MOGVL MAG

Steve Jobs: 1955-2011

2011-10-12T16:21:00.001+02:00

October 5, 2011: the world lost a genius.

To me I lost a hero in business.

But then again this reminds us all that life is short, nothing but a story that doesn't last.

We must maximise each day to fulfill our destiny, whatever yours might be.

Each one has one, each one teach one, and to each his own.

REST IN PEACE.

GENIUS.

Polarity leads to a drastic change

2011-09-13T15:24:00.004+02:00

When you look at history, you realise that when there is a huge polarity between a group of people, some catastrophic event tends to happen which tries to put everything in equilibrium. And so it is that when there is a huge imbalance between the poor and the rich, a revolution happens which tries to level the playing field. There are many countries in Africa that are at that precipice, at the tipping point, where it will all come down, drastically. This usually happens when the masses are hungry, tired and constantly beaten down. Eventually they lose all hope with the system, and take to the streets. The signs are there with several African countries, and the leaders are blind to these changes, that are nigh.

Greatness In One Room

2011-09-08T14:53:00.001+02:00

A Long Term Vision Is Key

2011-09-01T14:06:00.002+02:00

New CEO Tim Cook e-mails Apple employees

2011-08-26T10:57:00.001+02:00

New Apple CEO Tim Cook assures Apple staff that nothing will change.

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I've ever made and it's been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve's optimism for Apple's bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve's ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple's unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do.

I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role. All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring. I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is.

Tim

My Hero Resigns: Steve Jobs

2011-08-25T10:06:00.001+02:00

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple''s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple''s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

The Eagle Has Landed

2011-08-08T20:20:00.000+02:00

Exactly 35 years ago on April 1, 1976, Apple Computers was born.

And it is on this day - April 1, 2011 - that the new look MOGVL was launched, after 5 years of sleepless-nights and coffee and true grit. This new simpler version is focused on 3 things (the power of3):

Discussions (what's on your mind?),
the Events Calendar (what events should we check out?)
and HotSpots (where should we hang out?).

This one is for The Bosses where we can break-bread without the noise and spam. In a world of accelerating change, we all need time to reflect. MOGVL is a breathing space in a busy world. It's a place to take time out and consider what's happening and why it matters, with those around you who share similar interests.
We think MOGVL is magical and revolutionary because of its simple, intuitive and focused design.

You will soon get an email with a unique code that gives you access to register and become a member of this exclusive online country club.
We are not aware of any other country club that exists online only. This personal invitation is not transferable.

Talent alone is not enough

2011-07-07T11:23:00.001+02:00

It is in MOGVL’s DNA that Talent alone is not enough. That it is Talent married with Networking, married with true Grit that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing. And nowhere is that more true than in this era of opportunities. And a lot of folks in this era are rushing in blind without a network of support and they are looking at every business opportunity as if it is only hardwork that pays off. Our experience and every bone in our body says that this is not the right approach to business or changing the world. This is the era of opportunities and it needs to be even easier to do business for everyone than in the past. It needs to be even more intuitive than before to do business. That said, Talent and Networking and true Grit need to intertwine in an even more seamless way to deliver business opportunities for everyone. And we think we are on the right track with this. We think we have the right platform not just in the Technology, but in the Organization to deliver business opportunities, and a chance to make a positive impact in our world.

Predicting the Future in 1993 and it all came true ...

2011-06-06T16:07:00.001+02:00

The SECRET Power of Art

2011-06-02T16:17:00.001+02:00

"Songs, drama, pictures, operas, movies, shows, novels etc This is where it all started, how we became conditioned, these are the cultural elements that are now playing out as our lives."

Puppets, every one is under this acculturation.

It makes you realize why art is downplayed, and science, math etc are exalted. If all and sundry were trained to awaken their right-brained then more and more would become problematic as they would see the truth.

Now THIS IS ART

2011-05-25T11:45:00.002+02:00

Scott Weaver's thoughts on working with toothpicks from The Tinkering Studio on Vimeo.

Indus Kush Civilisation

2011-05-22T01:46:00.002+02:00

The Sphinx

2011-05-19T16:20:00.001+02:00

Man Know Thy Self...and thou will know your God.

What are we talking about? Because I ain't got time, for what other people are talking about, all the time.

2011-04-28T19:52:00.003+02:00

GoWhereHipHop Sits Down With Common & Dr. Maya Angelou from Cam Be on Vimeo.

Benni: a 'big fat mistake'

2011-04-18T15:58:00.001+02:00

I have never laughed so much :). The Brits are hilarious!

[[ Johannesburg - Benni McCarthy has been branded a "big fat mistake" by West Ham United vice-chairperson Karren Brady.

The 33-year-old striker departed 14 months after signing with the Hammers from Blackburn Rovers, but he struggled to find the back of the net in his 13 matches for the club.

The former Bafana Bafana forward left Upton Park by mutual consent this week, and Brady, it seems, couldn't wait to get stuck into their former frontman.

"Benni McCarthy was a big fat mistake," she wrote in her Suncolumn.

"West Ham were in desperate haste for a striker to help avoid relegation (again) and we bought him for more than £2million only to have to repent at leisure.

"Rather than the super scorer we hoped for, we acquired a super size, a player devoted to filling his belly more than filling the net.

"As time went by he grew bigger and bigger and although in time he made a great effort to slim down, he'd passed the waistline of no return.

"A total of 14 games [sic], 11 of them as a sub, and no goals, isn't a statistic on which to base confidence in the future.

"So we cut our losses and let him go.

"When he comes to see me to sign the paperwork, he apologises for things not working out and gives me a hug.

"The overall cost to us is more than £5 million but in such circumstances you just have to say 'no hard feelings, not everything in life goes the way you want'.

"It could be worse as across the river Fernando Torres, at £50 million, remains as thin as two yards of pumpwater and has not scored either." ]]

Social Media is Here to Stay

2011-04-06T10:46:00.001+02:00

Talent alone is not enough

2011-04-04T14:09:00.001+02:00

It is in MOGVL's DNA that Talent alone is not enough. That it is Talent married with Networking, married with true Grit that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing. And nowhere is that more true than in this post-BEE era. And a lot of folks in this post-BEE era are rushing in and they are looking at every business opportunity as if it is another Tender. The Tendering and the Work are done by different companies. And they are talking about entitlement and favours just like they did in the BEE era.

Our experience and every bone in our body says that this is not the right approach to business. This is the post-BEE era and it needs to be even easier to do business than in the BEE era. It needs to be even more intuitive than before to do business. That said, Talent and Networking and true Grit need to intertwine in an even more seamless way to deliver business opportunities for everyone. And we think we are on the right track with this. We think we have the right platform not just in the Technology, but in the Organization to deliver business opportunities.

TOUCHDOWN. The Eagle Has Landed.

2011-04-01T16:09:00.001+02:00

Exactly 35 years ago on April 1, 1976, Apple Computers was born.

And it is on this day that the new look MOGVL is being launched, after 5 years of sleepless-nights and coffee and true grit. This new simpler version is focused on 3 things (the power of 3): Discussions (what's on your mind?), the Events Calendar (what events should we check out?) and Hot Spots (where should we hang out?). This one is for The Bosses where we can break-bread without the noise and spam. In a world of accelerating change, we all need time to reflect. MOGVL is a breathing space in a busy world. It's a place to take time out and consider what's happening and why it matters, with those around you who share similar interests. We think MOGVL is magical and revolutionary because of its simple, intuitive and focused design.

You will soon get an email with a unique code that gives you access to register and become a member of this exclusive online country club. We are not aware of any other country club that exists online only. This personal invitation is not transferable.

Success Secret #5: Ritualise practice

2011-03-28T00:42:00.000+02:00

Build specific inviolable times where you are able to tackle difficult tasks and turn this into a ritual.

Success Secret #4: Seek expert feedback intermittently

2011-03-21T00:40:00.002+02:00

Simple and more precise feedback helps great performers with making adjustments to their skills and techniques.

Success Secret #3: Practise intensely

2011-03-14T00:39:00.000+02:00

Practise without interruption for 90 minutes then break. Great performers practise for not more than 4 and a half hours per day.

Ausar & Auset

2011-03-09T11:54:00.001+02:00

The BEGINNING of all of CIVILISATION.

Success Secret #2: Do the hardest work first

2011-03-07T00:36:00.000+02:00

Great performers start with the hardest practice in the mornings first. That's when people have the most energy and the fewest distractions.

The Twins on FB

2011-03-03T10:06:00.001+02:00

Fast Company: Let's consider a world where this controversy with Mark Zuckerberg never happened, and where Facebook never existed. What would your site, HarvardConnection or ConnectU, look like today?

Cameron Winklevoss: The core aspect of the site would not be any different than what Facebook is today. Obviously there's a lot of bells and whistles that have come about because of the evolution of the site. People get caught up in the idea that there were other social networks at the time. There was MySpace and Friendster. The only difference is that it was predicated on this idea of localized networks based on real networks: You only got one .edu email address. There was quality control. There was a level of authenticity that was not seen anywhere else.

I'm saying, specifically, if Facebook had never started, do you assume ConnectU would have millions or hundreds of millions of users instead?

I think it definitely had the potential for as many users as Facebook has today. We always planned to start on the college level and farm it out to other schools. We felt if this works at Harvard, then that was the logical next step. Even if you didn't expand outside college students, just by virtue of people getting older, you're growing the amount of users, because every year, the people that graduate would still be members.

But of course it's a very logical progression to extend upwards and downwards, so I really don't see how it would be any different.

In this parallel universe, where, say, Mark joined as a partner while at Harvard, do you just assume ConnectU would be valued in the billions of dollars now instead, and have 500 million users? Would it just be Facebook, but with a different name?

I don't want to make too much of a conjecture. I do believe the potential for ConnectU was as big as Facebook's, absolutely. I think you would have had to go out of your way and limit yourself for it not to extend to a large audience.

People have this incorrect notion--and it might come from the way The Social Networkdescribes our interaction with Mark initially--it could appear that we really only intended it to be at Harvard. But that's simply not the case. There's a slew of evidence that we intended to expand outward, aside from me just simply saying it.

So, I believe they were identical, and that they would reach the same amount of users.

The Social Net

2011-03-02T23:02:00.001+02:00

To me it's another pump and dump. No way FB and Twitter are even worth that much. Their valuations (and reputations for impacting world events) are based on a user base that you cannot even prove is real. They will make money though, they've pump and dumped stuff before.

On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 8:15 PM, BTN wrote:
After the impact that Twitter had on the riots in the Arab world, JP Morgan decided to splash circa $350M on Twitter. Go figure. They probably didn't want to be outshined by Goldman Sachs with their FB deal.

--

We show people the way

2011-02-28T14:49:00.001+02:00

IT is the duty of those who have become enlightened to lead those who are not.

In fact, this is the established mechanism for the guidance of the whole, a super-structure of control that shows up in many places in life and society. Things are easier to understand if one shifts higher and higher in the hierarchy until all events observed at the lower levels can be coherently explained. The fatal error of user-led anything is it is too low in the hierarchy, the lowest level probably, that's all. | MD.

Success Secret #1: Pursue what you love

2011-02-28T00:35:00.002+02:00

Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, perseverance and resilience.

I Finish Whatever I Begin

2011-02-24T15:33:00.001+02:00

New psychological research suggests that grit -- defined as endurance in pursuit of long-term goals and an ability to persist in the face of adversity -- is a key part of what makes people successful. In a culture that values quick results -- this quarter's numbers, this week's weight loss, this month's click-throughs -- grit can be an underappreciated secret weapon. "Grit may be as essential as talent to high accomplishment," Duckworth wrote, and her research has shown the payoff of grit for audiences ranging from Ivy League undergrads to spelling-bee winners. Grit is not synonymous with hard work. It involves a certain single-mindedness. An ungritty prison inmate will formulate a new plan of escape every month, but a gritty prison inmate will tunnel his way out one spoonful of concrete at a time. Grit is often undervalued in business, because businesspeople like breakthroughs, which are good ideas that you'll have next week. A big goal pursued in small increments. And that slow, inch-by-inch progress? It's called winning. (via Dan & Chip Heath).

Coming Soon

2011-02-23T16:01:00.001+02:00

MOGVL 3.0 | 01.03.11. I will delete people who don't contribute to the growth of the platform - that's the trick. Find/create loyal fans and provide for their needs.

Number One

2011-02-22T13:26:00.000+02:00

I'VE always written music
with the goal of being
Number One.
Jay-Z

Year 2045

2011-02-17T13:54:00.000+02:00

YEAR 2045. Singularity: the moment when machine and mankind become one.

Sandton Residence

2011-02-16T08:52:00.000+02:00

This looks like a University Residence but I bet you a flat costs millions.

What I see. 40 hours per week.

2011-02-15T09:34:00.001+02:00

The inevitable fate of innovative startups in Africa

2011-02-14T00:14:00.001+02:00

LOL - "Without a support system we're all just wanking". I think you've hit the nail on the head. That's it. That system of how to take innovations from idea to market is in the structure that is "Silicon Valley". Perhaps it bears similarity to what "Hollywood" does for movie ideas. Africa doesn't have that support system. Hell if Zuckerberg had been at UCT, Facebook would have been just another "cool idea" that went nowhere. Think about all the potential that is lost because these support systems aren't there. It's a damn shame.

On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 1:56 PM, BT N wrote:
I remember everything my friend and even NJ, very well. You've posed a very good question and one that I appreciate. It is indeed not the lack of ideas BUT the lack of a support system that kills Africa and Africans. One: your friends and family will discourage you Two: the system will not understand what you're doing and thus will try and stop you Three: no understanding of the fact that success is about perseverance in spite of Reason One and Two.

Silicon Valley is an incubator. It knows that the baby needs to be nurtured. The whole system is structured to make it easy for ideas to flourish, and be taken to market. Without such a support system we're all just wanking. In SA to start a company and register it is even expensive for someone like me who is supposed to be a top earner on this country. Imagine then for an African at UCT. So before you can even nurture your idea you've already lost with the system. Environmental Determinism is very important and a lot of people like to play it down. It's no accident that the US/Sillicon Valley shows such innovation.

What makes it worse is that the people on government, in Africa, have no clue about what it takes to make small businesses and startups work. No idea at all. Their brains are MOOSH.

--
Cheers
BT N
MOGVL.COM :: A Private Social Network

Sent from my iPhone

On 13 Feb 2011, at 3:33 PM, Mk D wrote:

> my bachelor's thesis was creating a WAP application for the UCT library, so users could search and browse library books on their mobiles. My professor thought it was a bit lame but I remember remarking that WAP was going to be huge and one would feel stupid if they missed out on its potential. Well WAP died basically, but as we well know, the underlying concept of the mobile "app" did not. The mobile app market is indeed "huge".
> Another friend of ours, NJ, not sure if you remember NJ but he was working on some VoIP "Skype" type project. We all know what other people did with VoIP. So now I'm thinking, what really separates us from the big-shots of the western world, if it's not ideas. Is it money? Or is it the core knowledge of what makes up the structure of success?

What is your purpose?

2011-02-13T00:03:00.006+02:00

If you don't know it, create one. Life without purpose is fruitless.

When things get tough...

2011-02-12T00:45:00.001+02:00

...all it means is that you're doing something worthwhile. Something of immense value. What you need to do is to keep on going, keep on accomplishing the little things that matter. That will eventually win you your goal. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and it wouldn't be of value anymore. Just keep at it.

KEEP PUSHING

2011-02-11T00:50:00.001+02:00

Plant your seeds.

Be great at what you do.

Wear your passion.

Hold your heart in your hands.

And work really hard.

Doors will open.

(via robinsharma)

The best mobile company ever

2011-02-10T00:43:00.000+02:00

Well surprisingly it's apple. Why? Recently steve jobs stated that his company is actually a mobile company. Meaning that it is into providing mobile services and mobile products. That is mind-boggling because this is the very same company that gave us the personal computer. so most people would think of it as a computer company. The way this company has evolved its business model is amazing. it now makes premium cellphones, premium music players, premium computers, and also provides the popular itunes music store. Go figure.

At times you need to follow your gut

2011-02-09T11:11:00.000+02:00

Steve Jobs is irrational about product design. As a result, focus groups make no sense. Who cares what other people think? He has faith in his gut. Your website: is it rationally designed? Should it be? What about the process you use to create new products or ads? Or the way you pick the focus of your startup? There's room for both rational and irrational decision making, and I think we do best when we choose our path in advance (via sethgodin).

Find the reason why you want it so much

2011-02-08T00:40:00.000+02:00

Replace desperate need with passionate desire, and you'll overcome all obstacles and yield great results. (DESIRE!) is the most powerful force behind success. Find The Why?

Genius

2011-02-07T00:38:00.000+02:00

Genius is misunderstood as a bolt of lightning

Genius is the act of solving a problem in a way no one has solved it before. It has nothing to do with winning a Nobel prize in physics or certain levels of schooling. It's about using human insight and initiative to find original solutions that matter.

Genius is actually the eventual public recognition of dozens (or hundreds) of failed attempts at solving a problem. Sometimes we fail in public, often we fail in private, but people who are doing creative work are constantly failing.

When the lizard brain kicks in and the resistance slows you down, the only correct response is to push back again and again and again with one failure after another. Sooner or later, the lizard will get bored and give up (via sethgodin).

Word as image

2011-02-06T00:20:00.002+02:00

(via pleaseenjoy)

Joy

2011-02-05T00:18:00.002+02:00

What is it? A sense of peace, calm & an everlasting smile on your face and heart. It comes from knowing where you come from, where you are and where you are going.

Success Notes

2011-02-04T00:14:00.000+02:00

Success is never about one silver bullet or hitting a home run at the first attempt.

It is almost always about the accrued power of a thousand drips, drips that accrue, drop by drop until they overwhelm all obstacles and break through, starting a flood.

The first drip is very exciting, of course. Everyone lines up to cheer you.

It's the last drip that's lonely. Most of the time, everyone has long left the building, lost interest and moved on to celebrate some other first drip. The penultimate drip gets criticized... are you still working on that?... that's not so great... is that it?... but then, the drip that comes next, the last drip, proves once and for all that you were doing the right thing all along (adapted via sethgodin).

Thank you, Thank you

2011-02-03T00:10:00.000+02:00

These two words can set you straight and make the person who has just helped you feel warm and be willing to help you again. Always say your "thank yous".

The relentless search for "tell me what to do"

2011-02-02T00:40:00.000+02:00

If you've ever hired or managed or taught, you know the feeling.

People are just begging to be told what to do. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I think the biggest one is: "If you tell me what to do, the responsibility for the outcome is yours, not mine. I'm safe."

When asked, resist (via sethgodin).

Exit Through the Gift Shop

2011-02-01T21:04:00.002+02:00

Thierry Guetta, a French filmmaker also known by his street artist name, Mr. Brainwash (he had his own splashy art show in L.A. named Life is Beautiful two years ago) started making a documentary about street art in the 1990s. He shot footage of Space Invader, who puts those pixelated Atari-esque mosaics all over the world. He went on wheatpasting outings with Shepard Fairey to paper cities in Obey Giant posters. And finally Guetta gained access to the great Banksy--who of course doesn't really want to be featured in a documentary. So Banksy turns the cameras on Guetta and makes a movie about him trying to make a movie about street art. What ensues looks to be as dark and unpredictable as one of Banksy's illustrations (via fastcompany).

Sight and Sound

2011-01-31T00:30:00.000+02:00

These are two of the most powerful ways of impressing an image on people. They're so easy for people to remember. Most especially sight. So use these elements to sell an idea. Better yet use them in tandem and you'll have a winning pitch. Remember, you're always selling something. Whether it's your views or ideas or excuses to friends, family or strangers. Use these tools to your best advantage.

Look ahead.

2011-01-30T10:03:00.001+02:00

Your destiny is at your fingertips.
It's within your grasp.
Walk by faith and it'll come true.
Forget the pains of the past but learn from them.
You're your own worst enemy & best friend.
Let go and look ahead.

They call me King Hov

2011-01-29T00:00:00.000+02:00

They call me King Hov, copy?

They call me King Hov, copy, copy, copy?

They call me King Hov, copy?

Big ballin' is my hobby

So much so they think I'm down with the Illuminati

My watch do illuminate

My pockets are naughty

But I'm God body, ya'll better ask somebody

I was born a God

I made myself a king

Which means I downgraded to a human being

You was born a Goddess

I made you my queen

Which means we upgraded to Louis the thirteen

(Hot tottie)Hot Tottie, her body like cognac

Her momma like herb tea

We burned a couple of sacks

And after she sleeped, I creeped all in her tee-pee

We did it Indian style, had the girls speaking

In tongue she like young, you hung, what you done, done

Stop it fore you wake up my momma i might (ahhhh)

Now that you've arrived it's time that I go...

I'm so cold, I'm so cold...

Moving Forward

2011-01-28T00:44:00.001+02:00

I'll never make a move unless I've got a plan B (shawn carter).

5 Ps Of High Performance

2011-01-27T00:52:00.001+02:00

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

the new ''world-class businessman'' plays in the intersection

2010-10-09T00:47:00.000+02:00

an intersection of strategy, finance and technology.
(a) strategy: where & how to compete to create a durable competitive advantage for the firm.
(b) finance: optimisation of capital allocation to create shareholder value.
(c) technology: application of computers to meet the firm's commercial objectives.

Work Smart: How to Write a To-Do List

2010-10-08T00:48:00.000+02:00

A to-do list is a fundamental tool for getting things done: it helps you plan your day, see what you've accomplished, and what you should work on next. But a badly-written to-do list can actually sabotage your productivity instead of boost it.

The best part of using a to-do list is crossing items off of it as done, finished, complete. Some tasks are easier to tick off as done than others, so you want to make your to-do list as doable as possible. A common mistake is assigning ourselves impossible tasks that never get done because we didn't think them through. If you put in some thought up front, you can pare down your to-do list to the tasks you're most likely to check off the list.

First, know the difference between a project, goal, and a task. A project is a big undertaking that involves several tasks. A goal is something you want to achieve through both tasks and repetitive actions. "Clean out the garage," "Save $5,000," "Learn how to speak French"--these are projects and goals, and they don't belong on your to-do list. They'd just sit there and haunt you, because it wouldn't be clear where to start. Reserve your to-do list for the next steps that move a project along. Your goal to "Save $5,000" is going to start with a simple task, like setting up a monthly savings transfer.

Second, break down your to-do's into small, manageable bites. Don't put "Write 50 page report" on your to-do list. Try something smaller, like "Jot down 5 main ideas for the report." Use specific action verbs. Instead of writing "Ask Susan about her French class," opt for "Email Susan" or "Call Susan." That makes it easier for you to see what tasks you can do in certain situations. If you're at your computer, you can quickly send an email; if you're in the waiting room at the dentist, you can make a call on your cell phone. Give yourself enough information to get the task done wherever you are.

Finally, purge your list of the stuff that's not moving. Your to-do list should be a fluid document, changing every single day. Still, we all have items that have stuck around on our lists for weeks, months, or even years. Every once in a while, audit the oldest stuff on your list, and think about why you've put it off so long. Can you break it down into a smaller, less procrastination-worthy tasks? Is it something you need to do at all? Try to recognize your block around the task and clear it away.

The most popular tool for keeping track of your to-do list is plain old pen and paper, but some computer-based tools are fantastic, too. RememberTheMilk.com is a Web-based to-do list you can access from work, home, or from your smartphone. Things is an iPhone app that lets you work with your to-do's on the go. If most of your tasks come in through email, try Gmail or Outlook's built-in Task lists.

Whatever to-do list tool you do decide to use, remember to keep the tasks you put on it small, manageable, and specific to increase their chances of getting done (via fastcompany.com).

Let's design an algorithm

2010-10-07T20:00:00.000+02:00

Daybreakers

2010-10-05T00:24:00.000+02:00

What happens when vampires take over the world, and humans become second-class citizens, and get hunted down to be farmed for blood?

I want to be acquired by Mark Zuckerberg

2010-10-04T00:02:00.000+02:00

I just spent a couple of days in San Francisco, the land of the nine-digit idea.

Every town has its prevailing topic of conversation. In Los Angeles, it’s Julia and Tom and Ari and who’s in turnaround and who just dumped their agency to go with another agency another guy just dumped. In New York, it’s hedges and wedges and bonuses and who just got that six-acre estate in Connecticut, or lost it, who’s acquiring what and which and who.

In Miami, it’s corned beef or cocaine, depending on your demographic. And in San Francisco, it’s all about the guy who just turned 30 and received $300,000,000 for his little company that didn’t do anything all that different from any other company except that it made Google (GOOG) or Facebook nervous, so they had to buy it to sleep at night.

It’s never eight digits. Nobody ever sold their start-up, which provides hosting for micro-packages that skim information for dweezles, for $10,000,000, or even $99,000,000. It’s always more than $100,000,000. Nobody works for chump change. Several older guys, who are now in their, like, mid-30s, have turned around two or three start-ups, monetizing each one for nine digits, and are now once again hard at work in a strip mall above a Starbucks (SBUX), honking away with a couple of engineers at a social network that will hopfrog over Facebook and integrate user experiences into a interface that will fuse their brains to the digital ecosphere.

I don’t mind telling you it all made me kind of jealous. I’ve been working at a pretty big job for quite some time, and according to my calculations I would have to work for another 1,816 years to approach a nine-digit payday, and after taxes it would certainly come out to only eight digits, or if Mr. Obama has his way, only seven.

Worse, the lifestyle out in the San Jose-Mountain View-Redwood City-San Francisco-East Bay axis is almost insultingly humane. People wander in at 10. Everybody dresses like their mommies just put their outfits together for their first day of Kindergarten. Healthy food and beverages are supplied in big, shiny refrigerators. Nobody seems to be yelling. At dinner, I heard a story about a boss that did yell and throw chairs around, but he’s out of the business now, having monetized his start-up for, that’s right, nine digits. He’s old now. Over 40, think.

I figure my only chance to hit this vein of California gold, is to execute a three part strategy:

1. Spend more time in San Francisco, getting to know people there and taking a lot of meetings;

2. Invent a bunch of applets for the Apple IMachines — IPods, IPads, IPhones, or conversely, some kind of user experience that in some way piggybacks on Facebook, annoying Mark Zuckerberg to the point where he feels he has to pay me to go away, acquiring my little start-up and subsuming it into his huge corporate body the way an antibody eats a microbe;

3. Get to know as many venture capitalists as I can, and learn the way they talk. I learned several new terms hanging around with them yesterday, but I’m not going to share them with you, because knowledge it power and you could certainly be thinking about this kind of stuff right now instead of wasting your time worrying about sales, customers and daily operations.

The business of America is not business. It’s monetizing vaporous start-ups that involve mystical social networking. As of right now, I’m getting with the program. Time is money (via fortune & stanleybing).

If the president switched races: black or white

2010-10-03T00:51:00.000+02:00

This visually jarring poster of the presidential running mates unleashed online five days before the 2008 election went viral with 37 million views, and zero media dollars spent (via fastcompany).

Customer complaint to BMW

2010-09-30T00:02:00.000+02:00

Every time drivers drive this car, they run out of road.

how to feed the world?

2010-09-27T00:33:00.000+02:00

source.

It takes time to create an award winning wine

2010-09-26T00:21:00.000+02:00

The best thing to say to an artist of any kind might be, "someday, people will think what you did is really important."

If it's popular with everyone right away, it might not be art, it might just be good marketing. But if it earns attention and respect over time, if it wins over the skeptical, then you've really created something (via sethgodin).

word as image

2010-09-25T10:38:00.000+02:00

(via pleaseenjoy)

Joy

2010-09-24T00:31:00.000+02:00

what is it? a sense of peace, calm & an everlasting smile on your face and heart. it comes from knowing where you come from, where you are and where you are going.

How Adam Carolla Became a Podcast Superstar

2010-09-23T00:46:00.000+02:00

Radio-and-TV personality Adam Carolla stumbled into podcasting and immediately became its No. 1 star. Now he's launching his own broadcasting network. Inside the messy birth of a new medium.

In just over a year, Carolla, 45, has used this same improvisational approach to lift podcasting from the realm of amateur audio and video blogging to an increasingly professional medium with real revenue potential. His daily talk show was an immediate hit -- more than 50 million downloads in its first year -- and was named iTunes's best audio podcast of 2009.

By aggregating a devoted audience and then experimenting with new ways of interacting with it, Carolla is both taking advantage of an opportunity and creating one. Analysts at eMarketer predict that U.S. podcast listenership will approach 38 million by 2013, more than double 2008's audience. Meanwhile, traditional media has mostly used podcasting to repurpose preexisting TV and radio content -- the same mistake newspapers and magazines made with the Web, opening the door to outsiders.

With the first launch of his podcast, Carolla quickly found himself dangling from a very expensive hoist, with no plan in sight. "We thought it would be easy and cheap," he says. A couple of mics, a mixer, and bandwidth fees -- he figured the whole thing would cost $300 to $400 a month. "Within weeks, we were melting down the servers," Misraje recalls. As downloads kept rising to more than a million a week, Carolla was spending $3,000 and then $5,000 and then more than $13,000 a month on technology to host the show, which was staffed entirely by volunteer help and course-credit interns. "By September, we needed to look for advertisers," says Misraje, now Carolla's executive producer. A bit of fancy dancing was in order "to get around Adam's noncompete clause" with CBS. CarCast, a weekly show devoted to Carolla's love of cars -- sufficiently different from Carolla's signature chat fest -- was born.

As their audience grows -- Carolla now has 2.8 million listeners a month -- he and his team have been testing a variety of ad formats. (CarCast's audience is easier to define; Ford signed on as an advertiser last October, and he recently added a major auto magazine.) DiggersList, an online construction-classifieds site, is building out a larger facility for Carolla's headquarters, a $100,000 value, in exchange for a physical banner ad, signage on the studio wall. "So could we get you to read an ad for FAST COMPANY for $100,000?" I ask. "Oh, you can get a lot more than that for that price," laughs Carolla. He studies me. "But that's only because you're a friend now."

Later, I ask Misraje if he thinks podcasting is truly ready for its close-up. "The technology and infrastructure isn't there," he says. "The Internet is like TV in the '40s and '50s." The laid-back Misraje wants to be the future of podcasting but pegs their efforts as being perhaps two years too early. "We're going to live-stream shows, like a TV network, rent space to talent, and develop others," he says, sounding as if they're wandering toward a digital Texaco Star Theater. "We're growing revenue and listeners every month, but we're still a bit in the red."

The key, Carolla says, is having a focused audience. "What we're going to do is have a smaller, more educated, loyal group," he tells me. (Or, as he put it during his state-of-radio rant, "I'd rather have 10 smart people than a billion retards listening to me.") . But Carolla seems all-in. "I would have a hard time calling myself a pioneer, sitting around talking while Donny records it and puts it on the Internet," he tells me on the ride back to his house. But the outsidery angst that his fans adore is part of the equation. It's tough to be first. "Think of all those guys who played for the NFL in the '40s and '50s," he says, looming perilously close to a rant. "They made $7,000 a year and had to work at car dealerships in the off-season," he says, pulling into his driveway. "Maybe we'll spend a bunch of money and time, and 20 years later... ." He pauses, does the math. "Ashton Kutcher will get rich off what we thought of. I don't know." (via fastcompany).

knowledge is all around you, seek it

2010-09-22T00:01:00.000+02:00

knowledge can only be passed on.
nothing is ever original in this world.
everything has been done already.
we're in the knowledge-recycling business.
we just don't know it yet.

home-cooked meal vs. take-away meal

2010-09-21T00:07:00.000+02:00

sometimes you don't feel like having a home-cooked meal, you just feel like having a take-away. though you know that a take-away is not healthy nor good for you but you just want to have it. and you know that it is a temporary fix and won't replace your home-cooked meal. but you just want to have it. life is just like that, full of home-cooked meals and take-away meals, you choose. however, make sure you know the difference, because each one serves a different purpose.

be specific in your goals

2010-09-20T00:39:00.000+02:00

Some is not a number and soon is not a time.

hustle forward

2010-09-19T00:35:00.000+02:00

you're hustling backwards if you're pursuing money, pursue your dreams they come with money.

word as image

2010-09-18T00:42:00.000+02:00

(via pleaseenjoy)

Soundtrack: sentiments to your ex

2010-09-17T00:11:00.002+02:00

Do something different

2010-09-16T00:06:00.000+02:00

Spend a Bit of "Surprise Time" with People Special To You

In the next two weeks, why not do something fun(ny) and unexpected with those you care about? If you have children who are still at home or easy to reach, consider getting silly - just for the fun of it!

It doesn't matter what you do - build a Lego castle, go bowling or roller skating just for fun. Have a paper airplane contest (look up great designs on the internet) or make snow angels. Bake cookies in silly shapes...or if your children are adults, go to a museum or concert together, have a picnic, rent a canoe...

Or, find a special friend with whom you can do something different and fun and "forget" for a day that you are both too busy.

The time you spend connecting with people who are special in your life can light up your winter days (via halliwell).

what is the basic instinct?

2010-09-15T00:01:00.000+02:00

amygdala: a section of the brain that is involved in the production and response to non-verbal signs of emotions such as passion, anger, avoidance, defensiveness and fear. the amygdala is also responsible for DESIRE, which is, i believe, the most basic of human instincts.

Getting organised in the Google era

2010-09-14T00:29:00.000+02:00

There are some simple ways to help our memory deal with the chaos and frustration created by dozens of tasks vying for our attention.

One is to streamline. On Monday morning, for instance, combine reading over financial statementys with back-to-back meetings on financially related matters.

Tuesday afternoon, focus on two projects that involve the same technology or client. The less frequently you have to unload all the detail regarding a specific business problem from your mind and reload a different data set, the better (via financial times).

marketers are liars?

2010-09-13T00:07:00.000+02:00

We've seen and heard this commercial a thousand times, the one with the flawless model posing in an ad for facial-blemish cream... an extremely powerful cleaner that removes every trace of dirt in one effortless wipe... the picture-perfect baby modeling the 100% waterproof diaper. In these scenarios, there's not even a hint of a single red spot, a stubborn stain, or a bedraggled mother. This is the story of the past 50 years of commercials, and they all have one thing in common: perfect brands in perfect environments. But there is a strong case to be made for imperfection. Nothing is ever perfect, and even when it appears to be so, we are subconsciously looking for the flaw. Because our point of connection lies in imperfection--it's what makes something unique and, ultimately, authentic. Since perfection can now be had at the stroke of a digital brush, and the food we eat can be manipulated to look brighter and fresher, rounder, and yes, perfect, we have an increasing need to know what's real (via fastcompany).

Don't Solve Problems - Copy Success

2010-09-12T00:20:00.000+02:00

When we analyze a big, complicated problem -- like malnutrition in Vietnam, or a married couple nearing divorce, or a business on the verge of bankruptcy -- we seek a solution that befits the scale of the problem. If the problem is a round hole with a 24-inch diameter, our brains will go looking for a 24-inch peg to fill it. So, naturally, the experts on malnutrition in Vietnam wanted to talk about poverty and education and sanitation systems.

Our focus, in times of change, goes instinctively to the problems at hand. What's broken and how do we fix it? This troubleshooting mind-set serves us well -- most of the time. If you run a nuclear power plant and your diagnostics turn up a disturbing signal once per month, you should most certainly obsess about it and fix the problem. And if your child brings home a report card with five As and one F, it makes sense to freak out about the F.

But in times of change, this mind-set will backfire. If we need to make major changes, then (by definition) we don't have a near-spotless report card. A lot of things are probably wrong. The "report card" for our diet, or our marriage, or our business, is full of Cs and Ds and Fs. So if you ask yourself, What's broken and how do I fix it?, you'll simply spin your wheels. You'll spend a lot of time agonizing over issues that are True But Useless (TBU).

When it's time to change, we must look for bright spots -- the first signs that things are working, the first precious As and Bs on our report card. We need to ask ourselves a question that sounds simple but is, in fact, deeply unnatural: What's working and how can we do more of it? Search for the bright-spots and copy what they do.

But knowing the solution isn't enough. For anything to change, you need to adopt the new working habits. Knowledge does not change behavior. We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors. You have to practice it. You have to act differently until the different started to feel normal. You have to act yourself into a new way of thinking by actually doing the new way. Most important, it must become your change, something that arises from the local wisdom of your situation. In tough times, we'll see problems everywhere, and "analysis paralysis" will often kick in. That's why, to make progress on a change, we need to provide crystal-clear direction -- show people where to go, how to act, what destination to pursue. And that's why bright spots are so essential: They provide the road map.

You may not be fighting malnutrition or going through emotional turmoil, but if you're trying to change things, there are going to be bright spots in your field of view. And if you learn to identify and understand them, you will solve one of the fundamental mysteries of change: What, exactly, needs to be done differently? Remember, to look for bright spots. Anytime you have a bright spot, your mission is to clone it. Our rational brain has a "problem focus" when it needs a "solution focus". But what we need to know is this: Even in failure there is success. These flashes of success, even in failure, these bright spots, can provide our road map for action - and the hope that change is possible (via fastcompany).

Louis Vuitton's Concept Handbag & Glasses

2010-09-11T00:29:00.000+02:00

These concept designs for Louis Vuitton, created by Dzmitry Samal, are both hypercool and hypermodern, and "inspired by architecture.

''google me'' business card

2010-09-10T00:48:00.000+02:00

(via pleaseenjoy)

the dreamer

2010-09-08T00:17:00.000+02:00

it takes one floor at a time.

the big picture

2010-09-07T00:11:00.000+02:00

everybody keeps on telling us to focus on the big picture, well where is it and what is it? well i went searching for it and this is what i found.

what is the question of your life?

2010-09-06T00:22:00.000+02:00

we're always looking for answers, maybe we should start looking for questions, especially thee question.

generate action platforms to move forward

2010-09-05T00:50:00.000+02:00

this is an experiment. are you game?
we'd love you to help us make it work.
we want to tap the single largest pool of untapped natural resource in the world: human good intentions that never translate into action.
we need adventurers like you to generate actionplatforms and microactions, and then invite people to microact.
go to if we ran the world.

focus on getting things done

2010-09-04T00:00:00.000+02:00

Don't
Complain.
Don't
Explain.
Just
Get
It
Done.

3D Chessboard

2010-09-03T00:31:00.000+02:00

The three-dimensional chess board adds an extra dimension of physicality to the game's battle field (via pleaseenjoy.com).

form a bond with your customers

2010-09-02T00:27:00.000+02:00

a personal bond with customers will let your company escape the commodity pricing wars and provide you with an additional powerful marketing arm: loyal customers who will promote and defend your company online and offline, for free. so focus on the process of building customer loyalty in a big way. (micahsolomon).

Invent a holiday

2010-09-01T00:43:00.000+02:00

Find an emotion that needs social approval in order to be easily expressed.

Hook it into something you sell or do.

Discover other organizations that would benefit from the holiday as much as you would.

Voila! Mother's Day/Valentine's Day/Festivus/New Year's. It doesn't have to be a national one, of course, just one for your tribe.

All the great religious holidays started as secular or pagan holidays first, because they filled an essential social need. Spring is here! It's dark out!

And if your project/product/cause isn't worthy of a holiday? Time to find a new one (via sethgodin).

Roc Boys

2010-08-31T00:01:00.000+02:00

Oh what a feeling, I'm feeling life.
You don't even have to bring your purses out,
We're the dope boys of the year.
Drinks are on the house.

Soul Groups

2010-08-30T19:04:00.000+02:00

Do you feel that there is a group of souls on the planet, that you are supposed to meet, and do some spiritual work with?

The group could be you, and one other person, or several people, who are all on your frequency. You sense each other's presence. They may be other aspects of your soul wanting to come together.

The Internet has been instrumental in bringing soul groups together.

But this feeling goes beyond the Internet. It is a feeling in your soul, you sense these people, often living in areas not near your home.

The people who share our journeys vary as we learn and move on.

If you feel that is time to meet them, and they too are in readiness, synchronicities will reunite you. You must feel this tugging in your soul.

Many people want to have metaphysical adventures, but they have no free time - work, school, family, or other obligations fill up their time. When you are ready, you will make time, and it will be amazing. You need amazing in your life.

There is nothing more fun than meeting someone on the same path....you speak the same language...often the written word is not needed. You realize that you are going through something together that will make you more aware when you are finished...like taking a voyage.

If you sense these souls....just relax your mind and body...clear your thoughts....see yourself as a beacon of light....send out a message...they will hear you.

They may come in to help with healing and clearing, or for something beyond.

You will recognize each other and move forward.

You never know who may show up (via crystallinks.com).

I'm focused man

2010-08-29T00:14:00.000+02:00

“This is the most focused company I know of, am aware of, or have any knowledge of... We say no to good ideas every day.” Cook then pointed out to analysts that every single product the company makes would fit on the single conference table in front of him. “And we had revenue last year of $40 billion." - tim cook, apple.

Be Bold

2010-08-28T00:03:00.000+02:00

There is no guarantee of success. But there is a guarantee of failure when you don't even try (RT @ralphmarston).

Best Of Twitter

2010-08-27T00:29:00.000+02:00

Whatever you can imagine, you are worthy of reaching.

Right now, as the result of what u are doing, u are going somewhere. Choose to make it somewhere you truly want to be.

Work & prepare as if the ideal opportunity is headed your way. Because when u do, it is.

Look for opportunities to say yes, rather than excuses to say no.

To improve your results, first improve your expectations.

Success Stories: Herman Mashaba

2010-08-26T00:29:00.000+02:00

Herman’s academic dream was shattered in 1980 in his second year of a B.Admin. at the University of The North when the University was shut down due to political unrests. When the University was reopened after two months, he decided not to go back. Strong promises to send him out of the country for military training.

Late 1980 found himself a clerical job with Spar Pretoria where he worked for 7 months. Then worked 23 months for Motani Industries, which became his longest and last salaried job. During his spell at Motani, managed to buy a car, and two months later resigned and started his business career.

Sold different products on a commission basis from the boot of his car for close to two years. Products portfolio ranging from insurance, fire detection systems, linen, crockery, dinner services, etc. His break came late 1983 when he was exposed and sold hair products on a commission basis for one of the companies in Johannesburg. It took him 19 months to make up his mind to start his own hair care manufacturing business.

February 1985 the first bottle of Black Like Me products hit the South African market. Business started with three other partners and wife with a R30 000 loan, in a 200sm SBDC units in Ga-Rankuwa, in the then homeland of Bophuthatswana. Business enjoyed massive growth from inception. Built and moved to own factory in Mabopane by 1990. Mabopane factory was gutted by arsonist in November 1993.

- July 1997 sold business to Colgate Palmolive
- August 1999 bought business back from Colgate Palmolive
- 2001 launch products in London, UK
- 2002 took a decision to join the BEE arena. Formed Leswikeng Minerals & Energy (Pty) Ltd
- January 2004 resigned as CEO of Black Like Me. Still remained as major shareholder
- 2004 elected as Chairman by the Cosmetic Industry in S.A. to guide the process to develop Black Economic Empowerment Initiatives
- To-date has invested in various sectors; mining, construction, exhibitions, real estate, security, aviation and information technology
- 2005 sold 49.9% of Black Like Me to Amka Products

Create, build & expand a financial institution to serve the masses

2010-08-25T00:21:00.000+02:00

What would it take to build a modern financial institution to serve the masses?

1. The institution would have to be low cost and affordable
2. It would have to address the true and authentic needs of the masses
3. It would have to somehow use and integrate cellphone technology as the cornerstone of its offerings
4. It would have to copy a solution that is already being used by the masses to access credit among each other
5. It would have to be well-funded and its strategy be long-term in nature

Expanding In Space: Marina Abramovic

2010-08-24T00:59:00.001+02:00

The Knights Templar

2010-08-23T00:45:00.000+02:00

The Knights Templar were the elite fighting force of their day, highly trained, well-equipped and highly motivated; one of the tenets of their religious order was that they were forbidden from retreating in battle. Not all Knights Templar were warriors. The mission of most of the members was one of support - to acquire resources which could be used to fund and equip the small percentage of members who were fighting on the front lines. Because of this infrastructure, the warriors were well-trained and very well-armed. Even their horses were trained to fight in combat, kicking or biting the enemies. The combination of soldier and monk was also a powerful one, as to the Templar knights, martyrdom in battle was one of the most glorious ways to die. Their code required them to stay on in battle almost to the point of recklessness, and they were forbidden to retreat unless outnumbered by 3-to-1, and even then only by order of their commander, or if the Templar flag went down.

The Templars were also shrewd tacticians, following the dream of Saint Bernard who had declared that a small force, under the right conditions, could defeat a much larger enemy. One of the key battles in which this was demonstrated was in 1177, at the Battle of Montgisard. The famous Muslim military leader Saladin was attempting to push toward Jerusalem from the south, with a force of 26,000 soldiers. He had pinned the forces of Jerusalem's King Baldwin IV, about 500 knights and their supporters, near the coast, at Ascalon. Eighty Templar knights and their own entourage attempted to reinforce. They met Saladin's troops at Gaza, but were considered too small a force to be worth fighting, so Saladin turned his back on them and headed with his army towards Jerusalem.

Once Saladin and his army had moved on, the Templars were able to join King Baldwin's forces, and together they proceeded north along the coast. Saladin had made a key mistake at that point -- instead of keeping his forces together, he permitted his army to temporarily spread out and pillage various villages on their way to Jerusalem. The Templars took advantage of this low state of readiness to launch a surprise ambush directly against Saladin and his bodyguard, at Montgisard near Ramla. Saladin's army was spread too thin to adequately defend themselves, and he and his forces were forced to fight a losing battle as they retreated back to the south, ending up with only a tenth of their original number. The battle was not the final one with Saladin, but it bought a year of peace for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the victory became a heroic legend.

Another key tactic of the Templars was that of the "squadron charge". A small group of knights and their heavily-armed warhorses would gather into a tight unit which would gallop full speed at the enemy lines, with a determination and force of will that made it clear that they would rather commit suicide than fall back. This terrifying onslaught would frequently have the desired result of breaking a hole in the enemy lines, thereby giving the other Crusader forces an advantage. The Templars, though relatively small in number, routinely joined other armies in key battles. They would be the force that would ram through the enemy's front lines at the beginning of a battle, or the fighters that would protect the army from the rear. They fought alongside King Louis VII of France, and King Richard I of England. In addition to battles in Palestine, members of the Order also fought in the Spanish and Portuguese Reconquista.

Though initially an Order of poor monks, the official papal sanction made the Knights Templar a charity across Europe. Further resources came in when members joined the Order, as they had to take oaths of poverty, and therefore often donated large amounts of their original cash or property to the Order. Additional revenue came from business dealings. Since the monks themselves were sworn to poverty, but had the strength of a large and trusted international infrastructure behind them, nobles would occasionally use them as a kind of bank or power of attorney. If a noble wished to join the Crusades, this might entail an absence of years from their home. So some nobles would place all of their wealth and businesses under the control of Templars, to safeguard it for them until their return. The Order's financial power became substantial, and the majority of the Order's infrastructure was devoted not to combat, but to economic pursuits.

The Knights' involvement in banking grew over time into a new basis for money, as Templars became increasingly involved in banking activities. One indication of their powerful political connections is that the Templars' involvement in usury did not lead to more controversy within the Order and the church at large. Officially the idea of lending money in return for interest was forbidden by the church, but the Order sidestepped this with clever loopholes, such as a stipulation that the Templars retained the rights to the production of mortgaged property. Or as one Templar researcher put it, "Since they weren't allowed to charge interest, they charged rent instead."

The Templars' political connections and awareness of the essentially urban and commercial nature of the Outremer communities naturally led the Order to a position of significant power, both in Europe and the Holy Land. They owned large tracts of land both in Europe and the Middle East, built churches and castles, bought farms and vineyards, were involved in manufacturing and import/export, had their own fleet of ships, and for a time even owned the entire island of Cyprus. The Knights Templar were truly part of the fabric of everyday society in Europe for nearly 200 years (via wikipedia).

The Ultimate MOGVL

2010-08-22T00:26:00.000+02:00

Find a calling and then deliver consistently

2010-08-21T00:01:00.000+02:00

Walk towards a destination.
Take small steps.
Make sure each step is carefully considered.
Repeat often.
And be consistent, don't falter.

Best Of Twitter

2010-08-20T00:28:00.000+02:00

It's okay to ask the dumb questions, especially when nobody knows the answers.

Making the best choice is a great start. Yet it is only a start. The value of any choice comes from following it through.

It's easy & pleasant to sit back & watch the world. It's even better -- much, much better -- to jump in and participate.

Be willing to do the small things, and you'll be making the big things happen.

When you truly appreciate the creative work of others, your own creativity grows stronger.

Success Stories: Natalie Massenet

2010-08-19T00:26:00.001+02:00

Natalie Massenet, Founder of Net-a-Porter

When you can launch an online clothes store just before the first Internet bubble bursts and, a decade later, walk away with $76 million, a place on the board as executive chairman, your middle name has got to be Gumption. Former fashion journalist Natalie Massenet, who yesterday flogged Net-a-Porter to luxury goods group Richemont, the highest-profile e-tailer in the world, is far too chic for that, however. With the company now valued at $534 million the Boo.com founders must be looking enviously at her and wondering how she did it.

The 44-year-old Anglo-American started working out of a tiny artist's studio in London's Chelsea--the stylish person's equivalent to a garage start-up--and focused her energies on providing great clothes for time-poor women. "I was looking to buy some Chloe jeans and I logged onto the Internet and looked for something like Net-A-Porter and blindly assumed it existed because of how brilliantly companies like Amazon were revolutionizing service," she said, describing the Eureka moment as realizing that luxury clothes should be delivered directly to the wearer's door, beautifully packaged in tissue paper and ribbon.

Ten years on, the site gets between 2.5 and 3 million visitors a month. Two years ago, its average customer earned $330,000 per annum, and in 2008, one customer spent $100,000 in a single transaction. Net-a-Porter has now been joined by The Outnet.com, is a cheaper version of its sister site, offering high fashion from the previous season at low prices. Massenet will, apparently, plow $23 million back into the site which, next month, will be the first place to stock the J.Crew line outside of North America. This is how she did it.

An impeccable sense of the zeitgeist--her first idea was coffee shops: "I was told there was no money in it. It was before the whole Starbucks thing." Expensive candles followed. "I took samples to several designer stores in L.A., but they all said that nobody would pay more than a dollar for a candle."

Disregard your doubters: "There were a lot of unimaginative private-equity people who said that women would never shop online. I think about those people a lot. I'm sure their wives are having Net-a-Porter bags delivered to their homes every day."

Believe in your product: "I was completely confident. I never thought it wouldn't work. I never once thought it wouldn't be huge."

Believe in yourself: "My dad taught me never to be afraid of what's on the other side of the mountain."

Innovate: "If we come up with an idea and someone says it's never been done before, that's when we get going."

Service, Service, Service: "We owe it to our consumer to offer her various options for how she wants to shop, we shouldn't impose rules on her.

Know your market: "Even without an economic downturn, women sometimes want to keep their shopping habits to themselves. Don't forget we have moved the store to our customers' desks and many women shop at work--which, by the way, doesn't mean they are not being effective at work, hello multi-tasking and hello no more lunch breaks--but this does mean they are not necessarily broadcasting their spending habits either."

Hire talent: "I've always had the creative and fashion role, and I've always surrounded myself with good business and financial people. There has been a misconception that it was just me at my kitchen table."

See the future: "Look at the way 11-year-olds are living their day-to-day lives already. More things will take place virtually. They won't be meeting in public. They won't be going to stores. We haven't even begun to see just how many transactions are going to take place online. I attend Internet conferences all the time and they literally make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up." (via fastcompany).

Financial Models

2010-08-18T00:22:00.000+02:00

Most of the complex data that we see around us can be simplified to fit into simple models. These models are long-term, predictive, simple and can help us make useful decisions. As simplistic as this may sound, this is very significant. Imagine you want to save a million rands, this is actually achievable, if you follow a simple model, and you're disciplined enough to stick to it.

In the financial sense, the most useful model of getting rich is the one that revolves around setting aside 10% of all gross income that you make in a year. If you take this amount, say from the age of 13 years, and deposit it in a bank account that earns you at least more than 10% per annum, the resulting balance, if you do this every year, is staggering. Assuming you can do this for 27 years, up until you turn 40 years old, you get a large balance. A balance that's large enough to allow you to retire handsomely.

The point is with simple enough models you can model any financial goal (or problem) and achieve it (or solve it).

The Box

2010-08-17T00:03:00.001+02:00