Using Blogs for R&D
Pat Misterovich is a stay-at-home Dad who uses his basement as a development lab. More and more people are doing this type of thing - they don't need to be zillionaires, nor rich or famous. They just want to be able to pay off their homes, go on holiday once a year,...
The Experience Economy
We, at TomorrowToday.biz like to call it "The Connection Economy". Others refer to it as the experience economy or the relationship economy or the dream society. Read a great blog about our move to experiences at Creating Passionate Users. It starts like this: "In the...
Best Employers for People Over 50
The AARP (American Association of Retired People) lists some of the best companies to work for, if you're over 50 - companies who do an excellent job of attracting and retaining "bright old things". In a world where we tend to discard experience (and wisdom), this...
The Design of Innovation
A new book (released today, not yet available online) from industrial design expert Craig Vogel says companies must continually adapt their products if they are to compete. Read an interview with the author at Inc.com's blog here. Design is absolutely critical these...
The thing with airlines …
I recently had the misfortune of flying from NZ to the UK. I say misfortune only because it's something like a 30 hour trip - in Economy class. (enough said) Sadly things went progressively down hill when Air Malaysia annouced (2 hours past the specified boarding...
Spoof adverts are adverts too
The point of an advert is to call attention to your brand/product, and inspire potential customers to part with some of their cash - in your favour. Many advertising campaigns around the world are spoofed - meaning that third parties take the brand campaign concept...
11 Steps to a Better Brain
The New Scientist of 28 May 2005, lists 11 ways in which you can boost brain performance and/or slow the effects of ageing on your grey matter. See the full story here. In short, they are: Smart drugs - drugs that increase awareness, decrease need for sleep, etc Food...
A "postmodern business model"
In Inc.com, June 2005, (page 24), the heading "Franchising Franchising" seemed a strange one to me. At first, I thought it was just a cool design heading for the Franchising section. But the sub-title really got my attention. "Introducing the first postmodern business...
My Money is on MySpace.com
I remember the first day I heard a CD. Alan Parsons Project, ‘Eye in the Sky’. Wow! I never believed music could sound that good!! How the music industry has changed over the last 20 years – it is truly incredible. But the ‘new kid on the block’ that, I...
More reasons to blog
BusinessWeek's Blogspotting regularly features stories of how companies are using blogs to their advantage. In our consulting with clients, there is a massive increase in interest in using blogs. At one level, there should be a business case for this, and its great to...
Reverse Mentoring
Every Monday morning, my 92 grandmother sits down at her computer and bangs out an email to all her children (2), grandchildren (7 + 6 in laws) and great-grandchildren (6 at last count), as well as a few nieces and nephews and their kids and grandkids. The whole...
A Virtual Champagne Moment
May was a great month for our company. We broke through a psychological income barrier and set a new monthly record. These are the types of things that should be celebrated in companies - but how do you do that in a virtual environment? This is one of the downsides of...
How not to treat your loyal customers
I am sitting in the lounge at Port Elizabeth airport, waiting for the 17h50 flight to Johannesburg. It is an SAA flight. I arrived at the lounge at 14h15, and was informed that because I had bought an X class ticket, they could not move me to an earlier flight, and...
Shape the future – do whatever it takes
It is a great battle cry - shape the future - do whatever it takes. It was the rally call from a conference I have just attended where I was invited to present 'Savvy Leadership: leadership for the 21st Century'. As I looked over the sea of faces I detected an...
True Confessions
I have spent the day at a Tom Peter's seminar (I am sure you will be hearing more of that in my blogs over the next few days - weeks/years). He gave me a lot to think about, but one of the most important personal things to happen today is that he has enabled me to...
‘Non’: Small Really is Beautiful
So France has voted ‘Non’ to the EU Constitution. There are many reasons for this outcome, of course. Dissatisfaction with the Government, fear of reduced French influence in the growing EU and so on… They are not the first to say ‘No’. Denmark and Ireland...
'Non': Small Really is Beautiful
So France has voted ‘Non’ to the EU Constitution. There are many reasons for this outcome, of course. Dissatisfaction with the Government, fear of reduced French influence in the growing EU and so on… They are not the first to say ‘No’. Denmark and Ireland...
The Chicken and the Horse
We keep chickens at home. 5 of them – one for each member of the family. The first bit of fun we had was in naming them. My wife called hers Heloise. The kids called theirs Gip, Ethel and Jeff. I named mine after my favourite theologian of all time; a 4th century...
It's all in the jeans…
The other day an email went round my company saying that "Casual Friday" was now being cancelled and that no one would be allowed to wear jeans anymore. "Casual Friday" was a privilege (for which employees were asked to donate $1 to charity) and it had been abused....
When is a ringtone a milestone?
When it sells more copies in the UK than the biggest selling music single in one week. Last week 'Crazy Frog Axel F', sold more copies than the new single from Cold Play. (click here to see Google Search and then take your pick) These are moments you want to pause,...