Consumers Unite: The Power of the People

In a world of unlimited choices, instant communication and access to information with the click of a mouse, the voice and power of the consumer has never been so profound. Thanks to the internet, consumers are able to to ban together, voice their opinions and make informed decisions. Online communities are giving the little people power over big companies and organizations.

Take Yelp for example, there are thousands if not millions of "yelpers" who rate everything they do from concert venues to spas, restaurants to gyms. Business owners, THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION. Market research and self improvement is right at the tip of your fingers! No more focus groups or surveys, simply find out what people are saying about you and your competitors online. These online communities are making it easier for consumers to tell businesses what they like (or don't like) and in return it's easier for the businesses to provide value to their consumers. Power to the little people!!!

Passing time on the train...

The train is a great place to turn down time into productive time. Instead of listening to music, day dreaming or sleeping, why not pick up a book and start learning? If you calculate all the time you spend waiting for the train, being on the train and making transfers it really adds up. If you're feeling like there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything you need to do well start utilizing your time on the train! Recently I've been sure to always have a book with me. On the list now is Entrepreneurship for Dummies. I've come up with at least 10 business ideas this week just from reading on the train, my poor roommates will never hear the end of it. I recommend using your daily commute to read or be productive in some way rather then have it be time wasted. Happy commuting!

My EUREKA! moment

Yesterday was a typical busy day... I was running late as usual (I tend to do this to myself often) ran out and down my fourth floor walk up, got to the train station swiped my card and the good old INSUFFICIENT FUNDS showed up. UGH, how dare it! I went to buy a new metro card, naturally the machine wasn't working, and then finally it did and by the time I got it, swiped, ran down to the train it was just closing it's doors and leaving, typical. Wait wait wait for the next train, go to work, blah blah blah. Now here is where the good stuff happens.

It unexpectedly starts raining and everyone everywhere is running around using whatever they have to shield themselves from the rain. Being an entrepreneur at heart I find opportunity where there's a problem. No one has umbrellas, they are getting wet and this is a problem. What if umbrellas were conveniently available when people needed them? What if they were cheap, disposable and easily accessible? EUREKA! I've got it! Do you?

Learning the Ropes of NYC

Living in Manhattan is very busy and I'm discovering more and more every day that I never have enough time to do even the simplest things. Therefore, I've recently adopted a couple of city tricks to keep my life running smoothly.

#1 Outsource Laundry. It's just way too complicated to drag it up and down 4 flights of stairs, not to mention all the way to a laundromat, wait for it to get it done, fold it, come back and put it all away. That could take all day! I've found outsourcing laundry a great way to give me time to do things that are more important.

#2 Online Groceries. Again, dragging groceries all over the city is time consuming, annoying and a hassle, especially when you have to go often because you are limited to how many groceries you can actually carry. Online grocery shopping has been a life saver for me. With a couple clicks I can have my saved grocery list items sent to my house within a few hours, all without leaving my desk! Also it allows other people to log on and order me groceries (ehmm mmm thanks mom, dad and big sister!)