Business pitch : ArtUp - an app for emerging young artist

ArtUp is a mobile app for artists to share their works with people around the world. This app is designed exclusively for people work in art related areas. The app works as an "artists' yellow page", which allows you to check an artist's portfolio as well as anything they want to share such as work-in-progress pieces. Artists can simply upload images through their phones to their pages and share it with others members.

The mission of the company is to bring all the artist together. Artist would have the opportunity to connect with each other no matter where they are. Many artists now do not have the access to communicate with others. It's also nearly impossible for the world to know their works. Young artists with limited resources and connections have less chance to be featured in magazines, news and websites. In order to help those emerging artists to be heard and seen, the ArtUp will work as a bridge that brings people together. The app will allow you to search specific artist under different category such as graphic design, painting, photography, ceramic, etc. People who are looking for specific artist can easily find their contact informations on the app.

Anima Mundi Development Partners should support the ArtUp because art community is becoming very affective now. Many talented young artists need the platform to express themselves. ArtUp not only help those artists, but also companies that are looking for talents. Art has the power to make the world a better place. 

AMDP Proposal

TO: Professor Clark Hansen, CEO, AMDP

FROM: Kira Liu

DATE: July 24, 2015

SUBJECT: Adobe System Incorporated Investment Proposal

You have given me the opportunity to find a company that would fit with AMDP’s culture of doing business in a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and profitable manner. Adobe Systems Incorporated’s mission is to foster a culture of sustainability. It was named to the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world index. I highly recommend investing in Adobe because it not only leads the Global green building movement, but also advocates its employees to take actions in daily life.

Definitions

●      Triple bottom line consists of three Ps: profit, people and planet. It is a method of measuring the financial, social and environmental performance of the company. Triple bottom line makes sure that a company put effort in their social and environmental responsibilities.

●      Corporate social responsibility is a company’s effort in the environment and impact on social welfare. The corporate operates a business that accounts for both the social and environmental impact created by the business.

●      A social enterprise is a business that use methods and disciplines of the marketplace to advance their social, environmental and human justice agendas. It usually addresses a social need and serves the common good.

●      A firm’s carbon footprint is the measure of environmental impact of a business or individual. It measures the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by the person, company, etc.

The Adobe System Inc. Background

The Adobe System Inc. is an American multinational computer software company founded in 1983 with headquarters in San Jose, California. The company offers various software and services used by professionals, marketers, application developers, enterprises and consumers for creating, managing and engaging with content and experiences across multiple operating systems. It operates in three segments: Digital Media, Digital Marketing, and Print and Publishing. The company is best known for the Portable Document Format (PDF) and the Adobe Creative Cloud, which is a monthly subscription to a collection of 14 essential desktop tools for consumers. The system allows users to access various software developed by Adobe for graphic design, video editing, web design and photography. The Creative Cloud system currently has over 1.4 million subscribers around the world.

Adobe is recognized by the U.S Green Building Council as one of the greenest companies in the world. For the past decade, Adobe has been innovated in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building movement, measure and report to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and experiment first-hand with the latest green technologies. More than 70% of the employees work in LEED-certified buildings. With on-site farmer’s markets and edible gardens, Adobe is always on its way to enhance a greater workspace for the employees. The company also developed and implemented a monitoring system that captures energy and critical operations data based on thousands of data point, from electricity, water and natural gas usage to the power usage effectiveness (PUE) of all Adobe data centers. The information is calculated annually and is reported to CDP. In 2013, the CDP score is 99 out of 100. In 2010, Adobe installed Bloom Energy Server fuel cells to generate power on site. It converts natural biogas into electricity with no loss in transmission. In 2014, Adobe became the first Fortune 500 Company to install and manage an energy intelligence system from Stem.

Other Opinions

In an article published by Forbes, author Louis Columbus talks about what makes Adobe one of the world’s most ethical software companies. First reason is that the company continually invests in and freely shares the results of their global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. It is a long-term effect of bringing accountability and measurement of CSR results deep into a company’s culture. The second reason is that the company has well-defined and executed measurement methodologies in place to measure how effective their investments in CSR programs are for communities, schools, colleges and universities. Last but not least, Adobe also routinely develops and use software applications designed just to support CSR programs and initiatives. According to Louis Columbus, Adobe has gone beyond the boundaries of the existing software applications to support streamline CSR and philanthropic efforts using their technology.

Harry Stevens, in his post “For Adobe System, Earth Day is no small matter”, talks about how Adobe takes CSR seriously in the company. He points out that one of the company’s most impressive sustainability project is its Net Zero program. In 2012, Adobe facilities in North America, London and Ottawa achieved Net Zero status, which refers to a building, which consumes zero total energy and produce zero total carbon emission. Stevens believes that, ultimately, Adobe seems to have managed to find an effective balance between corporate responsibility and profitability.

Why AMDP Should Invest

As one of the world’s most successful software companies, Adobe System Inc. keeps innovates leading technologies to make the world a better place. “We build creative solutions for sustainable business”, the company’s goal is always to conserve natural resources in everything they do. Adobe not only put lot of effort in benefiting the environment and society, it also creates great opportunities and working condition for its employees. According to Fortune, Adobe is one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in 2015. Adobe believes that great workspaces inspire great work. A company with happy employees would always be a good choice. I strongly recommend AMDP to invest in Adobe System. 

Source

"Corporate Responsibility." Energy Conservation. Adobe, n.d. Web. 25 July 2015.

"Adobe & Environmental Sustainability." An Adobe CSR Brief (2005): n. pag. Adobe. Adobe, 2012. Web. 24 July 2015.

Columbus, Louis. "The World's Most Ethical Software Companies: What They All Have in Common." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 July 2015.

"100 Best Companies to Work for." Fortune. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 July 2015.

The Challenge for Africa #2

In chapter five and six, Maathai talks about the government corruption and unfair trade in Africa. I found these two chapters really interesting because my best friend usually goes to Africa once a year to visit his father. His father has a mining company in Congo and all the workers are native Africans. He grew up in Cape Town, which is considered the best city in Africa. However, his father's office in Cape Town got robbed when he was visiting a few years ago and a man put a gun at his head. I asked him if he could just turned those robbers to the police and add more security guards to the office. He told me that the police in the city would actually take money from the gang members and they can do nothing with them. Also, the government collects higher taxes from foreign companies because they know the foreign companies are "richer". Government corruption makes it harder for the local people to survive. The only thing they could do is hard labor work. In Congo, most people don't have access to fresh water and electricity. The basic infrastructure is really undeveloped. I think the first step in changing Africa is to educate the people. Local people need to stand up and let the government to hear their voices.

:(

My dog Turbo was attacked by a big dog last Sunday at Lake Hollywood Park. I say "attack" because it was not a dog fight. They did not even sniff each other before the dog push Turbo down and bite him. All I heard was screaming. I tried to pull the dog away but she was too big for me to handle. The owner wasn't around at that time and after a while the owner pulled her away. Turbo kept screaming and ran to the bench and hide under it. I was so frightened. Luckily, an old lady helped me out and gave me her blanket to wrap Turbo and brought him to the car. She also helped me to ask the other owner's number. There were also a couple that helped me to bring my stuff to the car. I'm just so lucky to meet those people. On our way to the ER, Turbo started bleeding. I can't explain how I felt at that time... I hoped that I was flying a helicopter. The traffic in Hollywood was so bad and Turbo kept whining in the car. After we arrived at the vet we used to go to, the nurse told me they didn't have ER. The doctor took Turbo to the back and checked his wounds. He said that Turbo need sutures for several places and asked me to go to another vet that near them. It turned out Turbo got four wounds on his body. One of them was on the chest and it was a puncture that required a drainer tube. It was around 6 pm and they said I could pick him up around 10 pm. After I came out of the vet office, I was still shaking. I always saw dog fight when they are playing but it's the first time that a saw a dog that is so vicious. It was not just a bite. She wanted to kill her prey. But I don't blame the dog, I think sometimes it's just their instinct. The problem is the owner. Why left the dog unattended at the park? Especially if you have big dogs. I think it's the owner's responsibility to watch the dogs while they are at a public park. If the owner can pulled his dog away right after the dog jumped on Turbo, nothing would happen. What upset me the most was not that he was away, but his attitude after saw Turbo got hurt. The old lady at the park asked him to leave his number on my phone, he was like "Oh I'm so sorry but I think we should wait and see if he is ok." WAIT FOR WHAT? Turbo's front leg couldn't even move at that time. Many people offered help but the owner was just standing there and watch us like he had nothing to do with all of this. Fortunately, people stood out for me at the park he gave his number to me. I feel so sad that his dogs have to be with such a irresponsible owner.

Good news is Turbo recovered so fast. The first two days were really painful for him. He could barely lay down because of the wounds around his body. He would either sat or stood there of hours rather than lay down. He became normal after 4-5 days. He had the sutures removed today and the doctor said he could run and go on walks like normal now. What a great news! Since he has so much energy, staying at home and doing nothing is really a torture. Time to play!

In-home Dog Sitter

If you are one of those animal lovers that always stop strangers on the street and ask to pet their dogs, this might be the profession for you. Dog sitting is a new business opportunity for dog lovers who work at home. Lots of people have dogs that can't just simply left with friends and other family members when they leave home or go on trips. Some dogs require special medical care and 24/7 supervision. As a professional dog sitter, you will take care for people’s dogs while they are away. Similar with fostering a dog, a dog sitter is like a temporary owner. The sitter is responsible for feeding, walking and playing with the dog as well as giving medication if needed. Since professional dog sitters usually have lots of experience with dogs, people nowadays trust them to take care of their fur babies. Pet sitting has became one of the most popular business for starters who love to work with animals. Many websites now offer services that connect dog owners with pet sitters around the country. If you want to become a dog sitter but don’t want to deal with the complicated licensing process, those websites provide an easy way for you to start your business. But before rushing to sign up as a sitter, there are many things that you need to take into consideration. When considering become a dog sitter, many people fail to understand that dogs, like human, requires the same amount of respect and care. Yes, you have a business relationship with the dog owner, but professional dog sitters need to recognize their responsibilities of actually taking care of someone’s family member.

Before starting the business, why don't you take a moment and think everything through. Do you have enough experience with animals or you just feel it’s easy money? Do you have enough time to take care of someone’s dog or it will end up being home alone all day? Are you physically capable of handling certain breed? Are your pets friendly to dogs...etc. If the answers are positive, then we may proceed to the most serious questions: What kind of dog can you sit? What sizes? What ages? If you don't have the energy and time to take care of a puppy, it's best to limit the option to adult dog that is already trained. Dog sitting requires individual attention to every dog. It’s different from the dog boarding kennel or the dog hotels we used to know. It provides better services since it’s in a home environment and there are usually less than 3 dogs per household.

There are several guidelines that could help you to better understand your situation.

What's your lifestyle?

The first thing you may consider is your lifestyle. Most dog sitters work at home while taking care of the dogs. How much time can you spend with the dog everyday? Most owners don’t leave their puppies to the dog sitters, but what if someone has that request? Are you capable of house train the puppy? For the first 4 months, the puppy requires 100% attention since it just left its mother and littermates and haven't adapt to the new environment yet. It's important to train a puppy from a early stage. Your schedule will decide your dog's daily routine. Are you flexible enough to take the dog on a walk at least three times a day? Dogs are social animals that require a lot of interaction with both human and its kind. Do you have time at least once a week to take the dogs to the dog park? If you are not sure about the answers, forget about dog sitting large breeds like husky or even small ones like Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Pinscher. Those breeds will destroy your house if they don't get enough exercise everyday. In this case, you may consider to limit your sitting options to lower energy level dogs. Some breed, for example Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese and Shih Tzu would be a better choice for someone who does not have a very active lifestyle. All dogs need exercises but these breeds have typically lower energy level. On the other hand, If you consider yourself a sports enthusiastic, high energy dog may be a good buddy to go hiking with you on the weekend. Also, some owners would love to have their dogs go on different adventures with you when they are away.

Where do you live?

The size of your home and the surrounding environment are also important when considering the size of the dogs. Is there a dog park near your house or at least some grass that could let the dog do its business? Is your neighborhood safe to walk the dog? Do you have a yard for larger dogs or highly active dogs? Is there any veterinary near your house? Many people fail to think about these questions before starting the business. Dogs won't chew up your sofa for no reason. Mostly it's because of frustration and lack of exercise. According to dog psychologist many canine behavior problem can be traced to pent-up energy. When a dog is frustrated and bored, it may lead to excessive barking, chewing and even aggression. So, be sure to fully examine your environment before decide what kind of dog you can take home.

How much should you charge?

It really depends on the services you could offer to the dog owners. Some dog sitters would give bath to the dogs and bring them to the dog park everyday, which would add a little extra to the average fee. According to the popular dog sitting website “Dogvacay”, the average rate is about $45 per day with 24/7 supervision and around $35 if the sitter won’t be home all day. The rate for large dogs (40-80 lbs) and giant dogs (80 lbs +) are usually higher than the small and medium dogs.

Get to know the dog and its owner in advance

If you are ready to have the first furry client home, the first thing is to meet the dog and its owner in advance. Dogs, like human, have different personalities. Some are quiet, some are hyper and some may be aggressive. To provide a better service, it’s important to know the dog’s temperament and habits before take it home. For those people who already have pets at home, you should also bring your pets when you meet the owner and the dog. Sometimes adult dogs that are not spayed or neutered can be very territorial. So, in order to prevent dogfight it’s better to know that information ahead.

In-home dog sitting is a great opportunity for any animal lovers that are passionate about starting a home-based business. It not only fulfills the needs of those dog owners that need to be away from home, but also gives the dogs a loving environment to enjoy their short “vacation”.


Source:

"Professional Pet Sitting - A Career For You?" NAPPS. National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, n.d. Web. 11 July 2015.

"Become a Pet-Sitter or Dog-Walker." Entrepreneur. SmallBizBooks, 27 Dec. 2006. Web. 11 July 2015.

Heikkila, Teija. "Starting A Dog Boarding Business." National Kennel Sales. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 July 2015.

Halvorson, Chad. "7 Tips For Great Pet Boarding Business Management."When I Work. N.p., 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 July 2015.

"9 Pet Businesses to Start Today." Entrepreneur. N.p., 17 Oct. 2005. Web. 11 July 2015.

How to achieve a balance between rich and poor?

    

    After I read "The genius of money", my biggest concern is that in today's society, there are still lots of people that are struggling with basic infrastructures. What can we do in order to change this situation? Nowadays, rich people become richer because they have the money and power to achieve what they want. While poor people become poorer since the lack of resources, education and help from others. I don't think it's anyone's fault that caused today's gap between the rich and the poor, but it's everyone's responsibility to make a change. 

Dog boarding

   Who doesn't love those puppy faces and chubby paws running around your houses? But before rushing to get a puppy, there are many things that we need to take into consideration. When considering add a member into the household, many people fail to understand that dogs, like human, requires the same amount of respect and care. First thing that a future dog owner needs to recognize is the unique value in dogs. Certainly, they are not human, but we should take into consideration their needs and natural instincts before take them home. 

     Before contacting any shelters or breeders, why don't you just take a moment and think everything through. Do you really want a dog or you just saw some random cute puppy pictures online and decide it without thinking too much? Do you have enough time to take care of the dog or it will end up being home alone all day? Can you commit to this more than ten-years relationship or you might abandon it one day? Are you prepared to spend what it takes to raise a puppy or you just plan to feed it table scraps? Is everyone in your home agree on having a dog or you haven't even talk to them yet?...etc. If the answers are positive, then we may proceed to the most serious question: Which breed? If you don't have the energy and time to take care of a puppy, it's best to get an adult dog that is already trained. However, if you want to bond with the dog since day one and watch it grow up, you could get a puppy.

     There are several guidelines that could help you to choose a puppy that would best fit you.

What's your lifestyle?
The first thing you may consider is your lifestyle. How much time can you spend with the dog everyday? For the first 1-2 months, the puppy requires 100% attention since it just leave its mother and litter mates and haven't adapt to the new environment yet. It's important to train a puppy from the moment it enters your house. Your schedule will decide your dog's daily routine. Are you flexible enough to take the dog on a walk at least three times a day? Dogs are social animals that require a lot of interaction with both human and its kind. Do you have time at least once a week to take your dog to the dog park? If you are not sure about the answers, forget about getting a large breed like husky or even small ones like Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Pinscher. Those breed will destroy your house if they don't get enough exercise everyday. In this case, you may consider a "lap dog". Some breed, for example Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese and Shih Tzu would be a better choice for someone who does not have a very active lifestyle. All dogs need exercises but these breeds have typically lower energy level. On the other hand, If you consider yourself a sports enthusiastic, a high energy dog may be a good buddy to go hiking with you on the weekend. Dogs like Australian Shepherd, Labrador and Dalmation would be a good choice.

Where do you live?
The size of your home and the surrounding environment are also important when deciding on the size of your dog. Is there a dog park near your house or at least some grass that could let your pet do its business? Is your neighborhood safe to walk your dog? Do you have a yard if you want to get a high activity level dog? Is there any veterinary near your house? Many people fail to think about these questions before getting a dog. Dogs won't chew up your sofa for no reason. Mostly it's because of frustration and lack of exercise. Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog. According to dog psychologist many canine behavior problem can be traced to pent-up energy. When a dog is frustrated and bored, it may lead to excessive barking, chewing and even aggression. So, be sure to fully examine your environment before decide what kind of dog you want.

Shelter or breeder? (No Pet shop!)
Many people misunderstand shelter dogs. Dogs end up in a shelter do not means that they have behavior issues. It's usually because of the unresponsible owners. You can still find the sweetest dog in the shelter. The problem is the chances are low if you want a puppy or a purebreed dog. No breed is better than other. If you can train the dog properly, every breed can be your best friend. If you decide on getting puppy from a breeder, you'd better do enough homework before make the deposit. The best way to examine whether a breeder is responsible or not is to pay them a visit. I know it may sound ridiculous to drive 10 hours just to check out a farm, but if you want the best for both you and the puppy, it is necessary. If you are lucky enough to find a responsible breeder, the chances are the puppies would be healthy as well. Before contacting the breeder, you can always go on the AKC(American Kennel Club) website to check whether if the breeder is registered or not. The AKC would provide contacting information on their breeders and they are usually reliable.

What's your budget?
Last but not least, if you decide to get your puppy from a breeder, what's your budget? Some breed can be really expansive compare to others. According to research, the most expensive breed is English bulldog, which can reach up to $3,000. Not to mention that English Bulldog are prone to many health issues. So if you really love this chubby dog, be prepared to those vet bills! Another expensive breed is also from the bulldog family - the French bulldog, which is also known as the Frenchie. Its cute short face and stubborn personality attracts makes it one of the most popular dog in the world now. The average price for a French bulldog puppy can be around 2,000 and it's also prone to several health issues. If you want a happy-go-lucky pup but does not want to pay a lot, there are also many great choices.

According to AKC, the top ten most popular breed in America in 2014 are:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Golden Retrievers
4. Bulldog
5. Beagle
6. Yorkshire Terriers
7. Poodle
8. Boxer
9. French bulldog
10. Rottweilers.

However, no matter what dog you choose, it will devots its whole life to you. Be sure to treat them well!

The Genius of Money. Post 2

In this chapter, John Bloom talks about the power of money. He mentions that money has the power to control people's mind. People always say that money can change people but I think it just brings out who he/she really is. Just like Justin Bieber, he used to sing for money on the street when he was younger. He was all nice and polite when he first appeared on the screen. After he became famous and able to afford all kinds of luxury super cars, people begin to question him. People think he changed and he is no longer that cute little boy. I feel the Bieber today is who he really is. That's what he wants to be. Money can empower people. When people have enough money to achieve whatever they want, they are able to show who they really are. Unlike Bieber, there are also people who never "change" even after they become rich. They still drive the same car and live in the same house. I think it's depend on people's goals of life. Money can't really change who we are, it just brings out our real selves.