Wednesday, November 10, 2010
$10 Million Paid to Our Customers!
Friday, August 13, 2010
“If At First You Don’t Succeed”
What most of us know about Henry Ford is that he was the father of the Ford Motor Company. The piece of information that you may not have been privy to is the years and work that not only he, but several others, put into the motor vehicle to develop what we know today as our main form of transportation.The idea of a motor- powered vehicle had been making its rounds since 1750. In its earliest form, as a matter of fact, dozens of people worked on the idea until it was perfected in the late 1800s. Even still, it wasn’t until Henry Ford took this idea and made it accessible to the “Average Joe” in the early 1900s that it became more than something for the wealthy, but something that most people in the United States could enjoy.
Henry Ford had two failed attempts at launching the industry of manufacturing vehicles before he finally got the support and the finances necessary to back his great idea - that the motor vehicle could be accessible to all people through mass production.
As a result of his continued efforts, we find today that many people not only utilize their cars as a form of transportation, but many people consider their cars as “part of the family”. People consider their opportunities to drive as a time to relax, an opportunity to experience freedom, and to assert the ability to control the outcome of their travels.
The question I would like to dive into today is this: what if his two failed attempts at making the motor vehicle accessible to the public had discouraged him from trying again? Maybe the modern day availability of cars would be compromised. Maybe someone else would have developed the idea at a later point in time, and we would have been driving around in cars named “Mary Anne” or “Jackson”. But what would have become of Henry Ford? Do you think his name would still be mentioned as the father of the modern assembly line? Would he have been awarded the “Car Entrepreneur of the Century” in 1999 or noted in history as the individual who had the most influence in the overall development of the motor vehicle as we know it today? Probably not.
I imagine Ford, sitting at the edge of defeat for the second time in the early 1900s, wondering if trying again was even worth the effort, wondering perhaps if he should “close shop” on this outlandish idea that cars could be for everyone. Have we not all had moments like this in life, when we have been shot down one too many times, and the idea that we can change the world around us, achieve success, and provide a better life for ourselves and our families seems unreachable?
I cannot speak for anyone else, but I know I have been there myself - at a crossroads, when the number of rejections outweighed all else, and the dreams I had seemed impossible to achieve. In these moments, I hope that we can all take some time to think about this one man who single handedly changed the world of the automobile. If he could stand firm in his idea, and push forward in the face of adversity, I dare say we all can.
Henry Ford said, "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Today, I challenge every person who takes the time to read this to examine those things you’ve given up on. Ask yourself if these things were opportunities for you to start over. If you find that you can begin again, a little wiser, and stronger, I implore you all to START OVER. This could be the time that it works, the time you succeed, and the time where hard work meets the world of opportunity for you!
If at first you don’t succeed, TRY AGAIN.
Labels: Cars, history, Junk my Car
Monday, June 21, 2010
JMC Writing Class A Success: There’s More Where That Came From!
by Gina Scarpa and Jay Arascunaga
This week, at Junk my Car, we teamed up with HR's Mike Bandy to offer a “Writing For The Workplace” course to all employees. We offered 4 sections throughout the day and an impressive 64% of JMCers were in attendance. The course refreshed some basic writing and grammar skills, talked about interoffice communication, as well as how to communicate when working remotely. Our main goal was to get everyone on the same page when sending emails, chatting with one another online, writing announcements for the team site, and reporting issues.
We felt that stressing the importance of strong writing and our passion for the class itself inspired the passion of other JMCers as well.
Here's what some of them had to say about the class:
"It flowed nicely and it gave me insight from an experienced perspective. I know I am intelligent, but this reminded me of things I had forgotten or was out of practice in." - Lisa, Claim Acquisitions Manager
"After attending the class, I felt that my writing at work improved instantly. Each and every presentation was well put together. Learning how to make emails short, simple, and to the point helped me a great deal." - Kristin, Claim Dispatch Team Lead
"I used to write a lot when I first got married. After taking the class, I started writing again for fun and I'm really enjoying it. I told people who didn't take this class that they definitely should and I'm really looking forward to the next one!" - Mik, Sales Manager
We're hoping to put together more classes and encourage our fellow JMCers to do the same - take something they're passionate and knowledgeable about and deliver it to the company to encourage both personal and professional growth. Next up, Jay and I are looking to take writing skills to another level with a course in the works called “Creative Writing and Blogging”!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Run as a Tribe
Engaging those who are not there..
Run as a Tribe. That's one of our core values. A group on individuals running together as unique people for the same common goal.
Recently, our company has realized that we will most likely be utilizing services of those not within our own physical building; we will be adding Remote Agents to our team. One of the major reasons Remote Agents do not excel or feel a part of the group in most companies is because of a lack of engagement and communication.
I have been pondering what I could do to keep individuals in an interactive mode with our team. To keep them engaged and to have them feel part of a dynamic team. It appears that this could be accomplished by several means. Junk my Car could have weekly Web Meetings between teammates. Meetings could be made fun and innovative with trivia or mini-quizzes to keep the fun, interactive environment they may not get in their quiet, individual area. A Team Lead could also share events from JMC of the day prior (via email) even if it was just a funny office or JMCer event that was agreed to be shared. Our new virtual environment could be blogged about - we could share our experiences with the team and others. Letting others know what we found would work best. We could create a department based message board for questions or concerns from teams outside our physical area. Giving them a voice and a chance to be heard when we are not here to listen.
Growth is important. Just because you work remotely does not mean you do not have a chance for advancement within Junk my Car. Managers and Team Leads could utilize projects and skill building exercises to help grow their Remote Agents. I truly believe that if we are able to anticipate the possible issues of communication and possible feelings of separation, Junk my Car can be a shining example for what can be achieved when a team can truly Run as a Tribe!
Labels: Company Culture, Remote Work, Team
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The New Groove
There is a huge perception that raves are just drug filled rooms w/ a bunch of sketchy kids. Anyone that has gone to one of these all night electronic music fests will tell you it more than that. People go for the community. No where else can you meet a person and not see them for months, only to see them on some random dance floor to be friends all over again. There is a tradition among the "candy kids" that entails swapping bracelets to new friends. These new type of friendship bracelets are called Candy, (hence that's what gives these kids, who wear them up to their elbow with pride, their name). I myself have hundreds of candy and can tell you the name, face, or place where I got it.
Most people who hear techno think of car commercials with their heavy bass background sound or what is heard in the background of any bar. On the contrary, there are as many types of techno as there is rock and roll. Not all hip hop is the same and techno is no different. With the speed of the bass also comes a style all of its own. If your into deeper psychedelic flow there is trance. For your hiphop orinated, there is jungle and drum and bass. Even for those that thrive for a hard hitting jump out of your skull speed to your music, we have happy hardcore. There is a flavor for all of your potential tastes and it all can converge under one roof. Walking from one room to another will send certainly send you from one sensory experience to an other. One thing is for sure, you will leave liking something new and different.
There is no typical raver but you can certainly pick one out if you know what to look for. There are the blatant candy kids with their pikachu backpacks w/ colorful bracelets up to their arm pits to the the more dressed up wearing a buttoned up dress shirt untucked w/ khaki wind pants. The scene is also responsible for creating signature clothing such as UFO and Caffeine clothing lines which are a staple to any raver closet. Graphitte artists have even been able to find a voice by promoting the scene and the scene doing the same by creating shirt lines such as MethodNYC.
This brings me to one of the most important concepts that is the rave scene. P.L.U.R.: Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. This is more than the mantra but the essence of the lifestyle. There are several urban legands on where the motto originated. One thing that all agree on is it's simple meaning. These four things are more than the root of our community. It's something we carry with us in our everyday live. The party can be as small as a one room weekly to a outdoor 5 tent massive, this motto reverberates clearly no matter the size of the crowd. Raving is more that something you do on your weekends but a full on life style. I've been a part of this scene since the mid 1990s and have seen the evolution of the styles of music and dance. But P.L.U.R is fundementally the same regardless if your new or old skool. If you love to dance, meet new people, and a get sense of community rarely seen in a club or concert, I recommend giving one a shot. Who knows how many bracelets you you will walk out with.
Labels: Candy, Junk my Car, Rave
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The day the music tried...
What has technology done to the music industry? Long before my time as a Claim Processing director here at Junk my Car, I managed a record store (that long forgotten place where you could actually go to buy music on cassette and compact disc).
People would walk in every Tuesday just to get their hands on that newest releases, leaving the store with that coveted tangibility.
The tech age has changed all of that. Record stores are a dying breed. In July 2009, the Virgin Mega-store in New York City closed it's doors forever!
Similar stores like the media powerhouse Trans World Entertainment, which operates the FYE chain, has closed at least 280 of its locations over the last two years.
Why is this happening?
In the face of widespread piracy, consumers' growing preference digital singles over albums, the record business has plunged into a historic decline.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, total music album sales in the U.S. reached only 428 million in 2008, which was a 14% reduction from 2007.
Compare this to it's Digital counterpart which had a billion songs downloaded in 2008, (a 27% increase).
Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013585191#ixzz0f4wo32tw
The major labels are struggling to reinvent their business models, even as some wonder whether it's too late.
According to music attorney Peter Paterno, who represents Metallica and Dr. Dre, "The record business is over."
How can you beat free?
With major bands like Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead issuing full length albums for free, it seems like Mr. Paterno isn't too far off. Bands have begun to realize that they are making little to no money from album sales.
According to the Almighty Institute of Music Retail a new album with a list price of $15.99 has the following breakdown:
$0.17 Musicians' unions
$0.80 Packaging/manufacturing
$0.82 Publishing royalties
$0.80 Retail profit
$0.90 Distribution
$1.60 Artists' royalties
$1.70 Label profit
$2.40 Marketing/promotion
$2.91 Label overhead
$3.89 Retail overhead
This means that the Label gets $7.01 per CD and retailers get $4.69 for a combined percentage of 73% of the price of each CD.
Royalties, artists, and manufacturing costs combined total only $4.29.
The good news
This radical change is not all bleak. In fact, this shift from tangible to digital has leveled the playing field for independent artists.
On Average it costs an independent musician somewhere between $12 and $18 to publish just one CD.
Now with the digital age, an independent band still needs to record, produce and master their music, but they can enjoy the same worldwide distribution that the Major Labels enjoy at a much lower cost.
Itunes
To get a song on Itunes it depends which company you use.
Example, Zimbalam charges $19.99 for a single and $29.99 for an album.
See also: cdbaby.com, dittomusic.com, & tunecore.com
Less storage space needed
An external hard-drive on average weighs under 5 lbs and has a footprint of 2.5", and with storage prices coming down you can get a Terabyte drive for around $100.
The major labels are struggling to reinvent their business models, even as some wonder whether it's too late.
According to music attorney Peter Paterno, who represents Metallica and Dr. Dre, "The record business is over."
How can you beat free?
With major bands like Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead issuing full length albums for free, it seems like Mr. Paterno isn't too far off. Bands have begun to realize that they are making little to no money from album sales.
According to the Almighty Institute of Music Retail a new album with a list price of $15.99 has the following breakdown:
$0.17 Musicians' unions
$0.80 Packaging/manufacturing
$0.82 Publishing royalties
$0.80 Retail profit
$0.90 Distribution
$1.60 Artists' royalties
$1.70 Label profit
$2.40 Marketing/promotion
$2.91 Label overhead
$3.89 Retail overhead
This means that the Label gets $7.01 per CD and retailers get $4.69 for a combined percentage of 73% of the price of each CD.
Royalties, artists, and manufacturing costs combined total only $4.29.
The good news
This radical change is not all bleak. In fact, this shift from tangible to digital has leveled the playing field for independent artists.
On Average it costs an independent musician somewhere between $12 and $18 to publish just one CD.
Now with the digital age, an independent band still needs to record, produce and master their music, but they can enjoy the same worldwide distribution that the Major Labels enjoy at a much lower cost.
Itunes
To get a song on Itunes it depends which company you use.
Example, Zimbalam charges $19.99 for a single and $29.99 for an album.
See also: cdbaby.com, dittomusic.com, & tunecore.com
Less storage space needed
An external hard-drive on average weighs under 5 lbs and has a footprint of 2.5", and with storage prices coming down you can get a Terabyte drive for around $100.
1 TB = 250,000 Audio tracks (more or less)
Greener option
Digital mediums are not only more portable, more accessible, and cheaper, but they are also greener. just think of all the plastic, and paper saved for each downloaded song/album.
Instead of burning compilation disc after compilation disc only to discard them after several listens you can now put all of your music on digital devices(Hard Drive, Mp3 player, Phone, Computer, etc.) and swap as needed.
The Drawbacks
Tangibility - As an avid collector of music (with over 700 compact discs in my personal collection) I can honestly say that there really is nothing quite like purchasing a brand new disc or better still a vinyl album, cracking it open and reading the lyrics, or checking out the amazing artwork found inside.
Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, digital mediums are here to stay and will continue to thrive in this need it now society that we live in.
Now we have to wait and see what the music industry does to re-invent itself and change with the times instead of fighting the tide.
Instead of burning compilation disc after compilation disc only to discard them after several listens you can now put all of your music on digital devices(Hard Drive, Mp3 player, Phone, Computer, etc.) and swap as needed.
The Drawbacks
Tangibility - As an avid collector of music (with over 700 compact discs in my personal collection) I can honestly say that there really is nothing quite like purchasing a brand new disc or better still a vinyl album, cracking it open and reading the lyrics, or checking out the amazing artwork found inside.
Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, digital mediums are here to stay and will continue to thrive in this need it now society that we live in.
Now we have to wait and see what the music industry does to re-invent itself and change with the times instead of fighting the tide.
Labels: Junk my Car, music industry, technology
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Dance In The Rain
When I was about 6 years old, my mom, stepdad, brother and I were on our way home from some outing. We got caught up in traffic, during a huge storm, and my stepdad ended up getting off the highway to find a "better" way home. I don't even know where we were, all I know is it was pitch black on some old back country road in Eastern CT, when all of a sudden some old song came on the radio, and My Step Dad pulled over and got us all out of the car. He put the radio way up, and there, with the only light being the headlights beaming from the car, in the pouring rain, we all danced in front of the car for what seemed like hours (I'm sure it wasn't really that long, but things seem so much longer when you're a kid).Soaking wet, the four of us then piled back into the car, and headed home. To this day, I can't even remember where we went that day; All I can recall is how much fun it was to dance in that rain storm.
Years later, when I was about 14 years old, a whole bunch of family friends, my aunt, younger cousin, and I were driving alongside the Brooklyn Bridge one night, and it began to rain.
I remember everyone in the caravan of cars that were with us pulled off onto the side of the road and we all went out and spent some time singing and reflecting on all the things we had to be grateful for, again, in the pouring rain. It was something that sounded so crazy, yet it was so refreshing.
Years later, here I am at the age of 25, and I realize that those two nights may have been when I learned the most valuable lesson I have ever learned. See in the physical act of playing and rejoicing in the rain, it showed me something so important--I learned how to appreciate the rain; How to dance in it. Instead of bickering and complaining, that we had to be stuck in the middle of nowhere in the rain, my stepdad taught my brother and I, that night, how to dance in the rain, how to look at something that the world would see as negative, and find a reason to rejoice about it, and years later alongside the Brooklyn Bridge, I was reminded again, not only to play in the rain, but to be thankful for those seasons of life.
See, I've come to realize that it's not whether you go through a storm or not that makes you who you are, It's how you choose to go through it. You can either be miserable, and focus completely on the circumstances that surround you, or you can dance in the rain; rejoice through the storm, and see it as an opportunity expand your knowledge, experience, and ultimately make you a better YOU.
So, the next time you’re faced with a storm in life, take a moment to reflect, and decide to dance in the rain.
Labels: dance, Junk my Car, rain
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