The Backup Plan August 2014

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Project Wing

Posted On: August 29, 2014

Project Wing


 

 

So Google X has announced that it has spent the last two years developing a prototype drone that will be able to deliver goods all over the world, the company calls the endeavor “Project Wing”.   A truly unbelievable undertaking and an effort that could change the face of consumerism forever.  We have already seen a huge change in how we shop in that most of us no longer go to the store and buy our items, rather we order them online.  If project wing takes off it will be utterly game changing.

 

Think about it for a moment, when we were younger you would drive to the mall, or to whatever store, and you would spend an hour or so looking around, perusing the wares, trying things on and doing what we have done for centuries, shopping.  Now many of us cruise the net rapidly clicking thru websites, viewing goods and reading reviews.  We fill up our digital shopping carts punch in a few passwords wait a few days and our purchases arrive on our doorsteps, pretty awesome really.  It makes me just the slightest bit sad and nostalgic because there was something exciting about holding something in your hands and comparing it to other items before you decided on your purchase.  There were so many interesting stores to visit and so many other items to see, many of which were much more impactful in there physical form then there digital form.  As cool as it once was we will continue to see a transition away from this because the other option is quicker, easier and cheaper, cheaper by far.

 

Project Wing is the next evolution of home shopping.  Having an unmanned drone will further mitigate costs as no driver is needed and fuel costs less.  Delivery times can be more accurately estimated and after a few kinks are worked out it will be safer then driving big rigs thousands of miles across country.  It will have it's growing pains of course, at first it most certainly will not be less expensive the technology and construction process will need to be refined over years, and there will be dangers, airspace concerns and malfunctions that could possibly send these little jets crashing into residential areas.  We will also see a whole system replaced and many will be out of the job as delivery truck drivers will be a thing of the past.  Such is the price of progress though, cold as it may seem and scary as it might be it is advancement, and it will be an obvious improvement over our current system.

 

In the end, if Project Wing is a success, and there is very little reason to believe that it won’t be, life as we know it will be very different, gone will be the days where we venture out to the shopping mall, gone will be the days of waiting unknowingly for our packages.  Scary, but most change is, there will be growing pains for sure but that is typical with innovation; Project Wing will be the next evolution of consumerism.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

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A Long Island Paradise

Posted On: August 28, 2014

A Long Island Paradise


 

 

Some of us may not realize it but we live in a veritable paradise.  Long Island is one of the wealthiest and most beautiful places in the world.  Those of us that have grown up here may take the natural beauty and diverse geography for granted, but I would like to take a quick moment to remind you all about how incredible long island really is.

 

First of all we are on an island less about 23 miles wide, this means that you are no further then a half hour away from a beach no matter where you are, and the beaches here are beautiful.  We live in horse country and on farmland, the trees and flora on Long Island are incredible, vineyards and farms out east punctuated by preserves, arboretums and flower fields throughout and all surrounded by beaches, Long Island is completely stunning from early spring to late fall.   Everything is growing in April, blooming during the summer months, and then the foliage begins to take on those luscious fall colors, very few places in the world can boast such a range of beauty.  When the trees go to rest and the plants close their blooms for the winter, we get snow.  Some of us at this point may be wishing for a mild winter but still very few places in the world will have summers like we do and then still have snow in the winter.  Long Island is the quintessential example of the range of beauty possessed by the four seasons.

 

There is so much to do here.  We are down the road from the greatest city in the world.  Broadway theaters, gorgeous museums, fantastic nightclubs and fabulous restaurants are what NYC is known for and we are a short train ride away.  Long Island has its own attractions as well, we have the Hamptons out east and a booming wine country with over 40 incredible vineyards to choose from and visit.  We have our own amazing eateries, everything from Italian to Seafood.  We have some of the freshest and best in the world, no matter what your preference there is a five star restaurant for you.

 

Ultimately an aesthetic paradise and one of the greatest places to live or grown up, long Island is incredible.  From the natural beauty, to the food, to the activities long island lacks nothing.  Love where you live and if you don’t live here come visit us you won’t be disappointed!

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

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Uber Vs Lyft

Posted On: August 27, 2014

Uber Vs. Lyft


 

 

Touted as one of the biggest tech rivalries in a century the battle between these two ride sharing companies is escalating.  The monstrous Uber and the mustachioed Lyft are both companies who offer taxi type rides in many major cities across the globe.  We have previously discussed several dangers involved in using one of these services and now it seems as though they are beginning to show their true colors.  Both of these companies have participated in unscrupulous and dastardly tactics in an attempt to sabotage the competition.

 

Lyft reports that over 5,000 phony rides have been called in throughout various areas.  When the calls were traced it was discovered that they were made from several different accounts all belonging to, yup you guessed it, Uber employees.  There exists in the Uber hierarchy a team of moral-less individuals who are engaging in the most aggressive and unethical tactics imaginable.  These tactics include recruiting drivers from the competition by offering big commissions and signing bonuses.  Recruiters go so far as to order rides from the competition, get into the car with the driver, and begin to pitch them on their service and business model.  The ride cancelations are perhaps the most underhanded, this not only takes work away from honest drivers, but it takes cars away from paying customers, not to mention the damage it does to the company.  Ultimately neither of these companies has been very ethical in their rivalry.

 

In the end it is frightening.  Uber is a huge company and it is only growing, the longer it flourishes the more sinister it seems to be.  Understandably business is business, but there still exists a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things.  When you or your company are engaging in shady business practices I personally don’t believe you should find success as it indicates to others that this is the right way to be, or that this is the proper path for success, and it breeds an unethical approach to business.  If you can’t play fair, especially with a war chest the size of Uber’s, don’t play at all.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

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The Seven Vital Habits For Success

Posted On: August 26, 2014

The Seven Vital Habits For Success


 

 

We all hear about everyone’s bad habits and negative character traits, smoking drinking, laziness, self-indulgence, envy, but how come we never get a list of good habits?  I think it is far past time we talk about the Seven Vital Habits For Success.  These will be habits or mentalities possessed by those that have achieved a certain level of success, these are also characteristics that bosses look for when they are interviewing a potential new hire.

 

1)   Self Motivated, no manger or boss wants to feel like they have to look over the shoulders of their employees to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.  No one wants to be constantly micromanaging.   Be self-motivated start your day with a plan.

2)   Demonstrates ownership.  Someone once told me there are two types of employees’ owners and renters.  Owners take responsibility; they go above and beyond, they are looking for security and a home.  Renters are just collecting a paycheck.  Employers want owners, employees who will take responsibility.

3)   Commercially minded.  Some people have trouble seeing the bottom line or recognizing their job in relation to the profitability of the company.  The ability to see how your performance impacts the company will make you more valuable to your employer.

4)   Hard working.  Unless you are on the verge of collapse or seriously burning out you will very rarely hear a superior say you are working too hard.  Pace yourself but do your job well, if you are having trouble with something try harder.

5)   Intelligence or the ability to learn something new is invaluable as an employee.  You will become indispensable if you are continually bettering yourself and learning new things that will help the company.   This will not only make you a better employee but a better person as well.

6)   Ability to step outside a comfort zone.  All of us have things we are good at and all of us have things that we are not so good at.  Work on your flaws and look to mitigate your weaknesses.  In additional do not be afraid to try new things even if you think you may not like or be good at them.  The very successful just don’t step outside their comfort zone they live there.

7)   Having Charisma or demonstrating emotional intelligence.  As hard working or intelligent or talented as you are in 99% of careers and businesses you will at one point or another be dealing with people.  Some people are likable and some are not.  Some are easy to work with and some not so much.  Charisma is something that some people are born with; emotional intelligence is something that can kind of be learned.  Being able to properly interact in business is important.  Make an effort to not be difficult.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

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Learning To Network

Posted On: August 20, 2014

Learning to Network


 

 

Networking is a vital part of career building.  Some of us love it and some of us hate but we all know that we have to do it.  How can those of us who aren’t naturally social butterflies hone our networking skills?

 

First lets identify whether in fact you need honing.  When you enter an event do you beeline for the bar avoiding everyone?  When you first introduce yourself to someone, or someone makes and introduction for you, do those conversations typically last less then 5 minutes?  When you go out do you normally make excuses to leave early or spend most of the night playing with your iPhone?  If these answers to any of these questions are yes then you have some work to do.

 

Its frustrating that some people just seem to be so naturally extroverted or charismatic, it makes many of us feel awkward and unlikable.  Here are some tips to make things easier; don’t set unrealistic expectations give yourself attainable goals.  Set dates and departure times for each event you plan on attending and make sure you stick to it unless dire emergency.  If you don’t like to talk about yourself ask questions and just listen, most people like it when someone is interested in what they have to say.   Don’t strictly stick to business, get personal with those you engage with, ask about family and interests outside the realm of business.  Finally use mutual contacts, meet people thru friends; they will act as a liaison and a buffer making the meeting or engagement much easier.

 

Not all of us are natural networkers but that doesn’t mean that all of us can’t be good at it.  Take some of the above advice and start out slow, don’t shoot for the moon because you will end up disappointed and with a bruised ego.  Time, practice and good listening will turn even the most introverted of us into master networkers.

 

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2014 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

 

by Jarrad Kulick

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