The year is 2020. It’s cold outside, so before you leave the office you turn on your car’s heater with your smartphone. As soon as you enter your car, the intelligent infotainment centre automatically selects your favourite music to play during the drive home, and the car pulls away without you needing to do anything.
The good thing to know is there’s no need to stop for petrol as the car has been drawing power from the building while it was parked, and is now fully charged. Soon it joins the motorway and drives safely in a close proximity with other cars – almost bumper-to-bumper, and close enough to alarm a driver from the year 2014. But you’re not alarmed: you know your car is constantly communicating with other vehicles, the road, traffic monitoring systems and its own sensors, and will respond faster than any human if another vehicle brakes or swerves.
This world of intelligent, self-driving cars is closer to reality than you might think. Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, recently said: "By 2020, aided by wireless and cloud-based technologies, Nissan will offer our customers enhanced safety and a wide variety of new conveniences like accident-avoiding driving intervention technologies, electric vehicle charging reservations, or a music player that adapts to the listener's moods."
You need only look at Nissan’s current line-up of cars to get a glimpse of how some of these technologies might work in practice. The Note, Qashqai and X-Trail and several other vehicles all come with innovative Nissan Safety Shield features – the building blocks of the car of the future.
The Lane Departure Warning System, for example, sounds alerts to sleepy or distracted drivers if they’re creeping outside their lane. Like the Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection systems, which are designed to prevent collisions with other vehicles and anything darting behind the car as you’re reversing, it makes use of a single, intelligent self-cleaning camera on the rear of the car.
“If you look at the level of technology in our cars compared to our competitors, we are offering an amount of premium technology in terms of navigation or connected cars from all entry points,” says Guillaume Masurel, Marketing Director at Nissan Motor GB. “We’re always trying to push boundaries and making them accessible.”
These technologies also include Forward Emergency Braking and Emergency Steering systems, which can take control of a car in moments of crisis. Nissan has also demonstrated a car that can drive through a junction without hitting traffic, as well as a prototype autonomous LEAF that can automatically change lanes, overtake slower or stopped vehicles, stop at red lines, and more. An array or lasers, radar and cameras allows it to detect objects from 650ft away, and provides it with a 360 degree awareness of its surroundings – an ability known as ‘computer vision’.
Autonomous cars will eventually be able to connect with roads, traffic lights, junctions and smart transport systems throughout the course of a journey. Information about driving conditions, closures, queues and even landmarks could be relayed to the driver by an augmented reality windscreen, with the car able to suggest and select alternative routes.
In the near-term, all new cars in Europe will be required to alert the emergency services if their on-board sensors detect that a crash has occurred, and more people are likely to install event data recorders (EDRs) that monitor their driving habits, allowing them to benefit from reduced insurance premiums. Nissan has also announced a smartwatch for drivers of Nissan Nismo cars, which can capture biometric data via a heart rate monitor and other such features which one day could vastly change how we interact with our cars.
Touchscreen dashboard ‘infotainment’ systems are bound to become more advanced in the future, as autonomous cars free us from the need to operate the car’s controls. NissanConnect is already one of the smartest systems available, bringing apps to the dash and allowing you to stay connected to the outside world from inside your car. Nissan have even made it possible for LEAF owners to communicate with their car remotely by using a phone app which can check the status of the battery, activating the heater prior to getting in, finding local charging stations, and more.
Smartphone apps that let you instruct your car to park itself are also in development, along with wireless charging parking spaces for electric vehicles and ‘Vehicle-To-Building’ energy transfer systems. If there’s a fault with your vehicle you might even be able to fix it by downloading software over the internet rather than taking it to a garage. That might seem futuristic now, but one day it will be the norm for millions of drivers – including you, perhaps.
The female oranges, also known as “the twins” or “the girls”, have remained the most conspicuous and attractive of all the features of the female. Perhaps, its strategic positioning and function adds to its importance in the life of every woman.
Besides the age long biological function of the bre’asts as a source of food and nourishment for babies, the bre’ast is also a major source of séxual attraction for the male specie, just as it is also a key séxual organ for the woman, highly sensitive to stimulation. The fact that they come in various shapes and sizes, further add to their uniqueness and endearing place in our hearts as humans.
The bre’asts have been known to give immense pleasure to both men and women during rough play…
In fact, some women have reportedly disclosed that they are capable of achieving org-asm even when thoroughly stimulated through sucking and caressing of the bre’asts alone. Though, because of this highly sensitive nature, some women find it very uncomfortable or even painful to submit their twin girls to constant séxual manipulation of any kind.
Interestingly, men are constantly drawn to the bre’asts. A lot of this attraction has been attributed to psychological composition, perception and beliefs. For, pray, why would a full grown man be obsessed with su’cking some mounds of milkless bre’asts? I don’t often get logical answers to this question when I ask. The function of the bre’asts in se’xual behaviour has been attributed to human Face-to-Face copulation that is unusual among other mammals. Since the bre’ast already serves the function of mother-infant bonding, then it is also excellent for male/female bonding, says an argument. After all, it is just within reach.
For those familiar with some of the social media platforms, you would have come across a particular message that has been making the rounds for a couple of years now. Purportedly attributed to the BBC as source, this message usually springs out during the cancer awareness months and in support of cancer prevention campaign. As expected, it elicits a wide range of controversies from both men and women, from humour to disdain and se’xual innuendoes, while some others believe the content hook, line and sinker. The purported message is claimed to have been issued by the Ministry of Health in the fight against breast cancer.
One of the versions I have received read thus: Very soon, women will be paying men to have their brea’sts su’cked! According to a report on BBC website, Doctors recommend that women reduce the risk of getting bre’ast cancer by having their brea’sts su’cked thoroughly and vigorously. It is said that regular sucking of the bre’ast lowers the risk level that tends to build up lumps leading to bre’ast cancer. The breast must be su’cked as often as possible. Help women fight bre’ast cancer today. Men, please do your part and su’ck a bre’ast now! And women, please endeavour to make it available regularly…… This message is from the Ministry of Health in the fight against bre’ast cancer.
I have tried several times without success to get a confirmation for this story on the mentioned websites including cancer.org and some others in related fields. But perhaps, someone out there knows the original and authentic source of this message? Please share it with us!
As interesting as this message may be, as well as the different responses it receives anytime it is being passed around, depending on which side of the divide you find yourself, I am more worried about the health implications attached. Cancer is not something to make jokes out of as it claims millions of lives across the world every year. Again, some frightened lady who hitherto was not in favour of bre’ast su’cking may easily submit herself to torture with the belief that she is suffering for a good reason. Please, let us not confuse issues. Bre’ast fe’eding is not the same as breast sucking. Breast feeding is the process of feeding new born and infants with bre’ast milk. It is this that has been medically proven to be of immense benefit to both mother and child and can prevent bre’ast cancer. There are no scientifically proven studies indicating that bre’ast su’cking is of any medical benefit to the the woman whose bre’ast is being sucked or the person doing the sucking.
However, what has been scientifically proven is the fact that bre’ast su’cking when properly performed is of immense pleasure to the woman and may sometime on its own lead to orgasm or when combined with some other forms of séxual stimulation will help a woman to achieve orgasm quicker. Again, neither has any research shown that bre’ast su’cking can give a woman cancer.
So ladies, please relax and allow your guys do the job for you. if you are not enjoying the way he is doing it, tell him. I can assure you, it’s a win-win situation
Controversial actress cum singer, Cossy Orjiakor, who seems to derive pleasure from flaunting her God-given gifts in the open, is at it again. This time, she is in the news as a result of her daring presence in the just concluded Halloween held in Lagos recently.
CossyThe sexy actress, who went to the event bra less, told Matinee why she chose not to wear bra to the event. Hear her, “Actually, a friend of mine and her husband invited me to the event and I decided to go with one of my craziest costumes which I have not worn for a long time.The top has a very tiny hock in the chest and if I should wear bra, my bra will be exposed. So, I decided to show my boobs instead of my bra. I think people would prefer to see the boobs instead of bra. You, which one will you prefer to see?” she asked our reporter.“The funny thing is that, the very first time I stepped out bra less, I got pips freaking out. Everybody wanted to have pictures with me. Then I got bitten by the Egyptian vampire, these boobs are simply amazing, bra less in Halloween” she added.
Dozens of people have been killed in
explosions during Friday prayers at one of the biggest mosques in the Nigerian
city of Kano, reports say.
Many more people have been hurt, with one rescue official putting casualty
figures at just under 200.
The Central Mosque is where the influential Muslim leader, the Emir of Kano,
usually leads prayers.
The emir recently called for people to arm themselves against Islamist
militant group Boko Haram.
The group has been waging an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009 and has killed
more than 2,000 people this year, rights groups say. 'People screaming'
Some reports said there was gunfire in Kano after the explosions.
The rescue official, speaking to Agence France-Presse, put the casualty toll
at 64 dead and 126 hurt, although this has not been independently confirmed.
The supermarkets are already filling up with advent calendars, your next-door neighbour is planning their epic Christmas lights strategy and, for some reason, you really fancy a mince pie. This can all only mean one thing: Christmas is coming!
In preparation, we've lovingly arranged our favourite top 10 Christmas movies for you to enjoy, including Dickensian Muppets, home alone eight-year olds, and reluctant Santas – get stuck into these festive favourites… 1. Muppet Christmas Carol
It's one of the most adapted stories of all time, but when it comes to A Christmas Carol, our favourite version is courtesy of The Muppets. Narrated by our faithful duo Rizzo and Gonzo, the Dickens tale is brought back to life with Michael Caine playing the ultimate Scrooge. Great songs, laughs and spooks, join Kermit and co. for some genuine, Christmassy, movie magic. Plus new film, The Muppets Most Wanted lands on NOW TV in December! 2. The Santa Clause
When he isn't taking Buzz Lightyear to Infinity and Beyond, Tim Allen has a part-time job on the side: being Father Christmas. After his character Scott Calvin accidentally knocks Mr Clause off his roof one Yuletide Eve, it's up to Scott to fill in the now-vacant position. Some scrapes, capers and one thick white beard later, and Santa's back in town. 3. Love Actually
This romantic comedy epic tells 10 stories of the heart, as a stellar cast of lovelorn Brits (Colin Firth, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant, to name a modest few) try and find their meaning of love in the run up to the 25th December. So, can ageing rock star Billy Mack get to Christmas No.1? Is the Prime Minister falling for his secretary? And can a little boy get the girl at school to notice him? Sit back and enjoy the unrelenting number of cameos, featuring some of TV and film’s most adored actors. There's everything to play for in Richard Curtis' modern classic. 4. Elf
Despite its young years, Will Ferrell's starring turn as a Santa's helper with a heart of gold transformed Elf into a cult classic in 2003. Nowadays, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a festive dose of Ferrell’s comedy one-liners: “I just like to smile! Smiling’s my favourite”, “You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don’t smell like Santa”. As you would expect, it’s a barrel of laughs and one of the main reasons we can’t wait for the festive season to start… and why we’re guilty of watching Elf all year round. 5. Jack Frost
Jack Frost has all the classic attributes for the perfect family Christmas movie. It’s a touching story which follows a dad come back to life through a wisecracking snowman, voiced by Michael Keaton, who delivers everything you would expect from a feel-good Christmas drama that brings things all back to family. 6. Home Alone
This classic from Christopher Columbus is now over 20 years old, but still a Christmas necessity. Still hilarious after all these years, young Kevin McCallister gets more than he bargained for when he accidentally gets left behind while his family enjoy their Christmas vacation abroad. Home Alone introduced us to one of the world’s most famous child stars, Macauley Calkin, and the series has had a special place in our hearts ever since. One, two, three: “KEVIN!” 7. Miracle on 34th Street
The movie has been made many times over now, but the 1947 classic is still one of our favourites. The mysteriously named Kris Kringle is named the new Santa of department store Macy's after getting the previous one fired for drinking on the job. When the vengeful ex-Santa sets Kris up to be arrested, an epic court battle takes place to prove that Kris is actually the real Father Christmas. 8. Die Hard
When you think of Christmas, a few major things should come to mind every time: turkey, tinsel, and Bruce Willis in a vest. Yes, the festive season may be about good will to all men, but for movie fans worldwide, it's also about evading a heist in a hotel led by the charismatically evil Hans Gruber. Happy yippee ki-holidays! 9. Frozen – coming soon to NOW TV
Take some catchy musical numbers, a couple of frustrated princesses and a moose called Sven, and you’ll have the makings of this wintry Disney favourite. It’s based on The Snow Queen, a Hans Christian Anderson tale, but Disney have upped the quota of singing snowmen. Can sisters Elsa and Anna rule over Arendelle and regain the close relationship they once had – even though Elsa’s magical powers could seriously hurt the people she loves? Settle in with a yule log and get ready to sing your heart out. No need to put the heating on, though – the cold never bothered us anyway… 10. Gremlins
What's a bit of Christmas cheer without being massively creeped out before turkey time? The product of the power-trio of Chris Columbus's screenplay, production by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante, this black comic fantasy swiftly turns into a horror when a young inventor accidentally feeds his new pet after midnight. Funny, frightening, and devilishly dark, Gremlins is the perfect twisted fairy tale.
Migrants from the European Union will have to work in Britain for a minimum of four years before they can claim benefits, David Cameron will propose on Friday in a major speech setting out a vision of how the EU can control the free movement of workers – and how he is willing to leave the union if he does not get his way.
In an attempt to restore his shattered credibility on immigration, the prime minister will say that Britain’s EU membership is now dependent on nation states being able to withhold almost all benefits from EU migrants.
The proposal – which would affect more than 300,000 EU migrants working in Britain and claiming tax credits – is designed to reduce the disparities in takehome pay between that earned by EU migrants working in Britain and in their birthplace, and is aimed squarely at the low-skilled end of the labour market.
The plan to make Britain a less attractive place is an implicit acknowledgement that cutting back on EU migrants’ access to out-of-work benefits – the main thrust of coalition policy so far – is ineffective, since migrants come to work rather than as “benefit tourists”. The proposal, which would require a rewriting of the EU’s social security rules, and possibly treaties, is to be delivered in an address in the West Midlands and will in effect set out Cameron’s terms for recommending Britain continue its 41-year-old membership of the EU in a referendum scheduled for 2017.
Insisting his proposals are not outlandish and deserve to be heard, Cameron will promise: “I will negotiate a cut to EU migration and make welfare reform an absolute requirement in renegotiation.”
Significantly, Cameron has held back from calling for an emergency brake to give nation states power to block EU migrants if there is an unexpectedly large surge of migrants.
His proposals are therefore predicated on a cut in potential income for EU migrants being sufficient to slow the numbers of poorer EU migrants coming to the UK.
But the prime minister will make it clear he is willing to leave the EU if his points are not addressed, though that is not his purpose.
Police have been called to more than
10 UK supermarkets amid crowd surges as people hunt for "Black Friday"
offers.
Greater Manchester Police appealed for calm after attending five Tesco
stores, making "at least two" arrests, and a Trafford store was closed shortly
after the sale began at 00:01 GMT on Friday.
Police went to three Tescos and an Asda in London, and South Wales Police
were called to a number of Tesco stores.
Originating in the US, Black Friday is becoming a major UK shopping day.
Police in Manchester tweeted: "At
least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning.
Keep calm people!"
In London, police were called by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as
people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton.
Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays and an Asda
in Edgware at around midnight.
The Metropolitan Police said officers worked with staff to "ensure that
sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely", and said no-one had
been injured "as a result of the overcrowding".
In South Wales, police said they were called by concerned staff at a number
of Tesco stores.
A spokesman said officers were twice called to Tesco in Excelsior Road,
Cardiff, just after midnight, when concerns were raised about customer conduct
inside the shop. No arrests were made.
Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the
Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the
UK.
It was brought over by online store Amazon four years ago after internet
shoppers noticed the US got the best deals.
Tesco has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in
2014.
Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff
have been laid on in some areas.
Eight out of 10 fresh chickens bought from UK supermarkets this summer were contaminated with the potentially lethal food-poisoning bug campylobacter, the food watchdog has said, warning that not one individual chain is currently meeting national targets over the issue.
Following six months of testing, an average of 70% of supermarket chickens proved positive for campylobacter on samples of skin. Within that, the Food Standards Agency said, the more recent three months of tests from May to July showed an 80% incidence. The bug tends to be more prevalent during the summer, but consumer groups expressed shock at the soaring levels.
Across the six-month period 18% of the nearly 2,000 chickens tested contained the highest levels of campylobacter, the levels seen as most likely to make people ill. 6% of packaging showed signs of the bug.
Asda was the worst-performing retailer, with 78% of its chickens taken to labs testing positive for campylobacter over the period, followed by Co-op (73%), and then Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, all on 69%, with Marks & Spencer showing an incidence of 67% and Tesco the best at 64%.
Cricketer Phillip Hughes has died in hospital after he was struck on the head by a short delivery during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old from Macksville, on the north coast of New South Wales, was playing for South Australia against NSW when he collapsed after he was hit on the lower back of the neck by a bouncer. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died on Thursday.
Hughes had remained in an induced coma at St Vincent’s hospital after having emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
But he never regained consciousness, according to a statement from the Australian team doctor, Peter Brukner on Thursday afternoon.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” the statement read.
“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends. As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time. Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected.”
Are you interested in doing business in India? Do you want to start a business in India? Do you want to know the best business opportunities in India? If yes, then below are the top 10 best, unique and innovative small scale business ideas in India with low investment.
India is the next big business flashpoint after China. Why? The reason is because of their rapidly growing economy and a massive population; which is second only to China. Now for those seeking to open a business in India but are short of ideas or opportunities; this article will help you out.
It is quite understandable that everyone needs a constant source of income, but most people do not have a huge amount of capital to start a business. So in this article, I decided to do a compilation of the top 10 low cost small scale business ideas in India. These opportunities and ideas can be acted upon by men, women, students, kids, teenagers, employees, etc. So if you are still in a learning mode, then let’s proceed.
School and Office Supplies
These products are in demand all year round, so entrepreneurs do not need to worry about making sales. With a large number of businesses and schools situated in the urban areas of India; products such as pencils, pens, paper of different varieties, notebooks, and others will always be in constant demand.
Customized Jewelry
People, especially women love to accessorize themselves; and since India is a religious, cultural yet fashionable place, customized jewelry businesses in India are sure to grow. You can invest in buying a small jewelry-making kit and create necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that are uniquely designed for each of your customers. Creativity and a good marketing tactic are two overwhelming factors that will determine if you will succeed or fail.
Greeting Cards
Special occasions happen all year round in India, thus the constant need for greeting cards. Even the advent of online greeting cards has not in any way decreased the demand of print greeting cards; as humans love appreciate and connect more with tangible materials. You do not have to invest much of your cash for this kind of business; all it takes is creativity and resourcefulness. Unleash all your creative juices and try to make cards with attractive designs and patterns.
Most people believe that they need thousands or millions of dollars in startup capital to open a restaurant but you do not really need to spend much, especially if you already own a small space that can be turned into a canteen. You just have to buy the ingredients that you will need to whip up your menus for each day.
Menus do not necessarily have to be top-of-the-line; you can begin with simple recipes. Remember that food is a basic need of man and humans must eat regardless of the economic or whatever situation. A point of note is that your business must be built on the foundation of exceptional customer services.
Thrift Shops
These are one of the businesses that are sure to become very profitable. Many people like buying second-hand items because they are affordable and fit their budget. Aspiring entrepreneurs in India can sell second-hand items like clothes, bags, and accessories for low prices.
Rental Services
If you have a car or an extra room in your house or building, then renting them out to other people can earn you money. This would make you reap huge profits, because you do not need to shell out cash as a business capital.
Almost everyone owns a digital camera, so you can use can also use this gadget to generate a steady source of income. Rush ID services are often sought for, especially in cities, so you can take advantage of this.
Wooden Furniture making
If you are skilled in handicraft, then you can surely earn huge amounts of money from this kind of business. You can create and design wooden furniture at an affordable price for the residents of your community just the way they want it to be. A good relationship with residents of your neighborhood is a recipe for success in this business.
Creativity really pays off and pays well. People love decorating their homes with vases, chimes, figurines, and other things that can beautify houses. You do not need to buy expensive products like these, but you can improvise and design your own and sell them at low prices.
Paintings
If you are gifted with an artistic talent, then let it shine by creating paintings for the people in your community. Not only will you be able to express your artistic side, but you would also get paid for it.
In conclusion, these are the top 10 small scale business ideas in India that you ought to try. Please bear in mind that these top 10 small scale business ideas in India is a product of an in-depth research we conducted; so they are almost guaranteed to give you steady sources of income and make you earn reasonable amounts of profit.
Last month, Blackberry CEO John Chen published an open letter to Blackberry customers urging them not to ditch the company for a shiny new iPhone or Android: Trendy may be tempting, but "there's also something to be said for the classic adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it," he wrote.
Shockingly, many customers went out and bought a new iPhone anyway; now, in an attempt to win them back, Blackberry is offering up a more direct incentive: Cold hard cash. Related: BlackBerry CEO: Don't Be Tempted By Trendy, Popular Phones. Buy Ours Instead.
The Canadian just announced a new trade-in program that will pay iPhone owners up to $550 for their device if they purchase a Blackberry Passport. The program -- which kicks off Dec. 1 and ends Feb. 13 – will include buybacks for the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S and iPhone 6; the amount paid for a device will be determined by its condition and model. For an iPhone 6 in good condition, for example, Blackberry will hand out $400, plus $150 on a Prepaid Visa Card.
It's an insane amount of money. As Venture Beat notes, Microsoft has offered similar trade-in deal before, but paybacks topped out at $350.
Blackberry is desperate to attract consumers, and so they've turned to a tried and true incentive: Money. Perhaps another example of the classic adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it? iPhone owners, tell us: Are you tempted?
Ladi Delano, aged 30, Founder and CEO, Bakrie Delano Africa. The jet-setting Nigerian serial entrepreneur made his first millions as a liquor entrepreneurwhile living in China. In 2004, at age 22, he founded Solidarnosc Asia,a Chinese alcoholic beverage company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of vodka.
Solid XS went on to achieve over 50% market share in China and was distributed across over 30 cities in China, and pulled in $20 million in annual revenue.
Delano subsequently sold the company to a rival liquor company for over $15 million and ploughed his funds into his next venture-The Delano Reid Group, areal estate investment holding company focused on mainland China. Today, Delano is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1 billion joint venture with the $15 billion (market cap) Bakrie Group of Indonesia.
Bakrie Delano Africa serves as the investment partner of the Bakrie Group in Nigeria. The Indonesian conglomerate has provided over $900 million worth of funds to invest in Nigeria and Bakrie Delano Africa is responsible for identifying investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and oil & gas and executing them.
According to CareerCast’s 10 Best-Paying Jobs of 2014, seven out of 10 of the highest paid professions are in the health care industry and require advanced degrees. This means that a six-figure salary can often come at the expense of six-figure debt. For instance, general practice physicians make an average of $187,200 a year, but according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the medical school class of 2013 graduated with a median debt of $175,000, and 86% of all graduates left with some debt.
The highest paid salary on the list went to surgeons, who make an average of $233,150 a year; general practice physicians came in second. In ninth and tenth place were podiatrists at $116,440, and attorneys, at $113,530, who also face a lot of education before they can practice.
There were only two high paying jobs on the list that don’t require graduate degrees: petroleum engineers and air traffic controllers, who on average make $130,280 and $122,530 respectively. The report cautioned, though, that “for those who choose a different path [than graduate education] to attain one of the best-paying jobs, be prepared to exchange paychecks for a high level of stress.” It described air traffic controllers as dealing with “some of the most stressful working conditions.”
Despite stressful working conditions, jobs as air traffic controllers are hardly up for grabs. The industry predicts only a 1% growth outlook by 2022. Petroleum engineers, however, can look forward to a 26% growth outlook in the same period. All of the health care professions on the list anticipate growth of 14% or higher. “As baby-boomer doctors … reach retirement, there often aren’t enough new doctors,” explained CareerCast publisher Tony Lee.
Each year, Forbes crunches the net worth of every American billionaire to see who will make the exclusive Forbes 400 list. But 11 members of this club are luckier than the rest: they are in good health, have full heads of hair and many, many years to spend their fortunes.
Moskovitz is just eight days younger than his former Harvard roommate, Mark Zuckerberg, who is the second-most-junior member of the list. The Facebook CEO is worth an estimated $34 billion, up from $19 billion last year, making him the year’s biggest dollar gainer. At just 30 years old, he is the 11th richest person in America – and the wealthiest under 40.
Two female suicide bombers have blown
themselves up at a crowded market in northern Nigeria's Maiduguri city, killing
at least 30 people, witnesses say.
One teenage girl blew herself up first and as people gathered to help
victims, the second girl detonated herself, the witnesses added.
One man told the BBC he heard loud sounds as the bombs exploded.
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram is waging an insurgency in Nigeria.
It was based in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, after its formation in
2002, but it has since been driven out of the city by the military and vigilante
groups.
The US defense secretary has been fired after less than two years in office as the White House reorders a national security strategy upended by the Islamic State (Isis).
Chuck Hagel, Barack Obama’s third Pentagon chief and a former Republican senator, will leave the Department of Defense just weeks after his spokesman said Hagel was looking forward to serving “for the remainder” of the Obama administration.
Confirming his departure during an awkward White House ceremony, Obama said Hagel would stay in post until a successor was confirmed by the Senate, though the president was less effusive than he had been announcing the departure of his friend and closer political ally, the attorney general Eric Holder.
Obama went out of his way to list Hagel’s achievements, but avoided dwelling on US engagement in Iraq and Syria, merely praising Hagel’s work “helping build the international coalition” against the Islamic State.
Five Israelis were killed in a frenzied assault by two Palestinians who targeted worshippers at a Jerusalem synagogue, the latest in a series of deadly attacks that many fear is pushing the city to the edge of a dangerous escalation in violence.
Four of the people killed were rabbis, three holding joint US citizenship, one with dual British citizenship. The fifth victim was an Israeli policeman, who succumbed to his injuries late on Tuesday night.
The attack was greeted by international condemnation, and Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, vowed to “respond harshly”, describing the attack as a “cruel murder of Jews who came to pray and were killed by despicable murderers”.
The two assailants, cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal, attacked the worshippers with meat cleavers and a gun during early-morning prayers before they were killed by police officers. The circumstances of the incident have added to the sense of crisis in Jerusalem.
Witnesses described a chaotic and bloody scene inside the synagogue as police and the attackers engaged in a shootout at the building’s entrance. Photographs distributed by Israeli authorities showed a man in a prayer shawl lying dead, a bloodied butcher’s cleaver on the floor and prayer books covered in blood.
Many in Israel have been alarmed by the religious dimension to the killings. Violence in Jerusalem, areas of Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, has surged in recent months, exacerbated by tensions over a key holy site revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and Jews as the Temple Mount.
What are the business success secrets of Aliko Dangote? How did Aliko Dangote become a billionaire and the richest black man in the world? Well, i advice you read on to find the answers you seek.
Culling from a popular quote that says “if you want to be rich and successful, observe what the rich are doing and do the same.” I don’t know how effective this strategy can be but I feel there is an atom of truth in that statement.
Who is Aliko Dangote?
Aliko Dangote is a business magnate, whose business acumen and aggressiveness send fear into the mind of competitors. He is the richest man in Africa, the richest man in Nigeria and the richest black person in the world. This humble billionaire currently sits atop one of Africa’s largest conglomerate, the Dangote Group. On the 9th of March 2011, Forbes magazine declared Aliko Dangote the richest black person in the world with a net worth of $13.8billion. It’s also worthwhile you know that Dangote is the 51th richest man in the world as at 9th March 2011. But this was not so 25 years ago.
Born on April 10, 1957 in Kano, state Nigeria, to the family of Muhammad Dangote and Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata. He had his primary and secondary education in Kano before he proceeded to Alazahar University, Cairo, Egypt to obtain a degree. If not for the degree, he would probably have been on my list of the richest school drop out billionaires in the world.
It was while working under his uncle, Sani Dantata that he found his passion and began developing his business skills. After developing his business skills and building his confidence, he got a lot a loan of N500,000 (approximately $3,500 today) from his uncle in 1977 to start his own business. Aliko Dangote was also given a deadline of three years to repay the loan but he repaid the loan in three months.
Aliko Dangote started business by trading in commodities such as sugar, rice, salt, pasta, cotton, millet, vegetable oil, cocoa and textile. In the course of running his business, he developed strong business ethics and principles. One of Aliko Dangote’s business strategies for succeeding in the commodity market was to develop a strong distribution network and make the delivery of his goods faster than that of his competitors.
After gaining a strong hold on the commodities market, Aliko Dangote ventured into manufacturing and producing the same commodities he was importing. In an interview granted to a journalist by this billionaire, he stated that leaping from importation to manufacturing was his greatest business move.
Since he moved into manufacturing, Aliko Dangote has never looked back. His company (Dangote Group) controls over 13 other companies with most of them acquired through strategic mergers and acquisitions. In celebration of his 50th birthday anniversary in 2007, he commissioned a one billion dollar factory (Obajana Cement Factory), which happens to be the largest cement factory in Africa.
Today, his group is made up of:
Dangote Sugar Refinery (one of the most capitalized stocks on the Nigerian stock exchange),
Dangote Flour Mills (sold majority of his shares to Tiger Brands)
Dangote sacks
Dansa Foods
Dangote transport
Obajana Cement (Africa’s largest cement factory)
National Salt Company Of Nigeria (NASCON)
Benue Cement Company Plc
the Bachita Sugar Company
Dangote Cement
Blue Star Shipping
Blue Star Investment and so on.
Just recently, he boosted his philanthropic activities with the launch of his foundation (Dangote Foundation).
So if learning and understudying the rich can give us insights into their business success secrets and if building a business from scratch is your utmost priority, then I am sure we are definitely going to get some hard core business tips from this billionaire. Below are the ten small business success secrets of Aliko Dangote; the richest black man in the world.
10 Small Business Success Secrets of Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote started business as a trader of commodities; he gathered business confidence and experience as he grew. In an interview granted, he openly admits that one of his greatest business moves was moving from being a trader to being a manufacturer. He summed it up by saying,
“Manufacture, don’t just trade. There is money in manufacturing even though it is capital intensive. To achieve a big breakthrough, I had to start manufacturing the same product I was trading on; which is commodities.”
I am an advocate of manufacturing because it does not only improve your business status, it also helps you give back to your community and country; with respect to job creation and economic development.
This is the second small business success secrets of Aliko Dangote. Aliko Dangote is one of the firm believers of the “Brand Power” and this is what he has to say about it:
“To succeed in business, you must build a brand and never destroy it. One competitive advantage I had when I ventured into manufacturing was my brand “Dangote,” which I diligently built in the course of my trading commodities.” – Aliko Dangote
Sometime ago, Coca Cola’s assets were estimated to be worth $3billion but the brand name alone “Coca Cola” was valued at over $80billion. That’s the power of a brand. So why not start building a brand today? Your brand could be your saving grace in hard times; it could also turn out to be a very strong competitive advantage for your small business.
To build a successful business, Aliko Dangote emphasizes the importance of selling quality products at affordable price. Selling quality products at an affordable price helps in increasing customer’s loyalty. With respect to competition, Dangote has this to say;
“Don’t kill the competition. Competition is healthy for businesses. It keeps you the entrepreneur on your toes.” – Aliko Dangote
“There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: make the best quality goods possible at the lowest price possible, paying the highest wage possible.” – Henry Ford
“I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me thirty years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.” – Aliko Dangote
The next small business success secret is business connections. Aliko Dangote is respected for his strong network of business and political connections. You can build your connections and strengthen your network in the business world by increasing your corporate social responsibility, signing joint ventures and partnership deals, forming strategic alliances, attending business events and parties, making political donations and paying courtesy visits to those at the helm of affairs.
To survive in business, you must strengthen your business connections and network. And most importantly, you must pray for a big break. Big breaks are very vital to entrepreneurial survival. In fact, I can hardly point to any successful entrepreneur that wasn’t thrust upwards by a big breakthrough.
Bill Gates had his big break when he negotiated and signed a deal with IBM.
Aliko Dangote had his big break when he secured a license to import cement. Oprah Winfrey had hers when she started Harpo Studios Productions and acquired the full rights to her shows; “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Li Ka Shing had his during a riot period and he began buying properties at rock bottom prices.
Larry Ellison had his when he secured a deal to build database software for the CIA. The list goes on and on.
So if you really want to take a giant stride in business, you must not only pray for a big break; you must seek it out and be prepared for it when it comes.
6. Believe there is money to be made in your country
Dangote believes one of the main prerequisite to building a successful business and ultimately becoming rich is developing a firm belief in your country. Dangote is a firm believer in his country Nigeria. He believes opportunities abound everywhere but it just takes a smart eye to see them. He encourages everyone to seek opportunities in their own country instead of seeking greener pastures in other countries.
7. All work and less play makes Jack a rich man
A popular saying goes “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” but billionaire Dangote believes that all work and less play makes Jack a rich man. Hear him:
“I enjoy myself a lot but I derive more joy in working. I believe in hard work and one of my business success secrets is hard work. It’s hard to see a youth that will go to bed by 2am and wake up by 5am. I don’t rest until I achieve something.” – Aliko Dangote
My mentor has said it all but I want to add something crucial and that thing is this; “working hard alone doesn’t guarantee success, you must also work smart.“
“It is not really work if you are having fun.” – Pierre Omidyar
I hope you are conversant with the saying that goes “no man is an island.” You can never get rich alone. There have to be contributing factors and individuals you will need to leverage upon. Dangote believes in the principle of “give and it shall be given unto you.” Just as stated above, one of the small business success secrets is this; you must give back to those who made you.
“No man becomes rich without himself enriching others.” – Andrew Carnegie
Now who are those who made you? These are individuals or entities you leveraged upon to get to the status you are now. They are those who gave you a helping hand when you needed it most. They could be those who gave you business contacts, connections and encouragement. They could be business associates, political associates, investors, loyal customers, good suppliers, political associates, your employees, business team, business partners and so on.
9. Obey the laws of the land
“Why risk going to jail by engaging in illegal businesses when it is easier to make money legally? – Rich dad
Dangote advises entrepreneurs to be law abiding citizens. He encourages everyone to do business as outline by the regulatory bodies. Obeying the laws of the land also entails keeping your credit and tax record clean. Nothing hurts more than striving to build a business empire only to have your assets impounded or frozen by the authorities. So do the right thing.
10. Business must flow in your blood
“After my death, I want to be remembered as Africa’s greatest industrialist.” – Aliko Dangote
Lastly, Aliko Dangote revealed that you must have business flowing in your blood if you really want to make it big as an entrepreneur. I solely agree with him. Look at all successful entrepreneurs, they seem to possess a different kind of spirit. That’s the entrepreneurial spirit.
To success in business, everything around you must smell business. That is to say you must think business, dream business and live for business. It’s all about the entrepreneurial spirit. The same spirit that kept Warren Buffett in the game even at old age, the same spirit that drives General Electric even after the death of its founder; Thomas Alva Edison.
Without this spirit, you will ultimately fail. Business flowing in your blood entails tenacity, doggedness, shrewdness and every single attribute required to keep you going in the game of entrepreneurship.
Two men armed with axes, knives and a pistol killed four Israelis and wounded several others in a Jerusalem synagogue on Tuesday in the worst such attack in years.
The Palestinian assailants were killed in shootout with police at the scene, a synagogue in the ultra-orthodox Har Nof district in west Jerusalem.
The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called the attack a “cruel murder of Jews who came to pray” and said Israel would “respond harshly”. israeli security personnel run to a synagogue where two men armed with axes and knives attacked and killed people inside.Photograph: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS Violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories has surged over the past few weeks.
Five Israelis and a foreign visitor have been deliberately run over and killed or stabbed to death by Palestinians in the past month. About a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including those accused of carrying out those attacks.
Residents trace the violence in Jerusalem back to July when a Palestinian teenager was burned to death by Jewish assailants, an alleged revenge attack for the abduction and killing of three Jewish teens by Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank.
The summer war in Gaza and a row over access to a Jerusalem compound sacred to Muslims and Jews alike have also been triggers for violence.
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - One of Nigeria's most powerful Muslim leaders, the emir of Kano, has voiced support for vigilantes fighting Boko Haram, urging others to form civilian militias and questioning the competence of the military.
The comments were made by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who became emir earlier this year after being sacked from his post as the central bank governor, where he was one of the government's most high-profile critics.
It is extremely rare for Nigeria's clerics to speak explicitly about political and military affairs, but many expected Sanusi to defy convention and inject himself into public debate after assuming the highly influential post.
"People should be sensitised on the importance of being on the alert. And they should prepare, they should acquire what they will defend themselves with," Sanusi said during Friday prayers at the central mosque in Kano, the largest city in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north.
AFP obtained a copy of the transcript of the recording on Monday. While Sanusi did not mention Boko Haram by name, it was clear he was discussing efforts to resist the Islamist rebels.
"Those that are endowed as hunters and vigilantes should apply this endowment given to them by Allah as an avenue of earning divine reward in defending their nation," he said.
Nigeria's military has been cooperating with various vigilante forces in the northeast for more than a year, often relying on civilians to do the bulk of the fighting against the insurgents.
Witnesses said it was vigilantes who recaptured the symbolically important northeast town of Chibok from Boko Haram at the weekend, with troops staying clear of the heavy fighting.
Chibok was where the Islamists kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in April. Fifty-seven have escaped.
"We should not wait for soldiers to come, before they come the carnage will have been done," Sanusi told the congregation. "Some of them drop their guns and flee."
The military has repeatedly been accused of leaving civilians defenceless against Boko Haram attacks and failing to respond to distress calls made in advance of raids.
While Sanusi's comments were similar to those made by President Goodluck Jonathan's critics, they may feed added resentment towards the government because the emir of Kano is expected to stay above the political fray.
Days after Jonathan sacked him from the central bank, Sanusi told AFP that the president was a "simple" man who had been misled and manipulated by incompetent advisors.
Officially, Sanusi is the number two Islamic cleric in Nigeria, home to more than 80 million Muslims.
A surgeon from Sierra Leone who was being treated for Ebola at a Nebraska hospital has died, according to a statement from the hospital.
Dr Martin Salia, a permanent US resident, is the second patient to die of Ebola in the US. He arrived in Omaha on Saturday, having left Freetown on Friday by air ambulance. He was immediately transported to Nebraska medical center, where he began treatment.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share this news,” Dr Phil Smith, medical director of the Biocontainment Unit at Nebraska medical center and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska medical center, the hospital’s academic partner, said in a statement on Monday. “Dr Salia was extremely critical when he arrived here, and unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to save him.”
Salia, 44, was not able to walk off the plane, as other patients brought to the US have been able to do. Instead, he was taken off the plane in an isopod, a special device designed to keep contagion from spreading. He was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance.
He was suffering from advanced symptoms, including kidney and respiratory failure, when he arrived at the Nebraska medical center on Saturday, the hospital said in a statement.
The hospital said Salia, whose family lives in Maryland, had kidney and respiratory failure and was placed on dialysis, a ventilator and multiple medications to support his organ system. He was also given a dose of convalescent plasma and began ZMapp therapy. It was not immediately clear who provided the doctor with the blood.
Salia was treating patients at United Methodist Church’s Kissy hospital, which is not an Ebola treatment center, in Freetown when he fell ill. The hospital staff has been quarantined.
Smith said early diagnosis and treatment is critical to treating Ebola patients. The Washington Post reported that Salia had been misdiagnosed in Freetown, which delayed proper treatment for more than week.
“We’re very grateful for the efforts of the team led by Dr Smith,” Isatu Salia, the surgeon’s wife, said in a statement provided by the hospital. “In the short time we spent here, it was apparent how caring and compassionate everyone was. We are so appreciative of the opportunity for my husband to be treated here and believe he was in the best place possible.”
Salia is the second patient to die while undergoing treatment for Ebola in the US. The first, a Liberian man named Thomas Duncan, died in Dallas, Texas, in October after initially being misdiagnosed by a local hospital.
Richard Branson founded Virgin in 1970 at the age of 20, and he hasn’t looked back.
He’s the only entrepreneur to have built eight separate billion-dollar companies in eight different industries — and he did it all without a degree in business.
"Had I pursued my education long enough to learn all the conventional dos and don'ts of starting a business I often wonder how different my life and career might have been," he writes in his new book, Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School.
We’ve compiled some of the best tips from his book here.
Running a business takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (and caffeine). But at the end of the day, you should be building something you will be proud of.
Branson says, "When I started Virgin from a basement in west London, there was no great plan or strategy. I didn't set out to build a business empire ... For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that's going to make a real difference to other people's lives."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Be visible.
Branson received some timeless advice when building Virgin Airlines from Sir Freddie Laker, a British airline “tycoon.”
“Make sure you appear on the front page and not the back pages,” said Laker. “You are going to have to get out there and sell yourself. Make a fool of yourself, whatever it takes. Otherwise you won’t survive”.
Branson always makes a point of traveling often and meeting as many people as he can. This, he says, is how he came by some of the best suggestions and ideas for his business.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
The unique name and brand that Virgin employs is one of the things that has made the company a success. Branson makes sure that the name ‘Virgin’ represents added value, improved service, and a fresh, sexy approach.
Branson says that he is asked all the time about the origin of the Virgin name, back when Virgin was just starting. "One night, I was chatting with a group of sixteen-year-old girls over a few drinks about a name for the record store," he says. "A bunch of ideas were bounced around, then, as we were all new to business, someone suggested Virgin. It smacked of new and fresh and at the time the word was still slightly risqué, so, thinking it would be an attention-grabber, we went with it."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Branson thinks of one of his favorite sayings when advising about taking business risks: “‘The brave may not live forever—but the cautious do not live at all!’”
Every business involves risks. Be prepared to get knocked down, says Branson, but success rarely comes from playing it safe. You may fail, but Branson also dares to point out that "there's no such thing as a total failure."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
The first impression is everything. So is the second.
The first impression you make on customers will probably be when you acquire them. The first impression is extremely important, says Branson, but the second is equally as important.
The second time a customer usually contacts Virgin, it’s because he or she is having problems with the product or service. How you present yourself and your brand in these situations says a lot about how your brand maintains good customer relationships and handles obstacles.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Perfection is unattainable.
"There's an inherent danger in letting people think that they have perfected something," says Branson. "When they believe they've 'nailed it', most people tend to sit back and rest on their laurels while countless others will be labouring furiously to better their work!"
For this reason, Branson never gives anyone a 100% perfect review of their work. He believes that no matter how “brilliantly conceived” something is, there is always room for improvement.
The customer is always right... unless they’re wrong. After all, they’re only human too. Your customers’ opinions are important, but “you should not build your customer service system on the premise that your organisation will never question the whims of your clients," says Branson.
Branson warns that many entrepreneurs think if they provide 'the-customer-is-always-right' service that it will improve their businesses. This is only sometimes true. Beware not to damage relationships with customers or staff with your customer service policies.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
When it comes to defining your brand, Branson advises entrepreneurs to do the opposite of what he did with Virgin, which is spreading out all over the place. And while it's true that Virgin branches into many different industries, Branson says the company is actually quite focused on one thing: "finding new ways to help people have a good time."
Stick to what you know. Underpromise and overdeliver. Because if you don’t define your brand, your competitors will.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Branson compares exploring new territory in business to exploring new territory in science or geography.
“We will find new species and better understand the make-up of the deep-level waters,” says Branson.
Business translation: There are still many things out there that haven’t been discovered, invented, achieved. Exploring little- or uncharted areas can spark new ideas and innovations.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
A workplace should be one in which the boss and his or her employees communicate well and work together toward the same goal. “If employees aren’t associating themselves with their company by using ‘we’, it is a sign that people up and down the chain of command aren’t communicating,” says Branson.
If you think there might be discrepancies or tension between employees and management, Branson advises to check with the middle management first to try to uncover the source of the problem and address it head-on.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Employees must feel free and encouraged to openly express themselves without rigid confines so they can do better work and make good, impactful decisions.
"This may sound like a truism," begins Branson, "But it has to be said: It takes an engaged, motivated and committed workforce to deliver a first-class product or service and build a successful, sustainable enterprise."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
A manager needs to be someone who “brings out the best in people,” someone who communicates well with others and helps an employee learn from a mistake instead of criticizing them for it.
Not everyone does this well, and that’s okay. The founder can but doesn’t have to be the CEO; if the fit isn’t right, he or she should know when the role is meant for someone else.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Seek a second opinion. Seek a third.
Branson says you must learn to be a good listener in order to succeed, and that means bouncing “every idea you have off numerous people before finally saying, ‘We’ll give this one a miss,’ or ‘Let’s do it.’”
That means being thorough and deliberate before executing any decisions. In business, seeking a variety of opinions "can save you a lot of time and money," says Branson. "Don't tell people about others' suggestions until you've heard what they have to say. In the end you may decide that the best advice is to walk away—and later find out it was the very best solution."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Business ventures with another person, be it a friend or a partner, don’t always work out. If this is the case, successful entrepreneurs know when to part ways.
But just because you decide to go in another direction doesn’t mean things have to end badly, especially with a friend, says Branson. Handle any problems quickly and head-on, and end the relationship as amicably as possible.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
It’s great to be tech-savvy, but don’t text or email when you should be calling. "The quality of business communications has become poorer in recent years as people avoid phone calls and face-to-face meetings, I can only assume, in some misguided quest for efficiency," Branson says.
Problems are more difficult to solve by text or email, and “there is nothing efficient about allowing a small problem to escalate,” says Branson, when it could have been easily addressed with a phone call.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Change shouldn't be feared, but it should be managed.
“Companies aren’t future-proof,” says Branson, and nothing lasts forever. An entrepreneur should be prepared to adapt, and avoid being nostalgic about the company itself.
"Sometimes you have to take your company in a new direction because circumstances and opportunities have changed." If this is the case, Branson advises that you should "find ways to inspire all employees to think like entrepreneurs ... so the more responsibility you give people the better they will perform."
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
When it comes to making mistakes, bounce back, don’t fall down.
Your decision will not always be the best decision. Everyone makes mistakes, but the best thing you can do in the face of a mistake is own up to it.
Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy, notes Branson. When a mistake is made, don’t let it consume you. Uncover the problem and get to work fixing it.
Source: "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School."
Be a leader, not a boss.
Branson sees the classic image of “the boss” as an anachronism. Being bossy is not a desirable trait in a manager, he says. A boss orders while a leader organizes.
"Perhaps, therefore, it is odd that if there is any one phrase that is guaranteed to set me off it's when someone says to me, 'Okay, fine. You're the boss!'" says Branson. "What irks me is that in 90 percent of such instances what that person is really saying is 'Okay, then, I don't agree with you but I'll roll over and do it because you're telling me to. But if it doesn't work out I'll be the first to remind everyone that it wasn't my idea.'"
A good corporate leader is someone who doesn't just execute his or her own ideas, but also inspires others to come forth with their own.
David Cameron has issued a stark message that “red warning lights are flashing on the dashboard of the global economy” in the same way as when the financial crash brought the world to its knees six years ago. Writing in the Guardian at the close of the G20 summit in Brisbane, Cameron says there is now “a dangerous backdrop of instability and uncertainty” that presents a real risk to the UK recovery, adding that the eurozone slowdown is already having an impact on British exports and manufacturing.
His warning comes days after the Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, claimed a spectre of stagnation was haunting Europe. The International Monetary Fund managing director, Christine Lagarde, expressed fears in Brisbane that a diet of high debt, low growth and unemployment may yet become “the new normal in Europe”.
Cameron has adopted the more sombre tone in the runup to the chancellor’s autumn statement on 3 December, when the Office of Budget Responsibility will produce new growth forecasts and spell out the impact on public finances.
“The eurozone is teetering on the brink of a possible third recession, with high unemployment, falling growth and the real risk of falling prices too,” Cameron writes. “Emerging market economies which were the driver of growth in the early stages of the recovery are now slowing down. Despite the progress in Bali [trade talks in 2013], global trade talks have stalled while the epidemic of Ebola, conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine are all adding a dangerous backdrop of instability and uncertainty.”
The emphasis on potential dangers, balancing some more hubristic ministerial accounts of the state of the UK economy, reflects Cameron’s concern – underlined by conversations at the G20 – about the extent to which Britain can detach itself from gathering economic storms.
Politically, Conservatives believe an emphasis on the risks still facing the UK will make anxious voters recoil from handing stewardship of a fragile economy to a relatively untried Labour team.
Some recent polling has seen the economy decline as an issue for voters, partly because there is a belief that the recovery is secured, leading to issues such as the health service and living standards, which have been seized upon by Labour, to rise in importance.
But with Germany, Europe’s manufacturing powerhouse, growing by just 0.1% in the third quarter, the eurozone economy appears to be faltering.
A European Central Bank (ECB) survey showed that inflation would remain at worryingly low levels before picking up slightly next year. The annual inflation rate in the eurozone was near a five-year low of 0.4% in October and the ECB expects a rate of 0.5% for 2014 – well below the target of close to 2%.
The EU may also be only one or two new rounds of sanctions away from pushing Russia into a deep recession as punishment for its interference in Ukraine, a point made in Brisbane by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
Cameron stresses that retreating from the world or imposing extra tax and borrowing may seem easy solutions but they would instead prove only to be a repeat of the mistakes of the past.
He claims that the G20 communique hammered out over the past few days endorsed Britain’s determination to use monetary policy to support growth and he would not waver on his policy of paying down government debt.
The summit, dogged by controversies over Ukraine, extra aid to fight Ebola and climate change, was hailed as “a weekend of achievement” by the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott. He said the group of leading nations had managed to “shift a gear”, by moving from a responsive to a proactive stance on world events.
World leaders pledged 800 separate measures designed to lift their combined economic growth by an additional 2.1% above the current trajectory by 2018 compared with 2013 – a measure the IMF and OECD have calculated would add more than US$2tn (£1.3tn) and millions of jobs to the global economy.
Much of the growth would come from infrastructure investment and getting an extra 100 million women into the labour force.
None of the commitments are binding on national governments, so there is some scepticism that the Brisbane action plan will be able to have the transformative effect it promises, but Cameron said if the pledges were kept, it would mean “an extra Australia and New Zealand” added to the world economy. The G20 had credibility, he argued, since it had shown its effectiveness by pushing through reforms to achieve bank stability in the past.
He said the G20 had taken fresh steps to clamp down on corporate tax avoidance, pointing out that 92 tax authorities were now cooperating by sharing information which would enable G20 countries to raise an extra $32bn in tax revenues.
“This is not some arcane dry and dusty subject,” Cameron said at his closing press conference. “The more we can make sure big corporations pay their taxes properly, the less we have to tax hardworking people who I want to make sure can keep more of their own money so they can spend as they choose.”
But the TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Too many world leaders seem to think any jobs will do when they should be thinking about the security and quality of those jobs. The same story of casualisation, part-time work and insecurity in the labour market is spreading across the world.”
Chris Leslie, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “David Cameron claims his policies are working, but as even Sir John Major admits, most people still aren’t feeling the recovery.
“Working people are £1,600 a year worse off under his government, borrowing is going up so far this year and exports have fallen behind our competitors. David Cameron should be trying to strengthen growth and make sure working people finally benefit from it, not making excuses for slower growth.”
