Self-Publishing - 個人出版

BookieJar is the start-up company which provides an online platform that lets you self-publish E- books.　

They also provide the tools to promote the books.  Writers can even put their own autograph in front of readers.

This will be another innovation in the publishing industry.

Learning from i-Tune, Youtube business models, this kind of service could be provided by e-Book tablet hardware companies.  In Japan, there is still incompatibility issue among the e-Book hardware makers.  Very behind from the global market trend.  Such a large company seems to be insisting how to protect their own business territory, not watching the market trend and users' expectation.

New Wave for Real Estate

Needless to say, the market is very bad.  Under this period, the innovation happens to bring some new business.  I just found the following company news in Seattle Times.

• Polygonhomes Northwest

 In Japan, some company offers to rent a model house up to 4 weeks to experience it.

Same as automobile industry, I think it is another solution if they offer RELEASE a house with Option To Buy.

A lot of new technologies will be adding to homes; solar system, LED lights and other ITs which could be with remodeling a house.  In that case, without experience its convenience and life style, it is difficult for anyone to invest a large amount of money.  It is the biggest investment for anyone to own a house.

GDrive

GDrive and other SNS bundle solutions will make a big business and service changes in Car Navigation System.

• Techcrunch Google Drive News

It will not be a simple map navigation but car maintenance, shopping, reservation, music & video entertainment and etc.

How does each auto-maker try to retain its customers?  It is one of their biggest challenges for their business success.

Not engine horse power, gas mileage but this user's friendly service for life style.  Cars will not be only fan to drive but going into the new era.

Auto-makers will not be able to survive only with automobile technologies but here it is; Information Technology solution for user's service, not a car operation with CAN system.

Failure teaches success??

I do not  know if you say this in English but in Japan, they often say, "Failure teaches success."

But is it really true?  I mean the opposite word of "success" is "failure"?

From my experience in my life so far, I feel that the opposite word of "success" is "No Action." 

 To challenge something, there is always some fear. Unless you make an action, you cannot experience it.  It is yours, not someone nor what you learn from books.

"Experience teaches success"

There is no failure as long as you keep challenging until you catch it !

New Application Movement - Facebook

Facebook has announced several new applications which I have not been kept up with all.  However, I happened to find this REAL TIME Music share from one of my friends' comment.

SPOTIFY

It is interesting to listen to music real time with friends.

Also, the important thing is EASY to use.  Of course, no manual is required and you can just start using followed by your guess.  Photo, music and etc. will be shared in timely fashion with a kind of personal time machine.

Privacy issue will be raised but the life style change impact will be huge.

温故知新 wēn gù zhī xīn

武田双雲著

”Learn a lesson from the past. ” is a kind of my direct translation.  For business, I think it could say, ”Innovation comes from the review of what you have done."

I remember well that this word is put on the wall in the main hall at my elementary school and it is one of my favorite word.

Originally, it comes from "CONFUCIAN ANALECTS"

We always need to be humility and sincere what we are going to do instead of putting in a trap of ego.
The gentle heart calls an innovation.

Job Search in Japan

Shukatsu" means job search by college students in Japan.  But these days, it has become so ridiculous.  They have to start visiting prospected companies to get interviews in the 1st quarter of junior year.  Also, most Japanese companies require new graduates to apply.  It is obvious that these Japanese companies do not expect anything at all what students study. They only want to pick up students whom they feel easy to manage because they listen to them without any doubt and follow up what they must do.

So, what happening is that some students intentionally do not graduate if they could not find a job or go to a graduate school without any clear objectives.  It also discourage Japanese students to study abroad since school year is different; April start and September start.

I am afraid that they are missing the essence of a job search as well as recruiting students.  Students should have courage to stay away from the company who require new graduate students as the conditions.  In the USA, it is illegal but in Japan, a lot of companies have age limitation to hire people.

I believe a company mission statement is important when you pick up a company to work for. Once the chemistry matches, you can enjoy working and learning regardless for long or short time period.

Young Japanese students, it is time for you all to stand up on your foot.  Do not be misled by rumors and make sure of firming yourself what you are.

e-Book Move by Amazon.com

Amazon is going to start lending books from libraries; more than 11,000 in the US nation wide. They start test services here at their home town Seattle.

• Kindle Library

日本ではメーカー別のタブレットで読めるコンテンツの制限があるようなガラパゴス戦争ですが、読者が嬉しいのは図書館の本が読める。

日本中の図書館もデジタル化が進んでいく中でこうしたサービスができるはず。当然、NPOとしての収益・運営も・・・

日本政府も支出を抑えながら、収益も図る・・そんなサービスがこうしたデジタル化には喜ばれるサービスで沢山眠っているはずです。

ちなみに政令都市駆け込みで市町村合併＝デジタル化で役場のスリム化は避けて通れないのではないでしょうか？

こんな記事からも垣根を超えた、村社会、縦社会でない、新しい動きが日本の直面している課題のカンフル剤にはなると思います。

Young Japanese

During this weekend, I had a chance to talk with five Japanese students who came to Seattle for study.  Talking with them about their passion, future, Japan and etc., I found that they have good and clear direction about their future.  Especially, they are thinking about seriously what they can do for others; in other words, not selfish.

The society has been shifted too much for the material rich and the people are running after only for money.  This generation is a kind of victim of this bubble economy and wrong Japanese education system which they are also aware of it but do not know what to do.

It is our generation duty to be their mentor to give some tips and hints to motivate them for the bright future.

I enjoyed talking with them till midnight.

Beyond Youtube

TiVo  ... too early 

The next trend is live-broadcast and LiveStream, Justin.tv and UStream are popular for its service.  In Japan, UStream has become very popular after 3.11 disaster.  TEPCO is one of the largest sponsors for TV stations, they did not broadcast their live interview but UStream.

Unlike LiveStream, Justin.tv or Ustream, IntercastNetwork provides a interactive platform that allows to connect using a combination of live casting, real-time polling, chat, Q&A, payment processing and etc.  They also provide the analytics service.  They raised $1.25M.  35 employee.  Founded 1/01/2006.

iTune and NetFlex have changed not only business style but also people's life style.

Now, this is another innovation for the mass media.  The traditional media might not be able to survive in business; Publishers, TV, Radio stations and etc.  How does this impact our life style?

Unconscious World - 無意識の世界

I just talked about "invisible world" and it is a kind of unconscious world. Nobody is sure about his/her future. Making a big decision, you will find yourself that you do not have any measurement, information, data or advice to find your answer.  Intuition is sometimes very important and you can reply on it.  It comes from your health, education, experience, fate, relationship and etc.

Respecting your own unconscious world, you might walk towards the right Way with making a balance because you do not make a decision with Profit-and-loss arithmetic.

We should seriously consider what is the criteria to make a right judgement.

Way - 道

When you consider which way you should go, you might always consider the way which you can see.  However, the real way in your life lies in what you cannot see.

I just talked about Happoumoku in my martial arts blog.  The challenge is exactly same...nobody can see its way clear, but it is important for you to feel if it is right direction. I always to have chosen the harder way when I had to pick up one out of two.

Even if you walk into the darkness, eventually you see some light to get out from a dark tunnel. You should not be afraid of the darkness, failures and hardships.  When you find light, you know how to appreciate.

VoIP Phone

Skype is popular and they have the service to provide home cordless phone. I also downloaded Viber for my iPhone which I can make a call via internet.

• Skype Home Cordless Phone
• Viber

Hooking up with Facebook and etc., the way of our communication will have a big innovation in the next few years which is a good business opportunity for Small-Medium Business companies.  On the other hand, the large enterprise might face some difficult time to go through.