Profiting in the Info Economy: Using the Various Indexes to Assess the Future.

(revised at 18:18)

Following are some of the indexes that some of our associates have utilized  to assess the state of the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) of the information economy:

Terrain

• The Baltic Dry Index (the successor version of The Baltic Freight Index)  

The # of packages that are being delivered around our globe offer the trend state of the world's economy. 

I saw a story somewhere between 2007 and 2008, where the the state of the logisitic business ( FedEx , UPS, DHL, etc) predicted the immediate slowdown of the global economy because of the declining quantity of freight shipments during the previous year or the previous three consecutive quarters for that year.

• Google Trends  This index monitoring the day to day flow of the information economy 
• WorldoMeter  (Real-time Global statistics)
• Standard and Poor 500 (S and P 500) Index
• The Economist Magazine's Crony Capitalism Index
• The Supply Chain Index
• U.S. Postal Service

Viewing the Consumer Marketplace

• The Purchase Power Parity
• The Big Mac Index   Out here in the west coast, some of us preferred the In -n- out burger double-double. 
• The Pizza Slice Index   The price goes up while the "baseline" standard of quality stays the same.
• Wilshire Index
• Comscore.com
• The Dollar Index

Effectiveness of Logistics and Process

• The Popularity of Programming Language Index  
• Cisco's Visual Networking Index (VNI)

More to come

Preparation Precedes Performance: Preparing The "Go" Bag for a Chaotic Setting

In our information economy (search, mobile and cloud), some members of the masses have become addicted to the immediate gratification of technology. 

What would happen to the masses if the power source behind the technological element of the information economy is nullified for whatever set of reasons? Concurrently, what would they do if natural disasters become a seasonal trend.  What would you do?

Planning and the preparation are the general steps of our "Position" stage.  ... One must be agile, light and mobile on the field regardless of the situation.  ... . 

To prepare for the uncertainty of life, it is important to possess the right essentials (tools, etc.)  and not use it than to need it and not having it.  ...                              
                    
Preparation Precedes Performance
Here is the updated "Alpha" list of gear for one's everyday carry (EDC) purposes:                  

• a compass        
• a polycarbonatic clipboard and notepaper.        
• a Swiss Army Knife (and a Leatherman's multi-tool)     
• a devoted blade (Emerson, SOG, etc.)  
• a roll of duct tape                     
• a LED flashlight and backup batteries    
• a set of N95 masks
• a set of vinyl (medical) gloves
• a Nalgene plastic water bottle (BPA free)
• a pair of Sunglasses
• a Smartphone  (with backup batteries)
• a light pack of USB gear cables (esp. the USB to mini USB cable)            
• a few large capacity USB flash drives
• a Faraday-type of container. 

Compass Guidelines for Field Preparation

• Be light, agile and mobile.  
• Always carry necessities not accessories.

Here is the updated "Bravo" list of gear for the accessories bag (aka. "The Go Pack #2")  It is nice to have this prepackaged set of gear for extreme climate-driven terrains.                    

• A set of paper maps of one's terrain
• A good durable backpack or a quality vest w/ multiple pockets. 
• A disposable cloth towel
• A few elastic bands
• A durable garbage bags            
• wooden and metal toothpicks                   
• non-metallic paper clips and metallic binder clips                           
• Rolls of cash and coins
• chewing gum, chocolate bars and energy food bars                                
• a set of specialized magnets
• a set of small screwdrivers and some screws             
• a digital watch                                                 
• a ball point pen and a wooden pencil                                        
• a colored electrician tapes
• a cloth towel
• a dryer's lint filter                
• a magnesium fire starter
• a set of colored flares         
• a set of colored b-day candles                 
• nylon fishing line and hooks
• a portable hard drive
• a USB to mini USB cable                                       
• a ethernet cable
• safety pins
• plastic straws
• a mini first aid kit (TCM and Western medicine- band aids/gauze, anti germ gel, etc.) 
• Yunnan White Powder (This Chinese powder medicine works for minor laceration)                                                    

Conclusion

Always be prepared and always know when to gear up.  ... As mentioned before, it is important to be prepared (possessing the right essentials) and not use it than to need it and not having it. Fwiw, this bag makes a good X-Mas gift to those who live in the extreme terrain.  

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Succeeding in the Info Economy with the Right Cyber Toolbox for Desktop and Mobile Applications

In the evolving technological driven world. there is no golden ring or any perfect "kitchen sink" software that would maintain the image of 100% efficiency, especially in the cyber security realm.  Things change. Bad hackers abused the gaps. The mindfully and successful  strategists quietly adjust, evolve and stay ahead of the curve.

Regardless of this "flaw", it is better to have the tools and not use it than to need the tools and not have it.  ...  Staying ahead of the curve is about anticipating two events ahead while executing one move ahead.

The successful strategists sometimes prevail because of a combination of their willpower, their focus, their strategic framework, their operational team and their toolbox.  ... 

The List of Necessities not Accessories.
Following is an abridged list of software apps that one should have in their desktop pc toolbox and/or mobile phone toolbox:

• Chrome (free)
• Firefox Browser (free)
• Evernote (free)
• Foxit Reader (A free pdf reader)
• Open Source Suse (A free alternative operating system to MS Windows.)
• Opera Browser (free)
• Kindle reader for the Windows Desktop 
• Perl (This scripting language is the master toolbox of all programming languages. It has a super programming library.)
• C/C++ Programming Language (The "nuts and bolts" of all programming languages.)
• Microsoft Excel (The Excel spreadsheet is still the predominant digital swiss army knife for organizing specific data and composing math formulas and equations for small scale numerical analysis projects.)
• Mindjet (This mindmapping tool is great for conceptual "top to bottom" brainstorming)
• Password Safe (free but effective)
• Sublime text (A good GUI-based vi text editor for programmers. Their older versions are for free)
• Spinrite (This app is great for protecting the data integrity of the hard drive)
• True Encrypt   (Click here for their FAQ)
• Thunderbird  (Good for archiving one's email.)
• UltraEdit (A good text editor for programmers that allows customization.)
• Vim  (A good and free vi text editor for programmers.)
• VM Player 
• VM Virtual Box

Our Favorite Web Services

• CPAN
• Google's Documents
• Grammarly  
• Skype
• WebEx
• Sourceforge
• Feedly
• I Heart Radio
• The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Meta-CPAN
• WSJ
• NYT
• Jacquie Lawson (Greeting Cards)
• Mindjet

Most free products are usually good enough for massive usage.  In some scenarios, we preferred to utilize the tools that allowed the user to implement some levels of customization.

Non-Techie Tools for the Cyber Realm 
Here is our abridged list of above average non-cyber gear for unpredictable times

• CCrane (This is a great source for high performance radios. A good radio enables the user to be in touch with the real world without being entirely connected to the digital grid. During the spring to autumn season, it is always fun to listen to a baseball game or a radio talk show while writing code.) 
• Emerson Knives (It is nice to have a reliable bladed implement for the rare worst case  scenarios.)
• Saunders Clipboards (Their metal clipboards are just great for focusing one's attention in a non-techie setting. They are usually manufactured in the USA.)
• Bulletproof Clipboard
• Lamy Pens  and Tombo Pens (Both companies have been manufacturing durable and functional writing instruments for many decades)
• Red Blossom Tea (They sell great green tea)
• Standup Desks

Tools for Fools
Utilizing throw-away gimmicks that served the minimum purposes is the norm.  ...  Successful strategists that we have met, do not collect irrelevant tools. They are focused on having the best quality tools...  You would rather have a quality tool that performs to its highest standard 1,000 times than to purchase 1,000 of the same tools that barely work once or twice. 

Conclusively. some of us possessed a grand infatuation for superior utilitarian workhorse type of tools. ... 

Side Notes
While most people believed in the view of the pen is mightier than the sword in most instances.  Some of us preferred to position both items in accord. 

The successful strategists sometimes prevail because of a combination of their willpower, their focus, their strategic framework, their operational team and their toolbox.  It is rarely about one attribute.  They instinctively understand how to effectively balance those attributes. The usage of rules and simplifications are for novices and amateurs who are looking for stop gap solutions.

Comments From The Compass Desk 

Being mobile and having immediate and fastest access to the right data are two of the many keys to strategic success in our information economy. Knowing how to assess the Big Tangible Picture and comprehending what tools work for that unique moment are the prerequisites to positioning ahead with sound and solid planning  and preparation.  

Having the large toolbox is one thing. Utilizing it in an integrated mode and knowing when to carry certain tools for certain situations are some of the keys to tactical success.  

There is more to building a pragmatic but favorable setting than to reading the manual.  It is all about comprehending the configuration of the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) in terms of the Five Critical Strategic Factors (CSF) and building a defensive mechanism around it. 

You can read more about the basics of the Five Critical Strategic Factors in our future book project. 

More to Come

Preparing for a Worst Case Scenario (from the Field Level)

(Emerson Knives)
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Someone recently asked us for strategic and tactical advice for extreme situations where the attackers are carrying knives.   .  

Regardless of the geographical region, bladed attacks happen all over the world (i.e., China, Canada, England, the U.S. etc.) The skill of the attacker might vary but the use of a blade is a common trend.  There was one unique case in London  where the victim was hacked to death.

Source: Yahoo

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/assortment-crude-weapons-confiscated-outside-coppa-italia-final-175747609.html

In some extreme combative scenario,  your attackers could be utilizing long, heavy and sharp apparatus or finger-sized stilettos?

Against normal street fighters, neophyte martial art training could only go so far.  Will your emulation of a MMA fighter or a highlander-sword slinger present you a temporary edge? We doubted that this insane approach would work against a seasoned street fighter.

Compass Solution

When maneuvering through chaotic and hostile terrain, carrying an Amazon Kindle, an iPAD, or any type of consumer electronic device, is not going to properly protect you from getting your head bashed by a gang of high school punks who are high on drugs.   Your copy of the Art of War will not resolve the spiritual conflict of the attackers.  

Prepare yourself for worst case scenarios by carrying the bare minimum. Focus on being light, agile and mobile. Do not be a mule.  ... 

Other Defensive Means

A customized clipboard might make a good defensive object to utilize. It is light and durable. 

You can either purchase this item through the web or build it. It is quite simple. Our research tells us that a 10 by 15 inch clipboard with a quarter inch thick-ness, made from clear polycarbonate plastic, costs somewhere between the $20-$35 range. It fits into any briefcase or any reasonably-sized backpack and the weight is minimum.

We believed that it is possible to carry this implement as a defensive shield against some of the various lower caliber projectiles. Whether a person is willing to carry this clipboard, every hour of the day, is a different story

In a head to head situation where milli-seconds are quite previous, utilizing the clipboard might be a good tactical solution.   

Confrontational Tactic 

In a confrontational situation, keep them in front of you.  Do not get caught on an encircling situation.  It is essential to have the availability of one escape route available.  When in doubt, run first.   

Reminder: Do not let them encircle you.

We recommended that one should be methodical in their assessment of the current situation, and accurate (not impulsively quick, inaccurate and dead), before entering into a hazardous terrain.

The Advanced Advice for The Experienced Strategist 

"The Will to Prepare" is always greater than "The Will to Act on Instinct."  Be prepared by staying two steps ahead of the situation.

Those who enjoy the thrill of a direct confrontation and need additional tactical guidance.  We recommended the reading of the Water Book and the Fire book of Musashi's Book of Five Rings. It will enlighten you in the array of tactics for adjusting in different tactical confrontational situations

Situational Challenge

Can one "quick draw" the other guy before he could utilize his implement?  

Click and Observe.

Source: Youtube

Regardless of the thrill of the battle, one must understand the importance of honor and the respect of life.

Is the Solution Pragmatic and Practical?
Playing defense is always a pragmatic solution.  The extremity of the change factor and the initial assessment determines whether it is possible to proceed with the original solution.

Basic Suggestions From the Compass Network

We have asked our various friends in the martial art community for tactical advice. Some people suggested to arm heavily and learn how to utilize it. One person recommended the tactical practice of the advancing half step, right hand strike. Another person preferred the Baguazhang practice of the three palms (The Single Change Palm, The Double Change Palm and The Following Posture Palm) as the solution.  ... Me!?  ... I preferred to retreat, run and re-position while practicing the skill of ting jing and dong jing.

Side note

• You can read an assortment of martial arts topics at Cook Ding's Kitchen.

Compass Toolbox: Evernote

Are you using the web for research- and worried about losing it? 

Do you ever find yourself wishing you did not have to print every web page or article in order to save it?  

It is comforting to know that there is a software, backed up in the cyber cloud, that is easily accessible from any computer that will allow you to efficiently manage all the components of information that you are collecting.

That software is Evernote – an user friendly and powerful app that will assist you in remembering and retrieving your digital content, whether it's a note that you have written to yourself, an e-mail that you have received that you want to retain or a section of a web page that you would like to save.

It is one of our favorite cyber tools.

With Evernote, using any web-linked device, you can capture, browse, save, retrieve, share, search and edit notes, pdfs, web content, or other types of documents.

Being satisfied users of Evernote,  we recommended you, our readers to consider this tool as their app.

Fwiw, we have never been compensated for any endorsement. 

Side notes
In our evolving technological-driven information economy, no cyber system is perfect.   There is a price to pay for storing private data in the cloud. ...  Think about it.  ...  It is better for all to spend some time to assess their Big Tangible Picture in terms of relativity and prepare some contingency plans.  

It is that simple.  

Some of us still jot some of their unique notes through the use of the pencil and the paper. This old-fashioned approach still works especially in the area of retaining important data. 

Some of the Best Stuff to Read Online!

The standards for succeeding at some levels of our information society have changed. Being efficient is no longer enough. To thrive under these uncertain political-economic settings, one must focus on being strategically effective.

Collecting the right information is the first step.

Following is an abridged list of our favorite sites:

• AviationIntel
• Business Week
• Drudge Report
• Foreign Affairs
• Harvard Business School
• Intellibriefs 
• New York Times
• Real Clear Markets
• Schneier    
• Silicon Valley Watcher
• Stratfor
• Venture Beat
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post

• Cook Ding's Kitchen 
• John Batchelor Show
• John Dvorak
• NPR

More to come
!!!

How Things Work in the Information Economy (2)

Regardless of the flaw behind the current browser technology, the successful strategists evolve by maintaining a large toolbox.   They always stay ahead of the curve by connecting the ideas, the principals and the events in terms of the relativity while working on their contingency options.  Relying on one type of technology tool is not in their playbook. 

In summary,  the successful strategists always implemented the following strategic moves:

• Assessed the Big Tangible Picture; 
• Positioned themselves with good planning and preparation; and   
• Influence their settings by promptly deciding on the right option.   

Assess.  ... Position. ... Influence.  ... API.  ... It is that simple.   The OODA process does not always work in the field especially when the even parity between the two competitors becomes tangible.

Whenever the API process is consistently in a positive motion, the successful strategists will evolve forward.  ... 

Compass Rule 
Evolve. Don't dissolve.