Oren Harari has a thought-provoking post on the danger of overlooking lesser-known competitors. An excerpt:
John then walked over to the far white board, at the corner, and tapped it. “See these 20 companies? We listed them almost as an afterthought. We’re not paying any attention to them in this meeting because they’re not impacting our financials. Yet. Most of them are little companies that some of us have never heard of. Most of them are privately held. Some of them are Chinese and Indian. A couple are from eastern Europe. A couple are divisions in larger companies that have never played in our industry. But these 20 companies are the ones we ought to be spending our time on, because they all have one thing in common: They’re all toying around with changing the rules of the game. They’re playing with fundamentally new technologies, new market niches, new services, new supply and distribution chains—even new business models entirely. At this point, they don’t have much scale or reach. They may not even have much capitalization. But for some of them, that will all change. We need to put on the glasses they’re wearing. We need to look at the marketplace and our business the way they do. They’re giving us clues as to where our future competition will be. And if we don’t confront these issues right away, all our fame and fortune today won’t be enough to sustain our position tomorrow.”
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Zen Garden: Tiger Cubs Crossing the Sea
As unknowable as the garden's maker is its meaning. Many Japanese gardens display two smaller rocks flanking a larger one to signify Buddha and two disciples. Other configurations spawn other meanings. The garden at Ryoan-ji originally bore the label "Tiger Cubs Crossing the Sea," but no one knows why. A more general interpretation takes the gravel for the sea and the rocks for islands. At this point, no one seems to care.
One fact has struck everyone as significant: It is not possible to see all 15 rocks from any single position along the viewing deck. Perhaps only when full illumination comes, through meditation, will all be visible.
Read more of Willard Spiegelman on the zen garden at Kyoto.
Quote of the Day
Truly there is a tide in the affairs of men; but there is no gulf-stream setting forever in one direction.
- James Russell Lowell
- James Russell Lowell
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Work Patterns: Bursts versus Flow
I've never found that my most productive work periods are limited to the standard eight and five work day.
As a result, I work at odd hours and on a project by project basis. Probably 96 percent of my evenings involve some sort of work. Early morning is another productive time period.
If a brick wall is hit on one project, I move to another. Staring at the wall usually doesn't revive my focus but leaping into a different area eventually renews enough interest that focusing on the first project is again possible.
As mentioned in other posts, intense, productive work tends to come in bursts rather than in one, continuous flow. This means that the day is often devoted either to working in bursts, recovering from the bursts, or preparing for them. This approach is possible due to the nature of my work. In another line - factory work comes to mind - it would not be possible.
I wonder though, if the "working in bursts" pattern isn't natural for most individuals. Does this match your natural schedule (versus the required one)?
As a result, I work at odd hours and on a project by project basis. Probably 96 percent of my evenings involve some sort of work. Early morning is another productive time period.
If a brick wall is hit on one project, I move to another. Staring at the wall usually doesn't revive my focus but leaping into a different area eventually renews enough interest that focusing on the first project is again possible.
As mentioned in other posts, intense, productive work tends to come in bursts rather than in one, continuous flow. This means that the day is often devoted either to working in bursts, recovering from the bursts, or preparing for them. This approach is possible due to the nature of my work. In another line - factory work comes to mind - it would not be possible.
I wonder though, if the "working in bursts" pattern isn't natural for most individuals. Does this match your natural schedule (versus the required one)?
Internet: Unintended Consequences?
Elizabeth Lee Wurtzel believes the Internet has ruined music and movies. An excerpt:
In the era of the online music store -- even if you buy from iTunes rather than stealing from LimeWire, the problem is the same -- no one knows how to listen to a complete album anymore. Everything is slanted toward the hit single. This means that the music industry is oriented toward one-hit wonders rather than consummate musicians, and talent development is just not worth the trouble.
In the era of the online music store -- even if you buy from iTunes rather than stealing from LimeWire, the problem is the same -- no one knows how to listen to a complete album anymore. Everything is slanted toward the hit single. This means that the music industry is oriented toward one-hit wonders rather than consummate musicians, and talent development is just not worth the trouble.
Quote of the Day
If people did not sometimes do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Friday, August 08, 2008
Opening Ceremony: More is Less
Watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics.
Am I the only person who feels the drummers were a tad Orwellian?
Am I the only person who feels the drummers were a tad Orwellian?
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