The SWOT Analysis

On a recent client engagement, we were asked to develop and discuss a number of strategies for our client from both an operational and financial perspective. As we started developing the report, we needed a framework to capture and present this important information. Although a number of strategic tools were available, we used [...]

Operating System Virtualization

Linux is becoming my operating system of choice, but many of my clients have standardized (?) on Microsoft Office for document handling. Google Docs, OpenOffice, Abiword and other opensource suites are good for content development, however, I have found that Microsoft Word documents (at least through 2003) must be viewed and formatted [...]

Small Business Financing

When people ask me “what does Amicus USA (AUSA) do?”. The best answer that I can give is that since 2002, AUSA has been providing venture management, venture capital and business development services to a select group of emerging small businesses. We recently started using a service called Virgin Money (formerly Circle Lending) to [...]

Skype and Fios – Better, Cheaper, Faster

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I worked in telecommunications as a Senior Account Manager for MCI WorldCom selling telecommunications services, which included local / long distance, frame relay, ATM, and various flavors of DS-X and OC-X. Cisco Systems and a number of smaller players were promoting VoIP and the convergence of voice, video [...]

Ubuntu, Windows XP and Windows Vista

Last week I finally gave in and bought a laptop with Windows Vista for my father. I have been postponing the “upgrade” from Windows XP to Vista because I’ve been hearing about challenges with device driver compatibility. I have quite a few vintage printers, scanners and the ilk that are five+ years in [...]

Google Docs

In my job as a management consultant and as a business developer, I write about eight hours a day. Over the past 20 years or so, throughout my educational and professional career, I have used numerous proprietary and open source word processing programs on Microsoft, Apple and Linux platforms. Some of these programs [...]