Education loan subsidy to help banks clean loan books

In the interim budget, finance minister P. Chidambaram proposed a moratorium period for all education loans taken up to 31 March 2009 and outstanding as of 31 December 2013. Photo: Hindustan Times
Mumbai: State Bank of India (SBI), which has over Rs.9,000 crore in its education loan book, said on Monday that the four-year moratorium on education loans announced in the interim budget will help banks regularize their loan accounts.
“The finance minister’s announcement augurs well for banks to regularize educational loan accounts which went irregular due to loss of growth momentum in the economy and decline in job opportunities,” SBI chief economic adviser Soumya Kanti Ghosh said.
Consulting firm Deloitte India said the moratorium on education loans taken up to March 2009 and outstanding as of end December-2013 will help a lot of students in realizing their dreams for higher education. “This hopefully should encourage our students to fulfil their academic ambitions by utilizing educational loans and in the process enable the country to improve its gross enrollment ratio in higher education,” Deloitte Haskins and Sells Partner K.R. Sekar said.
In the budget, finance minister P. Chidambaram proposed a moratorium period for all education loans taken up to 31 March 2009 and outstanding as of 31 December 2013. The government will take over the liability for outstanding interest as on December 2013, but the borrower will have to pay interest for the period after 1 January 2014. The Centre will provide a sum of Rs.2,600 crore in the current fiscal year itself towards the proposal. The move is likely to benefit 900,000 student-borrowers to the tune of Rs.2,600 crore in the moratorium period.

Letter from an Entrepreneur to his Mother

Dear Mother,

I’ve been fortunate to be the reason for your happiness since my early childhood. Perhaps that’s why you named me Jaggi. It has always been my endeavour to make you proud of me in things that I give my heart and soul into. Lately, I haven’t been able to give you that contentment which you had always expected of me. I’m not sorry about it since the truth of the matter is that the thing that I’ve given my heart and soul has still not borne fruits and is going to take a long time. And you’ve got to wait, along with me, to celebrate the fruits of my passion.

The road that I’ve currently chosen is tough, full of prickles and lethal thorns, with the presence of countless possibilities – both heartening and disheartening. It’s going to take a lot of time to be able to achieve anything which would make you proud of me, which would enable you to say proudly to your friends that your son is an entrepreneur, that your son pursued something different and made a mark of himself. The road is deadly; it might be possible that in the middle of the journey, I get so bruised that I am not able to carry myself further. Forgive me, if that happens. The road is treacherous; it might be possible that at the end of the day, I sit back and realize that I’ve made tons of mistakes that I shouldn’t have. Reinforce my faith, if that happens. Because it was you who taught me not to fear mistakes while chasing my dreams. I wouldn’t stop. The road is unknown; it’s possible that at the end of the day I realize that the road was not worth going into and I’ve to crawl back to the place where I began. Congratulate me on my experience, if that happens. I know that my path is risky. But that’s what excites me. That’s what gives me a thrill. That’s what tells me the meaning of this life. That’s what I attain bliss from. And that’s what defines me.

Believe me mother, when I say that I heartily enjoy what I’m doing, despite knowing the facts that I might not be able to lead a comfortable life for the next two years, that I’ve become the least prospective bridegroom in consideration for any of the well-off families, that you have to fight the whims of the society which constantly pesters saying that I had been stupid in choosing the road less travelled over the conventional options, that it might ruin my chances of living a life free from hassles, that I might end up being bankrupt if things don’t turn out as expected. The good thing is I’m not scared. The better thing is there is no bad thing, just because of the good thing. I’m ready to take the leap – leap into the unknown just to know where my end lies – across the sky or beneath the ground. I can’t promise you success but I can promise you my hard-work, and I’ll make sure that I leave no stones unturned to touch my dream to perfection.

Coming from your womb, I’m fortunate to be endowed with all your traits – determination, passion and love – which gives me the confidence to trudge this dangerous path with unmatched vigour and resilience to make the impossible possible. From my end, I can assure you that I wouldn’t stop, not until my last breath – to sculpt my passion into a living icon. Please don’t worry, and be happy, just because I’m happy.

With love and faith.

Your Son
Jaggi

Logo Life: The Visual Evolution of 100 Iconic Logos
by Maria Popova
“Newton… a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought…alone.”

It takes a special kind of creative alchemy to transmute image into icon and catalyze a cultural cult driven by a commanding brand identity. Logo Life: Life Histories of 100 Famous Logos (public library) from Dutch publisher BIS and creative director Ron van der Vlugt offers exactly what it says on the tin, covering brands as diverse yet uniformly enduring as Apple, LEGO, adidas, Google, Xerox, and VISA. Each short chapter traces the visual evolution the respective brand logo, zooms in on noteworthy milestones in the company’s trajectory, and highlights first-hand accounts and curious anecdotes by the logo designers.

Apple (1976-2007)

Van der Vlugt tells the story of one of today’s most ubiquitous and recognizable brand identities:

Apple’s first logo was complex picture, a tribute to Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, with a phrase from Wordsworth: ‘Newton… a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought…alone’, along with the name Apple Computer Co.

Hard to reproduce, it was soon replaced by Rob Janoff’s ‘Rainbow Apple’ logo, with the introduction of the Apple II in 1997. In a later interview, Janoff said that there was no real brief. Steve Jobs only told him not to make it ‘too cute’. Ironically, the logo was designed by hand, using pencils and strips of paper.

The colors represented the monitor’s ability to reproduce colors, a unique selling point at the time. Its bright colors were intended to be appealing to young people.

The bite was added so that people would still recognize it as an apple rather than a cherry. According to Janoff, it does not represent the computing term ‘byte’, nor is there any biblical reference. Also, the bite fit snugly around the first letter of the brand name in Motter Tektura, a typeface that was considered cutting-edge at the time.

In 1984, with the introduction of the Apple Macintosh, the less than mathematically precise curves of the original logo were refined. The brand name was dropped at that point, since the apple alone proved to be an iconic symbol for the company.

From 1998 on, with the roll-out of the colorful iMacs, the stylish monochromatic themes of the logo were used, which perfectly matched the innovative character of the products.

LEGO (1934-1998)

Bayer (1881-2010)

BP (1920-2000)

3M (1948-1978)

Pirelli (1906-1945)

250+ Places Artists Can Sell Online

1. 3BStreet – A fun and quirky site with great visuals where you get your own animated storefront. Artist participation is juried, with a monthly fee as low at $9.95 per month + 3% of all transactions.

2. 500px.com – Photography site – store your photos, share them and sell them. Features work of beginners to experts. Sell your work by opening a “store” account, which is available to free as well as paid memberships.

3. AbsoluteArts – Claiming to be “the most trafficked contemporary arts site” it offers levels from free to premier. Artist bio/statement and portfolio displayed with shopping cart.

4. AbstractArtistGallery – Not an e-commerce site, this is a database of living abstract artists that presents work and includes a link to the artists website to drive traffic there. Juried; they request a donation from artists who are included.

5. AffordableBritishArt (UK Site) – Artists sell their work with no middleman, commission free, but there is a charge to have an account (4 tiered levels). You must have a PayPal account to receive payment for your work.

6. Aftcra – This site calls themselves “the place to buy and sell one-of-a-kind goods proudly crafted by American hands.” Set up a storefront here for free, and product prices must be $10 or higher. Listings stay for four months. They take 7% fee on sales.

7. Amazon – A while back, handmade jewelry was the category for artists to list on this huge e-commerce site. Now selling fine art, galleries and dealers can use Amazon as well.

8. American Handmade Crafts – Free trial (with $35 setup). Monthly fees starting at $12, and each artist can list hundreds of items for sale. They provide a shopping cart.

9. Art.com – This highly ranked e-commerce site has a division called Artist Rising, where emerging artists can upload images. They provide a print-on-demand service to sell your work. Two levels of membership – free and paid.

10. Artaissance – This juried site is looking for sophisticated art that is suitable for art publishing, and is run by well-known frame manufacturer Larson-Juhl. If your work fits the bill, you can go through a submission process to become one of their featured artists.

11. ArtBomb – (Canadian site) Dubbed as “a daily online art auction featuring carefully curated works of art from artists across Canada.” Selected artists must provide them with 50 email addresses of friends and supporters. Reserve price is set. Art Bomb takes 50% of selling price.

12. ArtBreak – Describing themselves as “a global community of artists sharing and selling their work on the web,” this site is a commission-free way to upload images and sell with a shopping cart. Curiously, their blog and social media sites are inactive.

13. ArtCorgi – Specializing in art commissions to clients. Artists retain copyright, as well as the original copies of their work (only digital files are delivered). ArtCorgi takes a 20% cut from a commission’s list price (at or above what an artist sets as a minimum) and charges no listing fees.

14. ArtDip – (UK Site) Now open to painters, printmakers and artists in 2D media, ArtDip offers individual websites; they offer a ten-day free trial.

15. ArtDiscover – Art spaces and artists can promote themselves creating, editing and uploading their information for free on ArtDiscover. Galleries can also promote exhibitions.

16. Art-Exchange – B2B site where artists can get connected to interior designers, architects and others in the trade. Work is sold wholesale here; they take 10% commission.

17. ArtFido – (Australian Site) Artists and galleries can create listings of available work on this international site, where shoppers can buy or bid on art. They take 8.5% of sales made.

18. ArtFire – Huge marketplace of crafts, art, supplies, vintage and more. Customize your own shop on this site. $12.95 monthly fee.

19. Artflung – Non-profit is an online curated art gallery, with no fees involved. Artist submissions can be made on the site, and is juried.

20. ArtFortune – Create your own online art gallery here. Site visitors can see the images that you have uploaded, and click through to your website, where you make the sale. They charge a monthly fee, and have several different plans. There is also a forum and community on this site.

21. Artful Home – Gorgeous online catalog for handmade home décor, wall art, apparel and accessories. They have a paper catalog as well as online gallery. This is a juried site, with a jury fee and $300 membership fee if accepted.

22. Artfuly – (Australian site) A juried site, where you can submit your work for review. If you are a match, they market your work for free, but charge admin, delivery and insurance fees when work is sold. For Australian artists only at this time.

23. ArtfullyWalls – This Print-on-Demand site sells art prints, and is juried. Artists can open a store there and upload images, and receive a set amount per item ordered (see site for details.) They also sell limited editions.

24. ArtfullyReimagined – “Repurposed” is the key word on this site, which specializes in selling work that includes reused, repurposed or recycled materials, and take a 10% commission. This site is juried. They also offer mini-grants, prospectus is on their site.

25. ArtGallery – (UK site) They claim to be a “leading destination for customers wishing to buy art online.” Two membership levels (one is free), with shopping cart function. They even text you when your art sells, which is pretty cool.

26. Art-GalleryWordwide – Offers three monthly account options to artists plus setup fee. Each artist gets a home page to upload images. Shopping cart provided.

27. ArtHog – Online gallery sells prints of your work. They market your art, you keep 60% on sales. They will also work with you on licensing. Submissions are juried. Free membership, submission and listing.

28. Articents – Handmade and vintage items are sold here. This site is very inexpensive, with no listing fees or commissions, and only a $5.00 monthly fee. Make your own storefront, where you can even include videos.

29. Artid – Online exhibition space where you can sell your art. Three membership levels, including one which is free. Each artist gets their own gallery and blog. Artid offers an ebay selling option for premium members.

30. Artinvesta (Australian site) This site promotes itself as selling original art on a global scale. They offer artists unlimited space to upload a portfolio, and take 10% plus Paypal fees from your sales. You can register as a seller for free.

31. Artist-Listing – A “free showcase for visual artists,” this site has a free plan, or you can upgrade your page for $25 or $149 annual packages (custom built templates). This site does not include a shopping cart, but allows a portfolio and bio where you can list your own website to make sales.

32. ArtistsInfo – A “global showcase” that drives visitors from their website to yours. Juried from information and images submitted on the site, an artist listing is £ 49.99. They claim to be the number one gallery on You Tube.

33. ArtistSites – Called “A Virtual Community of Artist Portfolios” this site is totally free to use. Artists can upload up to 25 portfolio images, and create a bio. Site visitors can comment or contact the artist. You can include a link to your own website as well.

34. ArtistsToWatch – This greeting card company accepts submissions from artists who would like to sell their work in this format. They accept new artists quarterly. To apply, email them with your info and images.

35. Artmajeur – (European site) Claims to be the world’s largest fine art gallery. Upload your art to this site, and handle any sales directly with the buyers. Monthly fees apply, no commission is taken.

36. ArtMuse – A curated collection of art in all mediums. Submit your work for consideration free. Original art can be listed at no charge; images for prints have a $15.00 listing fee. Art is sold at pre-set price points; this is a Print-on-Demand site.

37. ArtofWhere – Print-on-Demand site featuring beanies, pillows, pencil cases and phone covers. Open a store here and sell your work with offer a 3-tiered commission system.

38. Artolo – (UK site) Now in Beta, this online gallery features artist/buyer profiles, portfolios, the ability to list art in real world locations … plus coming soon, facilities to sell your work both offline and online. They take 10% commission. Sign up now open.

39. Artomat – With this unique concept, old cigarette vending machines are converted into Art Vending Machines which dispense small works of 2D and 3D art. They are searching for new artists – link leads to the guidelines.

40. Artorca – Easy instructions here say that the artist creates a profile, and uploads their work. When buyers browse and choose to buy, artists receive payment into their Paypal account and ship the work. No membership or listing fees. They take 15% commission.

41. ArtPal – Popular free gallery to sell art and buy art. Sell your paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, crafts, original art, prints, and much more. They also have a free Print-on-Demand service. Free membership, easy-to-use website, and many features to sell your art.

42. ArtPistol – (UK Site) This website advertises that they sell “original art and limited edition prints from both budding and recognized UK artists.” They sell online as well as in pop up events, and sell to corporate clients. Artists list prices on the site, but shoppers are also allowed to make offers. Features a wedding registry. No upfront fees, but they take 25% commission.

43. Artplatform (UK Site) – This site sells art while supporting charities. Depending on your chosen level of gifting, you may or may not receive payment. Fine art only. They encourage you to list your website and galleries than show your work.

44. Artplode – Now in pre-launch, this sites advertises that it’s the place “where artists galleries dealers and the public can sell art online with no commission.” Register on their mailing list for updates.

45. ArtPreferred – Create your own art store here for $9.95 per month, with no commissions taken. Audience is global. They also have a feature where you can promote your art events as well.

46. Artquid – Calling itself “The Art World Marketplace,” this international website sells fine art, antiques and fine craft in different mediums. Works on a set annual fee.

47. Artsicle – Have you ever considered renting your art? This site specializes in residential and corporate art rentals, and renting art for staging apartments and homes for sale. If you are a New York City artist, find out more by contacting Dan(at)Artsicle.com who runs this website.

48. ArtShow – This site provides websites for artists, as well as having an online gallery for promotion. It is juried – submit your images + $220 fee for setup and first year (refunded if you are not selected.)

49. ArtSlant – This popular art website allows artists to sell their work using different arrangements, from listing your work yourself, to having ArtSlant get involved with making the sale. Marketing tools offered. Fees vary.

50. ArtSpan – Artists in any medium can build their own websites on ArtSpan, which boasts 4,000 member sites. Shopping carts and Print-on-Demand also available. Fees range from $14-$20 per month.

51. Art Specifier – Specializing in selling to architects, designers, art consultants and galleries, art specifier is a juried site. Annual membership for artists is $100, with no other fees or commissions involved.

52. Artsy Home – Offering “Original Décor for Home Work and Life,” This website targets interior designers, commercial decorators, upscale homeowners & others with print catalogs as well as online sales. Pay either 25% commission or $14.95 monthly fee.

53. ArtTraffic – (UK Site) Here’s where they claim you can “Buy the work of young or established artists & discover future talent.” Mediums include everything from sculpture to jewelry to prints. This site offers membership packages, and takes a commission.

54. ARTtwo50 – This site is “a marketplace for original pieces that buyers can view hanging on their wall before they buy for an affordable price.” All art sold on this site is $250, artists get 80%. They have an innovative iPad app that shows art in situ.

55. ArtWanted – This site allows artists to upload images and price their own work. The artist can then fulfill orders for original art or reproductions on their own, or use ArtWanted’s Print-on-Demand services, where artwork can be printed on a selection of products. They take 15% commission.

56. ArtWeb – (UK site) – Has plans ranging from free to pro, no commission is taken on sales. Artists can upload images on to their own profile pages. Shopping cart is provided.

57. ArtworkHeroes – (Danish site) This site runs monthly competitions, with winners work being sold as limited editions. Artists receive 15% of the price of prints which are sold by this Print-On-Demand provider.

58. ArtworkxOfMann – (UK Site) Sponsored by an international art agency, this site sells original art and reproductions. They have a brick and mortar gallery and hold events. Applications are juried; charges annual fee ranging from £49 – £250.

59. AxisWeb – (UK site) Create your own web shop here, and join museums, galleries and other artists selling their work. Even has a bridal registry. Commission based.

60. b-uncut – Billing themselves as “The Art Exchange,” this site serves creative directors, curators, art consultants and others matching their projects with artists who place bids. 20% commission rate when sales are made.

61. Bakso – (UK Site) This site specializes in t-shirts, and encourages independent designers to join. Upload your designs to this POD vendor, and you will receive 15% of the price of the shirt.

62. Behance – This popular online platform for creatives allows you to upload your art to a gallery with a personalized URL. “Work for Sale” is a category where artists can use shopping cart function to sell.

63. Big Cartel – “Bringing the Art to the Cart” is the mission here, where over 250,000 online stores have been opened by creatives. Pricing runs from free to about $30 per month with no long-term commitment. Brand and customize your own online shop.

64. BlkDot – This site provides e-commerce for Tumblr, the world’s biggest blogging platform. Artists can create blog posts featuring their work and sell right from the post with BlkDot’s shopping cart. No listing or monthly fees. They take 3% of each transaction.

65. Bonanza – This site sells everything, not just art – and claims to have 4 million items for sale. You can import items from Etsy to Bonanza free of charge. Listing is free – a percentage is taken from the cost of items that sell.

66. Boticca – Jewelry and fashion accessories marketplace for aspiring designers. This site is juried. Upon approval, set up your shop and upload images. No membership fee – they take 30% commission on sales.

67. Brika – this e-commerce site focuses on House and Home, Jewelry, Accessories, Paper Goods and Baby Items. You must apply to become a “maker” on the site. Email them for terms.

68. Bucketfeet – Would your artwork look just perfect on a pair of shoes? This site offers cool sneakers with a variety of designs. Jury by sending an email to info(at)Bucketfeet.com with your portfolio.

69. BuyAndLeaseArt – This service leases art for office and residential environments in 12-24 month terms. This gives a monthly fee to the artist. Art is also sold on the site, with the artist receive 70% of the price. Juried submission. No fee to list.

70. BuyCoolArt – Like a Pinterest board with prices, this free website is super easy to use. Just create an account, and upload your artwork images with prices that you set. One click takes the reader right to your own website for the purchase.

71. Café Press – Print-on-Demand site has two options – start your own online store, or upload designs only without the hassle of managing a shopfront. They set base prices for each item, which you mark up for your “royalty”. Fees are 10% of royalties.

72. Cargoh – Calling themselves a “social marketplace for independent art, design + culture,” Cargoh is a juried and curated site. Upon acceptance, there is an 8% commission on sales, with no other fees.

73. Centerpoint Art Project : When you store your art inventory data with Centerpoint, they include several creative e-commerce features designed to help Fine Artists sell art. You can personalize your sales approach for originals and limited editions and it will instantly sync your inventory with your website.

74. ClickForArt – (UK Site) This site sells work from artists in the UK as limited edition art, art prints, canvas prints and limited edition homewares. They sell retail and also wholesale to retailers. You may submit to them by sending an email to artist [@] clickforart.com with samples or a link to your website.

75. CollegeArtOnline – Sellers must be attending art school, or be a recent grad or professor (with an .edu email address unless otherwise approved) to list their work on this site. 25% commission is taken when your art sells – no other fees apply.

76. ColourInYourLife – (Australian Site) Sells original, prints and limited edition art. Artists get their own shop. Fill in online submission form, and they will respond with best pricing for your work and commission details.

77. Constrvct – Is your art perfect to become wearable? Now on Beta, Constvct is a crowd-sourced fashion label. Upload your design, and it is custom printed onto fabric, and made in dresses, shirts, skirts. Sign up to get into their Artist Program, where your designs can be made available to consumers and you earn royalties.

78. ContemporaryArtGalleryOnline – Juried site, which helps artists market and sell their work, and has a shopping cart. 2D work only. Markets to trade professionals; also features competitions.

79. Coriandr – (UK Site) They state that “anything handmade and creative can be sold on Coriandr.” No membership fee. The cost to list per item is 20p plus 2.5% commission on sales. Easy to set up your own shop page, and listings never expire.

80. CraftCafe – This site exists to sell handmade craft and craft supplies. Open up a shop for as little as $4.95 per month. No sales or listing fees.

81. CraftIsArt – Focusing on handcrafted and vintage goods and supplies, this site offers pay-as-you-go and premium packages to sell your work online.

82. CraftGawker – Curated craft photo gallery linking through to craft blogger sites from around the world. Submissions are moderated. Lure visitors to your own site where you can make the sale.

83. CraftJuice – Though not strictly for sellers, this curatorial site will link through images to any site. Submit a photo of your craft from any other site and promote through CraftJuice, then sell through your other shopping cart. Votes get your work on the front page of this site.

84. Crafterstown – Small website featuring different craft items. Monthly fee from free to $9.99, and no listing fees. Free plan has a small transaction fee.

85. Craftori – Art, craft, vintage and more can be submitted to this curated site. Links through to your sales venue, where you sell direct to the customer. Pay to feature your work on their front page or in Supplies category or Gift Guide.

86. CraftShowcase – Charges no fees to sellers. The management of this site adds 15% to your prices in order to make money. Photos are uploaded, and must be approved before going live. Artists can sell retail or wholesale here, and even post videos.

87. CraftStar – Run by craftspeople, this site has a $5.00 monthly membership fee, and no listing fees. Very helpful forum and customer service here.

88. CraftyMall – All types of handcrafted items are sold on this site. No cost to upload images or list items; a 3% transaction fee is retained by the site owner.

89. Craigslist – Believe it or not, you can sell art on Craigslist, which contains about everything else in the world. Artists can advertise free to solicit commissions, or sell their work. Beware of scam buyers on this site.

90. Crated – In prelaunch now, this website helps artists sell photography and digital artwork. Sign up for notifications when they go live.

91. CreativeMarket – This site is for graphic artists to sell graphics, logos, themes, etc. Artists set their own prices and keep 70% of each sale. They do not require an exclusive on any designs.

92. CreativeStores – (UK site) Based in England but doing business worldwide, this site proclaims, “You may sell handmade goods, crafts, creations, gifts (that are inline with other items on the website), craft supplies, digital downloads e.g. pdf files for patterns.” Monthly fee with three package options.

93. Crevado – A website to upload your art portfolio and your bio, Crevado does not offer a shopping cart, but enhances your web presence. Fees range from free to $9.00 per month.

94. CustomMade – This website seeks artists and craftspeople to match with buyers who would like custom work created for them. Consumers post requests, and bids are taken from makers. Once a custom piece of work is made and shipped, CustomMade takes a 10% commission.

95. DailyPainters – Large gallery of art is searchable, and links buyers through to your own website where you can make the sale. This site is juried, and they are seeking prolific artists with a unique style who are also bloggers.

96. DailyPaintWorks – This popular site has a large variety of new 2D art offered every day. They help you sell originals only. Join them for $12.95 per month, which entitles you to upload any number of images you like.

97. DargerHQ – Their mission is “to provide an influential platform for presenting important, emerging artists’ work to new collectors” and a limited number of artists are featured on this site, with work for sale and shopping cart. You may submit your work to be juried (with a $10 fee) and if accepted, any work sold is subject to 30% commission.

98. D’Art Fine Art – Large online gallery of work, with memberships available ranging from approximately $15-$30 per month. Offers marketing tools. Connects buyers with artists, and allows bids; also has shopping cart function.

99. DaWanda – This site promotes that it sells “Products with Love” and specializes in unique or limited edition, handmade, customizable and tailor-made work from small creative businesses. Create your own shop – no fees, 5% commission.

100. DegreeArt – (UK Site) Students and recent graduates can submit their work for consideration to this site, which has an online venue as well as a London gallery where they may put your work in a solo or group show, and promote you to the press. They require an initial fee of £75.

101. DENYDesign – This home furnishings company creates Print-on-Demand pillows, bed linens, shower curtains, wall art and more. Does your work need to be in this collection? Artists are juried in.

102. Deviant Art – With 80 million pieces of art onsite, this behemoth is the largest social network for artists. It’s a platform that allows emerging and established artists to exhibit, promote, and share their works, including selling prints. Prints are base price; set your selling price to include a royalty for your payment.

103. Docent – Selling “affordable art to the carefree collector,” this site features original works and limited editions archival prints.They have monthly exhibitions and flash sales on the site as well. Juried. Complete form on site for more info.

104. Dossiae – This site provides a place for artists, designers, etc. to list their services in a directory, which is searchable. Now in Beta.

105. DPCPrints – Register for the DPChallenge, and you will have an online profile where you can upload your scanned photographs, scanned paintings and drawings, and digital artwork. This is a Print-on-Demand site. Artists pay $25.00 per year membership plus the base price of all prints. Set your own prices, and split profits with them.

106. Dunked – Create an online portfolio on this website, using their templates, and even keep your own domain name. They have a clean contemporary look, are mobile-friendly and offer great features to the user. Rates range from $6 – $19 per month.

107. EasyArt – (UK Site) This POD vendor sells reproductions of artists’ work from submitted digital files (one-time fee for uploading), and pays 10% commission to the artist. They set prices based on substrate. Not currently accepting new artists (as of 4/13) but they advertise upcoming “Easy Art Academy”.

108. Ebay – The big kahuna of marketplaces, Ebay is a place to sell art as well as anything else on the planet. Although it may not be the first choice of most artists, others may find a niche where they can do well here. Listing and transaction fees apply.

109. EBSQArt – This site for “self-representing artists” allows you to create an online presence that links through to other websites where you have a shopping cart. EBSQ focuses on its built-in social networking tools to spread the word about your work. Membership based, $8.95 per month.

110. Envelop – This is a European site for designers to upload designs to be printed on textiles and sold as pillows, totes, aprons, etc. Submissions are juried. Artists receive a portion of the sale price.

111. Epilogue – a volunteer-driven Sci-Fi and fantasy art site, Epilogue allows artists to create galleries, and link to their own websites – so it works as a marketing tool to reach out to buyers who like this genre. This is a juried site, with apparently no charge to artists.

112. Etsy – This is the well-known 800 lb. gorilla, where artists and craftspeople can open their own online shop. Vintage goods and supplies also allowed. Etsy offers support communities and lots of help selling. Listing and transaction fees apply.

113. EtsyWholesale – Now in Beta launch, they are taking applications for artists who are experienced in wholesale. This new platform uses the power of Etsy to reach retailers who want to purchase handmade goods for their stores.

114. Exsibit – (UK Site) Built “for artists by artists” Exsibit allows you to upload your images and publishes your work to social media sites. They also provide a shopping cart. Plans start at €15 per month.

115. EyesOnWalls – Canadian art company selling original art, prints and textiles. Very selective group of artists they work with exclusively. Artists must have large enough body of work, have a following and fit their “look.” Submit images or a link to your site to them through email.

116. Ezebee – A platform for designers, handmade manufacturers and micro-companies all over the world, this site is 100% free. Create your own showroom and start selling. Very interactive with social media.

117. Fab – Fab sells many things besides art (they call it a “compelling marketplace for everyday design”), but they are willing to look at a submission of your work should you want to be considered. Apply right here.

118. Facebook – yes, one of your favorite social networks can also be your online store. Use Wix or Heyo to create a really cool customized Facebook page, with a shopping cart too.

119. FarmMade – Filling a niche, FarmMade claims that farmers (and they have a broad definition) can set up shop, but you will see quilts, paintings, handmade soaps and other items on this site. Seller accounts are $5.00 per month plus 5% commission. A Paypal account is needed.

120. FineArtStudioOnline – A favorite place for artists to create their own professional art website (with your own URL), get marketing help, integrate a blog and social media. Monthly fee $8-$40.

121. FineArtAmerica – Build an art profile page, then promote and sell your work on paper or stretched canvas from this Print on Demand provider. Provides marketing help and an embedded shopping cart on your own website.

122. FolioTwist – Their platform provides artists a website and blog, marketing help and more. Monthly fees $25-$40 for the package.

123. Folksy – (UK site) Featuring modern British craft, this site has online stores for artists to list and sell their work. Pay-as-you-go and monthly plans available.

124. FotoMoto – A Print-on-demand e-commerce widget that integrates seamlessly into your existing website. They take care of printing, packing, and shipping orders to your customers. Pay per transaction and monthly fee programs.

125. FoundMyself – Free for artists to upload images; no commission taken. Sales are handled between the buyer and seller only, not the site. “Honor system” asks artists to contribute what they feel is fair when sales are made.

126. FromtheWilde – (UK site) Featuring art and handmade craft from Europe, Australia, Canada and the US, this site has a good search function and promotes artists. If interested in submitting your work, click on “Contact” and send an enquiry.

127. FrontPorchArt – This site brands itself as a “laid-back art market” for Southern art. Juried; you list at least five pieces for sale, with no listing fees. They take 40% of the sale.

128. Gallerish – Free to artists, this site allows you to upload images, bio, etc. Visitors are directed to artists by email, or can use PayPal to purchase.

129. GalleryToday – Connects artists with buyers to sell original signed paintings internationally. They offer a guarantee that every painting will arrive in perfect condition. Juried. To apply, check their website for submission email and instructions.

130. Gelaskins – This company produces skins for all types of devices, from laptops to phones to e-readers, and also art prints and canvasses. They will accept email submissions from artists wishing to license their designs – see website for details.

131. GiftWrappedAndGorgeous (UK Site) – Online boutique for gifts, jewelry and artwork. This site is curated – application is available on their site.

132. GLCCraftMall – Specializing in handmade crafts. Open up your storefront here for fees ranging from free to $12.00 depending on the number of listings you have. No commissions are taken.

133. GoodJoe – A Print on Demand T-shirt company with a conscience, this vendor supports nonprofits and good causes. Set up your own shop, upload your designs, and you receive 10% commission on every t-shirt they sell.

134. Goodsmiths – Calling themselves “The Marketplace for Makers” this site has no setup or listing fees, and takes only 2% of each sale.

135. GotArtWork – Artists can sell originals or reproductions here. This is a Print-on-Demand site, with monthly plans ranging from free to several hundred dollars.

136. GreetingCardUniverse – Create a greeting card store on this site for free and upload your images. They are a Print on Demand vendor, and artists make 35 cents per card sold.

137. Gumroad – Originally created to sell digital products, Gumroad now allows sellers to list physical products. You provide a link to the item, and they receive payment. No store needed, this site does allow you to communicate directly with customers.

138. HandmadeArtists – A very active community as well as a venue to sell art or craft. No commissions are taken – $5.00 monthly subscription, they provide a shopping cart.

139. Handmadeology – This site is a place to get exposure for your art or craft, but does not actually have its own shopping cart. Uploading your images is free. Your item description has links to your website, social media, and other places to buy (such as your Etsy shop). Feature your work on Handmadeology’s front page for $5.00.

140. HarnGallery – This site is a curated marketplace for affordable, original art. Artists simply register and upload their images. When sales are made, the artist ships the work, and retains 80% of the purchase price.

141. HouseOfSass – This new site is based on a “hotel” theme where each artist is given a room to present their work. They are currently offering six months free, and then have monthly plans from $7.95 – $15.95 depending on how many products are listed. No commissions.

142. Houzz – Is your work just right for interiors? Houzz has the largest residential design database in the world. Create your profile under “Artists and Artisans” in the Pro section here and upload images of your work. It’s free.

143. iCraft – (Canadian Site) Sells the handmade work of artists globally. $25 registration fee, and monthly fees of $5.00 to $15.00 depending on how many images your upload.

144. ImageKind – Print-on-Demand. Join free, customize your own storefront. Fees range from free to $95 per year. Set your own retail prices; they charge base price and pay you the rest.

145. IndieMade – Their pitch is that they help crafters, artists, photographes, DIYers, and artisans of all types easily produce creative websites. Monthly fees start as low as $4.95 (no long-term commitment) and you can even get a 30-day free trial.

146. Ingallery – This juried site solicits submissions from “established and up and coming artists.” They are Print-on-Demand, selling work as digital canvases, and have themed galleries on their site. No info given about charges or commissions.

147. InksterInc – This Print-on-Demand site offers t-shirts designed by member artists. Apply to be included in their group of artists by sharing your images or website URL. Create your page showing your art for purchase by the public. T-shirts retail for $20, and artists get $5 on each sale through Paypal.

148. InPRNT – This site sells giclees. Juried submission process of sending three of your best pieces for review. Inquire about costs.

149. Instaprints – a Fine Art America site, Instaprints allows you to sell your Instagram photos as prints on different substrates, greeting cards, etc. This is a Print-on-Demand site. Artists can join free or pay $30 for a premium plan. They take no commission on originals or prints (unless you want them to print them). Many more services – check their website for more.

150. JewelSpan – A sister site to ArtSpan, this vendor caters to artists selling handcrafted jewelry. Artists get a pretty sharp website with shopping cart, blog and even videos about their work. Intro price is $99/year plus 10% commission on sales. No listing fees. Sales to buyers going directly to member site URL incur no commission.

151. JuicyCanvas – This website features contemporary art, with a catalog of limited edition pieces, which can be re-mixed by the customer. This Print on Demand provider prints canvasses, t-shirts, totes, baby clothes and more. Submit your portfolio through email to be considered.

152. Keep – A curated site where you can “keep” images from the web (like Pinterest), including your work from third part sites like Etsy. This site has a “Buy” button which guides visitors to your own online shopping cart.

153. LokoFoto – (UK Site) This site offers local photographs of many areas of the world. Submit your photos, which are voted up or down by the community. You set the price, and they keep 40% for production the prints and shipping out the photos to customers.

154. Luulla – Calling itself “The Marketplace for Unique Products” Luulla offers artists a monthly plan for $9.90 plus 3% selling fee, or a pay-as-you-go option with listing fees and the selling fee. They promote your work to social media as well.

155. MadeByHandOnline – (UK Site) British and Irish craftspeople are welcome to apply. This site is juried, and has an active community and directory, and actively markets their makers. They take 22% commission on sales.

156. MadeInPembrokeshire – (UK Site) Features handmade gift items, jewelry, art and more from artists and artisans from Pembrokeshire in Wales. Contact site admin for information if you are in that area.

157. MadeIt – Australian site for handmade goods. This marketplace charges vendors .35 per listing plus 4.5% commission on sales. No membership fees.

158. MadeItMyself – Upload your images, and either set a price or negotiate with buyers. They provide a shopping cart. Listing fee and commission applies.

159. Meylah – Open a store for your artwork or handmade goods, or even create a curated marketplace. They offer support and marketing help. No upfront fees, only a 2.75% commission on sales.

160. MadeByHandsOfBritain – (UK Site) Not exclusively for artists, this site has listings as diverse as gifts, construction services and catering – anything done by hand by “Makers.”

161. Minted – They are a Print on Demand vendor selling holiday and Christmas cards, and wedding and party invitations. Submit your design here, and fans will vote on it. Winners get cash prizes, and the rights to sell their designs on the site.

162. MISI – (UK Site) MISI, or “Make It, Sell It” is an online platform to sell handmade crafts, vintage items and supplies. Listing fee plus 3% commission on sales.

163. Modalyst – This website is for designers who want to sell wholesale to retailers. They provide the “virtual showroom” and allow retailers to meet minimum orders through purchasing from more than one vendor. Designers pay them a percentage; contact for details.

164. ModernArt-Design – (UK Site) Submit your work to be juried into the “Artist Program” on this Print-on-Demand site, which sells artwork, but also prints images for consumers. They do not list artist terms on their site, so you will need to inquire.

165. MuzikShirt – This site describes itself as a “community designed limited-edition tee company featuring fresh music inspired designs every 72 hours.” Do you create music-related art that would work well as a t-shirt design? This could be a fit. Submit your artwork here and earn $1.00 for each sold during the sales period.

166. MyBestCanvas – Sells original paintings, to an international audience. Customer gets directly in touch with the artist; no commission is taken. $50 annual fee to upload your images and become a seller.

167. MySoti – Print-on-Demand site specializing in t-shirts, lampshades, and art reproductions. Upload your designs for free, and choose your markup. They pay you the amount of basic cost for items they print.

168. NewBloodArt – (UK Site) Representing early and mid-career artists, this juried site focuses on selling originals. You determine the selling price, and they take a commission.

169. NextDayArt – NextDayArt are artist agents, who represents artists to manufacturers for licensing purposes. This is accomplished through their website and trade shows. They accept submissions from artists through email – see the site for details.

170. NotMassProduced – (UK Site) All artisans applying to have a store on this site are vetted. Upload your images, and ship your goods. They provide a shopping cart. Curiously, their management doesn’t reveal their fees on the site, only saying, “you can start trading very quickly at a reasonable cost.”

171. Nuzart – (European Site) This is a Print-on-Demand site, so originals and limited editions don’t sell here. Upload your images and set your price. You collect the percentage over the base price of the reproductions.

172. OArtTee – This Print On Demand T-shirt company encourages artists who work with inks, digital illustration or creative photography to upload your designs on their site. Artists get their own gallery page, and receive a commission from sales (not specified).

173. OpenSky – Open a storefront here, and you receive a percentage of the sale (up to 100%) when you drive traffic to your item through social media. Customers are incentivized to also share to earn points for shopping credits.

174. OriginalArtOnline – As the name implies, original art is sold here. Membership fee about $6-$8 per month, no commissions are taken. Set your asking price and take offers from buyers. They provide marketing help.

175. OriginalArtUnder100 – (UK Site) A simple, no-nonsense original art website where all the featured work is priced under £100. Artists sell direct and commission free to buyers with free 4 month trial. If they decide to stay beyond their trial period, they pay £20 per year, or £12 for 6 months. Artists also get a free link to their website and their own URL gallery page.

176. PaperNStitch – Online exhibition space curated monthly. $55 to be in first exhibition, with future exhibitions at a discounted rate. No commissions. Your image links back to a selling site where buyers can purchase your work.

177. PictureFair (UK Site) They sell photographic art prints from this site, where artists can upload up to 25 images for free. They print and ship the image, and you earn a royalty from each sale.

178. Pinbeads – Are you a jewelry designer? This Pinterest-style site is all about jewelry. Pin your jewelry, jewelry supplies or DIY tutorials on their boards. Images click through to your website where you can close the sale

179. Pinterest – This super-popular website allows you to create collections by “pinning” images around the web which click through to the original site. Have an item to sell, on Etsy, or anywhere else? List the price when you pin your item – a click on the photo will take the shopper through to your own site where you can make the sale. Priced items show up in their “Gifts” section.

180. Pixels – Part of Fine Art America, Pixels is “the premier online marketplace for buying and selling fine art prints and originals” and offers a huge array of services and options for artists. You can open an account and an artist’s store there free, or get more options for $30 per year.

181. Pixpa – Created for photographers, artists and designers, Pixpa gives you a portfolio site with a built-in shopping cart provided by FotoMoto. If you have a blog and need a place to show large, gorgeous photos of your work, this might be it. Monthly plans start at $10.

182. Poppito – (UK Site) Describing themselves as “an online market place providing greater opportunities for makers of quality handmade goods and growers of homegrown produce,” Poppito sells credits which are exchanged for listing your items.

183. PoppyArts – Based out of a brick and mortar, this site sells jewelry, fine craft and art, this site features about 200 artists and is juried. They buy wholesale from the artist.

184. PoppyTalkHandmade – (Canadian site) Dubbing itself “the original curated online marketplace for emerging design talent,” this site accepts artist submissions, and is juried. $60 monthly fee for sellers. They feature “themed markets” which change monthly.

185. Portraity – Are you a portrait artist or photographer? This site aims to connect artists and clients who want commissioned portraits made. Artists upload their portfolio onto the site and a “contact” button puts potential clients in touch with you. Currently in Beta and offering free memberships.

186. PrintPop – This Print-on-Demand site claims to be for aspiring/emerging, “struggling,” part-time, hobbyist, or student artists” to sell poster-sized print reproductions of their work. Artist earns 15% royalty from each item.

187. PrintsOnWood – Print-on-Demand site that creates art prints on wood, using fine art or photography that you submit. $5.00 fee to sign up and become a vendor on this site.

188. RebelsMarket – This site claims to be the “No. 1 alternative community for buying & selling anti-mainstream items for subcultural lifestyles such as goth, steampunk, rockabilly, pinup, tattoos & more.” Fit your work? Open a free store – they take 15% commission. Juried to make sure your designs are rebellious enough.

189. RedBubble – Print-on-Demand site featuring posters, prints, t-shirts, cards and more. They have set base prices, and you collect the markup that you choose.

190. RetailParade – This is a wholesale site geared for the gift industry. Juried vendors pay a monthly fee. No submission process indicated, use contact form for more info.

191. RiseArt – (UK Site) Artists can create a profile here and submit their work, which is ranked by votes from the Rise Art community. Chosen artists are promoted, and work may be commissioned by Rise Art, or sold on the site. Totally free to use.

192. SaatchiOnline – Upload your images, sell originals and prints. Artist retains 70% of purchase price.

193. SableAndOx – (UK Site) This website offers a service “allowing artists to showcase their impressive portfolio of work and giving customers the chance to browse and buy exquisite exclusive pieces of art all on our innovative online gallery.” They take a commission percentage (not specified on site).

194. ScoutMob – This site is all about local, and features a “shoppe” to buy art and handmade items. Choose your favorite city on their list, and see locally made work (they even have their own app.) You can apply to be one of their local “makers” by contacting them through the site.

195. SculptSite – Sculpture-only site, buyers purchase directly from the artist. This site is juried. No commissions, you pay a fee ranging from $0 – $99 per year. They give marketing assistance.

196. SeekAndAdore – (UK Site) If you design homewares and accessories, you can apply to be juried into this site. Get your own artist “studio” page showing your items. Annual fee of £180 plus they take 25% of each sale. Artists drop-ship their orders.

197. SeekingDesigners – This site has a marketplace which is mostly oriented to fashion, accessories and home. Not strictly handmade. They jury submissions to be part of their group of designers. Monthly fees range from about $11-$30 per month.

198. SeeMe Art Market – Soon to launch, this is the e-commerce part of the SeeMe.com website for creatives. Create a profile and sign up for more info here.

199. Sellpin – Their tagline is “If you can pin it on Pinterest, You can sell it on SellPin” and they offer a place to list your work to sell when referred through Pinterest. Easy to log in with Facebook. Free to list, they take 7% fee on sales.

200. SellUrArt – This website sells your artwork as a poster. One dollar subscription for a year. If your poster sells, you get a percentage of the sale. SellUrArt will sell art on their own website along as auction sites like eBay.

201. ShopDelighted – Featuring mostly handcrafted items, this site allows sellers to list an item for 120 days for .20, and also charges 3.5% commission on sales. Joining is free and you must have a Paypal account.

202. ShopHandmade – You can set up a store here to sell anything handmade, although their home page shows some manufactured items – for example, you can literally buy a GPS for your car. Their stores are “100% fee free,” and they literally collect donations to keep going. Yes, that’s right – donations.

203. Shopinterest – turn your Pinterest boards into a store! All Pinterest items with a price get added to your Shopinterest store. They provide a shopping cart, but customers pay you directly. They are in Beta now, but have a free trial period and will offer pay-per-item or monthly fees going forward.

204. Shoply – (UK Site) This website features many products – Art is one category. Easy to upload images and get your store opened. Monthly plans range from free to $39.99, plus a commission that varies (this information was gleaned from an article about Shoply – they do not post fees in any easy-to-find place on their site before signup.)

205. SiOTTGallery (UK Site) Juried gallery site offering online exposure, and also invites artists to show at Art Fairs or Events. Annual fee of £50. They take 35% commission on sales.

206. Skreened – Print-on-Demand t-shirt site. Any site visitor can make a custom-made shirt, or can purchase available designs. That’s where you come in – upload your artwork and create your own shop. Choose your own price, you make everything above base prices charged by the site.

207. Smitsy – Juried site with no membership or listing fees. They take a 35% commission from sales of art. Bio of artist shown (which you can update), and shopping cart on site.

208. Society6 – Print-on-Demand site, featuring prints, canvases, iPhone cases, hoodies and more. Upload your artwork, and set your price. You receive payment for everything over the base price of their products.

209. Spoonflower – Known for printing custom fabric for designers, this site is Print-on-Demand and prints your work on textiles, wallpaper and decals. They claim to offer the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world. Artists receive 10% of sale price.

210. Spreadshirt – Open your own t-shirt shop online, featuring your designs. No cost to set up. This Print-on-Demand vendor pays you an agreed upon royalty on each sale.

211. SquareMarket – Created by the people who offer the Square card reader, it is not for art or craft only. This popular marketplace offers free online stores, and has a very clean contemporary look. They take 2.75% of every sale.

212. StoreEnvy – Although this website isn’t for artists and craftspeople only, it’s a very popular e-commerce solution for listing your work (and their do have an Art category). Set up a freeshop here, or use your own domain for $4.99, and even tie your shop to your Facebook page. Site visitors can “Envy” your work at the click of a button – getting it featured on the “Popular” page.

213. SuperMarket – This website offers a curated collection of work, which is juried. They ask for submissions via email. Create a store and upload your images. You get paid for your work directly through PayPal, and pay them a commission monthly.

214. Tag99 – Billed as as “Artist’s Community Marketplace” this site allows you to list art for free and does not charge commissions. You can however get home page exposure there for fees ranging from $7.00 – $15.00 per listing.

215. Tattoodo – Want to design custom tattoos and sell them? This website allows consumers to request customized tattoos through contests where artists submit their interpretation, and designs evolve. Winners receive from $100 – $300 per design depending upon contest parameters. No cost to get started.

216. TeeFury – Submit your design for a T-shirt, and if accepted, your design becomes a very limited edition, available for 24 hours, and selling for $10.00. The artist gets $1.00 per shirt sold, and keeps the rights to the design.

217. TheCraftersBarn – (UK Site) Handcrafted goods are sold on this website, which dubs itself a “co-op” and has a very low monthly fee with no commissions taken. Includes shopping cart.

218. The FunkyArtGallery – (UK Site) Featuring contemporary, funky, urban and pop art, this online venue sells originals and limited editions only. Juried for “originality, quality and funkiness.” Artists paying joining fee of £50 plus 33% commission.

219. TheMatBoard – A Pinterest-type site, you can “mat” images that you find online, including your own portfolio. Then, share on social media. Your work can be grouped into collections, and you are notified when other people comment. Since clicking on an image takes the viewer to the original site, you can lead potential customers to your website.

220. ThePrintersInc (UK Site) – A new type of Print-on-Demand offering that allows artists to sell art or photography from any website or blog via embeddable widgets and plugins that provide shopping carts. Set your own price for your work; they take a base rate per item for printing and shipping to the customer. No upfront costs or hidden fees.

221. TheUntappedSource – Print-on-Demand site which sells reproductions and prints; they offer memberships ranging from free to about $8 per month. You price your work and collect any amount over their base prices.

222. TheWeddingMile – If your work fits into the wedding market, you can become a seller here for a monthly subscription of $9.95. They offer support and training, and a bridal registry, of course!

223. TheWorkingProof – This site sells prints (screenprint, letterpress, linocut, giclee, etc.) provided by the artist. Each sale is tied in with a contribution to a chosen charity. Juried; see site for details on submitting your work, and to inquire about terms.

224. Threadless – Create a design, and submit it to this site. The Threadless community votes to choose the very best, which will become t-shirts for sale in their marketplace. What do the design winners get? A $2,000.00 prize.

225. ThreeDayGallery – Every 24 hours, they showcase one new piece of artwork.. For 72 hours, each of 3 prints shown on the site is a part of their flash sale, where the prints are sold at a discount. Following the sale, the print is added to their permanent collection, all of which can be purchased at a price named by the artist.

226. ThumbtackPress – POD site creating paper, giclee and canvas open edition prints. Artists can submit three works to be considered. They ask that images sold on their site not be listed on others. Contact them for costs.

227. Tint Art – (UK Site) A new site collective promoting the work of artists and photographers, Tint Art is still in development, but wants your input on fantastic photographers for their site. Let them know by contacting candida@tint-art.com.

228. TopHatter – Virtual auction house. Create a listing, which is put on the block and sold to the highest bidder. You do pay a listing fee and a commission fee when the item is sold, although these vary from 5% – 15% of the selling price.

229. Trembu – Not strictly for handmade, this site has a nominal $5.99 annual membership. Create a customized store, with no listing fees and no commissions.

230. TrilliumGallery – An artist’s community where work is shown and sold. Artists are invited – but you can ask to become a part of their gallery, too. Contact Maureen at trillium@post.com.

231. Twitter – Promote your work on Twitter, using Twitpic to show photos, and list an auction, or simply a sale price. You can coordinate this with a Facebook auction of your work, or link to an auction on your website, and take bids. Twitter is also a great place to cross-promote your work for sale on any other site.

232. UGallery – Billed as “a curated online art gallery for the nation’s top mid-career and emerging artists,” this site is juried. They split the selling price 50/50 with the artist, and do extensive marketing.

233. Uncommon Goods – This site sells “unique gifts and creative design.” Submit your images to them in an online application, and their buyers and community will evaluate to see if you are accepted. This site is not exclusively art or craft related, but offers clothing, accessories and home items as well.

234. UnderTheRainbow – An online craft mall, where you can sell your work retail. They claim to screen for authenticity. No monthly fees, pay per listing. They provide a shopping cart.

235. UpcycledAroundTown – As it’s name implies, this site is all about merchandise that has been upcycled and created into new products. If that’s your schtick, contact them on the “vendor” page of their website. Contact them for terms; not listed on site.

236. Vault17 – Vault17 is a traditional art gallery, there is no shopping cart, sales are done on a personal level. Apart from their permanent exhibition space in the heart of Amsterdam, they present high quality online art exhibitions. Common gallery and representation commissions are kept, between 35% and 50%.

237. Wanelo – Short for Want-Need-Love, this site is a curated collection of items (not all are handcrafted or art), but if you have a price on your work, they provide a “Buy” button which clicks through to your website (or third-party site) to sell your work. Other community members can “save” your images, and being popular drives them to the front page of the site. Free to use.

238. WantItBuyItLoveIt – Online boutique for craft items. Contact site owner to upload photos of your handmade work. No initial cost; you pay a 25% commission only when you sell.

239. WeLoveFine – submit your art to their monthly contests, and get voted up or down by site fans and judged by guest judges. Winners receive cash prizes, and get their designs licensed for products.

240. WesternArizonaArtists – As the name implies artists from western Arizona can sell their work here. Free to create an account and list your art; they take 20% commission. The webmaster is seeking new artists. Visit the home page of this site to contact him.

241. WholesaleCrafts – This site has been around for quite a few years. Fine crafts in many mediums are listed at wholesale prices, and sell to the trade. Juried. They charge a startup fee and monthly fee of $39, or $395 annually with no setup fee for a one-year minimum commitment. $15 per month fee helps promote your work on their front page.

242. WordPlusArt – (Canadian Site) A Christian online art store. Scripture is added to the artists art and then made available online. They print and ship. Artists receive 15% commission.

243. WowThankYou – (UK Site) Proudly supporting UK artisans, this site offers everything from clothing and pet items to household and wedding gifts. Monthly competitions. Fill out a form to become a seller; no terms listed on the site.

244. XanaduGallery – Xanadu is a brick and mortar gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, but they also have an online component. Submissions are juried, but online accounts are free. They take 20% commission on sales.

245. YayArt (Danish Site) – Submit your images to get “voted in” to the shop by site visitors. Once accepted, this vendor markets, prints, distributes and sets up exhibitions. Artists receive royalties for each piece sold.

246. YellowLlama – A Print-on-demand site that prints artwork on t-shirts, bags, stretched canvases, tiles, draperies, etc. Prices from $14.99 monthly to $174.99 annually. They also create artist websites, help artists open brick and mortar stores and have a financing program.

247. Yellowsmith – works with independent jewelry designers, who submit their designs to be voted upon by the Yellowsmith community. Winning designs get produced and sold, with the artist receiving royalties.

248. Yessy – Create your online art gallery, no limit on number of images. $59 annual fee. They do not take commissions, but have a transaction fee.

249. Zatista – This site is for selling original 2D art only. They target interior designers and architects as well as consumers. All work is juried. They do not have a monthly or listing fee, but take 45% commission.

250. Zazzle – Print-0n-Demand site, claiming to have 25 million monthly shoppers. No montly or listing fees. Upload your images, and set your own prices – you are paid the royalties between their base price and amount of the sale. They put images on a large variety of items.

251. Zibbet – Upload images of your art or craft into your own online shop. Fees range from free to $79 annually. They have a shopping cart and marketing help.

Weapons Of The Special Forces

Special operations. The name says it all: specially trained individuals conducting highly specialized missions using a range of specialized hardware. Whether they are leading cavalry charges of freedom fighters or helping to yank foreign despots from their underground hiding places, U.S. special operations forces have at their disposal the most cutting-edge weaponry.

FUTURE FIREPOWER

Looking toward the future, special operations planners are calling for a new-generation weapons system designated the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR). Envisioned as a family of weapons, SCAR will be developed in two primary configurations: SCAR-Light (SCAR-L, 5.56 x 45mm) and SCAR-Heavy (SCAR-H, 7.62 x 51mm), with SCAR-L leading the acquisition process. A characteristic of the follow-on SCAR-H model is the use of an Open Architecture design that will accommodate changing calibers from the standard NATO 7.62 x 51mm. The initial caliber change is projected as the 7.62 x 39mm used in the AK-47 and other international weapons series.

Barrett M82 The .50-cal. M82 series long-range sniper rifles entered service during Operation Desert Storm and have proved effective against material targets.

Both SCAR configurations will possess the capability for barrel modularity and thus will be available in the following variants: Standard, Close Quarters Combat and Sniper Variant. Maximum size for the SCAR-L is 29.9 in. (stock collapsed or folded)/33.6 in. (stock extended with standard barrel) with a maximum unloaded weight of 7.25 pounds. Size and weight goals for SCAR-H are 30.3 in. folded/40.2 in. extended with standard barrel, and no more than 9 pounds. Among its capabilities, the SCAR family will be compatible with all components of the SOPMOD kit.

Industry designers have recently unveiled several new weapon design concepts in response to the SCAR requirements. Knight’s Armament, for example, has traced a growth path from its current SR-25/Mk11 weapons to the SCAR-H design. The company has shown great flexibility in recent years, even producing prototypes for an SR-47 (Stoner Rifle) design that was externally identical to the M4 carbine but re-engineered to fire the AK-47 banana clip and 7.62 x 39mm ammo.

Barrett XM109 Firing a 25mm “cargo round,” the XM109 marks the boundary between sniper rifle and cannon.

“We’ve showed special operations representatives the Mk11 and then we showed them a Mk11 of a different lower receiver that had a collapsible buttstock,” explains David Lutz, Vice President of Military Marketing for Knight’s. “Then we took the upper receiver—which has a 20-in. barrel—off the new collapsible lower receiver and we pulled out what we call ‘The Battle Rifle,’ with either a 16-in. or 14.5-in. barrel. That now goes on the collapsible stock SR-25 lower receiver. As far as we’re concerned, we think this is certainly your ‘immediate term’ SCAR-Heavy.”

Meanwhile, special operations planners continue to support the immediate needs of special operations personnel in the field. For their part, the special operators are continuing to go wherever they are needed and do whatever needs to be done.

TEST FIRING THE XM8

Searching for downrange targets, I slid my index finger forward in the trigger guard, hitting the bolt catch release and chambering the first 5.56mm round. The ambidextrous thumb lever on both sides of the handgrip smoothed my lefthanded transition from safe, through semi, to full-automatic fire. The initial burst was directed at a torso target, and the weapon’s high sightline and innovative stock design provided heads-up assurance that the bulk of the bullets were plastering the cardboard victim.

PM was in the Nevada desert to test fire the newest addition to the Army’s small-arms arsenal, the XM8 lightweight carbine system.

“The XM8 is an experimental M8 carbine,” explained Jim Schatz, Manager, Military Programs, HK Defense. “XM8 is the Army designation for what the Army expects will be its new combat assault rifle system. If it is successful and if it’s fielded, the XM8 weapons system is intended to replace the M16/M4 family of weapons.”

Explaining the Army’s need for the new XM8 system, Schatz acknowledged that “the M16/M4 family of weapons have been around for 40 years and they continue to serve the military very well. We take nothing from the design of Gene Stoner. It’s brilliant. But there are certain requirements that the conventional Army has for a new assault rifle to reduce the training burden, to increase the service life, and to increase the reliability of that M16/M4 system.”

The XM8 employs a proven operating system that uses a pusher rod located above the barrel, pushed to the rear by a piston. When a round is fired, gas comes up into the cylinder, pushing a piston rod that strikes the bolt carrier and drives it to the rear.

“Once the piston comes about 6mm to the rear, all the excess gas, which you don’t need to operate the gun, goes out the front, out of the muzzle and out of the gas venthole. And all the carbon goes out of the muzzle with it,” Schatz said.

The operating system is one feature in a totally modular weapons design that Schatz likens to “a Lego set” in terms of its ease of assembling components and accessories.

The XM8 weapons system includes four major variants: Baseline Carbine, Compact Carbine, Sharpshooter and Automatic Rifleman. Automatic firing rates for all variants fall within 700 to 825 rounds per minute. Barrel lengths vary from 9 to 20 in. Firing the standard NATO M855 5.56mm bullet, muzzle velocities vary from 2400 fps (9-in. barrel) to 2700 fps (12.5-in. barrel) to 3000 fps (20-in. barrel).

Moving to the range, our own firing experience with multiple XM8 variant prototypes provided a new appreciation for the design features and inherent program lethality.

As these pages WENT to press, XM8 prototype testing continued through summer 2004 with the formal “decision to adopt” scheduled for September. A positive decision would lead to initial production early in 2005 with the first fielding later that year.

Read more: Weapons Of The Special Forces – Popular Mechanics
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Distilling the Wisdom of C.E.O.’s

This article was adapted from “The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons From CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed,” by Adam Bryant, author of the weekly “Corner Office” column in The New York Times. The book, published Tuesday by Times Books, analyzes the broader lessons that emerge from his interviews with more than 70 leaders.
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Corner Office

Every Sunday, Adam Bryant talks with top executives about the challenges of leading and managing. In his new book, “The Corner Office” (Times Books), he analyzes the broader lessons that emerge from his interviews with more than 70 leaders. Excerpt »

George Barrett, chief executive of Cardinal Health, says managers must see how people react to one another, not just how they act.
IMAGINE 100 people working at a large company. They’re all middle managers, around 35 years old. They’re all smart. All collegial. All hard-working. They all have positive attitudes. They’re all good communicators.

So what will determine who gets the next promotion, and the one after that? Which of them, when the time comes, will get that corner office?

In other words, what does it take to lead an organization — whether it’s a sports team, a nonprofit, a start-up or a multinational corporation? What are the X factors?

Interviews I conducted with more than 70 chief executives and other leaders for Corner Office in The New York Times point to five essentials for success — qualities that most of those C.E.O.’s share and look for in people they hire.

The good news: these traits are not genetic. It’s not as if you have to be tall or left-handed. These qualities are developed through attitude, habit and discipline — factors that are within your control. They will make you stand out. They will make you a better employee, manager and leader. They will lift the trajectory of your career and speed your progress.

These aren’t theories. They come from decades of collective experience of top executives who have learned firsthand what it takes to succeed. From the corner office, they can watch others attempt a similar climb and notice the qualities that set people apart. These C.E.O.’s offered myriad lessons and insights on the art of managing and leading, but they all shared five qualities: Passionate curiosity. Battle-hardened confidence. Team smarts. A simple mind-set. Fearlessness.

What follows are excerpts from chapters on each of them.

Passionate Curiosity

Many successful chief executives are passionately curious people. It is a side of them rarely seen in the media and in investor meetings, and there is a reason for that. In business, C.E.O.’s are supposed to project confidence and breezy authority as they take an audience through their projections of steady growth. Certainty is the game face they wear. They’ve cracked the code.

But get them away from these familiar scripts, and a different side emerges. They share stories about failures and doubts and mistakes. They ask big-picture questions. They wonder why things work the way they do and whether those things can be improved upon. They want to know people’s stories, and what they do.

It’s this relentless questioning that leads entrepreneurs to spot new opportunities and helps managers understand the people who work for them, and how to get them to work together effectively. It is no coincidence that more than one executive uttered the same phrase when describing what, ultimately, is the C.E.O.’s job: “I am a student of human nature.”

The C.E.O.’s are not necessarily the smartest people in the room, but they are the best students — the letters could just as easily stand for “chief education officer.”

“You learn from everybody,” said Alan R. Mulally, the chief executive of the Ford Motor Company. “I’ve always just wanted to learn everything, to understand anybody that I was around — why they thought what they did, why they did what they did, what worked for them, what didn’t work.”

Why “passionate curiosity”? The phrase is more than the sum of its parts, which individually fall short in capturing the quality that sets these C.E.O.’s apart. There are plenty of people who are passionate, but many of their passions are focused on just one area. There are a lot of curious people in the world, but they can also be wallflowers.

But “passionate curiosity” — a phrase used by Nell Minow, the co-founder of the Corporate Library — better captures the infectious sense of fascination that some people have with everything around them.

Passionate curiosity, Ms. Minow said, “is indispensable, no matter what the job is. You want somebody who is just alert and very awake and engaged with the world and wanting to know more.”

Though chief executives are paid to have answers, their greatest contributions to their organizations may be asking the right questions. They recognize that they can’t have the answer to everything, but they can push their company in new directions and marshal the collective energy of their employees by asking the right questions.

“In business, the big prizes are found when you can ask a question that challenges the corporate orthodoxy,” said Andrew Cosslett, the C.E.O. of the InterContinental Hotels Group. “In every business I’ve worked in, there’s been a lot of cost and value locked up in things that are deemed to be ‘the way we do things around here.’ So you have to talk to people and ask them, ‘Why do you do that?’ ”

It’s an important lesson. For all the furrowed-brow seriousness that you often encounter in the business world, some of the most important advances come from asking, much like a persistent 5-year-old, the simplest questions. Why do you do that? How come it’s done this way? Is there a better way?

Battle-Hardened Confidence

Some qualities are easier to spot than others. Passionate curiosity? It’s there for all to see. There’s an energy from people who have it. Other qualities are tougher to discern, especially the ability to handle adversity. Some people embrace adversity, even relish it, and they have a track record of overcoming it. They have battle-hardened confidence.

If there were some test to find out whether a person had this quality, it would be a huge moneymaker. But people, and companies, reveal how they deal with adversity only when they are faced with potential or real failure, and the status quo is not an option.

The best predictor of behavior is past performance, and that’s why so many chief executives interview job candidates about how they dealt with failure in the past. They want to know if somebody is the kind of person who takes ownership of challenges or starts looking for excuses.

“I think hiring great people remains extremely, extremely hard,” said Jen-Hsun Huang of Nvidia. “You can never really tell how somebody deals with adversity. When you have a difficult situation, some people just take it and run with it. Some people see adversity and they cower, as talented as they are. You could ask them about the adversity they had in the past, but you never really know the intensity of that adversity.”

Many C.E.O.’s seem driven by a strong work ethic forged in adversity. As they moved up in organizations, the attitude remained the same — this is my job, and I’m going to own it. Because of that attitude, they are rewarded with more challenges and promotions.

“I like hiring people who have overcome adversity, because I believe I’ve seen in my own career that perseverance is really important,” said Nancy McKinstry, the chief executive of Wolters Kluwer, the Dutch publishing and information company. “I will ask them directly: ‘Give me an example of some adverse situation you faced, and what did you do about it, and what did you learn from it?’ The people I’ve hired who have had that ability to describe the situation have always worked out, because they’re able to sort of fall down, dust themselves off, and keep fighting the next day.”

The chief executives’ stories help bring to life a concept known as “locus of control.” In general, it refers to people’s outlooks and beliefs about what leads to success and failure in their lives. Do they tend to blame failures on factors they cannot control, or do they believe they have the ability to shape events and circumstances by making the most of what they can control? It’s a positive attitude mixed with a sense of purpose and determination. People who have it will take on, and own, any assignment thrown their way. They say those words that are music to a manager’s ears: “Got it. I’m on it.”

Team Smarts

At some point, the notion of being a team player became devalued in corporate life. It has been reduced to a truism — I work on a team, therefore I am a team player. It’s a point captured in a cartoon, by Mike Baldwin, in which an interviewer says to a job candidate: “We need a dedicated team player. How are you at toiling in obscurity?”

The most effective executives are more than team players. They understand how teams work and how to get the most out of the group. Just as some people have street smarts, others have team smarts.

Mark Pincus, the C.E.O. of the Zynga Game Network, the online gaming company, said he learned lessons about teamwork playing soccer in school. Even today, when he plays in Sunday-morning games, he said, he can spot people who would be good hires because of how they play.

“One is reliability,” he said. “There are certain people you just know are not going to make a mistake, even if the other guy’s faster than they are, or whatever. And are you a playmaker? There are people who have this kind of intelligence, and they can make these great plays. It’s not that they’re star players, but they will get you the ball and then be where you’d expect to put it back to them. It’s like their heads are really in the game.”

Team smarts is also about having good “peripheral vision” for sensing how people react to one another, not just how they act.

George S. Barrett, the chief executive of Cardinal Health, described an example of how he assessed managers when he moved into a new role.

“We were sitting with a group of about 40 to 50 managers, and people were standing up to raise certain issues,” he recalled. “And I watched this one executive. People were riveted to him, really listening and engaged. And then this other executive addressed the group, and I watched everyone’s eyes. And their eyes went back down to their tables. It was a clear signal that said, ‘You’ve lost us.’ So sometimes you don’t know what the messages are that you’re going to get, but you have to look for them. They come from your peripheral vision.”

Companies increasingly operate through ad hoc teams. Team smarts refers to the ability to recognize the players the team needs and how to bring them together around a common goal.

“Early on, I was wowed by talent, and I was willing to set aside the idea that this person might not be a team player,” said Susan Lyne, chairman of the Gilt Groupe. “Now, somebody needs to be able to work with people — that’s No. 1 on the list. I need people who are going to be able to build a team, manage a team, recruit well and work well with their peers. The people who truly succeed in business are the ones who actually have figured out how to mobilize people who are not their direct reports.”

A Simple Mind-Set

There is a stubborn disconnect in many companies. Most senior executives want the same thing from people who present to them: be concise, get to the point, make it simple. Yet few people can deliver the simplicity that many bosses want. Instead, they mistakenly assume that the bosses will be impressed by a long PowerPoint presentation that shows how diligently they researched a topic, or that they will win over their superiors by talking more, not less.

Few things seem to get C.E.O.’s riled up more than lengthy PowerPoint presentations. It’s not the software they dislike; that’s just a tool. What irks them is the unfocused thinking that leads to an overlong slide presentation. There is wide agreement it’s a problem: “death by PowerPoint” has become a cliché.

If so many executives in positions of authority are clear about what they want, why can’t they get the people who report to them to lose the “Power” part of their presentations and simply get to the “Point”?

There are a few likely explanations. A lot of people have trouble being concise. Next time you’re in a meeting, ask somebody to give you the 10-word summary of his or her idea. Some people can do a quick bit of mental jujitsu, and they’ll summarize an idea with a “Here’s what’s important …” or “The bottom line is … .” Others will have trouble identifying the core point.

Another possible explanation is that a lag exists in the business world. There was a time when simply having certain information was a competitive advantage. Now, in the Internet era, most people have easy access to the same information. That puts a greater premium on the ability to synthesize, to connect dots in new ways and to ask simple, smart questions that lead to untapped opportunities.

“I’d love to teach a course called ‘The Idea,’ ” said Dany Levy, the founder of DailyCandy.com. “Which is, basically, so you want to start a company, how’s it going to work? Let’s figure it out: just a very practical plan, but not a business plan, because I feel like business plans now feel weighty and outdated. It seems, back in the day, that the longer your business plan was, the more promising it was going to be. And now, the shorter your business plan is, the more succinct and to the point it is, the better. You want people to get why your business is going to work pretty quickly.”

Steven A. Ballmer, the C.E.O. of Microsoft, said he understood the impulse in presentations to share all the underlying research that led to a conclusion. But he changed the way he runs meetings to get to the conclusion first.

“The mode of Microsoft meetings used to be: You come with something we haven’t seen in a slide deck or presentation,” he said. “You deliver the presentation. You probably take what I will call ‘the long and winding road.’ You take the listener through your path of discovery and exploration, and you arrive at a conclusion.

“I decided that’s not what I want to do anymore. I don’t think it’s efficient. So most meetings nowadays, you send me the materials and I read them in advance. And I can come in and say: ‘I’ve got the following four questions. Please don’t present the deck.’ That lets us go, whether they’ve organized it that way or not, to their recommendation. And if I have questions about the long and winding road and the data and the supporting evidence, I can ask them. But it gives us greater focus.”

Fearlessness

Are you comfortable being uncomfortable? Do you like situations where there’s no road map or compass? Do you start twitching when things are operating smoothly, and want to shake things up? Are you willing to make surprising career moves to learn new skills? Is discomfort your comfort zone?

In other words, are you fearless?

Risk-taking is often a quality associated with entrepreneurs, the kind of people who make bet-the-farm wagers on a new idea. But risk-taking doesn’t quite capture the quality that many C.E.O.’s embody and look for and encourage in others.

With the business world in seemingly endless turmoil, maintaining the status quo — even when things appear to be working well — is only going to put you behind the competition. So when chief executives talk about executives on their staffs who are fearless, there is a reverence in their voices. They wish they could bottle it and pass it out to all their employees. They’re looking for calculated and informed risk-taking, but mostly they want people to do things — and not just what they’re told to do.

“One of the things that I characterize as fearlessness is seeing an opportunity, even though things are not broken,” said Ursula M. Burns, the C.E.O. of Xerox. “Someone will say: ‘Things are good, but I’m going to destabilize them because they can be much better and should be much better. We should change this.’ The easiest thing to do is to just keep it going the way it’s going, especially if it’s not perfect but it’s not broken. But you have to be a little bit ahead of it, and you have to try to fix it well before you have to. Companies get into trouble when they get really complacent, when they settle in and say, ‘O.K., we’re doing O.K. now.’ ”

Many executives said fearlessness was one of the top qualities they’re looking for when they were interviewing job candidates.

“Specifically, in this culture I have to have people who not only can manage change but have an appetite for it,” said Mindy F. Grossman, the C.E.O. of HSN, the parent company of Home Shopping Network. “They tend to be more intellectually curious, so they don’t just have vertical climbs. I ask for those stories. I love hearing them and it gives me a real sense of the person.”

Like the other four keys to success, fearlessness is an attitude, and because attitude is one of the few things over which everyone has complete control, it is a character trait that can be developed. It can be fostered with a simple approach to taking more risks.

Chief executives advise that you will be rewarded for fearlessness, because so few people live that way and bring this attitude to work. It is risky. You may unsettle people by shaking up the status quo. But if you have the best interests of the organization in mind, you can unlock new opportunities for the company and for yourself.

These five qualities help determine who will be chosen for bigger roles and more responsibility. Those promotions will inevitably bring challenges that require learning through trial and error.

C.E.O.’s can act as mentors to speed people along that learning curve. They may not develop silver-bullet theories, but they are experts in leadership because they practice it daily. And many of them have spent years honing their leadership styles, studying what works and what doesn’t, and then teaching others.

Chief executives face criticism from many corners, and it is often deserved. But there is no arguing that they have achieved a great deal.

Through their stories, lessons and insights, they have much to offer beyond the hard numbers.

Satya Nadella’s letter to Microsoft employees

Satya Nadella’s letter to Microsoft employees
Microsoft Corp named India-born Satya Nadella as its next chief executive officer.
Following is the text of Microsoft’s new CEO Satya Nadella’s letter to employees.

Today is a very humbling day for me. It reminds me of my very first day at Microsoft, 22 years ago. Like you, I had a choice about where to come to work. I came here because I believed Microsoft was the best company in the world. I saw then how clearly we empower people to do magical things with our creations and ultimately make the world a better place. I knew there was no better company to join if I wanted to make a difference. This is the very same inspiration that continues to drive me today.

It is an incredible honor for me to lead and serve this great company of ours. Steve and Bill have taken it from an idea to one of the greatest and most universally admired companies in the world. I’ve been fortunate to work closely with both Bill and Steve in my different roles at Microsoft, and as I step in as CEO, I’ve asked Bill to devote additional time to the company, focused on technology and products. I’m also looking forward to working with John Thompson as our new Chairman of the Board.

While we have seen great success, we are hungry to do more. Our industry does not respect tradition — it only respects innovation. This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft. Make no mistake, we are headed for greater places — as technology evolves and we evolve with and ahead of it. Our job is to ensure that Microsoft thrives in a mobile and cloud-first world.

As we start a new phase of our journey together, I wanted to share some background on myself and what inspires and motivates me.

Who am I?

I am 46. I’ve been married for 22 years and we have 3 kids. And like anyone else, a lot of what I do and how I think has been shaped by my family and my overall life experiences. Many who know me say I am also defined by my curiosity and thirst for learning. I buy more books than I can finish. I sign up for more online courses than I can complete. I fundamentally believe that if you are not learning new things, you stop doing great and useful things. So family, curiosity and hunger for knowledge all define me.

Why am I here?

I am here for the same reason I think most people join Microsoft — to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. I know it can sound hyperbolic — and yet it’s true. We have done it, we’re doing it today, and we are the team that will do it again.

I believe over the next decade computing will become even more ubiquitous and intelligence will become ambient. The coevolution of software and new hardware form factors will intermediate and digitize — many of the things we do and experience in business, life and our world. This will be made possible by an ever-growing network of connected devices, incredible computing capacity from the cloud, insights from big data, and intelligence from machine learning.

This is a software-powered world.

It will better connect us to our friends and families and help us see, express, and share our world in ways never before possible. It will enable businesses to engage customers in more meaningful ways.

I am here because we have unparalleled capability to make an impact.

Why are we here?

In our early history, our mission was about the PC on every desk and home, a goal we have mostly achieved in the developed world. Today we’re focused on a broader range of devices. While the deal is not yet complete, we will welcome to our family Nokia devices and services and the new mobile capabilities they bring us.

As we look forward, we must zero in on what Microsoft can uniquely contribute to the world. The opportunity ahead will require us to reimagine a lot of what we have done in the past for a mobile and cloud-first world, and do new things.

We are the only ones who can harness the power of software and deliver it through devices and services that truly empower every individual and every organization. We are the only company with history and continued focus in building platforms and ecosystems that create broad opportunity.

Qi Lu captured it well in a recent meeting when he said that Microsoft uniquely empowers people to “do more.” This doesn’t mean that we need to do more things, but that the work we do empowers the world to do more of what they care about — get stuff done, have fun, communicate and accomplish great things. This is the core of who we are, and driving this core value in all that we do — be it the cloud or device experiences — is why we are here.

What do we do next?

To paraphrase a quote from Oscar Wilde — we need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable.

This starts with clarity of purpose and sense of mission that will lead us to imagine the impossible and deliver it. We need to prioritize innovation that is centered on our core value of empowering users and organizations to “do more.” We have picked a set of high-value activities as part of our One Microsoft strategy. And with every service and device launch going forward we need to bring more innovation to bear around these scenarios.

Next, every one of us needs to do our best work, lead and help drive cultural change. We sometimes underestimate what we each can do to make things happen and overestimate what others need to do to move us forward. We must change this.

Finally, I truly believe that each of us must find meaning in our work. The best work happens when you know that it’s not just work, but something that will improve other people’s lives. This is the opportunity that drives each of us at this company.

Many companies aspire to change the world. But very few have all the elements required: talent, resources, and perseverance. Microsoft has proven that it has all three in abundance. And as the new CEO, I can’t ask for a better foundation.

Let’s build on this foundation together.

Satya

How to Break the Mold and Be an Independent Thinker

To come up with truly creative products and unique ideas, great business leaders need to be independent thinkers. Our brains are wired to recycle ideas we’ve already heard from others, but you can learn to think independently, or to come up with novel ideas, with a few easy psychological tips and tools.

Let’s start with an exercise: Take a blank piece of paper and draw an animal from an alien planet.

If you’re like most people, then what you’ve drawn looks wacky, but vaguely familiar. It’s probably somewhat symmetric, and it likely has some combination of arms, legs, ears, eyes, or noses. In other words, it looks like a distorted version of animals on Earth.

“Everything you think is influenced by years of experience and cultural upbringing,” says Art Markman, a cognitive psychologist at University of Texas at Austin and author of Smart Thinking (Perigee Trade, 2012). “Your natural tendency is to pull a known solution from your memory.”

Independent thinking requires you to break that mold. Try these three strategies to prompt your brain to think more independently:

1. Place a lot of constraints on the problem.
Paradoxically, open-ended problems are the enemy of independent thinking. “If you don’t have constraints, the first things you’ll come up with are the most accessible memories,” Markman says. “They’ll be really similar to what others have done before.”

Instead, give yourself limitations. Rule out elements of the solution that seem expected or natural. For example, can you make a bank that has no tellers? Can you write a book that has no beginning? The constraints should force you to consider an unfamiliar scenario, and you should try many of them as you work toward a viable solution.

2. Combine ideas that seem ill-matched.
When you’re trying to solve a problem, your memory will retrieve solutions or concepts that seem like logical matches, often because others have used that match already. To think differently, consider ideas that don’t seem compatible at all.

For example, what if you made a dating website that worked like Wikipedia? Or what if you found a way to open a can using only airplane parts? “Try to jam things together that feel like misfits at first, and see how far that takes you,” Markman says. Many of your ideas will fail, but any that succeed are likely to be unique.

Related: Disrupt Your Thinking, Transform Your Business

3. Take the bird’s eye view.
When you’re trying to solve a problem, zoom out to see variables that others might overlook. “Thinking about the bigger picture takes you out of the familiar way of thinking about the problem,” Markman says. Ask yourself, what is the purpose of solving this problem? What would happen if I succeed? And how can I find a solution that makes that outcome work?

For example, Thomas Edison saw that houses would need to be wired for electricity if people were going to buy lightbulbs. To send power over long distances, you need a high voltage bulb. Edison was the only inventor who realized this, so he was the one who made history.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227239#ixzz2sMNmwTd7