Obama Envisions Companies To Boost Racial & Gender Diversity

THIS IS CRAZY....






President Obama hosted more than 30 startup companies at the White House as part of an initiative to boost racial and gender diversity.



He called it "Demo Day" Obama “On a typical demo day, entrepreneurs, like many of you, pitch your ideas to potential investors in venture capital or elsewhere, and it is a high stress make-or-break moment that could change the course of your life,” Obama said. “Today was much more relaxed because you just had to pitch the President of the United States.”

More than 40 leading venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Intel Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers have committed to concrete actions to advance opportunities for women and minorities within both their firms and their portfolio companies to help address the diversity problem.

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Many of these venture capital outfits will be adopting some version of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which will require women and minority candidates be interviewed for both entry-level and senior positions. Amazon, Microsoft, Xerox, and several other tech giants have made similar commitments for filling senior executive roles.

These moves follow recent, forceful pledges by Pinterest and Intel to increase the ethnic and gender diversity of their workplaces by measurable percentages by 2016 and 2020 respectively. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus also traveled to Silicon Valley this week to pressure many of the industry’s giants to develop and publish their diversity hiring plans.

The Obama administration and business executives consider the push for inclusion a necessary and urgent corrective. According to U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, less than three percent of all American companies backed by venture capital are led by women, and only one percent of venture backed businesses are helmed by African Americans.

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America, Meet McDonald’s Self-Service Kiosks

Fast food chains are navigating new ways for customers to order their meals  without having to interact with a cashier. Labor costs are rising, Due to presidential healthcare mandates (ObamaCare)  and consumers are demanding ever faster, more convenient service. At McDonald’s, self-service kiosks are popping up in restaurants in the U.S. after the burger chain saw some success with the machines overseas.

McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook told investors on an earnings call last week that all stores in France now have self-order kiosks, and the machines handle more than 40% of orders during busy hours. He said people like having a self-order option and the additional ordering points free up workers and shorten the line at the counter.

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Another advantage: Customers order more via kiosk. It’s a behavior that other chains, such as Taco Bell, also have noticed when customers place orders themselves via mobile app.

“We see higher average checks,” said Easterbrook. “They can browse the menu for a little bit longer, feel a little less pressure and they just tend to spend more.”

 Here's My Take:  david conigliaro's take 

Here's yet another example of the government being out of step with business. Insurance companies being out of step. And, Employees being out of step for the following reasons.

1) Obamacare. Or mandatory forced-Care. Whatever you want to call it. Fact is,  for employers to provide this to all employees was a financial disaster. But, don't just take my word for it. READ HERE CNBC   talking about how bad it's taken a toll on business. Not to mention other rising costs food, gas, electric, and a lower valued dollar. The Dollar is now worth 86 cents! So much for the "dollar menu!

2) $15 per hour Issue:  If Employees want $15 per hour that means that their skill set better match that issue! For example: If let's say, someone wants double their hourly wage, that would mean that they should be 40% more productive at work. It's commonsense that if one person produces more for a company or team, they should earn more money.

 Lebron James earns more money than Joe Harris who also plays on the same team. In fact, Lebron earns 23x more than Harris! Why? Because he produces more. And, brings a ton more money for the franchise. So James' worth for a employer is of far more value due to his contribution! His paycheck is determined by what he brings in for the owners etc...  

3) Insurance Is Too High: Whether it be Healthcare, Work Comp, Disability, Theft, or Property damage, The Costs are way too high! After you factor these 3 points I've outlined in; It's no wonder why Mcdonald's is now offering a "Order at the kiosks option.     

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3 Reasons Why $70,000 Minimum Wage CEO Dan Price Is Going Out Of Business!

Dan Price of Gravity Payments is a 31-year-old CEO who made headlines in April after publicly stating he would bump all of his employees to a $70,000 minimum wage, while cutting his own $1 million per year salary to the same in the process.

At the time, the move heralded great public support from individuals tired of hearing stories about overpaid CEOs, as well as proponents of increasing the minimum wage nationwide.

Now, new reports from Fox News and the New York Times reveal that Price may have overreached quite a bit in his generosity.

The entrepreneur is reportedly “struggling to stay afloat,” he tells the Times, and he also admits that many of the criticisms he’s received are warranted.

“There’s no perfect way to do this and no way to handle complex workplace issues that doesn’t have any downsides or trade-offs,” he said. 

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MY TAKE ON THIS: david conigliaro 

First of all I told everyone this would happen when I first heard the story a while back for the following reasons.....


1) If every single employee makes the same wage as the boss why should they increase productivity for the boss? (It's not like there will be a wage incentive)

2) Since everyone makes the same wage as the CEO (Yes, I said makes, not earns)  This in their minds makes them "Equal to the CEO" not subordinate to him. Thus, they might feel like they're the BOSS not him!

3) Then there's Overspending of the very funds (his own)  that he would need on days like today to keep the company afloat!

Thoughts for him for the future! 
 Since this a case study in Business "Socialism" which almost always fails; he needs to return to Capitalism immediately before it's too late And I'm afraid it might be. 



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Subway Becomes Largest Restaurant Chain To Offer Mobile Ordering

Subway’s new mobile app.

Mobile ordering is quickly becoming a standard in fast food, and now Subway, which has more than 27,000 U.S. stores, has become the biggest U.S. chain to roll it out. The company has launched an app that lets customers to order and pay for their meals via their smartphone, and pick them up at stores.

The Subway app allows customers to customize a sandwich with toppings and condiments as they would at a store. In addition to the smartphone app, the chain is also taking desktop orders via its website. Some individual Subway locations have offered mobile ordering in the past, but this is the first app to be rolled out across the entire chain.

For customers, ordering ahead reduces wait times and can feel more convenient, but there are other benefits for the companies. Some chains such as Taco Bell have found that customers are more likely to pay for add ons when they order via app, as it makes it easier for them to explore the menu than a traditional board behind the register. The technology also provides valuable data to chains about their customers and their ordering preferences, allowing them to tailor their marketing.

Subway is the country’s largest food chain by restaurant count. The second largest is McDonald’s, which has more than 14,000 U.S. stores and says it will be testing mobile ordering in 2016. This October, the company plans to launch a new app nationally, which will initially offer special deals and promotions, but is likely to be upgraded over time!

david conigliaro is a Philosopher and Business Strategist who Puts Businesses on Steroids Link: David's Videos 

3 Ideas That Will Change The Way You See Advertising

by david conigliaro

Why do companies still advertise on TV?

I can't figure out why we still see commercials on TV since people pay good money for DVRs to fast forward them. Or at least, commercials as traditionally done. A new survey just came out recently that stated that even if people don't have DVRs; 36% of people will hit the mute button. Simply, so they don't have to hear the commercial. 

What's even more Amazing is a big insurance company that I'll leave unnamed, who advertises on Youtube that says in the first 3 seconds of the Ad.."You can't skip this commercial because it's already over" 

Let me tell you what's over!

Old styles of boring advertising is over!

How about: almost single Car commercial that looks like every other car commercial. That's over!

I'm here to tell you a secret Car Company's

• You’ve been doing almost all of your ads wrong! 

"The future of advertising that gets watched and shared belongs to the "Story Tellers" People who can connect to their audience. The True Narrators that have their pulse and click value of their consumers."

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Buzz Feed is doing it right!

BuzzFeed’s massive success in video is unquestionable. Currently, the video offshoot of the incredibly popular site dedicated to listicles, animated GIFs, and hard news is generating over 250,000,000 views a month on YouTube alone, and that’s just on its flagshipBuzzFeedVideo channel. If you add up the monthly views from BuzzFeed’s rainbow of brother and sister channels (including Blue, Yellow,Violet, Pop), that viewership number jumps up to more than half-a-billion. And again, that’s just on YouTube. BuzzFeed execs announced earlier this year that their content is generating over one billion views per month across all of their distribution points and channels. Furthermore, BuzzFeed’s YouTube viewership has grown by over 500% in the last year.

I don't know about you but 250M views per month on one social vehicle sounds awesome to me! 

Before this blog gets too long and drawn out.

  HERE ARE SOME IDEAS

Idea 1 

1) Content Sharing is the New Currency! (The Future of advertising belongs to those who can tell the most compelling narrative to their Audience! This is where your hard work gets clicked and shared! 

Idea 2 

2) Knowing The Audience that you're sharing to. (Not selling to.) People hate to be sold something. But, they love to Buy something. People hate to get as Gary V says.."Right Hooked to death" Have you noticed how nobody has time to watch a 30 second commercial but everyone seems to have 30 minutes to watch a "Product Reviews"? It's because Product reviews come accross more authentic and less in your face. And value is being built in it.

Idea 3) 

3) Build Value or shut up! Consumers have way too many options now to be strung along by advertisementS that's

 just like every other product, and ad out there. Build as much value as you can. Make it better. Make your Ads better. In fact that's what this blog post was all about! 

MAKE YOUR ADS BETTER!

david conigliaro is a Philosopher and Business Strategist that puts Businesses on Steroids 

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5 Major Celebrities That Were Once Homeless & What They Can Teach Us!

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Yahoo reported that the comedian dropped out of high school and lived in a VW bus with his family parked in different places throughout Canada. They eventually moved into a tent on his older sister's lawn and parked the van in the driveway.

Carrey said it was during these tough financial times growing up when he developed a sense of humor. 

When she first moved to Chicago to become an actress, Berry ran out of money, and her mother decided the best thing would be to not send her daughter more cash. 

During these struggling times, the actress acknowledges, she stayed in a homeless shelter.

In an interview with Star Pulse, Berry said:

It taught me how to take care of myself and that I could live through any situation, even if it meant going to a shelter for a small stint, or living within my means, which were meager. I became a person who knows that I will always make my own way.

According to BusinessPundit.com, when Phil McGraw (Dr. Phil) was 12 years old, he was homeless and living in a car in Kansas City with his father, who was interning as a psychologist.

McGraw later went on to obtain his own bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D., and he joined his father’s psychology practice in Texas.

In the 1990s, Oprah Winfrey invited McGraw to appear on her show. He later became a regular on “Oprah” and eventually launched his own syndicated advice program. 

Today the author and TV personality is worth an estimated $280 million

Daniel Craig now has several critically acclaimed movies on his resume, but Hollyscoop reported that the 007 actor used to sleep on park benches as a struggling actor.

Today that 46-year-old Craig is worth an estimated $65 million.

Aside from a movie based on his life starring Will Smith, Chris Gardner also has two New York Times bestselling books under his belt: his autobiography "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be."

But before his story was shared with the world, Gardner was living on the streets with his young son. At the time, he was trying to pursue a career in finance despite not having any experience in it, or even a college degree. He received a spot on the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but could not afford to live off of the small salary, and his wife eventually left him. 

He is also a motivational speaker and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

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Which Of These 5 Companies/Brands Made The Biggest Mistakes?

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Which Of These 5 Companies/Brands Made The Biggest Mistakes?

First and foremost,let me just say here for the record that I kinda, sorta, miss these two giants. And they were giants! If you don't believe me, just look at NETFlix. 
When BlockBuster video (BBV)  closed the last store in June of 2010, the very next day

 NETFlix (who exterminated BBV) was NOW valued at nearly $30billion! 

"One day earlier they were just valued at $11 billion!" That's the power of
of a seismic shift. When BBV sank like the Titanic The rest of the value of the
company shifted directly to their competitor. Or should say Predator!    


That's Exactly what complacency does! 

You can't expect to be thriving lion, to tear down, and eat gazelles when some
some other hunter comes around and shoots you with a tranquilizer! 

Only, in this case the hunter wasn't really NetFlix so much as it was Blockbuster video helping Blockbuster  to kill itself!

Facts: Let's take a closer look to see what happened!



Still Doing Business like it's 1999?

Blockbuster Video was using that same old 1999 business model. They were conducting  business like it was the go-go 90s even though it was 2007, and the global economy changed dramatically. And they were "daily" losing customers by the "city" They still thought that they could just keep doing business as
 usual! Here was a list of BBV logic on why they simply didn't adapt to the new customer climate.


Messed Up Thinking! 

1) BlockBuster Video was beating Hollywood video and to BBV's credit they put Hollywood video out of business  and thus, they thought that NETFlix would be the same!


2) Since BBV was fighting so hard against Hollywood video to put them out of business; all of the company's focus was on that. After all, It's hard to fight two wars at once! (Or is it?)


3) BlockBuster had Friends in high places (Or is it Low Places?) Over decades
BBV had maintained (what they thought) were solid relationships with the
 Hollywood elite, Like Film companies, Movie Producers, Directors, Actors and so forth. They would go to parties and get togethers with the who's who's. 
 (How could these relationships ever crumble?) 



2009 DVD vending machines & On Demand Streaming!

Usher in DVD vending machines! BlockBuster hated this idea. They just went along for the ride. Then finally had to close shop.

Number 1 killer of BBV was complacency   

They simply were too focused on 1999 thinking. And far too focused on a small fish like Hollywood video. And too little concerned about NetFlix.


It's the same story with Circuit City!   

Complacency kills companies. It's pretty much the same story with Circuit City.
  Business models need to adapt to the ever changing economic climate. See the new trends on the horizon, and Move fast to consumer demand. 



Here's some valuable suggestions I want to make 

1) Listen to your customers. (Keep surveying them, Never stop! ) Give them what they want 

2) See what new technology is in the hands of your customers that your company should make adjustments for quickly

3) Always be a good student of your competitors before they become predators!

4) Spy on your competition and see what's working or failing for them
 It used to be called espionage. I call Success-pionage!  

5)Keep building value! It could be better customer service, better products, faster, more efficient etc.... 


Those 5 would save any company from going under




M.C Hammer: Spent $33 million dollars and filed bankruptcy in 1996 

Again Complacency was his downfall. And it wasn't because he didn't work hard. Hammer worked very hard. But, from 1988 to 1991 the Music culture had changed And he failed to adapt to that change

Same thing here:Kmart didn't think Walmart was going to be a problem and they paid big for it. As I write this Kmart is still in business but barely. 

I know it's getting repetitive 

The Same 5 apply:

Here's some valuable suggestions I want to make 

1) Listen to your customers. (Keep surveying them, Never stop! )

2) See what new technology is in the hands of your customers that your company should make adjustments for quickly

3) Always be a good student of your competitors before they become predators!

4) Spy on your competition and see what's working or failing for them
 It used to be called espionage. I call Success-pionage!  

5)Keep building value! It could be better customer service, better products, faster, more efficient etc....

 Whether  you are in a Service Business, or Retail, Or Ecommerce the same 5 apply! 

David Conigliaro is a business strategist, who puts Sales and marketing on Steroids! If your company can use some juice Click below

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