A year ago, I entered the first post on this blog, entitled "first day". At that point, I made it clear that my writing (as is true of all non-Twitter writing) had a purpose, had an intent to influence. I have spent the past year--sometimes with whimsy, sometimes with almost incalculable dryness--driving home the advantages that variable data printing provide to the brand owner.

In this, the second year of the "Security Printing and Imaging" blog, I will go a step further. This year, I will weave biometrics, SP++ (security printing++, or printing hybridized with other security mechanisms), and some business theory into the blog. To kick it off, I will provide a blog on each of the 48 chapters in the powerful--pun intended--business manifesto, "The 48 Laws of Power", by Robert Greene. Written in 1998, and based on the oeuvre of Sun-tzu, Machiavelli, Caesar, von Clausewitz and others, this book was written to summarize the principles used by those craving power. In my blogs, I will turn these principles on their side, and use them to provide the means to let your business strategy "seize power" over the strong, if unethical, competitors who are well-versed with the 48 laws. I'll also turn the laws completely over to show how they can be used ethically to the advantage of your brand and its partners.

Thanks to all my readers--those who have provided comments on the blog and separately from the blog--for the first year. I'm looking forward to another great year of interaction.

Cheers,

Steve