| November 25, 2009 |
| I officially declare that I am a running for Prime Minister of Sweden in the elections of 2010. This day, when thousands of Swedish families depend on the future of the car company SAAB, owned by GM and by its silence can destroy a whole city. On this day, when the Swedish government does not seem interested in saving these thousands of Swedish jobs. When the country needs to unite and fight for everyone's survival, it feels even more urgent that Sweden has a leader who will listen to the Swedish people and who is willing to save, not only banks in crisis, but also other companies where thousands of families and even entire cities are in danger of being hit hard. We entrepreneurs are important for the future of Sweden. Without a leader who unites the country and its people, we will not see an end to the crisis in the coming years. Without a country together and united struggling for a richer Sweden, we will be left behind while other countries develop. When I talk about a richer Sweden, I mean not only financially for companies and the government, but also richer in health care, wealthier and better schools. With better conditions for all of us who live in this country we will be able to raise up agian and feel proud of ourselves. And not only of ourselves but also be proud of our country and government. To do so we need a government and a leader who makes sure each individual's needs, where every person has the right to decide themselves and take their own decisions about their own lives. We need someone who sees the country and its people and not someone who decides for us! Therefore, it is equally important that we listen and see our children, our future, and treat them as equals and take their needs seriously. We should not just let them be involved and decide small things, but also big, important things for their future. Every child should be taken seriously and we will give every child the best conditions for its development and for giving them a great start to a good life. Therefore, each child will have his own vote so that we all have equal rights. We should be able to value all of us who worked hard for many years for our country and be able to get the appreciation and rewarded the way we deserve. We should not have to struggle more and not need to be treated disrespectfully or to be treated in a contemptuous manner. We should be able to have a good life, especially because we have given many of our best years to this country. And we who worked hard, in different professions, and therefore became ill and can barely take care of ourselves, we should get help and support without feeling guilt and feeling we are outside the society the way we do and yet some still wants to make us feel. But we above all we have to ensure that all our young people get the opportunity to further educate ourselves and get a job, an identity, a salary and a decent life that can make us happy and fortunate neighbors. For if we are mistreated and no one sees us and do not give us the opportunities, most probably we will also not see and care for those who don't see us when one day they need our help. Having an identity is equally important for us immigrants, both first generation and second generation, who are here for different reasons. Sweden needs us and we will fight for to be treated with the respect we deserve. No one should be able to put the blame on us for different reasons as some people are trying to do. We will do our part and we will show that regardless of the color of our skin or our religious beliefs, we can live and work together and share our good. Same thing when it comes to us who can think outside the frames and regardless of sexual orientation, but still is fighting to improve our country, I can say that; only when we see each individual as an important part of our community and make sure that everyone has the same rights, then we will be able to say that we have succeeded, that our country is rich and that we can use this valuable knowledge that we earned together and share it to others on this earth. 'Cause this Earth and planet that we live on and that we must take care of as our own little child, we have feel it comes from inside each one of us - as well individuals as large companies. That way we will not have to see that everything we are fighting for one day will die. We must begin to see ourselves as a part of the planet, of the system. We are like any animal on this planet, a part of the nature, dependent on the green plants and the sea. Not the reverse! All this and much more is what we will be fighting for! This is why I am running for Prime Ministerial and I strongly believe in all that we can do this together. / Valdi |
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November 9, 2009 Well, I expect no one missed the news that Barack Obama won't go to Copenghagen for signing any Climate Agreement, and if signed, it will be something vague and weak and technically no change from today. I praise the Swedish prime minister, coming from a very conservative party in Sweden, for running this race and working hard for the cause of a greener world. But it is missing innovative thinking here to reach a better and greener world! When even big american companies are taking their own initiatives, doing more than expected from them and more than the law requires, then we should get help from them to put pressure on governments to reach higher climate goals! If we do not get their help NOW, but if we just sit back and wait for the president of USA, Mr Barack Obama, who with his tied back hands through the Senate, then we will wait for another 25 years without any results. If we on the other hand use what is the most american existing thing - the capitalism - against USA itself, the western countries, against China, India and Russia, then not even the most conservative governments and its representatives will be able to stop such change! Together we can make it a greener world and even the biggest companies want to. This way we can get finally reach change! This way we can get Mr Obama, and other world leaders, to accept and agree to the Climate agreement and reach great results! |
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January 20, 2009 Tomorrow is the inauguration of the president elect Barack Obama in the states. The heritage that George W Bush is leaving is something that would be hard for any American President to follow. And therefore, even more urgent, if I would be the Prime Minister of Sweden, I would demand the new President to apologize to the people, not only in the states, but world wide for what George W Bush has done and left behind him. To apologize that we all have to clean up after the big mess and irresponsible acting, abused by the power put in the hands of the former American President. I would not urge this only because it is Barack Obama, as I would perhaps even more if it had been Hillary Clinton or any other candidate. I would urge this, and will also pass a letter to Mr Barack Obama one of these days to ask him to ask forgiveness on the behalf of the Americans for the acts of G W Bush. I think it is sad that none of the European Prime Ministers or Presidents dare to ask this from the new President of the United States. I am disappointed to see that the people, all over the world, has to pay for the big mistakes made by an American President. People getting laid off, paying bills taken by governments to save banks and companies. There is nothing human in spending extremely high numbers in wars and then ask the rest of the world to pay for it the way it is paying now and will do so for the next couple of years. Now, if Mr Barack Obama wants to be a historical President, not only because of his color of skin, he would take the chance being remembered for the real change he is speaking so warmly of and in his inauguration speech apologize for the years under President George W Bush. / Valdi |
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December 2, 2008 Medison is reconstructing the websites and may be off the air for a while. |
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Sao Paulo, July 15, 2008 People and some companies keep asking us: "So, what business is Medison in and why are you doing this?". Our answer to them is this: We are into freedom business and we are doing this to democratize IT and to make it available and as flexible as for people with money. |
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Sao Paulo July 12, 2008 <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> Some people are asking why I am doing this. Why am I going on with Medison? It’s suicide, isn’t it? <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Why would a person go on telling the world he is going to deliver much cheaper laptops than others? And although there are people thinking “this guy’s insane”, he keeps on running his head into the wall. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Well, I can answer you those questions. It’s simple. I have all my professional life always been working with one goal in my mind. To help other people! <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> For an example; Medison started back in 1995 because of the Internet magazine Edison that was supposed to help school kids and teachers to learn and study in a different way, based on research-like studying. Edison, one of the worlds first online magazines, was totally free to use and we had many scientists and experts working with us, all over Europe. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Working as a teachers trainer at several colleges and universities, giving classes to ten thousands of teachers and school leaders was also a way of trying to help developing the school system. And I never charged more than my actual costs and many times I wouldn’t charge a fee at all. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> I developed several school projects and even when people tried to steal them from me, I let them go with the project simply because the purpose of the projects always were to help other people. Some companies just took them and never paid for them. It might seem very unselfish and I guess a successful businessman such as Donald Trump would call me a “schmuck” because I didn’t go after my revenge and didn’t bring those people down and out of the play. That’s okay. I went on with new projects and companies, never giving up! <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> One of the companies was Intelligentia International, where I invented and developed the universal keyboard. I got the idea many years earlier when I read a research study about how children would learn typing on a keyboard much faster if it had alphabetical settings than the more traditional QWERTY-setting. With a patent pending I brought the prototype to Silicon Valley, California, to find the right people working with me to commercialize the product. This was after the IT-boom and when there were no investors willing to risk any money even in real products and patents. But the company got practically taken away from me because I trusted in people. I guess if those people are not capable of doing the right thing with it, I’ll just buy it back one day. ;) <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Again, I went on not giving up but rather work on a new project. One of them was to start the market research and preparing for the Medison Celebrity laptop. That work started back in 2005. It takes a lot of time when you do these things all by yourself but it is a job well needed to know whether you have a chance or not on the market. My friends and some experts kept telling me it was impossible and that the prices never would drop under 1000 us-dollars. Today we know these people were wrong. |
When we launched the incredible price of $150 for a laptop in 2007, a whole world was shocked. Mostly people were happy because they would finally be able to afford buying a laptop. Some people started screaming it was a scam and warning others from ordering laptops. I can tell you all that we had our cards right, but some people and companies got afraid of “what if?” this was a fraud. Fortunately, since we never planned a fraud nor a scam, before we even decided to offer the laptops we contracted 2CO to handle the orders and transactions. 2CO is well known for being a very professional and trusty company. Money where, according to normal procedure, just got reserved in the bank accounts of the one ordering a laptop, but never transferred out from the accounts. If Medison and I had planned a fraud, why would we use a secure and safe system for the clients? Why wouldn’t we just open up a bank account and let people deposit all the money to it? <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> The answer is quite clear. Medison never was a scam and never took money from anyone. Medison wants to help people by offering a great product to a great price. What is wrong with helping? <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> I have seen poor people on the streets in many countries on different continents. I always wanted to help them, but some days in my life a poor person on the street would have more money an old Starbucks cup than I would have in my pockets (or bank account). But when I have money I want to help not only one, but many people. It’s a philanthropic thinking. And Medison has a business concept that is quite philanthropic. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Sweden, my country, is a great country and I love the high principles the people have there. But even in Sweden I feel that if you want to help other people, there is a resistance. People think it must be something wrong with you if you want to help and if you spend time helping instead of playing golf or tennis with your friends. In several other countries people even put in their resumes that they have been taking a sabbatical year doing some charity working. It is also common to help on a weekly or monthly basis in every-day life in these countries. If you want to give something back to the society in countries like Sweden you might get accused for wanting to buy a ticket to heaven. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> So what I really want to say is that I always wanted to help people who need help. I always have been inventing, improving or developing things to make it easier for other people. If someone wants to blame me for doing this, I tell them “Go ahead! I don’t think it is wrong helping other people. I have my way of living and you have yours.” And most of the times those people who are complaining and making up lies about me don't know me and most of them have never even met me. What a great way to judge people, huh? ;) We should be happy there are people out there, celebrities such as Gisele Bündchen, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates helping and giving back to the society. Our Celebrity laptop is our way of helping those who need help. It is our way of giving back already before we make the millions. I don't see anything wrong in doing that. |
| Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 11, 2008
There are some blogs and communities, even some friends, wondering how long I will be going on with this “Medison-thing”. Some people in the blogs are being mean, spreading false rumors and even making up lies about me, my previous projects and about Medison. But I want to answer all of them, and also those who are cheering for the Celebrity laptops, that I won’t quit! I will not close the Medison sites. I will not admit things I am being accused for and thereby give up. I will never give up! Why give up on a dream? Why give up on something that I feel passionate for and why give up on wanting to help other people? What kind of cold and egoistic person would I be if I gave up just because of some individuals, and some people who see me as a competitor or a threat, desperately are screaming the words out in some few blogs. |
I have been accused for being retarded, an idiot, stupid and even a thief. People have been speculating whether I am crazy, just want some fame in media or if I am being clever using the media for personal marketing. I can answer you all that I am none of the above and I have definitely not been looking for fame or free marketing through media. To be honest with you, the blogs – yes, the very same that are writing bad things and spreading false rumors about Medison and myself – these are the ones actually helping with the free marketing. Because of them we got much more free press. Because of those individuals who keep on coming back to the Medison website for news, that is what is actually helping us. So in the end, when we start delivering our Medison Celebrity laptops, that is when all those blogs, communities and individuals will see that because of each and every word they have spent on writing about Medison, the laptop and the people at Medison, we will be able to get even more press from media and even more people form all over the world coming to our websites and buy even more laptops from us. Most important of all (that will most probably make all these ‘bloggers’ even more envy Medison) is that all that they have been writing about that Medison will never deliver the laptops and that we have been a scam all the way; these are the people who will see that they were wrong – all this time! And that will give us even higher credibility for the future. So thanks to all you bloggers. You did the job that we did not have to do. Thanks for all the free marketing! ;)
So to all the people who are still wondering about Medison, we can tell you what we said already a year ago; we will never give up – we are here to stay! |
| São Paulo, Brazil, July 5, 2008 The Medison acquisition of the Brazilian company Atalho Equipamentos Ltda got interrupted a month ago after our due diligence showed that the company wasn't really in the shape it was stating. Atalho also has another business culture that doesn't match with ours. These things got to our awareness after working with the company for some months. Quite some time ago I announced that Medison was going to acquire the Brazilian company Atalho Equipamentos Ltda. It all started over a year ago when Medison, together with Atalho and yet another Brazilian company was going to run a computer and laptop factory together in Brazil. After some logistic problems in August 2007 with the third company, Medison and Atalho declared together that they intended to start up and run a computer, laptop and server company. Much later the same year Medison showed interest in buying Atalho Equipamentos and in March 2008 a due diligence of the company started. Working with the Atalho company owners and the company culture was soon to show to be far more difficult than expected. Medison and Atalho have different values and goals and it was hard to implement our strategies when the owners were acting in opposite direction of each strategy part. In short, Atalho was not ready for one day being bought and also not ready for transforming its' organization to become more of an end-consumer production company. After agreeing on the terms in February 2008, the both companies started working on the due diligence of the company Atalho. During 90 days I was studying the numbers, the organization and the competition of the company. But while the plan was that Atalho was going to change focus and become a complementing part of Medison one day, I could see that the company was losing money every day in its day-to-day operations. I presented some ideas on how Atalho could start making money and turn their business into profit meanwhile the due diligence was going on. The directors and the sales staff showed no or very little interest in those ideas. |
It could have been done by implementing new differentiated products, imported directly from China. Also by switching from the existing, non-profitable customers (re-sales and corporations), to start selling to high-end consumers online that allows putting a much higher margin and that would start giving a profit to Atalho, something that the company had been lacking at the time. What was coming out from the due diligence, though, is that the owners and the responsible people at Atalho to start with had not presented the correct values of the company. The financial and economical situations were far worse than displayed to me on the excel sheets in the beginning of the year. Second, the values of the owners were very distant from my own values in running a business. The thing that they referred to as "the Brazilian way" of running a company and, according to them, is the way 99% of the companies are run in Brazil, showed to be something I can not take part of as a person with integrity and high values on honesty. I really hope they are not right about that this is the way almost all Brazilian companies are run. Third, the company was anything but transparent. I guess the word "candor" is something the company never heard of. Some of those differences could have been changed by putting the right people into the company and implementing some new values, but some of them were just not possible to fix. While the contract of the agreed terms never got registered officially and the owners of the company have been showing wrong numbers and together with the rest of the due diligence, Medison decided not to take action and fulfill any deal with Atalho Equipamentos Ltda. In fact, Medison was not even close to accept a deal with Atalho after the due diligence was done. The only thing Medison lost was time and credibility towards our customers and partners. We also learned things with this and we now are looking forward to focus even harder on start delivering the Medison Celebrity laptop through other channels. With Atalho we learned to never buy a company with a culture that doesn't match ours. © Valdi Ivancic |
