Pizza @ Romania

"Belea" - a Romanian word (Turkish orgin) for "problem, misfortune, difficulty, etc"

This is what I think we're in right now. We're in "belea". Why? Because we'll join to the European Union in 2007. Please keep reading this post, I promise not to write about statistics, GDP, politics, parties (political ones :D), social issues and abuses or other much debated issues regarding Romania and its accession to the EU. Although it wouldn't be unrelated.

I just want to quote a comment on bbc's web page:
"I don't think Romanians should be allowed into Britian. There are enough Italian restaurants in the country as it is. Hang on... What's that... Oh, look at the atlas......never very good at Geography...

Richard, Edinburgh"
Source and other comments on this topic

Richard's comment made me laugh at first. But it's actually sad, that we couldn't position ourselves within the EU. And I don't mean it in a geographical way.
We're in "belea" but we'll manage. We always have and always will. That's us, that's Romania. :)


PS: Brandient has recently published a view on (Re)Branding Romania.
You can read it here.
Also, please check my del.ici.ous tags on Romania for other links on RO, branding & co.

OneWebDay+Swiss Cheese Memory

2 pounds of swiss cheese
Originally uploaded by v+k.

Today's the first OneWebDay. Cool, huh?
I started using the internet back in 1995/96 or '97. Sorry, my memory's like swiss cheese. :D
Upgrading from an "e-mail only" account I soon began to surf the web, build web-pages and get info for my articles (for a local paper).
Now, as I look back, I find myself asking two things:
1.) Where is this thing called "the internet" going?
2.) Am I addicted to it? :D

Lock in business strategy

One of my friends has just experienced Apple’s customer lock in strategy. After buying a brand new iPod nano she’s trying to figure out how a way to charge it during her planned vacation abroad. It seemed that she would have to spend more $ to buy a charger. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? However, as it turned out later, buying that charger won’t help her much as long as she doesn’t own a docking station for the iPod nano (not included with nano or the charger). That’s revenue-building strategy!

Btw, I have just read some statistics on European iPod music. Just take a look at the chart below.

music on european ipods by source
Originally uploaded by brandlyyours.

Reminder to Self: Slow Down on the Caffeine

Reminder to Self: Slow Down on the Caffeine
Originally uploaded by Flipped Out.

Perfect Photo. Title fits as well ;)

Brand them if you can

Main Attributes of Services
Originally uploaded by msandrasch.

:)

I remember studying for a final exam on The Economics of Services... We had to memorize these 7 attributes and their definitions word by word. As I always do when I'm told to memorize things, I asked myself "why are these attributes so important?".

Connecting the dots, I can only argue that the attributes' impact on one's business generates a certain complexity in the (re)branding process. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why branding consultants put such an emphasis on "brand engagement" programs.

Ok, where's my mess?

New place
Originally uploaded by msandrasch.

As I moved into a new place, I'm trying to find my stuff between all the blue plastic bags. No worry, I'm sure the usual mess will surface eventually. :D

The Cost of Information

Reading one of Nigel Hollis' recent post I found myself noding to the things he talks about. Also, influenced by his words I remembered that on the long run education costs less than ... well... information.
Btw, Mr. Traub hit the nail on the head:

"These three assumptions are fundamental: information is partial, information is contaminated, and information costs. – J. Traub (1988)."

And, although I shouldn't ;) , I'll let you in on one of the KIBS industry's secrets: our bills represent the cost of asymmetrical information.

KIBS=knowledge intensive business services