August 31, 2006
How NOT to let people go...
Radio Shack recently sent a mass email layoff notice to employees. It was not personalized and rather short. And please don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for this organization which has been very good to ICP over the years of our existence. (its former ".com" President sits on our board)
Now, I know that email can be a very impersonal medium if only because we can tend to hit SEND far before we've really thought through the words we write. When we write a letter, we have to put it in the envelope, get a stamp, etc.. and we have more time to think about what we write and whether or not the words truly reflect what we wish to communicate. When we hit the SEND button on our email program, its gone, finished, sent and usually delivered within seconds.
So just a thought about how quickly loyalty and feelings of endearment towards an organization can vanish. Treat people on exit as you did on entry and you will have more people wanting to come into your organization than wanting to leave.
Reminds me of the joke about the devil recruiting...
Sass
Posted by sass at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2006
Strength in numbers...
Well it looks like the sales reps of Topray Shenzhen are quite peeved at us. They have threatened me if I continue to talk about the "retracted" Humboldt Study published first in July 2006 in Denver at the Solar Conference. So just in case we end up having to do so, here are four more reports which basically came to the same conclusion as the most recent "study". Maybe like Prince, the rock star, I will call it "the solar report previously known as Humboldt2006".
In 2004, Berkeley University reported these findings (note that Arne Jacobson conducted these tests): Download file
In 2005, Bodycote Materials Testing Lab did this one. Download file
In 2004, West Marine did this test at Cal Poly, in California and as a result discontinued the Seafit product when they saw the results of what they had been buying: View image
In 2004, Loughborough University tested 4 units sold in Kenya. The ESolar brand, sold by Kenital was made by Topray Solar. (Test available upon request as its too large a file to upload here). Subsequent to these findings, Kenya introduced laws that required testing to be proven prior to importation. Since that time, virtually no panels have infiltrated the market from Topray Solar. I think you can guess as to why that might be...
So its important to note that all the failed panels in these tests are made by Shenzhen Topray Solar. No progress in 3 years! And no advisors in the world that their reps can hire to attempt to give themselves the cloak of credibility will be able to change a thing if the owner of the factory profits so much from selling such sub-par product. After all, if he can make a ton selling crap, why change? Because its the "right thing to do"? You gotta be joking...
The high road makes you breathe and sleep better. Trust me, making an impact on your community (personal or professional) by respecting the values of ethics, integrity and honesty is a far better road than focusing on your individual needs for a quick buck...
Smiling Sass
Posted by sass at 06:04 PM | Comments (2)
August 28, 2006
Its a bird, its a plane, no its a flying solar cell!
Now look who's getting big time in to solar..BOEING
BOEING is starting with a rather modest goal and intends on getting big time into the solar game. Hold onto yourwings, one day they may be made of solar cells and we'll all travel in noiseless planes powered by solar like this one, powered by Boeing!
Following name brands like Sharp, Kyocera, BP, Fuji, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Honda, Samsung, GE (ah, finally an american brand!), you can see how the game of solar is getting more and more interesting by the day! So how do we little creatures survive in a world dominated by giants; well like a school of fish, we can if we just take the crumbs, but once you compete with the shark for the main meal, you'd better be ready for a bloody battle...
Soaring Sass
Posted by sass at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
"Once you know how to die, you know how to live"
For those of you who did not recognize those words of wisdom, they are Morrie Schwartz's.
Sometimes you really don't need to say more than the author has said himself. I've only recently discovered Morrie's writings and frankly speaking, I was so taken aback that it made me think long and hard about many things in my life that I need to do. So please take a read of some of Morrie's story, sit back and think as to whether or not he's got it right.
Sass
Posted by sass at 03:39 PM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2006
Solar's poor reputation amongst the masses..
It really pains me when I read fellow weblogs like this one where regular people are lamenting the poor performance and almost "ripoff category" in which so many solar products can be placed.
So many look at TV commercials for solar and see the gadgets offered only to be disappointed with their performance. Do they blame the bulb in a poor solar light? The casing? The battery? The circuit? NOPE. They blame SOLAR! SImply put, its always the tendency to blame the unknown quantity. That with which we are not totally comfortable gets first crack as blame for poor performance.
Yet the fact is that solar has been performing admirably in one category for decades that consumers have embraced...solar calculators. How many people complain about their solar calculators? None that I've heard of..in the light anyways!
So we now go to the crux of the matter which is the fact that developers have taken a "solar technology" and attempted to apply it to as many possible real-life situations as possible, even if the combination of solar power generation, power management and storage technologies were not properly suited. It comes down to that triangle of power which dictates whether or not a product will be succesful in creating that often-elusive sensation of complete customer satisfaction.
In an earlier blog I wrote about "lasting value". The fact that this is only one business model. As the telemarketers have proven so often, there are enough suckers indeed to plunk out money on a promise which is so unreal, it actually doesn't matter. Hopefully in time, there are enough quality solar products out there delivering on the expectations that consumers begin to understand that NOT all solar is created equal.
If you are out there thinking of marketing or designing a solar product and would like a seasoned opinion, please do not hesitate to post a comment on this blog entry with your email address and I'll contact you shortly thereafter. Even if ICP Solar is not involved commercially, I'd rather help someone avoid putting a bad product onto the market and have them win with a good one instead.
Sass
Posted by sass at 01:30 PM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2006
Beating Breast Cancer
On Friday September 8th, 2006, local ICP Solar team members will join me and hundreds of others to help end the
devastating effects of Breast Cancer by sponsoring and helping to organize the Linda Saab Golf Event, here in Montreal, Canada.
My goal is to raise at least CAD$15,000.00 this year, which represents $.25 for every new case of cancer that will be diagnosed in Quebec this year. Please help me reach my goal with your pledge. Your donation is tax deductible.
In order to reserve your name on a hole card or play on that day (12:30PM tee-off), I need to receive your payment by August 22nd latest.
Participation choices are:
HOLE SPONSORSHIP GOLD SPONSOR CAD$500 (US$450) FULL TAX RECEIPT RECEIVED (PLEASE PROVIDE JPEG LOGO FILE BY AUG 22ND)
GOLF PLAY, BRUNCH AND DINNER CAD$150 (US$135) $50 TAX RECEIPT RECEIVED
DINNER GUEST (EVENING EVENT) CAD$ 70 (US$65) NO RECEIPT
Please make your cheque payable to the Linda Saab Breast Cancer Foundation. Following the event, I will send out a brief recap of the tournament to all my sponsors.
Thank you in advance for your support. Please call me or my assistant Rhodyna Joachim if you have any questions or comments. We can be reached at 514-270-5770 (Sass ext. 105, Rhodyna ext.147). Confirmations of hole, golf or dinner participation may be sent to rjoachim@icpsolar.com.
Payments may be made by cheque or money order, in either Canadian or US dollars. If you are out of Montreal and prefer to make a bank transfer, please advise and I’ll get you the Linda Saab Foundation bank account details.
It’s our way of giving back and once again, using the power of the sun for a good
cause!
Posted by sass at 08:10 AM | Comments (3)
August 05, 2006
A matter of principle.
I have been informed this week that the author of the study at Humboldt University was forced to retract the study due to the legal pressures being applied by a company which has everything to lose by the knowledge of the truth of what they have been marketing.
There is such a thing as free speech in Canada and the USA, and the author is being muzzled, in my opinion. I am therefore taking the unusual step of posting the study once again. While there is no paper trail to Shenzhen Topray Solar as regards the source of the modules, there is a clear one to others. So for the sake of "dotting i's and crossing t's", when you read the study attached, please understand that only clear proof of sources being Sunforce Solar, Brunton Solar and Northern Tool Solar can be proven beyond any doubt. While proving that these panels are made by Topray Solar can be done beyond any "reasonable doubt", I will be happy to let any court decide that if need be. To me the court of public opinion is that which matters the most in this situation.
To download the original study, click Download file
Regards
Sass
PS> If anyone else out there cares about free speech, I would invite you to distribute this study to as many people as you can. The truth needs to be known!
Posted by sass at 09:16 AM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2006
The definition of balance
So I went googling on the "definition of balance" realizing that recently I have known a number of people who have shown such symptoms of imbalance in one way or another, and these were found across different continents of people in my circle. I say this because its' been something rumbling in my head for a while, as I seek to continuously fine-tune my life to catch that forever elusive true balance that we all seek.
Some of the interesting hits that came up on Google included:
bal·ance Pronunciation (blns)
n.
1. A weighing device, especially one consisting of a rigid beam horizontally suspended by a low-friction support at its center, with identical weighing pans hung at either end, one of which holds an unknown weight while the effective weight in the other is increased by known amounts until the beam is level and motionless.
2. A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces.
3. The power or means to decide.
4.
a. A state of bodily equilibrium: thrown off balance by a gust of wind.
b. The ability to maintain bodily equilibrium: Gymnasts must have good balance.
5. A stable mental or psychological state; emotional stability.
6. A harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in a design. See Synonyms at proportion.
7. An influence or force tending to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
8. The difference in magnitude between opposing forces or influences.
9. Accounting
a. Equality of totals in the debit and credit sides of an account.
b. The difference between such totals, either on the credit or the debit side.
10. Something that is left over; a remainder.
11. Chemistry Equality of mass and net electric charge of reacting species on each side of an equation.
12. Mathematics Equality with respect to the net number of reduced symbolic quantities on each side of an equation.
13. A balance wheel.
Of all of these above, my favourite is #6. The inclusion of words relating to harmony and satisfaction are important yet we must realize that on the pendulum of life, you will never achieve that perfect middle point immediately even from the moment you decide that its what you seek and the middle point will continuously change. Those who have true balance are able to find balance quickly and maintain it by being proactive in their environment to protect it and reactive quickly enough when events occur beyond their control to help restore it.
The following link provides a great summary as it focuses on the methods and goals one can have in creating balance between work and play. My favourite quote from it is "Balance is not so much an end goal as it is a way of experiencing life".
Sass
Posted by sass at 10:47 PM | Comments (0)