Tips on how to make ideas happen

Tips on how to make ideas happen

Build systems so that anybody can contribute at any amount

Via this posting by Stefan Hagen, I came across this interesting and relevant talk by Clay Shirky about institutions vs. collaboration. Listening to Mr. Shirky, I learned, for example, this:

Minute 4

When you build cooperation into the infrastructure, as for example Flickr does, you can leave the people where they are, i.e. you can take the problem to the individuals rather than move the individuals to the problem.

Minute 5

A general aspect of cooperative systems is that it replaces planning with coordination.

Minute 9

Institutions only have 2 tools: Carrots and sticks. The 80% zone is a no-stick, no-carrot zone. Recall in this regard, that in the photo example that Mr. Shirky talked about, 80% of the contributors – in this example photographers - contributed with a below average amount – in this example number of photos. In this regard, Mr. Shirky mentions that if your system is designed so that you have to give up a quarter of the value, reengineer the system. Build the system so that anybody can contribute at any amount.

Minute 14

Mr. Shirky mentions that if you want to know what technology is going to change the world, don’t pay attention to 13 year-old boys. Pay attention to young mothers.

Minute 20

Institutions are going to come under an increasing degree of pressure. The more rigidly managed and the more they rely on information monopolies, the greater the pressure is going to be. The point is, Mr. Shirky explains, that there is going to be a massive readjustment. Since we can see it in advance and know it is coming, we might as well get good at it.

  

Where good ideas come from

Via this posting by Tim Kastelle, I came across this interesting 4 minute video. Listening to what Steven Johnson says, I learned, for example, that a great driver of innovation has been the historic increase in connectivity. What has happened over the last 15 years, Mr. Johnson explains, is that we have - with the Internet - so many new ways to connect, so many ways to reach out and find other people who have that missing piece that will complete the idea we are working on.

To change your thoughts, change your behaviour

Via this posting by Tyge Mortensen, I came across this interesting TED talk by A.J. Jacobs, who talked about an experiment he did: Following all the rules of the bible for a year. Listening to Mr. Jacobs, I learned, for example, this:

Minute 6
Mr. Jacobs explains that one of his big lessons of the year was that change in behaviour will lead to change in thinking. He had always thought it was the other way around. Mr. Jacobs also mentions a couple of examples: If you want to become more compassionate, go visit sick people in the hospital. And if you smile, you will become happier.

Minute 11
Mr. Jacobs mentions that another big lesson and a key to happiness for him was to thank for the many things that go right during a day - as opposed to focusing on the few things that go wrong during a day.

Minute 15
Mr. Jacobs mentions that rituals are, by nature, irrational. The key is to choose the right rituals, the ones that are not harmful. As an example of a ritual, he mentions blowing out candles on top of a birthday cake.

Bundesrat Merz lacht Tränen

"Politik kann auch lustig sein. Dies beweist Finanzminister Hans-Rudolf Merz. Eine Frage zur Zunahme der Importmenge von gewürztem Fleisch quittiert der Bundesrat mit schallendem Gelächter.“

Quelle.

Customer Experience Improvements

Customer Experience Improvements

Population growth explained with IKEA boxes

Listening to this extraordinary 10 minute presentation by Hans Rosling, I learned, for example, this: 


Insight # 1 
There is a wider gap today – compared to 1960 - between the poorest people in the world and the richest people in the world.


Insight # 2 
Most people tend to be somewhere in the middle. Mr. Rosling explained that these people will move further forward economically, if we invest in the right green technologies, so that we can avoid severe climate change and energy can still be relatively cheap.

Insight # 3 
The population of the poorest 2 billion people in the world is growing rapidly. Population growth can be stopped, if the poorest people in the world get out of poverty, get education, and if child survival is improved. Child survival is the new green.


Insight # 4 
According to Mr. Rosling, the Western World, i.e. the blue box in the presentation, will not be all alone anymore and living its own life. The role of the Old West in the new world is to become the foundation of the modern world.

Health tip: Do also interval training

Watching this video, I learned, for example, that if you do interval training for 20 minutes, you burn the same amount of calories as you would during 30 minutes of sustained exercise.

How do you work out?

Coca-Cola Happiness Machine London

Via a tweet by IdeaBounty, I came across this 2 minute video:

Interview with Mr. Carlos Ghosn

Listening to this interview with Mr. Carlos Ghosn, I learned, for example, the following:

Minute 19:

A leader is first a listener.

Minute 25:

Usually, the more mismanaged a country is, the more potential it has.

Minute 35:

When the Japanese industry started 40 years ago, it started with cheap, small, low quality products, and it moved up. The Korean did the same. The Indians and the Chinese can do the same.

Minute 39:

Zero-emissions cars are going to be part of the future if you can answer yes to the following 3 questions:

1. Is there a higher chance that the price of oil in the future is going to go up than go down?

2. Do you think that regulation on the environment will become stricter?

3. Will economic superpowers such as China and India not accept that their respective transportation sectors are dependent on one commodity, oil, which they are net importers of? In this regard, Mr. Ghosn reminded us that if one major oil producer decides not to export oil to a particular country, whose transportation system is dependent on oil, the transportation of this country will be paralyzed.

3 principles of innovation

Via a tweet by Arie Goldschlager, I came across this 3 minute video featuring Vijay Govindarajan sharing knowledge about these 3 principles of innovation:

# 1: Create an innovation team that works separately from the core enterprise.

# 2: The innovation team works in partnership with the core enterprise.

# 3: The innovation team is accountable for their ability to learn.

Green roofs

As I came by this posting showing a photo of a design for Landsbanki Bank Headquarters with a green roof (photo # 1 below), I wondered if it was possible to do something similar on the roof of the music house in Aarhus, Denmark (photo # 2 below). I reckon it would be awesome. Think, for example, about having the possibility of meeting the musicians / artists on the roof after a show. What's your view?

By the way, I took this photo at the top of the town hall tower in Aarhus, Denmark. When you're in Aarhus, I can warmly recommend you to go up there. There's a fantastic view over the city from the tower.