Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Facing the Future

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

  I compiled my thoughts on the primary challenges the United States faces in the coming decade, and ways to overcome them, here: http://www.hackneys.com/docs/facingthefuture.pdf The primary focus in this collection is on domestic challenges, although some geopolitical issues are addressed. .

4th Floor Walkup

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Yesterday, an entrepreneur told me of his father, who died at 81. The father lived in a 4th floor walkup until he was 79, when a fire in the building forced a move to a new building. The new building came with a wonderful view of the East River and an ...

Steph Hits The News Again – Twice In One Day

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Steph is in the news again. This time twice in the same day. First, in a story in MSN Money: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/big-discounts-on-little-pleasures.aspx Second, in a story on FoxNews: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/04/16/rv-travel-beginners/ The Fox story included a link to our Travel web site, www.HackneysTravel.com, which was nice of them to include. I haven't checked the traffic levels ...

The Nature of Change

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

More than 9 out of 10 patients do not change their lifestyles in response to their doctor’s recommendations. More than 70 percent of corporate change efforts fail. Humans hate change. It’s a simple fact of life. There isn’t any easy way around it. In general, humans hate change. That rule extends beyond individuals into ...

Fear, thy name is Ron Wayne

Monday, February 15th, 2010

One of the little known facts of Apple’s history is that Apple wasn’t the creation of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Apple was actually founded by three guys: Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ron Wayne. The equity split was Wozniak 45%, Jobs 45% and Wayne 10%. Wozniak recalls, “Steve had 45 percent ...

IBM and Creative Destruction

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

One of the fundamental aspects of successful capitalism is the principal of creative destruction. In a capitalist system, businesses that are hampered with flawed business models, substandard management, unproductive labor or changing markets, among other things, pass away in a sometimes agonizing fit of destruction. New businesses, with a better ...

Doing It For Free

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

  "If they didn't pay me, I'd do this for free." - Harry Cabluck Have you ever had a job in your life where you felt like that? Have you ever invested your time and energy into a career where you literally couldn’t wait to get up in the morning? Few people have ...

Smartphones: The Decision

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Seven months and seven days ago, I asked some friends and relatives for input on smartphones, specifically iPhone vs. Blackberry. Not seeing any need to rush into this, I took my time before committing. I especially felt there was no need to rush into this since when you’ve been away for a ...

Propensity to Buy

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

In marketing, the goal is to create the perception of need. In advertising, marketing's shock troops, the goal is to create the propensity to buy. I just received this advertisement from CompUSA.com via email.   Read that ad copy carefully.   Does that ad create the propensity to buy something--anything--from CompUSA.com? In marketing, perfection is the baseline. First you deliver perfection, on ...

Pick A Horse

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Here’s a quick test for anyone who has sat in their cubicle and dreamed about starting their own business. Read this short web page about a new technology: http://www.agilenano.com/technology.htm What would you build with that technology? What are your product ideas? My friend Scot Mortier, an assistant District Attorney suggested, “Interesting...so, applications from ...