HP needs a plan and direction. Not just a reorganization.
HP is in a very unique position in the coming years because they control unique parts of the future, like Sony did 5 years ago, but ultimately failed to capitalize on it. Apple came and ate Sony's lunch and kicked them to the curb. Steve Jobs got it right and realized that computers became a commodity business with low margins. So he turned them around to be the leading consumer electronics company. Along with content for all his devices, he ended up owning the things you use in your every day life.
Right now HP is still a house hold name. Chances are that everyone has a HP printer in their house or a laptop. What HP is missing is the vision. HP's acquisition of WebOS was a thought in the right direction, just executed badly. The market didn't need more fragmentation. They should have adopted their core strength and went the Windows route to create the entire home experience. They have the Windows Home server which ties your entire house together. Laptops and Desktops for the interface. A tablet and phone for when you are on the go. Make it seamless and easy for the end user and they will come.
1. HP needs to either bring back their PDA/Phones. The easiest is to acquire HTC, since they were their OEM for the iPaq's. You need the daily device in the consumers hand. A merger with Nokia would be rather large, but nice. Since the stock is trading at an all time low. Nokia would give them an amazing global presence.
2. Acquire Roku or SlingBox to capture the TV market. This gives them an automatic entry into the living room. You are no longer relegated to the home office.
3. Acquire Hulu or Netflix and integrate it with all your devices. There's your content automatically available to ALL your devices.
Now, this is no simple task to stitch this all together. But you do see the vision. They already have an infrastructure for the "cloud" servers. How cheap would it be for Hulu to build out their data centers if the parent company makes the hardware?
They already have the retail channels, you can leverage it all without building retail stores like Apple did. This would also give BestBuy a much needed boost with the retail sector being a dying business.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
5 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Poor
So, I started reading the site Cracked.com. It's pretty funny and the humor is based on some facts.
I came across this great article: 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Poor | Cracked.com
It's funny, but horrifyingly true! I had a co-worker making decent money, but wasn't getting ahead. So I offered to help. All I did was reconcile his checking account to find that he was paying $600 a month in overdraft charges because his wife was using the debit card attached to their checking account!! That's $7,200 a year and it was going on for several years! At 3 years, it's $21,600!!
It's shocking the lack of financial education in the United States. When I used to hear how important education was, "Go to school!" from my parents day in and day out. I realized that they don't necessarily know why. They see that people with college degrees make more money so they equate that with success.
In reality, it's not just the degree. If it was, certain people will not have succeeded in life, such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to name a few. The focal point should be the desire to LEARN in life. Know why is it that way and not just take it. For example, the "Occupiers" are mostly the "educated ignorant" people or the sheep that woke up one day and said something is not right with the "System", when in reality it's them who failed the system.
If you're poor reading this, there is hope. Know what is wrong and go about fixing it. Don't get sucked into a bad daily pattern of poor. Change your habits and you can change your life. Unless you like the way it is now, then ignore this post and go back to Facebook.
For those that are still reading, take notes from the article above and keep that money for yourself. Stop giving your money away and start saving it for yourself.
I came across this great article: 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Poor | Cracked.com
It's funny, but horrifyingly true! I had a co-worker making decent money, but wasn't getting ahead. So I offered to help. All I did was reconcile his checking account to find that he was paying $600 a month in overdraft charges because his wife was using the debit card attached to their checking account!! That's $7,200 a year and it was going on for several years! At 3 years, it's $21,600!!
It's shocking the lack of financial education in the United States. When I used to hear how important education was, "Go to school!" from my parents day in and day out. I realized that they don't necessarily know why. They see that people with college degrees make more money so they equate that with success.
In reality, it's not just the degree. If it was, certain people will not have succeeded in life, such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to name a few. The focal point should be the desire to LEARN in life. Know why is it that way and not just take it. For example, the "Occupiers" are mostly the "educated ignorant" people or the sheep that woke up one day and said something is not right with the "System", when in reality it's them who failed the system.
If you're poor reading this, there is hope. Know what is wrong and go about fixing it. Don't get sucked into a bad daily pattern of poor. Change your habits and you can change your life. Unless you like the way it is now, then ignore this post and go back to Facebook.
For those that are still reading, take notes from the article above and keep that money for yourself. Stop giving your money away and start saving it for yourself.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Happy New Year!
New year, new beginnings...
So, how to keep relevant and employed in the new year? That's the million dollar question. Here are a few considerations and if you see yourself answering yes to these questions, be sure to keep reading!
1. Does your job seems mindless to you? You just go in hang out and go home? Do you just push paper around? Can a monkey do your job? (Well, not a real monkey. But someone out of college or an illegal immigrant?) Are you making a decent salary doing it?
2. Are you keeping up with your industry? Still using old ways? Don't know about the new technologies in your industry? Not current on your industry certifications?
3. Has business been declining? Have there been less people every year at work? Is management rumbling about business being bad? People NOT being hired? Seeing more managers than actual workers?
4. New companies and/or technology in your industry taking over and doing better? Your company fighting to be relevant?
These are just a few off the top. But if you've agreed or relate, you're in for a shock. Still confused, I'll elaborate with an example.
The US Post Office.
10 years ago, they gave the packaging business and express mail away to UPS and FedEx. They spent billions on technology to install high speed readers than handled letter mail.
Well, there was this thing called the internet and email that came around and decimated their letter business.
Now the post office is regulated and constrained. Unable to move into new businesses, so they will shrink to a point where they will almost disappear and another 5-10 years.
Things they should have gone into.
1. Maps. Most people don't realize, but they have the most up to date maps and business address of anyone. After all they have to deliver it. That data is extremely valuable to providers, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps and GPS manufacturers. The issues they face today, is the ability to update them. The post office does this on a daily basis.
2. Secure email. They can provide a secure email account, easily. Think about it, no fake accounts. Like a PO box, but you have to go to the post office to validate with a federal ID. No fake accounts, these people would be the people they say they are. Spam? A thing of the past. If you aren't on the approved sender list, then it gets junked. You have to send a person the mail first and they need to reply to send future mail.
3. Drop ship locations. Like the UPS stores. They have the MOST locations of any retailer. Accept packages from your competitors. Amazon also has a "Locker" at select locations.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200689010
How to avoid this?
This is hard. In the end, it's up to you the individual. NOT your company.
Most companies have a large middle and upper management with lots of internal politics. Things won't change, it's what's wrong with the government now. But that's another story. So ultimately, it's up to you, because people will always save themselves first. It's rare that they don't, but don't be upset when they don't. They have families and priorities also.
The best example I can use, is myself. You can tweak the information to benefit you.
1. Check Monster. Are there a lot of positions available in the industry doing what you do? Is the job in demand? If you see the salary declining... as in desktop support becoming a $15 an hour job vs a $80,000. It's time to get out.
2. Keep up with your industry. Read blogs, news, trade journals, etc. Learn the new technology that comes to your industry.
3. Partake in new things at your company. New projects, new technology, etc. Go with it and don't fight it. It may help you in your new job.
So, how to keep relevant and employed in the new year? That's the million dollar question. Here are a few considerations and if you see yourself answering yes to these questions, be sure to keep reading!
1. Does your job seems mindless to you? You just go in hang out and go home? Do you just push paper around? Can a monkey do your job? (Well, not a real monkey. But someone out of college or an illegal immigrant?) Are you making a decent salary doing it?
2. Are you keeping up with your industry? Still using old ways? Don't know about the new technologies in your industry? Not current on your industry certifications?
3. Has business been declining? Have there been less people every year at work? Is management rumbling about business being bad? People NOT being hired? Seeing more managers than actual workers?
4. New companies and/or technology in your industry taking over and doing better? Your company fighting to be relevant?
These are just a few off the top. But if you've agreed or relate, you're in for a shock. Still confused, I'll elaborate with an example.
The US Post Office.
10 years ago, they gave the packaging business and express mail away to UPS and FedEx. They spent billions on technology to install high speed readers than handled letter mail.
Well, there was this thing called the internet and email that came around and decimated their letter business.
Now the post office is regulated and constrained. Unable to move into new businesses, so they will shrink to a point where they will almost disappear and another 5-10 years.
Things they should have gone into.
1. Maps. Most people don't realize, but they have the most up to date maps and business address of anyone. After all they have to deliver it. That data is extremely valuable to providers, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps and GPS manufacturers. The issues they face today, is the ability to update them. The post office does this on a daily basis.
2. Secure email. They can provide a secure email account, easily. Think about it, no fake accounts. Like a PO box, but you have to go to the post office to validate with a federal ID. No fake accounts, these people would be the people they say they are. Spam? A thing of the past. If you aren't on the approved sender list, then it gets junked. You have to send a person the mail first and they need to reply to send future mail.
3. Drop ship locations. Like the UPS stores. They have the MOST locations of any retailer. Accept packages from your competitors. Amazon also has a "Locker" at select locations.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200689010
How to avoid this?
This is hard. In the end, it's up to you the individual. NOT your company.
Most companies have a large middle and upper management with lots of internal politics. Things won't change, it's what's wrong with the government now. But that's another story. So ultimately, it's up to you, because people will always save themselves first. It's rare that they don't, but don't be upset when they don't. They have families and priorities also.
The best example I can use, is myself. You can tweak the information to benefit you.
1. Check Monster. Are there a lot of positions available in the industry doing what you do? Is the job in demand? If you see the salary declining... as in desktop support becoming a $15 an hour job vs a $80,000. It's time to get out.
2. Keep up with your industry. Read blogs, news, trade journals, etc. Learn the new technology that comes to your industry.
3. Partake in new things at your company. New projects, new technology, etc. Go with it and don't fight it. It may help you in your new job.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Cash is king. Make money work for you.
I hear this all the time. People making large cash deposits on low interest loans. Regardless of it being a home, car, credit card, etc. In the long run you lose money even more money.
Due to a lack of a proper financial education, most of us actually get financial advice from the people closest to us. Our parents. Now like most people, your parents aren't wealthy millionaires. Chances are they've worked most of their lives, lived frugally and have scrapped by to have the little that they have.
Do you ever wonder if there is a better way? I have. So I did some research and learned some things on my own, rather than take advice blindly. Would you take restaurant advice from someone who's never opened or ran one? Do you take advice on how to beat a ticket from someone who's never beat one? You get the idea.
It's always a debate, so I've put it down in a spreadsheet below. Click on the link to see the full view. It should be self explanatory, but inc ase you do have questions I'll sum it up after the link.
Last 10 years Saving vs Debt
In the spreadsheet there are 2 separate sections. The top is someone who invested their money and below is someone who paid off debt first before saving.
As you can see I've use a real mutual fund in the example with 10 years worth of returns.
In the mad dash to save $3,700 in interest they sacrificed $16,000 in gains.
So, the big questions is do you want to save $3,700 or make $16,000? I'd rather have the $16,000 in cash. Wouldn't you?
Due to a lack of a proper financial education, most of us actually get financial advice from the people closest to us. Our parents. Now like most people, your parents aren't wealthy millionaires. Chances are they've worked most of their lives, lived frugally and have scrapped by to have the little that they have.
Do you ever wonder if there is a better way? I have. So I did some research and learned some things on my own, rather than take advice blindly. Would you take restaurant advice from someone who's never opened or ran one? Do you take advice on how to beat a ticket from someone who's never beat one? You get the idea.
It's always a debate, so I've put it down in a spreadsheet below. Click on the link to see the full view. It should be self explanatory, but inc ase you do have questions I'll sum it up after the link.
Last 10 years Saving vs Debt
In the spreadsheet there are 2 separate sections. The top is someone who invested their money and below is someone who paid off debt first before saving.
As you can see I've use a real mutual fund in the example with 10 years worth of returns.
In the mad dash to save $3,700 in interest they sacrificed $16,000 in gains.
So, the big questions is do you want to save $3,700 or make $16,000? I'd rather have the $16,000 in cash. Wouldn't you?
Friday, June 24, 2011
Not all debt is created equal...
What does this mean? Not all debt is the same. Some debt is good. Believe it or not, paying off debt can cost you more money than you imagine.
What do I mean? Here's an example:
Low interest debt, which is anything in single digits, can actually work to your benefit. The best example is my previous post: The Power of Saving Early You can apply that to this. So you have low interest debt (Student loans, car loans, mortgage) and want to pay it off first before saving. BAD! Why you ask? If you look at the break down in the spreadsheet. You avoid saving and paying off debt of $30,000. You lose $48,000 in trying to catch up for retirement vs saving early and it costing you $12,000. Not only that, you also lose in the financial gains you may missed out on, which is highlighted in the spreadsheet below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSQTiorIeNCt4YQTXZ6RYHPfy2GB68xpCYJZYD4BmzQ7nSRuVyjbADg0RmVDdfAm7PbMT_T_GBVkviK/pubhtml
Now, in the example above.
Person B paid of debt early and was debt phobic. They started saving later and managed to save a nice $1.5 million.
Person A started saving early and paid off their debt slowly. They have $3 million dollars saved for retirement.
Who would you rather be? Person A I hope.
What do I mean? Here's an example:
Low interest debt, which is anything in single digits, can actually work to your benefit. The best example is my previous post: The Power of Saving Early You can apply that to this. So you have low interest debt (Student loans, car loans, mortgage) and want to pay it off first before saving. BAD! Why you ask? If you look at the break down in the spreadsheet. You avoid saving and paying off debt of $30,000. You lose $48,000 in trying to catch up for retirement vs saving early and it costing you $12,000. Not only that, you also lose in the financial gains you may missed out on, which is highlighted in the spreadsheet below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSQTiorIeNCt4YQTXZ6RYHPfy2GB68xpCYJZYD4BmzQ7nSRuVyjbADg0RmVDdfAm7PbMT_T_GBVkviK/pubhtml
Now, in the example above.
Person B paid of debt early and was debt phobic. They started saving later and managed to save a nice $1.5 million.
Person A started saving early and paid off their debt slowly. They have $3 million dollars saved for retirement.
Who would you rather be? Person A I hope.
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