Uber Temporarily Suspending UberPop Ride-Sharing Service In Spain

Uber is suspending UberPop in Spain following a court ruling that banned its ride-sharing service in the country. UberPop is the European version of Uber X that uses normal everyday vehicles and provides passengers with bill-splitting options.

The service arrived in Spain in April and almost ever since the company has been under legal pressure to shut the service down.

Spain isn’t the only market Uber is having trouble in, France will also outlaw the service starting January 1 and it has also been banned in Belgian Capital Brussels and the Netherlands too.

After receiving notice of an injunction against it Uber said it is temporarily suspending the service in Spain. In a blog, the company says it is respecting the law with the suspension but it has intentions of appealing the ruling and also working with authorities in the future.

“During this temporary suspension of uberPOP, we will also collaborate with Spanish politicians to develop the modern framework needed to create a permanent home for Uber and the sharing economy – and fortunately Spanish leaders have already been standing up for the innovation economy,” Uber stated in the blog post.

The company is also planning to collaborate with authorities in India, which comes after its service was banned in New Delhi following an alleged rape and also Portland where authorities issued a ban on Uber after the service launched without authorization.

“We will be making changes in the months ahead. Done right, it will lead to a smarter and more humble company that sets new standards in data privacy, gives back more to the cities we serve and defines and refines our company culture effectively,” Kalanick, CEO of Uber wrote.

Uber Temporarily Suspending UberPop Ride-Sharing Service In Spain

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Haven’t Broken Up

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling’s relationship was rumored to be on the rocks, but apparently that is not the case at all. Reportedly, the duo were cooling things down because of the enormous pressure that was placed on Mendes with Gosling’s extensive work schedule. She was said to be left alone with their new baby Esmaralda – taking sole care of their newborn while he worked on a movie set in Georgia.

Mendes and Gosling announced that they were expecting their daughter in July and she recently gave birth. Since rumors were floating around the internet that their relationship was on the outs, we’ve learned that the opposite is true.

A source close to the couple said that Mendes and Gosling “think the tabloid reports about trouble are ridiculous” and that “they just roll their eyes, they honestly don’t care.”

The spy revealed, “Neither felt the need to get married, it’s just not a huge priority for either of them. They know what they have.”

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling are just private and their relationship is not in trouble whatsoever. The source added, “Ryan and Eva are super super private. The last thing they’d do is bring a baby, who’s barely three months old, to a film set teeming with paparazzi. Ryan specifically wanted it like this – with paps following him in Atlanta, they’re mostly leaving Eva and the baby alone.”

It’s good to know that Mendes and Gosling are doing well in their relationship and the paparazzi are seemingly leaving Eva alone – along with their baby. The rumors of a rift in their relationship are seemingly false, but neither have confirmed that to the media as of yet.

Still, we absolutely cannot wait to see photos of their baby, Esmaralda Gosling. Mendes and Gosling spent Christmas day together with their daughter and things are well.

[Photo Credit: Tony Shek via Flickr]

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Haven’t Broken Up

Lindsay Lohan Suffering From Chikungunya; Actress Contracts Untreatable Virus

John McCain Purging Arizona GOP Of Tea Party

Sen. John McCain is no fan of the tea party – and he’s now doing his best to purge the Arizona Republican Party of its influence.

According to Politico , McCain is preparing for his 2016 reelection bid by dismantling Arizona’s tea party apparatus. That includes a massive effort to remove or undermine the many local officials who have influence across state politics and could cause trouble for McCain in a primary.

Prior to Aug. 26, when the races for the party offices were held, the vast majority of the 3,925 precinct slots were filled by people McCain’s team considered opponents. Now, after an influx of candidates were recruited by the senator’s allies, around 40 percent of those offices — 1,531 to be exact — will be held by people McCain’s team regards as friendly.

The Arizona senator has long been considered a moderate, but that reputation has caused him trouble since the rise of the conservative tea party roiled Republican politics in 2010.

He hasn’t just gone after the tea party in his home state. McCain spars often with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, memorably calling him a “wacko bird” last year after Cruz joined a filibuster by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Cruz, who is considered a likely presidential candidate in 2016, has been equally disdainful of the kind of moderate Republican that McCain epitomizes, saying in October that “if we run another candidate in the mold of a Bob Dole, or a John McCain, or Mitt Romney, we will end up with the same result, which is millions of people will stay home on Election Day.”

After the GOP wave in November’s midterm election, McCain told Salon that he was pleased with the different kind of Republicans who had been elected.

“I think that you just saw a McCain-Graham injection into the United States Senate,” he said, referring to his close friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Pointing to the military backgrounds of newly-elected Joni Ernst (Iowa), Tom Cotton (Arkansas), and Dan Sullivan (Alaska), McCain said that he’s “campaigned for literally every one of them and I have not seen any indication that they [share Cruz’s] desire for confrontation.”

Meanwhile, in Arizona, McCain’s tea party purge has targeted names like Timothy Schwartz, responsible for a resolution censuring McCain as too liberal, and A.J. LeFaro, chairman of the Maricopa County Republicans. Schwartz was voted out of his position as Legislative District 30 Republican chair by newly-elected McCain-aligned committeemen, while LeFaro decided to forego running for reelection when he realized it was a lost cause due to the senator’s efforts.

“For John McCain to have been so vindictive in his actions…it’s just amazing,” Le Faro told Politico, adding that “it’s been all-out war” and compared the situation to “ethnic cleansing.”

According to sources close to John McCain, the senator’s tea party purge was largely a response to the Arizona Republican Party’s censure in January. The 78-year-old former presidential candidate “wanted to make sure it never happened again,” according to Mike Hellon, deputy campaign manager for McCain in 2010. That determination may help secure a sixth term in the Senate.

[photo credit: U.S. Embassy Moldova]

John McCain Purging Arizona GOP Of Tea Party

New Year’s Resolution: Get A Coach?

Last week I was contacted by a late-thirties executive who was seeking a career coach. He said he had worked previously with a coach in an other state, the result of which was a move to Atlanta with a step up to a Vice President position and considerably more income. I asked him why he called me and he said he was ready to take the next step in his career. He said he had been very happy with the help he received from his last coach and wanted a local Atlanta coach to work with him in making his next step upward. I smiled … outside and inside.

A common expression some coaches like to use is “Even Tiger Woods has a coach.” They say this in an attempt to wake people up to the fact that every level of performer can benefit from being professionally coached. Because many people are resistant to change, I believe that this comment tends to fall on deaf ears. Engaging a coach is an action that openly invites change. If you are like the VP who called me and are open to change, then professional coaching may be right for you.

Most career seekers I speak with each week are not like my VP caller. They have gaping holes in their thinking when it comes to career planning and career changes. They want some free advice and then, upon receiving it, go along their merry way. But, if you are the exception and are interested in learning more about the benefits of coaching, then professional coaching may be right for you.

Coaches seek to determine if a prospective client is “coachable.” Even if you are open to change, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are willing to do the work. It also doesn’t necessarily mean you are willing to let down your defenses and let go of needing to be right. If you are committed to making the effort required for meaningful change and are willing to examine things objectively, then professional coaching may be right for you.

There are oodles and oodles of free, amateur advice available. Most people love to share their opinions. But it can be difficult to judge which inputs are useful. If you are willing to step up and invest your hard earned money in your future, then professional coaching may be right for you.

Your current circumstances in life and your career were fashioned by your past decisions. Your future will be crafted by the decisions you make next.

As you make plans for the new year, consider professional coaching. It has the potential to increase your odds of making better decisions and creating the future you desire. Happy new year!

New Year’s Resolution: Get A Coach?

Buddha Philosophy Creates Strategic Plan

Admittedly, I have not studied Buddha but have heard words of wisdom expressed over the years that allude to the philosophy. To begin and appropriately so, patience and open-mindedness are indeed the key to strategic planning.

It’s the holiday season proclaiming joy and happiness to all. But joy and happiness just like stress and close-mindedness begin with you. Examine where your happiness meter reads and if improvements need to be made in order to convey the holiday spirit all year round. After all, this is what people notice about you first, and is the earmark of your personal brand.

Contemplate the following questions in order to find peace within and a joy filled New Year:

1. Are you or are you not happy? Which events led up to where you are today that put you in the current frame of mind? How can you either turn a negative situation around to the positive, or maximize the positive you are already experiencing? Equally important is the question, how may you share the joy by advising others how to improve upon theirs?

2. Do you stress or enjoy the holiday spirit? It is said that “being in the moment” brings additional happiness. But gift giving in the traditional sense may bring about stress in the sense of waiting in long lines, as well as monetary concern.

The focus on having to purchase gifts might be changed into the gift of helping in ways other than monetary. It truly is the spirit of giving of yourself that matters. For example, you might donate time to an organization, food to a shelter, or teach classes to those trying to begin anew. Any type of community service is the larger gift of all as you help many.

3. Will you be alone or celebrating with others? Should you feel or be alone, then seek out a community that could use your wisdom and presence. Being among those where you are appreciated will make all the difference and you will leave the feeling of loneliness behind plus you just might make a new friend.

4. Who do you know that might be alone during the holidays? As names of past connections and current friends come to you, pick up the phone to have a “thinking of you” conversation. Wish them a good New Year and ask if they have special plans in the making. You will definitely help to lift the spirits of others with your inquiry and sincere interest.

5. Do you feel renewed spirit in the air? Having used some quiet time to ponder the above questions, and perhaps having taken action on some of the suggestions, should serve to motivate you into the wondrous New Year.

Now it’s time to reflect on how all of the above may translate into finding your next best job or clientele. May you have an excellent New Year! And may you perceive it as the Smooth Sale. Buddha would be proud.

Buddha Philosophy Creates Strategic Plan

What Your Company Should Be Doing To Bring In The New Year

The new year is symbolic; it means you get to start over and make resolutions and goals to be a better individual than the previous one. Now, what is your workplace doing to help bring in the new year and create a better office for you and your colleagues?

Are there any drastic changes being made? Are they catering more towards the employee? Are the employees satisfied with their workplace?

Companies should be looking at their history and seeing if they are still aligned with their core values and if they are doing their best to make sure that employees are happy and engaged.

Here are some of the things that your company should be doing to bring in the new year:

Have A Company-Wide New Year’s Resolution

As I said earlier, in order to understand where you’re going, you have to look back at what you’ve accomplished or could’ve done better before.

It’s best if you have management come up with ways to make the employee experience at your office better and facilitate an environment that encourages personal growth and productivity.

A manager would be wise to use some of the suggestions that their employees have to better the office. Using an employee suggestion program will allow managers to have information from their employees in order to better their office.

Find any problems within your organization and clear up those weaknesses. Have your company running bigger, badder, and better than ever.

Also, don’t make it a private thing. If you’re a manager, let everyone know the company’s flaw (or flaws) and what steps are being taken in order to make things better. Now, most individuals fail at going through with their resolutions. So you’ll have to create the best possible plan in order for change. If a plan fails, don’t feel down, just pivot and keep on trying to address the problem.

Set Quarterly Goals

One of the neat things that we do here at our Officevibe performance review is set up individual quarterly goals. Whether they are personal or for business; we hold each other accountable for accomplishing our objectives. It helps boost our spirits and is a heck of a team bonding experience.

Your company should be transparent with any quarterly goals and what they expect out of every employee. It doesn’t even have to be something that is measured or quantified.

For example, if a business made it a point to encourage more innovation from their employees they could institute different types of things to encourage it. One thing I’ve always agreed with was having “20% time,” which is basically giving employees 20% of their day or a day out of the week to work on a project.

Google is the innovator of 20% time, and they created some of their most useful products and tools by giving their employees free time to come up with ideas that will better the company and help users.

If your company wants the scalable things as a quarterly goal, make sure to have a game plan that’ll allow employees to meet and beat their objectives and expectations.

For example, if you have a startup website and want to have X amount of unique visitors to visit the site — without spending too much on marketing — have a plan set in place that will give you and your team to attain the goal. Like the old saying goes:

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Part of being a good leader is giving your teammates the ability to execute and meet their goals.

So, as a company set-up quarterly goals and also help individuals reach theirs. I would also like to recommend that employees set-up personal goals to attain. It’ll only boost the productivity and give them something to strive for. Speaking of which, I still have to reach my quarterly goal of 100 blogs in three months!

Set Annual Goals

This one is similar to my last point but still different. Like any other major effort (marketing push, new product, employee engagement initiative, etc.), you have a short-term goal and then a long-term goal.

Your company has to look at those quarterly goals and then think of the long-term.

Leaders of companies have to ask themselves, where can the company be at the end of the year and how will it get there? How will all those quarterly goals help? What can we do to keep employees’ focused and have their eyes on the prize?

Like your individual New Year’s resolution, you’ll want to be able to say you completed it by the end of the following year.

The best way to make the yearly goal clear to every employee is by setting up a roadmap that shows the expectations and responsibilities of every team or department. If possible, have a visual one that you can hang in the office.

This is a good (yet, kinda bad) example …

When I was a teenager working for Best Buy, we had a goal of beating Circuit City. We were going to do this by making sure that we had exceptional customer service, had better prices, and made sure that people have a positive experience whenever they walked into the store.

That year, Best Buy had an incredible year and Circuit City ended up going for bankruptcy (sorry guys :( ). I also found through some of my colleagues that years earlier they had a goal of beating Future-Shop, and they ended up acquiring it.

It just goes to show that the goal of the company was to be better than the competition every year, and it became a part of the company culture. The managers made a fun experience with everything, and we strived to accomplish our goals.

So, if an electronic retail shop could engage a hard-headed teenager to buy into their goal, what’s stopping your company from motivating your team to excel and reach new heights?

Remember, if you don’t accomplish your quarterly and annual goals, or manage to complete your resolution. You can always learn from your mistakes and look to get better in 2016! Oh, and one more thing …

Happy New Year! We would like to wish you and your business a wonderful year.

What Are You Doing To Bring In The New Year?

What Your Company Should Be Doing To Bring In The New Year