This time I asked my co-worker (the one who likes to ride an old tractor on the weekends).
He owns an I-phone, AT&T service. He uses it for calls, text messaging, emails, music, and a few other apps. He was hard to place on the Cycle. I think he is a techie (he is the programmer at my web design company), but he is cheap. He told me he only owns the I-phone because my boss got it for him. He would never have gotten it on his own. And he has tried out all the apps that came on the phone (but does not use many of them regularly), he also refuses to pay for any new ones. So I guess in this case, it is more a matter of what he would own if money WERE on object. He said he would still have the phone that he got for free with his family plan. So I guess on his own, he is part of the late majority, if he can use it for phone calls and text messaging he is happy. But his job forces him into the early majority- he needed a device that allowed him to get e-mails.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Social Interactions
So this week's social interactions...
The first three were done with friends/family. Overall, I think typically smile and use my friend's names as well as display genuine interest in them. However, I admit I am not always the best listener, I like to talk A LOT, about whatever topic I am currently stuck on. So this week I tried really hard to take the back seat in conversations with my friends. I listened more and most importantly asked a lot more questions. I also tried to focus on keeping the conversation on topics of their interest, instead of dominating it with mine.
1. My best friend and I drove to another friend's bridal shower together. In the car I was determined to spend the drive there completely focused on Alli. So every time she asked a question, I answered it as briefly as possible and continued to steer the conversation back to her. I learned a lot about her first year teaching at a Montessori school. Alli and I have both been really busy this year and have not seen each other as much as usual. It was really nice to catch up with her and learn about her life instead of dominating the conversation myself.
2. While at the shower, I ran into a few old friends, the bride's sister in particular was a close friend in high school that I have not seen for a few years. Again I answered Kirsten's questions briefly and replied to each with a question about her life. I learned so much about what she has been doing the last couple years! It seems like so often at social events where you are making small talk, you don't really listen to the other person that much, you just spend that time thinking of what you are going to say next. This time, instead of thinking "what story can I tell that relates to this conversation?" I was actually focused on what Kirsten was saying.
3. The last person I tried this with was my sister, Meg. Granted, we are siblings and she likes to talk a lot too. But I think she really needed someone to vent to. I simply asked how school was going (Meg is a high school ESL teacher in New York) and about 30 mins later I knew the life stories of a few of her students. I think sometimes I get so caught up in my own dramas I don't really pay attention to other people needing to talk about their own. This time instead of having an inner dialogue going on, I really listened to her. And I am glad I did, I think she needed to be heard.
Anyway, I have really tried to take this to heart in more of my daily conversations. When making small talk instead of my usual thought "what can I say?" I keep thinking "what can I ask them?" and I have found small talk much easier since.
As for my two interactions with non-friends, I did both of these at work. I am the only non-partner at my firm, so basically all my co-workers are my bosses. Also I work with all men, so most of the "water cooler conversation" revolves around sports.
4. I had a discussion with one of my co-workers about football. I had read an article the day before about a strategy in high school football that is not illegal, but is frowned upon. The article was over my head and my co-worker had read the same article and explained most of it to me. I actually tried to understand what he was talking about, even though I find nitty-gritty sports rules incredibly dull. I don't mind watching a game of football now and then, but I could care less that certain numbers represent different positions on the team and wearing the wrong numbers can confuse opponents, but is not considered illegal. But they may change the rules so it is. Or something like that. I really did try. Usually when football gets mentioned, I run in the other direction.
5. Again with a different co-worker. He visited his family's farm the weekend before and he was telling me about riding their tractor. He has mentioned this before, but I have never really expressed any interest. This time I asked a bunch of questions about this tractor. How tall it was, how old, what color, etc. He ended up looking it up on the Internet and finding a picture of the tractor to show me. I was shocked. This whole time I have envisioned him on a riding mower and well I didn't really understand why he thought this was so cool. But it turns out this tractor he talks about is huge and really old. It actually looked like it would be a lot of fun to ride around. I finally understand why he thinks it is so cool. In fact, I am a little jealous, I would love to spend a Saturday drinking beer and riding a giant tractor around.
The first three were done with friends/family. Overall, I think typically smile and use my friend's names as well as display genuine interest in them. However, I admit I am not always the best listener, I like to talk A LOT, about whatever topic I am currently stuck on. So this week I tried really hard to take the back seat in conversations with my friends. I listened more and most importantly asked a lot more questions. I also tried to focus on keeping the conversation on topics of their interest, instead of dominating it with mine.
1. My best friend and I drove to another friend's bridal shower together. In the car I was determined to spend the drive there completely focused on Alli. So every time she asked a question, I answered it as briefly as possible and continued to steer the conversation back to her. I learned a lot about her first year teaching at a Montessori school. Alli and I have both been really busy this year and have not seen each other as much as usual. It was really nice to catch up with her and learn about her life instead of dominating the conversation myself.
2. While at the shower, I ran into a few old friends, the bride's sister in particular was a close friend in high school that I have not seen for a few years. Again I answered Kirsten's questions briefly and replied to each with a question about her life. I learned so much about what she has been doing the last couple years! It seems like so often at social events where you are making small talk, you don't really listen to the other person that much, you just spend that time thinking of what you are going to say next. This time, instead of thinking "what story can I tell that relates to this conversation?" I was actually focused on what Kirsten was saying.
3. The last person I tried this with was my sister, Meg. Granted, we are siblings and she likes to talk a lot too. But I think she really needed someone to vent to. I simply asked how school was going (Meg is a high school ESL teacher in New York) and about 30 mins later I knew the life stories of a few of her students. I think sometimes I get so caught up in my own dramas I don't really pay attention to other people needing to talk about their own. This time instead of having an inner dialogue going on, I really listened to her. And I am glad I did, I think she needed to be heard.
Anyway, I have really tried to take this to heart in more of my daily conversations. When making small talk instead of my usual thought "what can I say?" I keep thinking "what can I ask them?" and I have found small talk much easier since.
As for my two interactions with non-friends, I did both of these at work. I am the only non-partner at my firm, so basically all my co-workers are my bosses. Also I work with all men, so most of the "water cooler conversation" revolves around sports.
4. I had a discussion with one of my co-workers about football. I had read an article the day before about a strategy in high school football that is not illegal, but is frowned upon. The article was over my head and my co-worker had read the same article and explained most of it to me. I actually tried to understand what he was talking about, even though I find nitty-gritty sports rules incredibly dull. I don't mind watching a game of football now and then, but I could care less that certain numbers represent different positions on the team and wearing the wrong numbers can confuse opponents, but is not considered illegal. But they may change the rules so it is. Or something like that. I really did try. Usually when football gets mentioned, I run in the other direction.
5. Again with a different co-worker. He visited his family's farm the weekend before and he was telling me about riding their tractor. He has mentioned this before, but I have never really expressed any interest. This time I asked a bunch of questions about this tractor. How tall it was, how old, what color, etc. He ended up looking it up on the Internet and finding a picture of the tractor to show me. I was shocked. This whole time I have envisioned him on a riding mower and well I didn't really understand why he thought this was so cool. But it turns out this tractor he talks about is huge and really old. It actually looked like it would be a lot of fun to ride around. I finally understand why he thinks it is so cool. In fact, I am a little jealous, I would love to spend a Saturday drinking beer and riding a giant tractor around.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Current Enterprise Value
Stats all taken from www.google.com/finance on 2/22/09 at 8:50 pm.
(share price x outstanding shares) = enterprise value
Apple:
(91.20 x 890,550,000)= 81,218,160,000
Microsoft:
(18x 8,890,000,000)= 160,020,000,000
The current enterprise value of Microsoft is 197% higher than Apple.
(share price x outstanding shares) = enterprise value
Apple:
(91.20 x 890,550,000)= 81,218,160,000
Microsoft:
(18x 8,890,000,000)= 160,020,000,000
The current enterprise value of Microsoft is 197% higher than Apple.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Enterprise Value on IPO Date
(Share Price x # of shares) + value of liabilities - assets = Enterprise Value
Apple:
(22 x 54,215,332) + 37,780,128 - 54,106,215 = $1,176,411,217
Microsoft:
(22 x 24,715,113) = $543,732,486
The enterprise value of Apple on its IPO date was 216% higher than Microsoft.
Apple:
(22 x 54,215,332) + 37,780,128 - 54,106,215 = $1,176,411,217
Microsoft:
(22 x 24,715,113) = $543,732,486
The enterprise value of Apple on its IPO date was 216% higher than Microsoft.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Interactions Using Principles
1. Last Monday, I was at Royal Farms and I called the man at the cash register by name (I think it was Doug), he did not really look up or make eye contact at all. He gave me a half smile as he handed me my change. I thought he was unaffected by my attempts, but my boyfriend said that was the friendliest he has ever seen the man, so I guess it is open to interpretation.
2. Saturday, I was in Dunkin Donuts with my nephew. I called the women who served me, by name (Diane) and she smiled and asked me how old my son was. I told her he was my nephew and she said that was surprising because he looked just like me. I thanked her and took my coffee.
3. Sunday, I was in a different Dunkin Donuts. I asked the young man who waited on me his name (Tim) and how long he had worked there (2 months). He then called me Madame and bowed to me... I smiled and quickly walked away.
2. Saturday, I was in Dunkin Donuts with my nephew. I called the women who served me, by name (Diane) and she smiled and asked me how old my son was. I told her he was my nephew and she said that was surprising because he looked just like me. I thanked her and took my coffee.
3. Sunday, I was in a different Dunkin Donuts. I asked the young man who waited on me his name (Tim) and how long he had worked there (2 months). He then called me Madame and bowed to me... I smiled and quickly walked away.
Cell Phone Technology Adoption Life Cycle
My friend, Brady S., owns a Samsung SGHT339 with T-Mobile service. He uses his phone for voice, text, camera, calculator, and alarm clock.
I would say that he currently qualifies as a Conservative, or part of the late majority. His phone is pretty basic, he does not particularly care for it, but it serves its purpose. He owns it because it was the least expensive phone that came with his service package.
When asked what phone he would own if money was no object, Brady S. immediately answered an I-phone. He said that he would have gotten one soon after they came out if he had the money. I think that this makes him part of the Early Majority.
I would say that he currently qualifies as a Conservative, or part of the late majority. His phone is pretty basic, he does not particularly care for it, but it serves its purpose. He owns it because it was the least expensive phone that came with his service package.
When asked what phone he would own if money was no object, Brady S. immediately answered an I-phone. He said that he would have gotten one soon after they came out if he had the money. I think that this makes him part of the Early Majority.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Madame Tussaud (Favorite Entrepreneur)
Sitting in my business classes, it is abundantly clear that women are not nearly as prominent in the business world as men. When this assignment came up, I was determined to write about a female entrepreneur. So I googled famous women entrepreneurs and I found entry after entry of biographies for Mary Kay Ash, Coco Chanel, Estee Lauder, and the occasional Debbi Fields.
I was disappointed that the only female innovators I could find were in cosmetics and cookies. I continued looking and found entries for Oprah Winfrey and Jenna Jameson. Although I respect what they each have accomplished, neither was really what I had in mind. I finally stumbled upon Marie Tussaud. I chose her, because even though she was neither American nor from the 21st century, I was inspired by her innovation, determination, and creativity.
Marie Tussaud was born Marie Grosholtz, on December 1, 1761. Her father was killed in the Seven Year’s War two months before she was born. To support her family, her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Phillipe Curtis. Dr. Curtis was a physician, who modeled in wax to illustrate anatomy.
When Tussaud was older, Curtis taught her the art of wax modeling and she immediately showed talent for the work. Her first wax figure was of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In 1780, Tussaud was invited to live at Versailles and teach art to the sister of Louis XVI.
She stayed at the palace until the French Revolution broke out. Although she knew many of the important figures in the Revolution, her ties to the Royal family led to her arrest. She was scheduled to go to the guillotine and had even had her head shaved to prepare for it, when her niche market literally saved her life.
The Revolutionaries decided that her talent at wax modeling was needed to create death masks of the other victims of the guillotine and spared her. She was then forced to make death masks from the decapitated heads, many those of her former friends. She made masks of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, Marat, and Robespierre.
Dr. Curtis died in 1794 and left his entire collection to Tussaud. A year later she married Francois Tussaud and they had two sons together. But their marriage was unsuccessful and Marie decided to take her works on tour. She travelled to London to exhibit her collection and while there the Napoleonic Wars broke out and she was unable to return to Paris.
Marie Tussaud decided to open her own permanent exhibit in 1833. Called simply Madame Tussaud’s, this popular tourist attraction still exists today, although not in its original location. It has also had satellite locations open globally.
Currently, Madame Tussaud’s is primarily known for the wax replicas of celebrities. This was also a feature during Tussaud’s, but the most poplar exhibit when the museum first opened was its sideshow, known as the Chamber of Horrors. The name was created by a local publication, but Marie Tussuad saw its marketing potential and began to use the phrase herself.
Facts and Figures collected from:
http://www.nndb.com/people/292/000113950/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Tussaud
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Marie-Tussaud
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
