There's a lot to remember these days. Between the dawn of civilization and 2003, there were five exabytes of data collected (an exabyte = 1 quintillion bytes). Today five exabytes of data get collected every two days. Soon, there will be five exabytes every few minutes. (Don Tapscott in Designing Your Mind)
The implications of items such as Google glass, and life logging are astounding, and not simply in a big data sense. How are we to deal with all this data in how we think, recall, and synthesize what's around us, into experience we can use..? Technology will be the enabler, but the significant change coming quickly at each of us is not appreciated I think. We're about to personally experience Moore's Law on steroids, on crack, with a triple expresso on the side.
We're going to have to make choices, we're going to have to switch off vast areas, and we're going to experience an intellectual renaissance as a species, once we understand the depth we can reach as time in everyone's reality can be tracked, in real time, at the same time. This has implications across everything we think about, and touch.
Fasten your seatbelt, the next big shift is almost here.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Chains of Success
Beware the chains of success, for they will ensnare you with your knowledge and agreement.
We are often wary of the dangers of failure, avoiding it with great effort. Sure, we know that we learn from our mistakes, but they are still to be avoided at all costs. Better to have constant success - right ?
I hope we all see that we have to fail, and fail often, to continue to grow. I saw something wonderful written by Samuel Beckett today.. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Let that thought simmer in your mind for a moment - read it once more, slowly. Like the first sip of a fine wine, it has after-taste and resonance.
Much has been written about the value of failure by far smarter people than me. But I think at times we aren't warned enough about the danger of success. Achievement of success means we stop breaking new ground, we stop taking risks and we become comfortable. We don't want to rock the boat or spoil the success we have attained. How do we find ourselves in this predicament ? We do some of the worst things we can do - we reward ourselves for success achieved and often in a disproportionate way. We buy expensive toys or houses. We let the monetary side of success seduce us. Our new relationship with success makes our lives more comfortable, and that feels... good. A little like rich chocolate as a treat, except that the treat is frequently longer term, and addicting. We get fat on success.
As time goes by, we want the success to continue; in fact we need it to continue to maintain our newly established lifestyle. Everything in our consumer society drives this point home. The result is that we aren't taking new risks with our work, our art, or passions. We know from experience early-on, risk and success don't go together - wisdom filled mistakes taught us this. So we become derivative in our work, our art and passions. We settle for this and justify our specialization to ourselves as sensible, all the while not admitting to ourselves that we sold-out to the new house, or expensive toys, the lifestyle enabled and we grew very little.
So beware the chains of success for we invite them, and shackle ourselves with their luxury. But chains, even gold-plated ones are still chains and they hold us back from our own potential.
We are often wary of the dangers of failure, avoiding it with great effort. Sure, we know that we learn from our mistakes, but they are still to be avoided at all costs. Better to have constant success - right ?
I hope we all see that we have to fail, and fail often, to continue to grow. I saw something wonderful written by Samuel Beckett today.. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Let that thought simmer in your mind for a moment - read it once more, slowly. Like the first sip of a fine wine, it has after-taste and resonance.
Much has been written about the value of failure by far smarter people than me. But I think at times we aren't warned enough about the danger of success. Achievement of success means we stop breaking new ground, we stop taking risks and we become comfortable. We don't want to rock the boat or spoil the success we have attained. How do we find ourselves in this predicament ? We do some of the worst things we can do - we reward ourselves for success achieved and often in a disproportionate way. We buy expensive toys or houses. We let the monetary side of success seduce us. Our new relationship with success makes our lives more comfortable, and that feels... good. A little like rich chocolate as a treat, except that the treat is frequently longer term, and addicting. We get fat on success.
As time goes by, we want the success to continue; in fact we need it to continue to maintain our newly established lifestyle. Everything in our consumer society drives this point home. The result is that we aren't taking new risks with our work, our art, or passions. We know from experience early-on, risk and success don't go together - wisdom filled mistakes taught us this. So we become derivative in our work, our art and passions. We settle for this and justify our specialization to ourselves as sensible, all the while not admitting to ourselves that we sold-out to the new house, or expensive toys, the lifestyle enabled and we grew very little.
So beware the chains of success for we invite them, and shackle ourselves with their luxury. But chains, even gold-plated ones are still chains and they hold us back from our own potential.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Loyalty
When an organization seeks loyalty and gets it, the work just begins.
It's not about handing out the points, the perks or providing the ability to track "status". It's a contract - a subtle one where the organization has said - "we value you, and we'll recognize that". That in itself is a huge step. And it's the heart of the matter.
The loyalty offer doesn't have to be made by the way; we could all live in a Walmart world where the provision of lowest prices carried the day. When the organization elects not to do that, and instead seeks our continued patronage in return for recognition, it's very compelling for many people. However it carries an implicit promise that is so often over-looked, and that is that when we perceive that the recognition of the value you or I provide isn't forthcoming, we tend to head for the hills quickly.
Recognition isn't 'points' by the way, these are the reward for past behaviour and the lure for future patronage..just one more coffee, flight or trip to the grocer for the free whatever-it-is-we-seek.
Recognition is that acknowledgement that we're all participating in a contract whereby you get my business in return for the understanding that it's appreciated. When that stops - the points and other mechanisms aren't enough to maintain that loyalty on their own, as just about everybody else has similar reward schemes these days.
Sadly too many organizations have lost the plot on loyalty. They think they're trading prizes for loyalty, when in fact that wasn't really the basis the customer had for entering into the arrangement. It is why their customers leave though.
It's not about handing out the points, the perks or providing the ability to track "status". It's a contract - a subtle one where the organization has said - "we value you, and we'll recognize that". That in itself is a huge step. And it's the heart of the matter.
The loyalty offer doesn't have to be made by the way; we could all live in a Walmart world where the provision of lowest prices carried the day. When the organization elects not to do that, and instead seeks our continued patronage in return for recognition, it's very compelling for many people. However it carries an implicit promise that is so often over-looked, and that is that when we perceive that the recognition of the value you or I provide isn't forthcoming, we tend to head for the hills quickly.
Recognition isn't 'points' by the way, these are the reward for past behaviour and the lure for future patronage..just one more coffee, flight or trip to the grocer for the free whatever-it-is-we-seek.
Recognition is that acknowledgement that we're all participating in a contract whereby you get my business in return for the understanding that it's appreciated. When that stops - the points and other mechanisms aren't enough to maintain that loyalty on their own, as just about everybody else has similar reward schemes these days.
Sadly too many organizations have lost the plot on loyalty. They think they're trading prizes for loyalty, when in fact that wasn't really the basis the customer had for entering into the arrangement. It is why their customers leave though.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Dear North Korea..
It's fun to watch you posture.
It does make many people nervous, but I don't think they really "get" you. I think you huff and puff and the whole point in threatening and preening is to score some points at home. After all, the thought of who might be on your side in an unprovoked attack narrows the field down to...well no other countries actually. It's really too bad for you that you didn't discover some egregious military faux pas, like a sub stranded in your territorial waters, or South Korean soldiers sliding under the fence for some authentic BBQ beef.
If we look somewhat coldly at the facts, there's been no provocation, no recent event that you can point to, and little attention paid recently to you. So what's changed ? Why suck in your gut and inhale out your national chest right now..
Well I suppose there is the issue of succession, which probably doesn't sit right with some of your generals who may have had aspirations. And Mr. Kim Jong-un (can I call you Kim ?) I imagine you do want to look good in front of the people...after all if it's seen clearly that you're a pimply faced, fat little man who has little talent, and isn't aggressive enough to be his father's son..well, I bet the prisons there aren't too sweet.
So if all this is to make yourself look imperial at home and unafraid of the big bad west, how much is enough ? What exactly are you waiting for to concede that you've seen victory in this little war of posture. That's the million won question isn't it. Who in the west will make some public concession to you so that you can save face and stand down.
Therein lies the problem Kim. You see without that initial cause to rally around, the one that the rest of us can highlight as the reason you were thrown a bone to shut-up, there's really little empathy for what you're doing. It may just be too much this time. When it's agreed it is too much - the payback won't come in the form of a carrier group steaming up the Sea of Japan flying the stars and stripes in the wind..no..the payback will be a messenger from Beijing and it'll be more painful for you personally.
It is fun to watch you posture Kim, but it's not entertaining for very long.
Signed,
Everyone
It does make many people nervous, but I don't think they really "get" you. I think you huff and puff and the whole point in threatening and preening is to score some points at home. After all, the thought of who might be on your side in an unprovoked attack narrows the field down to...well no other countries actually. It's really too bad for you that you didn't discover some egregious military faux pas, like a sub stranded in your territorial waters, or South Korean soldiers sliding under the fence for some authentic BBQ beef.
If we look somewhat coldly at the facts, there's been no provocation, no recent event that you can point to, and little attention paid recently to you. So what's changed ? Why suck in your gut and inhale out your national chest right now..
Well I suppose there is the issue of succession, which probably doesn't sit right with some of your generals who may have had aspirations. And Mr. Kim Jong-un (can I call you Kim ?) I imagine you do want to look good in front of the people...after all if it's seen clearly that you're a pimply faced, fat little man who has little talent, and isn't aggressive enough to be his father's son..well, I bet the prisons there aren't too sweet.
So if all this is to make yourself look imperial at home and unafraid of the big bad west, how much is enough ? What exactly are you waiting for to concede that you've seen victory in this little war of posture. That's the million won question isn't it. Who in the west will make some public concession to you so that you can save face and stand down.
Therein lies the problem Kim. You see without that initial cause to rally around, the one that the rest of us can highlight as the reason you were thrown a bone to shut-up, there's really little empathy for what you're doing. It may just be too much this time. When it's agreed it is too much - the payback won't come in the form of a carrier group steaming up the Sea of Japan flying the stars and stripes in the wind..no..the payback will be a messenger from Beijing and it'll be more painful for you personally.
It is fun to watch you posture Kim, but it's not entertaining for very long.
Signed,
Everyone
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Where are the Advertisers ?
I don't own a PVR. Instead, I use my TV system provider's box to time shift some things I like to watch. This system works for me, and I can access content both via the traditional set-top box and TV or via my tablet with the TV Channel's apps. There's probably more ways than that as well, but between these two I manage.
What strikes me as I watched a few favourite shows in the last few days (as I have some down time), was that there's no ads. Yes there are commercials, but they are for the content that channel already has - they weren't able to; or weren't thinking they could sell ad space on these shows in this media to their clients.
Now, I grew up many years ago on a diet of TV, so commercials are just the "price we pay" for this content, and I understand that. The absence of them (and the repeated prompts to watch one or two other shows) makes me wonder...Is the world of on-demand digital content just to hard to measure by the traditional Neilson yardstick, or are there really no interested parties..?
In a fragmented world, did something actually get missed...
What strikes me as I watched a few favourite shows in the last few days (as I have some down time), was that there's no ads. Yes there are commercials, but they are for the content that channel already has - they weren't able to; or weren't thinking they could sell ad space on these shows in this media to their clients.
Now, I grew up many years ago on a diet of TV, so commercials are just the "price we pay" for this content, and I understand that. The absence of them (and the repeated prompts to watch one or two other shows) makes me wonder...Is the world of on-demand digital content just to hard to measure by the traditional Neilson yardstick, or are there really no interested parties..?
In a fragmented world, did something actually get missed...
Friday, March 22, 2013
360ยบ to the Customer
Sometimes we can't see where we're going because we're looking in the wrong direction. Numerous times this past week, by numerous people (coincidence?) I was reminded, and I also reminded others that we really can't go wrong if we keep the customer in front of where we are trying to go.
So if you're lost - turn around, find the customer, and go in that direction. It's never wrong.
So if you're lost - turn around, find the customer, and go in that direction. It's never wrong.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Value of Interaction
Recently, I was faced with a small- a very small - group of people to work with. Smaller than usual. In some senses, it should have been easier, as there were fewer people to know, and I could go deeper with each. But what you lose in a group that is few in numbers is the collaborative effect. The interactions of people with each other is tremendously important. We often underestimate that, and the result is that we talk at one other without ever having a discussion.
If half the act of working with others is listening, and it's hard to hear what isn't being said. Think about that when trying to expand your own understanding of something new, or exploring an existing topic to try to uncover previously hidden gems of insight. We need others not simply as sounding boards for our ideas, but also to reinterpret them through their own lens of experience and add perspectives we may not have acknowledged. Interaction, collaboration - call it whatever you like... we learn through each other as much as from each other.
If half the act of working with others is listening, and it's hard to hear what isn't being said. Think about that when trying to expand your own understanding of something new, or exploring an existing topic to try to uncover previously hidden gems of insight. We need others not simply as sounding boards for our ideas, but also to reinterpret them through their own lens of experience and add perspectives we may not have acknowledged. Interaction, collaboration - call it whatever you like... we learn through each other as much as from each other.
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