Infographic Tuesday - App developer Market (economics)

Infographic Tuesday - Brand Colours

Great little infographic about what colours mean to your brand. Something designers are aware of (fyi designers go check out http://www.farrstdevelopments.blogspot.com) but business types need to learn.

HR, Recruitment and Inspiring Messages to Staff

Jonothan Rice recently posted on his recuitment blog the following:

http://riceconsulting.co.nz/thewhiteboard/cover-letter-quotes-prove-you-have-nothing-original-to-say/

While I don't really want to get into the debate as to what should or shouldn't be in CV's etc. I do think inspirational messages are important motivational tools. Here are some manifestos that I have taking a liking too recently.

What was supposed to be "Infographic Tuesday" (sorry I was sick)

Today's one is about Student debt - and how we are creating a false hope for many students. It is placed in comparison to many 'bubble market' crisis's. Education News Education News

How Auckland (NZ) could learn from Portland (USA)

Recently saw this great documentary on how Portland has evolved to a better living Mecca. http://www.pbs.org/e2/episodes/311_portland_a_sense_of_place_excerpt.html

Good on you Portland! And shame on you Auckland City Council, the only developments I have seen lately that match this type of drive are private ventures.
Get off your arse and start thinking what the city needs to be 20 years from now.

If anyone has a link to the full documentary - chuck it in the comments below.  

More reading here about Portland and its improvements.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/us/29tram.html

Why we shouldn't squeeze the crap out of sub-contractors or staff......

I have shamelessly stolen this from the good guys at Jalopnik (FTW!) but when reading this I noticed it does not just apply to cars/mechanics......this is a fundamental problem with everything including business operations. We have all turned into a bunch of bean counting idiots. We have failed to recognize that we are only hurting ourselves when we squeeze the bottom dollar out of our relationships.

We should be building proper relationships with these people, and paying them for their worth. We need to change attitudes from "Saving money" to "Making sure money is well spent". The big players in the industry that continue to burn bridges (Wallmart, G.E., Apple, Dell etc) are starting to feel the burn of this as their suppliers/subcontractors and staff suddenly throw a spanner in the works, jamming up the whole system, and costing the firm in more than just capital.

Anywho, have a read, and have a reflection.

Source : http://jalopnik.com/5839253/why-im-not-trying-to-rip-you-off-when-i-fix-your-car

Why I’m not trying to rip you off when I fix your car

If there's any transaction more fraught with fear of scams than buying a car, it's getting one fixed. Mechanic Jeremy Waters explains why people need to be a little more trusting — at least in his shop —Ed.

As a mechanic, I never like delivering bad news to a customer; it's not one of my favorite parts of the job. I don't like telling a customer their 5-year-old heavy-duty truck needs $1,600 worth of brakes, front coil springs (because they are broken and dangerous), tires, ball joints, tie rod end and work to pass state inspection, but I must if that's the case. I don't like telling the single mother that her car needs tires because the ones she has now have metal cords worn through the edges and are about to blow out, but someone has to tell her there's a problem. How many customers check the inner shoulders of their tires? How many remove their wheels every week to check out their brake specs? Very few. And that's why I have a job......

..........Article continued here.....

Cognitive Dissonance - Do you think this applies to the current world?

Just saw this, thought I better share:

But it has stirred the question. When this was devised, people had money.

Does the same result happen in a call center in India?
Do people now accept wages and change their lives and perspectives to suit? Or do they quit and get something better?

Does the theory of Cognitive Dissonance still apply?