Is Your Business a Brick? OR High Speed?

I remember the days when all you had to do to drum up business was just make a few phone calls. Do a little door to door or conducts a neighborhood get together, but then the internet came along. What seemed to be nothing special at the time had only a hand full of interesting places to visit online.  There was no Google, Facebook, YouTube, fab, blogger, Twitter, Empire Avenue, and many many others. I remember sporting a pager. In fact I my first cell phone only had a numbers page and a 10 digit read out on a green screen with black font.  

Why I am bringing all this up is to say things change and so much your business. If you refuse to change your business refuses to stay open. I eventually upgraded from that pager. To a cell phone and the from the one line cell phone to a color screen cell phone in 2003 and so on and so on.

My thought back then was that soon everything will be on the internet and if your business is not on the internet your business will fail. This is true seeing that most people don’t have phone books anymore and if anyone wants anything the use their cell phones but even more so if they was to find a restraint they are going to ask their friends.

I will say this again, “If your business is not on the internet you have No business”.

Internet changed everything

Now back in the day when you built a web site you only needed a few meta tags and you were in business and were easy to find, in a yahoo search back then.  Soon there were more and more and more people going online and businesses where popping up all over the internet. Soon there was more complex methods that needed to be done and tons of hours and money to be spent just to show up on a Google search. The Fact is this is a huge problem for your business because now your business is lost somewhere within the millions of search results that come up when someone puts in keywords that match your business.

SEO

Then came SEO and tons of money and time was spent by you or your team to spread the word about your business to get your website to show up within the top 10 in a search result. (I don’t know about you. But most the time I don’t even go to the second page in the search results because it sometimes is the same company over and over again.) So how can you be found? How can you promote your site, much less your business? You can’t go door-to-door any more, you can’t make cold calls. (People have cell phones and caller ID) So what are you left to do?

SMO

You need to go where the fish are. Like a hungry person smelling good food, that person will follow their nose to consume that great smelling food that is getting them hungry. NO, I’m not saying cook a ton of great food and make the world smell it. I’m saying you have to first find out where the people or the majority are hanging out? Second find a way to draw those people to you.  

Facebook seems to be the place to be to find the millions of potential customers. Not just Facebook, but flicker, twitter, Blogger, YouTube, Instagram, and many others. This is like all the different lakes that you would visit to do your fishing. SMO is Social Media optimization.  This is where things can get very complicated if you let it be. Or it can be fun and will help your business grow beyond anything you can imagine.  Granted that not all businesses need to seek SMO for help in growing their business, but why wouldn’t you?

How?

I know exactly what needs to be done to catch the fish. And yes it takes time to fish all the different lakes. But in the end you can fish all day long but if you are using the wrong bait, line, fishing pool, hooks, or boat you won’t catch barely anything.

You need to come up with “smell”; the smell that draws them in to your business. Now granted not all businesses have food or sales things that smell good. But you need to find out what it is that you can offer your customer to bring them in.

I can help if you ask. It’s up to you to take the steps required to make it happen.

To be continued...

The Next BIG Technology Advancement

The next big technology that is soon to come is going to be a solution that will help eliminate all theft (shop lifting) and inventory loses. This same technology will help stores with making the checkout processes easier and faster; as well for all of us that hate wanting in those endless lines at the store.

So what is this technology? And how does it work? How much will is cost? What is the impact?

There was an article in the news paper a few months back that stated that stores were looking to place RFID tags into items to help with inventory and theft prevention. But as you read the article you could tell that the writer had no idea what he was saying in stating that "the technology could be used to track you and invade your privacy."

The fact is this technology is not for tracking people as all. The technology is only used in the store and as soon as you purchase the product as the cash register, the RFID tags will be deactivated.

What are these RFID tags? Where will they be placed? These RFIDs can be the size of a strand of hair. They will be used to uniquely identify the items it is placed in or on. For example they can be placed in toys, games, clothes, shoes, CDs, any thing and everything non-editable. And for those things that are editable the tags will be place on or around those items. Like on a sticker on a piece of fruit or a bag of bread and in the tub of butter (embedded in the plastic).

The Tag its self reads just like a barcode, but it has a lot more information associated with it. The Code is just a simple number that can categorize the item the size, color, price, make, brand, manufacture, expiration date, etc.

Manufacturing
All Manufactures would need to change their labeling on their products to allow for the insertion/embedding of this thread it be one more fiber added to clothing or a bag. Just like the Bar codes that are on all sales items today.
These manufactures would need two more major pieces of equipment besides the actual fiber. First is the reader as the assembly line. The reader would detect is the thread is inserts into the item and also inventory the item and add all information to the database. The second reader would scan items being shipped out . this would date the logs on what, when, to whom and how much was shipped.

How does the RFID work?
The tags are placed in the item within the store, can be read at all times by a scanner “RFID reader”. The RFID reader sends out a signal to the RFID tags to provide power to the RFID chip inside and then the chip will reply to the reader with the RFID information. The Reader/s is fully capable of reading hundreds of thousand of tags at a single time. The tags all read back to the reader a Code. This code would then in turn reference a data base that states how much inventory was taken in and sold or taken out, etc.

All of this data can be used to order more products or keep track of inventory for the store.

Checkout
Checking out couldn’t be any easier and faster. All you would have to do is walk right up to the register and the scanners there would detect everything in the cart and on the person that was not purchased. And then a item list would be displayed and the total. The customer could see any amounts that didn’t look right and tell the cashier to make any changes necessary.

Theft control
These scanners located at all entrances to the store are set to track all products that has not been inventoried (new product to be added to inventory) or not purchased (items in inventory yet to be sold) and purchased (Items removed from inventory that was purchased by the customer).

So the door checkers would solely have the position to stop theft only and not waste time stopping honest customers.

All new inventory that was received by the trucks could be scanned before the trucks were unloaded into the store and or scanned once they were in the building as new inventory and then registered as stock or active sale.

Summary
This in the technology that will be the next big thing that will change the market place as we know it. The big players that I would see using this technology first would be Wal-Mart and all the larger companies like Sam’s club, BJ’s, and Costco. This would help to keep the costs low and products even lower. This would save tons in man hours used to count inventory in the store. This would help speed up the checkout lines at the register. And last but not least stop all theft.

This is the technology that I think will be the future. What do you think?

Future of Gas Transport

Have you imagined a world with out a gas powered car, truck, plane, train, ship or any other form of transportation?

I feel this maybe sooner then imagined. I am speaking totally of my opinion and not solid facts, just observations.

For example we are seeing this everywhere and all over the world that the oil is running thin and resources are drying up. We are also seeing the demand for oil is through the roof. We are paying huge prices at the pump for gas all the time. And as a direct result everything is affected by these same oil prices and the limitations of oil.

A perfect example is the “Loaf of Bread”. Everything from the Dirt to your mouth is affected by the oil.

1^st is the Farmer the “dirt” the Farmer Puts gas in his tractor to till the soil and prep the ground for seeding. The Same farm may use two, three, or more machines to till the ground, Plant the seed, fertilize, and spread pesticides.*

*All of this also requires fuel as well to purchase the seed, the fertilizer, and pesticides.

In a few months the same farmer will Harvest the wheat, and prepare this raw material for processing.

2^nd is the Manufacturing process. So the trucks pick up the wheat and take this material to the processing planets to produce flour for the bread. The same processing planet will then ship by train or truck to the bakery or markets.

3^rd the Bakery will then user their vehicles or has other companies deliver all the other ingredients to produce the bread. Once the ingredients have been mixed and the bread packages and again the product are shipped to the markets, bread stores and groceries.

4^th You may get into your car and drive the store and purchase said bread and drive home to make a nice PBJ.

So all together you simple sandwich had gone an expensive journey. This is the reason bread is so expensive compared to the prices of the early days before the increasing high gas prices. Every person along the way has added in the cost for fuel in that bread and the expense has been passed down from 
Farmer ->Processor->Barker->Market->You

So what does this all have to do with the retirement of gas vehicles? Well in my life time I have seen the electric cars on the market for many years and never were they ever promoted or pushed, but rather they were held back bad the oil companies, investors, auto makers and the government. But now because the Far East has so much control of the oil and the prices this has had a direct effect on our economy. Now all of a sudden the push for electric powered cars is in full swing.

There are many maker of the car and most are still too pricey for the average Joe to purchase. There will almost always be those “die-hards” that like their gas cars. I like my gas car as well. By have you seen some of these Electric cars that are coming out in the next few months? Like Tesla; this to me is a game changer for the auto industry. This car is a mean machine. No only does it get from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds. But you can travel 300 miles on the optional upgrade battery pack. You can transport 7 people in this car. This is a sweet looking car to boot. 

  

The price is just about the only thing stopping me from going electric.

This same company is also producing a van/suv that is 100% electric.

With this minor adjustment in the transportation industry, you soon see Stores, malls, businesses, schools, and pretty much all places you go and park your car. These places will then have charging stations provided for you to “charge-while-you-shop”. Before long the technology will be so advanced that you will be able to get that same bread for a lot less. Or at least minus to fuel costs. The cool thing would be to see a Jet that is powered solely by electricity. Trains in Japan are for the most part all powered by electricity.

Work Smarter NOT Harder...

Stay Focused

So today happened across a guy on YouTube Who's name is Tim Ferriss. He is the author of the book 4-hour work week.

 STOP And watch the video - google it really quick

I found the content of his message interesting by nothing I didn't already know. Only reason I say that is because throughout my whole up bringing I was always thinking of ways that I could make money or invent something that people could use, need, and want.

Nothing really every came about the ideas that I had, only because I had no capital to do anything or because I didn't have the knowledge to take that next step.

Like I remember talking to my parents about the idea that I had for an electric power door for the sliding side doors on a mini-van. And wouldn't you know it the idea was done. three year later the mini-vans were coming out with the design.

Another problem that I notice is that most of my ideas are unobtainable with the little money I have. This fact still remains even today with the design and development of my site. I want to take this site to all new levels and add features and designs that can only be reached by thousands of dollars of man hours and q&a testing.
This is like an idea that I have for a Mall design. I started to draft it up when I was living in Texas before I joined the Marines.(I still dream about the designs) But nothing ever came of it. Either because I had no free time to draw any more or life just got in the way. I simplify just don't have the time to do anything any more.

Yeah, so Tim kinda re-opened my eyes to the facts that I need to stay focused and isolate the "static" in my life and focus on the main task at hand.

I am wanting to create a name for my self and be a more social friendly person. I want the time to create and develop new things like the iPhone apps that I have in mind, learn programming. Have fun and spend time (lots more time) with my family.

*hind site writing this... This article seems to be everywhere. hopefully you understand what I'm trying to get across.

Goals

So what is my goal?

My goal is to keep my goals reachable.

What this means is to keep reality in check and know what is possible and what is not possible and aline my self with those things that are obtainable.

I'm not saying that all goals are ridiculous. I'm just saying that if you are wanting to conquer the world you have to start at your bedroom and then the other rooms in the house and then the house and then..... you get the point I think.

How do I set goals

First, you have to visualize what you want.  Second, ask your self a few questions.

1. Is it obtainable in my life time?
2. To reach my goal, does it require education/talent/money/luck?
3. What is the time limit?
4. How much time will I need to invest?
5. What are the possible drawbacks?
6.  Has anyone already met this goal? Can they be my mentor?

ETC.

 My world will change...

So now that you have answered all the questions. You will realize that you will have to change the environment that you reside. You will have to work harder and focus more and study more research more... ETC.

You might lose sleep and your hair. (hopefully you won't lose your hair)

Now why would these things change so drastically? It because you want to reach that goal and your mission is to reach it at all costs. (Now I am not talking able crazy stuff like starving your self, or anything dangerous that could harm you or others).

Example: I want to loose weight go from 215lbs to 180lbs. OK so lets answer some questions, as stated above.

1. Is it obtainable in my life time?  Yes
2. To reach my goal, does it require education/talent/money/luck? It will require some health education, Nutrition, money, and motivation.
3. What is the time limit? I want to give my self a logical goal say 6 months
4. How much time will I need to invest? I will need to workout at least twice per week
5. What are the possible drawbacks? I will not get to eat what I want (cheese cake, Mc D's fries) or drink the Coke I like to drink
6.  Has anyone already met this goal? Can they be my mentor? There have been tons of people that have reached this obtainable goal. I am most likely going to want to find a trainer or someone at the GYM that looks like that have reached their goals (Nooo! not the 200lb+ Body builder, something more realistic)

Make your Goals known to others

Sharing your goals with others can be a positive thing. It is speaking it in to existence. It also informs them that you are serious an that they need to inquire with you and followup to see how you are doing in reaching you goals.

DO IT!

Last but not least do it and take steps to reaching that goal. even the smallest steps can lead to great success. Like in the prior example. Google a great exercise program to try, a diet plan to try. go buy some running shoes.

Get out of your comfort zone and make a change. Otherwise you will stay in your comfort zone you will accomplish nothing.

I believe in you. Not make a few goals and accomplish them. Let me know what your goals are and I will do my best to help if I can in motivation or guidance ( I for one need it my self)