Lastest Manifesto from ChangeThis

Here you go - an ode to Peter Drucker...

The Silent Revolution: Peter Drucker's Voice Still Resonates
By Elizabeth Haas Edelsheim

A revolution in business has arrived, one built of human assets such as knowledge, information and collaborative exchanges, absent the noisy clamor of factories or the hum of machinery. And who better to shape the role of management during this revolution than the ageless voice of Peter Drucker, whose forward-thinking ideas on meaningful strategy still resonate and can act as a spur for innovation.

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ChangeThis Manifesto: Few and Far Between

Got my ChangThis new manifesto email the other day - couldn't really focus on it until today. The following is one that I found very interesting, mostly because I see this everyday -- so here's the overview and the links...

Few and Far Between:
By Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Taleb, author of "The Black Swan," contributes this thought- provoking essay on what we know about what we don't know. A 'black swan' is an improbable, dynamic event that, once it occurs, we rationalize to make it seem predictable ( e.g. 9/11). Taleb discusses that while these black swans are actually impossible to predict, we must relearn how to learn from the impact.

http://changethis.com/33.04.FewFar
http://changethis.com/pdf/33.04.FewFar.pdf

I was going to illustrate how this concept manifests itself in business - but I would have needed to use my personal workday experiences - and I made a decision when I started blogging that referencing my "day job" was a slippery slope and could only cause problems. So, if you feel compelled to hear my personal thoughts on the subject - there's always email ;-)

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ChangeThis Manifesto: Declaration of Independents

Get it here: Declaration of Independents: Fighting Against the Colonization of Our Local Communities by Big-Box Retailers,
by Stacy Mitchell

I love manifestos - the passion they represent, even if you don't agree with the point being made, is fabulous!!. But this one is something that I believe in (along with the author). It's the fact that Locally Owned Business is important to the health and vitality of any country (especially the US).

Here are a couple facts included....

• Wal-Mart captures $1 in every $10 dollars spent
• For every dollar spent at a local store/business between $0.54 to $0.68 stays within the community, vs $0.14 for every dollar spent at a "corporate/big box" retail outlet
• Based upon pressure from Home Depot & Lowe's, Black & Decker was forced to "reallocate" resources - resulting in more the 4,000 people being laid off
• Since 1990, the amount of retail space per person in the US has doubled (from 19 sq ft to 38 sq ft) - compared to Great Britain, that has just 7 sq ft per person
• Wal-Mart has about 300 empty store, many within miles of a new super center
• In the US, shopping related mileage (those miles we all drive to get to a store and buy stuff) increase by almost 95 billion (that's 9 zeros) miles between 1990 to 2001. (note: a little math reveals that equates to approximately $5.7 billion spent on gasoline alone, not including wear and tear on your car, or the environmental impact)

I know this is a dicey subject for many people. There are augments on both sides - one saying that the big retailers help save consumers billions of dollars each year (maybe, there's evidence against that argument); that there is a much wider variety of selection (once again, not necessarily true); that these companies provide much needed jobs (but to whom, for how much and at what cost?); these companies are great corporate citizens - giving back to the community and giving generously to schools, charities, etc.

But the question is "at what cost?" are we really better off. Is big really better? Who is benefiting from these companies?

I guess my question is - what's the balanced required? I believe balance is required to maintain any system, be it your own life, your community, the retail world, whatever. Get this manifesto and read it - either agree or disagree, but be educated about the issue.

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3 Examples of Great User Generated Content

There are lots of creative people out there and we should give thanks that the internet has provided a method for us to experience them. The follow are 3 examples (with of course, commentary)...

1. My Drunken Dad -- this is my all time favorite non-commercial, never gonna probably be on TV, but should be, sitcom/life drama/shit happens show. You can find these through either their web site or YouTube - check 'em out, this stuff is funny.

2. "Long Neck for a Short Goodbye" by the Cowboy Poets -- you don't have to be a country-n-western music fan to enjoy this song (but it would probably help). I love songs that tell a story, and this one is universal.

3. "Personal MBA" by Josh Kaufman -- manifestos are great, they are short, to the point and usually are heart felt. You can actually feel the passion some of these people put into them. Josh's is great for anyone in business, because with a MBA or not, you have to keep yourself educated. Josh provides a list of some of the most important business books ever written.

There are more, hundreds, millions more of great stuff. Most of it, I don't care for, but that just makes me normal - what I like and what you like - it can be found with a little searching around, that's the fun part.

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