Culture Of Customer Service

The secret to survival in 2009
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b5c8eb00-d040-11dd-ae00-000077b07658.html

Getting through 2009 is going to require cultivating a strong culture of customer service – and quickly. Timely advice. Thanks Stephan.

Understanding Tintin

A very European hero
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12795471

Useful links:
www.tintin.com
www.tintinologist.org
http://tintinblog.com
http://tintinmovie.org

I am a huge fan of Tintin.

Art Update

The incredible shrinking saleroom
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12834352

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com

High/low points. Death, divorce and debt will continue to provide artworks for the auction market. Spot on.

Random Thoughts

The important shifts will be private, as people and communities learn to adopt different social standards. After the depression, a savings mentality set in. After the dot-com bubble, a bit of sobriety hit Silicon Valley. Now it’s the borrower’s and lender’s turn. As the saying goes: People don’t change when they see the light. They change when they feel the heat.

-David Brooks
New York Times

Spot on.

Honest Tea

Seth Goldman: Brewing Organic Tea with a Mission-based Business Model
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/2124.cfm

Useful link:
http://honesttea.com

Seth Goldman's mission-based business model was inspiring.

The Lipstick Effect

The so-called lipstick effect (an interesting phenomenon noticed by economists during the Great Depression of the 1930s, where people simply substituted large extravagances for small luxuries) has returned as the global economy begins to shrink affecting developed/developing countries worldwide. Watch out for the cosmetics sector as an indicator as events unfold in the coming months. Signs of the times, really.

San Francisco Mine

Sean Brodrick's report on San Francisco Mine and the pros and cons @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Learn-more-about-Mexico’s-street-of-Gold!-13585-3-1.html was interesting.

Useful link:
www.timminsgold.com

Heard On The Street

There is no education like adversity.