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Nucor: Unconventional Success

By RD Bentley on August 27, 2011 in

Nucor (NYSE:NUE) is ranked number 14 among the top producers of steel in the world. This is taken from a list (2010) of the largest steel-producing companies in the world.

Nucor is said to be North America’s largest recycler of any material, recycling one ton of steel every two seconds.

What is different about Nucor? It is among the largest of the “mini-mill” operators. These are the type that use electric arc furnaces to melt the scrap steel.

In addition to its mini-mill, Nucor was a pioneer of another technology — called thin-strip casting. This reduced the need for manpower and energy.

Traditionally, steel was using integrated steel works, with blast furnaces to make the steel. Many of the established steel plants ignored new technology, because of a comfortable high profit they enjoyed. This opened the door for companies willing to take the lower road and those that incorporated disruptive technology.

While many of America’s steel manufacturers hung on to traditional steel making methods, Nucor embraced new technologies. The risk paid off.

The company used innovative methods that were very unconventional for the time. Nucor stripped the managerial layers that weigh down most corporations. The unconventional results were spectacular. The company claims it never had a layoff for lack of work. Now this is truly remarkable.

Another feat for the unconventional company — over five years running, the company prides itself on a 371% return to shareholders. That’s pretty impressive. And Nucor pays its employees well above the industry standards. You won’t find that in today’s standard model of corporate downsizing.

Nucor’s motto:

Employees — not managers — drive our success.

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Fujio Masuoka: Inventor of Flash Memory

By RD Bentley on August 26, 2011 in

Flash memory is a term that applies to two types of chips — the NAND and the NOR. The NAND is used in: memory cards, USB flash drives, solid-state drives, and more. Both NOR and NAND types were invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka around 1980.

Examples of both types of flash memory include: personal computers, PDAs, digital audio players, digital cameras, mobile phones, synthesizers, video games, scientific instrumentation, industrial robotics, and medical electronics.

Flash memory turned out to be one of the greatest inventions of the 1980’s. According to a Forbes report, approximately $76 billion of these chips were sold in 2001 alone. According to BusinessWeek, flash memory sales hit around $25 billion in 2006 alone. While these figures may not be totally accurate, it gives us a good idea how important this invention was.

Toshiba and Samsung have been two of the world’s top flash memory producers.

At the time Fujio Masuoka had discovered flash memory, he was working for Toshiba. However, because he lived in Japan and worked for a powerful company, he didn’t get the full credit that was due.

In fact,  company members were so embarrassed about the deal, they told Forbes Global that Toshiba was not the inventor of flash memory. The PR staff at Toshiba claimed Intel invented flash memory. Of course, this would later prove to be a false assertion.

While the engineers at Toshiba failed to understand the foresight of Masuoka’s invention, the team at Intel did recognize its potential. Intel immediately acted upon that potential. Intel introduced the NOR chip in 1988; Toshiba introduced the NAND type chip in 1989.

Masuoka had been working on DRAM when he came across his discovery in the early 1980’s. It was the year of 1984 when he would announce his invention, during an IEEE meeting in San Francisco, California.

Dr. Masuoka eventually got promoted to the head of a department, but he would leave Toshiba in 1994. Masuoka later became a professor at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

You can see the profile of Dr. Fujio Masuoka at Unisantis Electronics.

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Cash For Broken iPhone?

By RD Bentley on August 25, 2011 in

Have a broken iPhone? Don’t know what to do with it? Don’t throw it away just yet.

Most people think their old phones are worthless, but in fact, they can be reused and recycled. This means that you can make a little money and help keep potentially hazardous materials out of the landfills.

So, iPhonesIntoCash puts a little more green into your pocket, and keeps our environment just a little bit greener, too! Send them your used or broken iPhone and they’ll send you cash!

iPhonesIntoCash also supports the efforts of the Kids in Need Foundation, which works to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies to students most in need.

How to wipe data on your iPhone:

1. Press the Home Button to return to the home screen
2. Tap the “Settings” icon
3. Select “General”
4. Select “Reset”
5. Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”

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Steve Jobs Steps Down As CEO

By RD Bentley on August 24, 2011 in

Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

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You Must Be A Purple Cow

By RD Bentley on August 24, 2011 in ,

Some products are ordinary, while other products are extraordinary. If you really want to stand out in today’s world, you have to be a purple cow. You can no longer afford to be a brown cow. Let me explain.

Yesterday I was finishing Seth Godin’s bestseller book  — Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable–Includes new bonus chapter, and I literally felt the ground shaking! It’s not very often that you read a book and this happens. Well, I  think we had an earthquake.

Right after the earthquake I immediately got on Twitter, to verify if my senses had been correct. Twitter instantly verified there was an earthquake.

For some reason or another, I landed on Seth’s blog, and sure enough he had already made a post about the earthquake, only several minutes later! Is this a dedicated writer or what?

What Seth calls a Purple Cow is an idea or routine that separates us from the herd mentality. This means that we must find a niche in the business world that either no other company is doing, or, we do it better, more efficient, and hopefully cheaper. Although cheaper is not always better.

Originality seems to be lacking in today’s marketplace. The mistake that entrepreneurs tend to make is to copy another business model, or product. In reality, this is the worse thing we could possibly do. And sometimes being popular is boring. 

In order to be a “Purple Cow”, we must go out of our way to make our product stand out. Why? Because, as consumers, we already have most of what we need. We’re more demanding than ever; we’re harder to please than ever. We don’t want ordinary things. We want something remarkable. And we want it now!

The problem with the “Purple Cow”? Seth says it’s fear. Fear of standing out in the crowd. Because if we stand out too far, we stand the risk of criticism. Even though the rewards are much greater if we do eventually succeed, few dare to take this route. Nevertheless, being safe is risky. Why? Because you’ll be invisible. If you’re invisible, you won’t be marketable.

If you want to become wildly successful you must be a Purple Cow.

Image Credit:

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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YouTube Partners With comScore

By RD Bentley on August 23, 2011 in ,

YouTube has announced that it is going to accurately measure some channels separately, and is partnering with comScore to accomplish this goal.

Underneath the YouTube parent entity, comScore’s Video Metrix measurement service will monitor: channels like CBS, Machinima, Philip DeFranco and hundreds of others, according to the comScore post.

This is a decision in order to work with its content partners as the video industry shifts towards a new direction. YouTube may be tooling up in an attempt to better monetize the gargantuan amount of traffic it receives each day. YouTube is already experimenting with paid movie rentals.

Streamed videos have become all the rage in the past few years, especially since internet providers have increased internet speeds all around the United States. YouTube has become a key player in the entertainment industry and is the leader in video hosting services.

The YouTube Partner reporting appears to be similar to the Nielsen ratings, which provides statistics on specific demographics as advertising rates that are influenced by such factors as age, gender, race, economic class, and area.

The 18–49 age range is very important to advertisers in the television industry. There is much to be earned on commercials during the most popular shows and the deomographics do seem to matter. 

On television for example, one show (CSI) will have the potential to bring in $248,000 per commercial, while another show (Grey’s Anatomy) will rake in $419,000 per commercial. The difference is in the demographics and doesn’t always refer to traffic alone. There are other factors involved as well.

YouTube will try to match ad effectiveness with the target audience and make other comparisons across the board. The measuring will include the partners of YouTube — independent and professional, bedroom, and broadcast.

Will the reporting affect the viewing audience in any way? The guide has instructed that it will not.

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Multi-Purpose Shampoo

By RD Bentley on August 23, 2011 in

Need a shampoo that’s good for dry, itchy skin? Does your shampoo cleanse the face, clean the dishes, and work in the laundry? Then maybe you’re interested in a shampoo that does all of this and more.

Shampoo For Dry Skin
Dr. Bronner – Castile Soap Tea Tree, 16 oz liquid is very popular and users of this product strongly recommend  it.

The ingredients are organic:
Water, Saponfied Organic Coconut Oil*, Saponified Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Glycerin, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Altenafolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (* Certified Fair Trade by IMO)

Directions for use:
To use as a body wash, pour several drops onto your hands, washcloth or sponge. Then lather up, scrub down and rinse off. To wash your hair, apply several drops to wet hair and massage into your scalp. Rinse well and follow with the Citrus Conditioning Hair Rinse. You can also dilute one-part soap into 40 parts water for light cleaning. Use it full strength for heavy-duty jobs. To clean your laundry use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed…

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps are very useful and take care of many household needs. These products are so popular that they require no advertising. Some call the shampoo remarkable.

Most Popular
The most popular one of these shampoos is probably Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, 18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint, 32 Ounce Bottle.

Have you tried Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps? Do you have a favorite?

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The Physical Science Of Attraction

By Brandi on August 22, 2011 in

Physical science can be described as the study of nature’s rules. It is the foundation of all sciences. Physical science is integrated into multiple careers, such as architecture, the study of outer space, and many medical occupations.

Physical science is essential to everything we do today, for it is about the basic components and rules of the universe.

Technology and math assist us in understanding physical science. There is a difference here — science deals with theoretical questions, while technology solves practical problems.

Technology is used often in the study of physical science — microscopes, tools of measurement, and various other machines. Math is the aspect that makes physical science clear and understandable.

In order to comprehend physical science, one must use the scientific method to answer questions. The steps to this are:

  • Come up with a basic question that you would like to answer.
  • Formulate a hypothesis based on logic and prior knowledge.
  • Conduct an experiment to test your hypothesis.
  • Based on your experiment, write a conclusion describing the outcome.

    • If you use this method, your information will be accurate and clear.

    As you can see, physical science is very useful in many careers, as well as daily life. Although it is the building block of all sciences, it is complex, for it involves math and technology.

    Science answers theoretical questions through the scientific method, and teaches us about the universe and nature’s laws. We may not realize how much we encounter physical science, or how important it is to all of us.

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    Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

    By RD Bentley on August 22, 2011 in

    PROBLOGGER: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income Second Edition

    ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income is a collaboration of two professional bloggers, Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett. Darren and Chris discuss their separate journeys, from the beginning to making a full time living, using a sometimes misunderstood media — called blogging.

    Some readers may be familiar with Darren Rowse. He’s the guy who founded a very well-known blog called ProBlogger.net. The purpose of this blog is to give tips to bloggers trying to make money.

    Darren’s other famous blog is Digital Photography School, which explains the aspects of photography. Darren currently resides in Australia.

    Chris Garrett is a writer, internet marketing consultant, and blogger. His blog is chrisg.com — The Business of Blogging and New Media. He writes for other sites as well. Chris lives in the U.K.

    This book is a guide to those that are passionate about writing, marketing, and participating in online communities. The book is packed with tried and tested advice from someone who’s already been there; he’s living proof that you can make a six-figure income with a blog. Darren has done it.

    Darren and Chris also expose some misconceptions about blogging. Some may believe there’s a magic wand to wave then suddenly you become wealthy and famous overnight. Both writers have repeatedly stated that this dream is very possible, but it requires dedication, discipline, and hours of gruelling work. Normally, it will not happen overnight.

    The tips that are given in the book are extremely useful for all levels of bloggers, from the beginner to the pro. Those who are blogging and want to monetize their blog will find this book a door to knowledge.

    There are some topics that all bloggers must learn and try to improve upon. Topics such as: niche blogging, blog writing, promotion, social media, and creating useful content that will be of some value to readers. Moreover, one needs to know how to set up a blog and the details that are involved in the process.

    Make no mistake, there are many blogs out there today and all in competition with each other. The challenges are there, but so are the rewards. If you can find the right formula, meet the right people, and push your blog to another level, you can enjoy the dividends with others.

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    StumbleUpon Adds Explore Button

    By RD Bentley on August 21, 2011 in

    StumbleUpon has recently introduced the StumbleUpon Explore Box. This allows a Stumbler to type a word or phrase into the Explore Box and get community-endorsed content related to specific interest or passion.

    You can use the Explore Box from your StumbleUpon homepage at http://www.stumbleupon.com/home after you log in. Or, you can try it at http://www.stumbleupon.com/explore.

    How popular is this social media community? A Mashable report claims that StumbleUpon now accounts for more than 50% of all referral traffic from the top social media sites. Hey, this is big. Especially if you’re trying to promote a business, blog, or website.

    Users have shown an interest in getting more specific material than the topics had previously allowed them to do so. With the help of the StumbleUpon Explore Box, users will easily explore thousands of interests. That means better results.

    StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites. What is StumbleUpon? Watch the video to find out more.

    Warning: This site is very addictive.

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