Michael S. Robinson's Blog, page 4
June 29, 2013
Dr. Ben Carson Prescribes Balm For America’s Ails
Long before Cuba Gooding, Jr. brought the story of Dr. Ben Carson’s gifted hands and mind to the silver screen, the famed MD inspired the masses with his unfaltering determination to improve the health and lives of his patients despite the odds.
As the first surgeon to separate crainopagus conjoined twins, CNN and TIME Magazine named him one of our country’s top physicians.
Mrs. Sonya Carson, Dr. Carson and wife Candy
So tune in as Dr. Carson delivers his prognosis on the health of America One Hundred Pennies at noon ET this Sunday, June 30, 2013. Listen live to AM970 or at www.am970theanswer.com.
Filed under: Business Savvy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Economy, Job Market, Michael S Robinson, minority-owned business, overregulation, The American Dream, world news
June 28, 2013
D is For Diva & Dionne
The second most charted female artist of all time, Ms. Dionne Warwick is the embodiment of an American Dream.
She’s evolved from backup singer to five-time Grammy Award winner, US Ambassador of Health to Honorary Doctor of Music.
And as she celebrates 50 years in the music biz this year, she joins One Hundred Pennies to talk new tours and Dionne, NOW. Listen live on the radio at AM970 or on the web at http://www.am970theanswer.com at noon ET on Sunday, June 30, 2013!
[Photos 1 & 3 courtesy of Dionne Warwick, 2]
Filed under: Audio, Business Savvy, marketing, Media, News & Articles, Photos, The American Dream, women-owned business
June 27, 2013
Capitalizing on the American Dream
In a public speech this month, Michelle Obama conceded that the American Dream “is no longer within reach for too many families in our country.” Everyday our ability to pursue life, liberty and happiness is threatened by inept policies and selfish agendas. For many, the 49.4% increase in the distribution of food stamps over the last four years serves as glaring red flag that the collective dream is becoming more and more elusive for America’s have not’s. For too long, politicians– and even some of our neighbors– have put their pockets before “we the people.”
Nonetheless, current events– however too erratic– like the passing of DOMA, suggest that days of civil freedom and widespread success could soon crest the horizon. Consider these credos in order to take one step closer to the Dream:
Lose the victim mindset.
No one has ever succeeded by continuously asking, “Why me.” Instead, you must take control of your circumstance and explore the best avenues by which you can reach your goals.
Support American small businesses & innovations. We Americans enjoy a quality of life that far supersedes the lifestyles of people in other nations. We were able to achieve this by way of our useful inventions and successes in domestic manufacturing
Seek to inspire others. Nothing kills creativity and innovation like useless criticism. In order for our country to be great, we each must make it a priority to help uplift and encourage each other.
Invest in education. Unfortunately, the idea that only a four year degree will lead to success has almost become conventional wisdom recently. However, in our ever-growing and ever-changing society, we must also seek to educate ourselves informally in order to be able to compete in this diverse global market.
And of course, tune in to One Hundred Pennies on AM970 The Answer.
This Sunday at noon ET, I will be talking and taking your questions about the American Dream, small business and healthcare with Dr. Ben Carson. Not to mention, Dionne Warwick will guest star to share all about her inspiration, longevity and experience with the dream! Join the conversation by calling 866-970-9622 during the show.
Filed under: Business Savvy, The American Dream
June 14, 2013
The NSA: Who, What & some ‘WHY’ questions you should be asking!
Formed on November 4, 1952 the NSA was former President Harry Truman’s answer to the information issues faced by the Defense Department during the Cold War.
MISSION:
The Information Assurance mission confronts the formidable challenge of preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information. The Signals Intelligence mission collects, processes, and disseminates intelligence information from foreign signals for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes and to support military operations. This Agency also enables Network Warfare operations to defeat terrorists and their organizations at home and abroad , consistent with U.S. laws and the protection of privacy and civil liberties.
WHO:
Since it’s inception in 1952, the NSA has grown enormously. From 7,600 employees to now more than 30,000 employees working at their headquarters in Fort Meade, MD., in four national Cryptologic Centers and at sites throughout the world.
WHAT (is the NSA doing exactly?):
The NSA is collecting metadata, not listening to your voice calls or reading your text messages. Given the gross amount of phone calls and texts made everyday, attempting to do so would be like one person trying to hear the conversations of everyone in Madison Square Garden at the same time. Not possible – but do not take security in this.
What is ‘metadata’ exactly and how is it collected?
“Metadata essentially is data about data.”, says Robert Knudsen, an analyst for Global Digital Forensics. The NSA uses a clandestine system called PRISM to ‘data mine.” It is a computer system used by the United States government in the collection of foreign intelligence information from internet service companies, as authorized by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) (50 U.S.C. § 1881a).
Ex: If you take a photo on your cell phone, it’s made up of data called “pixels” — the metadata would be the time, place and date that photo was taken.
WHY (a few questions we should be asking all parties involved):
Why is my service provider keeping record of my metadata in the first place?
>>> Remember: the NSA is tracking the metadata that is and always was being tracked by your service providers from day one.
Why is the NSA keeping record of all call detail records or metadata “between the United States and abroad” — including local telephone calls?
>>> Remember: the NSA mission statement (above) states that they are in the business of: “preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information“
Why is there very little regulation on “terms of service agreements” we all have to agree to in order use our devices?
WHY IS MY PRIVACY BEING INVADED BY THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT IT?
Filed under: News & Articles
Trouble In (Business) Paradise?
A sea of makeshift tents and homemade signage pepper the tree-lined park nestled in this sprawling metropolis. At times, the scene resembles a rock-and-roll concert, except this crowd is protesting an oppressive bureaucracy and overblown police response to their demonstration. All around the world, the media buzzes with updates on these occupiers. They are not located in New York’s Zuccotti Park– or even in America at all. No, this disgruntled group of roughly 5,000 demonstrates in Turkey– one of today’s hottest emerging markets.
In my book One Hundred Pennies, I identified the need for small businesses to be more adroit at capitalizing on new global markets. And in the midst of the current rallies in Istanbul, it becomes even more important for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the complexities of breaking into these new territories. Note the following basic tips on crossing the ocean in pursuit of business opportunities:
(1) Know the key players. China and India have long been touted as the emerging markets to watch. But there are several new kids on the block, and they’ve brought their spending dollars to play. (See tip #5 for more.)
(2) Become a culture curator. Ameliorating your business to people in foreign nations can be tricky business in itself. You must learn to adapt an appreciation of the differences between your neighbors and the consumers you wish to woo. (See tip #5 for more.)
(3) Root out your resources. While for some the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidized national loans remain the easiest option for doing business in new markets, there are far more efficient ways to carry your company overseas. (See tip #5 for more.)
(4) Decipher the setbacks. I’ve mentioned the importance of preparing properly for your personal and professional affairs on the show before, and it’s worth mentioning here again. There are legal hurdles that you may have to surmount in order to break into the burgeoning emerging markets. Know what they are before you venture out. (See tip #5 for more.)
(5) Listen to One Hundred Pennies on AM970 The Answer this Sunday at noon ET. I’ll be discussing each of these topics in depth and answering your questions about business and entrepreneurship with America’s leading small business expert Steve Strauss and author/Wharton Business School Professor, Dr. Mauro Guillen.
So, join the discussion about the globe’s burgeoning new markets. Call 866-970-9622 during the show with questions and reach out to me on Twitter and Facebook today.
Filed under: News & Articles
June 9, 2013
Meet The Masters of Finding A Hook
It used to be that the fashion-savvy and elite would have to jet to Milan to get their hands on the up-to-the-minute trends. Many moons ago, a company would be thrilled to have grown so large that it had to contract drab, boxy office spaces with rows of stuffy cubicles. But it’s 2013, and the game has changed. Meet the new face of small business and entrepreneurship (chat with them live at noon ET on One Hundred Pennies this Sunday):
Rameet Chawla
Capitalizing on Apple’s introduction to the App Store in 2008, Rameet Chawla founded Fueled, a cutting edge mobile app creation and development firm, in New York City in 2009. Three years later, he opened the Fueled Collective– a boutique, open concept office space aimed at inspiring creativity and collaboration between its tenants.
Amber Gordon
After years of styling and editing fashion spreads and content for artists like Gwen Stefani and magazines like British GQ, Amber Gordon struck out on her own. She founded Imagine Fashion – a high-end fashion e-Commerce site where people can purchase the latest collections by the world’s most revered designers instantly from anywhere in 2009.
Mallory Blair & Bianca Campuued
Standing just barely over 5 feet tall, Mallory Blair and Bianca Caampued founded Small Girls PR in 2010. Today, their buzz worthy business employs social media strategy, influencer partnerships, online stunts & press-worthy events with digital tie-ins to craft meaningful two-way dialogues between SGPR clients and their consumers. They have even earned features in Forbes and GLAMOUR.
Ray Chew
Ray Chew, Music Director of American Idol, started his professional music career touring with friend of One Hundred Pennies and R&B legend, Melba Moore, when he was just 16. Chew has been featured on over 100 gold and platinum records and even was even acknowledged in Alicia Keys’ 2005 Grammy speech.
Filed under: News & Articles
June 7, 2013
Cronuts are the new Donuts : NYC’s Latest Food Craze
Just when I thought I had seen, heard, and tasted it all — the half donut half croissant hybrid, the Cronut arrives. The internet has been going mad today over the Cronut itself, the price of the Cronut, fraudulent Cronuts and even Cronut scalpers.
Say “Cronut” 4 times fast…
The delicious pastry, concocted in the mind of pastry chef Dominique Ansel, owner of New York City’s Dominique Ansel Bakery helped Ansel receive a spot in the “Top 10 Pastry Chefs in the USA” by Dessert Professional Magazine.
While Ansel describes the taste of a Cronut as something close to that of a “crepe cake” her customers and enthusiasts say it’s something closer to a cruller.
But why so special? What’s goes into all those layers?
+ Tahitian vanilla-flavored
ganache
+ crystallized sugar
+ rose glaze
Currently, NYC is the only place where the treat can be found and they are priced at 5 bucks each. For a single pastry, the price may seem a bit exorbitant, but if the line that you will run into on any given morning that stretches around the block of the Dominique Ansel Bakery is any indication to it’s taste — I’d have to think it’s worth the money.
Dominique Ansel Bakery
189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
8:00 am–7:00 pm
(212) 219-2773
all images via google image search.
Filed under: News & Articles
June 6, 2013
Shoup Voting Machine To Make An Encore In September Primaries
Despite the New York Times’ 2010 announcement that the Big Apple would no longer use the antiquated Shoup Voting Machines for future balloting, the city’s current elections board is asking for special permission to use the half-century-old clunkers in this year’s September primaries.
Direct your attention to the graphic below for just a moment…
Look familiar? For many of us who live in NYC, it is the only system we know. The same NYT article notes that many of the inhabitants of this great place that I call home are “nostalgic” about this lever system, invented in 1905. But let’s face facts. The system is highly flawed.
These machines have been known to break down and cause extraordinarily long wait times during elections. And because there is no way of backing up or double checking the votes that were cast, thousands of votes can go unaccounted for should a glitch in the system go undetected before the polls close.
According to yesterday’s follow up article, “This is happening because New York City officials can’t figure out how to use newfangled machines with paper ballots and scanners — a system used with success across the country.”
But can the city ranked third on Mashable‘s list of best places to start a tech company really use this as an excuse for using the same inaccurate voting machines it used in the 1950s?
More importantly, what’s your take on the matter?
Filed under: News & Articles
June 4, 2013
Get Your Goods Without the Guilt
These days it’s hard to pick up a paper or turn on the news without being reminded of the tragic collapse at the Rana Plaza factory building in Bangladesh this April. Such atrocities- endured by thousands of underpaid and abused laborers worldwide- are reported so often that for many, the stories of the inhumane working conditions in international, U.S.-endorsed factories is old hat. However, for the rest of us, heartrending events such as the these are cause to sit back and consider how we can help them from happening again.
In my book, One Hundred Pennies, I speak about the importance of supporting sustainable and American-made products with our hard earned monies. It is our duty as citizens of the world to ensure that our neighbors are treated fairly.
Here are 5 ways to do your part and get your goods guilt free:
Judge Your Goods By Their Cover. Look for clothes and food products marked with certified “Fair Trade” labels.
Research Your Retailers. Mega-brands like Wal-mart and Disney are notorious for employing sweatshops to manufacture their goods. If you can, research your favorite brands to see what their labor practices are before making your purchases.
Buy Less. Sales and profits drive the companies that utilize harmful labor and environmental practices. In general, the less you buy from them the less you’ll be contributing to their bottom line.
Buy Used. Consignment stores often offer items from the same brands that use deleterious manufacturing procedures. However, shopping thrift keeps your consumer dollars from going to the unfair businesses who make the products.
Sew & Grow. This step requires a bit more time and dedication than some of the others. However, by learning to make your own clothing and grow your own foods, you can make certain you know exactly where your goods come from.
Filed under: Corporate Social Responsibility, Economy, Events, job creation, Job Market, marketing, Michael S Robinson, Misc., News, News & Articles, Outsourcing, reinvest, research, small business, Strategic Planning, target market, technology, world news 
June 1, 2013
Regulation and Inspiration With Nan and Eliane
On this weeks One Hundred Pennies I am very honored to have Nan Hayworth, (pictured above) former Congresswoman for the 19th District of New York. Nan is not only the entrepreneur, who started her own private ophthalmology practice over twenty years ago, but she was also the first female physician to be elected to Congress.
Also joining us this week will be Brazilian singing sensation Eliane Elias. Child prodigy and already a living legend, Eliane has been nominated for Grammy’s several times over and received a “Best Fall Release” nod from Time Magazine for Shades of Jade.
Filed under: News & Articles 
