BGN Entrepreneur

Facebook is now pushing advertising sales agencies to become more transparent over the way they charge for their services, in an attempt to protect companies who market on the social network.
The social network company believes that via improving transparency, companies will obtain a much clearer idea of what proportion of the money they give to agencies goes directly on ad spending, rather than on service fees.

Apple is facing growing challenges this year to refresh its key product lines, facing the increasingly fierce competition after a year marked by record profits but also the death of its founder and chief executive, and less dramatic design innovation.
In 2011, a white iPhone, white iPad and white iPod touch has been the most noticeable physical changes to Apple’s products, though the company updated the internal hardware of its devices and introduced new software as well as services to retain the cutting edge.
However, according to the industry analysts, it is said that the US IT giant needs to do much more if it attempts to stay ahead of competition as the world’s leading technology company and ensure that its employees are still inspired to work for Apple.

Work sucks when you don’t know how to deal with your own boss. When it comes to the issue of dealing with the boss, there are nine principles you need to bear in mind:

First of all, it should be always your top priority to learn about the characteristics of your boss. As the old saying goes, “Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.

Secondly, remember to always pay attention to the hierarchy and power distance between you and your boss. Hierarchy and power distance within an organization could vary greatly depending on the nation’s culture and organizational culture. You will never want your bosses to think you don’t respect them enough as you fail to identify these two culture dimensions.

Thirdly, never cry in front of your boss no matter what happens. In most cases, crying does you no good but reveals your weakness to the others. You could easily make your boss feel awkward or embarrassed via crying in front of them.

Fourthly, be loyal. No boss want an employee who might be considering quiting the job all the time. It is natural that almost all bosses want someone who are trustworthy to work for them.

Fifthly, try your best to finish your work on time help create a positive image of you in front of your boss. Even if you are going to fail to finish your job on time due to strong reasons, never stop working until the last minute.

Sixthly, try to think from your boss’ point of view in order to be aware of their motives. It helps you understand their desires and approaches much better. Then, you could anticipate your boss’ needs and emotions.

Seventhly, pay great attention to details. A lot of things are always shown in details. It could even determine success or failure of an individual or a business.

Eighthly, don’t compromise too much too easily. A good employee should have his own insistence. Constructive advices should be valued by wise bosses. If you simply give up your standing without fighting at all, you will only appear to be not assertive at all.

Last but not least, never lose your team spirit even if you could actually do great by yourself.

Mario Monti, the Italian prime minister has called for a “common response” to the debt crisis of the Euro zone, because he plans to Italy announced out of the recession. He added that despite the two recent successful Italian bond auctions, he did not believe that the period had ended the financial market turbulence.

On Thursday, the government raised about 7 billion euros ($ 8.96bn, £ 5.86bn) of debt. The interest on the Italian 10-year bonds remained unchanged at 6.98%, a barely sustainable levels. Mr. Monti, on the occasion of traditional Prime Minister end-of-year press conference, stressed that the problems of Italy in the markets to larger problems at European level, a “united front, joint and convincing answer,” that increase could also necessary growth were connected.

He said his new government is working hard to prepare a package of measures to the Italian economy moving again. He will detail his economic plan, which EU leaders will present on 23 January. The plan would focus on the promotion of competition and liberalization of the Italian labor market, said Mr Monti.

He said that Italy had been seen heading towards a debt crisis in Greece as sliding doors, but had “dug in their heels” on the edge and not fall. “We’re very close to the situation in Greece,” he said. “We were in the South East [towards Greece] heading and we put on the brakes. He added that until the government took action, “there were many vultures circling in the sky of the European and international markets. Italy is the euro zone’s third largest economy, but investors worry about their mix of low growth, high debt and spiraling debt.

There are fears the country could be a bailout like the other euro zone members Greece, Ireland and Portugal have. Although the yields on Italian bonds fell from recent highs on Thursday’s debt auction, the country remains the cost of borrowing is relatively expensive.

As consumers rushed to finish their Christmas shopping, a last-minute surge in revenue provided a boost to the retailing sector in the US. However, deep discounts will probably squeeze the profit margins at most companies.
According to figures from several industry groups, it was shown that the sales rose sharply in the week up to Christmas and the day after the holiday. Besides, Christmas fell on a weekend also greatly helped the retailers, as a lot of stores stayed open late on Christmas Eve to attract budget-minded consumers.
Sales at chain stores rose by 4.5% in the week to December 24 from a year ago and were up nearly 1% from the previous week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs.

The Internet company–Google, whose search remains dominant in most global markets, once saw traditional advertising as its chief competitor. Now the Internet giant has fully embraced TV commercials in 2011. The company has invested several times more than it did in 2010 as it tries to persuade consumers to swap from entrenched competition to its new social network and web browser.
Currently, Google’s marketing budget remains small by the standards compared to most companies its size like Microsoft. However, Google’s leap in spending as well as the imaginative work from agencies show that the company now has to work much harder to convince consumers to switch from Facebook or Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser than it does for search.

To avoid putting your own career on the line, you should try your best to avoid committing the following taboos while on the clock.
1. Bluffing in front of your boss is not wise at all. Many people lied about their skills sets or academic degrees. It is a common crime, that people might find beneficial in a short while. But in the long run, it is definitely a stupid move to take. We find a lot of CEOs, celebrities and ordinary workers alike fired every day for this.
2. Never drive a more expensive and more luxurious car than your boss. Such swagger will do you no good but cause the jealousy of your boss or at least making him/her feel that you like to show off.
3. Do not wear the clothes from brands bigger and more famous than your boss. Try to stay in the same level with your boss when it comes to the issue of personal spending.
4. Never question your boss’ decision in the public as it almost always makes him/her feel humiliated in front of the crowds.
5. Do not join the crowds of people to laugh at your boss and it is of no good to discuss with others about the boss’ private issue.
7. Trying to build up brotherhood with your own boss is a naive thought that a professional staff should never try.
8. Do not attempt to draw the boss cronies, as it would annoy your boss easily.
9. Lying to your boss is one of the best way to successfully lose the trust of your boss. So, unless that is exactly the objective you are looking to achieve, never do it.
10. Never waste your time and energy getting jealousy with the boss.