This cartoon from Hugh MacLeod’s Gaping Void was timely spotted just now.

Comments here.

Only last week I was reminded of a less-than-satisfactory collaborative project I was involved with many years ago.

There were two of us: I was the “maker”, and the other person was the “seller”. We recognised the need for each other’s roles, and came together to develop a …

The concept of a “computer” for your business has been kicking around since the late 1970s. And yet, most businesses have yet to really grasp the fact that it is a tool and not an end in itself.

Stilgherrian’s excellent post Social Media: It’s about the people, not the tools sparked this post.

I suggest that the continuing focus by businesses on the technological “bits” instead of …

Like the honourable Japanese whaling luncheon meat type of research, this one involved death.
Unlike the honourable Japanese whaling luncheon meat type of research, this one is not edible.

My friend Stilgherrian has an interesting experiment going involving the bits mentioned in the title. As per usual, it comes with great observations, is well written, and is illustrated to boot. See:

Lessons from tacky Heath Ledger jokes, Day …

The world’s most… The top X… The most unique… The most phenomenal… If the popularity of sites like Deputy Dog is anything to go by, we seem particularly drawn to such lists.

I wonder why this is so? The characteristics seem to be:

A list is involved.
The content is something fun/curious to look at; to be consumed and disposed …

About 400 years ago, some humans on the other side of the planet made this rude giant at Cerne Abbas.

A few days ago, some other humans near where I live made this in a carpark (not quite at the same scale).

Penguin has a series of books with blank white covers. You can design your own covers. Express yourself. Turn one into a unique gift and so forth.

Some customers will enjoy this level of customisation and participation. So how can you adapt this to your business?

Many examples exist in the tangible products world – you can buy “draw on me” versions of mugs, mouse mats, t-shirts …

“[America has] two values: How much can a man consume for the highest possible price, and how much can he produce for the possible pay?” said the character Chambord in Robert Ludlum’s The Paris Option (by Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds).

This is likely true of all Western civilisations, including Australia.

We get paid less and less to do more and more work. And yet at the same time, we …

Two interesting videos. Two different messages.

From Stilgherrian’s post: The tyranny of the ideal:

Design idealised processes, safely away from the people doing the work. You are the consultant, you know best.

Idealised processes make great flowcharts to present to the board (the people paying your fees) – especially when you remove the messiness that is humanity. Yuck.

Implement the process. They, the people doing the work, will take it (or leave). More …

The behaviour:

Jerks are in every work place.

Jerks get noticed.

Brazen charm is often mistaken for intelligence.

Dominant behaviour is mistaken as competence.

“We think of these people as deserving even more status…”

“…if you need to establish your position in the office, then glaring at people, maybe insulting them, maybe fighting are actually going to be quite constructive…”

The benefits:

Better opportunities for promotions.

More power and glory.

Public adoration.

Dr. Maccoby finds that the most revered …