Innovative Concept Cars at the Tokyo Japan Motor Show 2011

Toyota Boshoku Co.'s concept vehicle T-Brain is displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

A model poses by Toray's concept Electric Vehicle (EV) "TEEWAVE AR1" at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A visitor snaps Daihatsu Motor Co., concept car "FC SHO CASE" on displays during the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

BMW's i8 Concept car is seen at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo November 30, 2011. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Honda Motor Company President Takanobu Ito speaks next to the company's electric Micro Commuter Concept city vehicle during a news conference at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo November 30, 2011. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, left, shakes hands with Yamaha Motor Cor. President Hiroyuki Yanagi as they unveil next-generation vehicles, the electric commuter bike EC-Miu, right, and the electrically power assisted bicycle PAS WITH, the two companies are jointly developing during a press event in Tokyo Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. A vehicle seen in the background is Toyota's futuristic concept vehicle Fun-Vii. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A model sits on Suzuki Motor Corp.,'s concept car "Q-Concept" during the press preview of Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. The Tokyo Motor Show opens to the public this weekend. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn poses with the company's concept car "PIVO3" during the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)


Bottomline:
These future concept cars are out of this world... Stunning looks, Awesome innovations, and Downright utilitarian.


References: http://in.news.yahoo.com/photos/concept-cars-at-the-japan-auto-show-2011-1322648148-slideshow/model-poses-suzuki-motor-corp-concept-car-q-photo-080619078.html

Social Media Innovations at Facebook

Facebook already has over 800 million users... Should Facebook focus on execution to get more users, and get ever closer to the 1 billion mark, or rather think about new innovations that will make the experience even more engaging?

For instance, "More than 50% of Facebook active users log on to Facebook in any given day." Can Facebook motivate and inspire users to log on more frequently? Can the percentage of active users who log on go up to 75%? What would Facebook do to make this happen? What is a compelling reason for a user to log on to Facebook? Is it to share an update? Check what his / her friends are saying? Play a game? See notifications on prior updates? What drives users to log back in, and come back for more?

Another Facebook stat, "An Average user has 130 friends." - Some questions come to mind? How long does it take for an average user to get to 130 friends? Who are these friends? Can 130 friends become 260 friends? Is it even feasible? What behaviors are different for users who have over 260 friends versus users who have around 130 friends? Do they view friendship differently? How does the user feel on getting more friends? Is it great to connect to more friends, or less friends? On surface, it appears that the more friends a user connects with, more time the user will spend on Facebook, more engaged he or she will become!

And here's a growing trend that Facebook is seeing:
"More than 350 million active users currently access Facebook through their mobile devices." This one is huge! People are accessing websites, emails and now social networks through their cell phones, tablets and new mobile devices. This means people like to stay in touch and constant contact with their friends, even while they are traveling. How can Facebook capitalize on this trend? Would mobile operators and cell phone makers insert a Facebook button on every phone? Would every mobile application, game and website include a Facebook sharing widget so that the user can share almost anything on the fly on Facebook?

Ultimately, an engaged Facebook user is more likely to invite more of their friends, and get even more connected.

What will Facebook do? What new social media innovations will Facebook create to get even more users hooked on Facebook?

Check out Ogoing Social Network for Small Business. Ogoing integrates with Facebook, and is created exclusively to address the growing social media needs of small business. Learn more and sign up!

What should the Congress do in 2012?

What should the Congress do in 2012? 

1. Stay focused on laws, actions and influences to turnaround the economy.  Laws to help businesses hire more and spend more, actions to inspire people around the message "It's getting better", and influences to help local and state agencies provide additional assistance to families in need! 

2. Spread Optimism and Celebrate American Ideals. Create an uplifting image and inspire Americans that "Life is good here". Be inclusive in the message: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, all races... We are all Americans. 

3. Show and share solutions for making education better, reducing deficit and debt, increasing safety, promoting freedom and innovation, creating energy independence, and above all, shaping America for a better future. 

Just my 2 cents...

Sanjay Dalal Speech at ABAOC Breakthrough Awards Gala Night

Good Evening Friends! Are you having a blast? Are you ready to show your moves?

I mean "dance moves"!

A beautiful girl asked me a question today, "What is ABAOC? Are you going to be the next President of all these people?" That girl is my sweet daughter.

My answer to her: "THIS IS ABAOC!" 

What you have experienced today is what Asian Business Association Orange County is all about.

I want to thank my beautiful wife and kids who show a great deal of patience and support when I am out working with my ABAOC brothers and sisters. Thank You!!

Let me have a show of hands: "Who does not use an Apple product today?"... Very few hands! I am going to have to sell you an Apple product soon. I don't work for Apple though.

I want to share with you tonight this amazing quote from Steve Jobs, the greatest entrepreneur and innovator of our times, who created breakthrough products that we enjoy everyday.

Steve Jobs Quote:
"My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other's kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That's how I see business: great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team of people." --  Steve Jobs

This quote really sums up the essence of our ABAOC team. Our ABAOC motto is: "Rich in Diversity, Strong in Unity" 

We are a diverse team of professionals, from different cultures, united in our vision to create economic opportunities for small businesses in Orange County. This is what makes our organization great!

Did you know that all ABAOC board members are 100% volunteers? We all work tirelessly to help and support the small businesses in Orange County. Some of our board members have been volunteering for more than 15 years. Give our ABAOC board members a HUGE round of applause...

I am proud to accept the President-Elect nomination, and am looking forward to advance our noble cause next year and beyond!

Thank you everyone for attending our Breakthrough Gala Night!

Now let's get grooving and dancing!!

The above speech was delivered by Sanjay Dalal, ABAOC President-Elect 2012, at the ABAOC Breakthrough Awards Gala Night Event at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA on Nov 19 evening.

About Sanjay Dalal
Serial entrepreneur on a quest to create the next social network for business, Ogoing! Passionate about innovation, education, mentoring, community & my family. Learn more

About ABAOC
Asian Business Association of Orange County, established in 1992, provides Asian Americans the opportunity for economic advancement through multiple touchpoints. Learn more

Where Would You Fish For Your Customers?

Where would you fish for your customers? Better bring a really wide net if you are planning to fish in the huge ocean of social media!

Or Better Yet ... Stick To Your Guns ... and Get Your Business Going on OGOING! 

Ogoing is the Local Small Business Social Network.
Where you can fish locally, and find the BIG FISH!

Get Started on Ogoing Today!
Join Now

Ogoing, Twitter and Facebook Social Networks

Ogoing deeply integrates with Twitter and Facebook. As a matter of fact, many Ogoing businesses use Twitter, Facebook and Ogoing together. Whereas Twitter and Facebook cater to consumers, celebrities, brands, politicians and big organizations, Ogoing is created for the small business! A small business can share and receive updates from both Twitter and Facebook on Ogoing. If you want to boost your social media presence virally, Ogoing is the solution! Get started with Ogoing today!

Ogoing is the leading social network for small business.

Is Imitation Better than Innovation?

"Imitation's value may be even more prominent during a down economy such as today's", Oded Shenkar, Ohio State University Professor and Ford Motor Co. chair of global business management.

"You might argue you have to be more careful how you spend a dollar on the return you are getting," he said. The imitator can find a larger market "because, as we suggested, imitation saves some costs. You can price the product cheaper. ... Look at the proliferation of store brands. You look at Heinz ketchup, and Kroger comes out with its own version. The price is cheaper. You can argue in today's environment people are more likely to take a more serious look at Kroger product."

"When everybody is talking about innovation, and by the way I'm not saying that innovation is not important, I'm trying to remind people that imitation is as important as innovation. It provides a better return on your investment," he said.

He cites McDonald's as an example of immovation. The company's imitation of the White Castle hamburger chain led the Golden Arches to golden rewards. Likewise, Visa and MasterCard easily surpassed the first credit card, Diner's Club.

"You can look at Pan Am and TWA as pioneers of aviation, but where are they now? This is often the case when you look at different sectors," he said.

"The major players are really not the innovators."

Bottomline:

What do you think? Do you agree with Professor Shenkar? Look at Apple! It did not invent the MP3 player, Smartphone nor the Tablet. Yet, it has created blockbuster hits including the iPod music player, iPhone smartphone and the iPad tablet. Did Apple make original innovations better? I am not saying that Apple is imitating, but Apple did have the knowledge and insight from products made before, and used this as a starting point. Apple figured out the essential customer need and created products that customers simply can't buy enough of. What about the new Amazon Kindle Fire tablet? Amazon had the time to see all the tablets before, and design one that will appeal to their customers at a cost-effective price. Would Amazon Fire disrupt the Apple iPad with a lower price point? Visa did not invent the credit card; it made the credit card services better. And better it did! Visa is the household name for credit cards now.

References:
http://www.marionstar.com/article/20111112/NEWS01/111120301

Cheap and Easy Innovation : Is it Better Though?

A successful innovator is good at associational thinking. That is, good innovators make connections between seemingly unconnected inputs.

Successful innovators follow four time-tested approaches to gather stimuli so they can make these connections:

-- Questioning: asking probing questions that impose or remove constraints (e.g., what if we were legally prohibited from selling to our current customer?)

-- Networking: interacting with people from different backgrounds and who provide access to new ways of thinking

-- Observing: watching the world around your self for surprising stimuli

-- Experimenting: consciously complicating your life by trying new things or going to new places

What do you think? Do you think entrepreneurs can bring better innovations quickly, which are easy and cheap? Today, new websites can be launched and marketed for less than ten thousand dollars. New product prototypes can be manufactured and tested for less than hundred thousand dollars. The cost of producing has indeed shrunk manifolds. Savvy entrepreneurs can experiment with many product designs and business models at lowered costs before commercializing their products. Do savings in costs equate to savings in time though? And do cheap and easy equate to rapid user adoption?

For instance, can an established company such as McDonald's test out a new breakfast sandwich at a relatively low cost in specific markets? What about a startup such as Groupon that recently went public? On the success of their Daily Deals product, they recently introduced Deals Now at a presumably cheap investment. Would it have the same level of adoption?

References: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/making-innovation-cheap-and-easy/248718/

Asian American Businesses Succeeding In The New Economy

The Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) is proud to announce their “Annual Recognition Awards Gala.” The theme for this year is Breakthrough! Asian American Businesses – Overcoming, Achieving, Succeeding in the New Economy.

California State Controller John Chiang will be the keynote speaker for the event. John Chiang has been California State Controller since January 8, 2007. He previously served as Chair of the California Board of Equalization and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County. “Especially during these tough economic times, ABAOC’s efforts in promoting business opportunities in Orange County are even more important,” said Controller John Chiang. “I am honored to help celebrate this 20-year milestone of collaboration with business partners and ABAOC members.”

The gala will be sponsored by The Disneyland Resort. “We congratulate the ABAOC on 20 years of service in the business community. It is an honor to sponsor this year’s gala recognizing the top Asian-owned businesses in Orange County,” said Carrie Nocella, Director of Government Relations and Minority Business Development for Disneyland Resort.

This is the 20th year Celebration of ABAOC and the 16th year recognition awards and Induction of the 2011-2012 Officers and Board Members. This year’s Gala is dedicated to Asian American Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses who achieved breakthrough in their specific industries, and continue to strive despite the new economy we are in. The highlight of this Gala is the awarding of the Corporate Advisory Board for appreciation of all the monetary and in kind support that they have extended to ABAOC through the years.

Since 1992, ABAOC has continued to provide its members with comprehensive business development programs. The Board of Directors, general membership, corporate partners, sponsors, and volunteers have a proven record of excellent community service and leadership in Orange County and its surrounding communities. ABAOC recognizes that even in these challenging economic times, there is a need to be vigilant in the determination for the growth and stability of business, and ABAOC is committed to working cooperatively with the US, Asian, and worldwide business allies.

ABAOC will recognize their outgoing and incoming Board of Directors, corporate partners, and supporters for their consistent support over the years. ABAOC will donate grants to non-profit organizations and deserving college bound students for their exceptional community service and scholastic achievements. For the first time, ABAOC will award the top Asian owned businesses in Orange County for their economic contributions locally and/or nationwide and their commitment to community service with the “2011 ABAOC Orange County Top Business Award”.

The evening program includes entertainment, formal dinner and dance!

Awards to be presented:
Corporate Eagle Award
Outstanding Top Three Asian Business of the Year Awards
Corporate Advisory Board Appreciation Awards (Sponsors)
President’s Award
Outstanding Member of the Year Award
Student Scholarships on behalf of the Asian Community Development, a 501(C) 3 organization

Congratulations to the 2012 Board of Directors and Officers!
2012 Officers:
Ms. Gloria Rull - President
Mr. Sanjay Dalal, President-Elect
Ms. Cheryl Tsang, Secretary
Mr. Maurice Nguyen, Treasurer
Mr. Kerry Osaki, Legal Counsel

Learn More and Register for the Breakthrough ABAOC Gala Night!