The Week from AxSA, 19 January 2012

Dateline: 19 January 2012

AxSA Factoid of the Week

13 January 2012

The calendar year 2011 saw disaster-related losses hit their costliest level on record. From tornadoes and floods in the United States to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the total of losses are estimated at $350 billion. Interestingly enough, insurers are not fretting. That is because only $108 billion of those losses were actually insured.

From the "Monday Morning Memo"...

16 January 2012

"Whatever your life's work is, do it well. Even if it does not fall in the category of one of the so-called big professions, do it well. As one college president said, 'A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.' If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper, who swept his job well.'" ~Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

News & Commentary

Business

Why U.S. Gun Sales Are Shooting For the Moon

Forbes

Manufacturers of the weapons call President Obama their best salesman to date...Read More

Economy

Nearly 1 Million Workers Vanished Under Obama

Investor's Business Daily

Before you cheer the recent declines in the nation's official unemployment rate, consider this uncomfortable fact...Read More

Marketing

Location, Location, Location

Harvard Business Review

Whether expanding a business across town or across the globe, decision-makers often enter new markets haphazardly, and that approach can be problematic...Read More

Category Creation

Fast Company

Contrary to popular belief, innovative ideas don't guarantee good fortune for businesses. In order to seize their spots in the marketplace, these businesses must consider product positioning and market receptiveness...Read More

Energy

Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Not Finished Yet, Company Plans to Reapply for Permit

International Business Times

A move by the Obama administration to block the construction of a controversial pipeline will not upend efforts by TransCanada...Read More

Will Natural Gas Price Bears be Disappointed This Year?

Rigzone

Growing domestic production of natural gas has resulted in a supply glut and lower prices, but this year, new drilling could fall off...Read More

Technology

Why Most Online Communities Are Failures

Fortune

Many of the companies and organizations building virtual hubs for their customers and constituents are badly missing the mark...Read More

SOPA, Internet Regulation & the Economics of Piracy?

Wired

What is SOPA, and why should you care about it? Read More

Can Touch Screens Hurt You?

Technology Review

As it turns out, strangely enough, prolonged use and the position of the screen harbors "hidden dangers"...Read More

Sustainability Nears a Tipping Point

Sloan Management Review

More and more companies are recognizing the benefits of greener business practices...Read More