The big news in the business world has been the IPO for Facebook. First there was the chatter on the price that the IPO would be released at. Then there was the loss in value in the following days. Overall, a lot of news has been surrounding the plunge Facebook took into the world of the publically traded company.
Was it really a failure?
It raised a lot of capital for the company. Isn't that what going public is supposed to do?
I think some people thought that this IPO would make them rich overnight. It's not impossible to believe that. It has happened on IPOs in the past. If you look at Facebook as an organization there are some upsides and some downsides.
A lot of people use Facebook. A lot of people use Facebook a lot. The current information says that 900 million users log in at least once a month. That's a lot of potential. I think the big question is what is this potential of? What really is Facebook. It's a social network. We all know that but, what is a social network?
Facebook acts as different things to different users. It's a photo-sharing site. It's a sounding board. It's a games platform. It's an internet portal. It's a tool to communicate. It's a place to react.
If you look at Facebook as an organization you have to cut through the clutter a bit to see what they provide. They don't produce content. They just give us a platform to share ours. They aren't the movie, they are the screen it's projected on. So, if you are only the screen and not the show, how much power do you have?
As an organization, Facebook doesn't have a lot of control of the overall experience of an individual user. Most of what influences the quality of a user's Facebook experience is the people they are connected to through the network. Yes Facebook controls how your content is organized but they have almost no influence on what the content is. That being said, people put up billions of dollars to own a part of the screen and none of the movie.
Facebook doesn't have any revenue from mobile access. At least not yet. Most of my access to Facebook is through my iPhone or iPad. I am not on it very often from a computer. For what I use Facebook for, this suits me just fine and there are no ads chewing up bandwidth or screen space. However, I would be concerned if I was an investor. I know a lot of people who primarily access Facebook through mobile devices and if they can't find a way to generate revenue as this user group grows, they could be in trouble.
Facebook is free to users. This is critical. Even though a $1 per month user fee for its 900 million users would result in $10.8 billion in revenue annually, it would never fly. Users would just leave and find a free service. Since Facebook is the platform and not the conversation, we don't want to pay for it. The users already "pay" in a way by providing all the content. Without user content, there is no need for the platform and the network will fail and Facebook knows this.
So, has Facebook reached its apex in revenue? I don't know. The average user doesn't know what they are cooking up in the back room but, if they can remain as a relevant platform to stay connected with people, they are going to continue to be there which is a lot better than a lot of companies who lose their way.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
So Oblivious
It's a wonder that we don't kill about twenty percent of the world population every year with motorized vehicles. Too many people are completely oblivious to the world around them at all times. Today I encountered four instances within an hour and a half and it doesn't leave me to hopeful for the survival of humanity.
As I was walking home from work a car accelerated away from a red light and nearly hit me while I crossed the street. Yes, the car was stopped at a light, and accelerated into the intersection. Now to their credit, they realized that they were not supposed to be moving and stopped before they got to the crosswalk but if they had been paying attention, no quick response would have been required.
Less than five minutes later, as I walked past a grocery store, another driver nearly hit me. There is an entrance/exit to the parking lot that crosses the sidewalk and the driver was only watching the vehicle traffic as he rolled up to the sidewalk. He never saw me or the other two pedestrians he nearly hit.
The other two incidents happened inside a grocery store as I bought my food for the week. There was no threat to my personal safety but the complete oblivion to the world around them shows these people are in the category to be watched.
I was in the juice/dairy isle, going to pick up milk. There was a woman using a cart stopped in the isle while another woman with a cart was more concerned if her daughter wanted pineapple juice than anyone around her. She stopped her cart right next to the first woman's cart to completely block the entire lane. There was no way for me or one other shopper to get through. She could have easily stopped her cart to allow people to quickly pass as the isle was not crowded but she was so self absorbed that she had no clue her actions were affecting others.
Then, I was in the checkout line. I had done my usual scan to see which line should move quickly. There was a line where a woman was paying, behind her was a woman with a couple of kids but her purchases didn't even fill half the belt. Jackpot! This will be a breeze. The children were very well behaved. Double Jackpot! The woman had no idea what was going on around her. I knew it had to be too good to be true. She had the kids in front of he cart but was so far back in the lane that I couldn't start putting my groceries on the belt until half her items had been rung through. Keep in mind, all her items took up less than half the belt. She was also too cheap to buy bags. It would have taken 3 plastic bags for a total of 15 cents or she could have bought a couple of the reusable bags, or she could have brought bags from home but she had her two kids put all the food back into the cart. The kids did really well until there was about 4 items to go then they stalled out a bit. They wanted their mom to put the last item, a cucumber into the cart. For two kids no older than about eight, I thought this was pretty good but instead of just picking up the cucumber she tried to talk her kids through it. In the meantime, the cashier was wisely waiting for all her items to be gathered up so my stuff and her stuff didn't get mixed up. This delayed me a bit longer but I got my stuff and carried on.
In aviation they call it situational awareness. There are a few definitions floating about but they all boil down to being aware of the current state of the world around you and making appropriate decisions with that information. Today, within an hour and a half I encountered four people in routine tasks that were oblivious enough of the world around them to impact my day. Albeit, today was an extreme example but it makes the point. We need to find a way to make people more aware of the world around them.
However, not all hope is lost. While grocery shopping I also noticed a woman stop at the fresh meat service counter, to look at some meat, she immediately noticed that between her and another shopper, the isle was effectively blocked. She immediately moved her cart sideways to make room for others. We need more people to be aware and thoughtful, just like that.
Being aware and courteous is a habit that needs to be formed. It also improves your safety and the safety of the people around you. It's important to know how your decisions and actions will impact the people around you. You can make their lives safer and more pleasant or you can ruin their day. I hope everyone chooses the former.
As I was walking home from work a car accelerated away from a red light and nearly hit me while I crossed the street. Yes, the car was stopped at a light, and accelerated into the intersection. Now to their credit, they realized that they were not supposed to be moving and stopped before they got to the crosswalk but if they had been paying attention, no quick response would have been required.
Less than five minutes later, as I walked past a grocery store, another driver nearly hit me. There is an entrance/exit to the parking lot that crosses the sidewalk and the driver was only watching the vehicle traffic as he rolled up to the sidewalk. He never saw me or the other two pedestrians he nearly hit.
The other two incidents happened inside a grocery store as I bought my food for the week. There was no threat to my personal safety but the complete oblivion to the world around them shows these people are in the category to be watched.
I was in the juice/dairy isle, going to pick up milk. There was a woman using a cart stopped in the isle while another woman with a cart was more concerned if her daughter wanted pineapple juice than anyone around her. She stopped her cart right next to the first woman's cart to completely block the entire lane. There was no way for me or one other shopper to get through. She could have easily stopped her cart to allow people to quickly pass as the isle was not crowded but she was so self absorbed that she had no clue her actions were affecting others.
Then, I was in the checkout line. I had done my usual scan to see which line should move quickly. There was a line where a woman was paying, behind her was a woman with a couple of kids but her purchases didn't even fill half the belt. Jackpot! This will be a breeze. The children were very well behaved. Double Jackpot! The woman had no idea what was going on around her. I knew it had to be too good to be true. She had the kids in front of he cart but was so far back in the lane that I couldn't start putting my groceries on the belt until half her items had been rung through. Keep in mind, all her items took up less than half the belt. She was also too cheap to buy bags. It would have taken 3 plastic bags for a total of 15 cents or she could have bought a couple of the reusable bags, or she could have brought bags from home but she had her two kids put all the food back into the cart. The kids did really well until there was about 4 items to go then they stalled out a bit. They wanted their mom to put the last item, a cucumber into the cart. For two kids no older than about eight, I thought this was pretty good but instead of just picking up the cucumber she tried to talk her kids through it. In the meantime, the cashier was wisely waiting for all her items to be gathered up so my stuff and her stuff didn't get mixed up. This delayed me a bit longer but I got my stuff and carried on.
In aviation they call it situational awareness. There are a few definitions floating about but they all boil down to being aware of the current state of the world around you and making appropriate decisions with that information. Today, within an hour and a half I encountered four people in routine tasks that were oblivious enough of the world around them to impact my day. Albeit, today was an extreme example but it makes the point. We need to find a way to make people more aware of the world around them.
However, not all hope is lost. While grocery shopping I also noticed a woman stop at the fresh meat service counter, to look at some meat, she immediately noticed that between her and another shopper, the isle was effectively blocked. She immediately moved her cart sideways to make room for others. We need more people to be aware and thoughtful, just like that.
Being aware and courteous is a habit that needs to be formed. It also improves your safety and the safety of the people around you. It's important to know how your decisions and actions will impact the people around you. You can make their lives safer and more pleasant or you can ruin their day. I hope everyone chooses the former.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
New Shoes
Part of walking to work everyday is you wear out shoes. It's not a huge deal but from time to time I need to start up a new pair. I have a bit of a system. When it's time to start a new pair I shine them up and wear them at the office for a week. I walk back and forth in the only pair to start breaking in the new ones. It works pretty well. This year I was on a week long course that didn't involve the usual walking so, I just wore them that week and they were good to go.
The thing about breaking in a new pair of leather shoes is you are never really sure where the leather is going to bend. It is a bit different in each place. Sometimes you get a really good crease starting and sometimes it doesn't quite work out.
My right shoe bent very nicely. There are a couple of spots that rubbed a bit differently but it only lead to very mild discomfort. The left shoe is a whole different story. It bent about the worst way possible. A fairly deep crease is folding right onto the inner joint of my big toe and has managed to rub the skin raw.
I admit it's a painful when I start walking to work. After about 10 minutes the pain subsides and I can pick up the pace to my normal speed. I've had to cover the affected area with a band-aid sinceTuesday to keep the damage under control. It's the price you pay for new shoes.
The only way out of this minor predicament is to keep wearing the shoes and continue to break them in. I'm hoping the long week-end will give the skin on my foot a chance to heal a bit so I don't need to buy more band-aids. Eventually it will be back to normal.
I know this is a first world problem but it is an issue nonetheless. Nothing is as comfortable as an old beat up pair of shoes but you also have to look good and sometimes, that takes some effort.
The thing about breaking in a new pair of leather shoes is you are never really sure where the leather is going to bend. It is a bit different in each place. Sometimes you get a really good crease starting and sometimes it doesn't quite work out.
My right shoe bent very nicely. There are a couple of spots that rubbed a bit differently but it only lead to very mild discomfort. The left shoe is a whole different story. It bent about the worst way possible. A fairly deep crease is folding right onto the inner joint of my big toe and has managed to rub the skin raw.
I admit it's a painful when I start walking to work. After about 10 minutes the pain subsides and I can pick up the pace to my normal speed. I've had to cover the affected area with a band-aid sinceTuesday to keep the damage under control. It's the price you pay for new shoes.
The only way out of this minor predicament is to keep wearing the shoes and continue to break them in. I'm hoping the long week-end will give the skin on my foot a chance to heal a bit so I don't need to buy more band-aids. Eventually it will be back to normal.
I know this is a first world problem but it is an issue nonetheless. Nothing is as comfortable as an old beat up pair of shoes but you also have to look good and sometimes, that takes some effort.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Fit It In
I'm on a course this week so, I'm not walking 30 minutes to get to work everyday. The course has some good points but I had been feeling rather sluggish. Today we had to do a fitness test. I passed but, this isn't the point of this post.
The exercise I got during the test has markedly improved my mood. My mind is much closer to normal and I feel a lot healthier since the test. All this goes to proving that any time spent exercising is a benefit. It was less exercise than a normal day that I go to the gym and walk to work but it had huge results.
People often say they don't have time to exercise. They claim to be too busy at work or with family to work out. I look at it a different way. I think if you want to be effective at work and in your life you don't have time to not exercise. It is an investment that will pay back almost immediately. You will be able to think clearer, get your tasks done quicker, and have more energy after the workday to enjoy time with friends or family.
I'm not saying everyone needs to turn into a total gym rat. You don't need to be exercising six hours a day. If you want to, I won't suggest your don't but if you have some active living everyday you will see the quality of your life improve. I can say this with absolute certainty.
The easiest way to improve how you feel about yourself is to be active. It will give you energy to do more in less which frees up more time for the things you really want. You will have the capacity to overcome challenges which will make you feel more confident. It will even make you look a bit better and who doesn't want to look better?
I don't live in the gym but I do live actively and that's what matters.
The exercise I got during the test has markedly improved my mood. My mind is much closer to normal and I feel a lot healthier since the test. All this goes to proving that any time spent exercising is a benefit. It was less exercise than a normal day that I go to the gym and walk to work but it had huge results.
People often say they don't have time to exercise. They claim to be too busy at work or with family to work out. I look at it a different way. I think if you want to be effective at work and in your life you don't have time to not exercise. It is an investment that will pay back almost immediately. You will be able to think clearer, get your tasks done quicker, and have more energy after the workday to enjoy time with friends or family.
I'm not saying everyone needs to turn into a total gym rat. You don't need to be exercising six hours a day. If you want to, I won't suggest your don't but if you have some active living everyday you will see the quality of your life improve. I can say this with absolute certainty.
The easiest way to improve how you feel about yourself is to be active. It will give you energy to do more in less which frees up more time for the things you really want. You will have the capacity to overcome challenges which will make you feel more confident. It will even make you look a bit better and who doesn't want to look better?
I don't live in the gym but I do live actively and that's what matters.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Goodbye Junior
One of my favourite football players was found dead of an apparent suicide. The story is available here. Junior Seau came across as larger than life. He played hard on every down. He did a lot off the field as well. It's unfortunate but professional athletes are ending their lives. I believe that organized sports, all the way to the pro level do a lot more good than bad but it is not without its problems.
On the good side, organized sports promotes teamwork and fitness. It gives you a sense of belonging and a cause to rally behind. It shows what hard work can accomplish and gives less fortunate people a way out. It happens at every level and being a part of organized sport is beneficial.
On the bad side, organized sports exposes people to risk of injury. Not just to the body but also to the brain. It's only recently that we are discovering how much head injuries can damage you. Additionally, on your way to and at the highest levels, players are treated as commodities. This can be hard on some people's minds and they may not ever fully recover.
I don't pretend to understand suicide because it doesn't make sense to me. That doesn't mean I haven't know people who felt it was the only solution. I'm not sure if we will ever truly understand it but we should try.
For a long time I saw it as a very selfish act. To me, it was the cheap way out to give up and leave everyone to pick up the pieces. Lately it's just sad. I've never been close to thinking that it would solve anything. So, all I know is it must be bad if you have no hope.
I don't know how to change it but if I figure it out, I will share it.
On the good side, organized sports promotes teamwork and fitness. It gives you a sense of belonging and a cause to rally behind. It shows what hard work can accomplish and gives less fortunate people a way out. It happens at every level and being a part of organized sport is beneficial.
On the bad side, organized sports exposes people to risk of injury. Not just to the body but also to the brain. It's only recently that we are discovering how much head injuries can damage you. Additionally, on your way to and at the highest levels, players are treated as commodities. This can be hard on some people's minds and they may not ever fully recover.
I don't pretend to understand suicide because it doesn't make sense to me. That doesn't mean I haven't know people who felt it was the only solution. I'm not sure if we will ever truly understand it but we should try.
For a long time I saw it as a very selfish act. To me, it was the cheap way out to give up and leave everyone to pick up the pieces. Lately it's just sad. I've never been close to thinking that it would solve anything. So, all I know is it must be bad if you have no hope.
I don't know how to change it but if I figure it out, I will share it.
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