A123’s IPO Already Bringing Hope to Other Cleantech Startups

On September 24, 2009

A123’s IPO Already Bringing Hope to Other Cleantech Startups

Hours ahead of battery maker A123 Systems' initial public offering, optimism is already running high that the company will crack open a stagnant market and convince investors that they should also buy into other stock offerings. A123 made an 11th-hour call yesterday to raise the price its opening price by 23 percent, to a range of $10 to $11.50. If the company gets traction it will bring in about $250 million. That's not bad, for a firm that lost $40.7 million in the first half of the year. Its revenue was only slightly higher, at $42.9 million. But A123 is well positioned. It started off selling batteries into the power tool market. That led to electric cars -- which are...


On September 24, 2009

Layoffs, Personal Finances Undermine Consumer Confidence

Consumers haven’t jumped on the recovery bandwagon, according to a study by BIGresearch, despite encouragement from government, business and Wall Street. The market research firm has reported that its index of consumer confidence fell in September, with only 30 percent of consumers saying they are confident/very confident that the economy will manage a strong performance in the coming weeks, down from August level of 31 percent. Still, that’s better than during September of last than last year, when only 28 percent of consumers were confident or very confidence in the economy’s prospects. Concerns about unemployment and personal finances are weighing on consumers. When polled earlier this month, 36 percent of consumers said they expected more layoffs over the next six...


On September 24, 2009

The Real Difference Between Leadership and Management

What is the difference between leadership and management? I should know: I have written both How to Lead and How to Manage. But I recently discovered the definitive answer: leadership sells better than management. There are lots of people out there who want to be leaders, but they might be better managers. In truth, management needs to sell better than leadership. For every leader who dreams of changing the world, you need a hundred managers who can turn the dream into reality. But we have all been taught that leadership is sexy and that management is boring. So what is leadership and management? Leadership is the art of taking people where they would not have gone by themselves. That means there are plenty...
On September 24, 2009

Counterpunch: Chevron Sues Ecuador

Chevron upped the ante Wednesday in its 16-year legal battle over allegations of environmental pollution in Ecuador and filed a claim against the government there for violating international trade law. The arbitration process will be handled by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. The U.S. oil giant faces a $27 billion lawsuit filed on behalf of indigenous Ecuadoreans living in the Amazon region, which alleges Texaco caused massive contamination during its operations there. Chevron bought Texaco in 2001 and as a result, inherited the lawsuit. The arbitration claim was filed to protect Chevron from what the company described as exploitation of the ongoing lawsuit by the government in Ecuador. In its claim, Chevron said Ecuador's government continued support of the lawsuit violates a 1998 agreement that released Texaco from any liability after...
On September 24, 2009

Hilton Changes Name and Logo

Hilton Hotels Corp. is now Hilton Worldwide and comes with a shiny new logo. The reason? Well, it's not that clear. President and chief executive Christopher Nassetta told USA Today, “We're really trying to put a stake in ground. We're one of the largest hotel companies in the world, and this is a renewed focus on being the pre-eminent hospitality company . . . We thought that the name Hilton Worldwide is more reflective of who we are." Perhaps, but it also comes on the heels of Hilton executive Ross Klein, a former Starwood Hotels executive who joined Hilton and was sued by his former company for leaking company secrets, leaving Hilton after spending months on administrative leave. The lawsuit, filed in...
On September 24, 2009

Remember Your Perspective: It’s Only a Job, After All

My father-in-law had a stroke today. Our entire family dropped everything -- deadlines, meetings, conferences -- to immediately rush to his bedside. Why? Because some things are more important than work, and after all, it's only a job.
On September 23, 2009

Problogger Turns 5: Plus 50% Off His 31 Days To A Better Blog Workbook!

I was just checking my email for the night and noticed that it’s Darren Rowse’s 5th Birthday at Problogger and he’s holding a very special pricing for his 30 Days to a Better Blog Series. You Get 50% off the price! This is a REAL workbook that you’ll get in the mail. Go here: [...]
On September 23, 2009

Should Online Journalists Bear Responsibility for Their Traffic?

As many of you know, this is Advertising Week in New York City, a non-stop, wall-to-wall extravaganza of advertising and media industry navel-gazing -- which found me, late this morning, at a panel titled "Traditional Journalism in the Digital World." Sponsored by AOL, it featured three journalists at AOL properties, exemplars of the shot-in-the-arm AOL is giving the journalism business. But to me, you haven't really made the transition until you're actively engaged in and responsible for building your traffic, and also in tracking deeper analytics that tell you how much attention your audience is paying to your content. I'm thrilled that a model is being built by AOL for 21st century journalism, with no legacy costs, like desks and...
On September 23, 2009

Next Week – The Future of Finance is Revealed at Finovate

Organized by the teams at NetBanker and Online Financial Innovations, September 29, Finovate 2009 will descend on the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan, featuring the hottest financial and banking technology innovations. Demos from the newest opportunities and startups, handpicked from hundreds of companies, have seven minutes to impress with their latest and greatest. We’ll be there, [...]
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