product out there.

Photo by Erik Graham Occupy Vancouver Facebook

The Occupy Wall Street,  Occupy Vancouver…..  – over 1500 cities involved.  The Movement is centered upon a premise of 99% against the 1% or income inequality.  The Vancouver Sun reported a march of roughly 300 Occupy Vancouver demonstrators on Saturday as part of protests globally attempting to persuade G20 leaders institute a tax, penned “a Robin Hood tax”, on speculative financial transactions and currency trading at their summit in France last month.

Whether you concur with the tax or not,  it is a step in the right direction for the Occupy movement;  finally a solid demand with an intended audience.  Researching the Occupy Movement was disheartening.  Although well-intended, this opportunity to make a difference is being floundered by poor focus and anything but laser messaging.  OWS recently reported they have garnered close to a half million dollars of financial support.  This financial support however is going to basic necessities such as food, medical care and sanitation.  Little to no monies spent on assembling a coherent, focused message for a targeted audience that can administer such change.  It’s time for the Occupy Movement to think about effective messaging.

Update:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Occupy+Vancouver+protesters+abandon+tent+city+plans/5756761/story.html

Great eye-catching title, Brett Kelly’s post of Nov. 22 states, ” According to many market researchers, children are among the most “savvy and sharp consumers” out there. However I don’t agree with the conclusion he reaches that “child targeted advertising doesn’t work anymore”.   In fact, I find significant credible research to the opposite. The academic paper Media and Youth Consumerism published in the JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH cites six studies and concludes, “ Behavioral effects studies have shown that television advertising is a major source of children’s product requests and that children who watch more television are more likely to ask for advertised products”.  Taking a step back, it only makes sense that the millions of dollars are spent on ads targeted to kids each holiday season is effective.  I doubt corporations would be wasting their dollars without significant research and results to support it.  I doubt the boards of these companies would support such expenditures without solid value behind them.

http://www.aeforum.org/aeforum.nsf/d27aa4e05753477780256c5100355ea8/22e2aa3b55f8e9cb80256a55004eb575/$file/aus1024.pdf

The Business of… Everything! » Blog Archive » Why Can’t We Corrupt Our Children Anymore?

Jennifer Jordache in her blog post My Facebook Credit Card  comments “Although the question lies in whether customers will be attracted to the financial services that Rogers could provide with the many options offered by other companies (Airmiles anyone?). The general consensus appears to be wariness of the corporate giant. The company with an average of four hours for waiting on hold for customer service is offering a credit card? Where do I sign up?”.  I completely agree that financial services in the hands of companies such as Rogers is a unnerving thought especially after my recent experience with customer service of Rogers.  I spent two hours  in person signing up for a mobile account only to be told that “sorry you cannot sign a contract you aren’t 19”.   So do over.  This time over the phone with a guarantor, a deposit and four verification calls, it took only a brief 2 hours 45 minutes on the phone.  Trust large corporations acting with my financial services, identity and credit worthiness?  I don’t think so.  Worth a visit www.boycottrogers.com/cs-nightmares/

My Facebook Credit Card | Jenn’s COMM 101 Blog

Although an opinion piece this article interested me quite a bit because it looks not only at the US and North America’s economic problems but the World as a whole. The underlying thought is that the growing inequality is the cause of the financial collapse and the solution is strong government expenditures.

To come out of the financial crisis stimulus programs have been the current answer, the bank profitability is increasing but lending has not recovered. The issue is big corporations getting back to as much money as before the economic crisis, but instead of lending or placing it back in the market they are sitting on it as a buffer in case of yet another economic collapse.

If this continues things will never get better and we’ll be stuck in the same cycle we’ve been in since 2007. My opinion is that the major corporations need to step up and get this “buffer” money back into the market. It’s a big job on their part but if it starts from the top all the others are sure to follow.

On a side note this has been my my first time on Aljazeera, I really like it and plan on using them in the future.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/10/2011104111133888567.html

On Wednesday the visionary co-founder of Apple died from a rare form of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. Steve Jobs had a long history with Apple, starting as one of the co-founders, leaving the company and then being welcomed back to eventually the position of Chief Executive. Since Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 the stock has risen more than 9000%. He resigned in August of this year.

Since the death of Jobs the Apple share price has gone down more than 5% in Frankfurt and has lost value in almost all markets around the world. The question is will this continue or will Apple be able to hold their own?

In my opinion Steve Jobs has been the face of Apple for quite some time even after resigning in August. As for the operation of the company itself this loss shouldn’t do any harm, the major loss is not having an iconic figure to represent the company. There’s two ways for Apple to get around this, they could either wait it out (this could be quite some time considering how well known Jobs is) or they can find someone new to become the face of the company.

RIP Steve Jobs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/06/apple-stock-steve-jobs

In Fall 2009 Level 1 Productions released their annual ski film Refresh (trailer here). Level 1 hired Warren Miller to voice over the introduction. Warren Miller has been making ski movies for over 50 years, he was the man that revolutionized the ski industry and built an empire known as Warren Miller Entertainment.

In 1995 a agreement was made between Warren Miller and Warren Miller Entertainment (now owned by his son) that Warren Miller Entertainment had the exclusive rights to the personal endorsement, name, use of voice, and likeness of Warren Miller.

By narrating the Level 1 movie Warren Miller was breaking the contract and a huge ethical business issue of abiding by contracts. Level 1 Productions may not have been personally breaking a contract but by producing the movie they knowingly disregarded another contract within in the industry and tried to take it behind Warren Miller Entertainment’s back believing they would not notice, two major ethical flaws.

Warren Miller Entertainment took both Warren Miller himself and Level 1 Productions to court. Warren Miller Entertainment won the case against Warren Miller, they still own the exclusive rights. The judge dropped the case against Level 1 Productions stating that Warren Miller’s appearance in the Level 1 film did not financially hurt Warren Miller entertainment.

http://www.examiner.com/skiing-in-national/warren-miller-entertainment-sues-level-1-productions-for-refresh-ski-film