Someone in one of my MBA classes (years ago now) once asked me if I freely give away all my ideas and thoughts to each client, suggesting thus that holding back may be more beneficial financially in the long run.

I said yes. Every idea that comes is shared. He was not convinced of the prudence of that action. That question was raised again recently …

The websites of the four public universities in Perth, Western Australia provided only two clear-cut customer experiences.

One appealed to a visionary ideal of tertiary education; providing a strong, personally emotive and aspirational platform for the prospective student.

The remaining three were primarily focused on the universities themselves, their achievements, their aspirations; with no emotive hooks for the prospective student.

Murdoch University

Murdoch University’s website was a surprisingly …

I am collecting personal anecdotes for a book project.

Have you been involved in a failed business partnership or project collaboration? Please share your story with me!

Abstract

As anyone who has been driven to start a business knows, our grand dreams and visions are seldom achievable through our own endeavours alone. We seek out like-minded others in our efforts to create what we …

It is normal for Icelanders to have diverse and eclectic work histories because the culture, the lack of envy, not only encourages individuals to try different things but also admires failure as a noble sign of having tried. It is one of the happiest countries in the world.

“Having multiple identities … is … conducive to happiness. This runs counter to the prevailing belief in … other western nations, …

In a brainstorming session, authenticity, immediacy, free-association (without censoring), and a general willing and open atmosphere to entertain all (and I mean ALL) possibilities are essential.

Here’s a real life example:

I was in a brainstorming session with a pet supplies retailer a few months ago.

I was doing my usual no-holds-barred let everything in my head out.

Someone said – “don’t you have a cat?” I said flippantly “oh no, I’ve …

“The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.” said Hugh MacLeod in his great book Ignore Everybody and 39 Keys to Creativity.

He advocates the concept of “pillar management”. Pillars meaning the props that businesses and persons acquire to hide behind. They need managing (or rather removal) because they “get in the way” of letting authenticity and real talent shine through, and provide distractions and excuses …

“Kia-su” is Hokkien (the Chinese dialect commonly used in Singapore) that literally means “fear of losing”. According to the unkind, this “fear of losing” is allegedly a Singaporean trait – though I would postulate that it is more of a universal trait when it comes to how some practice business.

“Kia-su” has its basis in fear. The fear of scarcity. Which in turn drives greed:
Take it even if you …

“Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea. And ideas are bulletproof.” V in V for Vendetta.

Which makes it imperative that we continue to think big, to have grand ideas, and grand ideals to work towards.

Michael Port’s The Think Big Manifesto – Think You Can’t Change Your Life (and the World)? Think Again (ISBN 978-0470432372) was …

In reading about Geert Hofstede’s Dimensions, I came upon the following interesting proposition:

Western communications has a “transmitter orientation” – the responsibility is on the speaker to make him/herself understood.
Asian communications has a “receiver orientation” – the responsibility is on the listener to extract meaning from the communiqué.

In the first context, this means I as the transmitter have to seek confirmation and feedback as to the successful …

Many multinational corporations are running out of fresh ideas to respond to the economic crisis. Instead of taking this opportunity to reinvent themselves and reboot the very business practices, beliefs and attitudes that has contributed to the current economic crisis, they choose instead to bury themselves deeper in those very same practices.

“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils for time is the greatest innovator.” …