Monthly Archive for August, 2006

Great presentations need great impact moments

Here’s one example from David Siegel – writer, speaker, strategist in the US:

The scene: a meeting of the Direct Marketing Association that took place last October. In a banquet room in Toronto, before an audience of roughly 2,500 people, Siegel is introduced as one of the world’s leading Internet strategists. Rather than begin his talk from the podium or unveil a deck of PowerPoint slides, he walks around the room and asks to borrow a nice watch. A volunteer named Ted offers his Rolex.

“Thank you, Ted,” Siegel says, taking the Rolex. “Now, this watch represents your existing business model: It’s finely crafted, and it runs like clockwork.” Then he takes out a clear plastic bag. “And this, Ted, represents your current distribution network. It completely surrounds the business model.” Siegel places the watch in the bag and then places the bag on the stage. Then he puts on a pair of safety glasses and takes out a sledgehammer. “And this, Ted, is the Internet.” He asks Ted if he thinks that his current distribution network can protect his business model from the impact of the Internet. Ted reluctantly says no. “Right!” shouts Siegel, as he brings the hammer crashing down. Then he removes his glasses and holds up the bag, which is now filled with hundreds of watch pieces. “Now, what have we learned at Ted’s expense?” he asks.

Source: Fast Company, August 2006

Japanese Boomers are starting to get stylish

Home Ownership is Generational

Women in Parliament

Battle of the sexes

Now I feel REALLY safe

Innovation doesn’t have to be from the edge

The Pension Crisis in America (and elsewhere)

Some formal stuff on change

Proteas Return home

Just because they are black does not mean they are right

Gurus

Symphony Orchestras & Culture

IBM Puts Dollars Behind the Crowd

Significance in the Connection Economy

Traditional media using Citizens

The merits and demerits of being a black woman

Motorola – creating flexibility

Dean Jones sacked after ‘terrorist’ remark

Proof that the Boomers still rule the world

A Delicious Fetish

Gamer stats – They’re not what you’d expect

Generation X has let truck driving pass by

Talent attraction & retention metaphor

Can uranium enrichment be morally neutral?