The innovator mindset

Think 10x!

You must think to make things 10x better, faster, smaller, … don’t just set the goal to be ‘a little better’. Think beyond the next solution!

That’s what make the difference in company like Google for example.

PierG

The internet of useful things

What’s driving the internet of things?

via GigaOM Mobilize 2013 on Livestream.

PierG

Don’t compete on features

Nice quote from @peldi, thanks to my friend @capotribu:

Best quote from @balsamiq talk tonight: "sooner or later others will have your same features. Don't compete on features"

— Marco Abis (@capotribu) April 17, 2012

PierG

Inspiration for .. inspiration

I loathe deadlines, but this quote makes me appreciate them a little bit more and reminds me to set a deadline for all the things I really want to get done

via “The Ultimate Inspiration Is The Deadline”.

PierG

Sweet memories

Sweet memories of Passo Sella between Val Gardena and Val di Fassa

PierG

Expose yourself to what you don’t understand

As I wrote in my post Insulate Yourself  I want to explain a little bit more the item in the Invent More post, quoting Seth Godin.

Today we talk about: “Expose yourself to art you don’t yet understand”.
The two key factors in this sentence are ‘art’ and ‘understand’.

‘Art’ has to deal with the right side of the brain. Our culture is based on making us exploit the left part of our brain: the analytic side, the one who deals with language, with tasks, with checklists, with homework, with tests, … For some of us it’s an easy trip (the left-brained ones), for some it’s tougher (the right-brained).

To have a better balance we should start exploiting more the right side of our brain: the more visual side, the more intuitive and holistic one.

Also the ‘understand’ side int he sentence has a similar meaning:

• we are usually frightened by what we don’t know. Fear of change comes from here. That’s why you better face the unknown;
• it’s not guaranteed that you can solve problems using the same info, patterns, context that generate them. That’s why you better face the unknown.

So this simple action “expose yourself to art you don’t yet understand” to me is a small step that can make you start the process of exploring  alternatives with the final goal to enrich you, your family, your life.

Happy hunting,

PierG

Feels like a computer science museum

For the next generation of knowledge workers, entering the workplace often feels like entering a computer science museum – Coming to Terms with the Consumerization of IT – HBR

I don’t want to be the IT that causes this! And the road to success is tough and the solutions are to be found while the problems are there: clear and heavy.

We have to start thinking in a different way if we want to succeed starting from the presuppositions behind our choices!

PierG

Do I have to say his name?

Courtesy of Danny Clinch - http://www.brucespringsteen.net

I remember very well one of the ways in which Bruce was used to introduce the E Street Band. When it was the time of Clarence, he used to ask “do I have to say his name? Do I have to speak his name?” … no there was no need to say “big man Clarence Clemons on saxophone!!!!”

Some years after the premature death of Danny Federici, another member of the legendary E Street Band passed away … and this is a huge loss: Clarence Clemons who died after complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12th.

Bruce Springsteen said of Clarence: Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.

Ciao big man!

PierG

Do you want to be agile or predictable?

Pretty provocative title to this post 🙂 but it sometimes seems like these to things cannot fit together.

Have a look at Jim Highsmith post Balancing Adaptivity and Predictability for interesting thought about the topic:

In presentations I often ask the question, “How many of you have been on Agile teams and were asked to be agile, adaptive, flexible—but also asked to conform to the plan?” Mostly I get snickers and mild laughter at the question because most have experienced it. – continue

PierG

San Francisco from my hotel

PierG