Normal Rockstar

Napping at Work

As a strong supporter of the nap over the years, I'm always looking for different ways to defend my position. Well, in the NUMBERS column of the February 26th issue of Time Magazine, they report this:

3  The number of half-hour naps a person should take at work each week in order to lower the risk of heart-related death, according to a new study

$150 billion  Estimated amount, due to lost productivity, that fatigue costs U.S. businesses each year

So next time you get caught catching a little shut-eye at work, just tell your boss you're saving him/her money. They should understand that kind of language!

Wal-Mart Enters Movie Download World

Wal-Mart has officially launched its online movie download service in direct competition with Apple's iTunes store.

Read the whole story HERE.

The catch? The films can be played on a PC or transferred to Microsoft Windows Media-compatible portable digital players. The movies will not play on Apple computers or the popular iPod.

Bad move, Wal-Mart.

Make More Money - Start a Second Life

Have you ever wished you could start all over again? Live a different life? Looking for a new business opportunity? Well, you can do all of the above - virtually - and turn that into cold, hard cash. Second Life is a virtual 3D world entirely built and owned by its residents. I have no idea how this all works... yet. I'm going to start a mini-research project here, however, and spend the next week or two exploring the world of Second Life and seeing what is out there for me (my wife keeps telling me I should get into wedding planning - between our wedding and a friends' wedding at which I basically assumed the role on the big day, she seems to think I've got the skills... I have discovered that the whole wedding industry is a racket, so maybe this is a good place for me to start!). I'll keep you in the loop with how it goes...

In the meantime, check out this link at Entrepreneur.com and see what I'm talking about.

Lulu - Print-on-Demand

Have you been working on a book idea forever just hoping that someday you would have the time to pursue a book deal? Have you already written a book but it's never see the light of day (or the ink of a printer)? Well, Lulu.com could make your dream a reality. Here's their selling points:

1. Lulu is FREE, FAST and EASY - No set-up fees. No minimum order. No delay. No catch. Lulu prints and ships each book as it's bought. The buyer pays the cost — not you. Lulu only makes money if you do.


2. You're in control - You retain all rights to your work. You decide on design and layout. You set the price and creator revenue. Lulu's not the publisher — you are.
   
   
3. Sell to the world - Lulu lets you sell your work through Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble — and on Lulu itself. Lulu handles all transactions, order tracking and shipping.

Check it out... this is the MySpace of book publishing!

John Legend & Fast Company

I have three magazine subscriptions: Time Magazine, Triathlete, and Fast Company. I've had a Fast Company subscription since I was in college - I remember leafing through one magazine and being so impressed by the advertisements alone that I thought, "This is a magazine that would be worth having." To this day I have not been disappointed. Their cover story for the February issue is called "Way Behind the Music" - you can read the complete story here. The story features Musictoday, a company that works behind the scenes to fashion an online identity for musicians and athletes, then connects them with fans - and drives commerce. Here's an excerpt:

"[John Legend] found that the Internet has become not only a channel for distributing music but one for insinuating bands into the lives of their most enraptured fans... the efficiencies of the Web are such that for very little cost, an artist can build his own online operation and outsource everything, from peddling 'merch' to boosting the fan club to ticketing and marketing."

At it's core, Musictoday is in the relationship business. It connects music fans with the bands they love. Because in today's musical landscape, a band's hardcore fans are its most valuable asset. But then again, this is a concept that would be well worth applying to your business no matter what industry you're in:

whether you like it or not, you are in the relationship business.

If you are breathing, you are in the relationship business - so handle each and every one with care. Because it's true - your hardcore fans are your most valuable asset.

P.S. For a little more insight into how this industry is changing, check out this link - an interview with Live Nation CEO MIchael Rapino (Live Nation is the biggest concert promoter in the business).