The cost of residential real estate

Half the costs of residential real estate comes from physical construction, about 37% and land 19%, that you can actually see and touch in a building. The remainder of the total are soft costs (24%) and expected equity return for the investors (25%)

Soft Costs are usually expenses such as Insurance, Development fees, Taxes, and loan fess. 

The 3rd Degree....

Is a college degree/advanced degree necessary?  Let me preface by saying I have a LOT of "schooling" and several degrees that I appreciate and of which I am proud.  Currently, I am putting the finishing touches on a second Masters' degree (MS in Information Technology, Spring 2013), my third post-secondary degree.  However, I have been reading a lot of stories on the dangers and pitfalls of post-secondary schooling,  like the "Education Bubble" by Howard University grad Reggie Middleton. Wall Street Journal published a recent article as well about the value of a degree.

When you consider the current job market and starting salaries, coupled with the rising costs of secondary education and relative ease of attaining government-backed, education loans, the world of academia really does resemble the housing market of 2006.

So I ask.... is it necessary? 


I know that corporate jobs are making it mandatory to have a college degree to even get an interview...  And that fuels the education market wheel.  Need job - need degree for job - "free" money for degree - get in school.... and so on.  However, I think there needs to be a REAL discussion and analysis before one goes into debt with loans that you cannot discharge, on the premise that THE job is waiting on the other side...

Pretty soon EVERYONE will have a degree...then what separates wheat from the chaff?  I say learn a skill...  Get "real world" experience.  Seek out mentorship opportunities.  Network.

Go to college too - get an education FOR THE EDUCATION!  Not for the promise of employment....

Be sensible.

Get passionate.  And your passion will lead you to "earning a living".

Where is your money going?

Big banks becoming more transparent with fees?

Change Management

Changes in Business requires the right management, the right systems and the right tools. Does your business have what it takes to succeed?

Wow this must be illegal

During the mortgage meltdown numerous mortgage companies were found in violation of fair lending practices. So how is it payday and title loans are not considered predatory and illegal.

The top 20 changes Facebook made in 2012

http://socialfresh.com/facebook-marketing-2012-recap/

Beats hires Topspin’s Ian Rogers as CEO for Daisy

Branding-Sharing-Participating ....

That's the way of the "new" world.  The online social tools and websites available and the consumers' affinity for connection, are leading to some very interesting synergies and collaborations. 

Stuart Dredge, at the website musically.com, [music:)ally] on the web, is reporting that Daisy, the music streaming service co-launched by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Beats by Dre, has announced Ian Rogers as its CEO.  Ian Rogers is currently the CEO of Topspin Media, a direct-to-fan software that helps artists grow their audience, build their brand and MAKE MONEY. 

This partnership shows that Daisy "gets it".  They understand what other music streaming sites like Spotify and Rhapsody seem to overlook - the importance of the CONNECTION between the artists and the fans.  the opportunity to share back and forth between fan and artist, and to feel like you contributed and participated along with your favorite artist is groundbreaking. And disruptive.  That is key. 

Social media, in all of its forms (blogs, facebook, twitter, instagram, texting, etc), is disruptive, by nature, of the traditional media roles...from content production and distribution to the audience reception, participation and feedback.  The brands that will be successful are the ones that understand, embrace, and empower the crowd.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk is the net negative impact of the exercise of a vulnerability, considering both the probability and the impact of occurrence. Risk management is the process of identifying risk, assessing risk, and taking steps to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Information Security Management Systems

The governing principle behind an ISMS is that an organization should design, implement and maintain a coherent set of policies, processes and systems to manage risks to its information assetts thus ensuring acceptable levels of information security risk.

The degree of security depends on three factors: the risk you are willing to take, the functionality of the system and the costs you are prepared to pay

Facebook finally did something right

This is a very good move by Facebook, it is apparent they are trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to network security
Facebook praised for encrypting Web access by default

Data and Human Connection

Data, Social Media and the power of a networked society will lead to innovation and solutions to problems yet to be uncovered.

IBM, through it's Citizen-Centered Services division, looks to eliminate operational silos and bring benefits and services together to focus on solving a particular need or issue.

There's a lesson here... Its a shift in mindset.

Remain open to the power of possibility, using the tools we have now.

Sharing, Openness, Transparency promotes Goodwill, Character, Credibility.

http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/ibm-human-services/

Social Media the new way of doing business

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/en//id/575

Erosion control

What's your erosion control plan?