Archive for March, 2009
Gen Y in the Workplace
Staying competitive in today’s marketplace means attracting Gen-Y’s top candidates, something that can be challenging to many organizations. The first step requires an employer to gain a greater understanding of Gen-Y’s expectations and a willingness to stray from the norms that have become commonplace in their organization. Though there are many areas to consider when looking to attract Gen-Y’s best and brightest, here are 3 suggestions that are worth some time and consideration:
Top 5 Baseball Picks: Winning Strategies
In 2008, the Yankees led the baseball world with a payroll of $209 million and 11 teams had a payroll of $100 million or more. The World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies were #13 of 30 teams on the list and they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays who were next to last in payroll at $44 million. While you can certainly try to spend your way to success, that doesn’t always work. It is more important than ever to get maximum impact from every dollar you spend. In 2008, the Yankees led the baseball world with a payroll of $209 million and 11 teams had a payroll of $100 million or more. The World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies were #13 of 30 teams on the list and they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays who were next to last in payroll at $44 million. While you can certainly try to spend your way to success, that doesn’t always work. It is more important than ever to get maximum impact from every dollar you spend.
The Future of America: As You See It
There has been a seismic shift in the our lifestyle (personal and professional) and the way we do business. In the midst of a worsening recession, what has happened to the American Dream? Give us your feedback…
Emerging Trends: Houdini
To break from that straight jacket of work, family and social obligations, we need an escape. Just like the Great Houdini, we need to find that illusion to keep balance between “me time” and “them time.”
Marketing to Gen Y
Generation Y can be difficult to market to, because they are acutely aware of the fact that they are constantly bombarded with thousands of messages every day. Whether it is in print, on their phones, tv, web or outdoor, Gen Y has emerged as a generation that has learned to ignore.
Gen Y Profile
With Boomers retiring at the rate of one every ten minutes and Gen X moving onward and upwards, Gen Y were the new-guys on the block. They dressed differently (customizable kicks) , didn’t like the 9-5 way of thinking and couldn’t give you eye-contact because they were busy texting about you to their friend in Bangladesh, which they will then post on their virtual wall. Gen Y is quickly transforming the workplace and marketplace in a very big, customizable way.
Top 5: Gen Y Mindsets
From green activism to anime, from Gawker to Tony Hawk video games, Generation Y is a complex generation with diverse interests. Immersed in the digital world from an early age, Gen Y is at the forefront of mashing up how we communicate, entertain, and innovate.
Alternative to Debt: Equity Financing Pros
If you are smooth-sailing company, with the wind behind your cashflows, you have control over where you’re going. But, if you don’t have the wind on your side, you’re going to need the help of someone else. If you’re in a less predictable business with higher growth curves, you might want to consider the alternative, equity financing. Let’s discuss equity financing pros.
Debt Financing: A Lesson From the High Dive
If financing your business were like high diving, learn from your 4 and 5 scores. Find out why you didn’t meet the bank’s expectations and learn from it, so the next time you take that dive you can get that perfect 10.
Top 5 Picks: March Madness Bracket
Welcome to March Madness. For the next few days, in businesses around the nation, people will be filling out brackets in hopes of winning the office pool on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Finding Opportunity in the Dragon’s Den
If you knock on every VC door, you are going to be wasting your time as well as theirs. Look at the list of companies the VC firm has invested in and see if you could be on that list. It’s important to know what to expect before going to a VC firm. Here are some points of review before you knock on that door:
Investments with Wings
In today’s business environment, we need someone to look after us. Bad things are happening everywhere. And the climate is volatile–with winds that can knock down the Dow 381 points one day and up 379 another day. The future is uncertain and no one has a crystal ball. But angels can be your guardian–to guide you, through funding and real-world experience–to make your business future more secure.
Financing Youself: The Benefits of Risk
It’s risky. But as we’ll outline in this post, risk can be a good thing. Actually, the more risk you take might help you later down the line when you decide to knock on the VC or angel investors door. Let’s start with the implications of financing yourself.
Top 5: Mashups
In times like these, mashups are a life raft for large and small companies and entrepreneurs trying to stay afloat. They are cost-effective way of grabbing legions of users, a source for interesting content or can be a new business altogether. Mashups are quickly changing the way we send and receive our information and entertainment in fun and interesting ways. We’ve selected our top five picks for our Monday post.
Rising Above the Crowd
Venture capital firms may see hundreds of presentations before selecting only a few to invest in. There are several key components to a powerful, yet comprehensive presentation. We’ve composed a list of key elements that will help you deliver your message with maximum impact.
Business Plan: The Building Blocks
There is a myth that no one reads the business plan. There might be some truth in that, however, it is essential that you not take it to heart. In the event that an investor is interested in your business proposition, it is vital that everything they need to know about your business is in one central location. The last thing you want is a half-hearted business plan and the investor is confused as to what you’re trying to sell. The business plan is not usually bedside reading material; however, you want to be as interesting as you are thorough.
Writing a Business Plan: Executive Summary
Since the Executive Summary is a teaser, why not make it look like one? Instead of two to three pages of dense text, make it more interesting. Think Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde) pink-scented resume. Well maybe not pink, you get the idea…
Business Plans: Shooting the Moon?
The business proposition should be aspirational but real. If your business goals are obviously too lofty and impossible, investors will be turned off and most likely not want to invest. If you wanted to create a space liner that traveled between Earth and Mars, an investor will most likely balk at your idea. However, you can strike a middle ground.
Top 5: February Funding
The out-of-the-box, bootstrap-thinking entrepreneurs are awarded VC confidence. The impact of the current financial free-fall has changed the way we do business. Which in turn changes what businesses will be profitable and challenges us think creatively, but now, on a budget.
