Dienstag Mai 31, 2005
"Easily Store and Manage Your Bookmarks"
"Weta Software has released NetMarks Manager 3.0, a bookmark manager for Windows that lets you keep multiple bookmark databases and offers a choice of interface. Browser extensions add a toolbar button and menu option to Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, so you can easily open or add new bookmarks to your collection while browsing the web."
The full article can be found here.
( Mai 31 2005, 08:39:04 AM CEST )
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"Firefox about to get IE on its knees"
"According to W3schools, a site known amongst web developers, Firefox reached a market share of 25%, while Internet Explorer plummeted to 64.8%."
The full article can be found here.
( Mai 31 2005, 08:37:56 AM CEST )
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Building your own (business) network
In the comments to my past MBA related blog entries, the majority of people listed "the network" as one of the main reasons why people should try to get an MBA from a top business school. Unfortunately, these people did not mention who (i.e. what kind of people) is in their business school network. Are all of them directors, VP's and CEO's today? Is another Bill Gates or country leader among them? Are they all making a fortune? Or are they product managers and senior product managers?
In addition, it would be interesting to know how people have been benefiting from their business school networks so far. Did the network help to find new jobs, or the right job? Did the business school friends help to gain knowledge or insights into other business areas? Did the network make it easier to get in touch with potential customers? Did the MBA friends help to identify new business ideas?
I'm currently not able to go to a top business school for various reason, which I will explain in more detail in future blog entries. However, as I indicated in my last MBA blog entry, I strongly believe that there are alternative ways to get and do what you want.
Since I knew from colleagues and friends who went to Yale, Wharton, and MIT that the business network is an important part of an MBA program, I decided to build up my own network. Thus, shortly after I moved to Hamburg, a bit more than a year ago, I initiated a monthly meeting of marketeers who live and/or work in the Hamburg area. In order to attract the right mix of people I focussed on inviting product managers and brand managers from well-known companies like Unilever, Reemtsma, Europcar, Tchibo, Beiersdorf, Oracle, IBM, etc. I used an online business meeting place to invite the people and to plan the event. The platform that I used is the Open Business Club which is probably similar to Linked in. It is something like a Match.com for business purposes.
The first meeting was a great success! More than twenty people showed up. After a few of the monthly meetings, I transferred the organization of the event to someone else, since I did not have the time anymore at that point. However, I still have good contacts and friends from the initial meetings, including category managers, brand managers, product managers and marketing directors from the companies I mentioned before.
Another way to meet people and to create a network is by just leveraging your hobbies. Most people (with a balanced life style!) have a hobby, and in many cases it is even easier to get to know people via a hobby than via business. I personally do (competitive) ballroom dancing and bird watching. In addition, I like going to classical concerts and operas, as well as watching movies. On my to-do list is also seriously learning sailing and playing golf. Unfortunately the latter is still a bit "snobby" here in Germany.
Finally, one should not underestimate the family network. People get married, get kids, start new jobs, etc. Thus, the network is still in flux, and opportunities to meet new interesting people come up all the time.
One final advice, don't make friends just for business reasons! Friendship should not be reduced to the economical or business value of a relationship!
( Mai 31 2005, 07:55:33 AM CEST )
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