Month: October 2012

This post is based on Lara Galinsky’s blog on “Not Everyone Should Be a Social Entrepreneur.” Galinsky expresses that it isn’t possible for everyone that wants to create a change to become a social entrepreneur, it just isn’t viable. Unfortunately everyone will not be able to create a groundbreaking organization that socially changes an area with a lasting effect. Galinsky believes we should instead equip the new generation with tools to make them “changemakers, champions, and supporters of the work.”

I fully agree with Galinsky. As much as many of us intend to create a social change that enforces a new equilibrium for some poverty stricken place in the world, all of us will not be able to accomplish this. Instead we should work at socially changing the world around us by providing resources and education for those that are underprivileged. We need to become professionals at what we enjoy and through that we can channel our help to organizations that need it.

Many of us will not meet the definition of a social entrepreneur but that doesn’t mean we can’t support key social entrepreneurs in their journey to change our world for the better.

In 2009 GM received bailouts from the US government that included 50 billion dollars of taxpayer money. Fortunately taxpayers have received about 24 billion dollars of that money back. Unfortunately the rest of the money that GM owes is currently invested in company shares which are taking an enormous hit. Since GM’s initial public offering at $33 the share has dived to $25. It is estimated that the federal government would need $53 a share for taxpayers to break even.

In that miraculous business plan that GM created for the US government they explicitly “promised to fast-track development of energy-efficient vehicles“. From what GM is offering on their showroom floor today, they definitely haven’t fulfilled that promise. On the GM website they speak of “the most fuel-efficient vehicles in our history on the road today“, they go on to speak of a hybrid Silverado that delivers a dismal 23MPG highway. If that isn’t bad enough they mention their Buick LaCrosse which delivers a mixed 25/36MPG rating.

When the LaCrosse has competitors like the Volkswagen Passat (30/40MPG), it seems like a  weak offering from GM. Some go as far as to state that General Motors is Headed For Bankruptcy–Again.

With relentless competition, can GM transform and compete?

“Big companies are discovering that going green does not just mean saving trees, but dollar bills, too.”

Consumers continuously search for green products to purchase on a daily basis. They attempt to fill their needs by enriching themselves with green alternatives instead of products that are not only costly to the environment but their wallet as well. “over 60 percent of consumers said that they prefer to purchase from environmentally responsible companies.”

Companies are attempting to fill this void. They do so by innovating and creating products that are appealing to consumers. Sun Chips, a company owned by Pepsi Co has invented a completely biodegradable bag that they are continually adjusting to appeal to consumers. Initially the bag was seen as “too noisy” but the company has listened and they are investing in efforts to decrease the noise and maintain the sustainability of the bag.

Sun Chips has “cut costs” by moving from a plastic bag that relies on expensive oil to one that is environmentally friendly and also relatively cheaper. Even Subaru has implemented this sustainable practice and saved valuable capital.

Just like a basic economic principle states, investing more in capital now means increased profit later on.

Blackberry is dead due to its own inability to innovate and advance.

This post is based on the blog post by Cathy Lee titled “Blackberry Recovery or Rediscovery”. Lee’s argument is that Blackberry is losing its loyal consumer base to Apple and Android at an increasing rate. Lee believes Blackberry has one last shot at resurrecting the company with its future Blackberry 10 plan.

Blackberry is definitely losing a large amount of consumers because of its inability to deliver a product that meets a specific markets needs. Even corporate structures like medical device manufacturers have switched to iOS devices such as the Iphone because of the excellent apps available for them and their consumers.

Blackberry 10 seems like a dead end to me, it is utilizing technology and concepts that should of been available to consumers from Blackberry over a year ago. The constant release date delays for BB10 isn’t helping the company.

With a decreasing consumer base and an even smaller population of app developers, it is a grim ending for the once mighty and revered company. Research In Motion’s best chance at remaining alive is to license their assets, such as patents and possible future operating system designs like Blackberry 10.