So, I’ve got a baby right? And like nearly every other adult on the planet I’m always putting my face about one inch from his cute little nose.
When I’m with him, I’m always right up close and when my wife picks him up to carry him off somewhere I’m always amazed at how small he actually is. All that time spent so close to him — I think of him as far bigger.
And it seems to me that this is one of the key difficulties in the life of an entrepreneur too. One friend calls it “toilet paper syndrome” — the idea is that entrepreneurs spend so much time fixing stupid problems like getting more TP for the can that they forget what business they are in.
You’re so close to every-day-issues you mistakenly think they are huge. At the same time you forget the real mission at hand: building a fledgling business/raising a tiny baby.
This is where an outside perspective is handy. Or a wife buff enough to carry you away from your business so you can see it with the right perspective.
I’ve been poking at sift for the last month or two. I’ve been wondering what this blog’s for. Not because I doubt the value of what all this is about. Nor do I question my interest in this work. I’m all in. No, what I question is “why blog?”
I think I’m off track. This blog has become a straining attempt at popularity; it’s a stumbling struggle to copy someone else’s success. Screw it. The first phase of the experiment is over. The literature review is done. Now it’s time to set up tests and get busy.
So, what now? What is sift to be about? What is the next phase of the experiment?
The second phase is about big ideas, new perspectives, better fits, making a whole out of pieces. Less about convincing people to care and more about caring. It’s about forming a set of criteria, principles, philosophies, and perspectives for thinking.
It’s about creating a brita-filter for business.
Tom Peters is sifting.
Not sure what I think.
I still think the problem is too much information + translation needed.
Tom’s sorting out the info but not translating.
Provocative post at Worthwhile.
Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind sees three forces that are shaping work roles: Abundance, Asia, and Automation.
“Abundance leads us to move from valuing “utility” to “significance” in the things we own. Significance comes from design, creativity, and inspiration … note the “arms race” in designer toilet brushes if you doubt him.”
The future of work is in the delivery of the first A. The skills needed: creativity, design savvy, empathy, etc.
