Organizations
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Avoiding toxic co-workers
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2 min read
Diego has two worthwhile posts on avoiding assholes at work, using Richard Branson’s reality show as an example: Sir Branson took an innovative approach to the asshole problem by donning Scooby-Doo-ish makeup and mask before picking up would-be contestants from the airport in a London taxi cab. Disguised as an arthritic old cabbie, Branson was…
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Orpheus-style leadership
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1 min read
This book review reminded me of the conductor-less Orpheus Chamber Orchestra… …which has forged a successful recording and performance career without the need of a conductor. Their group is not leaderless, members are keen to emphasize; rather, the leadership role shifts among them within a performance and even within a piece. Echoing Peter Drucker, the…
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HP taking lessons from Apple?
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1 min read
HP bought Snapfish, but I think the comparison to Yahoo/Flickr is less interesting than a comparison to Apple. Apple enhanced hardware by adding software and services (iTunes -> Music Store), lengthening the value chain and creating an integrated system that makes it easy for people to buy what they want. It’s also a razor/blades situation.…
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NYC First Friday, Nov 5
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1 min read
The next social meeting of First Fridays in NYC for the User Experience Design community will be Nov 5, 6:30 at Hell 59 Gansevoort St at Washington St (Meatpacking District) (Between 12th & 13th Streets, West of 9th Avenue/Hudson Street) 212-727-1666 Subway: A,C,E and 1239 to 14th Street or L to 8th Ave I’ll miss…
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Customer culture and company value
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1 min read
The recent legal scandal involving four insurance companies in the U.S. caused them to lose $4 Billion of shareholder value in 2 days and now one chief executive. Having worked in one of those companies, and for others who are similar, I’d say a deep, underlying cause is a severe lack of empathic concern for…
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MBA class experience
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1 min read
I attended an MBA class last night at New York University’s Stern School of Business. I was both interested in the topic of the class and as an observer of the professor’s teaching style and MBA students in general. I noticed: Students were predictably clean cut. Diverse ethnically as you’d expect in New York or…
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E-Myth
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2 min read
I just read The E-Myth Revisited after it having been recommended to me several times. In it Michael Gerber addresses the most prevalent problems of small businesses (e stands for entrepreneur) along with his solutions. It’s a breezy read, and, although a little too preachy at times, it’s a worthwhile read. A few notes worth…
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First Fridays, now in NYC
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1 min read
You’re invited to the first monthly social meeting of First Fridays in NYC for the User Experience Design community. It should be a good evening of simply meeting with peers to talk, network, relax, and engage. Fri, Oct 1st, 6:30p till 8:30 at Hell 59 Gansevoort St at Washington St (Meatpacking District) (Between 12th &…
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An egg laying, wool-milk-pig
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1 min read
That’s the literal translation of this great German phrase, die eierlegende Wollmilchsau which literally translates to a pig that lays eggs, grows wool, and gives milk. As when a company is looking for someone with Java, IA, graphic design, project management, and creative writing skills.
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We like you, too
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1 min read
SFGate ran a great interview with David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue. It’s an honest look at his failure in university, his Mormon upbringing, and his take on fundamental airline operations. I recently noticed with delight their new ad campaign, We like you, too (contrast this with Google’s Do no evil. It’s a different stance that…
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Faster or Stronger
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1 min read
A shot from the preferences panel of Apple’s newest version of Chess… I assume the application works like Deep Blue, massively calculating moves in advance to choose a better position. So it can go faster but calculate fewer moves, or calculate more moves and become a stronger player, but at the expense of speed. It’s…
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The challenge of the 21st century
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1 min read
Forty-nine countries have agreed to participate in a 10-year project to collect and share thousands of measurements of the Earth, ranging from weather to streamflow to ground tremors to air pollution with anticipated benefits ranging from weather forecasts to energy consumption estimates to predictions of disease outbreaks. As usual, it’s not the design of the…
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Motivation
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1 min read
More notes from Managing the Professional Service Firm… Issues in motivating each other… There is a spiral effect among Motivation Productivity and quality Economic success Marketplace success Honesty is very important in recruiting. It creates the right match between position and employee so the person’s motivation emerges naturally Firms should have slightly more work than…
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Coaching
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1 min read
More notes from Managing the Professional Service Firm… On coaching… Coaching is even more important when the market for employees is constrained. The best management is not the most intelligent or the highest skilled, but the best at coaching. They can make people feel special and focus their talents. Use the Socratic method to stimulate…
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Building your assets
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1 min read
More notes from Managing the Professional Service Firm… Ways to build your assets as a consultant: Learn by reflecting on recent work alone (e.g. journal) with your team with your client with your peers with your mentor Apprentiships are the most effective way of developing knowledge and skill. Depending on the company culture, balance apprentiships…