http://cdn2.yourstory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Muhammad-Yunus-800×440.jpg

After watching the video about social Entrepreneurship, I‘m really upset to see so many people live in the same world as us have totally different life. However, fortunately, we have social entrepreneurs to make “so many people so happy” even with small amount of money.

I’m always considering the meaning of life, why do people alive? What should we do? For businessmen, what is their role in the society? I think if their business can help more people get rid of poverty, create more employment and help poor people improve their health state, then they are doing the right thing.

Also it doesn’t  matter if you don’t have enough money, like Muhammad Yunus in the video, some social entrepreneurs are trying to use their amazing business ideas to help people in poor area make enough money to live a better life. As a member of Sauder school of business, I’m so proud to see that we are doing a really good job to help people in developing countries get out their trouble by providing them the most effective strategies.

Reference:

“WHAT IS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP?”:  http://skollworldforum.org/about/what-is-social-entrepreneurship/

“Can fair trade boutique expand without alienating customers?”:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/day-to-day/can-fair-trade-boutique-expand-without-alienating-customers/article4405520/

“In a crowded market, entrepreneur finds a sweet way to stand out”:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/going-global/in-a-crowded-market-ethiopian-entrepreneur-finds-a-sweet-way-to-stand-out/article17912688/

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Although 3d printing technology has been born for more than 20 years, it is hard to say it’s popular even now. When people think of 3d printing, more people just treat it as a tool for optimizing production processes

I think a lot of people ignored the most promising properties of 3d printing technology, material properties. Three-dimensional printing is a good imitation of metal’s mechanical or thermal properties, which will be widely used in construction, automotive, medical and many other fields. Three-dimensional printing industry has the possibility of becoming a very big industry.

For example, as we all know, orthodontics in braces are often expensive and hard to remove. So the world’s top orthodontics laboratory ClearCorrect uses 3d printing braces to improve a patients’ experience.The world famous computer maker HP said it will enter this area. The company recently announced that its will introduce their super fast 3d printer to market in 2016.

In history, some really cool new technology and products have always first been used by a small group of people . I will be glad to see 3d printer become the next APPLE I, the first personal computer.

Reference:

“HP promises a fast enterprise 3D printer for 2016 that will cost…something” by Signe Brewster:  https://gigaom.com/2014/10/29/hp-says-its-first-3d-printer-will-print-10x-faster-in-color-and-in-conductive-materials-when-it-arrives-in-2016/

“ClearCorrect Scales 3D Printed Digital Orthodontics Capacity by 30%” by Ricardo Pirroni:   http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/05/10/clearcorrect-scales-3d-printed-digital-orthodontics-capacity-by-30/

In class 18 we met three successful Sauder entrepreneur alumni. That is quite amazing experience to have a face-to-face chat with successful entrepreneurs in real life. How can I become a successful entrepreneur in the future? Here is some of my thoughts learnt from their stories.

Brave enough to take a risk

As an entrepreneur, he must have the spirit of adventure, must dare to make big choice. Because enterprise itself is risky, in particular, the emerging industry. There is not only a technical risk, but also fierce market competition. Entrepreneurs are always faced with opportunities, dare to take the risk, is one of the key factors of the success of entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs in the world are often associated with adventure spirit and decisive decision-making ability. I think Nolan Watson has this kind of ability and finally he succeeded.

Be unique

There is a common characteristic among successful entrepreneurs. They can always develop the right strategy for their own enterprises, make their company different from others, which finally becomes their advantage. If an entrepreneur does not know the trend of world development, does not develop unique strategies for their own company, the entrepreneur is impossible to be successful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Watson

Reference:

Nolan Watson in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Watson

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3a/Burger_King_Logo.svg/1024px-Burger_King_Logo.svg.png

In August 25th, American fast-food company Burger King confirmed that their company was going to merge Canadian brand Tim Hortons and interested in moving  headquarters to Canada. According to those two company’s statement, the two sides would form a new company after the merger, and keep the two original brand. By that time, the new company will become the third biggest catering enterprises around the world.

Burger King Group said, once the M & A Contract negotiated, Burger King will move the company’s headquarters from America to Canada and set up a new listed corporation. Canada will become the largest market for the new company. The transaction has attracted a lot of controversy, many people think that why Burger King left America is to avoid tax. The tax rate in Canada is much lower than in America.

What is noteworthy is that Buffett, the head of the Berkshire Hathaway Inc, will provide $3000000000 financing support for Burger King. Last year, Berkshire had joined forces to Burger King’s shareholder 3G Capital to buy the famous tomato paste manufacturer Heinz,  which became one of the largest M & A case in history. Participating in this kind of merger again has revealed Buffett’s passion for food industry.

http://kikizo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/warren-buffett-2.jpg

Reference:

“Done deal: Tim Hortons agrees to takeover by Burger King” by Andrea Janus:  http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/done-deal-tim-hortons-agrees-to-takeover-by-burger-king-1.1976444

“Burger King’s takeover of Tim Hortons ‘not a tax dodge’: Oliver”: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/burger-king-tim-hortons-merge-not-a-tax-dodge-says-finance-minister/article20714392/

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The Russian government announced in August 7th that Russia will have a comprehensive embargo on imported fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and dairy products from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Norway, and American . As a response to America and EU implementing several rounds of sanctions in the last several months.

Since the Crimea incident happened in March, the United States, Europe and some other countries have conducted several rounds of sanctions on Russia, which including restrictions on Russian financial, military and energy industry export. Also these countries formally suspended Russian banks  financing in Us and European capital market.

Then, in August 5th, President Putin ordered the government to formulate a comprehensive response to Western sanctions and signed the decree. That decree required Russia banned imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk and dairy products from Australia, Canada, Norway for one year. However,Children’s food import from those countries will not be restricted.

In my opinion,massive economic sanctions and anti sanctions, is a double-edged sword to a great extent. The Russian economy met one disaster after another, at the same time, the Western countries also faced loss. However, other countries such as Brazil, Argentina may find some opportunities to increase output to those countries.

Reference:

“Food imports ban backfires on Russia’s economy”:  http://www.dw.de/food-imports-ban-backfires-on-russias-economy/a-17888880

“Russia’s Food Import Ban is Already Backfiring Horribly”:  http://kitchenette.jezebel.com/russias-food-import-ban-is-already-backfiring-horribly-1628844734