Jul 28

Converting MS Publisher and other files to iWork Pages

Change, Mac, Tips, software No Comments »

Entrepreneurs that move from Windows to Mac usually have MS Office files to deal with, and to a lesser degree, MS Publisher files. Office files cross over with little to no problems, but with MS Publisher, that’s a different thing altogether. There is no easy way, until now.

Well, my wife is in real estate and she has some old files that are in MS Publisher’s .pub file format. Of course, she turns to me to see what can be done.

After much research I found a cool web site that helps out (it’s currently in beta) by converting files into various other formats. The web site is Zamzar.com and it converts a LOT of file formats.

WARNING: Converting files into various formats loses, at the very least, some of the formatting of the file, at the worst, you’ve lost some of your data and may not recover much of it directly. But, there may be workarounds.

As with any file format issue, there are six things that come play:

  1. Direct file conversion: here the file that was created in iWork Pages uses the “Save As…” menu export function to put the file into MS Word straight through with few, if any, problems.
  2. File translation: while most programs such as iWork Pages and MS Word have filters built in (under the “Save As… menu) that will translate file formats, Zamzar.com does a whole lot more translations.
  3. Work arounds: Translating files can do a good job, but somethings the translation just doesn’t quite make it. In the case of MS Publisher files converted to MS Word .doc file an iWork Pages files do not come through well enough and there are some problems. That’s where OpenOffice.org, a FREE office suite, will see the .doc files correctly allowing you to work with the elements of the file into your iWork Pages documents. Sometimes it’s a “Save As…” function, sometimes it’s a cut and paste of some of the elements.
  4. Scan and recover: Sometimes scanners have Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software that can scan a page and convert it. Just run the text through a spell checker if the document is a long one.
  5. Redo by hand: If you have a printed copy you can at least retype your document into your program, if you have one somewhere.
  6. Start from scratch: Here you begin again with a blank screen.

In my case, getting a MS Publisher file into iWork Pages I had to download Open Office, translate the file into a .doc format using Zamzar.com and then open the file in Open Office Writer program in order to access some of the elements, such as graphics, that do not come through the conversion well.

With a little luck I was able to recreate my wife’s file so she can continue her business. It may have taken some effort, but from here we can make many changes in the iWork Pages page layout part.

What are your thoughts?

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Jul 14

Counterpoints to: Why do innovation teams fail?

Challenge, Change, Motivation, Thoughts, customer No Comments »

I read this blog post and I just had to respond. There is a lot of good business information out there, but some of it reeks of ignorance, stupidity, and fear and scarcity-driven thinking. So here’s the link to the article, “Why do innovation teams fails?” and my answers to his commentary.

  1. Organized resistance. “Remember, the top priority of every organization is to preserve the organization. Doesn’t matter if it’s a company or a charity or a school.   Doesn’t matter what the stated mission or objective of the organization is. Once an organization gets started, it will naturally seek self-preservation as its first priority.” WRONG. Preservation of the company is NOT the primary function of a business, it’s taking care of its customers, without a customer you have no business. You can defend a company all year long, but if you are not bringing in the bacon, you’ll go under. Change is important, but change for change sake is wasteful and unproductive. There has to be a reason for the change. A CEO that  puts his ego before his ideal customer and his business idea is the end of the line for the company. It’s all related to your customer, failure to satisfy a customer’s needs means failure of a company and when you quit focusing outward to your customers and focus inward on yourself you become complacent. Same goes for focusing on your competitor, your competitor is NOT your customer.
  2. Responsibility without authority. “A creative team sailing in uncharted waters towards an unknown destination is bound to fail.” WRONG. Do you think Christopher Columbus was a failure because he did not fine India, his original goal? How about Thomas Edison with his 10,000 failed experiments looking for the idea of the lightbulb? How about Henry Ford telling his engineers to figure out how to make a eight cylinder engine when they said it couldn’t be done? Lastly, how about Lewis and Clark looking for the trail leading to the Pacific Ocean, they failed in this primary function? What about all of the accidental successes such as Goretex and the like? What determines failure? When you read the book “Getting to Plan B” you’ll see that there are lots of failures, just don’t get hung up on them. It’s how CEO looks at the failure and those that make them that makes the difference. It boils to beginning with #1 above. It’s all about leadership and doing the right think, not about management.
  3. Lack of self-awareness. “Self-awareness is in chronic short supply in most corporations.  And yet, the ability of the innovation team to convince the organization to adopt their recommendations depends entirely upon mutual self awareness and empathy.” Some Wrong. There are some good points here and Tercek’s comments have some validity to them. Taking various tests to determine they type of person you are, such as the Myers-Briggs, the DISC test, and the online multi-personality assessment tests are all great to tell us who we are, but until leaders embrace these “soft” ideas in “hard” business environment, businesses will not be as productive as they could be. Dan Pink’s book “Drive” gives a great idea as to how change is needed.

Your thoughts about this?

Jul 12

Entrepreneur skills: negative turned positive.

1 Business Idea, 5 Marketing, 7 Sales, Challenge, Change, Entrepreneur, Startups, Thoughts, Writing, ideas No Comments »

As an entrepreneur, you’re always looking for what it takes to be successful. Learning new skills is one thing,  but translating your current skills from one channel to another is just a matter of changing your mindset.

Watch this NY Times video about Randy Kearse, who served more than 13 years in federal prison, has used the business skills he honed as a drug dealer to sell thousands of his self-published books in the streets and in the subway.

Harlem Journal

You, too, change, turn your life around. Change your mind, change your results.

Jul 09

The Coming Entrepreneurship Boom?

1 Business Idea, Challenge, Change, Entrepreneur, Thoughts No Comments »

The Kauffman Foundation has a new study.

“Key findings: In every single year from 1996 to 2007, Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 had a higher rate of entrepreneurial activity than those aged 20-34, averaging a rate of entrepreneurial activity roughly one-third larger than their youngest counterparts.

  • The 20-34 age bracket has the lowest rate of entrepreneurial activity.
  • Long-term employment has fallen dramatically for people ages 35-64 over the past fifty years.
  • With longer life expectancies and greater health in later life, older generations may continue to start new firms—or mentor young entrepreneurs.
  • Since the first Internet-era recession, transaction costs and barriers to entry have fallen for entrepreneurs of every age.”

Where are you on the entrepreneurial train?

Dec 23

Best Design Innovation books

Business, Challenge, Change, Entrepreneur, Information, Startups, Thoughts, Tools No Comments »

Here’s a good list of being innovative from a list of books by BusinessWeek.

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Aug 30

Fail

Challenge, Change, Motivation, Planning, Tips No Comments »

I can’t say much more than this, but it is so true.

Fail like you mean it.

People only see the success, not the work that is involved.

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Aug 06

Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: 91 ways to get out of the box

Business, Change, Entrepreneur, Startups, Thoughts, Tips No Comments »

Welcome Toilet Paper Entrepreneurs!! For the second time in a row my idea was featured at Toilet Paper Entrepreneur’s blog. But if you came to this site and did NOT see it, here’s the link to “91 Ways How To Get Out Of The Box.” Some great tips there.

For those that may not want to visit the site, my tip for thinking or getting out of the box was to talk to a Janitor. As the story goes:

I read the story years ago about a hotel that was putting in a maintenance elevator and all of the engineers and company people were discussing the costs of tearing down the ceiling and walls next to the current elevators, potentially costing millions of dollars to install it. The janitor walked by and asked what the problem was and someone told him. After thinking a moment he said to the crowd of experts “You could put one at the end of the hallway because there’s nothing outside to stop you!” Find someone that is completely different than you in demographics, industry, etc, out of YOUR box, to see your problem in a whole new light.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you get more out of my site as well.

My book for entrepreneurs using a Mac will be out soon.

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Jul 31

Entrepreneurs need encouragement: Art Williams – Do it!

Business, Challenge, Change, Startups, Tips No Comments »

All entrepreneurs need encouragement.  When I was younger I did sell for A. L. Williams and working with them it taught me some things about myself. So here is Art Williams in 1987 speaking about at that time, which could not be any much different than right now, and is most appropriate at this time. So listen to it and get some encouragement

Art Williams – Do it! Part 1

Art Williams – Do it! Part 2

Art Williams – Nobody wants a boss, everybody wants a Coach!

But to add to what Art says, you need smart, ACTIVE people today.

Hope you enjoyed your encouragement for the week.

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Jul 14

Kicking out the ladder – change or a challenge?

Business, Challenge, Change, Thoughts, Tips No Comments »

You have got to see this blog entry!!! Called “Kicking out the Ladder” is how Honda gets people to think bigger. The same would be for each of us.

There is a big difference between changing and BIG changes!! Too often we see things about how to change, but not too often to we see something about changing things bigger than what we thought. The stories in “Kicking out the Ladder” are some of the best at improving things.

I won’t waste any more of your time, but you need to take a look at it. But it does raise the question:

Is it change you are after, or a challenge? How do you see the difference?

Dec 06

The glass is half full, the glass is half empty, but ….

1 Business Idea, Challenge, Change, Creativity, Thoughts, ideas No Comments »

As I was thinking this morning, I began with just a short view of this issue, but it took on a life of it’s own as I began to think of others. Here goes:

  • Optimist – The glass is half full
  • Pessimist – The glass is half empty
  • Dreamer – We need to find a bigger glass, more glasses, and more water
  • Business Owner – I own the glass
  • Supplier – We need to find more water.
  • Property Owner – I own the water (lake, stream, pond, or land that water is on)
  • Engineer – Someone didn’t design the glass to specifications
  • Jack Welch, former GE CEO – My main job was developing talent. I was a gardener providing water and other nourishment to our top 750 people. Of course, I had to pull out some weeds, too.
  • Environmentalist – how clean is the water?
  • Scientist – If we freeze the water it becomes ice, if we boil the water it becomes steam.
  • Jewish Rabbi – A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Prov 20:5
  • Hollywood type – Can I have MY Evian bottled water…..
  • Survivalist – First thing is to find water because we can’t live without water, then find a glass (container) to put it in.
  • Manufacturer - how is the glass made?
  • Jesus Christ – “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 14:13-14
  • Pastor – Drink of the Living Water
  • Conservative Politician – the government is not in the business of finding water, let businesses do that.
  • Liberal Politician – a pitcher of water in every home and the government will get it for you.
  • Doctor – you need four eight ounces of water to drink daily.
  • Sahara desert dweller – how far until I get to the next water hole
  • Astronomer – where can we find water on other planets
  • Artist – what style or type of glass should hold the water
  • Waiter – would you like some more water?
  • W. C. Fields, comedian – You can’t trust water: Even a straight stick turns crooked in it.
  • Traveller – I started out with a full glass …
  • Desert Traveller – Water, I need water …..
  • Statistician – .5 * 0 = 0, while .5 * 50% = .25, so the glass is ….
  • Accountant – why did you spend money on too big a glass?
  • Manager – We need to budget (ration) this water out
  • Customer – Where can I get more water
  • Leonardo da Vinci – Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation… even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.
  • Worker – I need more water to drink
  • Blue Collar Worker – I don’t need water, give me some beer!
  • Government worker – we need to tax more so I can get more water and glasses
  • Socialist - You need to give some of your water to others, you’re hoarding too much water for yourself.
  • Skeptic – We may not have any more water or glasses to go around
  • Burglar - I’m going to take your water
  • Terrorist – I’m not going to let you have any water or any glass
  • Cynic – There is no more water to fill the glass up and the glass is made of glass and it will break
  • World View – 1 in 5 people of the world is without adequate drinking water. So you see, it’s the glass, water, time, and the person viewing it that determine the viewpoint of the glass of water.

Water via AllTop

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