P+M=C aka (Politics+Money=Corruption)

Politics and money walk hand in hand for a long time. However, the ultimate end of this story is not always positive, in fact is right on the opposite side. 

Politician is described as a person who acts in a manipulative and devious way. On its own, that does not appear to be a plus for the society. Influence is a characteristic, which leaders have. Nonetheless, manipulation is a side of influence that politics use, which is characterized by unscrupulous control of a situation or a person. Politics perceive manipulation as a tool for raising capital on private or group matter. From here without spending too much time in describing a politician there is an association with money.

Leaders have been elected for centuries and millenniums by the rest of the population in a territory. Nowadays, this is happening in countries, each one more significant and more powerful then others. Moreover, those leaders are locally, nationally or globally elected and every single one of them has the power to change circumstances. “With great power comes great responsibility” are the words of Socrates, a philosopher of Ancient Greece. That opens another topic for discussion, however this will be for another time.

Recently, in Bulgaria, there were elections for local mayors and counselors, as well as president’s elections. As the author is Bulgarian and has already the experience in latest elections, has much to say, but less to write (due to certain circumstances). Nevertheless, sharing knowledge with society is the path to infinity as argued by Dalai Lama, Tibetians leader.

At these local elections, politicians if I may say, as more often this word is filled with negativism and dirt all over, has turned to be dramatic and surprisingly shocking. A previous mayor of a small prosperous city has done much but nothing but making himself rich and powerful, has also brought the anger of the citizens on his head. Nevertheless, last weekend elections showed that people have still voted for this manipulative leader, positioning in danger the future of the city and its inhabitants. Researchers found that through dirty money spent for buying votes and dust in people’s eyes by promising unachievable dreams, this candidate is endangering with his selfishness everyone around him.

Nevertheless, the elections came to an end with a hope of another choice, another candidate, known by many but unknown for the city’s demands. However this gives confidence that anew start is around the corner. It gives stronger hope that politician is actually not a bad word but also a successful leader in a society full of corruption.

This weekend elections will share the hope of a new future or dawn of another 4 years, whoever will be chosen. With this the author finishes its first part of: P+M=C (Politics+Money=Corruption)

With or Without Technology

Politics and Technology. Those two topics appear on regular basis, every single day, around the world on the Social Media. Heavy headlines on this matter come out in newspapers, online articles, TV, radio, internet, etc. and have enourmous impact on consumers' behaviour. Leaving the politics topic on a side for now, let's look up the effect of technology and more specifically the networking that happens to be crucial.

In the past weeks news about BlackBerry mobile phones, which system crashed, and simultaneously are killing slowly customers' confidence in their brands' image. That story has made almost a world chaos in between people using their phones and within the company that was loosing those affected ones' trust. A week later Mr Lazaridis co-CEO of the brand, came out apoligizing and giving an update of the improvements BlackBerry system is making and stabilising its network. However, the fact that so many people cried out on this issue is unbelievable. Networking, internet and technology are important for business. Nevertheless crying out for such an issue shows only that people have forgotten what the real world problems are: such as poverty, hunger, etc. Has it happen to you that while on a dinner in a restaurant with friends, on the table right next to yours comes a couple and instead starting socialising, the first thing they do is getting on their mobile phones and that continues for quite a while until they even look at their eyes?

As a matter of fact social networking seems to become dangerous for children. Moreover Google have actually created an online educational program that is under development but when is finalised will introduce free and basic instructions on how internet consumers should share their information and pay attention on the risk when sharing. Free knowledge on how to distribute information, this sounds handy? However, the problem has been around since Facebook and Twitter basically came out respectively in 2004 and 2006. Both online networks had issues on this matter and still working on it with improvements on regular basis. Now how is that helping humanity? It does, creating groups like WWF, Earth Hour, etc. and building up awareness through those social media about solutions for better world future. 

Online networking is used to spread a global issue quicker then it was years ago. Only in a month of time, Occupy Wall Street Movement, has been appearing and recently it is all over the news, reaching massive levels of protests around the Globe. Starting at Times Square, New York City, with the outrage of the NY police department. Then continuing in Rome, where riots have always been a problem no matter what the issues are and yet campaigns are developing in Asian and African countries. That is meant to be a non-end of the world economical crisis which is the main reason of the movement's start.

Continuing to follow the world news and especially last events, Social Media is building up its impact on peoples' behaviour, where online networks are the main source to spread global issues around the continents of Planet Earth. With or Without Technology, social network would still be a heavy bridge that bounds humanity and their believe in greater good.

Branding: Trust and Forgiveness

The week is set to be a memorable, one happy because an innovator was born, half a decade ago, in 1955, building and changing the world of technology, and one sad because that same person, the creator of an unique brand died at 56 years of age. Steve Jobs (1955-2011), Apple co-finder, great opportunist and innovator.

Having Brands in mind, could not leave without paying a tribute to Mr Apple. Creating a brand that everyone loved, giving the opportunity to be "anywhere at anytime" (Casserly, 2011) that same person built up an empire of technology that was made for the people who love technology, not neglecting of course the contribution of Bill Gates and his Microsoft of course. However Apple created a brand that all people who wanted to be involved with innovations were in included in the process of testing and evaluating from where the company itself developed through out the time.

Leaving The Big Apple for a moment, and focusing on brands that make people not like them but love them was the purpose of the story, inspired by Casserly's article on The Happiest Brands In The World (Forbes, 2011).

Facebook, as like Apple was also made for the people of the world. Finally a website that not only gets people together, but also gives the joy of sharing, playing, involving, etc. online. Some use the website simply to chat, talk or meet other people around the world, others use it for marketing purposes, third - creating groups, representing a common goal, aim or belief. This is not something new for the readers, it is just a summarise of how a brand is being loved by millions of people around the globe.

It is wonderful when a company thinks about you as a person. It is amazing when a brand you have been using for years, makes a mistake, then realises the problem it created and immediately fixes it and notifies you personally in order to let you know that you are special. And then you think.. So, they actually do care.. and the reply on that matter is your further use of the brand, because you have just bounded even more.

This last example was of a company I have been using for a while, did a mistake, and then after a notification did everything to fix the problem that has occurred. In other words, built its trust with a customer. I will not say the name of the brand but will continue using it and my questions towards you is: Have you trusted a brand, that has disappointed you in a way and then just after a sincere apology you have given your forgiveness and continued the relationship by using that same brand which was representing you before?