Blogs

The age of the virtual consumer is here. Through the power of whatever device we happen to be holding and using at a given moment, we can buy something, sell something, make an appointment, cancel one, leave a message, search for something (even if we’re not quite sure what it is), “listen” to and identify…

Are you one of those business owners or managers that dares to question the norm? Do you wonder about changing things up in the workplace because you’re not convinced that doing things the same way you’ve always done them is good for business, employee morale, or productivity? Ultimately as owner, CEO, or manager you’re the…

In Star Trek lore, a “disruptor” is a Klingon weapon that, as its name suggests, “disrupts” a target’s cell structure, either inflicting heavy damage to said target or vaporizing it. In business, though, disruption doesn’t relate to inflicting mortal wounds, but rather to shaking up the status quo. And while the Klingons rarely won the…

It’s five years from. Like “Monkeyz Van Winkle” (Rip’s better looking, simian forebear) you wake up from a long sleep. The world around you has changed. You’ve changed. Your business has changed. CORE GAMING BACKPACK KICKSTARTER The Ultimate Gift for Gamers, the ‘Core’ Gaming Backpack is a Great Gift for Travelers, Busy Professionals, and Students…

One week in, Mobile Edge’s very first Kickstarter campaign to support production of its full-featured CORE Gaming Backpack is more than 20% funded toward its 45-day, $30,000 goal. Clearly, gamers know a good thing when they see it. The CORE Gaming Backpack from Mobile Edge is the real deal, and so is your opportunity to…

Memorial Day is in the rear-view mirror, which means summer weather is about to hit and vacation “season” soon will be in full swing, including for yours truly and the Monkeyz staff. It’s an annual rite that’s good for the body, mind, and spirit—and good for recharging the batteries so you’re in tip-top fighting shape…

Do you value market intelligence, or do you just assume you know your marketplace and customer motivations? Far too often, this King Monkey has seen the gathering of market intelligence relegated to the “nice to have but not necessary” portion of marketing budgets. At a recent brainstorming session with my team to discuss strategies and tactics…

People are inundated with emails, tweets, likes, shares, posts, and more every minute of every hour of every day. Terabytes and petabytes of information course continuously through the arteries of the Internet. What comes after a petabyte (a million gigabytes), I don’t know, but I am sure we’ll all find out soon enough. With all…

As I write this, Oroville Dam in northern California is still in crisis mode, but hasn’t been breached. Hopefully it will not  . . . and prayers go out to all in the potential path of destruction. As I’ve been watching the news and catching updates on my favorite feeds the last few days, it’s…

“Strategic” is one of those words that has become increasingly popular in the business vernacular. I wonder, though, if most of us know what it truly means, or if it’s nearing status as one of those throwaway words or phrases such as “engagement” or “high quality.” It’s not just enough to use “strategic” as a…

The hills of San Diego and southern California are a bit greener these past few weeks. Recent rains have helped ease some of the drought conditions that have turned roadsides, hillsides, and backyards various shades of dusty brown the past few years. I find all the green energizing, purifying, as though the area is undergoing…

How do you know when a prospective customer is a “real” prospect and not just someone who’s too nice or too embarrassed to say “no” or someone who’s so indecisive he or she will never say “yes”? Think about the time and effort you’d save and the resources you could reallocate, if you could only…