A revolution in how we read: Stephen Fry’s memoirs show the future of (some) books
Stephen Fry released his memoirs today, and he has done something remarkable with them. In addition to the book, "The Fry Chronicles" (buy it here at Amazon.co.uk), he has released a smart phone version called myFry (download the iPhone App here). I am a huge Stephen...
A revolution in how we read: Stephen Fry's memoirs show the future of (some) books
Stephen Fry released his memoirs today, and he has done something remarkable with them. In addition to the book, "The Fry Chronicles" (buy it here at Amazon.co.uk), he has released a smart phone version called myFry (download the iPhone App here). I am a huge Stephen...
A bit of fun: Technology for the over 50s
I received an email yesterday from an older acquaintance. I wouldn't know, but he says it pretty much accurately describes his relationship with technology, from smart phones to Twitter, and GPS to bluetooth. It's a fun read, but the serious side is that there is a...
Improve your business by deliberately creating chance encounters
Jim Dator, a professor in the Futures Department of the University of Hawaii shared an interesting model with a colleague of mine (Keith Coats) recently. It's about where futurists go to develop their scenarios for what is shaping the world of work. Up until a few...
The changing work habits of young people
Johnson Controls, a company specialising in "optimising the energy and operational efficiency of buildings", has been conducting global workplace research into what type of work environment today's young people are looking for. It's called the Oxygenz Workplace study...
How industry destroyed labour (OR we need some passion back)
Last week, on the US Labor Day holiday, Seth Godin's blog carried an interesting insight into how labour changed as the industrial revolution reached its zenith. You can read an extract below. If you follow the thought through, then it must be a warning to us about...
Africa votes more, but struggles to grow democracy
Thabo Mbeki proudly announced at the start of his presidency of South Africa that this century would be "Africa's century". That may or may not be true (and China and India would have something to say about it, too), but whatever happens in this century, Africa needs...
Google Instant: The Future of Search?
Last week I wrote a post posing the question "Is Google becoming a former supermodel". Here is an excerpt from that post "In the rapidly changing world of the Internet, Google has become one of its superstars...Growth though is slowing and competition is on the...
Vital Leadership Skills for the 21st Century: A Global Mindset
The world is not really flat. Not yet, anyway. In his best-selling book about globalisation in the 21st century, Thomas Friedman suggested that it was. He argued that massive advances in telecommunications and ten converging trends had “flattened” the world and...
Want a Value Add: What About ‘Story’?
In his book, Eyewitness to Power, David Gergen writes, “I asked Reagan how he wanted to explain what he was seeking there. “ “Let’s tell a story,” he responded. Reagan, ‘The Great Communicator’, regarded storytelling – or narrative, as one of the most effective...
Vital Leadership Skills for the 21st Century: A Global Mindset
The world is not really flat. Not yet, anyway. In his best-selling book about globalisation in the 21st century, Thomas Friedman suggested that it was. He argued that massive advances in telecommunications and ten converging trends had “flattened” the world and...
Recycle Message from MASSCASH
I just came back from a 3 conference with MASSCASH (part of the MASSMART group, South Africa's largest retailer). They’re a client I’ve done work with for around 7 years now. I don’t spend a large amount of time with them during the year, and during the last few years...
The meaning of work for different generations
As regular readers of this blog know, one of my passions is trying to understand the generation gap, and help people to make sense of relationships and interactions between people younger and older than themselves. This topic has been something of interest for me over...
What if Lance Armstrong wanted YOUR job?
This is a question (What if Lance Armstrong wanted YOUR job?) I ask the participants of the Talent Management day I do around 40 times each year (for the past 4 years) with one of our clients, for their senior managers. I ask this question during the section in which...
How South Africa’s economy could be even better
The Economist, 22 July 2010 edition highlighted a recent report by the OECD on South Africa. This is the first time the OECD has ever produced such a report, and their findings come as no surprise to any thinking person who knows South Africa reasonably well....
Banks come full circle and recognise the importance of customer experience
There appears to be growing recognition by retail banks that to compete in the new world of work they need to focus not only on processes and efficiencies but more importantly on customer experience and service, so says the Financial Times in an interesting article...
Are your talented staff selfish and greedy? Take this quiz to find out
FastCompany ran this superb quiz in their recent edition. My colleagues, Dean and Barrie, both stress how most companies have messed up "talent" by implementing policies and systems that have bred selfish, greedy and self-serving individuals. This quiz is a fun way to...
The printed Oxford English Dictionary is no more
The times are truly changing. In a press release earlier this week, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that it may never again be released in print. This is not as bad as it sounds - it relates only to the third full edition of the 20 volume complete OED (known...
iTunes 10 goes Ping (and makes good use of social media concepts)
Apple launched the new version of iTunes yesterday - version 10. Besides a host of small improvements, including a long overdue change in the icon (dropping the CD image!), the big news is that Apple have understood that social media concepts can be integrated into...
Is Google becoming a former supermodel?
In the rapidly changing world of the Internet, Google has become one of its superstars. Within little more than a decade Google has risen to be a giant in the industry with almost 20,000 employees, revenue of $23.6 billion and profits of $6.5 billion. Growth though is...