Bean's Top 11 of 2011 Lists
We are just 10 days away from the New Year. 2012. Whoa.
As great as it is to be able to look forward to a new year and a fresh start, it’s important to look back on 2011 and reflect on the crazy things that happened, cool innovations, and a few ways to give back.
So I bring you 5 super awesome Top 11 in 2011 lists…
Bean’s 11 Things to Remember That happened in 2011
1. Klout. Yeah, Klout happened. I’m not exactly sure where Klout came from, but it’s here and it’s kind of cool! It measures your social influence from almost every social media outlet. They offer cool perks for influencing others on big topics and shows you really cool statistics about your true reach on the internet.
2. Gabby Giffords/Osama Bin Laden: I know it’s a terribly odd grouping, but they are related. Just stick with me. They blew up on Twitter instantly. A constant stream of Tweets provided the most up-to-date information on events happening at real time. Which leads me to #3…
3. Twitter: It really gained traction this year. My friend’s parents have twitters. Every TV station has one. And most clothing stores. Celebrities, politicians and corporate executives. Twitter is in. As in as Ryan Gosling.
4. Google+: Well, I’m not sure it’s something that really happened. But it definitely was introduced, and it didn’t really work. But there is an important lesson to be learned from this; Ideas work, however, they don’t really work if it’s competing against the most popular social media platform. Ever. So make sure your idea is innovative and fills a need that hasn’t been filled yet.
5. Facebook Timeline: It’s new. Really new. So new everyone doesn’t even have it yet, but it’s really cool, I promise. It provides a way to look back into your Facebook past which was incredibly difficult before. You are able to add important life events, promote things that are more important to you and control who sees what. Your timeline is yours, not something that Facebook generates.
6. Instagram: One of the most popular new trends (with iPhone users), Instagram, is an app that allows users to take pictures and share them with friends via the Instagram application, Twitter, or Facebook. So let your inner photographer shine and start snapping pictures. And Android users, don’t worry, an Android application is in development and should hit the market in early 2012! What a great way to ring in the New Year!
7. Tumblr: It isn’t new. I’m not trying to confuse you. But just like Twitter, its popularity is incredibly new. News sites have taken a particular liking to Tumblr, especially Newsweek. It’s a great way to share cool pictures, articles and music with your followers while catching up on everything you’re interested in without all that news you don’t care much about.
8. Occupy Wall Street: As Tayler already blogged about, #OccupyWallStreet is a huge social movement that is representing the “99%” during these tough economic times. No matter your stance on the movement, there is one thing we can all agree on; it blew up on Twitter and sparked numerous related movements across the country. While it received national news attention, most information was passed along on Twitter.
9. Spotify: Hands down my favorite music service. And it finally came to America! A Swedish- founded music streaming service based in the UK. Partnering with major and independent record labels, you can instantly stream music. And it’s awesome. It’s rare that I find music that’s not on Spotify. And I listen to a lot of obscure music. So go ahead and get a Spotify account. You can even link it up to your Facebook and see what your friends are listening to.
10. Steve Jobs (1955-2011): Really, I don’t need much of an explanation here. An inspiration to many, he is deeply missed.
"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." - Steve Jobs
11. Groupon: One of the most controversial yet most popular companies of the year. They offer deals in 150 North American Markets and over 100 markets in Asia, Europe and South America. The controversy stems from their potentially shaky business model that has been called a “disaster.” I have bought, used and enjoyed my fair share of Groupons but the fact that Groupon is $230 million in debt and uses later investors to pay off earlier investors probably isn’t great.
11 Twitter Accounts to Follow
1. @Mashable
2. @FastCoDesign
3. @omgthatspunny
4. @davidsteinburg
5. @time
6. @adweek
7. @google
8. @cnnbrk
9. @techcrunch
10. @newsweek
11. @jeannineyeah < -- Me! :D
Top 11 Companies with a Purpose –
It’s important to give back, and these 11 companies help you do that in really cool ways
1. Sevenly – Our number one company that gives back. You may be surprised TOMS isn’t topping the rankings, but don’t worry they are close behind. Sevenly is in its first year and has already sold over 22,000 t-shirts that give back to different causes. Each shirt design is featured for 7 days and $7 dollars are donated from every shirt sale. This week’s shirt provides food for a child for 1 month in the Philippines.
2. TOMS Shoes – The most famous one-for-one company gives a pair of shoes to a child in need every time you buy a pair. They also have started TOMS Eyewear that donates the gift of eyesight (glasses or eye surgery) to kids in need.
3. Warby Parker – One-for-one company, Warby Parker, donates a new pair of glasses to someone in need when a pair of glasses is purchased. Not to mention the fact that the frames AND prescription lenses cost just a standard $95. So get that second pair of trendy glasses you’ve been drooling over and give the gift of sight. Warby Parker only offers trendy glasses and a clear vision (intended pun #1)
4. 31 Bits – Founded by 4 women, 31 Bits sells jewelry made out of paper beads from over 60 women in Uganda. Made only from recycled magazines and local products, the jewelry is purchased from Ugandan women to provide them a generous income. 31 Bits also provides the women with semiweekly English lessons, finance training from university professors, community groups, AIDS and health education and vocation training.
5. Seer Outfitters – A clothing company who donates 100% of profits to underprivileged children and those in need, like feeding the hungry, helping the handicapped and inner city schools.
6. Warriors in Pink – Everyone knows October is breast cancer month. The NFL sports pink gloves, cleats and sweat bands as well as pink ribbons on their helmets. But Ford Motor Company has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and donates 100% of all proceeds to fight against breast cancer.
7. Palmer Cash – A clothing company that has teamed up with the Movember movement. Everyone knows about breast cancer, but it’s really important to join Team Boy for a month and fight back against prostate cancer. And Palmer Cash is donating $10 from every “Mo” t-shirt sold to the cause.
8. Blanket America- Living in Michigan, we appreciate warmth. And Blanket America does as well. Another one-for-one company, they donate a blanket to someone in need of warmth for every blanket you purchase. Talk about a heartwarming company. (intended pun #2)
9. You and Who – A clothing company with a unique twist on the one-for-one movement. Local artists design apparel and for every item purchased, You and Who donates needed items to worthy organizations chosen by the artists themselves. Additionally the artist receives $1 and a matching shirt is donated.
10. Roma Boots- inspired by Blake Mycoskie and his TOMS Shoes, Roma Boots donates a pair of durable rain boots to street and orphaned children living in cold and wet climates. Additionally, Roma gives back further by donating to get kids back into the education system to break poverty.
11. Soap Box Soaps- every day 26,000 children under the age of 5 die from preventable diseases. Soap Box Soaps is taking a stand. For every bar of soap you buy, they send a matching bar to a child in need all over the world preventing many illnesses.
11 Things you didn’t know about the Monthly Improvement Team
1. We all graduated from Michigan State with Advertising degrees
2. Jordan eats the same seven meals every day. No exceptions
3. Jeannine (that’s me!) can do a Rubik’s cube
4. When Zack was in second grade he changed the spelling of his name from Zach to Zack
5. We all have a brother (or two in Jordan’s case)
6. We are all Michigan natives
7. We all started as interns and moved to full time positions
8. Jordan has these funny rubber booties to cover his dress in the winter and they squeak when he wears them around the office
9. Jordan pays Jeannine (me again) $4 an hour for all the stapling she does for him. Too bad her time count is only up to about 5 minutes worth of stapling
10. Every day we draw a new Bean inspired drawing on the white board. Jordan’s favorite and pride and glory is Bat Bean
11. Zack can tweet like a baby bird
11 Fastest- Rising Searches on Google
- Rebecca Black
- Google+
- Hurricane Irene
- Ryan Dunn
- iPhone 5
- Casey Anthony
- Adele
- Osama Bin Laden
- Steve Jobs
- (Unfortunately all the credible lists I found for this only went to 10)
Signing out for 2011, I wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year!
I’ll see you on the flip side!
Send by email
PDF version
