Life Is Simple

It is now clear why Ektron is designed in such a weird way. People have no idea how Google indexes documents. My two attempts at asking for clarification failed miserably.

Popularity: 22%

Last week there was a big buzz about the bailout of the big three - GM, Chrysler and Ford. Both pro and contra sides have their valid points, but what is ultimately missing is that all the big three are at the point where they resemble dinosaurs. And dinosaurs were too big and too slow to survive, small creatures, like small businesses, happen to be more agile.

What I think would be a good idea is the following scenario. I’ll talk about GM, but any american car manufacturer can listen in. Here’s the six-step business recovery path.

Step 1: File for Chapter 11 protection. This will allow restructuring at a lowel cash levels.

Step 2: Fire everybody.

Step 3: Hire back every single factory worker immediately, loose car designers and unions.

Step 4: Hire sane designers who are aware of contemporary trends and technologies. Let them kick ass.

Step 5: Emerge to the markets with fewer product lines, better models and better prices.

Step 6: Watch sales rise, competition get angry.

So far every foreign car manufacturer, including Toyota, Nissan, Honda and even Hyunday have been thanking the big three for their ugly cars, high fuel consumption and inability to design modern hip cars. Look at any Lincoln or Chrysler - they look very nineties… It’s end of 2008, people. Wake up!

Honda could afford selling (the uglies car ever) Element, because they sell Accord. Nissan doesn’t even have an ugly car, their lines look pretty decent. Even Hyunday took couple of photos of Jaguar and thought them through. What’s holding GM or Chrysler from doing same things is beyond me.

P.S. Here’s a better, but more cruel idea - branch out couple of product lines (one sedan with three models, one truck with three models and one line with small SUV, big SUV and van models). Something like Pontiac or Saturn for sedan, Saturn or Buick for big and small SUV, buy Town and Country from Chrysler for van model. Throw in a best selling pickup truck line. Loose everything else (okay, keep that Hummer beast for guys with small penises and Escalade for rappers) and make it into a single brand. Hire designers who don’t drink Budweiser or Heineken, lock them into a dungeon for as long as it takes them to design a modern looking car. Something that would look and sell better then Hyunday or Toyota, but priced just as low. Watch this brand beat the rest of big three in sales.

Popularity: 24%