Save NZ from the recession with tourism activism (actourvism)
January 6, 2009 on 9:01 am | In Getting Things Done, Life | 3 CommentsHere is a nifty idea to combat the effects of the global recession in NZ.
Tourism is our biggest export earner right? We love people coming to our little bump on the edge of the planet, and as Kiwis we love hosting people and telling them how great our part of the world is.
Here is a really smart and free idea (if any are in fact free) I was toying with while CTO at Vianet. This is for Tourism NZ, or any one who wants to make NZ shine on the world tourism stage. A “My NZ” social media site. Here is how it could work.
- The site, say www.mynz.com is a place for New Zealanders and visitors to New Zealand to have conversations about how fantastic NZ is.
- Let everyone have a say in their own space/page, in their own words and in their own way, about why they love NZ.
- Let them upload their NZ in pictures, audio and video. Identify the places they love in maps, favourite samples of life in NZ, music, culture, poetry, film.
- Link off to other social channels like Twitter and Facebook, YouTube channels, Blogger and Wordpress. Every time someone contributes with why they love NZ, channel it with tweets and posts out through their other networks, to their friends and associates. Make it easy for people to have conversations about NZ with the rest of the world.
- Connect with great kiwi companies promoting NZ through technology, like ProjectX Technology/ Zoomin, Vianet.travel, EventFinder, Bookabach etc. Connect it through www.madefromnewzealand.com, Tourism NZ
- Get people blogging on mynz.com. Invite prominent kiwis to write.
- Get Tourism NZ tweeting and twitpic-ing on twitter.
- Give New Zealanders ownership, and make them a part of bringing people to NZ. Offer bookings of trips, accommodation, activities through mynz.com. If you bring someone in through your profile and network, and they book travel through the site, earn points, commission, tax credits, jelly beans or a ranking based on how many people you connect with and brought to NZ.
- Make every kiwi a sales agent for New Zealand. Start tourism activism, actourvism!
- Make it fun. Make it infectious. Spread NZ like a virus!
You could almost start it with a little bit of work for relatively low cost by using established social networks and free tools out there. You would just need to build the central cog, the glue, the brand.
It might sound wacky, but I think it would work! Think about it. Don’t you love telling the world how great our country is? What is the best form of promotion? Through word of mouth via people you identify with and trust.
Why now is the best time to invest in kiwi technology companies
January 5, 2009 on 8:20 am | In Getting Things Done | 1 CommentI have recently been talking to a lot of people who circulate within the kiwi tech sphere, and am finding that the brilliance of the fire that burns within them is looking a little faint and off colour. It is understandable that everyone is wondering what the net affect of the global financial crisis is and is expecting the worst, which is a fair enough position to take. Always plan for the worst and then work from there I say. But what is missing is the required optimism that if you can take the worst, everything will only get better.
Now I am no naval gazer so here is one thing that I would like to point out (and do quite often). In New Zealand we have some of the worlds brightest, most experienced, hard working entrepreneurs and technologists. I would wager that per capita, we have a better saturation than anywhere else in the world, and you know as kiwis we can do a lot with #8 fencing wire, old parts from a ZX spectrum and a couple of jet engines. We don’t usually give up, and we have oodles of common sense practicality that we all learnt as kids (playing with #8 wire, ZX Spectrums and … well sky-rockets cause we didn’t have Martin Jetpacks).
So why is now a good time to invest and develop great kiwi technology companies? Simple. We know how to put our heads down and get things done.
While the markets are recovering and the recession bites, we need to be building the tools and solutions that businesses and consumers will want as they start to pull themselves out of the crater and realise that there is blue sky up there. The talent is here, and the desire is here. The only thing missing is the smart money who is not knee jerking with the rest of the financial world.
Who is the smart money? Well if you are reading this and have an appetite to invest, are an angel or an institutional investor, then this is you if you can look at the market and see that it has never been better for investing in the development of new clever businesses and technology, because:
- PEOPLE - There are more skilled people available in the pool out there right now. To boot there is no shortage of wise minds around who like to help New Zealand businesses succeed like Sam Morgan, Rowan Simpson, Nathan Torkington, and Seeby Woodhouse. For good businesses it is not hard to get good advice.
- COSTS - Costs will be down. Everyone knows its time to tighten the belt a notch or two. After getting the right people with the right motivation, you can do a lot with a little. If you take a stake in a company, they will be pretty reasonable with current valuations.
- ADVANTAGE - Businesses will be looking for better ways to do things that save them money. We should be building more businesses like the Xero’s, the PlanHQ’s, the Nexx’s or the SilverStripe’s now in the down time and be ahead of the game when things get going again.
- MATURITY - The kiwi tech sector has been mature for some time. Our people are damn good at building world leading clever things. We are not just kicking around in the garage any more.
What needs to happen? Smart investors need to invest now. The New Zealand Government needs to free up cash for developing great NZ businesses. Entrepreneurs need to take some deep breaths and keep going, knowing that the rewards will come with a recovering market.
So this is what I tell everyone who asks me about the recession and my plans ahead. It’s nose down for me, preparing for the sun that will shine in 18 or so months. I am working on a couple of great projects that are everyday increasing their potential for success. All they need is time, energy and resources and they will succeed. Just like the tens of dozens, if not hundreds, of great businesses who know that now is the best time to build their chances of success.
Are the odd years good for you?
January 1, 2009 on 12:34 pm | In Life, Rants | No CommentsWe have gone from an even year to an odd year. Does that matter?
I have a little superstition that the evens are bountiful and the odds are hard work. Now that’s not to be pessimistic and expect doom and gloom (gawd there are enough doom merchants around at the moment). No, I actually like the odd numbered years. They are nose down kind of years, and I always seem to get a lot done. Now of course this is all silly superstition.
So what did I plan in 08?
Read more, think more, be more
This is pretty hard to measure, but I have made a concerted effort to spend more quality time reading quality, having more quality thinking time and not feeling rushed. All in all I think I am more effective. So success.
Do more to enhance my way of living without relying on buying crap
We rented no DVD’s in 08. I gave myself a “discretionary spend” budget each week and stuck to it. I did buy a new TV, but my old one was had it, and I bought an iPhone. Neither of these things can be considered “crap”. Oh and I got a boat so I can get away from things that make you want to buy crap. So I think this is a success.
Grow a really impressive moustache
SUCCESS! I thoroughly enjoyed Movember 08 and having everyone ask me if I grew my mo in sub-30 days. Yeah right. I was asked if now I will shave it off. No, I think I will hold onto it for a while. It has become kinda attached.
Avoid marketing
This one was easy. I watched only the TVNZ Freeview channels with no ads, downloaded TV series I like (with no ads), and stopped reading newspapers. Once you pull away from the mainstream media that pretty much cuts it down to mailbox circulars and online ads. Neither of these actually register with me anyway.
Be a better person
Success. I was a notorious work-a-holic and often let my work get in the way of other nuisances like, healthy relationships and lifestyle. I am now a reformed work-a-holic. I still work hard but in measured doses. I left my full time operational role with Vianet, and started part time consultancy which has quickly become a regular thing. I spend more time with my family and love them even more. I have more time for friends, and the community. And most importantly I have more time for me.
Move more
I have lost 8kg in 08. I find it much easier to get off my arse now. It is great!
Love more
I spend more quality time with my family. My youngest daughter spent the first 2 years of her life with a never there dad. And when I was I was always thinking about work. I have discovered two beautiful girls living in my house and they become more delightful everyday.
Eat less
As part of my weight loss, I watch what I eat. I count everything. It is amazing how oblivious I was to the amount of crap going into my body. When you carefully measure the inputs you can get very predictable outputs, and this is the secret to success for most things. If you don’t measure the inputs, how can you possibly expect the right outputs. As Rowan once advised, measure everything!
Hate less
Lastly, as a result of all the above I find I am much happier, and thus don’t hate as much. There is still much that “grinds my gears” but I don’t hate it as much. I find that if I don’t like something, rather than hating it, I provide constructive criticism, and see if I can help them or it out so I don’t hate it some much.
Well what is ahead for 09? I think the above worked so I’m gonna stick with it. But there is one new thing to add. There is a project I have been toying around with as an idea for some time now. Occasionally I tinker away at it. But this year I am going to get it going. I will make a plan (using PlanHQ) of what I want to achieve and then give it quality time. This is a year of hard work you know.
Also I refuse to participate in the recession. I think it is all psycological anyway. Anyone who tries to get me to subscribe to the impending doom will get a quick dose of optimisim and sunshine.
BeIntent - Product Launch
December 16, 2008 on 6:43 am | In e-commerce, stuff I like | No CommentsToday a client of mine, Be Intent is launching their on-line business, www.beintent.com. It is a fantastic idea. It is a collection of great computer health exercises, motivational and goal tracking tools to help you achieve what you want from your lifestyle. It sounds a bit touchy-feely and cuddly, but they are already getting interest from a number of NZ’s large corporates and ISPs.
How does it work, well there is plenty of on-line inspiration over at www.beintent.com plus there is a fantastic down-loadable app they call the Dreamscreen, which is your own personal life coach that keeps you motivated throughout the day.
Check it out and share your thoughts? Could this help you and your staff? They do promotional giveaways too, and a membership would make a great xmas gift for your clients.
Is Jon Trade Me’s Obama?
November 7, 2008 on 5:49 am | In Rants, distractions | No CommentsIs it time for Trade Me’s Jon Macdonald to enter politics? Spookily similar…
A good reason to run
October 17, 2008 on 3:19 pm | In distractions, stuff I like | No CommentsHere is a good example of smart advertising. It captures your interest on number of levels. Why is he running? Why is he naked? Where is he going?
Watch it again once you have figured it out. I just love the expression he gives his friends at the destination. Classic.
3D Flash Saves the Planet
October 16, 2008 on 3:43 pm | In Web, stuff I like | No CommentsHere is a really cool and engaging flash application that really shows off the great new 3D rendering capabilities of Macromedia Adobe Flash.
Explore the tree and learn about its happy friends and how they make a difference in saving the planet. Be sure to pan and scroll around with your mouse, especially when reading each of the character’s pop-up book. A lot of time and energy must have really gone into this project and it is absolutely magic!
Check out http://ecodazoo.com/
Search Engine Marketing for Dummies
October 16, 2008 on 2:00 pm | In Getting Things Done, Web, Work | No CommentsI quite often get asked, and usually at family affairs where you see those second cousins thrice removed, how to get a website to the top of Google. This and how to reinstall office and how to remove viruses from Windows (answer: get a mac). Search engine optimisation is something you can pay a consultant a lot of money to do for you, but in the most part there are a number or really simple things you can do yourself to get favourable results, with only a little bit of technical know how.
Here is my post on search engine marketing from my work blog at Voom Studio. Yes, another blog (actually I have 3). If you were ever interested in how to get a good listing in search engine results, then hopefully this will help.
http://blog.voomstudio.com/2008/10/15/search-engine-marketing-for-dummies-well-smarties-actually/
Are you man enough?
September 22, 2008 on 6:47 pm | In distractions, stuff I like | No CommentsIf only I could figure out how to summon things with my mustache…
Okay, so I dared them, but they don’t really have to make the Smurfs Movie
September 3, 2008 on 9:25 pm | In Uncategorized | No CommentsSo I said when I heard that the Transformers movie was coming out that I wish someone had the balls to make The Smurfs into a film. Damn it now they are.
So here are my suggestions for casting:
Papa smurf: Sean Connery, try the phrase “not much further my little smurfs” in your head and you will see…
Gargamel: John Lithgow, he not only has the voice but the look too
Handy: Tim Allen, in fact I think Tim the Tool Man was actually based on Handy
Cook: Gordon Ramsay, just cause I would like to hear a Smurf use the “F” word
Lazy: Kevin Smith, stoned… you know…
All the others, just kinda look the same…
Powered by WordPress with Pool theme design by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds. Valid XHTML and CSS. ^ Top^