North Korea, the clandestine and isolated regime located in between China and South Korea, has one thing in common with timeRAZOR: Neither of us give in when it comes to a product launch!

Of course, North Korea launched a long-range missile to try and put a satellite into orbit (so they say), whereas timeRAZOR launched a “Never Miss Out” application designed to cure people’s FOMO, satisfy the craving behind YOLO, and make everyone as famous as J-LO. Well… Maybe not the last part…

So, even though we are both incredibly focused, driven, and don’t take “NO” for an answer when our leadership teams want to do something, here are the top 5 ways timeRAZOR is NOT like a North Korean missile launch.

5. Our product did not break apart and plunge into the ocean a few minutes after launch.

4. timeRAZOR has established powerful business partnerships with companies like L’Oreal, Marriott, and more to fill its app with deals and unique offers. In fact, we want to expand our relationships with major brands (click here for brand info). North Korean missile launches? Not so much.

3. timeRAZOR has the largest national database of events and nightlife activities in the country, so you can always find something to do. North Korean missile launches come only once every few years, and its pretty much an invitation only event.

2. North Korean missile launches do not come with real-time traffic alerts that tell you when you need to leave so you won’t be late and miss out.

And the number 1 way timeRAZOR is NOT like a North Korean Missile Launch…

1. timeRAZOR sends you interesting events, restaurants and deals for you to choose from and explore based on your location, where you work and where you live. And let’s face it… Nobody in the world wants North Korea to send them a missile.

Download timeRAZOR for (the iPhone) and (Android) phones today. It’s free!

Dear Yahoo!,
I have decided to terminate my account with you.

I’d like to tell you it’s not you – it’s me… And that it’s nothing personal… But… It IS you and it IS personal.

You don’t meet my needs, and have not for a long time. You are a sub-par technological redundancy in my life.

Good luck. I hope you find a way to make someone else happy, and provide services and technology that enhance their productivity.

Sincerely,
Michael Hackmer

I received an email from Darcy Kohn at Ripple Communications informing me that the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), ODNI and government agencies in the intelligence community, are seeking presentations highlighting the latest research and technology that can best benefit agencies involved in national security.

Presentations are conducted before a panel of “75 government scientists and technologists, selected by the ODNI.”

The event, known as the “Innovators’ Showcase,” will take place on April 26th, but abstracts are due Monday, March 19th. Per Darcy, “the Showcase offers industry leaders to gather and share classified projects and technologies with their peers and government agencies and the tangible benefits for national defense and homeland security efforts.”

For more information, visit INSA’s website at: www.insaonline.org.

As Americans kick off the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an Expedia survey notes that we wasted $67 billion in vacation days last year.

According to the results, the average American also receives and uses less vacation days than people in other industrialized countries. For example, the average American worker got 18 vacation days, but only used 14. Whereas, French (37 vacation days) and British (28 vacation days) citizens all received and used substantially more time off.

One of the reasons for the lack of vacation time is many Americans cannot take the time off because they are over-worked. In the shadows of the Great Recession, many US workers are performing multiple jobs. Other reasons cited by analysts commenting in response to this story are that due to the recession, many do not believe they can afford to take the time off, either because their employers are not supportive, they have anxiety about their jobs or their own personal finances preclude them from taking vacations.

Regardless of a persons work situation it is critical to take time off periodically to recharge, and it is important for companies to invest in wellness programs (see for example, GovWin member company Greenleaf Integrative Strategies) to help reduce stress, improve productivity and create a psychologically healthy workplace.

What do you think about the lack of vacation time in America?

Do American companies need to provide more vacation time? Do Americans need to be more demanding about taking time off? Post a comment below or where this entry was originally posted: This Memorial Day, Help Take Back $67 Billion in Wasted Vacation Days. And have a happy and safe Memorial Day holiday.

There has been a good discussion brewing over the past month in the B2B Technology Marketing Community in LinkedIn around one word to describe the biggest challenge facing B2B marketing.

Some responses have included:
Data
Noise
Choice
Personality
Content
Value
Trust
Engagement
Measurement

While there are many great one-word answers, my perspective of the biggest challenge for b2b marketing is the same as it is for marketing in general: It is you. You are the biggest challenge that you will face.

I say this because over the years I see the same patterns over and over again. People in marketing often do not know important things like who they really are, who and what their company is about, who their customers are, what their customers want, or what they want or where they want to go. The answers are often right there in front of them (customer feedback, internal questions, poor market performance, etc), but something inside these people prevents them from being able to see it or from being able to listen to others.

In my view, all the challenges a marketing professional will face pale in comparison to the battle one will wage against him/herself.

timeRAZOR, a new concept being developed by Blue Canopy and mysbx / GovWin founder Jeff White (@Jeff_White1347) and SEO / online marketing expert Victoria Clark (@NotVicki), is building towards a launch. While I am under a total information lock-down, an early glimpse of what is in the works is extremely exciting.

One way to get an early scoop of what timeRAZOR is all about (apart from reading news updates in this space) is to sign up at: http://timerazor.com/s37jv.

You also can stay informed about the company through their daily tweets @time_Razor.

The following is the podcast of Social Web Radio from Wednesday, May 4, 2011.

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The following is the podcast of Social Web Radio from Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

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The following is the podcast of Social Web Radio from Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

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The following is the podcast of Social Web Radio from Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

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