CHANGE - why is it so hard...

Have you ever wondered why changing something in your life is so hard - even things you know that are "bad" for you [like smoking or eating pizza]? It's hard because of two things that are central to human beings...

1. It's Awkward -- and that creates an opportunity to look really stupid. Trying new things in our lives or changing the things we do - starts off being awkward. Here's a trivial, but important example...Clasp your hands together, interlocking your fingers. Notice which thumb is on top [and which pinky is on the bottom] - now unclasp your fingers - and re-clasp with the opposite thumb on top and pinky on the bottom. How does it feel? I bet awkward. Now - it such a trivial thing feels awkward - how about something bigger like learning to water ski or public speaking?



2. Acceptance of your core group of supporters -- changing something in your life may change the people who you see everyday [if you change jobs or relocate to another city]; it may change who your friends are [if you stop drinking, that may require not seeing some of your friends]; or any social activity. The change you make, may affect more than just the change - it may change your life across the board. Little changes are hard enough, but big ones that change a lot of things -- that's a different type of courage to undertake.

Look - change is going to be hard - but it may be the best thing ever. I may just be something that you look back at and say "Why did I do that?". But if there is anything that we need to embrace and be willing to endure it is change - because it usually happens if we want it to or not.

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14 October 2009 | This week's most mysterious new business ideas

Hi Arnie,

Our latest issue is now online. Here's a quick run-down of the 20 new business ideas that
caught our attention this week:

Mystery t-shirts are handpicked for customers
Retail / Fashion & beauty

Customers select a size and answer a series of questions about
themselves. The Hipstery runs the responses through their 'innovative
style algorithm' to find the right t-shirt. It's all about surprise.

Instant local gifts via text message
Telecom & mobile / Life hacks

As soon as gift-givers place their order, a text voucher for their
gift is delivered instantaneously to the recipient, who can then
redeem it as soon as they choose.

Site helps office workers get to know neighbours
Life hacks

Currently in beta, Stackd was created by New York-based
Supermetric to enable its own neighbouring office workers to
get in touch, whether "for business or beers," as the site puts it.

Free photo books for Facebook and Bebo users
Media & publishing / Marketing & advertising

If Facebook users can conjure up real-world flowers, candy and
drinks from within the social network, then why not give them a
way to capture their fave images in a (free) real-world photo book?

The crowd strikes back: fans remake Star Wars
Entertainment

People can sign up on Star Wars: Uncut to recreate the 1,313 fifteen-
second clips that make up the epic space film. Once all clips have
been submitted, the site's founder will stitch them together.

More neighbourhood problem-solving: SeeClickFix
Life hacks / Government

Empowering citizens to improve their communities, SeeClickFix
functions as a hub for residents to report and track non-emergency
issues with the aim of having them resolved.

Dell laptops, coming soon in nail-polish colours
Style & design

Just in time for the holidays, Dell Mini, Inspiron and Studio laptops
will soon be available in colours including "I'm Not Really a
Waitress," "Strawberry Margarita" and "Kyoto Pearl."

New platform for micropayments to news publishers
Media & publishing

Instead of each publisher having its own subscription and payment
method, readers will be able pay once to access paid content from
all publishers working with bitcents.

In-stadium social media for baseball fans
Telecom & mobile / Marketing & advertising

Beginning this season, a Citi Field big screen will play host to an
SMS marketing system that presents a whole new way for sponsors
to interact with fans, and fans with each other.

Investment account mimics other investors' trades
Financial services

Covestor Investment Management has created a new type of account
that lets investors follow the trades of the experts with their own
managed funds.

Wave the magic wand to flip to the next channel
Style & design

Reimagined with inspiration from Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter,
the boring old TV remote control can now be replaced with a far more
entertaining object.

Vacation homes, rented and traded with Facebook
friends
Travel & tourism / Homes & housing

Aiming to capitalize on the trust shared among Facebook friends,
Shared Porch is an app that lets users list and rent vacation homes.

Fresh skin care products, shipped straight from lab
Fashion & beauty

Los Angeles-based Odacité places manufacturing dates at the
forefront of its business, producing freshly-made organic skin care
products and leaving out preservatives.

Give a day to charity, get a day at Disney
Tourism & travel / Non-profit & social cause

Disney is working with HandsOn Network to highlight a variety of
volunteer opportunities with participating organizations across the
United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Tweet to hail a green ride in London
Transportation / Telecom & mobile

Users send a direct message to @greentomatocars with their
booking details, receive a tweet back with a unique booking
reference, and wait for a Prius to pull up.

Toy rental comes to France
Life hacks

It's been more than a year since we featured the toy rental service
from Texas-based Babyplays, so we were pleased to see that a
similar concept has now been launched in Europe.

An ATM for recycling consumer electronics
Eco & sustainability / Telecom & mobile

EcoATM is an automated reuse-and-recycle machine that makes
it easy and financially rewarding for consumers to offload their
abandoned electronics.

Urban beekeeping kit for honey lovers
Food & beverage / Homes & housing

From the makers of the Omlet chicken coop, the Beehaus comes
as a complete hive ready for colonization, with all the parts
necessary, including honey jars.

NYC challenges developers to create apps
Government

Last week, we wrote about a San Francisco initiative that invites
developers to turn city data into useful tools. Not one to be bested,
Mayor Bloomberg just launched a similar concept in New York.

Niche retailing: curated sellers of vintage fashion
Fashion & beauty / Retail

Amidst thousands of online clothing retailers, Market Publique has
found its niche. Based in Brooklyn, it aims to attract premium sellers
and buyers of vintage fashion.

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McKinsey Quarterly | Top 10 Articles for Q3 2009

View on the web: http://e.mckinseyquarterly.com/17a18943blayfousibcn4mxiaaaaaatxc447rs5an2ayaaaaa Top Ten Newsletter Q3 2009 Our ten most popular articles in the third quarter focused on leadership, the economic crisis, Web 2.0 tools, and other management topics. 1. ORGANIZATION Leadership lessons for hard times A series of interviews with 14 CEOs and chairmen of major companies sheds light on the foundations of corporate leadership. (Premium membership required) 2. BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY Managing beyond Web 2.0 Companies should prepare now for the day when Web 2.0 morphs into Web 3.0. The ones that focus on the fundamental aspects of the consumers’ online behavior—not just current best practices—will be better prepared. 3. BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY How companies are benefitting from Web 2.0: McKinsey Global Survey Results The heaviest users of Web 2.0 applications are also enjoying benefits such as increased knowledge sharing and more effective marketing. These benefits often have a measurable effect on the business. (Premium membership required) 4. ECONOMIC STUDIES The crisis—one year on: McKinsey Global Economic Conditions Survey results, September 2009 A year after the global economic system nearly collapsed, many companies are finally finding ways to increase profits under the new conditions. But almost as many expect profits to continue falling, and executives also indicate that their broader financial hopes remain fragile. Many expect more government involvement in economies and industries over the long term. 5. STRATEGY Strategic planning: Three tips for 2009 Even in these tumultuous times, strategic planning doesn’t have to be an exercise in anxiety—or futility. (Premium membership required) 6. ORGANIZATION Leaders in the crisis: McKinsey Global Survey Results Most executives are coping relatively well with the demands and effects of the economic crisis, but people problems loom on the horizon. (Premium membership required) 7. OPERATIONS Squeezing more ideas from product teardowns Some companies are using product teardowns to dismantle silo culture in product development. This interactive feature examines the potential margin-improvement opportunities and highlights how some companies are using this venerable tool in new ways. 8. ORGANIZATION Unlocking the potential of frontline managers Instead of administrative work and meetings, they should focus on coaching their employees and on constantly improving quality. (Premium membership required) 9. ENERGY Evaluating the potential of solar technologies Solar power is poised to grow into a reliable alternative energy source, promising lower carbon emissions and decreased dependence on fossil fuels. This interactive feature explores the different technologies currently jostling for leadership in the market. 10. STRATEGY State capitalism and the crisis Despite massive state interventions in economies around the world, many corporate leaders and investors act as though globalization remains the dominant paradigm. That is a mistake.

McKinsey & Company, 21 South Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603

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Critical Idea | Innovations in Mobility

Through a series of random links and just general surfing, I came across the following site. It's very important for us to [as a society both local and dispersed] to re-think transportation and mobility. How and why we travel - how we transport goods, how we commute to work or take our kids to school.


So look through the site - there are many areas that may interest you - I know I found the section on Carsharing very informative. Other areas include...

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Infrastructure
• Goods Movement
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Transit Connection
• Mobility for Special Populations
• Alternative Land Use and Transport Futures

Innovative Mobility Research is based at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC) at the University of California, Berkeley. Some of these projects include: “first and last mile” transit solutions; value pricing for parking and managed lanes; shared-use modes; alternative-fuel vehicles and technologies; and new land-use planning techniques to more closely link land use with transportation system design.

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Springwise for 10-7-2009 | The best ideas for business freshness

Farmers use vending machines to sell local produce
Food & beverage / Retail

The result of a collaboration between a farm and a vending machine
manufacturer, Regiomat machines currently sell fresh milk, eggs,
butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns.

Public Enemy uses Sellaband to fan-fund new album
Entertainment

Crowdfunding venture Sellaband is expanding its model to include
musicians who have already made a name for themselves. First
up: Public Enemy, planning their thirteenth album.

Cards to inspire random acts of kindness
Non-profit / Social cause

Aiming to make random acts of kindness more frequent, KIND
Snacks has launched an effort that uses 'pay it forward' cards to
remind people to be kind.

Wedding registry for original art
Style & design

Should marriage really be celebrated with pots, pans and food
processors? Aiming to offer a less dreary alternative, a New York
art gallery has launched a registry service.

Operator-assisted web search in India & Uganda
Life hacks / Non-profit / Social cause

Proving that the internet's information doesn't always have to
appear on-screen, Question Box brings the web's intelligence
to offline and low-literacy communities.

Deluxe golf carts as neighbourhood transportation
Automotive / Transportation

Electric cars are far from mainstream, but in several US
neighbourhoods, golf carts and other diminutive electric vehicles
are part of the very fabric of community life.

No-frills gyms, open 24/7
Lifestyle & leisure

Aiming to set itself apart from all of the other gyms and health clubs
in Australia, Jetts Gym offers cheaper memberships by cutting costs
and shirking little-used or unnecessary services.

App recommendations based on your tweets & status
updates
Telecom & mobile

16apps scours users' Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed or LastFM
accounts for information about their hobbies, lifestyle and location.

Adjusting jeans for pregnant waistlines & back again
Fashion & beauty

Pregnant mothers simply send in their favourite jeans, and Denim
Therapy inserts expandable side inseams in the pants that will
move and grow as the woman's belly expands.

Smart use of the Smart brand: car-sharing by Daimler
Automotive / Transportation

Aiming to grab a share of the growing car-sharing market, Daimler
created car2go, which enables customers to order and pick up a
Smart car within minutes.

Logos off the rack, created by the crowds
Marketing & advertising

iStockphoto is already a familiar name for its low-priced stock
photography, illustrations and multimedia files. Next up: a line
of user-generated corporate logos.

Wearable device tracks fitness data 24/7
Lifestyle & leisure

Fitbit is a small device the user can wear around the clock for
continuous, automatic and comprehensive reporting on fitness-
related activities and sleeping habits.

Interactive piggy bank teaches kids about money
Financial services / Education

The Ekomini Treasure Chest features a patented coin-reader
technology and hooks up to a computer via USB, enabling children
to keep track of their savings and learn basic financial skills.

Intention-based shipping brought to UK
Transportation

Shiply is a free online marketplace where transport companies bid
on shipments listed by consumers, helping fill empty trucks and
giving consumers access to cheap shipping.

Online exchange for builders' surplus goods
Eco & sustainability

Hoping to keep waste out of landfills, BuilderScrap is a free site for
the construction trade that aims to connect builders who have extra
materials with those who need them.

Free Ivy League courses for high-schoolers
Education / Media & publishing

The new lecture series is aimed at students taking Advanced
Placement exams, which give them a chance to study college
level material and potentially earn credit towards a future degree.

'Stock market' for art to crowdfund 10 public projects
Style & design

Each project is assigned a certain number of shares -- equal to
twice its funding target -- and half of those shares are automatically
assigned to the participating artist.

Clothes swapping meets Netflix
Fashion & beauty

thredUP looks for good matches in the virtual closets of members to
find items that might be suitable for swap-ready users. It sends them
one such item for each thredUP envelope they've purchased.

Rotating baby stroller with eco-creds
Lifestyle & leisure

The foldable stroller features 360 degree rotation that allows the
child to face forward, back or even sideways, while a twist-and-lift
mechanism permits one-handed folding.

New tool for predicting flight delays
Tourism & travel / Life hacks

Using a patent-pending algorithm, Flightcaster claims that it can
predict more than 95 percent of delays to flight arrivals up to six
hours in advance.

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