As the last blog for the semester, I don't think it would make sense or even be appropriate to just write about another article or business topic. Rather, I think it is a good time to reflect on what happened during the semester and year.
A lot has occurred for me this year at SJSU. I pledged for a business fraternity last semester in hopes to create a stronger sense of connection to school. Through my observations, I quickly realized that with any organization, there are its pros and cons. Hanging on, I believe has made it less and less appealing over time. Moving into this semester has been tough. I have been disappointed for the most part, and at times angry. I have also been very unmotivated for various reasons, but I have fought to just hang in there a little by little.
Having a good sense of these issues since the midst of last semester, I knew the semester ahead in Fall 07 probably would not work to my benefit. I just don't feel I could have a sense of purpose if I continued to be here. I have taken a year off of school before, and an urge to take some time off again is very strong. But I cannot allow that, because I wouldn't be doing anything worthwhile; so a solution to my dilemmas is to leave the country.
I think I just need a "break" while still continuing my studies and striving forward. Something new to keep me interested and motivated. So after 3 months of contemplation and another 3 months of applications and waiting, I am finally going to go to Hong Kong with the help of a scholarship from the COB too. I think as a business major and just as a person in general, going abroad for extended periods of time would be a spectacular experience. And for a semester, I get to "start over." Which is pretty cool when I think about it. So, for those of you who want to have an exciting and challenging change for once in your life, or to just take a break from the usual, think about studying abroad. ;)
~Good Luck for the Year Ahead and Have a Good Summer
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Burning Bridges
I guess something finally happened in the Bay Area, or at least seems unusually interesting. An overpass in the East Bay's MacArthur Maze collapsed yesterday due to an overturned oil tanker that caught fire to its 8,600 gallons of unleaded gasoline. The intense heat of over 3000 degrees Fahrenheit melted the metal support structure of the overhanging bridge causing it to collapse. I must say, I think that is one of the more amazing things that has happened in this area in quite some time. Not that it is a good thing though....
Anyhow, this accident has caused a scurry of dilemmas. Such as the potential of increased congestion on the freeways as well as on Bart, the public railway transportation system. There have been concerns for local business in the Oakland area for less customers coming in due to the collapse of the bridge.
Although it has caused quite a stir in transportation headaches, I think it is good to have some excitement and change for once, even though it is not the best. It gives people a change in their routine, for those who have been affected, which gives them just that more experience. Having to commute everyday to work on the freeway, I would find this to be a refreshing although annoying change in routine for at least a few months while the bridge is repaired. I guess one thing people should learn from this is that life throws unexpected things at you, and you just need to adapt to the changes, or you can just stay at home like some people have and not go to work. Those people don't deserve to work at wherever they do.
Source: SFGate.com. Article: Tanker fire destroys part of MacArthur Maze. Authors: Demian Bulwa and Peter Fimrite
Monday, April 23, 2007
Obesity Epidemic
Fast food, it’s cheap, convenient and darn tasty when you eat it. However, that has become a growing concern who consumes these products because it is causing obesity, a quickly rising health issue in America. Just like clothes fads, the industry controls what people eat. It is not a habit that should be acquired yet people do it. I believe the food and restaurant industry is partially accountable for the foods they serve and should at least focus on product liability and have some measure of corporate responsibility.
It is interesting to know, that the most powerful country in the world with some of the most advanced technologies from medical to fire power, is also the most obese. You see those Americans walking down the street, a bulge here, and a bulge there. It is not an appealing sight, yet it is all over. There are also its extremes of being too skinny, but that really is not the concern. Cardiovacular Disease is the number 1 killer of American lives. Former President Bill Clinton has recently started a campaign to battle the causes of obesity. With the help of the American Heart Association, he hopes to promote healthy eating habits in children and to also encourage them to exercise. It is much tougher to push or even encourage the older generation to eat healthy and exercise. Although it is never too late to start, it is an excellent strategy to encourage the young to eat healthy so they build healthy habits which will most likely stay with them for the rest of their lives. I really applaud Mr. Clinton for his campaign, because it will forever change the way Americans live. Ignore those tv ads! If Clinton can avoid eating fast food permanently, dont you think we all can do the same? Thinking about it, I should start eating healthier and get more exercise in my schedule too before anything bad happens.
I believe as time progresses, the way business advertise food to the public, will become healthier. I am not sure how long this will take, since taste preference usually supercedes if it is healthy or not. Fast food is still cheap and affordable, just not very healthy, and business make a huge margin on that. Healthier foods tend to be of more quality which costs both the seller and buyer more. Since neither wants to pay these prices, it is still difficult to promote healthier foods. It is especially difficult for people with low incomes, as low quality fast foods are affordable, whereas healthier alternatives are not, even if they are only slightly more. Hopefully time will help lower the costs of healthy alternatives and the unhealthy counterparts are banned.
It is interesting to know, that the most powerful country in the world with some of the most advanced technologies from medical to fire power, is also the most obese. You see those Americans walking down the street, a bulge here, and a bulge there. It is not an appealing sight, yet it is all over. There are also its extremes of being too skinny, but that really is not the concern. Cardiovacular Disease is the number 1 killer of American lives. Former President Bill Clinton has recently started a campaign to battle the causes of obesity. With the help of the American Heart Association, he hopes to promote healthy eating habits in children and to also encourage them to exercise. It is much tougher to push or even encourage the older generation to eat healthy and exercise. Although it is never too late to start, it is an excellent strategy to encourage the young to eat healthy so they build healthy habits which will most likely stay with them for the rest of their lives. I really applaud Mr. Clinton for his campaign, because it will forever change the way Americans live. Ignore those tv ads! If Clinton can avoid eating fast food permanently, dont you think we all can do the same? Thinking about it, I should start eating healthier and get more exercise in my schedule too before anything bad happens.
I believe as time progresses, the way business advertise food to the public, will become healthier. I am not sure how long this will take, since taste preference usually supercedes if it is healthy or not. Fast food is still cheap and affordable, just not very healthy, and business make a huge margin on that. Healthier foods tend to be of more quality which costs both the seller and buyer more. Since neither wants to pay these prices, it is still difficult to promote healthier foods. It is especially difficult for people with low incomes, as low quality fast foods are affordable, whereas healthier alternatives are not, even if they are only slightly more. Hopefully time will help lower the costs of healthy alternatives and the unhealthy counterparts are banned.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
I recently stumbled upon an article in the San Jose Mercury News, (April 13, 2007), called Combining Technology Talents, written by Constance Loizos. The article is about a company called Y Combinator where a group of 7 individuals live together in a San Francisco building and work together. In 1998, the entrepreneur of Y Combinator sold his company Viaweb to Yahoo for about $50 million. That is quite an achievement, which has won him a following of programmers. Y Combinators objective is to find future entrepreneurs.
" Here's how it works: twice a year, Y Combinator invites ''hackers,'' or programmers, to fill out an online application, outlining who they are and a business idea. One winning batch of teams is funded in winter and the other in summer. With Y Combinator's help, each becomes a real company -- one that is expected to create its product within three months. The amount of money Y Combinator gives each group -- $5,000, plus an additional $5,000 per founder -- is a pittance for what it asks in return, which is, on average, a 6 percent stake in their start-up. That money has to really stretch. Beyond their living and working expenses, it must also cover relocation costs, as the winter winners must relocate to the Bay Area and the summer winners to the Boston area. ''It's no accident that we make people move,'' said Graham, 42. ''It's a test of commitment.'' "
Then the winning group is given the opportunity to present their proposal to a group of investors. (Only 10 Minutes) If they like it, they are given the money to make the business happen and the actual product to be released in only months.
It is cool and also an inspiration to know that Y Combinator is a startup company creator. They give people the chance to start something brilliant and succeed in life as he has done with his. Some Alumni of Y Combinator is Reddit.com which was sold for $12 million just last year. There are dozen others that have been created through the genius minds of Y Combinator.
" Here's how it works: twice a year, Y Combinator invites ''hackers,'' or programmers, to fill out an online application, outlining who they are and a business idea. One winning batch of teams is funded in winter and the other in summer. With Y Combinator's help, each becomes a real company -- one that is expected to create its product within three months. The amount of money Y Combinator gives each group -- $5,000, plus an additional $5,000 per founder -- is a pittance for what it asks in return, which is, on average, a 6 percent stake in their start-up. That money has to really stretch. Beyond their living and working expenses, it must also cover relocation costs, as the winter winners must relocate to the Bay Area and the summer winners to the Boston area. ''It's no accident that we make people move,'' said Graham, 42. ''It's a test of commitment.'' "
Then the winning group is given the opportunity to present their proposal to a group of investors. (Only 10 Minutes) If they like it, they are given the money to make the business happen and the actual product to be released in only months.
It is cool and also an inspiration to know that Y Combinator is a startup company creator. They give people the chance to start something brilliant and succeed in life as he has done with his. Some Alumni of Y Combinator is Reddit.com which was sold for $12 million just last year. There are dozen others that have been created through the genius minds of Y Combinator.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Future of Blogging
It is interesting to know that many people blog, and that many actually list out a detailed life story. From meeting a new mate to whatever they do in between and finally to the break-up. But what really amazes me is that blogging has taken a completly new form of communication for businesses.
Traditionally, a business has many trade secrets. Secrets such as their way of operations or the next big project that they will tackle; especially they don't reveal accounting or financial reports openly, unless they are annual reports etc etc. But in Clive Thompson's article "The See Through CEO" from Wired Magazine, that may not be the case anymore. Blogging has been a way for many businesses to openly discuss the concerns that employees have with the firm. They are actually encouraged by the company to post blogs about their projects and whatever they have to say about the company. By keeping the public informed on the company's daily operations, there is nothing to hide. In fact, Glenn Kelman said "...he thinks it saved his business[Redfin]." By "stripping naked" the truth behind his industry and revealing even the faults of his own company, it actually gained the confidence of customers, which began to sign up for services from Redfin, his company.
By openly sharing information and picking out the pros and cons in the company by blogging them can really revolutionize the way a business operates.
"I honestly believe that if Redfin were stripped absolutely bare for all the world to see, naked and humiliated in the sunlight, more people would do business with us." - Glenn Thompson.
This article has truly put a new insite in business, that there is no hiding anymore. Secrecy only gives a company bad rep, and when exposed just doesn't work out very well. If say, for example, Enron's employees constantly blogged what they felt and also the operations of what they did, perhaps, the problem would have been dealt with early on without having some of the individuals to having to mask the problem.
I, for one, know from personal experiences, that secrets never come out with benefits. Although you may think that hiding the truth may make things better, it rarely is the case. By applying the ideas of openly sharing and discussing in business blogging, the world can see and even help in tough situations. I believe the world will be better free of secrets, for it will certainly be the case for the next generation of businesses.
Image from Wired.com by Mark Hooper
Traditionally, a business has many trade secrets. Secrets such as their way of operations or the next big project that they will tackle; especially they don't reveal accounting or financial reports openly, unless they are annual reports etc etc. But in Clive Thompson's article "The See Through CEO" from Wired Magazine, that may not be the case anymore. Blogging has been a way for many businesses to openly discuss the concerns that employees have with the firm. They are actually encouraged by the company to post blogs about their projects and whatever they have to say about the company. By keeping the public informed on the company's daily operations, there is nothing to hide. In fact, Glenn Kelman said "...he thinks it saved his business[Redfin]." By "stripping naked" the truth behind his industry and revealing even the faults of his own company, it actually gained the confidence of customers, which began to sign up for services from Redfin, his company.
By openly sharing information and picking out the pros and cons in the company by blogging them can really revolutionize the way a business operates.
"I honestly believe that if Redfin were stripped absolutely bare for all the world to see, naked and humiliated in the sunlight, more people would do business with us." - Glenn Thompson.
This article has truly put a new insite in business, that there is no hiding anymore. Secrecy only gives a company bad rep, and when exposed just doesn't work out very well. If say, for example, Enron's employees constantly blogged what they felt and also the operations of what they did, perhaps, the problem would have been dealt with early on without having some of the individuals to having to mask the problem.
I, for one, know from personal experiences, that secrets never come out with benefits. Although you may think that hiding the truth may make things better, it rarely is the case. By applying the ideas of openly sharing and discussing in business blogging, the world can see and even help in tough situations. I believe the world will be better free of secrets, for it will certainly be the case for the next generation of businesses.
Image from Wired.com by Mark Hooper
Saturday, March 17, 2007
More Experience through Internships
The past 2007 Expo Career/Intern Fair was my first attendance. Having the chance to scope out what they offered online through the SJSU Career Center allowed me to explore what I was interested in as well as what I disliked.
I received an "Early Bird Pass" to attend the Fair three hours earlier, by attending a Job Fair Success Workshop. There they gave us a general overview of preparing to meet the employers. It included information on writing a resume, a cover-letter, a 1 minute commercial, and a thank you letter. I believe these were very good pointers if not good reminders right before participating in the Job Fair. I believe this Job Fair Success Workshop is very helpful for inexperienced and experienced individuals with Job Fairs and suggest that they attend the next available opening before the Job Fair in April.
Through this Fair, I also discovered which employers I wanted to work for. However, there are some that I disliked after given the opportunity for an Interview. For example, the Target Corporation, the one we go to for the general amenities as well as toys, movies video-games and so forth, was a VERY big disappointment. After the on-campus interview, I discovered that they were very unorganized and really not very motivated at the interview as they were at the Job Fair. It may be the particular people that gave the interview, or it may have even be me. However, I was not the only one to find the process to be "retarded" or "disappointing." At least two other fellow students left upon arrival to the "Interview Waiting Room." There was no one from Target to greet those that have arrived, and on top of that, the waiting room was filled with Interviewees still waiting for someone to interview them. The schedule for interviewing was thrown off due to the overbooking of Interview Appointments. Mine was at least 20 minutes past the scheduled time, and they were not even interviewing other potentials at the moment. It felt as if Target did not care for the hiring of these smart, high energy, college students
I was looking forward to the Internship program, but after what I encountered, I am extremely disappointed at their management system. Perhaps it was a system to "weed" out the ones that they did'nt like, by letting them wait with little or no greeting and then subject them to an uninspiring environment. Yes! That's the way to go Target! Even after these incidents, Target is just going to continue to grow and prosper, and I guess that is the way their Corporate Culture operates.
I received an "Early Bird Pass" to attend the Fair three hours earlier, by attending a Job Fair Success Workshop. There they gave us a general overview of preparing to meet the employers. It included information on writing a resume, a cover-letter, a 1 minute commercial, and a thank you letter. I believe these were very good pointers if not good reminders right before participating in the Job Fair. I believe this Job Fair Success Workshop is very helpful for inexperienced and experienced individuals with Job Fairs and suggest that they attend the next available opening before the Job Fair in April.
Through this Fair, I also discovered which employers I wanted to work for. However, there are some that I disliked after given the opportunity for an Interview. For example, the Target Corporation, the one we go to for the general amenities as well as toys, movies video-games and so forth, was a VERY big disappointment. After the on-campus interview, I discovered that they were very unorganized and really not very motivated at the interview as they were at the Job Fair. It may be the particular people that gave the interview, or it may have even be me. However, I was not the only one to find the process to be "retarded" or "disappointing." At least two other fellow students left upon arrival to the "Interview Waiting Room." There was no one from Target to greet those that have arrived, and on top of that, the waiting room was filled with Interviewees still waiting for someone to interview them. The schedule for interviewing was thrown off due to the overbooking of Interview Appointments. Mine was at least 20 minutes past the scheduled time, and they were not even interviewing other potentials at the moment. It felt as if Target did not care for the hiring of these smart, high energy, college students
I was looking forward to the Internship program, but after what I encountered, I am extremely disappointed at their management system. Perhaps it was a system to "weed" out the ones that they did'nt like, by letting them wait with little or no greeting and then subject them to an uninspiring environment. Yes! That's the way to go Target! Even after these incidents, Target is just going to continue to grow and prosper, and I guess that is the way their Corporate Culture operates.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Study Abroad!
For most people, college is the time to explore the world because it is when they have the opportunity to do so. Yes, it seems like a cliche to say that it will give people a global perspective or that it will give you a competitive edge when applying for a job, but truthfully, it really is. I have been to a few Study Abroad Information Sessions on campus, and surprisingly only about 1% of college students study abroad. Of course you will stand out from the rest from having this extra experience on your resume.I have also read that the Business Department at San Jose State, especially for International Business Majors, will be required to study abroad as part of their degree requirements in the future. I am not sure when, but it seems great for them to do so since as the world globalizes, we will be working in an ever so diverse environment. Having that international experience will not longer just be a good resume filler or a fun experience, but will actually be needed.
That is why I think joining a study abroad program is a good way to not only expand your cultural experience, but really a way to have a very very long vacation!
Take this opportunity of a life time to study abroad, and find more information at the SJSU Study Abroad Department.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Finally...Cheaper Ink!
Kodak is making a comeback by introducing new inkjet printers. The good thing is, the ink is much more affordable than other competitive brands such as Epson, Canon, HP, Lexmark, or Dell. It will be offering its new line of inkjet printers between $149 and $300. It averages about $50 more than the competitors' price but the ink prices ranges from $10 for black ink to $15 for color ink. Average ink price for the inkjet printer is said to be around $25 as opposed to the whopping $60 to $80 for other photo ink cartridges. Kodak said it will even include more ink in their cartridges than competitors. Apparently, ink manufacturers have never lowered their prices or engaged in price wars, but hopefully Kodak will change all this and be able to force the price of ink down for consumers' sake. This strategy may attract more buyers to their new printers as they will realize it will pay for itself in a year.
From personal experience, the ink can sometimes cost nearly as much as the printer if not more. One time, my friend wanted to buy replacement ink for his printer at home. So we went to Fry's Electronics in Sunnyvale. After checking the price that he will have to spend on replacing all the cartridges, it seemed logical to check out printer prices instead. For the price he had to pay for the ink, we thought, why don't we just buy a new printer? We checked for printer prices that, for $10-15 dollars more, he could get a new printer that came with a brand new set of ink. He finally settled for a refurbished Epson photo inkjet printer with an LCD screen, which cost only about $10 more than the cost of ink for his old printer. Quality was much better than the one he owned and even some of the new ones in the store. It came with a set of brand new ink as well. We adopted a new strategy of buying a new printer than replacing all the ink. Better deal for the pocket but very wasteful. We didn't really adopt that approach, but it truly was a good idea. Well, at least Kodak is introducing cheap ink, but it will be up to the consumers' who will judge its quality.
Articles From: USA Today and New York Times.
From personal experience, the ink can sometimes cost nearly as much as the printer if not more. One time, my friend wanted to buy replacement ink for his printer at home. So we went to Fry's Electronics in Sunnyvale. After checking the price that he will have to spend on replacing all the cartridges, it seemed logical to check out printer prices instead. For the price he had to pay for the ink, we thought, why don't we just buy a new printer? We checked for printer prices that, for $10-15 dollars more, he could get a new printer that came with a brand new set of ink. He finally settled for a refurbished Epson photo inkjet printer with an LCD screen, which cost only about $10 more than the cost of ink for his old printer. Quality was much better than the one he owned and even some of the new ones in the store. It came with a set of brand new ink as well. We adopted a new strategy of buying a new printer than replacing all the ink. Better deal for the pocket but very wasteful. We didn't really adopt that approach, but it truly was a good idea. Well, at least Kodak is introducing cheap ink, but it will be up to the consumers' who will judge its quality.
Articles From: USA Today and New York Times.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Surfboards Made of Nuclear Warhead Foam
I stumbled upon an article recently talking about Clark Foam, the world's leading manufacturer of "blanks,"foam cores for surfboards. Having any industry leading business to suddenly go out like that, is never good, but it opens up possibilities for others to take the place and become the world leader. LeRoy Whinney, a chemist for Sandia National Laboratories knew of a replacement material that could be adapted to make the foam blanks, TufFoam. However, the material is unusual in that it is used for protecting sensitive electronics in bombs. Nonetheless, the lab has created a series of samples that have been found to be comparable to the best boards and seems to outperform compression and crack-resistance tests as opposed to other alternatives. Executives of the lab which is run by Lockheed Martin, says the revenue would be used to fund other research.
It is interesting to know there are always alternatives to a problem. In this case, it really benefited the new company that will be supplying the new material to make surfboards. As in all business aspects, it is important to stay aware of you surroundings especially the market place. The particular chemist was able to look beyond his own industry of designing products for the Defense Department, and use his skill to apply it to something entirely different, surfboards. There are many opportunities out there and is also important to be able to adapt and change in order to capture these opportunities, especially as managers.
Article and Picture from Wired. Picture by Ilan Rubin.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
#1 A Little Something About Your Friend in LLD100WB
Wow, I never thought I would start blogging. I have a facebook, and a myspace that I didn't make. But I never thought I would be required to blog for a class; interesting heh? Anyhow, my name is Ronny, and I am majoring in Business Administration concentration in Management.
I have two older sisters. The eldest, Jeannie, graduated from SJSU and now works with health insurance, and happily married to my brother in law, Jeff, who works at Sony Playstation! My other sister, Tammy, is currently fulfilling her residency at California Pacific, a hospital in SF, after her undergrad at UCSD and Masters at Georgetown U. I love them so much because they buy me stuff, well...and that they care for me a lot. My parents live in Sunnyvale, and that's where I live if I don't stay on campus. All in all, my family rocks, because there is nothing I hold more dearly than my loving family.
I came to SJSU after Monta Vista. After a year I decided to take a year off. Traveled a bit; 3 trips to Hong Kong and 1 to Japan. Finally went back to school at De Anza and discovered it was fairly difficult after a year of doing "nothing." I slowly made my way back and spent 1.5 years there and came back to State last Spring. I live in Campus Village with my buddy Varun that I've known from way back in the days (elementary school). I am currently an active member of a co-ed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. If anyone is interested in joining, it will be a great opportunity to network and meet a lot of new friends!
I have two older sisters. The eldest, Jeannie, graduated from SJSU and now works with health insurance, and happily married to my brother in law, Jeff, who works at Sony Playstation! My other sister, Tammy, is currently fulfilling her residency at California Pacific, a hospital in SF, after her undergrad at UCSD and Masters at Georgetown U. I love them so much because they buy me stuff, well...and that they care for me a lot. My parents live in Sunnyvale, and that's where I live if I don't stay on campus. All in all, my family rocks, because there is nothing I hold more dearly than my loving family.
I came to SJSU after Monta Vista. After a year I decided to take a year off. Traveled a bit; 3 trips to Hong Kong and 1 to Japan. Finally went back to school at De Anza and discovered it was fairly difficult after a year of doing "nothing." I slowly made my way back and spent 1.5 years there and came back to State last Spring. I live in Campus Village with my buddy Varun that I've known from way back in the days (elementary school). I am currently an active member of a co-ed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. If anyone is interested in joining, it will be a great opportunity to network and meet a lot of new friends!
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