Everyone should learn to make things. Not because there is tremendous shortage of people who can produce things but because once you know how to make something, it changes how you see things. Once you know how to assemble an electronic device, every computer seems a bit less mysterious. Once you know how to give…
And email is not a faster fax. And online project management is not a bigger whiteboard. And Facebook is not an electronic rolodex. Play a new game, not the older game but faster.
The number of people you need to ask for permission keeps going down: 1. Go, make something happen. 2. Do work you're proud of. 3. Treat people with respect. 4. Make big promises and keep them. 5. Ship it out the door. When in doubt, see #1.
Others can better write about Maya Angelou's impact on the world stage, on how she stood up for the dignity of all people, of women and on how she touched and changed our world. For those that seek to make a change in the world, whether global or local, one lesson of her life is…
A friend was telling me about some job interviews she went on. She enjoyed them. Of course she did, I thought. She was starring in a show, a show about her. One approach is to be reactive, to sit where you're supposed to sit, have your CV appear just so, wear what you're supposed to…
Smart marketers understand that a new logo can't possibly increase your market share, and they know that an expensive logo doesn't defeat a cheap logo. They realise that the logo is like a first name, it's an identifier. So, when entrepreneurs start 'testing' logos, and proclaiming that a new logo might change their market share,…
Bullies are everywhere. At school, in traffic, in party conversations, at the stadium, in relationships, at work, in business, committee meetings, political parties and even on social media platforms. The thing with bullies is that they can't be bullies when they are alone. If you work with a bully, this is all you need to…
- If I was going to make you a cake for R20, using Joe Soap’s special recipe, I would go to the supermarket and get the ingredients and bake one slice of cake for you. - I like you a little but I am in a hurry, so I’m going to buy cake mix and…
The old rules: Play it safe. Stay in your comfort zone. Find an institution, a job, a set of rules to stick to. Keep your head down. Don't fly too close to the sun. The new truth: It's better to be sorry than safe. You need to fly higher than ever. True innovators focus on…
There are countless people waiting to tell you how to fit in, waiting to correct you, advice you, show you what you are doing wrong. And no one pushing you to stand out. If you add up all the books, scolds, back-benchers, bosses, teachers, parents, police, co-workers, employees, religious zealots, politicians, and friends who can…
When you are truly living on the edge, walking on the moon, perhaps, or caught in the grip of extreme poverty --there's no room at all for error. It's a luxury you can't afford. For most people doing well, though, there's a cushion. Being wrong isn't fatal, it's merely something they'd prefer to avoid. They…
... is almost a useless thing to say. If you want to end a conversation with a teenager, just ask, "How was school today?" If you want to end a conversation with a customer, just ask if you can help. Instead, ask, "can I get you a hot drink?" or "what's the worst thing about…
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