1. Are we in control of our own decisions?
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we're not as rational as we think when we make decisions. Ted.com
2. The case for working with your hands
Having experience as a mechanic or an electrician might seem totally irrelevant to success in business, but perhaps that's because our pursuit of a "knowledge economy" has warped our sense of what work should be like. Trade work emphasizes outcomes over processes, Matthew B. Crawford writes, which forces workers to stand behind what they produce in a way that office hierarchies often prevent. If more leaders had trade experience, Crawford argues, they'd be more methodical, more creative, more adept at coping with failure and more inclined to learn from their mistakes. The New York Times
3. Great innovations come from true believers
Innovative ideas need champions, writes Dale Dougherty, someone who isn't just fond of a new idea, but so over-the-top in love with it that their affection becomes infectious. Pioneers like Apple's Steve Wozniak effectively shaped the course of their industry by force of personality, Dougherty argues, because their enthusiasm for their new idea created a legion of early adopters who went on to spread the idea themselves. Forbes
4. How Facebook Will Upend Advertising
Advertising is getting a much-needed push toward the future via social networking, says analyst Jonathan Yarmis. Word-of-mouth advertising is being taken to a new level. He notes, "Credibility now has a channel for mass distribution. It's called the Web and it particularly thrives in social networks." BusinessWeek
5. Think a T-Shirt Can’t Change Your Life? A Skeptic Thinks Again
Spoof positive ratings for a Three Wolf Moon shirt on Amazon went viral last week, making the apparel Amazon's best-seller. "As soon as I put this shirt on the Bank called to apologize about trying to foreclose on my home," one such rater wrote. The jokes have created invaluable buzz for the shirt's makers: They went from selling a couple of shirts a day to 100 per hour through Amazon." The New York Times
Posted May 29, 2009
Email this post
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c684b53ef01156fb21308970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Interesting Week 22 of 2009:
The comments to this entry are closed.
(Rest assured, we will never provide your email address to anyone. Period.)
RSS feed
Tom on Twitter
@tomasacker
Tom is timely, thought provoking and all about the new brand vision packaged as a Seinfeld stand up. I went to school on his ideas.
Jeff Taylor, Founder, Monster.com and CEO, Eons.
When Tom Asacker writes, I read. Opportunity Screams is the right message for the right time.
Tom Peters
Comments