Although MGM was originally found in 1915 as Triangle Pictures located in Culver City which was 7 miles south west of Hollywood. Thomas Ince, D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett then owned the Studio. Samuel Goldwyn then acquired the studio in 1918 and the name was changed to Goldwyn Studios. It is then when it got its Leo the Lion logo. It merged with Metro Pictures and Mayer Pictures in 1924 and the studio went onto become the greatest studio in the history of Hollywood by the name Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) on April 16, 1924. The inauguration took place with a grand ceremony attended by Former President both President Calvin Coolidge and famous performer Will Rogers. This is how the legendary MGM Studios was born.

MGM became the powerhouse of cinema pretty soon and was renowned for its lavish sets, stylish films and unmatched array of Film stars in their productions. It was a dream for many new actors to work for MGM. Within a year of its formation MGM took over Universal Studios as the biggest producer of movies in the year 1925 and retained this distinction for next quarter of the century. The studio also inherited the classic silent movie Ben-Hur that was under production when the studio was formed. The movie was the most expensive silent movie ever made with the cost of production of over $5 million. The movie was also a blockbuster hit.

The Studio was city in itself having its own police, fire, telegraph and post departments. It had everything that a city has so that a complete movie can be shot inside the studio without ever going to different places. With the advent of talkies in the late twenties the Studio attracted best of the talent of that era with big names like Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Jimmy Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor etc. the list goes on.

During the peak years MGM churned as many as fifty films a year and it has as many as five thousand employees. The studio once bragged that there are more stars in MGM than sky. The studio acquired one more building for administration in 1938, which was named after Irving Thalberg who was the head of production. Then Louis B. Mayer took over the reins until 1951 when he lost power to Dore Schary. The golden age of the studio was from its inception to the Second World War during which it gave memorable movies like ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Gone with the wind’, ‘The Tarzan Adventures’, ‘The Thinman Series’ and many Marx Brothers comedies. ‘Gone with the wind’ is still the highest earning movie till date if you adjust for inflation. MGM movies created many more records with Ben-Hur made in 1959 bagging 11 Oscars which was a record until recently when it was equaled by ‘Titanic’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.

The golden era of MGM ended after the Second World War when it became expensive to produce large number of movies and the when viewers attention was diverting towards the television. The 1950′s and 1960′s saw one of the worst periods in the history of the studio with company making loses for the first ever time. To offset these loses and to get into the television market slowly they sold the rights of their movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to CBS which made a lot of money back then. But even as the company tried to come out of the financial turmoil it sank further deep each year. The studio was ultimately sold to Edgar Bronfman, Sr., a Canadian Investor. When he too was not able to manage the studio he sold it to Nevada millionaire Kirk Kerkorian who was more interested in it as a real estate property than a studio. He sold the vast collection of Studio’s props, furnishings and memorabilia; the lot was used for a huge real estate project.

The company almost stopped producing movies in 1970′s and 1980′s. The company acquired United Artists in 1981 and in 1986 Ted Turner bought it. It again changed many owners in 1990′s. In 2004 there was a cat race to buy MGM with Turner, Sony and many other big companies bidding to acquire it. But the highest bidder proved to be Sony with the support of other firms like Comcast and venture capital bankers Texas Pacific Group and Providence Equity Partners.

MGM ventured into theatrical distribution in 2006 releasing over fourteen films in the year. The studio also restructured itself and is once again back in business and keeping with the modern day demands by announcing in 2007 that all MGM movies can be downloaded through Apple’s iTunes. With the company molding itself to the needs of the digital world we only hope that the company regains its lost reputation once again.

Born on July 9, 1956 in Concord, California Thomas Jeffrey Hanks ala Tom Hanks is one of the gifted Hollywood stars with immense acting talent and perfection. Tom Hanks did not have the happiest of childhoods, as his parents got divorced when he was only 5 years old. Tom was third of four children born to Amos and Janet Hanks. His parents were avant-gardes in the development of marriage dissolution law in California. He moved around with his father changing schools and changing stepmothers and he was just confused.

After finally settling down in Oakland, CA Tom began taking part in high school plays. He continued to act in plays while attending California State University. Then he left the university to pursue his acting career further.

Hanks went to the city of opportunities, New York. This is when he got married to actress/producer Samantha Lewes on January 24, 1978. The marriage lasted nearly 9 years and they got divorced on March 19, 1987. Tom Hank’s first break as an actor came in a low budget movie called “He Knows You’re Alone” in 1980 where he was reportedly paid just $800 for the movie. After few months he moved to Los Angeles and co-starred in the TV Sitcom “Bosom Buddies” where he portrayed a man forced to dress as a woman in order to stay at a women’s only hotel. The show didn’t touch cord with the viewers and was shelved after only two seasons. He also worked in TV Series like “Taxi” and “Family Ties”. His acting career remained silent until 1984 when he got a big break in a Disney Film’s comedy called “Splash” which was about a mermaid in 1984. The movie proved to be a box office hit and the audience liked the charm and comic timing of the actor. Tom Hank was reportedly paid $70,000 for this movie.

Hanks didn’t carry the success that he got after “Splash” for too long. He appeared in many comedies which went unnoticed until he starred in “Big” in 1988 where he gave a powerful performance portraying the role of a child in a grown up man’s body for which he also won a Oscar nomination. He became darling to the audience’s hearts and that is the reason why they ignored the flop movie “Bonfire of the Vanities” in 1990 and looked forward to his upcoming movies rather. He once again made a comeback with the movie “Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own” in 1992. The success of this movie fetched him a role in another comedy called “Sleepless in Seattle” in 1993, which was a huge hit at the box office. He also portrayed the role of a homosexual in 1993 movie “Philadelphia” for which he won an Oscar for best actor. He won an Oscar for best actor again the next year for the movie “Forrest Gump” in 1994 achieving a rare double only the second time in the history of academy awards.

The actor had a wonderful run with movies like “Apollo 13″ in 1995, “Toy Story” in 1995 and “Saving Private Ryan” in 1998. His recent movies include “Toy Story 2″ in 1999, “Cast Away” in 2000 for which he again won an Oscar nomination and controversial “The Da Vinci Code” in 2006. Tom Hanks is a family man married to actress Rita Wilson who he met on the sets of the movie “Volunteers” in 1985. Tom Hanks continues his professional life hosting “Saturday Night Live”. Entertainment Weekly has reportedly chosen him as the only actor right now who is worth more than $20 million. Surely with his talent and selective approach to movies there is no match to this actor at the moment.

 

There once was a time, maybe not too long ago, where we didn’t have all of the technological luxuries that we enjoy today. The mere thought of listening to music on a portable digital music player like the Apple iPod Nano was simply, ludicrous. The incredible graphics of a home video game system like the Xbox 360 only existed in dreams and imaginations. And who could have imagined a bulky, shoulder-mounted video camera turning into a tiny, hand held digital video camcorder? It’s really incredible to think that just as little as twenty years ago, all of these incredible technological devices weren’t even thought of and about, let alone were mass produced. Now, you can do into any store or refurbished electronics dealer and find a whole range of amazing electronic items.

If you own an iPod or a Sony Playstation Portable, can you imagine not having these luxuries – and that’s what they are – at your disposal and at your beck and call? Earlier and previous generations didn’t have the option or ability to literally take every song they’ve ever heard with them wherever they go as we do now with the Apple iPod Nano. They could only listen to songs on cassette tapes, vinyl records, or heaven forbid, the old classic 8-track player. And as for taking songs with them, that was out of the question. Even though we can bring our music with us wherever we go by using the Apple iPod Nano, one has to remember that portable music players, like the original Walkman, weren’t introduced to the public until 1980, which isn’t even 30 years ago.

It’s interesting to wonder what people did for fun and entertainment many years ago. Going to the movies was always a popular pastime, but you can now download and watch videos on your PSP or your Xbox 360. Perhaps some people liked to simply goof off and act silly, which now, with the advent of the digital camcorder, you can shoot and share your goofy adventures and upload them on the internet for all the world to see. Sitting around listening to music is also a nice way to kill time, but why sit around when today, you can listen while on the go with your Apple iPod Nano? No matter what people did for fun and entertainment in the past, we can now do it bigger, better, louder and faster with a whole array of electronics at our disposal.

 

You finally broke down and bought your teenager a PlayStation Portable (also known as PSP) for his birthday. There was a lot of coaxing and pleading from your teenager about all of the benefits of the PSP since it was much more than just a hand-held game system. You could also watch movies on it, but what exactly is a PSP movie?

A PSP movie is just a regular old movie that has been formatted in a certain way. Sony, the manufacturer of the PSP system has been encouraging people to purchase special versions of movies that have been formatted in the Universal Media Disc (also known as UMD). The disks are about 3 inches by 3 inches in diameter and cost about the same or just slightly more than their DVD counterparts.

You can have the excitement of seeing a movie any time and any where with the PSP system. It is now small enough to take anywhere and a vivid widescreen LCD making it perfect for movies and videos while you are on the go. And, you can watch full-length movies on a prerecorded UMD that has designed especially for the PSP. The UMD is a high-capacity storage system that is capable of delivering great graphics in a very small sized disk. There are currently more than 430 UMD movies that can be purchased.

Sounds good, right? Probably yes, if you are looking for something to amuse your children on a long car trip or while they are waiting for medical appointments. The PSP movie can keep them occupied and quiet when you need them to be.

If you are looking for a PSP movie for the family to watch, the answer is probably no. While a PSP movie is great to watch on the PSP player, you must remember that the screen is only a few inches wide. How many people really want to watch a movie on such a small screen? Actually, a lot of them do, especially since the system is so portable!

The UMD version of PSP movies can not be played on a standard DVD player in the home, but if you have the ‘know-how’ you can connect your PSP to your DVD. The bad part is that if the PSP breaks or some day is no longer made, you are stuck with tiny UMD movies that can not be played on a regular DVD system.

The PSP movie still has a long way to go to become a household name. However, if your goal is for a gift for your children, they will probably be absolutely thrilled with the PSP system and the ability to watch PSP movies any time and any where they go. So, if you want to make your children happy and for them to have the same up-to-date system that all of their friends have, consider giving them the PSP system and movies for their enjoyment.

They will be happy, and everyone knows that an unhappy child can make everyone miserable. So, what are a few extra dollars going to mean when it comes to keeping your child happy with PSP movies.

 

The new iPod is now lighter, slimmer and cooler looking, it has new features that surpass other mp3 players. The best new features of the video iPod concern the sound quality. The iPod video is small, compact and sleek, it is very easy to use, and it has tons of great features that are second to none and can only be found on iPods.

Taking portable video entertainment to a different level than it ever has been, it features a color screen and video playback capabilities. The new Apple video iPod is pushing the envelope with technology by combining mp3 music and video in one device.

Consumers embraced the new iPod, it allows consumers to keep all of their music and video in one place, the device is light weight and is portable so all the videos and music can go where ever you go. The iPod has a 5-inch color display that lets you take your music videos wherever you go. Unlike in the music versions, Apple did not include an option to rip movies to play on the Video iPod.

If your priority is storing music over video, get the iPod Video. Many automobiles have the normal AM/FM Stereo and CD player, but many automobile manufactures are including and jack so you can plug in your mp3 player. Most of the people who benefit from the iPod are those people who want to listen to music, watch movies or TV shows or who want to keep photos You can listen to all your music. You can do more than just listen to music. Many manufactures have created accessories so you are able to listen to your iPod in your car, these gadgets work very well and are worth the investment. Until just recently, you used to have to have an expensive CD player and a multitude of CDs with you in order to listen to whatever you want, whenever you want.

It is very exciting when you receive your new video iPod, you now have the ability to watch videos on a mobile video player. Once you download the movie or video you can simply transfer it to your iPod, however if you want to be able to watch the movie on your DVD player while at home then you might want to think about this. If you’re like many new Video iPod owners, you are excited about the idea of carrying your movie collection along with you wherever you go.

According to the informational websites, the number of video downloads have reached and might have passed the one million downloads since it was introduced. There are many companies that have created software that will convert to the iPod format, some even come with extra software so you can view the pictures or videos before the conversion process starts, this comes in handy if you want to view the information before putting it on your iPod. You can download, convert and transfer and you have the ability to watch all kinds of movies, home movies and TV shows.

 

PSP (PlayStation Portable) was released by Sony Computer Entertainment into the U.S. markets in 2005 as a full-service, handheld entertainment system capable of delivering most every media source in a single tiny portable device. Since that time Sony has recorded sales in excess of 31 million units worldwide. Technology in the entertainment field has grown exponentially in the past two decades.

Movies are made of higher digital quality, video games are of absolute higher quality, and music is received and shared much easier with the advent of higher technology, including the Internet. Now all this is available in the palm of your hand. PSP movies, music, photos, Internet access, other video sources, and games are all compatible with the PSP system. A memory stick accessory will help to facilitate or enhance many of these features available to users.

The PSP system is constructed with a standard widescreen high resolution LCD display and stereo speakers to enjoy these many forms of media. One of the greatest sources of media to enjoy on the go is PSP movies. These can be watched by either saving the movie to the memory stick from the Internet to play through the PSP, downloading through the wireless Internet connectivity option directly into the PSP, or through a pre-recorded UMD (Universal Media Disk) movie similar to a DVD. This allows users to watch movies on their handheld device 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and anywhere they may be.

Downloading through the PSP website is extremely simple and takes only a few clicks. Many free downloads are available from the website for viewing as well, which include game demos, game trailers, and movie trailers. UMD movies are available at most stores carrying electronics. Over 430 UMD titles are in current circulation, consisting of movies and television shows. Titles available include new movies, classics, and recent television hits. Some of the titles available in UMD are Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Ice Age 2, Gridiron Gang, Open Season, The Marine, Scarface, and the Family Guy to name only a few.

To enjoy the PSP movies available, many accessories would be helpful. Headphones allow users to listen to the movie comfortably while not disturbing others while in public spaces. A remote control comes with headphones for added control of the movie experience. Car adapters and AC adapters allow for unlimited viewing without the concern of the battery running out of charge during the movie.

With hundreds of PSP movies and television shows available for download and for purchase as a UMD, this is truly a major highlight of the PSP system. The ability to watch movies on the same system you can also manage photos with, play high resolution games with, and listen to music with all from your hands is astounding. Coupled with Sony’s constant upgrading of the PSP system, software and accessories, the titles will continue to grow as will the features and benefits of the PSP. And the popularity of the PSP will grow as quickly.

If you’re lucky enough to own a Sony PSP, you’re probably very excited about all the different things it can do. Unfortunately, watching movies is not one of the simpler things to do with a PSP, and it seems that many people have no idea how it’s done. I’ve put together a few quick steps here, so hopefully once you’ve read this you’ll know exactly how to put videos on PSP.

Essentials – Memory Stick – you need at least 500mb free to do this, but the more the better really. These things are really much cheaper than they used to be, so check Ebay or Amazon to find a good deal. You’ll also need to be near a computer with an internet connection and a USB cable that you can connect the computer to the PSP with.

Step – 1

Switch the PSP off, and use the USB cable to connect the PSP to the computer. Once connected, switch the PSP on.

Step – 2

Go into the settings menu on the PSP, and hit X. This should make the computer link to the PSP and vice versa. Once it’s done, go to the computer and open My Computer-you should see that there is a new volume there, much in the same way that an external HD is added or a flash drive.

Step – 3

Go into the PSP Memory Stick and open the folder named PSP. Once it’s open, create another folder inside it. It’s very important to get the name correct ‘MP_ROOT’ and then create an additional folder called ’100mnv01′

Step – 4

You will need to save any movies you want to watch in the folder you created named ’100mnv01′. Once they are saved there, you can start to watch them by clicking on the image inside the Memory Stick. It’s important to note that you will need the movies in MP4 format, and you can find plenty of software around to perform the conversion if you need to.

Didn’t I tell you it was simple when you knew how? There it is, that’s exactly how to put videos on PSP.

 

Gamers and techies have waited with bated breath for advancements and innovations in gaming. To set the pulse racing and the mind thinking one needs to be challenged. This has become possible by computer technology and the wonderful world of gaming. Just as adventures and wars would have done in yester years these days it is technology that offers to quench the thirst for adventure. Microsoft has created a challenge in the form of the Xbox 360– a visionary, super powerful, multimedia console that brings to you the GenX gaming world. Of course, the markets being competitive present so many choices.

If you need to be convinced here are a few reasons why you must buy the Xbox360.

1. There are games galore for the thirsty. Kameo elements of power, Project Gotam 3, Perfect Dark Zero, and many more. All unique, with great effects and gaming wizardry.

2. The Xbox360 has wireless controllers as well as internet connectivity. The premium pack presents great delights offering freedom of movement and a superb range of over 30 feet. Ergonomically designed the controller has skip wires, tangles and boomerangs.

3. With an aim to please even the most discerning palate, the Xbox360 has an amazing variety of games. Some are exclusively designed for the box like Condemned, and Dead or Alive. Titles that have been widely acknowledge by expert gamers are: Call of Duty 2, Project Gotham Racing 3, Kameo, King Kong, and Condemned.

4. Amazing and most welcome is the fact that over 200 Xbox games will be backwardly compatible with the Xbox360.

5. Xbox 360 brings with it the arcade marketplace. Imagine free games, cheap games, and addictive non-stop games. The possibilities are endless and thrilling.

6. The Graphics are stupendous and bring to life the games in virtual reality. Xbox360 has three 3.2 GH processors that run with a 500MhzATI graphics processor. Whew-let’s bow to power.

7. Endless possibilities with the Xbox360. Games, CDs, movies and customized music. It even connects to the Microsoft media center for a complete media sensation. You can let your creativity and innovativeness take wing.

8. The Xbox 360 is more than an everyday console. It is interactive and you can buy many things like bonus levels, episodic content, gamer specials, and gamer tag images. You can download demos, and bonus packs from game developers. A live platform with no limits marketplace for developers and publishers.

9. The Xbox360 is a keeper of records. It creates history. The gamer card becomes your identity with name, image, scores, games you like, and your aims and mottos. This takes online fraternities a step closer to one another.

10. Fulfils many dreams and fantasies. The games are the best, interesting, mind stimulating, and exciting. The Xbox 360 takes the gaming world forwards and offers options like downloads, online plays, movies, as well as a touch button marketplace for games.

The Xbox360 is a must for serious gamers. It indicates your dedication as a gamer and reflects your tastes and reputation in the cyber gaming universe. Opens up endless possibilities and takes you to the next generation gaming delights.

 

The iPod video is known as the last generation of iPods, which surprised the market and the sales since its appearance. Basically, this new device is able to play videos. If this seems like fun, the technical part might need some guidance.

Firstly, you should know that both the PSP and iPod can play H.264 / MPEG-4 encoded videos with AAC audio tracks. Due to this fact, the resolution is rather limited, together with the limitation of the bit rates that you can use on the device. For the new iPod video, this limits means (for the H.264 video) up to up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240 and 30 frames per second. For the MPEG-4 video, the limits are up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480 and the same 30 frames per second. Even more, the AAC audio bit rate is around 160 Kbps. After establishing these limits, the next step is to establish the source of the video, which can be either from a DVD or a video of the computer.

In other terms, the company Apple claims, in a purely informative ad which is posted on the official website, that the new iPod, as they call the new iPod video, can store 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos and not less than 150 hours of video.

If wanting to get a video from a DVD, then the first thing you should do is to insert the DVD in the device. After this, you should open (in case it doesn’t immediately open by itself) the DVD, using file and open DVD from the menu. Check the options in the DVD menu, to set up everything as you like, meaning language, subtitles or chapters. Begin playing the movie, using the DVD menu to navigate. When the movie begins, you should press the record button and select the folder in which you want to store the recorded files. When you want to end the recording, simply click the stop button and if the recording goes well, there will be a screen confirmation that you have converted your file successfully.

If you wish to convert a video from your computer to your iPod video, then the first thing that you should do is go to the menu file and click open video file. After this, your video is supposed to begin to play, the perfect moment to adjust the video as you like. Also, you can set the perfect moment to start the recording, using the bottom playback controls. When you decided this, click the button record and feel free to stop it at any time. After recording, just like in the case of importing videos from a DVD device, there will be a message on the screen saying that everything went on successfully.

If respecting these basic rules, the videos and movies will be stored carefully in your iPod and you will be free to watch them, at any time. Still, be aware of the fact that the iPod offers limited space and resolution, which means that you should be picky when deciding what to keep and what to delete. The new iPod video is a challenging and innovative product that combines music with images, offering, for the first time, the possibility of playing video on such a small digital device.

 

Many movies have been made about the tragic story of the Titanic. Arrogance and ignorance was definitely present during its maiden voyage, which was Titanic’s last voyage.

Many warnings were given, but unfortunately, the warnings were not taken seriously. On April 14th, 1912 Titanic received six warnings that icebergs were present in their perimeter. On the night of April 14th, Titanic struck an iceberg and ultimately sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

For other entities, what happened to the Titanic does NOT have to happen to them. Many have learned from the mistakes that Titanic had made.

There are several examples that follow and form a parallel to what happened to Titanic and how an entity can learn from Titanic’s mistakes.

1. The Titanic only had 16 lifeboats, which was not nearly enough to save everyone on the ship.

Only about 60% of the entire lifeboats’ capacity was utilized! Does your company have a disaster plan in place? Are your computers, especially your servers, being backed up on a regular basis? Many servers are now being backed up on a daily basis and sometimes on an hourly basis.

When I was working at a Helpdesk, one of our afternoon gals was named the “Backup Queen” because she took EVERY major server backup VERY seriously. The company was very lucky to have the “Backup Queen” because there were several instances where our most critical server had crashed and lost information. Fortunately, information restoration was quick and painless due to the machine being backed up on a regular basis.

We were very lucky to have someone who took the initiative to handle the server backups. Is your company that lucky? Yes, doing backups can be VERY unexciting. However, losing valuable data can be very exciting, but in a negative way.

2. The crewmen in the lookout tower, or the “crow’s nest,” were not issued binoculars to better search for icebergs.

Employees were not given the proper tools to use to do their job. Is your company using the right software for the job? Are you saving money on upgrading your operating system and software, but are losing customers? If you are losing customers, you’re NOT really saving any money at all.

The right equipment can range from the very basic, such as issuing headphones that are compatible with the phone system to customer service representatives, to ensuring that a backup generator can adequately run due to a power outage.

3. Titanic had a total of 16 watertight compartments. Initially, it sounded fine, but unfortunately, each compartment did not hold water on its own. Every compartment was similar to an ice cube tray. When one compartment overflowed, water flowed into the next compartment. Each compartment did not completely seal off water on its own.

Does your company have a good disaster recovery plan in place? If a flood or a fire struck the premises, would you be able to resume business operations in a matter of days or would it take a matter of months?

Is your information that you have on site being sent off site so you CAN have another place to access your valuable information?

4. The Titanic was going at full speed at night in iceberg-infested waters.

Are your machines at your business running at 100% capacity on a continuous basis? How much is downtime costing you when those machines need to be fixed? Are you REALLY saving money by not buying more machinery? Does the cost of more machinery outweigh the cost of your present machines’ downtime?

5. The Titanic did not heed to the many iceberg warnings.

Titanic received six iceberg warnings on the day it sank! Is your sales force, customer service department and/or helpdesk REALLY listening to your customers? Sam Walton, the founder of Wal Mart, said that the most important person to an organization can be the one who greets that customers. Too many companies don’t even realize just how MUCH each person represents their company!

There is WAY too much competition in the marketplace NOT to heed warnings. Industries like telecom, automobile, office supplies, soft drinks, and restaurant industries, just to name a few, had better take warnings seriously. Some companies might not get the luxury of six warnings that the Titanic got. Sometimes, only one warning can break a company. That’s why companies that DO encourage, and take seriously, customer feedback are invaluable and can be a gold mine.

6. The Titanic only had white flare guns to signal for help.

Red is the standard color for a flare gun used to signal for help. When the Titanic was sinking, white flare guns were shot off from the ship. One or two ships many miles away say the white flares, but did not interpret the white flares as warning messages.

Does your entity use the proper means of communication? Is it ensured that all of the parties involved completely understand what the other parties are saying? Many groups within an organization speak entirely different languages. Sales, technology and management translations may as similar to translating three different foreign languages.

7. Bruce Ismay, the president of White Star, pressured Captain Smith into unrealistic and dangerous goals.

Ismay wanted the Titanic to arrive in New York on Tuesday, April 16th. In order to meet this goal, the ship would have to travel at full speed a majority of the time. The coercion from Ismay turned out to be dangerous due to the ship’s demise.

Ismay’s level was similar to a CEO’s level. Is your company’s CEO and the rest of the management staff setting realistic goals? Are your managers providing bilateral communication? Feedback is vital to any company’s survival because many managers are not involved in day-to-day activities.

8. The two wireless operators’ priorities were not focused on the ship’s priorities.

Many of the aristocrats in first class passage had paid both operators bonuses to wire messages to New York. One of the Titanic’s operators told another ship to “shut up” after being given another iceberg warning. It was a powerful rebuke that may have cost thousands of lives.

Is your customer service department doing all it can to retain and acquire it customers? A polite and knowledgeable customer service representative can save the company thousands of dollars and maybe more! I have had the fortunate experience of dealing with many great customer service representatives. I have told many of the rep’s supervisors that I really appreciated their help as well and that they are lucky to have such great rep’s on their team.

9. The Titanic’s steel construction was never tested in cold temperature.

The steel that made up ocean liners in the early 20th Century was brittle to begin with. Unfortunately, the steel was never stress-tested to determine what stress levels the structure could endure.

Is adequate testing being done on your company’s products? Are your prototypes up to the challenges of customers’ demands? Are an automobile company’s crash tests being utilized to the fullest extent?