Maybe something called Slack could revolutionize the workplace

So many people you meet will spend time pursuing/chasing “Inbox Zero,” denoting it as a badge of accomplishment. But then, er, IBM has done studies indicating that a clean, organized inbox holds no essential benefit. Maybe it’s better to not organize… Continue Reading

Brief thought exercise: in your work, do you prioritize the how, the who, the where, the why or the what?

Been thinking about this a lot recently; I don’t necessarily have anything dramatically important or relevant to add to the overall conversation, but I still wanted to chime in on it (I mean, this is still a blog I maintain,… Continue Reading

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A group of middle schoolers from Red Deer (in Alberta, Canada) may have figured out how to take schools into the future

Here’s a little bit of context before we begin: I spent much of yesterday at a middle school in Memphis, TN. Here’s where it is: I had a long conversation with the head maintenance guy over there, who wears a… Continue Reading

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Machiavelli predicted business silos in 1513, but that doesn’t mean you have to be resigned to them

Check this out, via Harvard Business Review. Here’s a quote. Read it and then let’s talk context: It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success nor dangerous to handle, than to initiate… Continue Reading

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Here’s a simplistic idea: could we save the planet by reducing our focus on how business must occur face-to-face?

By now you’ve probably heard about or seen or have some context around this new climate change report, which was fairly dire. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who care about the issue is essentially the same as… Continue Reading

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Say it with me now: your products and processes are great, but your people do matter

Here’s a new academic working paper, summarized here, that basically says if you hire a “star” — a great performer,then — your department will be 26 percent more productive. Now, there’s a huge caveat to this study: it focused on… Continue Reading

Can we generate electricity from the oceans? Well, for damn sure China is going to try.

Actually this does happen around the world, but very rarely is it ever successful. Here’s the essential challenge: Their quest has been to create a machine that’s tough enough to withstand the constant pressure of surging water, yet sensitive enough to harness that… Continue Reading

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Hulu has a billion dollars (not all profit). It appears to be re-investing in original shows.

As more people cut the cord, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are going to become increasingly important (I forgot Chromecast there; muh b). This will all be tied up in whatever the “TV of the future” is… Continue Reading