What’s the next big thing you can do?

We run a weeklong leadership mentoring programme called “Inspired to Inspire”, and we had our first class for the year this week. PHOTO/FILE 

In Summary

• Mediocrity is a cancer that deceives you into believing that anything other than the best is acceptable. It is the cancer that makes you think that you cannot do better than you have done. It is the cancer that makes you think that you can slow down. It is the cancer that makes people encourage themselves with low standards instead of inspiring themselves with the best that the world has to offer. It is the cancer that is satisfied with being present instead of making their presence felt.

Tech gurus to gain from CEOs’ plans

Strathmore techies who won a coveted continental prize for their M-Calc innovation. If you are a technology guru, you might just get more attention from your CEO this year than before. PHOTO/FILE 

In Summary

• One of the technologies held highly by CEOs is mobile communication. The immense penetration of mobile gadgets in Africa promises to further ease business processes through the creation of more innovative applications and faster communication regardless of distance.
• Though penetration of mobile devices is lower than often reported and connectivity challenges remain particularly high in rural areas, many African CEOs still have confidence that mobile technology is a game changer for the current business manager.
• However, majority of the CEOs interviewed were wary about data privacy, as much as they were interested in outsourcing services like cloud computing, from independent experts.

Smartphone after 9pm bad for work

Smartphones are enormously valuable for helping people to fit work activity into times and places outside of the office. Late-night smartphone usage cut into sleep and made people tired in the morning, and that, as a result, they were less engaged at work the next day. PHOTO/FILE 

In Summary

• Customer-centric organisations can remain attentive to clients’ needs around the clock. Time-critical events can be addressed quickly. People can leave their offices without fear of being disconnected from their work.
• Consistent with our hypotheses, we found that late-night smartphone usage cut into sleep and made people tired in the morning, and that, as a result, they were less engaged at work the next day.
• There are downsides to having employees use smartphones – direct ones for the employees, and less direct but still troubling ones for workplaces. Smart managers will look for creative ways to minimise smartphone problems without giving up their mutual benefits.

Google, Facebook post higher earnings

Facebook reported stronger-than-expected profits. These gains appear to have paid off handsomely for Facebook and for its founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. At 29 years old, Zuckerberg's current fortune equates to more than $1 billion for every year he has lived," Wealth-X said. PHOTO/FILE  

In Summary

• The gains came as Facebook introduced a new mobile app aimed at becoming a social newspaper of sorts for the members of the world's biggest social network. Its new app called "Paper," an online newspaper for viewing and sharing articles and other content from a smartphone.
• "The most important Internet trend by far is MOBILE, and Facebook has become a MOBILE company," he wrote in a research note. Scott Devitt at Morgan Stanley said Facebook's results "show no signs of slowing mobile momentum" and noted that the company has managed to skilfully get more ad revenues.
• Google shares rose slightly in after-market trades to $1,141.60, having closed the day up 2.57 percent to $1,135.39 on word of its deal to sell smartphone maker Motorola Mobility to China-based computer titan Lenovo. The deal ends Google's run as a handset maker after it biggest-ever takeover, which was announced in 2011 and finalized in 2012.
• Google continues to have hardware plans that include Nest smart home thermostats, Internet connected eyewear called "Glass," and making Android smartphones and tablets with partners.

Kenyan youth display their innovative creativity

Kevin Mbwaya presents his body scanning idea to other youth taking part in an initiative dubbed Think Positive, Alternatives Exist  geared towards motivating youth to think outside the box for alternatives and solutions to their everyday challenges so as to be self-reliant socially and economically and to regain a sense of purpose. PHOTO/COURTESY  

In Summary

• The summit that brought together hundreds of youths, mentors and political leaders is a culmination of a year- long initiative dubbed Think Positive, Alternatives Exist  geared towards motivating youth to think outside the box for alternatives and solutions to their everyday challenges so as to be self-reliant socially and economically and to regain a sense of purpose.
• The crowd’s favourite idea was Collins Gicheha‘s automatic waking bed, which would pull away the blankets as soon as the alarm went off giving off an effective wake up call.
• Esther Passaris cited the political environment as being the greatest hindrance to innovation. She urged youth to innovate with Kenya in mind.

Yahoo Mail accounts breached with stolen passwords

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer speaks during her keynote address at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 7, 2014. Yahoo alerted users of its free email service Thursday that hackers slipped into accounts to loot information using stolen passwords. PHOTO/AFP  AFP

In Summary

• A malicious computer program armed with Yahoo Mail passwords and usernames apparently slipped into accounts aiming to glean names and addresses from messages that had been sent, according to Rossiter.

Authority plans single entry to airport as security stepped up

Travellers using Kenya’s airports will take longer to gain entry following the introduction of stiffer security procedures aimed at preventing terror attacks. Photo/ JEFF ANGOTE  

In Summary

• The move will see Airport South Road closed indefinitely, forcing all travellers to access the airport via Mombasa Road.
• Mr Raja Gypala, who was travelling to India, said the new security measures made him feel safer despite the traffic snarl-up.