The people who build systems unconsciously or consciously affect the culture we live in. Their unique world view, cultural quirks, and beliefs will inevitably seep into the systems they build. These systems then become ways to export the creators culture to others.

Example: games that fetishises women – think Lara Croft. As with all craftspersons, game developers design and build what they themselves want. And given a lot of …

Anything that we can do well, that we enjoy doing, and that there is a demand for, is worth taking seriously as a skill to develop.

Anita Roddick; when asked what advice she would give to a young person who was planning a business career: “…don’t even say the word ‘business.’ Bury it. … Talk about a livelihood you can create for yourself, an honourable livelihood that gives you …

People with malleable morals that can be bent to exploit every advantage are not “agile” or “adaptive”; they just plain lack integrity.

Spin can’t change reality. A dishonest act is still a dishonest act regardless of how it is rationalised.

If you found $200 on the street, the right thing to do is to hand it in at the nearest police station. A dishonest person would keep the money and …

This is a true story: A friend of mine who works for a large financial services firm (not a client of mine!) was given a long overdue pay rise this month. He was promised this pay rise over 6 months ago when he took up a different position within the company.

The sad thing was - when he accounted for inflation, the pay rise was actually a pay decrease.

Bearing …

We use marketing and PR to influence how people perceive us. We create profiles and elevator speeches. Knowing how people perceive you is always interesting. That’s why we seek out feedback on our marketing material.

It is useful to know how you come across to people; but such insights should not be relied upon as absolute gauges to base your actions upon. You cannot count on marketing and PR …

Why is it that we are told our food must be 100% natural and totally organic; while at the same time, the goop we put on our faces must be clinically tested, 100% synthetic and totally “scientific”?

Good Business: Leadership, flow and the making of meaning. By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. ISBN 0-340-73973-9.

Ever picked up a book you could not put down? One that spoke so startlingly clearly to you on every level that you wonder if the author’s been listening in on your thoughts without your knowledge? Such was this book to me.

This book really helped me clarify and consolidate my …

If you have not seen this movie/documentary yet, do so.

Key points for me were:
1. When big business combines with political will and greed you get the ability to manipulate the masses on a grand scale.
2. We are screwed.
3. The individual, you and I, can make a difference.

Your business can make a difference today. Switch to low-energy bulbs, switch off your computers and monitors after hours, send invoices electronically, …

This was yummy! But note the all-negative key selling points: No cholesterol, dairy free, no additives, vegan (no meat), wheat free, no preservatives.

This was an actual line from a cosmetics commercial. Hmmm…
What’s next? “Now with 80% air”?