Eureka!

Foreign Investors from Mexico.

eurekasi — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:03:23 +0000

Blum Mendez EB5 Articlehttp://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/doc_player.swf?doc=blummendezeb5article-101112133851-phpapp01&stripped_title=blum-mendez-eb5-article&userName=yaelmendez

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No compliques tu trabajo.

eurekasi — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:35:43 +0000

Problema 1.

Cuando la NASA comenzó con el lanzamiento de astronautas al espacio, descubrieron que los bolígrafos no funcionarían sin gravedad (o con gravedad cero), pues la tinta no bajaría hasta la superficie en que se deseara escribir.
Solución A): Resolver este problema, les llevó 6 años y 12 millones de dólares. Desarrollaron un bolígrafo que funcionaba bajo gravedad cero, al revés, debajo del agua, prácticamente en cualquier superficie incluyendo cristal y en un rango de temperaturas que iban desde abajo del punto de congelación hasta superar los 300 grados centígrados.

Solución B): ¿Y qué hicieron los rusos?

¡Los rusos utilizaron un lápiz!

Problema 2.

Uno de los más memorables casos de estudio de la gestión japonesa fue el caso de la caja de jabón vacía, que ocurrió en una de las más grandes empresas de cosmética de Japón.

La compañía recibió la queja de un consumidor que compró una caja de jabón y estaba vacía…. Inmediatamente las autoridades aislaron el problema a la cadena de montaje, que transportaba todas las cajas empaquetadas de jabón al departamento de reparto. Por alguna razón, una caja de jabón pasó vacía por la cadena de montaje. Los altos cargos pidieron a sus ingenieros que encontraran una buena y rápida solución del problema.

Solución A): De inmediato, los ingenieros se lanzaron a su labor para idear una máquina de rayos X con monitores de alta resolución manejados por dos personas y así vigilar todas las cajas de jabón que pasaran por la línea para asegurarse de que no fueran vacías. Sin duda, trabajaron duro y rápido.

Solución B): Cuando a un empleado común en una empresa pequeña se le planteó el mismo problema, no entró en complicaciones de rayos X, robots, equipos informáticos o complicados; en lugar de eso planteó otra solución:

Compró un potente ventilador industrial y lo apuntó hacia la cadena de montaje. Encendió el ventilador, y mientras cada caja pasaba por el ventilador, las que estaban vacías simplemente salían volando de la línea de producción.

Problema 3.

Un magnate hotelero viajo a una ciudad Hindú por segunda vez en un año de distancia de su primer viaje. Al llegar al mostrador de un hotel inferior en estrellas a los de su cadena, el empleado le sonríe y lo saluda diciéndole:

Bienvenido nuevamente señor, que bueno verlo de vuelta en nuestro hotel; sorprendido en gran manera ya que a pesar de ser una persona tan importante, le gusta el anonimato y difícilmente el empleado tendría tan buena memoria para saber que estuvo allí un año antes, quiso imponer el mismo sistema en su cadena de hoteles ya que ese simple gesto lo hizo sentir muy bien.

A su regreso inmediatamente puso a trabajar en este asunto a sus empleados para encontrar una solución a su petición.

Solución A): La solución fue buscar el mejor software con reconocimiento de rostros, base de datos, cámaras especiales, tiempo de respuesta en micro segundos, capacitación a empleados, etc. Etc. Con un costo aproximado de 2.5 millones de dólares.

Solución B): El magnate prefirió viajar nuevamente y sobornar al empleado de aquel hotel para que revelara la tecnología que aplican. El empleado no acepto soborno alguno, sino que humildemente comento al magnate como lo hacían, y el dijo:
“Mire señor, tenemos un arreglo con los taxistas que lo trajeron hasta acá, ellos le preguntan si ya se ha hospedado en el hotel al cual lo está trayendo, y si es afirmativo, entonces cuando el deja su equipaje aquí en el mostrador, nos hace una señal, y así se gana un dólar”.

Moraleja:
¡No compliques tu trabajo!..

Concibe la solución más simple al problema..!.

Aprende a centrarte en las soluciones…! No en los problemas!

Everything is Everything

eurekasi — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:53:40 +0000

Perception is our reality.

eurekasi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:15:35 +0000

One can try with all one’s might, but perception is in the eye of the beholder. And what is perception exactly? Aside from the sight perspective, we –view- the developments around us and sense them with all our senses. Memories are called up as our mind reaches cataloged memories triggered and the world becomes our reality. We all live in different worlds. We all experience life differently and at different levels. God’s gifts are individual to each and our perception is as individual as a fingerprint. With so many different views, how are we able to create a society? How are we able to show tolerance and compassion to each other? And how do we help each other “do the right thing”?
There is beauty in diversity. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work for 9 years in an environment where I get to know different people and families nearly every week. People have come to me with a desire to meet a need in their plans for a better future and ask me to tailor-make products and services to facilitate and ensure that there is a plan in place and regularly that they are on track. As a young kid out of college, the opportunity to serve these clients was a welcomed challenge. Then it was a matter of proving that the theory I had absorbed and processed for long could have practical applications in support of my work. My goals were to reach the best batting average and make sure that my name would always be atop the leaderboard. Looking back, helping people had become a sport. It was easy to stay detached from the essence of the client relationships because experience is what make a job a career.
My career was built atop a strong foundation of Christian and specifically Lutheran values. From humility to frugality, my culture and religion make me the professional I am today. Beginning my career it was difficult to find too much in common with the generationally-wealthy individuals I have always worked with. Thankfully for generations my family has never, thank God, gone a meal without food, a winter without warmth or a time without hugs. My sales phycology trainings always revolved around the search for commonality; finding that one intersection point where two individuals whom by cosmic randomness or not meet. Of course I have always been of the belief that nothing in my life has truly happened by chance, humbly I want to be a number only in the greater Plan. But when two people meet for the first time the newness and any skin deep attraction dissipates very quickly, In my opinion great sales people are able to keep that lead warm enough at all times. A delicate balancing act akin to chemistry labs. Must admit that in my field, rarely does one meet anyone unprepared. By means of databases and recorded habits my industry has lead the creation of human profiles. The recording and or use of this manipulated information is a topic of its own, which I struggle at times with but chose not to jump into at this time. Profiles gives the professional a framework to guide us through the process of filtering the types of conversations and or experiences we must highlight in order to trigger that common trait. Sadly after years of utilizing techniques, meeting a new person with something in common becomes as easy as an experienced driver driving stick-shift transmission; second nature.
It is at the moment one believes these profiles and techniques tell you all you need to know about a person that a lesson is learned. Humans are random, individuals are unique. Unique in the same manner a mother tells their children they are unique. Each individual has experienced life through their years and seconds in a unique manner. Biologically our bodies are the most sophisticated machines at adapting. Some adaptations are simpler and more welcomed than others, say snow birding cold-weather bodies down south. Some bodies have been through so much stress that they become numb to different elements. Emotionally people experience life differently and their life’s experiences of lack of experiences make them who they are today. Some cultures express emotions in different manners, in many cultures emotions are to be kept inside.
Yet with all the differences in the world, common traits are ever-present. We all need to belong. Some chose not to belong, of course, building barriers around them telegraphing to the world that they are lost. We have all struggled at some point, and yearn for moments of happiness. And then there are the abstract commonalities not described or measured by any physical, psychological profiling system. Some people just find that somehow they understand each other. Explaining how that understanding comes is less important than the fact that having the common fabric “by chance” brings amazing excitement to our lives. As much as we need to belong, we yearn for understanding. Understanding come less with knowing someone or their profile and more with the knowledge that we truly know very little. Tolerance truly is coming to peaceful terms with accepting what we don’t yet know and understand.
In the age where Google and financial organizations record our every move and keystroke, profiles are seemingly becoming perfected. Each of us is cataloged by millions of criteria. Pandora gathers our listening habits, Youtube and Tivo’s record viewing habits, Amazon and Itunes tells us what book we will like next, etc… A new era is upon us where people are “matched” with each other based on compatibility levels (Thank you Dr. Phil) profile genome engines seeming can facilitate the process of sufficient common traits to keep people together forever. But what happens when we follow our human nature and veer off the highway of logarithmic equations?
The beauty of human relationships is NOT knowing what is in the other person’s mind, NOT knowing if the manner in which we perceive life is similar. Guessing and even educated guessing is usually a dangerous path to take. Direct questions can sometimes be “perceived” by people as interrogation. Tolerance is our willingness to come to terms and accepting the risk that not fully knowing brings.
Human relationships are built on trust. Trust is welded with common traits that are elemental to us. Tolerance becomes easier when these commonalities are honesty, compassion and love. The last can exist in its many representative forms from fraternal and brotherly to romantic and everlasting, but never absent from a strong relationship. Trust CANNOT be built with words; words but refine communication and further define what is felt by our human ability to perceive each other. Human bonds are stronger than words, and language.
A wise poem says people come into your life for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime, and when you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. Tolerance and compassion is understanding that even if you find what type of person you are dealing with, they can see you entirely different. And one can fight the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and spend a lifetime attempting to change what cannot: perception. Some people grew up without hugs, some people grew up without trust and feeling loved. Sadly some without belonging and without understanding. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8) Fotunately, if we have the HONEST desire to belong and be understtod, be trusted and loved, all we need to do is but ask and work commonly on one task: Welding the type of trust that can serve as the foundation for loving, compassionate and honest relationships that bring daily joy to our lives. That give us a breath when we are winded and a helpful hand when we fall.
Doing the right thing is NOT a relative equation. Doing the right thing requires us to jump outside of ourselves and into our peers shoes, and attempt to understand each others perception. Not because they fit a profile, but rather because it proves that we care. It proves that even if we are unable to communicate we still can try to understand each other better. We have history’s best tools to understand each other today. Doing the right thing is not doing what is right to us, sometimes the right thing requires us to shed our pride and accept that our perception does not define us, that our perception can grow and that our purpose to to become a daily better version of who we were yesterday. We can be more tolerant, we can be more compassionate and we can love more and better every day because we have the profiling tools to be surgical with our approach. Our perception is unique and sharing it is human.

http://itsourrealitymagazine.com/reason.htm

UNder the Milky Way

eurekasi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:31:38 +0000

Falling Slowly

eurekasi — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:10:46 +0000

Racist Video pulled from KFC Australia

eurekasi — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:05:55 +0000

State of the Union Preview

eurekasi — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:53:39 +0000

TEXAS BANKING IS STRONG.

eurekasi — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:11:44 +0000

Texas Department of Banking Texas Bank Report

Bank financial conditions are often a lagging reflection of the economy in which they operate. As a consequence, bank managers and the bank regulatory agencies must closely monitor trends in the economy.
Although Texas entered into a recessionary period just like the rest of the nation, we entered at a
later date. Texas employment fell sharply in the first half of the year, but the Texas economy is
already showing signs of stabilization. Data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
indicates that the housing market may have bottomed out and is now improving. New
home construction and sales along with the median home prices in Texas have trended
upward in recent months. The Texas energy sector and manufacturing also show signs of
improvement. Still, commercial real estate, which is an integral part of Texas bank lending
activity, continues to show significant weaknesses.
We are very fortunate that our Texas banks are in relatively better financial condition
compared to banks in other states, and we benefit from retaining bankers in the industry
who survived the 1980s and still carry with them memories of events and problems that they
experienced during that time.
Recent data released by the Department indicates that 87% of Texas state-chartered banks are
rated either a composite 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System,
meaning that they are not considered a problem institution.
Still, an increasing number of banks are being downgraded to problem bank status, a trend
which we would like to see reversed. The latest figures show that 11%, or 34 banks,
carried a composite rating of 3, 4, or 5, and by all indications, the number of problem banks will
continue to increase over the next several months.
The following comments lay out some of the difficulties that banks are experiencing and
provide recommendations to help bankers avoid similar problems.
C ommercial Real Estate – Many banks with high concentrations in commercial real estate, especially in construction and land development lending, have already realized the effects of a downward trending economy on their portfolio’s asset quality. Problem assets are significantly elevated in some of these banks, and many have curtailed lending to only the most deserving
borrowers. As one bank consultant recently told me, “When you look up and find yourself in a
hole, stop digging.” If you analysis indicates that a particular segment of your portfolio encompasses most of your troubled assets and loan losses, it makes perfect sense to curtail lending and reduce your exposure to these type credits. In plain speak – reduce your concentration risk. Examiners will be reviewing very closely your internal systems to determine how management is measuring, monitoring and controlling concentration risk and will be assessing compliance with the federal interagency guidance. Some of the most common weaknesses that examiners encounter during on-site bank examinations relate to: (1) not adequately stratifying and monitoring subgroups or segments of the commercial real estate portfolio; (2) not establishing risk limits in internal policies for subcategories and the overall portfolio; and (3) not
performing quarterly stress tests on the portfolio.
The results of this examiner assessment of how well the bank is monitoring and controlling its concentration risk will be considered when determining the overall effectiveness of management and board of
director supervision. We understand that not all credit facilities are created equal.
Some banks may have an abundance of collateral coverage and excess cash flow on a segment of the portfolio or the portfolio as a whole, which may partially mitigate its concentration risk.
However, if support for these mitigating factors is lacking, then it will be difficult for examiners to consider it in their analysis. Other Asset Quality Factors – When problem assets increase, all areas of the bank are adversely affected. Earnings and capital may be downgraded
because provisions for loan losses, legal expenses and nonearning assets are dramatically elevated. Liquidity may be affected because adversely classified loans are no longer eligible to sell as participations to other banks or pledge as collateral for borrowings, and the bank’s ability to attract and retain deposits may be affected, after submitting a not-so-flattering call report. Interest rate sensitivity may be viewed more severely in light of this deterioration, and Part 337.6 restrictions may apply, which might limit an institution’s ability to renew brokered deposits and pay above market rates on local deposits.
Though not an exhaustive list, here are a few recommendations relating to asset quality:
Make informed decisions. During adverse economic conditions, it is more important than ever to make decisions based upon sound reasoning and recent financial information. To help
avoid potential problems and to allow your bank to make well contemplated decisions, require
that borrowers of significant size submit quarterly financial statements and cash flow information. Once received, review the information in depth with the customer to ensure that your
staff understands where the borrower’s cash flow will be coming from and the likelihood
that it will continue. Make sure that the cash flow can be realistically assured. Consider holding
notes past due until current financial information is submitted. Consider requiring
audited financial statements from your largest customers.

Re-electing a Governor in Texas

eurekasi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:39:45 +0000

I attended a grassroots political event for Governor’s Perry Re-election campaign. Turning 30 at the end of next week gives me a different perspective on the regional situation here in South Texas and Northeastern Mexico and how everything that this guy does in the next many years affects my community, the region, Texas, Mexico and how it influences the Nation in a time of economic and therefore political uncertainty.
I’m now more than ever concerned with how the State can support the economic growth of my new home state of Texas. I am blessed with living at the correct place in the continental US where economic growth is thus far sustained and constant. The Rio Grande Valley grew in larger part due to the success of NAFTA, and for that we have the visionary and effective administration of Bill Clinton to thank for. Texas benefited tremendously from the agreement (now in danger by the current administration’s agenda) and the border towns grew economies based on strong trade and tourism with Mexico. Laredo a town of 233,000 habitants is the countries’ largest inland port McAllen and Brownsville are on pace to replicate that success IF our business community and Gov. Perry ‘s administration can cooperate in public/private financing models to support the necessary infrastructural development necessary to take our region further into the future. The opportunity is here; our region for better or for worse has enjoyed the national spotlight in the media. Some of that publicity was a well engineered dagger to the Valleys Medical community. I worked with Senator John’s Edwards campaign and welcomed him to the valley for a presentation to these same doctors back on Sep 19, 2007 at a time when he was a favorite riding into primaries; of course prior to getting schooled by Obama and Hillary. I saw these same doctors back Hillary and then ultimately Obama as a block. These doctors are blue voters in a red state but the point is not their representational democratic power, rather the hypocrisy of requesting support of people whom the administration is now making an example of. Important because even at that early date, Zeke Emmanuel, Obama’s main man’s older brother had already published 3 books and gathered the necessary search to sell us the current proposed health plan.
Perry said today that the current bill would “bankrupt” the state. If this was coming from a Fox news anchor or editorial I’d have a hard time believing them. Coming from a man that leads a state where balancing a budget is not a lifetime’s accomplishment (remember Clinton’s beautiful shut down of government) rather a constitutional mandate this sounds like the truth. The way I see it, if the parents decide to buy something they can’t afford today on credit cards (independently of it being a smart purchase) they shouldn’t force the kids to use up their credit to get it right? The dilemma here is the balancing act that has made this country successful, that give and take of power between states and Washington.
The governor is the CEO of a State enterprise worth 1.09USD Trillion, second highest in the US and ‘IF’ Texas was a country of its own (which I have no doubt would make Perry the happiest lottery winner) it would represent and equivalent to the GDP of India or Canada (11th and 12th Largest) with a population of 24 Million. An international powerhouse and one that will CONTINUE to lead this country out of the republican by means of a moderate…Arnold got his with the marriage to the Kennedy’s (God keep you all) and Perry remember, was a shoe in from the late Compassionate Conservative that carried the moderate job to an almost lost campaign, here’s my shout out to Miami Dade County ! Texas is an interesting red state with a blue mega liberal capital, blue borders and pockets within San Antonio, Houston, Dallas…and for the most part parties keep a together yet separate approach that seems to work. The legislative sessions in Texas happens once every two years (thankfully said the governor) which I found rather interesting. I contend that he runs the state like a CEO because the system allows the administration to sell us a two year business plan, and then let it play out for two years. As a business consultant I see tons of businesses that have been hurt by their own banks, changing or now all-of-the-sudden enforcing their risk investment’s terms. All while the business is in it’s infancy. Most businesses in America are funded by the development of business plans, researched analysis that entrepreneurs utilize to forecast business investment performance over a period of time. In Washington, these plans are put into motion only to have the following assembly change them before they have been fully implemented and matured. The Texan system gives the executive the ability to perform under the rules of the game set forth. Gov. Perry is very aware of this advantage and utilizes it to highlight the reason why so many businesses chose to relocate to Texas’s little-government interference environment. (Not that Texans are good stewards of their vast land). He has become the best pitchman of any state. Gov. Perry’s weight is the financial strength and conservative fiscal responsibility that he brings to the table. A table that is fast receiving new members, governors and people of influence that believe that the federal government is taking control of too many aspects of our lives. Texas is famous for the “if it ain’t broken….” And if the state government is strong and responsible, why wouldn’t I support it with my vote for another term? I don’t care that he’s a Republican Party leader, I care more about his ability to manage a business that can consequently generate the economic force that can move this region from being the poorest in the country to the most prosperous.
The Texas Valley region, what I consider Laredo through South Padre and south of San Antonio, is a region that can represent the second largest mega metropolis in Texas. The Texasplex is the growing landmasses of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin and San Antonio, a geographic triangle that will be one of the worlds most populated metropolitan areas. Three professional basketball franchizes in one state might not be sufficient for the yearly increase of migrants both the Latin Americans via the south and winter Texans, unemployed out of state folks and relocated employees. The Texas Valley is a unique region of cultural concentric circles. Politics are interesting in that they are a scary hybrid of the best and the worst of both the US and Mexican politics. Just until a few bailouts ago, the most corrupt peoples where undoubtedly in Mexico, but as we do with Olympics medals, US politicians and their wall street cronies took the historical gold.
Gov Perry’s vision of the border is important as Texas becomes more and more significant to Mexico. Northeast Mexico has had a history of revolt and succession as did Texas. And today you will hear cries from the Republic of Sierra Madre from some minority and a large sense of disgust to the distribution of funds from the central government in Mexico D.F. “Regios” as people from Monterrey are known, believe that as the industrial and technological center of the country they should have more authority to chose how to utilize their vast resources. Mexico of course is almost three countries in one, The northeast, Mexico of the south (largely supportive of leftist Lopez Obrador) and Mexico DF (led by genius politician Marcelo Ebrard). Mexico’s union strength is as fragile as ever, the federal gobernments has been unable to control the Zetas (led by Heriberto Lazcano) school of the Americas trained as well as “El Chapo” Guzman of the Sinaloa cartel. The current President Calderon (PAN) has had a monkey on his back throughout the one six year term presidency by the name of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to such a degree the guy goes by the initials AMLO. It is clear that American culture is inherent in the youger Mexican generations, that specifically in the north grew up watching dubbed American programming, or saw it live in English via dish or the internet. Mexico of the north has more afiinity with Texas and share a common thread of revolutionary traditions. Whether or not these regions separate from the larger politically and legally is unimportant, regions are made not through geography but rather economic interests. Mexico of the north is of Most important interest to texas. The region as a whole, including San Antonio and south to Monterrey contains a population of nearly 13 Million people. I know that if I own a retail outlet in the valley, I can spend years going after new leads (even from a phone book) and not run dry any time soon.
In times of need, humans migrate to higher ground. In the valley we have no higher ground but we do count with a strong state government that manages the state’s assets in the responsible manner that a fiduciary should. Not all is peaches of course, Texas has an embarrassing education record (Mrs. Bush did not get it right) it’s guns laws are loose specifically assault weapons, which end up in the hands of folks mentioned before, and many other interstate issues. The give and take with the federal government works a little different since this state can still pay its bills. Unlike California, no state parks are being seized by the Fed just yet. If Gov. Perry is a watch dog for all of us Texas residents, I feel fully comfortable entrusting him the next few years of my life within this community.