Tag: tech

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£100k to £360m in 12 years!

I read a lot of success stories – and stories where people and organisations didn’t make it.

It’s always good to learn from those who didn’t make it. And I’ve began to list a number of common denominators to why they didn’t make it to the big time. Yes – there’s a few generic ones… like the people in charge, the direction of the organisation, etc…

But I’m not going to focus on that. I wanted to focus on something else.

So I tweeted the other day – how Tesla is the most valuable car maker in the world… and how Nikola is valued more than Ford – despite not even selling a car yet!

Crazy times!

But not really.

Investors are looking to the future.

What does the future hold. What does the future need. What do people in the future need. What will people in the future want!

We’ll save the conversation about electric vehicles for another day.

But one thing I would like to say is – I see ALL industries being disrupted (if not already being disrupted).

What does that mean Bal? How can you disrupt ALL industries? – there’ll be some that you’ll always need… like food and drink.

I even see those industries being disrupted! It’s taking time.. but it’s happening.

Case 1.

(Briefly……) Yesterday, I had a gentleman knock on my door. He was from the Modern Milkman.

Basically, they are like the old milkman, who drive around – deliver milk, eggs, juice, etc… to your doorstep – early in the morning, so it’s all ready for your breakfast. It’s all fresh from the local farm…

Why do I think they’ll do well…. maybe not take over current ways of supermarket shopping (well, you never know!), is because of 3 things. 1) They deliver to your doorstep. 2) They’ve got an app! And 3) They are using the thinking of ‘recycle, reuse, reduce’ – their not using single-use plastic….! And more importantly… milk (like Coca-Cola) tastes better out of a glass bottle…

Case 2.

Another one for the ‘drinks’ sector. We all like a beer. Most of us enjoy going to the pub on the weekend and enjoy a pint or two. What choice did you have? – we all know there were the regular choices… and maybe one or two additional ones. Nothing too exciting to write home about.

But again – it’s all changing. There’s now microbreweries. There’s craft beer! There’s more people making different types of beer than ever before. And these are very quickly appearing in pubs and bars up and down the country.

We want variety. We want choice.

Take Brewdog for example. A Craft brewery who saw an opportunity. And has made it work for them. And how are they doing financially… well, have a look at their post recently on LinkedIn…

And finally… Case 3.

Cakes and cookies… bakery goods, being disrupted by smaller independent bakers, local bakers… who sell goods online or through Facebook (where they can connect with friends and family).

Take for example, Bal’s Bakery….. (on Instagram, @balsbakery)…. they make vegan cookies, eggless cakes, etc… but more on the success of this in a future blog post 🙂

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Stay Connected with the Elderly… Easily

Tomorrow (Friday) Morning… I’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham, sharing my thoughts how best to stay connected especially with our elderly relatives and friends.

Technology can be daunting for most of us – imagine what it’s like for those who haven’t grown up with it. Even then… All these new ways to stay connected and in touch can easily confuse people.

Image result for elderly technology

Then there’s the fear… fear of pressing the wrong button. Fear of accidentally downloading something that you have to pay for, fear of not knowing what to download and how, fear that the battery might run out… there’s so many fears!

For the majority of us, it’s fairly easy. Those on iPhones (iOS) can make facetime calls to each other. But what happens when friends, relatives, elderly are on other operating platforms… such as Android and you want to facetime someone on an iPhone?

  1. Find a common platform – As simple as this sounds, it can be more difficult! I would suggest go for a common and simple approach – such as Whatsapp. Via Whatsapp, you can make calls, video calls, send messages, send videos, etc… available on all platforms…. AND you can have it on your tablet and your computer. There’s a lot of flexibility.
  2. Let the elderly know – they can’t break anything – remove that fear from them. Whatsapp is fairly easy and simple to install – just follow the instructions on the screen and you’re set up in no time. ALSO – let them know, they don’t have to pay for the app…. if they’re trying to download something that’s asking for payment – then it’s a NO NO!!!
  3. There’s other options…. there’s Google Hangouts… Zoom…. Skype…. so many more, so whatever you use on a regular basis and are comfortable with, recommend that. Make sure it’s easy to navigate.
Telecommunication Technology Togetherness Concept

To the last point – there’s various YouTube videos on how to use the above tools – might be an idea to share a video first, so they know what to do, how to install and use it… then they can go ahead and use it!

If they are a total novice – no problemo!… why not talk them through it. Most elderly folk will have a land-line (for the younger generation wondering what that is… I’ll share with you next time). So call them on the landline and talk them through what they have to do.

If this is difficult… then you can watch the YouTube video with subtitles and read the subtitles to them! Genius… I know.

Image result for elderly technology

More than anything – please make sure you have patience. We’re living in a fast world…. where a tik tok video of a few seconds is the norm… stories on Insta are what we can take in…. many of us are used to the amount of content being thrown at us….. don’t think it’s the same for the elderly.

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Podcast - Bal’s Tech Talk

Podcast – EP7!

Hello Folks! – PODCAST ALERT!!! New Podcast is out- that’s right, Episode 7 is out! – Kat and I talk about the latest tech such as the Surface Duo…. we also play the yes no game and we have a brilliant new business venture idea!

Also – if you’d like to sponsor our podcast… get in touch! We’ll mention your name/company etc.. and give you a few plugs!

How can you hear us… you should know this by now… we’re on Spotify… (search for ‘think lean get digital’) and we’re on apple podcasts!

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Tech Talk on BBC Radio

Last Night, I was invited to BBC Radio Nottingham – to provide my usual ‘Tech Talk’.

It usually consists of me talking, about some of the latest tech stories that would have a connection with the local community. Breaking down technical jargon into plain simple English.

In addition to the normal ‘Tech Talk’- I also offered some advice! – Mother’s Day is this Sunday in the UK, and I’ve shared previously on my blog some great presents you could buy.

On Radio, I shared a few more! – Let me know what you think to them…

Here’s a link to the show – I was on just after 7pm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p072jgjj

Or there’s an audio clip of it below…

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Podcast - Bal’s Tech Talk

My 4th Podcast!

I’ll be honest. I thought, I’ll record a few podcasts – not many people will listen and I’ll park the experience.

Fortunately… I’ve had some listeners! 49 plays on my last podcast!!! – Whilst it’s not setting the world on fire, I feel we can continue to grow – and see where this takes us.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen… my 4th Podcast is available from all your favourite podcast apps and places you go to listen to podcasts! – Search for ‘Think Lean Get Digital’ on your Apple Podcast app, Spotify, Google, etc… and SUBSCRIBE! – it makes life so much easier for you… honest 🙂

M&M’s Bal? – Yes… we talk (at the end of the podcast so you have to listen to all of it) about M&M’s….

Leave a review – and let us know what you think! – and oh, that’s Kat and I in the photo above… with some M&M’s!

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Podcast - Bal’s Tech Talk

My 3rd Podcast!

Who’d have thought it – I’d keep going and get to my 3rd Podcast!

Things have slightly changed… in the way, I’ve now got a Co-Presenter! – That’s right… Kat, who’s a bit of a Tech Geek…. joins me on this episode.

Feel free to comment back to this post with comments and suggestions… and most importantly, if Kat should stay at co-Presenter!

It’s available on all your favourite podcast platorms – for example, go to Apple Podcast app, and search for ‘Think Lean Get Digital’ and you’ll see it pop up! – but to save you time, here’s the link…

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/think-lean-get-digital/id1447639190?mt=2#episodeGuid=eecb9754-1cbb-09b5-8615-8077620c7eff

In fact, go to all your favourite platforms… search for ‘Think Lean Get Digital’…. and enjoy!!! Yep – it’s even on Spotify, (all my episodes!)

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Children Technology

Has Tech made you a better parent?

I’m a father. And the other day, I was asked by the BBC about parenting – how I differ from my father… and from my perspective with a ‘technology’ lens made me think about it.

I would say – I am different. Same values, enhanced parenting.

Why, do you say that Bal?

Well… firstly, we have Social Media. Good and bad – however, I’ll take the positives and one of them is that, there’s some excellent advice for parents.

Yes – there’s a lot of content out there – but you can join various parenting groups… I’m sure other friends out there have similar challenges as you – and you can learn from each other. It’s easier. It’s quicker.

There’s also the messaging platforms. Take Whatsapp for example. I’m part of a few ‘dad’ groups. One of them is excellent – great advice, some funny jokes – but overall… we’re in the same boat. There’s a fitness guy, sharing great advice to get rid of the ‘dad belly’, there’s a ‘history’ dad, that shares some great insights and history to what’s happened previously… so you get the picture… various dad’s, lots of different professions – sharing lots of great insights and advice.

Back to the question… we’re busy these days. Travelling. Meetings. People… and often can be difficult to be with your children in the evening. Technology has helped again. Skype and FaceTime. Talking to the kids in the evening face to face for the time your away can be so valuable to the children.

So my values are just like my dad. But technology has helped me carry them on in this modern day we live in.

Obviously… technology helps everyone. Every father (and mother!). Even if you differ from your father – I’m hoping you’re using technology to be a better father to your children. To be able to listen to them. To talk to them. To teach them. To advise them. The educate them. To empower them to make wise decisions. To let them be…. anything they want. As long as they are happy.

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How old do you feel?

Okay, how old are you?

Well Bal – I’m not going to tell you… but I feel 21!

It’s not fair me asking how old you are. But great to hear you feel 21!

The folk that read this blog – are a great age range! No, honestly, there’s some young folk… and there’s some old folk. And some of the old folk struggle with modern day technology… we’ve seen the video’s, we’ve seen with our own eyes probably…

And let’s be honest – technology has advanced so much in recent years, it can be difficult to keep up on occasions.

But ever thought, how a 17 year old would react to an old device?

It’s funnier than you think! – that’s right… watch this video where two youngster are asked to use an old phone and dial a number… (Finally a chance for the senior folk to laugh at the youngster’s!)

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Bal’s 2018 Christmas Tech Gift Ideas

Well, it’s nearly Christmas, we’re all getting into the festive spirit – Christmas parties, drinks, food…. and then realising…. we need to order some presents for family and friends! 

Don’t panic! I’m back again this year – with some suggestions of what you could buy… my Top 3 Christmas Tech Type of Gifts! 

Okay, let’s not waste time…. straight in at my Number 1, is my idea that will be great for anyone, anywhere and to do… anytime! Also – it’s not physical, so it doesn’t take up space, you’ll have something you can do it on… AND, they’ll spend hours on it!!!

  1. Netflix

That’s right! – If your family/friend/whomever you’re buying for… take them to the clouds! – well, let’s be honest, we don’t need physical dvd’s, or any storage device. Netflix offers so much content – you can watch it on your phone, tablet, TV, etc… 

And the prices aren’t too bad either! Now the best thing is – you can have multiple users!! 

Now, there is also Amazon Prime – that offer their streaming service, which is also good – but for me, Netflix just edges it to Number 1. 

2. Smart Watch

 Now, I’ve recommended this a few times – and will recommend again. 

Doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or an Android (Samsung, Google, etc..) type of phone. There’s plenty of watches out there, that can sync to your phone. 

Also, you don’t need to get the ‘norm’. Armani and various other designer makes are also making ‘Smart Watches’ – for which, look much nicer. 

So be it the latest Apple Watch – with a whole host of features and health tracking…

Or the Samsung Smart Watch…

Smart Watch and tracking is a must. There’s also Fit Bit that offer a great health & fitness monitoring – so have a look at what type of person you’re buying for, what device they have already – and then purchase the type of smart wearable accordingly. 

3. Tile (Tracking Device)

Now – are you the type of person that leaves keys laying around, or misplaces the phone…. or just in generally, leave things here or there?

Well…. here’s the answer. A device called Tile.

It’s a small tracking device that you can attach to anything… keys, phone, camera, etc… and track it.

It’ll let you know location. It’ll make a beeping noise. It’ll alert you.


Now, in addition to the beeping and alerting – there’s so many other features such as being part of the ‘Tile’ network…. and then there’s changeable batteries (there’s a version with built in batter for 1 year) and for five extra bucks you can get the one with the changeable batteries – which is the one I would recommend. 

So a nice little present – you can also buy packs and there’s offers on if you search on Amazon. 

… And Finally,

I thought, why not include one last… final…. funny… idea for a present. 

Now… we spend a lot of time on our phones. Let’s be honest. 

And most of us, the screen isn’t the biggest. And for most older folk…. their eyesight isn’t the greatest. 

Therefore, I present to you… the Phone Magnifier! 

That’s right – simple yet so effective! – turns that little screen into a big screen! – well… a decent size! 

The back stand allows any phone to sit there. And then by magic… it appears on the large screen! 

You can find it on the usual shopping sites, Groupon, Amazon, etc… all different varieties are available… some made from wood! – which I would recommend, less plastic the better!

So folks… there you go. Hope you like my Top 3. I will be sharing more, as I’m radio over the next few days an will be sharing more gifts ideas… from the big and expensive to the cheap stocking fillers. All with one thing in common… using technology!