Steering away from the usual business-related articles, I thought I’d do something a little different this week. And given the fact that this entry is on Banksy, the pseudonymously famous U.K. graffiti artist, unusual will undoubtedly be the centre theme. Banksy, visiting the Big Apple this month, surely intends on making New Yorkers aware of his stay. Posted via the Banksy website, the artist announces a new piece of his work each day, leaving it to the people to actually find it. Yesterday afternoon, the artist set up a pop-up stall in Central Park, selling 100% authentic and signed pieces for $60 a pop (pieces usually vary from 7k to 20k). Only an astonishing four buyers actually “found” his work that day. Below shows a video of the stall in action.

From a business point of view, this really displays no business strategy. But the way I see it, giving up a few thousand-dollar art pieces is sure putting Banksy back in front-row attention, which may be a long-term strategy after all. But surely enough, knowing the elusive character, he’s not in it the money nor fame. I’d call it fun. And while in the real world people are out there making deals and crunching numbers, there’s people like Banksy, who does what he loves and just do. And we’re the ones calling artists wack!

Article link:

http://globalnews.ca/news/900886/banksy-sold-original-art-anonymously-in-new-yorks-central-park-for-60-apiece/

Here we go again, another internet social-media company going big! Announced on Thursday October 4, Twitter, a 7-year-old micro-blogging site, announced its plans to raise $1-billion in IPO. This would make it the largest IPO in technology companies since Facebook. Oh yeah, Facebook. How are they doing? Most would say not so great with its recent stock crash. So if Facebook evidently proved failure to increase revenue via online advertisements, what makes Twitter any different?

Some say there is a huge discrepancy. Twitter is a platform for public expression and current events in the now, whereas Facebook is meant to keep ties with that one guy you met at a bar. A recent article stated how Twitter differs in advertising, through the use of “native” advertising; discretely promoting a tweet, trend or whole account. But as all critics rave about the opportunity seen in the young company, defending how they will learn from Facebook’s mistakes, they’ve forgotten how certain they were about Facebook when it went public in May. The truth is we really don’t know what the outcome will be until we see for ourselves how effective Twitter’s advertising truly is. In my opinion, I believe Twitter’s value proposition is as true and unique as it’s company’s $10bn value. But knowing our past history with internet platforms, Twitter’s rapid growth isn’t a valid enough reason for the company’s hype, because it’ll be just a matter of time when the internet guys think of something bigger and better, sweeping Twitter’s #trend away in no time.

Article link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24397472

Twitter vs. Facebook:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57605995-93/why-twitter-isnt-like-facebook/

Over the last decade, Google has provided us with fast and easy access to available information via Google Search, email (Gmail), an office suite (Google Drive), social networking (Google +) and many more, which is why we love Google. But you know who may love Google just a little bit more? Their workers. If Google’s thriving company doesn’t already exceed in enough, it’s their innovating workplace that sets the bar high in the company’s points of difference. Working at Google isn’t just your stereotypical cubicle in a fancy high-rise, because this “fancy high-rise” is actually called the Googleplex.

It could easily be mistaken as an all inclusive resort, with free meals provided by 14 different cafes, snack rooms, 4 fitness centers, drop-off laundry service, a free medical health center, a spa and last but least the famous sleeping pods. One thing Google definitely doesn’t lack in is their value into their workers. But it’s not just for rewards, Google’s perky work setting is meant to inspire creativity. They believe happy workers equals more value into their work and greater productivity. Not only that, but they use corporate strategy such as long queue for the lunch counter to promote “serendipitous interaction” amongst employees intentionally to inspire ideas, leading to projects. Google differentiates in the whole workplace experience as they put a lot of thought into promoting motivation in their team, so that all workers want to contribute to the company’s success.

“We’re so used to working within hierarchical structures that we can’t fathom how someone could have a billion-dollar idea at a very junior level. But good ideas come from all ages and all ranges of experience. Silicon Valley was the first place to understand that.” – Mr. Piscione

Article link:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/perks-for-employees-and-how-google-changed-the-way-we-work-while-waiting-in-line-8830243.html

Tour inside the Googleplex:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWlHtvZHbZ8