A lovely video from GE talking about the importance of giving ideas the understanding and love that they need to grow and produce amazing things. This is a tribute to those of us who face the ridicule, laughter and disdain as we try and bring new ideas to market. It gets ugly. It gets messy. … Continue reading Ideas need nurturing, even when they are ugly @ge #innovation
At last, technology gets useful: NASA emails spanner to space station
LIving in Silicon Valley you get inundated with announcements by sites like Crunchbase, AngelList of another technology company that is launching a product or service which seems pointless. Perhaps that is harsh, but let's say that the business benefits of these companies are slightly difficult to grasp. Not that it seems to stop investors! However, 3D … Continue reading At last, technology gets useful: NASA emails spanner to space station
The future is already here – let’s appreciate it: @robinince
Today's technology challenge: I bought something and I hope I can get home before it is obsolete. Comedian, Robin Ince reflects on why we should spend more time appreciating what we have rather than wanting more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ooLfb22t8#t=298
10 reasons why the COO hates Christmas
Just recently Q9 wrote a suitably dour article on why the CIO hates Christmas – Bah humbug. It all hinges around BYOD and the power of the consumer as an employee. So in the cheery spirit of Christmas, I thought I’d turn my attention to the COO or Operations Director. The one who keeps the wheels turning, no … Continue reading 10 reasons why the COO hates Christmas
Disruption hits the entire value chain; blood on the streets
Digital disruption Cloud, social, mobile and big data are enabling new entrants in virtually every industry to disrupt the incumbents. "Being Ubered" was the popular term, but based on Uber's recent behaviour, "being Ubered" is starting to mean something entirely different!! Gartner has called it the Nexus of Forces. Forrester calls it Digital Disruption. IDC … Continue reading Disruption hits the entire value chain; blood on the streets
Great advice. Take the best advice.
The late and great Douglas Adams, author of the The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide said: “The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” Our world seems to be too full of analysts and consultants offering advice based on theory and supposition, rather than hard won experience. … Continue reading Great advice. Take the best advice.
Clever videos drive viral growth @honda : 5m views @okgo : 23m views
Honda have produced a fantastic video riffing off the line "the impossible made possible". Great thought and effort went into this one, but also very clever. and it is getting results. 5.5 million views to date. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UelJZG_bF98 Equally clever, from a different perspective (sic) here is the group OK Go who are famous for their videos, … Continue reading Clever videos drive viral growth @honda : 5m views @okgo : 23m views
Tattoo decisions – and science tattoos
READ TIME: 2 mins Tattoo decisions. We don't make many of them in life of business. But when we do make them we need to make sure that they are right. Because any reversing the changes are very painful. Here is a very funny spoof advert for Turlingtons Tattoo Removal Cream. In business there are … Continue reading Tattoo decisions – and science tattoos
Pivot before the cash runs out *updated*
READ TIME: 2 mins HINT: Pivoting is not a business strategy, but a tactic. HINT: Constantly pivoting is called a "death spiral" Pivot is not a business strategy Nowadays the trendy way to mask a failure is to successfully pivot – before the cash runs out – and then become successful. But for every one … Continue reading Pivot before the cash runs out *updated*
The vital signs for B2B tech company failure
Image: TechCocktail What is failure: the vital signs What are the vital signs that an innovative B2B tech company may be in trouble? A deeper problem may be covered up by glimpses of success. Narrowly missing your quarterly sales target, but with big deals forecast for the end of the year does not seem to be a … Continue reading The vital signs for B2B tech company failure
Hiring a booth babe is SO, SO wrong, or not.
Companies still do it. They hire “booth babes” to work the stand, attract punters and scan badges. They are paid per scan. Yes it is still that shallow. Here are 3 reasons why this is a bad idea, and 1 reason probably it isn’t. NO: Qualified leads, not any lead Every time you scan someone … Continue reading Hiring a booth babe is SO, SO wrong, or not.
Why and how VCs will kill your early stage B2B company
VCs kill their porfolio companies It is not out of choice or malicious intent, but through ignorance. This is something we are trying to address by writing IMPACT and getting VCs to read it. VCs are a powerful voice on the boards of your start-up. Partly because of their shareholding, but also because they "have … Continue reading Why and how VCs will kill your early stage B2B company
A radical new way to publish a book
Rethinking book publishing Download the book summary: IMPACT - the technology executive’s guide for selling B2B disruptive and innovative solutions Having recently read the Lean Startup by Eric Ries a thought struck me as we started to rewrite Why Killer Products. We originally published it in 2008 which was appalling timing as the whole world was … Continue reading A radical new way to publish a book
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