Thoughtopsy: [process]

Fear Not

A year or so ago I had tried to get a new business off the ground that included a piece of real estate.  I had the distinct pleasure of asking for a zoning variance for the project, and at that meeting were a host of neighbors who were going to 'fight' the development.  The project would improve an eyesore, generate taxes, etc. etc. - but they were focused on issues like foot traffic, neighborhood impact, etc. -- all valid, but projected perceptions of what the result would be.  The argument is here nor there, but all I could think about during the meeting is that these people are fearful; they are scared of something that isn't real.  In the end, I guess it's a bit sad that people can't get past their personal boxes of thought, and embrace that life is dynamic, constantly moving, and yes, a little scary.  Caution be damned...it's time to get busy.

AI for real

Thanks to Mark Andreessen's blog, I got a heads up on this you tube video that shows a 'modular' robot reassembling itself.  Pretty cool...and little scary, and exciting all at the same time.  I feel really fortunate to be alive in a period in history that has seen as much innovation as the industrial revolution, and then some.  To remember the first personal computers, and then see stuff like this, it's a bit humbling and very inspiring.

So here's to our collective intelligence; If only we could figure out how to beat the common cold and why Michael Hasselhoff is so popular in Germany...

Enjoy the show:

The Perfect Storm

If you've watched any major media outlet, the overbearing news has to do with 1) gas prices 2) unemployment 3) # of home foreclosures -- and usually a nice combination of all three, plus a specifically depressing story about someone experiencing these to disastrous consequences.  The truth is, we are indeed experiencing some historically significant economic conditions that are making it tough for a lot of people to keeping their standard of living in tact; and we're not happy about it.  So the choice faced by all of us, what are you going to do??  As masochistic as it sounds, I get excited...I get excited at possibility, and even the challenge of making things work despite the 'gloom and doom' segment on local news.  And if I catch myself thinking that things are slowing, things are getting bad....I slam an espresso and hop on the net.  Nowhere can you get a quicker snapshot of just how much is happening in the world.  Amazing companies that are designing amazing stuff, ambitious people embarking on ambitious development projects...and some of the acts of compassion and giving that people are engaging in that make you feel humbled and inspired that you get to breath the same air as some of those who give to extraordinary lengths of their time and energy.

Back to the 'our economy sucks' conversation....Another bi-product of tightening wallets are consumer rights and monitoring of corporate policies; both from a stewardship perspective (do the right thing) and from a consumer impact perspective (do the right thing to me).  And a site that captures all of these elements quite nicely is The Consumerist.  This is a watchdog site of sorts that people can post complaints and extraordinarily bad experiences...and the best part is that companies now have 'firemen' that watch these sites and try to address the grievances before they spiral into a PR nightmare.  In addition, the site has some pretty great deals that it highlights, including a restaurant.com deal that equates to a 90% discount on some restaurants.  Consider an opportunity to vent, rant, exact revenge, and save some dollars...all in one place!  Exactly what the doctor ordered as you fill up your tank for $65....

Apple of my eye

For any armchair investors out there, you may or may not know that Apple is releasing its First Quarter earnings today, and investors are watching carefully to see if Apple is as magical an entity as they seem to be.  As one analyst put it, "the worry is not if the numbers will be great...it's if they'll be great enough."  As I watched analysts this morning talk about it, they all admitted they owned a mac.  What?  These are numbers people - people who deal with spreadsheets and analyst reports...why do they want a mac?  I submit (as do they) it's just a better product; period.  And when I think about the wonder of the iphone, the ipod and entire mac line, I for one am really blown away by what an example of 'great' that company is.  From the branding, to the retail experience, to the innovation curve...the list goes on and on and happens over and over.

What's the point, other than showcasing my talent at stating the obvious?  This - How many times are you that great?  How many times do I consistently 'blow away' estimates, or 'crush' expectations.  I speak for myself when I say, not often enough...

at least I can ride on Apple's coat tails by buying their stock...and maybe learn and thing or two in the meantime.

What the F*$@?

Why on God's green earth (btw, did you forget it's earth day?) have we sat idle for so long and not kept up with our duties as diligent bloggers? 

Engagement.

As an entity, it simply hasn't seemed important enough.  If someone said they were going to burn my house down if I didn't blog everyday, you can bet I'd be here with bells on.  And the same is true with about 99% of everyone's dreams and aspirations...we lack the ability to focus on a) what the activity will gain us (or help us avoid) and b) what that benefit is frequently.  Perhaps you've tried a trick of sticking a reminder on your mirror, so it's the first thing you see in the morning; engagement with whatever it is you needed to remember. 

As Earth Day is here to remind us, we need engagement with our planet as well.  How is it so easy to disregard the thousands of things one can do throughout a day to help lighten the burden on our ecosystem?  Engagement; the dire consequences just aren't real enough...that's why Al Gore's film was such a phenomenon; it started to put those consequences in a visual format and in a way that made the consequences more real...and thus more people become engaged in the issue.

So as Mother Earth keeps turning, we have opportunities galore to engage or disengage, in all facets of our lives (and those of others).  From getting 'stuff' done throughout the day to ending global poverty...it all comes down to our focus.

I sincerely strive to engage in all aspects more diligently everyday, and the value of a tool like a blog is that it forces some public accountability to that engagement; there is pressure there that gives you a little more motivation to do some thinking and share it with the world...and we intend to do just that; as best we can.