Fwd: I want to share this important list with you.

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	I want to share this important list with you.
Date:	Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:23:39 -0500
From:	Andy Jenkins & Mike Filsaime <training@marketinggenesis.com>
Reply-To:	training@marketinggenesis.com
To:	Steve <stevescott@techacq.com>

At the end of the year, Mike and I asked everyone in our organization to create a list called "What I want for Marketing Genesis in 2015".   Well, here's mine…   A couple of things before you dig in…   1 - This is NOT a TO DO LIST   It's a list of OUTCOMES that I want.  One of the biggest bits of productivity advice that I can give you is to always FIRST articulate the OUTCOME you want, then you can figure out the path to get there.   2 - There is no order of PRIORITY   Because imposing some sort of arbitrary priority system would make this about NEEDS - not wants.  Entrepreneurs should learn to trust that what they want may be the single biggest motivator that gets things done.  So, you need to create a list like this WITHOUT censoring yourself by favoring a priority.   3 - Keep it about your Business   Because I already know what I want for my life. My business is designed to support my life goals - and to do that, I want my business to do certain things to grow.  And this list is what I think it should do.   4 - Minor Note:  This is uncensored. So, don't judge me (Or any typos or spelling errors).  :-)   Here's the list:   I want a killer blog. This blog would have paths to the top of all of our product funnels. This blog would have blog posts of the big, honking emails that I write when I get crazy. This blog would be a place where our YouTube Videos could live. The blog would have articles from anyone in our company that wanted to contribute. It would also have guest articles. It would look clean and sexy, and be the hub that leads to any other communities we have on the web It would look LEGIT - if another company found it, there would be no question as to its professionalism and style - and it would convey that our company is bigger than it actually is. I want it to be easy for staff to use, so it's easy for staff (And me) to post.   I want a New YouTube Channel. I want an outlet for Mike and I to be brilliant together. I want to answer questions from our audience as the main source of content I want it to be slick, funny, and look and sound a cut above. I also want the videos to be sort of home-spun - like, mike and I are at our desks, and we're answering questions because we know that it keeps us sharp. I want there to be rules so the people watching know that there's a structure and can count on the information we give. For example (Just Brainstorming) - we have to give an answer which will create awesome results, plus an answer that will create bad results. I want every Video to have a short commercial at the end that directs them to our other content, and has annotations to our other videos I want it to have a killer name that breaks the mold of most marketers channels I want to have the channel start off with 5-10 videos already done. I want the questions to be a mix of tactics, strategy, lifestyle, and personal development and challenges. I want it to have some current events.   I want to be able to have an idea and publish that idea as content and be able to turn it around FAST. If Mike or I have a cool conversation on Skype, I want to be able to have a format that turns that into content and gets it in front of our audience. I want there to be branded templates or stock advertising to bumper the content - i.e. there is ALWAYS a call to action.   I want to create SHORTER CONTENT, and More of it.   I want a Sales Letter or Video Sales Letter for Every Product that we have Everything we've ever made should have a SL or VSL and an add to cart button. I want the V/SL to be pretty - styled nicely (Like Roma has already done). I want to be proud of how we sell.  That means providing real reasons that our products are useful. I want our passion to help to come across in the writing and video. I want links from every one of our web properties (Facebook Fan Page, Pinterest, Linkedin, Twitter, the Blog, YouTube) to go to a page that contains all of our products I want there to be an email template that has had links to all of our products in the footer. I want there to be a unique but consistent style to our pages and videos. I want the beginning of all of the V/SL's to feel like great information before they start selling the product I want to be able to create these things VERY FAST.   I want a common structure to all of our Products To streamline Product Creation, each product should contain: How to Do it - Teach them the concept - this is "Classroom". How it Looks when it's done right - show examples of success.  this is "The Lab". "Done For You" Steal Our Best Performing Examples - our stuff, but created to be used as a "Fill In The Blank" resource.   Gotchas - Here's what NOT to DO.   I want all of our products to have "Done For You" components I want there to be cheat-sheets I want there to be templates, like Video Sales Letter Template Sales Letter Template Email Follow Up Series Template Product Launch Template Funnel Template Squeeze Page Template Social Media Posting Template I want part of the product to include "How to Use This Template" instruction   I want all of our products to Reverse Engineer Successful Examples Just like we made "Behind the Scenes" for Video Genesis.   I want to do more Webinars I want a pre-made template of a Webinar Funnel made that can be published fast I want to have a format for creating Indoctrination Videos so we can pump them out. I want to be able to evergreen all of the webinars we do.   I want to spend more time with Other Marketers I want to have more mind share I want to do more collaboration I want to create REAL Joint Ventures I want to hear and see new ideas, and new executions   I want a to be FAR more efficient with my time. I want to know how much my time is worth I want to work without burnout I want clearer goals, and more celebration when I hit them I want to find out the times when i am most productive I want to give myself permission to idle, but let my brain work   I want to have an outlet for non-mission specific content If I write or create content about something that's not purely internet marketing, i want to have an outlet for it. i.e.  This exercise, what I am writing, it should be posted somewhere so other people can get some value from it.   (Note from Andy: That last bullet is pretty ironic, isn't it?  :)   I want to schedule everything I want to know exactly what we should be working on I want to know when it needs to be done I want to be undistracted by interruptions, but still manage the reason and need for the interruption I want to be able to adjust activity and output to fulfill the schedule. I only want to miss a schedule because of a bona fide reason - not scope creep, or wishy-washy goals.   I want DATA I want the raw data from anything that moves the needle. I want traditional metrics I want demographic metrics I want feedback (Material, Anecdotal, and Measured) on what we produce.   I want to do Kartra (AKA Deal Guardian Enterprise) RIGHT. I want massive Customer Support in place for the launch "Kartra.com" I want a slow roll out of Kartra to facilitate bug fixing and feature adjustment I want systems hardening tests on Karta to insure data is secure. I want a beta of Kartra before the launch   I want a Project Manager I want someone to create the TODO lists from previously successful projects I want the PM to be responsible for task assignment. I want the PM to facilitate progress I want the PM to deal with resource management I want the PM to report on Progress I want the PM to anticipate needs, and future projects I want to attach meaningful metrics to tasks, and estimates to timelines.   I want a Content Producer or Hit List I want someone that spots content creation ideas I want to have a list of content that begs to be created   I want a Testimonial Gatherer I want someone who actively seeks out testimonials and case-studies I want that goodwill to be constantly dripped out to our public facing sites   I want staff to be inspired I want them to feel taken-care of I want them to feel empowered I want them to have a stake and benefit when times are good I want them to offer sacrifice when times get lean I want them to be proud. I want them to seek innovation   I want an ever growing Library of Video Creation Resources I want to capture meems, hot moments in videos, and cultural moments (Like we did in the last episode of Genesis Labs) and have them ready to sprinkle into our videos. I want lots of musical stingers and sound effects. I want mini-commercials and calls to action at the end of every segment - free or paid   I want to step up the Studio Production even more I want to re-start using a digital whiteboard, or do more on-screen drawing so we don't have to always have content pre-created. I want to put more design into the stage, more set decoration I want a sub-stage for more conversational content I want a robotic camera or jib for some cool shots I want to experiment with Green-Screen and Virtual Sets I want more dial-in guests for GL episodes I want less depth of field on the single cameras   I want to do another Video Genesis Style Launch Off the Hook Funny as Hell Amazing Production Values "No one else can do this in a Product Launch" Gimmicks Lots of Internet and Mainstream Celebrity and Interviews Massive JV support Time to create an awesome soundtrack An Amazing Offer An aspect of the Launch that has not been done before.   I want to have a killer Mastermind Group Built over time, i want this group to be less than 20 people. I want it to be about real-execution. I want it to be about leverage - spotting ideas and power thats already in a business and multiplying it I want it to extend into Lifestyle and exit planning and retirement I want guest presenters to be Financial managers, Turnaround Speakers, and Growth Hackers   I want a POD CAST I want it to be "Guest" and "Interview" driven - 3 out of 4 episodes feature a specific topic I want it to be highly structured. I want that structure to include lifestyle, humor, passion, story, and core questions I want it to be controversial I want the controversy to be the tip of the spear for the marketing message I want it to be 50% contrarian.  Not just thinking outside of the box, but creating a new box. I want it to have slick production value I want it to be sonically themed - new music, sound-board loops - i.e. a show where we use an Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboard to drive some of the content. I want it there to be Theme Shows - congruent with current events, historical moments, etc.   ----END LIST   Yep - that's a whole lotta stuff.   And so far as I am concerned, it's gonna take 2 things to get it done:   1 - Patience. 2 - Productivity.   Advice:  Make your own list.  Just do it.  Dump your brain - because it might currently be so full, that you need to make a little room in there so you can start being awesome.   And share that list with people.  Help them to help you keep accountable to what you want....   What.You.Want.   XOXO,   Mike and Andy   P.S. Here's a shocking secret:   In our humble opinion, Eben Pagan is the SINGLE most productive Entrepreneur in the market.   The vast majority of our productivity systems come from studying his stuff.   Either before or after you do your "What You Want" exercise, review his advice on Productivity over at his site.  Bookmark it, too.               Marketing Genesis LLC 7660 Fay Ave. #H184 La Jolla, CA 92037

You're receiving this newsletter because this email address was submitted to an opt-in form on one of our websites. When you no longer wish to hear from us, we'll be sad, but we'll always welcome you back when you're ready to work on your business again.  Just Click Here to Unsubscribe. ~Andy Jenkins & Mike Filsaime. Please read our Affiliate Disclaimer: From time to time, we will promote, endorse, or suggest products and/or services for sale that are not our own. Our recommendation is ALWAYS based on our personal belief that the product and it's author will provide excellent and valuable information or service. This may be based on a review of that product, our personal or professional relationship with that person or company, and/or a previous positive experience with the person or company who's product we are recommending. In most cases, we will be compensated via a commission if you decide to purchase that product based on our recommendation. In some cases, we will receive the product for free for review purposes, or just to use. In some cases, we have used that product to our personal satisfaction in our own businesses. IMPORTANT: Always Always ALWAYS do your OWN due-diligence before making any purchases, whether we recommend them or not. Never, EVER purchase anything that you cannot afford. Avoid purchasing products that do not have a clearly stated Guarantee, or that promise ridiculous results, like "Getting Rich Quick". Most people don't do anything with the products they buy, and most of the time, their results are zero - kind of like that Bowflex that I bought that is now serving as a clothing rack... No, there is no such thing as a "Free Lunch". Don't do drugs, stay in school, etc. Be safe out there!

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Marketing Genesis , 7660 Fay Ave Ste H184, La Jolla CA, 92037

What's,Ahead for Business in 2015

1/5/2015 From Drug Prices to Drones, What's Ahead for Business in 2015- WSJ
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/from-d rug-prices-to-cl rones-whats-ah ead-for-business-in-2015-14204146 79
BUSINESS
From Drug Prices to Drones, What's
Ahead for Business in 2015
Taking a Look at the Economic and Regulatory Factors Shaping Industry
Jan. 4, 2015 6:38 p.m. ET
ANTHONY FREDA
The old way of doing business is out after a year of big change for many companies. And
2015 promises to deliver more tests and opportunities for established industries andfastgrowing
sectors alike. Part one of two on business in the new year.
Manufacturers Walk Economic Tightrope
For U.S. manufacturers trying to sell their goods abroad, the new year might not be any
easier.
An already enormous U.S. trade deficit in manufactured goods grew even larger in 2014.
For the year's first 10 months, the gap swelled to $606 billion from $540 billion a year
earlier, largely due to weak demand in Europe and in Latin America, two of the main
markets for U.S. goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. imported increasing amounts of
merchandise, from flat-screen televisions to steel pipes, from China.
A stronger dollar made U.S. products more expensive overseas and imports cheaper.
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In 2015, demand for U.S. goods should be slightly stronger from Europe, Japan and
Latin America, predicts Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist at the MAPI Foundation, a
research group. He also expects the U.S. economy to grow at a faster pace than those of
other advanced economies. That growth, and a strong dollar, will pull in imports.
U.S. exports are strong in some areas, including civilian aircraft, such as Boeing Co.
airliners; industrial machinery, especially for semiconductor plants; and turbines and
engines used for such things as natural-gas transmission and electric-power
generation. Weak areas include electrical lighting and steel products.
Imports of products from iron and steel mills in the first 10 months of 2014 surged 41 %
from a year earlier. China and other countries with excess steel capacity flooded the
U.S. market.
Lower gasoline prices are allowing Americans to spend more on other things. To the
extent they buy cars, trucks and food, that will help U.S. manufacturers.
If they buy clothing, electronics, furniture and other household items, most of the
benefit is likely to flow overseas. At the same time, lower petroleum prices are likely to
hurt sales for U.S. makers of oil-exploration equipment.
One good sign: Investment in manufacturing plants is on the rise. Dodge Data &
Analytics estimates that construction started on 65.1 million square feet of
manufacturing space in the first 11 months of 2014, easily outstripping the 52. 9 million
square feet for all of 2013. Much of that construction relates to petrochemical plants
destined to process growing amounts of shale gas.
-James R. Hagerty
IT Empires Prepare to Strike Back
Big information-technology sellers Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and HewlettPackard
Co. were caught flat-footed as new business-technology trends, such as
software sold by subscription and advanced data-analysis tools, started to gain
traction. Now, the behemoths are waking up and trying to claw their way back to
relevance.
In short, the IT Empires strike back.
The tech giants may never regain their lock on corporate technology. But in 2015,
expect them to play offense by embracing young technologies designed to crush them,
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swapping out longtime corporate leaders, forming unlikely alliances, or ditching
moneymaking businesses to reinvest in areas that show more potential for growth.
'We can either lie down on the tracks or get on the train," said Crawford Del Prete,
chief research officer of technology-strategy firm IDC, summarizing the big vendors'
attitude.
Once-unusual events became commonplace in 2014. International Business Machines
Corp. sold its profitable but low-margin computer-server business and joined hands
with consumer powerhouse Apple Inc. in business-mobile apps.
H-P, Cisco and Dell Inc. agreed to sell generic computing equipment controlled by rival
companies' software, undercutting their own pricey hardware. Microsoft pitched its
cash-cow Office software on the iPad.
The fuddy-duddies are bound to pull out more surprises in 2015.
IDC predicts Microsoft or IBM will team up with Facebook Inc. this year to jointly
develop software services for corporations. Microsoft watchers wonder whether the
company will make a landmark business shift by offering Windows as an annual
subscription for the first time. The biggest IT vendors will continue scooping up
startups to stay in the game, executives expect.
Wild cards for 2015: Will companies such as Cisco and EMC Corp. shake up top
management? Will big hardware makers weigh a merger, as EMC and H-P did for a time
in 2014?
What's clear is the Empires can't sit still.
IDC says the big IT vendors' bread-and-butter businesses are shrinking or stagnant,
and predicts one-third of all corporate IT spending this year will be in emerging areas
like mobile, data analysis, cloud computing and digital intelligence. That is up from
about 10% of IT spending a few years ago.
-Shira Ovide
Drug Prices to Get More Expensive
The $1,000-a-day price of a new hepatitis C pill has put more attention on the rising
cost of drugs.
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Yet the hefty price tags of new medicines like Sovaldi from Gilead Sciences Inc.,
weren't the only culprit in higher drug costs last year. Price increases on older
drugs played a big part, too-and the costs are expected to keep soaring.
Brand-name drug prices surged 14% in the 12 months through the end of the third
quarter in 2014, adding $32 billion to drug spending, said Elliot Wilbur, a Needham &
Co. analyst. Up 2.5% were the prices of generic drugs, which are supposed to be an
instrument for cutting drug spending.
"If anything, 2015 list prices will grow more quickly than in 2014," said Richard Evans, a
former drug industry pricing official now an analyst at SSR Health LLC.
Drug companies say they are being unfairly criticized on prices. Medicines account for
only a 10th of overall health-care spending in the U.S., and drug treatments save on
larger expenses like liver transplants, said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the
industry's trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
A big reason for the drug-price inflation, analysts say: Health insurers and pharmacybenefit
managers have lacked the wherewithal to stop it.
Their tools tend to be blunt instruments such as raising copays, which drug companies
have been able to counteract by offering subsidies to many patients.
The payers are trying. Express Scripts Holding Co. , the largest manager of drug
benefits in the U.S., moved in late December to restrict access to Gilead's hepatitis C
drugs after negotiating a discount for a rival regimen from AbbVie Inc. Yet such steps
are possible only when there is competition, which often isn't the case. And in some
previous instances, drug companies still found ways to raise prices, Mr. Evans said.
The payers may gain more leverage eventually, at least for generic drugs. Big drug
distributors and pharmacies-such as AmerisourceBergen Corp., Walgreen Co. and
Alliance Boots GmbH-have been linking up to use their combined drug-buying volume
to press for lower prices.
But it will probably be harder to stop doctors and patients from sticking with brandname
drugs whose prices are boosted, especially if patients are doing well on a
medicine.
The trajectory of Sovaldi in 2014 illustrated the generally favorable pricing climate for
drug companies. Doctors and patients flocked to the cure, making it the best-selling
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launch of a new drug with $8.55 billion in sales during the first nine months of 2014.
Prescriptions for a new Gilead hepatitis C pill, Harvoni, suggest a similarly strong
launch into 2015, though the Express Scripts move will limit some sales. Harvoni's
price tag for a typical patient treated for 12 weeks: $94,500.
-Jonathan D. Rockoff
More CEOs Could Be Headed for the Exit
Chief executives in surprising numbers were shown the exit during 2014-and the
revolving door may not stop there.
At least 14 top bosses of U.S. big businesses got pushed aside or left under pressure-six
in December alone.
In the S&P 500 index, 45 companies replaced their CEOs for any reason during the first
nine months of 2014, reports recruiters Spencer Stuart. At that rate, the number of
companies swapping leaders in all of 2014 would have exceeded the 53 that did so in
2013. (Tallies exclude interim CEOs.)
Among those who left in 2014 were CEOs of Bob Evans Farms Inc., Hertz Global
Holdings Inc., Target Corp. , United Technologies Corp. and Symantec Corp.
The powerful forces of bolder shareholder activists and impatient boards mean "more
CEOs will get ousted in 2015," suggests Jeffrey Cohn, a CEO succession expert.
Activists had success sweeping out several corner-office occupants during 2014.
Darden Restaurants Inc. 's Clarence Otis, longtime chairman and CEO of the restaurant
chain, said in July that he would relinquish the top spot by year-end. The
announcement didn't appease unhappy investors. Starboard Value LP, Darden's
second biggest shareholder, led an October takeover of the entire 12-person board.
Days later, the new board appointed an interim chief and gave the chairmanship to
Starboard chief Jeffrey Smith.
Flawed leadership traits influenced the sudden departures of some CEOs. Juniper
Networks Inc. 's Shaygan Kheradpir left after less than a year at the helm. The
November move followed a review of his leadership and how he handled a customer
negotiation, but he and the board didn't see eye to eye on those matters, the company
said.
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"The swiftness of the forced exit is happening more now," says Michael Useem, a
management professor at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He expects
commanders of companies in slow-growing industries, such as energy, may find they
are especially vulnerable in 2015.
-Joann S. Lublin
Rail Operators' Fixes To Be Tested in 2015
Rail congestion that caused headaches for shippers of everything from corn to coal may
start to ease in 2015 as operators spend more to increase capacity.
The entire transportation industry experienced capacity strains in 2014 as the U.S.
economy continued to recover. Rail was one of the hardest hit areas, with unexpectedly
strong demand and bad weather taking their toll on service.
Severe delays for shipments of corn, soybeans and other crops in the upper Midwest
began in early 2014, with bitterly cold temperatures forcing operators to run shorter,
slower trains even as a record harvests produced more grain needing transport. The
snarls returned after another bumper harvest in the autumn. The coal industry also has
complained of significant delays, particularly in the western U.S.
To fix this, railroads includingBNSF Railway Co., owned by Warren Buffett 's Berkshire
Hathaway Inc., are collectively spending about $2 billion a month in capital
investments, says the American Association of Railroads. The companies hired 17,000
workers last year, some 40% higher than initial projections, and several have
announced significant capital spending and hiring plans for this year.
"As locomotives are added, as crews are added, I think you'll see some of the issues get
better as 2015 progresses," said Mark Levin, a rail analyst with BB&T Capital Markets,
who expects significant improvement by midyear.
A mild winter so far has helped. Additionally, as oil and natural gas prices continue to
tumble, both industries may use less rail capacity for carrying those products as well as
for transporting items such as fracking sand.
Lisa Richardson, executive director of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association,
said turnaround times for railcars to the Pacific Northwest, where crops like corn go
for export, have accelerated in recent months.
Still, grain groups say the real test will come during the first few months of 2015, when
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Railroads, including BNSF Railway, are collectively spending about $2 billion a month in capital investmen1s. BISMARCK
TRIBUNE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
farmers may begin to more aggressively market their corn and soybean crops.
"I think we,re getting through the growing pains/' said Dan Wogsland, executive
director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association. "But things can tum on a
dime around here."
-Laura Stevens and Jesse Newman
Screws to Tighten on Google in Europe
Google Inc. is under increasing attack across Europe, from taxes and competition law
to Europe's newly established right for individuals to demand removal of information
about themselves from Web searches.
While many of these battles with policy makers and regulators have been simmering
for a while, several likely will come to a boil this year-raising the specter of a
permanently changed relationship between U.S. tech titans and Europe.
Take competition. Google has for years been trying to settle complaints that it abuses
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its dominant position in the online-search market. But Germany is now leading a
charge to convince the European Union's new competition czar, Margrethe Vestager,
to quickly take a harder line against the company-backed by the European parliament.
Or privacy. The way Google has applied Europe's "Right to Be Forgotten" is likely to
tumble into court-or courts-this year as data-protection authorities demand that
Google start scrubbing offending personal results world-wide, not just in Europe.
At the same time, European governments are pushing to pass a tough new data-privacy
law this year that could beef up privacy fines to as much as 5% of a company's global
revenue. And the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice is expected to rule as
early as summer on whether to end the "Safe Harbor'' mechanism that lets many
companies-including Google-send EU personal data to the U.S.
Taxes will be a hotter topic as well. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development will hit its deadline this fall for completing recommendations for how to
make companies like Google pay more corporate taxes. Complicating matters is the
U.K.'s April deadline to implement its controversial new tax aimed at companies that
divert profit to tax havens-dubbed the "Google Tax."
Southern and eastern flanks in Europe are exposed as well. Spanish publishers' battle
to getting Google may continue after Google removed them from part of Google News.
And in Russia, Google is among the companies that will have to contend with a new law
that by September is slated to force local storage of data about Russians.
Google, for its part, insists that it respects European law and that it injects wealth into
the countries where it operates. The company has sent senior executives across the
region to press its case. But it remains unclear how far those arguments will go-or
whether 2015 will become Google's year to remember.
-Sam Schechner
Retailers SeekFootingAfter Many Missteps
After many tough years, the improving economy may offer new hope for the retail
industry-and if not, there is new leadership to try to fix it.
. The U.S. economy grew at its strongest pace in 11 years in the third quarter.
Consumer confidence surged in early December to its highest level since February
2008, early in the last recession. Unemployment has eased and low gasoline prices are
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providing much needed relief for the country's poorest shoppers.
That may provide some relief for big-box stores Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,
where shopper visits have declined for eight straight quarters. Other chains including
Sears Holdings Corp., J.C. Penney Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. are all mired in
long slumps as they grapple with changing shopping habits and try to fend off
competition from online retailers like Amazon.com Inc.
Both Wal-Mart and Target notched sales gains in their latest quarter, but at the
expense of profitability as retailers ratcheted up promotions to clock higher revenues.
A new crop of chief executives will be tackling the landscape where a greater share of
shopping is done online. Wal-Mart, Target, Gap Inc., Home Depot Inc., Abercrombie,
American Apparel Inc. and J.C. Penney are among chains with new or soon-to-be new
CE Os.
On the low end, the three largest dollar-store chains remain locked in a merger saga.
Dollar General, the largest chain by number of location and sales, is trying to buy its
close rival, Family Dollar, and scuttle a planned sale to Dollar Tree . A new Family
Dollar shareholder vote is slated for this month.
Retailers will have one thing to be thankful for as they start 2015: Weather. Last year,
the first few months of shopping were hit hard by frigid weather that swept across the
U.S. Forecasters predict that a milder spring could bring another measure of relief.
-Paul Ziobro
Bigger, Better Drones, But Not Drone Rules
Drones made the leap from the battlefields to American backyards last year, raising
concerns about air safety, privacy and regulation.
In 2015, unmanned aircraft in the U.S. will continue to multiply, likely exacerbating the
issues of 2014 while U.S. regulators try to finish rules for the devices.
The Federal Aviation Administration missed its self-imposed deadline of Dec. 22 to
propose rules for small commercial drones in the U.S.-regulations it began working on
more than five years ago. The agency expects to propose the rules by early 2015,
launching a public-comment period that it expects to draw tens of thousands of
comments.
htlp://www.wsj.com/articles/fran-drug-prices-to-drones-whats-ahead-for-business-i n-2015-1420414679 Ql11
1J5"2015 From Drug Prices tD Draies, What's Ahead for Businass in 2015-WSJ
For that reason, 2015 will be
a crucial year for drones in
the U.S. Those excited for
the technology-and those
concerned about it-will be
able to voice their opinions
on how the government
should regulate drones.
Regulators are required to
consider comments, which
often help craft final rules.
Meanwhile, many U.S.
The FAA expects to soon propose rules for small commercial drones. REUTERS entrepreneurs are using the
devices despite an effective
ban on their commercial use by the FAA. Officially, the FAA has approved just 13
commercial drones through a case-by-case approval process the agency is using to ease
pent-up demand.
There are more than 140 pending applications for such exemptions, and the FAA plans
to issue more approvals in 2015, likely turning a few big companies into drone users.
Chevron Corp. wants to use drones to monitor its oil and gas plants, for instance, and
State Farm Insurance Cos. wants to use them to conduct insurance inspections after
natural disasters.
Another company will likely turn into a drone maker in 2015. GoPro Inc., the wearablecamera
maker, is aiming to launch its own line of consumer drones in late 2015, priced
between $500 and $1,000, according to people familiar with the company's plans.
Meanwhile, Amazon.com has said that 2015 would be the year it introduces its delivery
drones-if the FAA establishes rules for the devices by then. But the holdup in
regulations will almost certainly delay thee-retailer's plans.
The Government Accountability Office recently said the FAA won't issue final rules for
commercial drones until late 2016 or early 2017. Delivery drones will likely have to wait
until then.
-JackNicas
htlp://www.w&j.can/articlesll'rom-d"ug-JJ"ice&-ID-drones-whals-ahead-for-busine6&-in-2015-1420414679 1Q/11
1/5/2015 Fran Drug Prices to Drones, Whafs Ahead for Business in 2015- WSJ
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Fwd: my top tech picks for 2015

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	my top tech picks for 2015
Date:	Sun, 4 Jan 2015 10:21:31 -0800
From:	Peter Diamandis <peter@diamandis.com>
Reply-To:	peter@diamandis.com
To:	Steve <stevescott@techacq.com>

If you thought 2014 was thrilling, here's a look at what I'm most excited about for 2015…

With CES happening next week, Abundance 360 at the end of January, and A360-digital kicking off in March, here are 11 of the most exciting new technologies moving from deceptive to disruptive this year.

1. Virtual Reality: Expect a lot more action on the virtual and augmented reality front. 2014 saw the $2B acquisition of Oculus Rift by Facebook. In 2015, we'll see action from companies like Phillip Rosedale's High Fidelity (the successor to Second Life), immersive 3D 360-degree cameras from companies like Immersive Media (the company behind Google's Streetview), Jaunt, and Giroptic. Then there are game changers like Magic Leap (in which Google just invested over $500 million) that are developing technology to "generate images indistinguishable from real objects and then being able to place those images seamlessly into the real world." Oculus, the darling of CES for the past few years, will be showing its latest Crescent Bay prototype and hopefully providing a taste of how its headset will interact with Nimble VR's hand- and finger-tracking inputs. Nine new VR experiences will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival this year, spanning from artistic, powerful journalistic experiences like Project Syria to full "flying" simulations where you get to "feel" what it would be like for a human to fly.
2. Mass-market robots: 2014 saw the acquisition by Google of eight robotics companies. 2015 is going to see the introduction of consumer-friendly robots in a store near you. Companies like SU's Fellow Robots are creating autonomous "employees" called Oshbots that are roaming the floors of Lowe's and helping you find and order items in their store. We'll also see Softbank's Pepper robot make the leap from Japan to enter U.S. retail stores. Pepper uses an emotion engine and computer vision, to detect smiles, frowns, and surprise, and it uses speech recognition to sense the tone of voice and to detect certain words indicative of strong feelings, like "love" and "hate." The engine then computes a numeric score that quantifies the person's overall emotion as positive or negative to help the store make a sale. At CES, Paris-based start-up Keecker will show off a robot that doubles as a movie projector after raising more than $250,000 for the idea on Kickstarter.

   

   Fellow Robot autonomous employee

3. Autonomous vehicles: In 2015, we will see incredible developments in autonomous vehicle technology. Beyond Google, many major car brands are working on autonomous solutions. At CES, Volkswagen will bring the number of car brands on display into double figures for the first time this year. Companies like Mercedes say they will show off a new self-driving concept car that allows its passengers to face each other. BMW plans to show how one of its cars can be set to park itself via a smartwatch app. And, Tesla, of course, has already demonstrated "autopilot" on its Model D.
4. Drones everywhere: 2015 will be a big year for drones. They are getting cheaper, easier to use, more automated, and are now finding more useful and lucrative applications. These "drones" include everything from the $20 toys you can buy at RadioShack to the high-powered $1000+ drones from companies like DJI and the super-simple and powerful Q500 Typhoon. These consumer drones equipped with high quality cameras and autopilot software are military-grade surveillance units now finding application in agriculture, construction and energy applications. Drones get their own section of CES in 2015 with a new "unmanned systems" zone. Wales' Torquing Group could provide one of its highlights with Zano, a Kickstarter-backed quadcopter small enough to fit in your hand but still capable of high-definition video capture.

   

   Zano, a Kickstarter-backed quadcopter

5. Wireless power: "Remember when we had to use wires to charge our devices? Man, that was so 2014." Companies like uBeam, Ossia and others are developing solutions to charge your phones, laptops, wearables, etc. wirelessly as you go about your business. And this isn't a "charging mat" that requires you to set your phone down… imagine having your phone in your pocket, purse, or backpack, and it will be charging as you walk around the room. Companies are taking different approaches as they develop this technology (uBeam uses ultrasound to transfer energy to piezoelectric receivers, while Ossia has a product called Cota that uses an ISM radio band, similar to Wifi, to transfer energy and data). Look out for a key "interface moment" in 2015 that will take wireless power mainstream.
6. Data & machine learning: 2014 saw data and algorithm driven companies like Uber and AirBnb skyrocket. There is gold in your data. And data-driven companies are the most successful exponential organizations around. In 2015, data collection and mining that data will become more turn-key. Platforms like Experfy, for example, allow you to find data scientist who will develop algorithms or machine learning solutions for your business/project. Larger companies can explore partnering with IBM's Watson Ecosystem, which is creating a community of everyone from developers to content providers to collaborate and create the next generation of cognitive apps. Companies built around algorithms, like Enlitic (a company that uses machine learning to detect tumors and make medical imaging diagnostics faster and cheaper), will become much more prevalent and common in 2015.
7. Large-scale genome sequencing and data mining: We are at the knee of the curve of human genome sequencing. In 2015, we will see explosive, exponential growth in genomics and longevity research. As the cost of sequencing a single human genome plummets by orders of magnitude (now around $1,000) and the amount of useful information we glean from mining all that data skyrockets. At Human Longevity Inc (HLI), a company I co-founded, we are aiming to sequence 1 million to 5 million full human genomes, microbiomes, metabalomes, proteomes, MRI scans, and more by 2020. We're proud to have Franz Och, formerly the head of Google Translate, as the head of our machine learning team to mine the massive amount of data so that we can learn the secrets to extending the healthy human lifespan by 30-40 years.
8. Sensor explosion: In 2015, expect "everything" to be "smart". The combination of sensors and wearables, increased connectivity, new manufacturing methods (like 3D printing), and improved data mining capabilities will create a smart, connected world – where our objects, clothes, appliances, homes, streets, cars, etc., etc. will be constantly communicating with one and other. Soon, there will be trillions of sensors throughout the world. These sensors won't just power smart ovens and sweatshirts -- the same technology will allow companies like Miroculus to create "microRNA detection platform that will constantly diagnose and monitor diseases at the molecular level." Sensors are going to be taking over CES this year. Among the many applications: a shirt that can read your heart-rate by Cityzen Sciences, a device from HealBe that can automatically log how many calories you consume, a garden sprinkler system from Blossom that can decide when to switch on based on weather forecasts, pads for the pantry from SmartQSine that allow you to keep track of how much of your favorite foods are left, a pacifier from Pacifi that sends the baby's temperature to the parent's smartphone, and a new home security system from Myfox with tags you can attach to a door or window that trigger alarms before a break-in is attempted.
9. Voice-control and "language-independent" interaction: Using our fingers to operate smartphones/technology was "so 2014". In 2015, we will see significant advances in voice-controlled systems and wider mass market adoption. Think the first steps towards a Jarvis-like interface. Siri, Google Now, Cortana, and other voice control systems are continuing to get better and better – so much so that they are being almost seamlessly integrated into our technology, across platforms. Soon, almost all connected devices will have voice-control capabilities. Companies like Wit.ai are creating their own open-source natural language interfaces for the Internet of Things and for developers to incorporate into their apps, hardware, and platforms. Jarvis-like systems like the Ubi and Jibo, plus IBM's Watson and XBOX One Kinect, already allow natural language interactions and question/answer like commands. Then, Google Translate, Skype Translate, and others are creating software that allows real-time translation between languages, further eliminating cultural and geographic barriers – the Star Trek universal translator is just around the corner!
10. 3D Printing: 3-D printing will continue to grow rapidly in 2015 as the number of applications increase and as printers, scanners, and CAD modeling software become more accessible, cheaper, and easier to use. 2014 saw the first 3D printed object in space, by SU company, Made-in-Space. 3DSystems continues to innovate around the clock and is releasing a plethora of exciting things in 2015, including 3D printed food and customized chocolates. Three years ago there were just two 3D printing firms at CES. This year there promises to be more than 24.
11. Bitcoin: While 2014 was a rough year for bitcoin (it was ranked the "worst performing currency"), I am optimistic that 2015 will be a better year for the cryptocurrency. Weak currencies and uncertainty in the global economy, emerging smartphone markets in developing countries (billions coming online for the first time), better "interfaces", and more commercial adopters who accept bitcoin as a form of payment will all play a role in a brighter bitcoin future. Finally it's worth noting that Apple Pay will ultimately teach an entire generation how to navigate life without cash… making the transition to bitcoin natural and easy.

Creating a World of Abundance

If you're joining me as a part of my executive Mastermind group A360 this year, you'll be seeing and hearing about these developments firsthand, from their creators.

We'll talk about timelines, projections, applications, and opportunities for each of them in the year and years ahead.

While A360 is full, I've also created a new digital extension of A360 called A360d.

This is a digital mastermind where entrepreneurs (like you), can gain access to the knowledge, resources and tools we discuss at A360 and learn how to develop your own moonshot thinking.

A360D will aim to connect you with other bold and abundance-minded entrepreneurs, and to connect you with me on a monthly basis for discussion around these topics.

I'll be rolling out A360D in early 2015. If you'd like me to send you more info, then submit your name and email here.

Happy New Year!

All the best,
Peter

P.S. Every weekend I send out a "Tech Blog" like this one. If you want to sign up, go to PeterDiamandis.com and sign up for this and my Abundance blogs.

P.P.S. Please forward this to your best clients, colleagues and friends — especially those who could use some encouragement as they pursue big, bold dreams.

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PHD Ventures , 800 Corporate Pointe, Culver City CA, 90230

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WSJ What's ahead for business 2015 ocr

WSJ What's ahead for business 2015