Degels App

Finally, we have done it!  After several failed times in the last five years trying to develop an app and have it approved by  the Apple developers to post it in the App Store,  I can finally say we made it!

This app that we are officially launching in February 2013, took us approximately four months to develop. It’s called “Degels”. The word degel actually means flag in Hebrew. The “S” at the end is  the word in plural in English. Degels is an educational and entertainment app. Is a very basic game where you paint all the flags of the world. The app is completely free and is now available in the AppStore  Check it out!

Here is how it works!

Below is the menu that shows the flags distribution. You can select one or more continents to play. The screen shot is in Spanish, but the game is available in English, Hebrew, and French. After you select the continent, select the level of difficulty and if you need, the Help menu.  With the Help menu the name of the country appears at the top and the uncolor flag. If you don’t select the help it will appear as a small picture with the silhouette of the country in the background. Then just press GO!

Here is an example of how it will appear without the help:

And here is an example with the help:

                

Each flag will have thirty seconds to be drawn. Depending in how fast you complete it correctly you will make more points.

After you complete the whole set of flags your final score appears and the option to share it in the app’s website. The screen looks like this:

Check other’s scores at www.DegelsApp.com

Some flags have a lot of details. For example, the Venezuelan flag has eight small and white stars in the middle. When this occurs you just place white circles, the system will read it. Also, white is a color! You actually have to use it too.  If not the system won’t capture it as correctly.

Here is our Profile in iTunes:

Degels is available to use in iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch,

Here is a small video playing Degels,

Please, give me your personal opinion on this app. I want to improve it and fix any mistakes.

Good luck playing!

Daniel Simkin

Business Today International Conference
"Charting the Course: Navigating the 21st Century Economy"
November 18-20 2012
Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City




Open Notes:

Dr. Steven Bloom: Senior VP of NASDAQ
Mega Trends
1. A Sluggish US economic recovery. GDP growth at 4% is ideal but it’s currently 2%. Unemployment is too high, but inflation is under control at 2 percent though health care and food are high.
2. US has $16 trillion in debt, the highest in relation to GDP since WW2 in 1945. It took 20 years to return to a normal rate. (The fiscal cliff is coming up with solutions so we don’t have to simultaneously raise taxes and reduce expenditures)
3. Anemic outlook by consumers, leaders and investors.
4. Growing U.S income equality and poverty (1/6 of Americans are considered impoverished)
5. Globalization of world economics
6. Euro zone in crisis (Weak countries are PIGS, Portugal Italy Greece Spain) Germany may be softening.
7. Middle East oil and other economic shock (oil is king in powering economies) The big question is ”Is there an alternative to middle eastern oil?”
8. Rise of China (low labor cost: rural, back office of the world), not just for unskilled labor. However, China may be experiencing its own real estate bubble.
9. Rise of emerging markets generally BRICS (for you South Africans)
10. Power of business innovation and entrepreneurship

Back: Rohan Manchanda, Marcello Schermer, Aazar Ali, Dianna Yau, Kyle Brandon
Front: Daniel Israel, Yohan Atlan, me, and Hannah Kate

Ms. Barbara Byrne: Barclay’s Capital Vice Chairman
Life Lessons
1. Get to know the client, provide quality service, and think what they need.
2. No is just another answer to yes.
3. Be unbelievably optimistic.
4. You cannot celebrate other people's failures
5. You should build for the future
6. Be kind to everyone
7. Set goals, mistakes happen
8. Stakeholders: community to be involved. Citizenship is core to who we are.
9. The investment banking business continues to evolve: Increased regulation is fine as long as the rules are clear "Work and Passion"
10. What makes is stand out is having an opinion and taking a stand. You can be quiet... But say something. When you take a stand, you think about issues.
11. When you are working on something but time flies, that's your passion. You are in the zone. You are energized.

Mr. Michael Novogratz: President of Fortress Investment Group

Mr. Michael Novogratz: President of Fortress Investment Group
Life Comments
1. Spend 5 or 10 percent of your day trying to make the world better, to solve complex, difficult problems.
2. Who talks to their parents daily? If so, cut your parents off... You are supposed to figure out who you are and who you are supposed to be. Give yourself some space
3. Statistically, people will live to 80s or 90s. Chill out. The single best thing to do for oneself is to take a year off between college and work to see the world. 50 percent of growth is overseas. Grow empathy, opportunity. Business opportunity, cultural opportunity. Get off the fast track and travel.
4. Don't chase the new great idea. Stumble around things and figure what you love.
5. Steal mentors, you are not going to do it alone. If you don't ask, they can't say no. Be confident enough and sneak up to them. People love to talk about themselves. Learn and your success will be built on the shoulders of others.
6. Have fun. What makes you feel that joy? If you don't like your job, quit. Having fun and finding joy is your life’s mission.
7. Invest in all sides of yourself. How do we educate and nourish the soul? Find some time to meditate, pray or some sort of spirituality. Read biographies of people.
8. Health: Be wary of your diet and exercise. Educate oneself on exercise.




End Notes.

Pencils 2 Africa

During my management class with Dr. Rosh we have to create and develop a project for the semester. The professor divided us in groups, our team is composed by Yohan Banon from Spain, Jonathan Kranzler from NY, Moshe Rosenfeld from Las Vegas, Gabriel Cooper from New Jersey, and myself from Venezuela. We have to take a problem and solve it only in the period that this semester lasts. The project has to be humanitarian. We will be evaluated on how we worked as a team, execute the plan, and reach the goal. 

After three projects disapproved by the professor, we end up helping the educational system in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Why Nigeria? How we will help? Well, it will be in Nigeria because it is the place I personally know more people in Africa, and for terms of efficiency and plans achievement we target Nigeria. Considering that there is a lack of pencils in public schools in Nigeria, and here in the US pencils are relatively cheap. We want to send pencils. We want to help kids to learn. How we will send the pencils? We are currently investigating how to send them or how to get funds to send them. In a private company such as FedEx or UPS will charge us around USD $700 for 20 Kg of pencils which is a lot amount of pencils. The Consulate of Nigeria in New York is helping us in our investigation.

Goal:

There is 3.000 students and faculty at Wilf campus of Yeshiva University. Our goal is to collect 3.000 pencils and send them to Nigeria at the end of December 2012.

How you can help?

During a period of one month you will find binds located in the main five buildings of Wilf campus of Yeshiva University. You can stop there and drop some pencils or pens. If you happen to not have extra pencils you could buy them in our website www.Pencils2Africa.com we at the end of the month will go to Staples and buy with all the money collected pencils.

Bin locations:

Morg, next to the lounge entrance

Rubin, in front of the elevator

Furst, next to the security guard

Gluck, entrance of “heights lounge” 

Belfer, next to the ATM first floor

Help us complete our goal! Be part of the change not the problem.

Check for more info at www.Pencils2Africa.com

Once again, I’m still alive!

Thursday October 11th 2012.

The reason I’m writing this article in English is because I want you to show what’s going on in Venezuela Internationally.

This year we built at my house in Caracas a Suca for the Jewish holiday (Google it). After 10 days we had to take it down. I called my uncle and asked if I can borrow his pick up truck for a couple of hours, so I could load the bamboos and palm tree leaves. My uncle sent me the 1998 Ford 150 truck with the driver Eduardo.

Both of us loaded up all the materials of the Suca to put it in the garbage. Once we reached the dump  we began  taking off all the cargo. It was at 3:30pm in front of a school called “Colegio Patria” and next to an

eldership. Two normal, average looking guys walked up the street where we were offloading the stuff. They saw us and kept walking  towards us. Once we finished our work they came at us aiming two very

powerful  guns at us. When they reached us, both pointed at me even though I wasn’t the driver. I gave them my wallet, watch, and my the phone.  My partner  Eduardo did the same. They took the SUV keys and left.

We hid ourselves behind the school’s door in case the robbers were going to start shooting. Then, a guy that saw everything, offered to take me home. Thankfully my home was only a couple blocks away.

Eduardo was shocked, and I had  to act and think quickly. I called 911 which didn’t work. Then I called my uncle to tell him that I lost his car. I took my other car which was parked at my house and drove to the Police Municipals. From a previous experience I had, I had became  friends with the Police Director. Once in his office he used the  police radio to notify the police in Caracas about the car. After all of this  Eduardo and I drove to other police and army departments. After eight hours, we finally found the car!

Today, Friday October 12th at 4:30pm I am sitting at my computer, reflecting and analyzing what happen. I can say one more time that God wants me here and isn't ready for me yet. But, I'm confused. It  is very sad that what I experienced yesterday thousands of Venezuelans experienced every day. In most of the cases the robbers kill the victims, or kidnap them. I was lucky.

I have met people around the world that says that Chavez, the Venezuela President, is a very good leader. If he is a great president why are there people robbing others to bring food to their house?  Somehow you have to feed your family I guess. Why is Chavez giving to other countries the money our country makes from the oil instead battling the delinquency and creating jobs?

If you know someone that works in your country’s International Relations Department, or in the UN, or in any International Court. Please help! Venezuela is falling down. This country needs international pressure on the government.

Esperando en el JFK

Hace un par de meses mi hermano viajo desde Caracas a Nueva York. Yo fui al aeropuerto esperarlo un par de horas antes de que llegara y me senté en una de las salidas del gigantesco aeropuerto JFK. Sentado ahí, me puse a ver la gente que salía por la puerta, valga la redundancia, a intentar saber por su apariencia cual era su destino de partida. Este tipo de “juego” lo he hecho antes, pero hacerlo en el JFK ha sido un reto muy difícil. Lo que lo hace tan complicado es la cantidad de gente distinta que viaja de donde sea en el mundo y que siempre por esa puerta donde esperaba se mezclaban los vuelos. Bueno, el primer grupo de gente sale, el patrón era de estatura mediana, morenos, hablaban español y tenían en vez de maletas eran bolsas plásticas con cierre y la imagen de “Piolín”. Esto es típico en Perú, Bolvia y Ecuador. Pues sí, el vuelo era proveniente de La Paz, Bolivia, lo sé por que lo confirme con uno de los pasajeros. Luego empezaron a salir jóvenes muy blancos con chaquetas de vestir azules, lo primero que viene a mi mente fue “no son latinos”. Eran muy ordenados y silenciosos, ellos iban como en fila uno tras otro. Era obvio que venían todos en grupo, pero no podía identificar de donde eran. Pensé que eran Alemanes, Polacos, Lituanos, pero es que ninguno tenia el color de pelo oscuro. Bueno, el grupo de jóvenes se reúne a un lado esperando a que salgan todos y en eso noto que los hombres tienen a un costado de la chaqueta la bandera de Finlandia. El contraste entre los Bolivianos y los Finlandeses era demasiado, y yo esperaba a los Venezolanos, mi mente no sabía que esperar a ver. En eso sale otro grupo y noto que el patrón es señores mayores como con cinco maletas en un carrito, esas maletas viejas de tela con flores estampadas. Ellos venían usando el teléfono hablando español y las familias (hijos y nietos) venían todos corriendo a recibirlos. Yo los identifique rápido y acerté, venían de República Dominicana. Ya se acercaba la hora de que el vuelo de Venezuela saliera y ponía mas atención a la gente que salía por si acaso mi hermano saliera. Alrededor mío había gente preguntando a los empleados del aeropuerto si el viaje de Madrid o de Francia ya había llegado. En eso sale otro patrón de gente de pelo muy negro, morenos y tenían muchos muchos niños consigo. No supe identificar de que país venían pero estaba seguro de que eran de cultura Árabe. Tal vez una o dos mujeres venían con la cara tapada, es decir, no vienen de un llegaron de un país muy religioso o de un país mas mente abierta. Seguido salio gente con el patrón de sombrero de llanero y sobreros de vaqueros hechos paja. No eran muchos los que salían con sombrero, pero todos o casi todos salían con camisas manga largas de tela con cuadros. También de ese grupo salieron seis o siete personas con traje de vestir que se notaba que tenían reuniones en la ciudad el mismo dái. Ellos venía hablando Inglés con acento un poco raro que realmente no podía identificar. En mi mente decía “Quién caminará por la quinta avenida con un sombrero así?” Me acerque a preguntar y ellos venían de Texas. Después, hubo como diez minutos donde paró de salir gente, eso fue raro ya que la última hora fue corrido. En eso sale gente usando camisas del Real Madrid, del Barcelona y de Argentina. Las mujeres y niñas venían muy arregladas y con lentes grandes, las jóvenes usaban sweteres unicolores, mas que todos rosados, amarrillos, verdes manzana, etc. que decían “Aeropostale” en todo el medio y grande. En general el grupo era muy ruidoso. Los señores llegaban con camisas manga larga marca polo. No se porque hubo un par de gente que salía con gorra y lentes de sol al mismo tiempo,  jajajajajaja, será que había sol allá adentro? La gente traía muchas maletas pero como las movían y cargaban con tanta facilidad concluí que estaban casi vacías y venían Nueva York a llenarlas. Era claro que el se trataba del viaje de Venezuela. Me acerque mas a la salida y empezaba a escuchar la gente diciendo “llegamos marico”, “José, agarra esa vaina coño!”, esto reafirmo que se trataba de los Venezolanos, en especial cuando un señor muy gordo y con bigotes dijo “mi hermano, hemos llega’o al Imperio mesmo”.  En eso salio mi hermano con una camisa y Crocs amarrillos fosforescentes, con una gorra de Venezuela Fútbol Club y un bolso anaranjado inmenso. Definitivamente, nos tenemos que hacer notar, somos distintos.

En verdad es un orgullo ser Venezolano! 

Whats going on in Venezuela?

Venezuelan Politics:

As the all-important month of October draws ever closer, many Venezuelans are questioning their fate should Chavez claim victory at the upcoming presidential elections. Hugely popular at his inauguration in 1999 and capturing the world’s attention with his neoliberalism and leftist speeches, Chavez has retained his seat of power for 13 years. After a rollercoaster ride of constitutional referendums, the emergence of an explicitly socialist party and a downturn in national economic viability, many Venezuelans are asking the same question;  
Why should Hugo Chavez be given another term?  This voice does not simply come from the right-wing either. Many leftists are concerned that their once-beloved Chavez, who may or may not lose his fight with cancer is no longer the optimal choice of candidate. Food is a basic necessity- so much more than a ‘right’, for without it the body perishes. Supplying low-cost food to the poor seemed like a good idea to Chavez and it certainly won him the support of the people at one point. But after 13 years of implementing strategies such as increasing domestic production through nationalizing large parts of the food industry to increase food supplies, food shortages are now higher than ever. It turns out that Chavez was wrong- the government cannot feed people more efficiently than the private sector an. Thus if people vote with even just their belly, Chavez is not the candidate of choice. How can he be?
In what seems to be a last-ditch attempt to sway the doubts of many, Hugo Chavez's latest appearance with former Brazilian President and man-with-the-golden-touch Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was observed by the world. The hungry eyes of Venezuela will tend to overestimate the importance of Lula’s support for Chavez in the hope that the magic Lula worked for Brazil (making it the five largest global economy) might rub off onto their president should he hold office into yet another term.
Or is it time for a change?
Closing in on Chavez is Henrique Capriles Radonski, a 39-year-old Venezuelan state governor, a lawyer by profession, who was in fact imprisoned in 2004 by Chavez (but later acquitted) on charges of trespass, intimidation and "violating international principles". The reason that Radonski is the one to beat is simple: his campaign offers a calm solution to the economic crisis that Venezuela suffers beside its booming, thriving neighbour Brazil. This is slowly but steadily earning the trust of the people who really do want to see a change and hey, they having nothing to lose.
Chavez’s popularity on the other hand tends to plummet and skyrocket as he manipulates the voters with emotive leftist speeches and then disappoints them by sending their oil to Cuba and damaging their food supply. How can voters think straight in conditions such as these?
As Radonski continues to offer a more practical approach that focuses on the preparation of strategies to piece the economy and democratic institutions of Venezuela back together, this is one presidential election trail to watch.

If you are Venezuelan, please vote this October 7th. Make the effort, the country needs you.

Blacksmith and Entrepreneurship Program

From July 25-28 2012, 75 students from 35 different countries were selected to participate in the Blacksmith and Liberty Entrepreneurship Program held in Trakai, Lithuania. The name of the program is derived from the names of its founders, Mr. Simon Black and Mr. Smith, both successful American entrepreneurs who give amazing opportunities to young people that show strong entrepreneurship skills.
This year, Mr. Smith couldn't attend, but instead Mr. Brian Tannura Mr. Sam Wolanik, and Mr. Craig Ballantyne were invited. During the four days, we had the opportunity to ask questions to these mentors, hear their entrepreneurial lectures, and have our own concepts and ideas evaluated in terms of internal business competition.

Brian is a guy from New Jersey that took Spanish in high school and in college for a total of seven years of Spanish. After graduation he decided not to follow his friends to Mexico or Spain, so he took a plane to Japan. Brian has over 25 years of experience of living in Japan and owns more than 5000 gum ball selling machines and more than 2000 sticker selling machines. To our amusement he proudly admitted to being the one who introduced the cartoon Spongebob to Japan. Brian is a very down to earth and an approachable individual who really made himself available to students during the program.

Craig is a Canadian entrepreneur and owner of one of the most successful online health businesses in North America. Craig graduated in 2000 as a researcher and started as a personal trainer. On his website you can find diets, training programs to lose weight and other health tips. He appeared many times in Health Magazine and other TV shows related to being healthy. At the time of the camp, he had on one of his websites more than one hundred thousand followers, real people buying and commenting on his products.

Sam created a company (that he no longer owns) that improved the price of stock in the exchange market in NY. He created one of the first "financial quotes" websites. He shared the following impressive story at the Camp:  One day he visited an American Oil company that was doing very well in business but very bad in the stock market, no one wanted to buy the stock. On the Friday afternoon when the market was almost closing he sent a financial report with his own quotes providing real information "the one that everyone knows but not pay sometimes that much attention", at the end of the quote he talked about the oil company. By Monday the company grew 400%, and on Tuesday grew 500% on top of the Monday result. He did that over several years and is a trading expert- he knows the secret to not ending up as an insider trader. The exciting news is Sam is creating a new currency.

These four mentors and young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to relate and exchange stories and experiences. This was time well-spent and much valuable information was shared. I will cite some of the conclusions, discussions, quotes, relevant notes that I jotted down during the Camp.

•    It is not true that 90% of the work is a great idea
•    There are always opportunities, all around, step back and see the market
•    When starting a business you do everything you can to identify the key tasks
•    Who is your customer? How you reach him? What do you do to maintain a relationship with your costumer?
•    Find a way to differentiate what makes you unique from your competition
•    To find an investor, don't show it as a brainer investment
•    Always be really specific when answering questions: What business are you in? Who are your customers?
•    In online business, communicate with your customers, but that communication has to be perfect, make videos.
•    On websites, customers like sale deadlines
•    Do something you really love, something you are passionate about.
•    As most of you English is not your mother language so always write in simple sentences. Business is about simple and specific sentences.
•    I found a government distortion in the market place, if the stock is less than 5 Dollars nobody can talk about it. There were many companies that wanted to raise prices.
•    While raising investing capital, make sure you really need it and answer easily, tell me about your business. Always avoid family and friends. Be specific in numbers and not in future projections.
•    Never say "I need between half million and one million Dollars", be specific.
•    Everybody thinks that they need more capital than what he/she really needs.  Ask for the minimum amount.
•    What is your opportunity? What is your growth plan? Find credibility.
•    Create a board of advisers; their credibility is your credibility.
•    To raise money check: crowd founding, kick starter, micro landings, etc.
•    Yes it is possible to raise money from your competitor, they understand you.
•    DO YOUR HOMEWORK = study the market
•    The whole business exists because of you
•    For your investors, write them monthly reports and be transparent. If things are bad, tell him/her don't hide things, anything, from them.
•    "When you point someone with your finger, there are three fingers pointing towards you"
•    In order to do the marketing, go to online forums to hear the problems that your prospect costumers have. What kind of phrases do they use? Then, determine what product/service you will sell and how you will sell it.
•    95% of the businesses fail because they force a solution in a market place.
•    You guys know that you don't have to pass through the scan at the airport
•    Think about how to add value
•    The older you get, the more difficult life gets
•    Learn valuable skills, spend time learning: languages, check other places around the world, seek a mentor find someone you can help and make yourself absolutely indispensable for this person, socialize and network, "if you can sell shit, you’ll always be valuable", learn to program, introduce one friend to another.
•    Find an open door

Congratulations to the hydroponics on the roofs of Hong Kong team that won the first place in the competition. Also, congratulations to the umbrella vending machines at the exits of the underground in London team and the cafe with the parking concept at Moscow team for the mention.

I want to mention www.froam.com, the phone international services company that made possible my attendance at the entrepreneurship program. Special thanks to Mr. Hershberg and Mr. Warman, CEO's of Froam, thank you for being my mentors and for giving me this opportunity. The experience has had a positive influence on me and I hope to share it with the Froamtm community.
I'm proud to say that Froam has helped me to save funds by not having to pay for international roaming in my device. As a business prospect, Froamtm is also the perfect company from which to learn about any aspect of international connections.
I encourage you to check online how much it costs to call from Germany to Chile for example, then ask to yourselves how this amazing price is possible. Froam is also available to answer any questions; they are always there for their customers and wider community. Once again, thank you Froam!
I would also like to thank the organizers and sponsors of Blacksmith and Entrepreneurship program for accepting me. It has been my pleasure to get to know each of the participants of the program and I had the chance to meet some amazing and impressive individuals. I wish them all well in their projects.

Daniel Simkin

Info:
www.froam.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6d-A1Wu7lk&list=HL1346058822&feature=mh_lolz

The Economic View: London Olympics 2012

    Besides promoting excitement and bringing the opportunity to be the center of the world, Summer Olympics 2012 in London will be one of the biggest financial projects of modern time. Many people think that during the recession and with economy issues the world is facing that hosting an event of such caliber will cost a lot of money. Well, it will, but the revenues for the city and the hosts will be even bigger. After 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, it was reported that a record breaking number was spent on the games, making it the most expensive Olympics so far. The number, however, was not revealed but it is rumored to be around $40 billion. It has big chances to be matched or surpassed by London Olympics. Summer Olympics and Paralympics’ main sponsors include McDonald’s, Visa, Coca-Cola and Adidas. 

    2012 Summer Olympics will feature the longest Olympics sponsor: the American fast food restaurant McDonalds. It will be the main sponsor of the event and has already opened several new restaurants for the event, including the record-breaking 1500-seated restaurant in the east of London, in Stanford. McDonalds will have four big restaurants and only two for public use: the rest will go to the Athletes Village and Media Centre. It just shows how much the American giant has invested in this year’s Olympics. What also may worry the hosts and the guests, is that McDonald’s sponsorship deal features a highly unusual request and something most of the hosts won’t agree. McDonalds has purchased exclusive rights to sell fries during the Olympics, popularly known as chips. But the British can relax, because their favorite food fish and chips are not bannedm. However, they can only be bought in a combo. If you only want chips, you have to go to the nearest McDonald’s. Funny what money can do, right?

    Many are already predicting a financial catastrophe by the hosts, but there have been several optimistic predictions as well. More than £800 million were invested for the infrastructure, including the building of the new Olympic stadium in London.  Research has shown, that the most expensive games so far were in Barcelona 1992 and the country ended the games in a large debt. The situation is a bit tricky, but the concerns for the London 2012 are not that big. When London first bided for the hosts, their budget was £5 billion but  since 2005 it has risen to £9 billion. Nevertheless, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron assures that UK will gain more than £16.5 billion and the London 2012 will boost UK’s economy in the next four years. Unfortunately, there will be no lasting benefit for the economy and the UK will eventually return to the recession. There have been many controversies, because it is expected that only the city of London will benefit from the games while the rest of the UK will “chip in” with the investment.

    Most of the income from the Olympics will also come from the tickets, as tourists are expected to arrive from all over the world. There are predictions that only 83% of the 9 million released tickets will be sold, boosting the income for the Olympics for £400 million.

    There is no doubt that the 2012 Olympics will be remembered by sporting activities and some new heroes and records. But the Olympics will end, and whether Britain will get their expected profit, is still a question to be seen.


Daniel Simkin

Amigos,

Tengo el honor de ser participe de un projecto que va a ayudar y transformar la vida de miles de jóvenes con cancer al rededor del mundo. Todo consta de preguntas contestadas por famosos que tienen los pacientes. Imagínate poder saber la respuesta de, me sentire mejor mañana de lo que me siento hoy? Será que es un sueño y pronto despertare de la pesadilla? Por que D-os creo el cancer?
Todavia no existe un diario como este, en donde el paciente contesta la pregunta y luego compara la respuesta con la de un famoso sobreviviente del cancer.

HopeBook apunta alto, a decir verdad, bien alto. Ya han sido visitado varios hospitales en NY, Miami, Caracas y esta empezando en Israel. Los pacientes si hablan con nosotros y nos dicen lo que quieren saber. Queremos poducir este libro en muchas idiomas y llevarlo a la mayor cantidad de hospitales y llegarle a la mayor cantidad de jóvenes padeciendo de cancer en el mundo. Estamos hablando de varios años de trabajo y ya el mes que viene sería un año trabajando.

El modelo de negocio de organización sin fines de lucro ha sido presentado ya a varios profesores de administración clinica riezgosa, entre ellos el Deacano de Yeshiva University Michael Strauss ex-representante de American Express USA & Canada, varios psicólogos en el área de oncología han dado buenas expectativas de HopeBook, entre ellos Rutty Cohen, presidente del departamento psicológico de New York Presbyterian Hospital y The Mount Sinai Hospital y el Departamento de Psicología de Yeshiva University que esta associado con Albert Einstain Medical School. También HopeBook ha sido estudiado por el Ingeniero Moises Esquenazi, programador de Pixable actual aplicación que trabaja conjunto con Facebook, en donde armó los primeros planos de nuestra website para hacerla baratamente interactiva con complejos buscadores (SEO). HopeBook ha sido estudiando antes de ser lanzado al aire. Un grupo de 9 personas han diseñado paso por paso del transcurso del projecto, claro que los planes cambian, pero estamos preparados como equipo para el cambio.


Actualmente, HopeBook desarrolla el libro, lidia con papeles del gobierno federal, envia cartas a hospitales en Israel para desarrollar HopeBook/Israel, se reune con pacientes en el Hospital Oncológico de la Universidad Central de Venezuela desarrollando HopeBook/Venezuela e introduce papeles para sacar legalidad de fundación en Venezuela, aparte de eso desarrolla constantemente logos e imágenes, investiga perfiles de celebridades con cancer, contacta a esas celebridades, y organiza actividades para Children Hospital en Miami. Todo se esta haciendo poco a poco pero con presición.

Hace dos semanas HopeBook ganó el "TEDxUChicago Speaker Challenge", donde será presentado el proyecto.  En estos momentos HopeBook concursa en el "Doing GOOD This Summer 2012", donde participan 146 proyectos más. El proyecto mas votado ganará una inversión de cinco mil Dólares. HopeBook compite con campamentos de niños descapacitados con +10 años de experiencia, la urbanización de Chinatown NY, entre otros. El motivo de este escrito es para demostrar lo duro que estamos trabajando y lo bien que van a ser administrados esos  cinco mil Dólares. En nombre de todo el equipo de HopeBook, de todas las visiones y aspiraciones que tenemos de querer ayudar sin recibir nada a cambio, queremos pedirte que te tomes dos minutos de tu tiempo, te dirijas a este LINK  y votes por "HopeBook - from cancer survivors to cancer survivors", deja un comentario para poder calcular los votos que llevamos y corre la voz. Postea el link en tu Facebook, envia emails a tu ex-novia con el link, vota también con el email de la universidad que no usas, dile a los vecinos de tu casa, postealo en ese grupo de "mejores amigas para siempre" de tu blackberry o WhatsApp, compartelo con tus colegas de trabajo, cuentaselo a alguien que sepas que haya pasado por cancer y creale un mail a tu mama, a tu papa y a tu mascota.

Muchas Garcias,

De todo corazón,

HopeBook Team
http://www.hopebook.org/5k.html

In Memory of Gabriel Feigel Z'L

Un serveur, ma petite amie et moi au restaurant.

Moi: comment ça va?
Becky: ça va, et toi ?
Moi: je vais bien
Becky: C’est un bon restaurant
Moi: Oui, c'est  mon ami Brian Brik qui m'a conseillé de venir ici.
Becky: c'est ton meilleur ami?
Moi: Oui, c'est un bon ami
Becky: comment s'appelle  ce restaurant?
Moi: le restaurant s’apelle “Buono Café”
Moi: Garçon! Garçon !

Hôte: Bonjour, bienvenue au Buono Cafe
Voici notre menu.
Becky & moi : Merci
Becky: Quelle est la spécialité dans votre restaurant ? Sinon auriez-vous un plat du jour ?
Hôte: Nous avons comme plat du jour un hamburger accompagné de patates douces.
Becky: Je déteste les hamburgers, y aurait-il de la salade?
Hôte: Oui, la salade de la "montanga" c'est également notre spécialité.
Becky: Que contient cette salade ?
Hôte: La salade de la montanga contient : des carottes, des champignons, du concombre, des oignons, des petit-pois, et des condiments,
Son assaisonnement : un peu de vinaigre et de l’huile.
Becky: mmmmm, ça m'a l'air très bon.
Hôte: OK, je reviens dans trois minutes.

Becky: Dani, que vas-tu manger?
Daniel: Mon ami David Kaufman, m'a conseillé de commander leur viande, mais je ne suis pas encore sur. Et toi?
Becky: Mon ami, Shirley Abecasis, m'a recommandé de demander la salade capresse, mais je ne sais pas..
Daniel: Shirley est un peu folle! Mais c' est une bonne amie.

Raul Brik: Daniellll, comment ça va? Comment ça se passe à New York?
Daniel: mon pote!!! Je vais bien, très bien, j'étudie beaucoup. Et toi?
Raul Brik: Je vais bien aussi, je travaille aussi beaucoup.
Daniel: Tu as des nouvelles d'Anita, de Kenny et de  Jenny?
Raul Brik: Ils vont bien, Jenny étudie le français, Kenny apprends à jouer de la guitare et Anita travaille à la maison.
Daniel : C’est une bonn famille!
Raul Brik: Et toi Becky?
Becky: ça va bien, les cours sont un peu durs, mais ça va  !
Raul Brik: super! C'était sympa de vous revoir. Je dois encore aller voir ma cousine!
Daniel et Becky: Ok partenaire!

Hôte: Avez vous fait votre  choix, Madame?
Becky: Je vais prendre de la soupe à l’oignon.
Hôte: Monsieur?
Daniel: Je prendrai du paté de champagne
Hôte: désirez-vous boire quelque chose ?
Becky: un citron pressé
Daniel: pour moi, un jus d’orange. s'il vous plaît
Hôte: et pour la plat principal Madame?
Becky: je veux prendre la salade de la montagna
Daniel: Je vais prendre du boeuf bourguignon.
Hôte: Bon! Je reviens dans quelques minutes.
Daniel et Becky: Merci!

Daniel: C’est un bon plat
Becky: Il est délicieux !
Hôte: cela vous plaît?
Becky: oui, oui c'est parfait..
Daniel: j'aimerais commander  une bouteille de vin?
Hôte: quel vin?
Daniel: un vin français bien sur..
Hôte: pas de problème, je vous apporte notre carte.

Dans Le Noir, a blind restaurant experience...

The other day I went to a restaurant in NYC called Dans Le Noir. Its a place in where there aren't any lights at all. So, you make your reservation online a couple days ahead. Then, you go to the
place and once you arrive they show you the menu and give you a key for a locker in which you have to put everything that's may produce light (watch, cell phones, etc). Becky and I chose our plates, then we sit next to a curtain waiting for our waiter. A few minutes later a blind woman came out stretching out her arm asking "Where are my next costumers?", Becky said " Here we are". Maria, the waiter, told us "You don't have to be weary... welcome to my world".

We enter to a small tunnel and the light gets dimmer and immer with each step until it disappears completely. I enter and my other 4 senses activate. I started to hear the voices of people from other tables, the sound of cubists and people laughing. Also, I felt the temperature much more, colder. We
Sat in a row with other couples entering the restaurant. Somehow Maria remembered the name of each of us and she led each one in the right and correct seating place.

Well, Becky and I were seating in front of each other, at the end of the table with other couples and
we started to talk about the environment. In a second, Maria was very close to our table asking for beverages. A few minutes later she came with a cart serving beverages to each of us. I knew it was a cart because I touch it. I didn't know how to drink, and I didn't even know if it was the beverage I ordered because my mind used to see the color and the recognize the beverage.

We spoke with the guys next to us and the only way you can identify them is by their voice. You don't know their appearance and in this city the guy could sound as a woman, but its a man...you know.
In this case he wasn't.

The dinner continued, the conversation with my girlfriend was very good and deep. When the first plate came I just didn't have any idea how to start to eat. Sincerely, the knife wasn't useful, only the fork and the left hand I used. I didn't have idea what I was eating; I tried to identify the flavors. The experience inside the place was simply amazing. Maria moved from one side to the other side of the table in a second, she was there for you. It was the first restaurant I went to where they called me by my name and the first one I was truly having dinner with Becky without thinking in my phone and emails. I was really with her eating and hearing her voice. You don't even know what time is it, but you don't have to care about the time because you are with the person you want to be with. That dinner was a discovery path.

When we were done with the food we decided to stay and have some wine at the bar just outside the dark room. Its just that your not in love with someone because of the way she looks, you use the other senses. Then, we went out of the dark room with Marias help and we talked with other waiters. One of them named Collin. He told us a little bit about his life, how he lost his sight, and what he was working on before working in the restaurant. Collin told us that sometimes as a pedestrian before crossing a street he stands next to the traffic light listening waiting for the beep that tells him to cross. Well, a person comes to help him cross and the person helps him, whether he needs the help or not because its the same path he does everyday he lets other people help him so they can feel that they did a good thing. Collin also likes the fact people go to the restaurant and a that a blind person helps them, so we feel what he lives everyday. Instead of him "needing" our help, its us that need his inside Dans le Noir. Collin is very happy in his life and has developed other skills that someone else might not have.

For me its admirable to see people like Maria and Collin continuing and having fun with their lives. If you step in NYC and you are with someone speacial for you, you mother, father, a close friend, your girlfriend, or a friend you haven't seen for a while I'd recommend you to go to Dans le Noir 
Restaurant.

TEDxUChicago,

El pasado 29 de Abril fue el evento de TEDx en la Universidad de Chicago. Fue muy bien organizado y trajeron muy buenos ponentes entre ellos y al que va dedicado esta nota es Gary Erickson.

Todos tenían temas muy interesantes que en verdad me dejaron impactados saber que existe gente investigando eso, como por ejemplo Karim Nader que invento una medicina que hace olvidar ciertos momentos "dolorosos" en la vida  o Aubrey de Grey que estudia la manera en como envejecer a travéz de los años. Grey mostro una cifras que medajaron impactado, sab[ias que 150mil personas mueren al día?Personalmente, no pense que existía gente investigando eso pero espero que logren llegar a sus objetivos. También estuvo Rachel Lloyd una persona que lucha con el tráfico de seres humanos, nos conto que el problema ese occurre en Estados Unidos, el lugar que supuestamente no debe ocurrir y ella fue más allá... ella fue años atrás parte de esas miles de mujeres que son compradas y vendidad. Pro otro lado, Mohamed El Dahshan nos conto de la opresión existente en las mujeres de la comunidad árabe, cosa que se ve mucho en las redes sociales, pero yo en particular no sabía de líderes que luchen pora erradicar ellos. Bueno, Mohamed nos contó de tres mujeres que hacen manifestaciones y han agarrado poder, ellas son: Samira Ibrahim, Tawakku Karman y Zinab Al-Khawaja, los invito a seguir a estas tres líderes en su causa.

Gary Erickson, CEO of Clif Bar & Company

 Después de la larga jornada que tuvimos, algunos tuvimos la     oportundad de saludar y conversar con los ponentes. Yo, me dirijí al que más me llamo la atención y como mencione al princio, Gary Erickson es el creador, fundador y CEO de las barras energéticas CLIF. Durante su charla hablo que su pasión es el ciclismo, que siempre lo hacía y disfrutaba con sus amigos. De los 18minutos que tenía para hablar, aproximadamente 7 los dedico a hablar de su pasión, el ciclismo. Nos cuenta que un día común y corriente mientras estaba en uno de sus viajes comio una barra energética y el le comento a sus compañeros "yo puedo hacer una mejor". El señor Erickson hizo incapié en que muchos tienen buenas ideas y buenas ganas de hacer las cosas pero muy pocos lo logran. Luego de ese viaje de ciclismo llego a su casa, y diseño una barra energñetica. Un amigo le hizo el diseño, su madre preparo la receta y cocino y salieron a vender a la calle. De un año al otro la empresa CLIF se apreció muchísimo generando millones de Dolares en ganancias, fue un salto de como aproximadamente 40 milliones de Dolares al paso de los años. Habló tambien de los sabores que ofrecía CLIF, pero lo más importante (dice él) es el plan de negocio para ayudar a comunidades. Erickson dice "ahora que soy millonario, quiero hacer el bien y ayudar a los demás". CLIF Bars, como empresa ayuda en su como el 50% a comunidades con proyectos sociales, cosa que mucha de las empresas no hace o aparenta hacer. También Erickson dice que haciendo el bien es que el bien le regresa y al parecer el verdad. Como a mitad del camino de la compañia ya creada, una empresa multinacional de alimentos le ofreció 100 millones de Dolares para compar la empresa. Fue una desición difícil de tomar, pero Gary Erickson decidó continuar con lo que ya había creado, cosas que también muchos no hacen.

 Me and Mr. Erikson on the right

Bueno, con respecto a mi conversación con él le conte más o menos de quien soy, de los proyectos en que etsoy trabajando en especial mi projecto social. Erickson me contó de lo difícil que fue para él al principio hacer como tal la empresa, construir CLIF Bars. Me cuenta que todo proyecto, al principio es muy difícil por que no esta hecho nada, todo hay que crearlo. Si creo en algo que luche por ello y que eventualemnte pasará. El así con tono sonriendo me dice "mira Daniel, cuendo empece ya existían barras nutritivas, ya yo tenía competencia.. pero yo quería ser la mejor, la más nutritiva". Que personaje tan visionario y con tanta seguridad en sí mismo.


Mr. Erickson, it was a pleasure to meet you! I trully believe that you are an example that we, the young generation, should follow. CLIF Bars Social Responsibility is an example for other companies and organizations. Your humble way to direct a large company, and hoe you follow your passions impacted me. I hope to see you again, and show you better results in the Non-Profit project I'm running.

Thank you,

Disfruten, opinen y aprendamos de las experiencias y conocimientos de los demás.

More information in English, click HERE

15th World Business Dialogue

15th World Business Dialogue.
My experience,

During March 14^th - 15^th, 2012 I had the opportunity to participate in the 15th WBD through the University of Cologne in Germany. There were 300 students from more than 60 different countries with different ideas and points of view. The main topic of the conference was Global Consumption. I want to congratulate all students that made the event possible and as efficient as they could make it be. Thanks also to the speakers for taking the time from their busy schedule to come and express their knowledge. Between them: Suhas Gopinath, CEO of Globals Inc, Fernando Burgos, Vice President New Business and Innovation of Telefonica Germany Gmbh, Dr. Rudiger Grube, CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, Ferdinando Becalli-Falco, CEO General Electric Europa and North Asia, Michael Schmidt, Member of the Executive Board and Vice President HR Europe SE of BP Europe SE, Prof. Kenneth P. Morse, Founder of MIT Entrepreneurship Center, Bernhard Mattes, Vice President Ford Costumer Service Division of Ford Europe, Yasunori Nakagami, President of Asuka Corporate Advisory, Dr. Robert Gutsche, Member of the Executive Board of KPMG AG, Dr. Auma Obama, Global Technical Advisor of CARE International, Bernd Kolb, Founder of Club Marakkesh, Valentin Thurn, Director of “Taste the Waste”, Dr. Richard Pott, Member of Executive Board of Bayer AG, and more.

Dr. Auma Obama, me, and Nelson Young

Population is increasing as well as its needs. When consumption increases bilaterally the pollution also increases damaging our Earth. A change has to occur immediately. But, who is responsible for it? States? Companies? Individuals? Moreover who is the one who will make the change happen? Well, there is no point to make someone responsible for it, the damage is already done. However, we (individuals) are the ones responsible to make that change happen. I will explain that point with a specific experience I had at the WBD.

David Akinin, yo, and Leon Franco Venezuela

In one of the panels the speakers were explaining how transparent companies should have a mission statement and consumption. I had the opportunity to ask a question in the session (something that was hard considering how many delegates raised their hands). I brought to the session an example of Nike.  Nike hires kids in China to work in their manufacturers with bad conditions, and at the same time the corporation is spending huge amounts of money to preserve Patagonia. So where is the transparency there? The panelists started to discuss, trying to find an answer for it. But, one of them concluded that if I am concerned about it I should not buy Nike products anymore. So I as an individual will be the change maker. Moreover I will tell everyone around me what’s going on with Nike and convince them to stop buying that brand of shoes.  When Nike sees a significant decrease in their accounts they consequently will change their business model.

I want to highlight that because of my professor Dr. Fredrik Palumbo who teaches Global Business Environment in SYMS School of Business at Yeshiva University, he is the reason that I knew about that specific case.  In class we used a book called Taking Sides it discusses current business issues that are globally occurring; one of the discussions was Nike’s business model and policy.

Coming back to who will make the change in order to pursue a better world, the answer is individuals with the paper of consumers, in other words, us. If you are truly concerned that extraction of oil and secondary oil products processes such as plastic products are damaging the Earth, so try to use less and less. Use public transportation, carpools, recycle, turn off the lights when you don’t use them and don’t use plastic utensils.  Us individuals have the power to change companies’ business models. For example, the multinational oil extractor BP is investing in alternative energies because the consumers are demanding it step by step, and they want to be prepared for the change.  Others claim to use more efficient energy sources.

Me with Bernhard Mattes, Vice President Ford

Another topic that came to highlight was a video that shows the exactly amount of food wasted in the US that could feed Africa. Think about it, how much food is innocently wasted in your life, including that half pack of sugar that you didn’t put in the coffee or the middle part of the apple that you don’t eat, or the crust of a pizza that people usually leave. How many people could you feed?  Also, think about how many carrots where discarded because they grew with extra legs. All the carrots that you find in the supermarkets are the same each other, because there is a percentage that wasn’t the same and therefore wasn’t qualified to be in the racks. Here is the link of the video: http://www.tastethewaste.com/info/film

Other topic of discussion was the incredible fast growth of India. One of the Indian inventions that impacts me is a small fridge that uses I think batteries, easy to transport, and very cheap (less than US$ 2). Since a significant amount of the Indian population doesn’t have economic sources, that fridge is maybe the only way that people could preserve their food. India’s economy is growing more and more. Multinational companies are investing there expecting consumption to grow.

As you see, we had excellent panelists and discussions.  I encourage you to apply next year and be part of that enrichment experience.  WBD is a place to change concerns, ideas, network… dialogue.

Articles related:
Spanish: http://www.nmidigital.com/secciones.php?id=3&top_id=11503&s=10
English: http://blogs.yu.edu/news/2012/04/24/a-global-network/

Que bonito es soñar! mas aun intentar…

Que significa desarrollar?

Desde pequeños siempre tenemos proyectos y metas a llegar. Hay unos que luchan por ellas e intentan y otros rechazan desde el principio por que lo ven como algo imposible. Desde querer ser el mejor jugador de fútbol del equipo hasta recolectar todas las barijas para llenar el álbum.  Son metas que uno tiene.

Otros luchan sin saber cual es la meta, pero luchan y otros saben la meta pero no saben como llegar a ella.  Hoy me siento a reflexionar (ya que el Internet se fue) y veo fotos de tantos proyectos que intente hacer años atrás. Unos han tenido mas éxito que otros, otras han sido un total fracaso y bueno, otros son grandes ideas pero por falta de experiencia no salen, hay unos que son muy futurístico y la sociedad no esta esperando eso.  Lo que si es verdad, todos han salido de conversaciones entre amigos y al mismo tiempo, todos han salido con la intención de hacer y de intentar. Como un buen venezolano dice, “vamo a ve ques lo que e”, en su traducción significa vamos a probar de que esta hecha esa idea.

Existen miles de teorías de desarrollo de ideas, hay incluso libros que hablan de procedimientos y pasos a seguir. Unos dicen primero consigue un problema y consíguele la solución, otros dicen agarra algo existente y mejóralo y otros como Apple dicen crea la necesidad de.  Todos son validos, todos pueden ser el primer paso.

Para mi desarrollar significa evaluar, preguntar, investigar, volver a evaluar, volver a preguntar, seguir investigando y en ese ciclo añadir poco a poco otros verbos como consultar, intentar (en pequeña escala), invertir, etc. 

Desarrollar para mi es llevar al escrito esa idea y poder hacer entender al otro sobre tu idea mediante un papel. Hablar, todos sabemos hablar, pero en escrito… ya el primer paso esta hecho, significa que hubo una previa (no importa si grande o pequeña) evaluación.

Yo invito a todos los que lean esto a que sean mas observadores el día a día e intentar! Perder, es en la mayoría de los casos, es el mayor aprendizaje.

Acá les dejo un par de logos que encuentro en mi computadora de intentos míos personales, de cosas que creía imposible… pero intente!