Posted on February 24, 2010 by Andy Marken
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, NOT EMPIRES Up until last year, when things really got tough (fiscally and image wise), it was commonly felt that companies went through two types of management–one that could carry them through the tough start-up period and another that could run a successful enterprise. The same group of people seldom managed the company through both [...] [...more]
Posted on December 4, 2009 by Eric Jacksch
Nikon, Digidesign and Garmin have several things in common. They all produce products that I’ve personally shelled out cash for. They all produce high quality hardware that is as good, or better, than their direct competitors. But yet I’m reluctant to purchase product from them again because, to be blunt, their software sucks. My primary SLR [...] [...more]
Posted on November 10, 2009 by Andy Marken
There Are Things More Important Than Size…Just Ask Flash “I’d much rather see you on my side, than scattered into… atoms.” – The Emperor Ming, Flash Gordon (Universal Pictures – 1980) We like things that spin, things that go fast. You know, like flying saucers and rocket ships…drives and flash memory. It’s a good thing, because with [...] [...more]
Posted on November 2, 2009 by Andy Marken
If being acquired isn’t part of your business plan…prepare your survival strategy. Nothing focuses the mind better than the constant sight of a competitor who wants to wipe you off the map. – Wayne Calloway When Eric Schmidt (Google) said he paid a premium of one billion for YouTube he spelled out part of the strategy companies [...] [...more]
Posted on October 28, 2009 by Andy Marken
Making The Transition to a Social Business “Look, I’m all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I’m being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly, I’m going wherever they value loyalty the most.” – Dwight Schrute – The Office, ABC-TV Seriously… Tim Berners-Lee [...] [...more]
Posted on October 14, 2009 by Andy Marken
New ideas are almost a dime a dozen. There’s an innovation on almost every street corner. What makes a new idea successful is a well thought out, well developed marketing plan that everyone in the organization can understand, believe in and follow. Without a solid marketing plan it is too easy for an organization to be [...] [...more]
Posted on September 29, 2009 by Andy Marken
There’s a world of difference in the way “organizations” handle problems when they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar. While usually relatively minor, from a national media standpoint, almost every organization encounters major or minor problems each year as they have “run-ins” with the media. This is especially true today where citizen journalists [...] [...more]
Posted on September 10, 2009 by Andy Marken
The most valuable asset any organization has today is not its facilities. It’s not the inventory in the warehouse or on the production line. It’s not healthy bottom line the company achieved last year (although right now that would be sweet!). It’s people. This is especially true in the PC/CE/Communications marketing arena where quality and quantity [...] [...more]
Posted on September 4, 2009 by Andy Marken
Over the past 20 + years in the PC/CE marketplace we’ve learned and relearned our job 40-50 times. Every time the industry changes, every time the communications avenues shift; life/opportunities change. Since the Internet and Web came into their own editorial and promotional outlets/targets have shifted…dramatically. We all read the same studies, the same reports — [...] [...more]
Posted on August 18, 2009 by Andy Marken
Microsoft Gets its Groove On … Finally! “’Goodbye my love.’ He doesn’t say it. There’s no room for softness… not in Sparta. No place for weakness. Only the hard and strong may call themselves Spartans. Only the hard, only the strong.” – Dilios (300, Warner Bros – 2006) The grass isn’t greener on the other side of [...] [...more]
Posted on August 13, 2009 by Andy Marken
Up until last year, when things really got tough (fiscally and image wise), it was commonly felt that companies went through two types of management–one that could carry them through the tough start-up period and another that could run a successful enterprise.The same group of people seldom managed the company through both phases of growth. This [...] [...more]
Posted on August 4, 2009 by Andy Marken
Product/service recommendations and support…more than you want to know. “ He MySpaced me.” – Mary – He’s Just Not That In To You (2009) Not long ago we read that back in the late 1800s when electricity was first demonstrated people fell to their knees in amazement. The individuals who demonstrated it probably felt omnipotent. No one [...] [...more]
