Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and a Buddhist monk. After graduation, he spent seven years studying the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. At the suggestion of his teacher, he joined a fledgling diamond business in New York to test his ideals in real life. He stayed with the business as a member of the core management team for seventeen years. The company grew from a start-up with two owners and two employees to $100 million in sales and...more
Generosity, which includes the free, no strings-attached sharing of resources, money, and information among people, is the seed of prosperity. What was the initial seed planted that caused the "Silicon Valley Miracle" No, it was not the invention of the oscilloscope by David Hewlett and William Packard, but, rather, an act of no-strings attached generosity, the founding of Stanford University by Leland Stanford. (See the "Founding of Leland Jr....more
Silicon Valley: a parableWe have all heard about the "Silicon Valley" miracle. Not long ago, Silicon Valley found itself at the centre of the world, a job- and money-making machine fueled by the popularity of the Internet and technological innovation. Those days are a distant memory now. Now, the Center of the World has become a technological Rust Belt.The streets, once throbbing with energy, are empty and quiet. Empty new buildings stand like bleached mausoleums in the sun with big, indiscreet "AVAILABLE" signs slapped on them. A full 20% of the valley's jobs have been lost since March 2001 and hi-tech jobs continued to be lost as companies downsize or outsource jobs to Asia. No one in the Valley can figure what to do to bring back the golden era. However, most people not local to the area are unaware of the previous history of this area. The past 200 years have been tragic one of genocide, environmental destruction, greed, trickery, and exploitation. In 1776, at the time of their first contact with the Spanish explorers originally who were looking for gold, Santa Clara Valley was an untouched Eden with maybe 10,000 Ohlone Indians. By 1830, the peaceful, basket-weaving peoples...more
The old and standard business administration concepts included in any current MBA program are very important, but today the companies are very different.This new situation strong demands a new MBA program including the General Control Theory, the control engineering, the new business technologies, the Management by Exception concept automated by...more
Many professional organizers don't leave either home or office without one tool. What is it? Drum roll please The answer is a labelmaker. "Most organizers favorite tool is the electronic labelmaker," confirms Diane Hatcher, president of Timesavers Professional Organizing Services, Cooper City, Florida (www.timesaversusa.com). "I particularly use...more
Halloween costumes are a scary thing for many this time of year. It is also frightening to know your business or commercial property has potential for being victimized. Here are 10 prevention measures to keep property safe from those things that go 'bump' in the night and ensure business owners from having a terrifying theft experience. Locks and Padlocks - Locks on all outside entrances and inside security doors should be double cylinder deadbolts with removable collars. The deadbolt should have at least one inch throw containing a hardened steel insert and protected by a latch guard. Padlocks should be of hardened steel, mounted on bolted hasps and always locked to prevent exchange. Serial numbers should be filed off to prevent new keys from being made. Doors - all outside and/or security doors should be of solid construction, metal lined and secured with heavy metal crossbars. Jams around doors must be solid. All exposed hinges should be pinned to prevent removal. Windows - should have secure locks. Burglar-resistant glass treatments are also recommended. An example would be the installation of polyester security. However, this must be used together with the alarm's...more
What's more crucial to the success of a business, non-profit or association than its most important outside audiences and stakeholders? Nothing. Those stakeholder behaviors directly impact virtually every management and operating activity of the...more
Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the concept of mystery shopping is actually straightforward. Also referred to as secret shopping, performance evaluations, service checks and frontline evaluations to name a few, mystery shopping...more
As you continue to read about real estate investing, you will no doubt come across the term 'power team'. What is this 'power team'? A power team is a group of people without whom successful real estate investing becomes very difficult, if not...more
"Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value." Albert EinsteinRecently I heard a statistic that the majority of businesses operate at 60% of their potential. While I was unable to obtain the source of that statistic it...more
Financial Success-The Secrets Of Financial SuccessAfter speaking with a gentleman this morning, hearing his excuses or so called reasons for his lack of financial success, I realized that the majority of our population is broke only because they lack...more
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can prove to be a major factor in the success or failure of their business. When a customer requests a bid on a job, they need a fast turnaround, and the best price. For...more