Escucha al mercado 20/julio/2011 Algo tan sencillo como escuchar puede darnos muchas claves para que nuestro negocio funcione, mejore, crezca… ¡Cuántas empresas cuentan y presumen de tener un servicio de atención al cliente! Y cuántos de esos departamentos, simplemente, no escuchan a sus usuarios. Pensad, que seguro que se os ocurren más de uno. Y ¿por qué es importante, no sólo atender a tus clientes, sino además escuchar lo que nos quieren contar? En nuestro próximo número (el 167, de agosto de 2011), en la sección Emprendedores con Ingenio Internacional –que coordina nuestra compañera Eva Calvo desde Inglaterra–, sacamos una empresa de Estados Unidos que basa su nacimiento, evolución y éxito –factura algo más de 1,7 millones de euros– en algo tan banal y sencillo como escuchar al mercado y, en este caso, a sus clientas. Consideran que son la primera empresa que ha tomado en serio a las mujeres dentro de la industria del bricolaje. Fundamental, por tanto, la escucha activa, ¿o no?
45 Kick-Ass Resources for Online Entrepreneurs | Productive Entrepreneur Few people talk about this great productivity tip… You will reach your goals faster and easier if you’re willing to learn from others. Using brilliant, well-crafted resources created specifically for online entrepreneurs improves your online productivity. Below I have a long list of resources, most of which I’ve used myself. Enjoy the list. I’ve arranged the resources from those helpful to beginners to those suited to more advanced entrepreneurs. The links to these resources are not affiliate links. Helpful from the word go… If you’re new to online business, you’ll find value in the following resources. 1. Before you can blog, collect email addresses or sell anything, you need a little piece of real estate on a reliable web server. 2. I’m hoping that no one laughs at this resource recommendation. 3. Today web design is easy. Productive Entrepreneur is running the Genesis framework and the Prose child theme. 4. 5. Copyblogger.com is where you learn about content marketing. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Thesis: Game Design and Architecture In my previous article, located here, I discussed the beginnings of my thesis work on how game design methods can be used to influence the architectural design process. The first semester heavily involved help from Valve Corporation level designer Chris Chin, who had previously been an architect and whom I contacted through contact information in the Developer Commentary for The Orange Box. With his help and that of my other committee members, as well as a visit to the Valve offices, I was able to create a design method for architects that is based on game design. The highlights of this method are: Creating a "core mechanic", the basic action a player takes within a game, as the design generator for an architectural space (the basic action someone takes within the building.) Using game engines to playtest building designs with clients and other designers to understand how an occupant will see and move through them.
The 10 Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview Karen Burns You’re interviewing for a job. After 20 or 30 minutes, you’re asked: “Do you have any questions?” The worst thing you can do is ask, “What is it your company does?” [See 21 secrets to getting a job offer.] You need to ask some questions! Bottom line: Don’t make the interviewer do all the heavy lifting. [See 50 tips for surviving your worst work day.] So what should you ask? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. [See more career advice at the U.S.News Careers site.] 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. P.S. Business Process Management, Systems Integration, Trust Company Start-ups
Las cosas, muy claras 1/agosto/2011 Es fundamental, cuando se empieza algo –independientemente de su naturaleza–, tener las cosas muy claras que de lo que se hace y de lo que se va a hacer, sobre todo, para no llevarse sorpresas desagradables o poco agradables y cuando se emprende, más. El otro día hablando con un emprendedor –Diego Gisbert, que decidió dar el salto por su cuenta después de sufrir un proceso de reajuste de personal, un ERE y un posterior concurso de acreedores– me decía que cuando pensó en qué iba a emprender buscaba “una fórmula de negocio virtual que me permitiera enviar los pedidos directamente desde el fabricante al consumidor final. Evitando así los intermediarios y, por tanto, reducir costes (aprovisionamiento, gestión de stock, logística, etc). Además, al ser el proveedor quien tramitase directamente el envío, también ganaríamos en rapidez de servicio”. Dicho y hecho, puso en marcha Piscinasdesmontables.es, una tienda de venta on line de piscinas desmontables, jacuzzis y accesorios.
Alternative, Complementary & Herbal Medicine Forums, Blogs, News, FAQs, Surveys & Knowledgebase on www.curezone.com 12 Most Effective Ways To Become Influential Influence is one of the most powerful forms of intangibility we have. By its definition, influence is: The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself. Becoming truly influential is an art that takes time, dedication to others and a strong sense of self. Here are the 12 most effective ways to become influential: 1. Product creation is one of the quickest ways to gain a mass following, which in turn drives your influence. 2. Richard Branson is a risk taker. 3. We learn valuable lessons about life from day 1. 4. If your audience can’t see you, they can’t connect to you. 5. The more influential you become the more positive and negative energy you will have directed at you. 6. Confidence is a powerful motivator for influence. 7. Being nice is highly underrated. 8. Building a network involves being interactive. 9. The few who take action in a new area to gather a reaction are often very inspirational. 10. 11. 12.
Building A Startup That Can Punch Above Its Weight--And Win I used to do full-contact competitive karate (I also auditioned for the part Macaulay Culkin played in Home Alone, but that’s a different story for another day). I was very young then and the competitive fighting taught me a lot--unbeknownst to me at the time--about hiring a world-class startup team. In karate, like with other competitive sports, you are matched up with opponents based on age and, especially in the case of contact sports, your size and weight. Most of the time, these matchups were fair (or close enough) but occasionally you were matched up against someone twice your size and experience. Life’s not fair sometimes. So instead of complaining, I learned that fairness and equality aren't always something I can rely on in a competitive environment. If you have enough of these unfair matchups, you learn about persistence, resiliency, and resourcefulness regardless of your circumstances. Ambition and resilience. Learning curve? Realistic, yet confident.
10 Blogs Entrepreneurs Need to Be Reading | Grasshopper Blog - StumbleUpon See the 2012 edition: 10 Must Read Blogs for Entrepreneurs (2012 Edition) #1. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Site: What it is: Mike Michalowicz provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with tips on everything from starting a business to networking to marketing and health care. Why you should read it: Mike not only provides great tips but he provides great tips from REAL people. #2. Site: What it is: Written by a panel of small business owners, the site offers tips and advice on everything business related. Small business trends really covers EVERYTHING! #3. Site: Run by two brothers, Matthew and Adam Toren, Young Entrepreneur is exactly what it sounds like; a site dedicated to young entrepreneurs. Between blog posts, forums, polls and interviews with other small business owners, the site offers fantastic content. #4. Site: Why you should read it: #5. #6. #7. #8.
Crowdsourcing y co-creación, la importancia del usuario como generador de valor Está claro que el deseo y, sobre todo, la posibilidad de participación de los usuarios en la web social ha modificado el cómo las empresas se relacionan con sus diferentes públicos. Pero esa relación, en el camino hacia la empresa realmente abierta e integradora de plataformas sociales, adquiere su máximo exponente en el momento en que el usuario tiene la posibilidad de participar en la decisión, en la generación de contenido, en la co-creación de productos o el lanzamiento y prueba de los mismos, en la cadena de valor de la compañía, etc. Es una participación real que va mucho más allá del concurso en redes sociales o de la utilización de servicios de redes sociales, como pueden ser un reply en Twitter o un mensaje en el muro de Facebook de la empresa X. Se trata de un verdadero cambio de comportamiento y de filosofía de la empresa como ente social y verdadero motor hacia una economía abierta y sostenible. Para aclarar el significado de “Crowdsourcing” os dejo este interesante vídeo:
CT Environmental Headlines » Links to all of today's environmental news headlines in Connecticut. Nonprofits & Gaming: Playing Your Way to More Funds, More Volunteers, and Solving the World's Problems Casey Golden, CEO, Small Act What if video games could change the world? They already are. Nonprofits around the globe are using online games not to only educate the public, but to get donations and supporters – and even help find cures for diseases. Why are games important? Games "...may prove to be a key resource for solving some of our most pressing real-world problems," according to game designer Jane McGonigal in The Wall Street Journal. In his keynote address for South by Southwest Interactive in 2011, Seth Priebatsch of SCVNGR demonstrated how game mechanics can motivate real-world action by distributing different-colored cards to the audience, giving them rules (no talking, no moving from your seat) then having them exchange cards until each row had the same color. How can nonprofits use game elements to promote their cause? Even if your cause doesn't require that level of interaction, here are some other ideas for games to think about: How are nonprofits using gaming right now?