Mind you, the company didn’t seem to have much future a few years ago and they were facing intense competition from big players in their industry sector.

But boy…how things have changed for the company now!

Also, You probably must’ve heard that Apple has been voted recently as one of the most powerful brands in the world today! People are going ‘crazy’ with Apple’s products.

But, the question that I want to ask you is this…

How did it all happen and why? How did Apple turned things around?

OK, I am sure we all can agree that the Ipods have changed the way we listen to music and how music is distributed to the masses. As a result, many music retail moguls have either gone bankrupt or have had no choice but to change their business model to survive. Selling music via the retail networks does not work now. Everything is all about ‘Download’.

I remember back in 2005 when I was in a meeting with a very influential music aggregator company and one of the Directors predicted that ‘everything’ will be on the mobile phone. Music, Data etc. Two years later (2007), the Iphone was launched and as we know it, the rest was history!

It is also interesting to see big competitors failing to compete successfully with the Ipad. Players like Samsung, HTC, Blackberry and LG have all released their own version of tablet computers. However, the Ipad still controls close to 70% market share in the tablet computer industry.

In short, Apple products are great products that people want….and more people want it more when there is more ‘Social Proof’. It is like a viral effect on steroids!

You have probably  seen one of the Apple product launches. The late Steve Jobs and his colleagues would usually start with their exciting presentation and every Apple enthusiasts would listen to their every word. Once it was all over, you would hear people talking about it everywhere – on Google, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, TV Broadcasters, Newspapers etc. It would be like a pent up demand. People want Apple products! – and thats Ladies and Gentlemen is Social Proof!

I bought the new Iphone 4S because of Social Proof. I even recorded a video when I was on my morning run earlier and that’s another social proof!

The picture quality on the IPhone is great too. Here are some picture samples taken from the Iphone 4S….(and another Social Proof! )

Question?

How can you create Social Proof to work in your business? How can you get your clients and customers feel excited and talk about your products and services? Discuss…

New Year Celebrations is now officially over and we’re now back to our normal daily routines. Goals that were set and written down for 2009 require intense consistent action so it can actually happen. 2008 goals that were set but did not happen must happen in 2009 – no matter what.

2009 comes with a baggage in terms of economic uncertainties and financial meltdown. Companies are going bankrupt left right and centre. Nothing is certain.

But what is certain is your actions and the things that you do every single day will determine your future in 2009. Whatever your goals and dreams in 2009 can happen if you only set your life and soul to it with great passion and belief.

I think the video on Steve Jobs will be deeply motivating for you to keep on going and rise above all else. Steve Jobs starts his speech with a story about his real-life adoption as a newborn. He discusses the impact that the promise of a college education had on the ultimate outcome of his adoption, and his eventual decision to drop out of college once he got there. Instead of giving up on education, altogether, however, Jobs continued to go to classes that interested him and opened him to new ideas and talents. His quiet humor and honest delivery compliment his simple belief that in order to have the courage to follow your heart, you must believe that your decisions will ultimately match up in the future, leading to a successful, happy life.

It’s truly an uplifting story coming from the man himself. Even if you have seen it already, I hope that you will still get some golden nuggets that you can use for 2009.

Whatever it is that you do today, make it a GREAT one.

Your friend,

Ambar.