Blogging for a life: Blog about my life….my opinions and experiences.
New Years Resolutions
Everybody has them, but how many people follow them. Since I had a really good day today and actually started doing some of my resolutions. Actually they are just things I need to change or do better. It’s just convenient to do it at the beginning of the year. So I’m calling them resolutions. Here a few of them.
Be more proactive (professional and personal)
Be more aggressive with my business.
Stop dating the wrong women (This one is a good one, but seriously are there any sane single women out there. I seem to find all the not so sane ones.)
Start working out regularly, since at the moment I’m not playing as much soccer (I think everyone has this one, I actually started the P90X exercise program today!)
Be more financially responsible.
Eat better.
Some pretty standard ones I guess. Only the first week, but so far so good. 😉
Could Volkswagen become the new “Peoples Automobile” of the US??
Amid the turmoil of the US auto industry, with bailouts and possible bankruptcies. Many fear the failure of the big three automakers: Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors.
With all this doom and gloom in the US automakers from other countries are seeing a chance to really get a foothold in the worlds largest market for cars. Volkswagen, the largest German car manufacturer is making a bold move to secure a position to take advantage of the golden opportunity to fill the void in the case that one of the big 3 fails. They plan to sell 800,000 automobiles annually in the US by 2018. The first step in this process building a new $1 billion production site in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A grounding breaking ceremony is planned for January. They intend to build 150,000 new mid-sized sedans annually, specifically designed for the US market. The new plant is expected to bring 2,000 jobs to the area. Although an independent study from the University of TN predicts it will create an additional 9,000 jobs from suppliers, dealers and other spin off business. Chattanooga was chosen a head of Detroit, Michigan and Huntsville Alabama.
Other foreign auto assembly plants in the southeast include: Honda in Lincoln, Ala.; the plant Kia Motors Corp. is building at West Point, Ga., and Nissan at Smyrna, all about 100 miles away. Tennessee is also corporate home to Nissan North America, which dedicates a new headquarters July 22 in the Nashville suburb of Franklin. Plus, BMW has a plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Mercedes Benz has a plant in Vance, Alabama. The southeast is really becoming the mecca of foreign automakers in the USA.
If the US auto industry fails, could VW take over?
A Brief Look at 2008
Well another year is coming to an end and, as I’m sure as most people are doing, I’m looking back back at the past year. Was it a successful year? Did I accomplish what I set to? You know the usual questions.
A lot has happened this year. On of the greatest things that happened was I became an Uncle in June! Aidan is a cute kid and I can’t wait to get him started with a soccer ball. lol
In the past year I have taken on leadership roles in many different places. Last spring I put together a team (FC Blackbird) for the Keystone State games and we won the bronze. From that I continued the team and we play indoor together. We keep ending up in second place, but hopefully in next weeks final we can change that. I’m helping organize Berks United. My outdoor team that’s won the championship the past 3 years in a row. I’m still organizing the German group in Lancaster: Netzwerk Central PA. We went through some changes this year, but we are still going strong and we have good group of regulars. All this and that’s counting running a business…
This fall marked the 1 year milestone for my business: Blackbird e-Solutions. By that I mean, the first year my only income was generated through my business. The company was founded in early 2005, but it was mostly a part-time gig until March of 2007. The last company I worked for was Google and I stopped working for them in September of 2007. The majority of startups don’t make it past the first year. I’ve said it before, but I know that I owe a lot of that to my good freind Scott.
The past 2 months November and December were the hardest months I’ve had for business this year. The combination of the economy slowing and the holidays have made things.. well interesting. But, I really believe that this coming year is going to be good in regards to business.
2008 certainly was not without challenges though. Those close to me that know what I’ve gone through, particularly in the last month know what I mean. I believe that one of me best characteristics is that I’m an eternal optimist. So as challenging as things get I still believe that great things will happen. It is just a matter of figuring out how to make them come true. Plus, what’s the old Nietzsche quote? “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”.
This year I’ve also met a lot of new people. Some of them have turned into good friends others have come and gone. I don’t really believe in destiny, but I do believe that people cross paths for reasons and it’s up to us to figure out what those reasons are. I think for the most part the people I’ve met this year have each taught me something. I know I have been bad at keeping in touch with a lot of people. Sorry. This year has absolutely flown by and I have been extremely busy…. I know that’s not an excuse, but I will try and do better.
I know I’ve only hit some of the highlights. A couple others: My youngest sister was married a good friend is now engaged.
Well, we have one more day of 2008, and I’m looking forward to 2009.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and has a great New Years!
Christmas dinner spread
mmmmmmmmmm