Do you think that a company like Linkedin could do a successful IPO?

Alison's Contribution:

Three different questions:

1. Do you think a company like Linkedin could do a successful IPO? Yes, if they created the vision in the market place.

2. Internal practices and management - most companies coming to their IPO have management teams which are "unknown" and internal practices will always remain internal - so what's the point in speculating?

3. Will I invest in Linkedin? Only with money I can afford to lose - just as with any other investment.

Perhaps a different question you might pose is "What would a firm like LinkedIn get out of an IPO that it can't do as a private entity?"

All the best,

Alison
posted 5 days ago

Lead Generation

Alison's Contribution:

Well, one source is obviously Linkedin. Check out the companies section. You can use both the location (post code), company size

Develop your compelling approach and network with them.

Another approach is to look for firms close to you. If my suggestion above doesn't provide you with some leads, come back with a bit more information and I'll help you set up some search strings for looking on the internet.

All the best,

Alison
posted 9 days ago

100 days later: Has Obama stood the test?

Alison's Contribution:

I haven't yet read your blog as I didn't want to be influenced by your views - I simply want to provide my perspective.

I see three different questions.

1. Has Obama stood the test? Yes, he's holding his own.
2. Does America have a great leader? I think he has led by example in the public eye - and has made some great moves. He has inspired many to contribute to the greater good. These are attributes of a great leader.
3. Has America made any progress under Barack Obama within his First 100 days in office? Well let's see, it took 8 years to get it into the situation in the first place - over 2,800 days - so the question should evaluate whether the USA is less than 0.5% improved. I would say yes - there is a clear direction and an impetus to deal with all the challenges ahead.

Here are my questions:

Does that mean that it won't get worse before it gets better? I doubt it. I think there is a much rockier ride before we see real growth.

Does it mean that America has all the answers? No; no one even knows all the questions yet.

Are there things which could be improved? Yes, which is great because someone can then STEP UP and take responsibility for improving them.

Don't get me wrong - who ever won, this presidency was a poisoned chalice, a winner's curse, one of the worst hands which could ever be dealt.

Half the population of the US would have been dissatisfied with the result.

Those marginalised have access to seemingly unlimited air time to voice their opinions and few people seem to understand the underlying facts - instead voicing their opinions as those they were facts.

In closing, I'd like to share a quote I first read yesterday:

"You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act. "
- Barbara Hall, A Summons to New Orleans, 2000

All the best,

Alison

How Many of You Are Ready to Get Something Started?

Alison's contribution:

Jump - as long as I was convinced I could contribute to the cause. 

Love to see how you think a collective intellect and ingenuity could make a difference. 

If the internet stopped working, what would YOU do?

Alison's Contribution:

Great Question! I thought it was just me that was locked out of LinkedIn, so I'm glad to hear it was a bigger problem. Here's my take 

We could probably survive individually for about 7 days. After 7 days, we'd have acclimatised somewhat to using off line information just like we used to BI (Before the Internet). Within 2 weeks, we'd have best selling lists full of maps/directories (particularly if people thought it was going to be three months until the Internet got back up). 

Banks - would operate individually so little change except in operations, authentication (huge loop holes for fraudsters), but basic operations could be done at branch level as it used to be and data fedexed /faxed in 
Airlines - again operations okay. On-line Ticketing systems would be undermanned. 
Supermarket Ordering systems - again fax comes to the rescue. 

I think we are far less dependent on the Internet than you fear. 

How would my individual business cope? Hard one to be in - I'd probably take a holiday if I knew it was going to be only a month. I'd go back to the drawing board if it weren't. On line recruitment/searching is the norm now. 

If I decided to work, I'd depend on the phone and fax lines much more. So I'd might someone to help with just that side of things. 

He brought in a million dollars in revenues from his blog. How do you feel about that?

Alison's contribution:

Extraordinarily extra ordinary ideas creating "value" - where have I heard that one before?

Your question though - How does it make me feel about it? 

Admiration for the ingenuity. And having an enquirying mind, it makes me want to figure out how she/he did it and see if I could be a fast follower & improve on it - eg how to build the model and do an even better job.... 

As to my strategy - I'd keep very, very QUIET about the how and how much profit and use the "super normal profits" to fund some good works anonymously. ;-))