Venture Capitalist Insight…
Internet Trends 2014, Code Conference,
by Mary Meeker, May 28.
Meeker, a venture capitalist and the BFF of
Bill Gates, according to an industry insider,
offers an annual graphic report of the rapidly
changing landscape and the impact on daily life.

Jam-packed with colorful graphs and photos,
it’s a fast-paced visual read covering an array
of subjects from social media to social media
TV viewing, health, money, education  cyber
security, immigration, public companies,
Smartphones, laptops and more.

Key Internet Trends
Selected Highlights

• Education/Online education, pgs. 24-28
• Re-Imaging Apps: Some are disappearing, pg 39
• Re-Imaging Content, pg.45
• Re-Imaging daily activities, pg 46
• Challenging Non Cloud Business models, pg. 76
  

  &
  Immigration in America: The Shortage of High skilled Workers
  Note: A 190-pg pdf by Meeker’s company
  http://www.kpcb.com/insights/immigration-in-america-the-growing-shortage-of-high-skilled-workers
  

   For 2017
  Internet Trends and Stats
  vpnmentor.com
  https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/vital-internet-trends/

  Takeaway lesson

  Although a recent critique of the report on Harvard Business Review.org contained countless valid points, it should be noted that no one report should ever be used as the sole source of information when researching an industry.

References
KPBC.Com
Internet Trends 2014, Code Conference, by Mary Meeker, pg. 163.
http://tinyurl.com/kgyv2yb

Harvard Business Review.org
Summary: It’ time to re-imagine Meeker’s report
http://tinyurl.com/lqesh35

Infinite Melodic Wisdom

Li Hongbo & The Business Insider

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mITAih6LN80?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=675]

Artistic work that stretches imagination using a seemingly ordinary item.
Based on childhood fascination with paper
Skills and knowledge acquired as a book editor
Art training in diverse fields
Using history for inspiration
Structural Visualization
Imagination & curiosity to the nth degree

References
Youtube Video   1: 49
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mITAih6LN80

Li Hongbo Bio
http://www.whiterabbitcollection.org/artists/li-hongbo/

Schoeni Art Gallery
http://www.schoeniartgallery.com/artists/178-Li-Hongbo/overview/

Health & Nature
Back in February 1998, the German magazine for health and environmental issues, OKO_Test
tested 20 finger paints…but could only recommend one brand… Nawaro Fingerpaints.

Takeaway lesson: what environmental issues may be involved in the industry you would like to enter? And what can you do to avoid problems?

Sources

OKO-Test
http://www.oekotest.de/

OKO-Test Fingerpainting
http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=103504&bernr=07

Update
Check out Madison Nicole and Daymond John
in Boca Raton Observer Magazine
www.facebook.com/FishFlopsbyMadisonNicole

Madison Nicol Nicole  on Instagram
https://instagram.com/p/8_QWVsOypD/

The Flip Flop Marketplace
If you’ve ever purchased a pair of ordinary flip flops, you’d know immediately the difference the first time you spotted a pair of colorful FishFlops because they stand out in comparison to the typical styles.

The FishFlops company with teen designer Madison Nicole Robinson continues to grow their business with, for example, the introduction of new footwear at Nordstrom such as the Mother/Daughter combo.

I recently checked out Amazon and other sites in greater detail for a more in-depth look at the product lines in the marketplace. Amazon had a pair of Armani Women Jean flip flops for a mere $91.00. And Valentino offers an incredibly pink pair of rubber shoes on the Web at $295.00…really?

Google images and Amazon show some flip flops designs with an all too familiar look of flimsy. While other selections include logos, sports, Disney, and customization themes. And designer Michael Kors offers a wide array of quality sophisticated styles in the upper $30 range.

But despite all the competition, FishFlops stands apart with creative and innovative design elements that incorporate sea and water illustrations at an attractive price.

But “No one wears FishFlops in the winter…,” notes Robinson, so the company is taking her ideas and brand into related fashion areas. Check out a new article at Small Business Advisor on Yahoo! From Fishflops to Fifth Avenue, Teen Entrepreneur Expands. http://tinyurl.com/qzjjjfu

Fox News Houston just ran an interview with Madison Nichole featuring not only the FishFlops clothing and footwear lines but revealing the business education outreach for teens the designer and her company is actively pursuing.

MyFox Huston Video
http://tinyurl.com/kwuucbb

References
Fish Flops at Nordstrom
http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr/fish-flops

Valentino
http://tinyurl.com/pdq9ytr

Michael Kors/Google Images
http://tinyurl.com/mzfwt59

Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/o6qx9zf

Armani Jeans Cherry Blossom Flip Flop
http://tinyurl.com/nwdgefh

Armani Jeans Blue Floral Flip Flop
http://tinyurl.com/mlr8g8s

Small Business Advisor Yahoo.com
From FishFlops to Fifth Avenue, Teen Entrepreneur Expands
http://tinyurl.com/qzjjjfu

Teen Entrepreneur Attends Gala Event
http://tinyurl.com/lme37s7

Many people associate Thoreau with Walden’s Pond unaware
he was also a Harvard graduate who helped to rescue his father’s failing
pencil factory by developing a better pencil.

And at one point, he co-owned
an innovative school for children, but apparently spent much of his adult
life working in the family business while pursing a literary career,
other interests, and stance political protests. A good argument could
be made that Social Entrepreneur might well have been one of his niches.

References

Don’t Know What To Do With Your Life? Neither Did Thoreau NPR.org http://tinyurl.com/lhx62z2

Note: Chapters include a description of Thoreau and his work at the pencil factory. Por of Thoreau and his work at the pencil factory. http://tinyurl.com/mf4383b

The Adventures of Henry Thoreau: A Young Man’s Unlikely Path to Walden Pond Booktv.org   About 50 minutes + Q&A
http://tinyurl.com/lhlu7ao

The Disarming Honesty of Henry David Thoreau
http://tinyurl.com/3h235aq
Note: See 9^th para for pencil factory reference.

The Thoreau Society
http://tinyurl.com/lk9cwfl

It Ain’t Over Til Its Over…

Both Marlo Thomas and poet Luis Rodriquez recently discussed at length how many people facing economic adversity use creativity and entrepreneurial tactics to prevail.

Thomas during an interview on Tavis Smiley discussed the theme of her book how women have started business during crisis in their lives.

Rodriquez  on a recent 3-hour appearance on C-Span recounted what he experienced as a worker who kept  seeing industry jobs cut or shipped overseas and how he began to gradually read the signs and tap into his creative side.

And if you watch PBS’ Craft in America 2014, one  segment features a group of out of work textile workers in North Carolina who banded together to create an entrepreneurial solution to mills sending jobs overseas.

References

Marlo Thomas
Tavis Smiley
http://tinyurl.com/nyh4ouv

Luis Rodriquez
Book.tv.org
http://luisjrodriguez.com/blog/

Luis Rodriquez.com
http://luisjrodriguez.com/blog/

Craft in America.org
http://www.craftinamerica.org/press/

Takeaway Lesson
Fascinating account of an overlooked historical war story, but for aspiring entrepreneurs or would-be writers,  how author Max Brooks, finally achieved success with his 16-year effort to get the project illustrates an important lesson about revamping an idea.

Apart from the riveting military details, it is worth noting Brooks’ challenges despite Hollywood connections and affluence.

References

Booktv.org
Note: Video still temporarily unavailable
http://tinyurl.com/mwhn3q7

USA Today.com
Max Brooks Talks
WWI Graphic Novel ‘Harlem Hellfighters’
http://tinyurl.com/m78bhcl

NPR.org
The Harlem Hellfighters: Fighting Racism In The Trenches Of WWI
http://tinyurl.com/mrwna97

Max Brooks.com
http://maxbrooks.com/news.php