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Showing posts from June, 2015

Innovation in San Diego Creates Investment Opportunities

2014 has come and gone , but the benefits of a growth year are likely to carry on for some time in San Diego. According to Connect, a non-profit group that supports innovation , they counted 446 technology and life science start-ups in 2014 up from 426 companies in 2013 ( 1 ). Of these firms , Bio-tech got 62% of the $805 million investment capital dollars while software and medical devices got a third and fourth place in total investment influx . What does this say about San Diego? It says that San Diego has a budding bio-tech and software industry that should be supported by city policies , higher education , corporate training , and international promotion . Encouraging investment funds to find receptive companies seeking those investments for expansions puts money where it has the quickest and most efficient economic contribution . The Economic contribution comes from using the investment money to exp

The Benefits of Mobile Online Military Training

Our military can be called to any place on the earth within a few minutes notice . They leave behind their lives to trek across the globe to protect American interests . With online military training service members can continue to advance their military careers from anyplace and at any time to ensure they continue to be the most advanced armed force in the world . According to a 2011 pamphlet issued by Department of the Army,” The U.S. Army’s competitive advantage directly relates to its capacity to learn faster and adapt more quickly than its adversaries . In the highly competitive global learning environment where technology provides all players to nearly ubiquitous access to information , the Army cannot risk failure through complacency , lack of imagination , or resistance to change (p. 5).” This learning must be as mobile as the military itself , or the force will not be its best when needed . Onl

Understanding Differences as a Sign of Intelligent and Scientific Thinking

The ability to understand differences between similar objects has always been a sign of intelligence . Science itself is based on the idea of investigating the differences and similarities of objects to create a full picture of a phenomenon . When done well , we can create hypotheses , models and theories that help to explain and predict our environment . Our adaptation and full development as a person is based on recognizing and appreciating differences . Simplicity and definiteness make for great followers but hardly constitutes leadership . Intelligent people look deeper at issues to see if they can find differences or similarities that help them understand and create working models to use in other places . Persons who lack the will to put forward effort , or the faculty of intelligence , to understand complex ideas jump to quick conclusions . The issue of categorization is a significant

What Your Car Says About You?

Cars have personalities in the same way we have personalities. Cars are designed to appeal to particular demographics and seek to emulate the characters of their target market in their design. This is one reason your personal image becomes associated with the type of car you drive and the items you buy. To the outside world, your car becomes an extension of yourself. There is brand personality and consumer personality. Brand personalities are those values a brand image symbolizes. Brand personalities revolve around personas of excitement, sincerity, ruggedness, competence and sophistication.  When there is mutuality between consumer personality and brand personality the car is said to “suit you." People with particular personalities are attracted to products with similar personalities (Seimiene, 2012). If you see yourself as a cowboy chances are you will walk past the smart cars and head straight over to the 4X4s. Your idea of fun may look more like “mudding” with Garth Broo

How to Bounce Your Business Off the Bottom

Businesses can decline over the years until they no longer have enough working capital to maintain their current course of action . Without drastic change , the business will either be sold or liquidated in bankruptcy court . Change requires a new way of thinking about things , taking risks and making better strategic choices that lead to higher outcomes . Organizations operate on processes & procedures . The culture of an organization will determine its overall communication and work patterns . When processes & procedures and culture are aligned to market needs it becomes more likely that the business will be able to pull out of its current predicament . Consider a company that produces a single product that once brought in a lot of money but over the years alternative products have been developed by competitors that are eating away at a shrinking market . Continuing to do the same thing

Is Your Best Performer Pathological or "Driven"?

High performers are welcome in any business and people who consistently meet their performance objectives are likely to be promoted over those who do n’t. Some employees are so "driven" they spend every waking moment accomplishing their career goals and soon become budding stars . Is your best performer "driven" or is there something else going on ? Driven people are highly motivated and focused on their goals . They make compromises in their life to reach those goals . There are times when they make mistakes and make a wrong choice , but ultimately they continue on the right path . They believe that through persistence and hard work they can obtain what is important to them. Pathological workers may also show high drive toward their goals and similarly make mistakes . However , they also carry with them other traits such as hostility , risk-taking , deceitfulness, callousness,

Burritos or Bust? Eating Mexican and Eating Healthy

Burritos are one of America’s favorite foods and are part of our Mexican-American heritage . So popular , we spend $39 billion a year at 54,000 Mexican restaurants (2). The style of food is served in multiple venues like fast-food or gourmet . One can order a burrito with almost anything on it , making it versatile for different palates . Buyers beware as most restaurants serve their tasty burritos loaded with calories and saturated fat . The typical burrito contains rice, beans , meat and sour cream that calculates to over 1,000 calories and 14-18 grams of saturated fat (2). A vegetarian one I tried a few months ago had over 1200 calories. With such high calorie and saturated fat count , fitness minded people should concern themselves with the type and kind of burrito they are ordering . Last weekend I went out to eat with family and friends to a local Mexican establishment known for its vegan and vegetarian

Online Learning Has Earned its Permanent Place in Higher Education

Online learning is now a permanent part of higher education and will continue to expand its market. The ease and convenience of online education is changing the face of colleges across the country. As a modality of learning, it allows students to connect to their class and professor at times that are more convenient for them. Traditional education is face-to-face and requires the student to be present in order learn. This leaves out many people who balance families and careers. Besides, those who live in rural areas, or out of a university’s geographical area, will be cut off from higher education. A selection process not based on actual skill or ability is bad news for the economy. Employers require highly skilled employees who continually update their knowledge to stay competitive with the market. Those who are most likely to capitalize on higher education are left out of the mix. Online education will likely continue to grow and become a standard, possibly superseding traditi