Nova Scotia batton down the hatches

Yahoo ! Samsung I would love to get my eager little hands on one of these, check it out http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/
Goolges answer to ipad way to rock the tablet !

Is thinking ….

Beyoncé – Halo

Hi all,

Just a quick update, I hit payout a couple of weeks ago , I requested pay out and did not receive it . I wrote to them and and they have chose to ignore me. Looks like they have not turned over a new leaf at all. I recommend you stay away from this one. I will up date you if I here anything or receive payment. Please let me know what your experience has been.

Checkin out DaceBand , they are paying me to be social , how much fun is this ? I will let you know !

Many people are forced to make changes in their life as they approach middle age. Some are by choice, but many are precipitated by economic dislocation, as employers either cut back or disappear.

Although initially this may come as a shock, often the person who lost their employment was secretly glad it happened. They were liberated from an emotionally draining job, and can now make a new beginning, hopefully doing something they enjoy.

Perhaps they had already started a spare time venture that was providing a little income, or planning to do so. They can now devote their time to developing it further, and maybe make enough income to live on.

Having some time off is a great catalyst to finding one’s true calling. Today, thanks to the internet, anyone can search for whatever information they need online, plus find other people who have already done whatever they wish to do, and can provide advice on how best to proceed. There are online communities covering every topic under the sun, making it easier than ever to chart their own path.

Check out this new tool called “Tool Meet it lets you meet new friends by showing you who is visiting the site the same time as you are , sign in with facebook, give thumbs up to what you like and leave notes on the site.to find out more and download the tool bar go to http://www.toolmeet.com

It’s time to launch our latest famous entrepreneur profile, this time of Jean Claude Biver from the luxury watch company Hublot.

You can read the complete profile at http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-Entrepreneurs/5683/summary.php.

“The watch does not represent the indication of time anymore,” Biver once said. That is, in large part, thanks to the work of Biver. Watches – Biver’s watches – have become pieces of art for the wrist. They are eagerly sought after in many markets and making fast inroads in others. What makes them so different from the rest? How did Biver build a luxury lifestyle around a watch?

Vision: “One of the fundamental errors that new CEOs make when they take the helm is that they fail to build on the brand’s roots and foundations that are already there,” says Biver. “Instead, they try to start all over again. But when they do this, their brand becomes fragile – it doesn’t benefit from the foundation and strength that history provides.” To that end, Biver made it a point to build on the existing brands instead of remaking them. Creating a new fusion between old and new became his trademark, and a successful one at that. “The past became my friend and not my enemy,” he says. “The past provided credibility.”

Exclusivity: “I abused limited editions,” says Biver. “But they did not to any lasting damage and we had it corrected.” Despite his errors of one limited edition watch too many, Biver’s strategy of limited distribution created high demand, thereby adding to the appearance of luxury and exclusivity.

Branding: “The key is that marketing and branding success is never due to just one element,” cautions Biver. “The key is everything must be aligned. There must be total alignment between the message of your brand, between the product of your brand, between the communication of the brand and your distribution. If any of these are not in synch you will fail. If you have all these you have the tools to be successful, provided that what you produce has aesthetic emotion and appeals to your consumer.” Biver implemented a unique branding strategy that utilized strategic sponsorships that created a lifestyle image – a lifestyle that complimented that of Biver’s customer.

Investment: “I always tell my people now is the moment to invest, but in what?” asks Biver. “Invest in travel costs, in promotions, in research and development.” During the most recent recession, Hublot’s sales under Biver had dropped by 15% by November 2009. In comparison to the industry standard of 30%, however, Biver is considered to have been very successful. That is due in large part to the investments he put in while others were cutting back. “We have to carry on with our creativity, with innovation, our marketing investments and that’s it,” he says.

Adaption: Biver had the business sense to understand that not all markets had the same requirements and priorities, and that he would have to adapt accordingly if he wanted to be successful. He also knew that despite the fiercely competitive industry in which he found himself, competing brands could at times be found on the same side of the fight.

“Success brings satisfaction but it brings enormous obligation,” says Biver. “First of this is the obligation to share. Success belongs to everyone who helped you. You are the tip of the iceberg and your team is everything that you don’t see. Second, success must be transmitted to others to perpetuate and repeat this success. Third, your obligation is to stay humble because you never know what the next step of your life might be. You have success today but you might have defeat tomorrow. The Tibetans say when you have reached the top of the mountain, go on climbing.”

Again, you can read the complete profile at http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-Entrepreneurs/5683/summary.php.

What do you think of the Jean Claude Biver story? Are there any other famous entrepreneurs you would like to see profiled?

I

In April I posted about a contest I was running with LogoMyWay.com to create a new logo for my Top 50 Blog Lists. I’m pleased to report that after 108 entries we have a winner!

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

The winning entry was created by Sa2010, a fellow Canadian and overall I was extremely pleased with the quality and diversity of the entries posted. Creating a contest with LogoMyWay.com costs $200 and you’re able to tap into a very talented pool of designers who compete for your business. You can see all of the entries for my contest here.

I’ve already put the badge up on my most recent Top 50 List, The Top 50 Human Resources Blogs To Watch in 2010 and I think it adds a nice touch to the list to allow bloggers to imbed the badge.

I would definitely consider LogoMyWay.com again and they’ve just recently put out a contest to redesign the BP logo after the oil spill. It’s received over 200,000 views and has received a lot of media attention. Check out the contest here.

What do you think are some other company logos that need to be redesigned? How did you go about choosing a logo for your business?

I