Inspiration to learn about yourself

I like Finnenbahn tracks and Vita Parcours . Here in Zurich, I have noticed that many others at all ages also like to go to these places to work out. What makes me go to, for example, the Finnenbahn to get some exercise is not least that it feels better to go jogging on the Finnenbahn than, for example, on the streets. Also, I like that the Finnenbahn is located in the forest. Listening to the birds, watching the flowers, and being among the trees while running or doing sit-ups is a good way to refuel energy depots. Every year, the people behind the 800 meter Finnenbahn, where I live, organize a working day, where everyone can join in and help keep the Finnenbahn up to date. In the couple of years I have lived here in Zurich, I have been proud to participate each year in this working day. Thinking about how a Finnenbahn could become even better, I got this idea: How about asking companies in the town, where the Finnenbahn is located, if they would like to contribute to improving the Fi...

In Copenhagen, 10 churches, that only few people used, were closed this month. In this article , I read that architects are going to compete on what the closed churches will be used for in the future. I think it would be great if one or more of the architects would involve people all over the world to participate – for example on a blog – in the development process. What do you think?

Here in Zurich , there’s a lot of water, which I think is great. For example, there is the beautiful Zurich Lake . The lake is a really beloved place among many people, I have noticed. People at all ages spend time at the lake, for example by going for a walk there, enjoying their lunch or dinner at the lake, swimming and/or taking the boat. By the way, using the boat is an integrated part of the transport network here. The people behind the well thought out idea call it “One ticket for everything”. Learn more about the concept in this 1 minute video . Also worth mentioning in this context are the Sihl and the Limmat - the two rivers which pass through Zurich. They add a lot of emotion to the city, I think. You can see recent photos of the Sihl here , and of the Limmat here . In Zurich, there are a number of indoor and outdoors swimming pools. I have noticed that also these pools are very popular among people. You can go swimming in lake pools, in river pools, as well as in indoor and...

I have experienced that people, who have different professional competencies and/or come from different cultures throughout the world, can generate many innovative solutions when they work together. In fact, my experience is that the more diverse backgrounds, people who work together have, the greater is the possibility that they will - individually and/or together - generate new, not-tried-out-before solutions. Here in Switzerland, more than 20% of the population comes from other countries. I experience the diversity here in several ways: For example, I hear many different languages being spoken. In addition, I see people with different styles of clothing. I also experience that people eat different food. And I have read that many different religions are represented here. Just when I am writing about this interesting diversity, I come to think of this 7 minute YouTube video, which up until this point in time has been viewed almost 4 million times. If you haven’t seen / listened to it...

Here in Zurich, I experience that going by bike is becoming more and more popular. Many people go by bike when they go to and from work, when they go shopping, and/or simply want to get some exercise. I also became aware of some initiatives that encourage people to use their bikes more often. For example, I read that McDonald’s is sponsoring the initiative Zürich rollt . In addition, I read in this article , that the Kantonsrat here in Zurich recently decided to invest at least CHF 26 million per year in bike paths – up from the prior yearly investment of at least CHF 13 million. Another city that is investing significantly in making the conditions for going by bike better is Copenhagen. For example, I read in this article , that the city got a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists a couple of days ago – designed by Dissing+Weitling . To learn more about cycling in Copenhagen - and how investments in initiatives that encourage people to use their bikes pay off well - have a look at ...

Following up on this posting , I’d like to suggest that a great city is not only clean but also beautiful. Driving/walking around here in Zurich, I have seen many nicely decorated apartment balconies as well many beautiful gardens, for example. Actually, I cannot think of a city, that I have been to, where so many balconies of apartments are so nicely decorated with flowers. I took the photo below some days ago, as I visited Stadtgärtnerei Zürich , which is located here . You can find some more photos from the place here .

An innovative car, that I often see people driving around in here in Zurich, is the Smart . The vehicle seems to be almost made for a city – for example because you are able to park it more or less anywhere. On the Smart website , I read that much time and energy is invested in thinking about how the concept of the “car” can be reinterpreted to make it more ecological, more economical and more individual. Another interesting innovation that gets you quickly from point A to point B is the Shanghai Maglev train. Well above the ground, the train drives faster than 400 kilometres per hour! You can watch recent photos of the fast train here , read about it here , and watch a 1 minute video about the train below. How about a train like that in the city you live in?

Opening up and involving people are key concepts of our time – not least due to the way the Internet develops. Here are a couple of possibilities for companies to take advantage of this – thereby speeding up, for example, economic growth. Possibility # 1: Leaders write blogs One way for companies to open up and involve people is that the manager of the company writes a blog and/or that the company in other ways uses interactive and collaborative technologies to communicate internally as well as externally. Possibility # 2: Companies make working events In this posting about Researchers night across Europe, I wrote about researchers from ETH Zurich who literally brought knowledge to the people – right at the Lake of Zurich. In these days, the University of Zurich opens its doors. You can read more about that in this March 11 posting . Doing a Google search on "Tag der offenen Tür" for Switzerland , I noticed that several companies in Switzerland “open up their doors”. “Open ...

Considering the many changes that are constantly happening in different areas globally, it’s important that we all keep on learning – no matter who we are, what we do, or where we live. The better the conditions are to - anywhere, anytime, and at low costs - seek information on the Internet about what we need, the more effectively we will be able to learn. And, consequently, the more competitive companies will become. On Wikipedia, I read about municipal wireless network / municipal WiFi . It is the concept of turning an entire city into a wireless access zone permitting people to seek information they need on the Internet - anytime and anywhere. I had a closer look at panOULU , the wireless network covering Oulu, Finland . In the panOULU brochure , I noticed that you can use the network with a LapTop, a PDA , and/or a mobile phone. I also read that using the network does not require a user ID or registration. Anyone can - anytime and anywhere - get on the Internet. By the way, if you ...

In a recent BusinessWeek article about The City of the Future , I read this: More than half of humanity now lives in cities—and that figure will likely reach 75% by 2050 . In the coming postings, I’ll write a little about what a great city is like. My first input is that a great city is clean . In this regard, I admire the Swiss. Living here in Switzerland, I experience that more or less everywhere you go, it’s clean. The streets are clean, the airport and railway stations are clean, the shops are clean, the forests and parks are clean, it’s clean in and around various companies and schools. And I could keep on going. I’m not expert in the field, but I believe there are more people to thank for this cleanliness. Taking Zurich as an example, I believe Stadt Zürich Entsorgung und Recycling can be thanked. But also - and this is not to underestimate, I think - each person who lives here should be thanked for the high degree of cleanliness. I experience that it’s simply a part of the cult...

Under the motto Wissen teilen , the University of Zurich is celebrating its 175th birthday these days. Yesterday evening, I spent a couple of hours at Parcours des Wissens , a large pavilion set up at the lake front in Zurich. There are some good photos of the different activities in this article . I found, not least, the BrainFair interesting. Studying the BrainFair website, I noticed that you have the possibility to test some of your intelligences. Try it out here . By the way, if you’re interested in sharing knowledge with the many competent people involved, you can also participate on the various blogs .

I became aware of this 1½ minute video through this posting . Have a good day.

Watching this 3½ minute movie about the Nokia Morph concept , I came to think about Blue Ocean Strategy . For example, I found it interesting that the phone can also be used as a wrist watch. In other words, an effort is done to work across industries. Another characteristic of Blue Ocean Strategy is simultaneously pursuing differentiation and keeping down costs. Do you have a couple of ideas on how to keep down the costs on this product? What should Nokia do? By the way, do you think there is a chance that James Bond will use this communication device in the upcoming movie?

In this interesting article , Paul Sloane gives 7 good tips to make a difference in a period of change: 1. Adopt a positive attitude. Like Bill Gates – see the opportunity. 2. Become a change agent. Make suggestions. Introduce ideas and recommendations. 3. Listen to customers. 4. Watch the competition. 5. Be sensitive to office politics. 6. Don’t insist on the glory. 7. Be prepared for rejection. How about trying them out?

Did you know that Google’s search engine supports more than 100 languages and Gmail 41 languages? This blog posting and the 2008 Web Globalization Report Card will tell you more about which companies have the best global websites. I became aware of the 2008 Web Globalization Report Card through this XING blog posting .