Age is just a number, right?
Correct! Age is just a number. There’s so many people that when they get older, they’ve realised they have so much knowledge and experience that when they want to embark on something, it’ll more likely to be a success than when they were younger.
But moreso… the more mistakes you make – the more you learn. The better you get.
Never Hurry, Never Worry.
It’s a quote from a book that I’ve been reading. Great quote – and there’s a number of things that we should review or slow down with. It’s like my Friday Thought below… Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Whilst speed and ‘first to market’ is important, there’s also an element of making sure it’s right. There’s an element of making sure it works. There’s an element of getting it how the customer or consumer would want it.
Now, how we listen to music has changed alot.
From the trusted vinyl, to cassettes, to cd’s… to (remember minidisc?) and then we could save music files on our ipod/device and more recently, being able to stream music… from our favourite streaming provider.
I’ll be honest – not sure what will be next. I think there’ll be an element of AI – that’ll be able to sense your mood and behaviour and play something applicable from your playlists without you having to select something. So whilst AI will play something for us, at times we want to be in charge and select what we want. And with that… recently, vinyl’s have been selling. And selling quite well!
No longer just a niche hobby for dads and hipsters, vinyl is experiencing a major resurgence in mainstream music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) annual revenue report, vinyl records outsold CDs in the US last year for the first time since 1987, selling 41 million units against 33 million for CD.
Vinyl record sales have consistently increased over the last 16 years which is crazy thinking how streaming services have become the norm! This is all according to the RIAA report published on Thursday, now accounting for 71 percent of all physical music format revenue. The growth margins here aren’t trivial, either — while physical formats as a whole increased by 4 percent, earning $1.7 billion between 2021 and 2022, vinyl sales alone accounted for $1.2 billion, experiencing a 17 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year!
Wondering what is going on here…. well, there are several factors driving the vinyl revival. Many audiophiles claim the format provides a warmer, more authentic sound compared to digital. Nostalgia also plays a part for those who lived through the golden age of vinyl, but younger generations are driving sales too, praising the format’s tangibility and artwork. Artists for the Gen-Z and millennial demographic made up a significant number of record sales in 2022. Taylor Swift was the highest-selling artist last year, selling almost 1.7 million vinyl records alone! Wow!
So… whilst many of us have gone digital with our music needs – there is a growing number of folk who prefer the old, warmer sounds of a vinyl record. Though… whilst that is nice at home, you won’t be able to play it in your car… something, that for sure is a hobby.
And it’s these non-digital type of hobbies that are on the increase. Yes – there’s an element because it’s mainly for the music, but it’s also covers, the artwork, the material with the vinyl, and so much more. It’s holding that physical product in your hand.
In conclusion – we’ll continue to stream most of our music, because of it’s flexbility but.. there’s an increasing sense of enjoying our music. And that’ll be mainly via vinyl.
I remember I used to do these Sunday Tech Reviews a year ago – was a bit much and decided to halt – but it’s back! After a few folk kept asking me, I thought why not… let’s bring it back!
So my Top Two Tech Stories from the week gone…
Elon Vs Halli
So, as you know – Elon Musk owns Twitter. And went on a bit of a rampage firing lots of Twitter employees, because he thought – there was too many for what was needed at Twitter (we’ll discuss if he was right or wrong another day). But this week, Halli Thorleifsson – a Twitter employee, asked Elon – directly, on Twitter, if he was still employed by the company or not – because he didn’t know!
There was a Twitter exchange between the two – at one point, Elon tweeting…
Only for Halli, to share a series of tweets to explain a number of things such as his health, his money that he made, his business, etc..
Between all the exchanges and information that Halli shared – Elon must have done and done some research because, he then replied: “Based on your comment, I just did a video call with Halli to figure out what’s real vs what I was told. It’s a long story. Better to talk to people than communicate via tweet.” and he said sorry to Halli.
If you get a chance, go to Twitter and have a read of the tweets that were exchanged.
Ok, up next..
Lineker Vs BBC
My tech news won’t always be one person another or a competition – but it just so happens, this week – there was another Versus/battle! – This time, with Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeting.. (this is kind of tech – as it’s social media related). So what did Gary tweet…
Now, the problem was – many folks in the Government didn’t like this. The chairman of the BBC is connected to the Conservative party – through donations he made to the political party. And not saying there’s a correlation but… Gary stepped down from presenting the show. His co-presenters – Ian Wright and Alan Shearer also stepped down in solidatory.
Alot of presenters, reporters, etc… also stepped down – even with players and managers not wanting to do interviews with Match of the Day.
Now – the problem isn’t so much about Gary tweeting – but it’s moreso about guidelines. There’s been many presenters who have tweeted in the past – and nothing was done. So why Gary, now?
You can go ahead – again, looks like you’ll spend a little time on twitter, and read about Gary’s tweet and other tweets that show other comments made by other presenters – and the BBC response.
With that… they are my Top Two Tech Stories – and I think the key thing is… Twitter can be quite powerful.
This week has been a tough one.
Last Sunday, I was at the local Sikh Temple. I saw a close family friend who I hadn’t seen for a while. We laughed, joked and he asked how my parents were. I said they’re good.
Sunday night, I rang my parents. Told them who I saw, and that he was asking about them. Dad told me, how he remembers when he came to England from India, the support Dad and others provided for him and how he always shows a lot of love to the family.
Monday I was busy working. Challenges at work. But aren’t there always.
Tuesday at work. Come home. Had football in the evening. Super cold! – but good. Came home – and I had a message to call my Dad.
I called Dad. He said, I’ve some bad news. Earlier in the day, he was out shopping, and he had a phone call that someone had passed away and they needed my Dad’s support to help with some religious items. I asked Dad, who was it… he said, it was who I was laughing and joking with on Sunday.
Totally shocked! Only a few days earlier, we were laughing and joking – and now, he’s no more.
So my Friday Thought… value those around you, hug those close to you and appreciate those that are there for you.
Today’s Friday Thought.. is about your three greatest treasures.
I’ve often spoken about simplicity – with my lean and six sigma background. I’ve often spoken about compassion, and some of the charity work I’m involved with.
Patience. If there was one place I could improve – is patience. On reflection – is it because we have so much data and information around us? Is it these 2 minute clips on Tik Tok that show us how to make a 20 minute meal, make us impatient? (Or do they inspire us?)
Either way, patience is important. And there are methods to help increase patience. I’ll let you find what works for you – & I’ll let you know how my journey goes.
“Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.” – Peter Hagerty.
This quote reminds us that life is not just about reaching our destination or achieving our goals, but it’s about enjoying the journey itself. It encourages us to appreciate the present moment and find joy in the process of living, rather than just focusing on the end result. It’s a reminder to live mindfully, with intention, and to find gratitude in each step of our journey.
How long have you been doing what you’re doing?
Making a lot of progress?
You see, when you’re comfortable, slow and steady… you can make it. But it’s when you are outside you’re comfort zone, you are more alert, switched on, aware and more focused. And that’s where, honestly, all the progress is made.
Disney has been a household name for decades, with a reputation for creating magical and memorable experiences for people of all ages. However, recent trends and a report on the BBC News website suggest that the company’s magic spell may be wearing off. While Disney’s theme parks continue to attract millions of visitors each year, their other divisions, such as television and film, have been struggling to keep up with the competition. In this blog post, I will explore some reasons why Disney’s magic spell is wearing off and how the company can improve using technology.
Firstly, one reason why Disney’s magic spell is wearing off is because of the rise of streaming services. In recent years, companies like Netflix and Amazon have entered the entertainment industry, offering viewers a wide range of content at a lower price point. This has made it difficult for traditional cable and broadcast networks to compete, including Disney’s own television networks such as ABC and Freeform. In order to remain competitive, Disney launched its own streaming service, Disney+, in 2019. However, while the service has been successful, it still lags behind its competitors in terms of original content and technological innovation.
Secondly, Disney has been criticized for its lack of diversity and representation in its content. While the company has made some efforts to address this issue, many viewers are still calling for more representation and inclusivity in their films and television shows. In order to stay relevant and appeal to a wider audience, Disney must take more decisive action to address these concerns.
So, how can Disney improve using technology? One way is by incorporating more immersive and interactive experiences into their theme parks. For example, Disney has already introduced the use of wearable technology, such as MagicBands, which allow visitors to access their hotel rooms, park tickets, and even purchase food and souvenirs with a simple tap of their wrist. Disney could take this technology further by incorporating augmented and virtual reality experiences into their parks, such as allowing visitors to interact with their favorite characters in new and exciting ways.
Another way Disney can improve using technology is by utilizing data and analytics to better understand their customers. I’ve spoken about data and analytics and how it could really improve companies fortunes before. But with Disney, by collecting and analyzing data on visitor behavior, Disney could tailor their experiences to better suit the needs and preferences of their guests. For example, they could use data to determine which rides are most popular, and then adjust wait times and other factors to optimize the visitor experience. They could also use data to personalize the visitor experience, such as by recommending specific rides, shows, or dining options based on the visitor’s preferences.
On top of that – if you’re not a Magic World or any of their theme park visitor – they could still use data to understand their customers more. Who’s watching what on Disney+, and if they’re not watching certain programmes or films, why not? – Then you could focus on those who don’t have a subscription – deep dive into why not. I remember when working for GSK – it was always Pharma companies against each other – because the patents on medicines mattered so much. But then there was a CEO who openly said, for some medicines it’s worth collaborating, even with competitors, just so we can help millions, quickly. What a forward way of thinking! Imagine Disney collaborating or connecting with another streaming service to bring more content, under one monthly subscription. Whilst some of these joint subscription services are around – wouldn’t it be better if the actual companies started doing it?
So there you go… while Disney’s magic spell may be wearing off in some areas, the company still has the potential to innovate and improve using technology. By incorporating more immersive experiences into their theme parks and utilizing data and analytics to better understand their customers, Disney can continue to create magical and memorable experiences for people of all ages. With the right strategy and investment in technology, Disney can remain a beloved brand for generations to come.
Most of you may know, that I’m a Lean Six Sigma BlackBelt. This is why, everything, and I mean everything… that I’m involved in… needs to have a process.
There’s got to be steps. Nothing too complicated. Just a simple, documented, process. That shows what needs to happen. When. How. Etc.. Bonus if there’s a stakeholder map and RACI. But just the basics work.
That’s why, many who have engaged conversation with me or worked with me – I’ll try to explain things in a process-orientated manner. And if I’m seeking information… tell me step… by step.
