House of Cards: Examining Money as Debt...

“What is money?” That’s the question asked in Paul Grignon’s video, “Money as debt.” It is also the subject of my newest essay. This is one of those ‘waking up from the Matrix’ reality shifts that will make you stop and wonder ‘what exactly is going on around here?’ Money, it turns out, is debt. Period. I break down Grignon’s video so you can read and re-read it at your own pace. The article reviews...

Beyond Predictive Analytics (aka: Rockwell was rig...

It’s time for a look at Social Media Strategy. Let’s talk about Tweeting, Friending and the whole sha-bang. To begin, I have written an essay that looks at the macro level of internet social media – the who’s who view of “what you are doing is being watched.” It’s insightful, kind of scary and definitely thought provoking. I look at the way relationships are changing based on new platforms, and consider...

Today a super hero is born...

I’m Spiderman! Don’t believe me? Click here to see for yourself. (Warning: this is a shameless plug about my upcoming presentation at the 2009 Niche Magazine Conference).

Entitled? Maybe that’s a good thing....

This past Monday evening I attended the first ever Boston World Partnerships mixer (aka: networking event) in Cambridge. I have been involved with networking groups before, including local chambers of commerce, BNI and EFNE (Entrepreneurship Foundation of New England), but this group had a distinct energy. BWP is a true collaboration between state agencies, private universities and corporations. The intention is to promote...

Commercial Composting: Waste Not, Want Not. What t...

Today’s essay looks at things that are biodegradable, why it matters and how existing processes could be improved. I give specific examples of residential and industrial solutions, and question the development of a product for the commercial space. You’ll learn specific reasons for concern, and hear my thoughts about some economic incentives for reusing our food waste. Plus I link to some great resources! So check...

Sounds like fun!...

First, a confession. I’m 37 years old and (wince), I…don’t like to text. Whew. That wasn’t so bad after all. And actually, I feel good about not liking to text. After all, I do kind of subscribe to the “if it’s worth saying, say it” (ie: call me!) mode of thinking. For the most part, it seems to me, people tend to text when they are either: 1. Supposed to be doing something else (i.e.: paying attention...

Easy Things to Fix #1 (it’s not all about world ...

I often think about how little design changes can make a big difference in the user’s experience (see my note, “One of my favorite ideas” here), and how those little things translate into customer loyalty or lack thereof. So I’ll entertain you on an ongoing basis with my thoughts on some of these things. If you’ve been brainstorming too and want to share, send me your ideas! (I’ll give credit, I promise). Let’s...

The New Innovation Economy...

The New Innovation Economy This week’s essay looks at the connections between Social Capitalism, Complimentary Currency and the 100-mile diet. I emphasize sustainable design and think about how organizational structure shapes our ability to innovate and adapt. This is a forward thinking and upbeat look at the way companies are going to change as a result of our current financial crisis. There are a lot of new terms...

1 in 4 people do not have electricity and live in ...

Try, if you will, to clear your mind and think about this for a minute. 1 in 4 people do not have electricity and live in the dark. That’s the message from D.light Design, a company that is determined to ‘replace every kerosene lantern in the world with high quality and affordable light and power solutions.’ How audacious. How clever! How necessary! This is the kind of thing that astounds me; a practical solution...

Poverty is Not Cool…(duh). But here are two thin...

Afrigadget and Grameen Phone. Though seemingly quite different, they are both dedicated to poverty alleviation. And they are each making a tremendous difference in their own ways. Afrigadget is about “Solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.” This is perhaps my favorite website, because it makes painfully clear how clever people can be when they really need to be. The common people and inventors featured...