Love the products from a newer company in the field of office furniture and technology accessories, BlueLounge.

Their products tackle the everyday problems I face as someone who wants to organize all of my digital devices and the accompanying cables. I carry my MacBook Pro, BlackBerry Storm, iPod Classic, personal cell phone, headphones, plus usb/power cables everyday. I hate the look of a cluttered desk and particularly a cluttered night stand. They have some snazzy products to solve each of these issues.

Eat 'n Park Smiley Cookie

We’ve recently relocated back to Pittsburgh and in our absence the two largest local family restaurant chains have upped the competition. For years kids have enjoyed a free smiley face cookie with each visit to Eat ‘n Park. It’s a pleasant way to end the meal. In our experience the employees have worked for the company for many years, know their clientelle and do a great job at dispensing of drinks and getting your food order correct.

King’s has been the red headed stepchild. Their restaurants have a cold feel and are little more like a diner then a restaurant. King’s prides itself on desserts, but lacked a mascot.

Frownie Brownie

[/caption]
We’re astounded to discover their new mascot on a large billboard outisde of the restaurant – the marketing geniuses at King’s unleashed the Frownie Brownie. It’s a direct jab at Eat ‘n Park, it’s irreveerant and may appeal to those teenagers looking for an alternative to their parents E & P.

To me it’s stupid, copycat, look at me too…This is not an effective way to differentiate myself from the incumbent. Everytime I see it I’m reminded of Eat ‘n Park instead of King’s. I’m reminded that their agency lacked the creativity to find a new pitch.

BTW, we stopped in, tried the desserts, and they aren’t very good.

As I was watching videos of winners from the CMU McGinnis Venture Competition I was amazed at the awesome power of American innovation. The teams are out solving problems, the solution to some I can barely understand.

Despite the doom and gloom in our economy today I know our future is bright because of  the ingenuity of partners from around the world solving basic and complex problems. These problems solver, titans of learning, will rise up new businesses and a new economic vitality will emerge from the ashes of derivatives.

I’ve been following the developments in Saudi Arabia as they look to diversify away from all oil to energy intensive manufacturing and knowledge economy. Their SAIGA is opening up some unique opportunities to foreign investment to be a part of building new cities and expanding their current infrastructure.

I can apply the example of Saudi Arabia in any company. What am I doing to foster innovation – how open am I to the contributions of others? Am I prepared for the next business that will disrupt my current model? (ie. blockbuster vs. netflix) What are my basic assumptions about my business, how safe are those assumptions?

I’ve enjoyed reading the musings of the folks at 37 signals on their product development strategy…..or lack thereof. It’s ultra-agile and 100% focused on the customer. I picked up this list of suggestions from: Carl Knibbs Blog – I think it’s a good summary of what it takes to be successful or fail in developing web-based products.

* Above all. Remember. It’s just a website.
* Understand who your audience is.
* Understand who you want your audience to be.
* Research and write personas.
* Constantly refer to your personas. Know them better than your colleagues.
* Know your colleagues. Be visible. Evangilising your ideas is your number one goal.
* Constantly talk, survey, analyse feedback from your audience.
* Listen openly to your colleagues ideas (then ignore them, the customer is your main concern.)
* Find designers and engineers who share your passion (and it has to be passion. There’s no place for politics in steering successful products.)
* Don’t listen to cynics. There’s enough of those to stop us all doing anything.
* Don’t get bogged down in requirements that nobody will ever read. Make sure at least one of your counterparts in  design and engineering understand what you want.
* Work on the solution in a small group. Create quick mocks to visualise your idea. (It’s ok it’s not your idea. It’s not about you.)
* Evangilise, evangilise, evangilise.
* Create a prototype for your idea as quickly as possible. (It doesn’t matter how.)
* Test. Take your idea on to the street if needs be. Ask people outside your organisation what they think.
* Colour IS important. everything is. You probably want people to use this product frequently, if not every day. This stuff is important to your CUSTOMERS.
* Listen to what feedback you get. Iterate your product accordingly.
* Guess what? It’s almost ready to release….so RELEASE.
* What’s the usage? Monitor feedback.
* Give it a bit of time.
* Is this thing losing you money? Not making you money? If it is, it’s back to the drawing board. (Its code and .jpg’s, not your child. Be a big boy/girl. End it.)
* People like it? Makes you money? You did good. Start again.
* Worried about innovation? Don’t be. Innovation isn’t a ready formula in my book, it’s a journey (in most cases a very long one.)

With the current credit crunch affecting consumers, small and large businesses many are re-evaluating current spending practices. 

I believe protecting the investment in a brand positions a company for growth when we emerge from the current economic funk. Numerous studies show the ROI on brand development over the long haul with higher margins and customer loyalty. 

Growing a brand needs to be a protected investment, like R&D. It touches every part of the company: from customers to employees. My ability to create a unique culture within my business drives my messaging, product/service offerings, and engagement among employees. It’s the reason ‘WE’ exist. 

Premium  brands don’t shrivel under economic uncertainty – there is consistent investment. This article in Business Week re-thinks the idea of brand development as another expense.

Business Week Article

After searching through a dozen blog posts about the iPod, I’m convinced my iPod died. The scroll wheel does not work and that relegates you to listening to each song in order because you can only click Music > Artists >

It’s a 20gb 2nd or 3rd generation, monochrome screen. It was a workhorse, I listened to it everyday for four years. I’m surprised the wheel died before the hard drive or screen.

To iPhone, Touch, Nano or Classic that is the question…

I had the pleasure of hearing a band called Carolina Liar in Richmond on Thursday. Wow! Fabulous live sound, energy that blead off the stage. The lead singer was sick, but strung out enough good vocals to establish himself as a credible singer.

I encourage you to check them out in iTunes. I don’t think there is a bad song on the album.

Rolling Stone Review

I spent a very brief stint working for a contractor in a prison. It’s a terrible place devoid of hope. Yes, the inmates have done terrible crimes to be placed in prison, but you could never remove their humanity. Some still deserved a chance, but those chances are incredibly difficult.

State/federal prison lacks the kind of personal accountability needed to lift out of the cycle of crime. This is where churches and non-profits can step-in. Behavior takes a long time to change, sometimes it’s easier to jump back in to the same crowd after leaving the system.

I came across this program and really think it’s a great idea. The results have been stellar.

http://www.prisonentrepreneurship.org/

So being an entrepraneur I’m always interested in hearing from those that made it beyond start-up to success. 37Signals plays the role of hero for creating and selling web-based software. In this video one of the founders discusss their philosophy on starting and growing a company.

Start-Up School Video

I resonate with a couple of points – most signifcant, focus on the Fortune 5,000,000 – that is very much our strategy with Worship Relay.

Life without VC’s can be good. You can run a good business without pesky investors and still be successful. There is more to life then being at the office and waiting to enjoy life until the big day is a waste.

Focus on what’s important in the beginng, in my case I have a limited number of hours I can devote to my businesses. However, this keeps me focused on only the most essential tasks to get the business up and running.