“It’s not a computer, it’s an ex...

“It’s not a computer, it’s an experience” says Satish Jha, President and CEO of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) India. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Does this look familiar? OLPC is that small (30 person) company with the audacious vision of truly bridging the global digital divide. Founded by Nicholas Negroponte (whom also led the start up of MIT’s Media Lab), the organization is determined...

If I’m Gonna Talk the Talk…...

I talk (and write) a lot about sustainability, transparency and triple bottom line (economic viability, social impact and environmental responsibility), so I figure it’s time for me to be forthcoming about some of the ways I am implementing these concepts in my own life. Many of the tactics I adopt are simple. Over the past two years for example, I have: downsized my car (from a light truck to sedan) which improved...

Ask for What You Want: Corporate transparency or a...

My newest thought leadership essay explores our culture of anonymity, compares the emergence of transparency and wonders what happens when we mash them up. In it I talk about Customer Relationship 101 (and why some people make it to Hollywood), why it’s so important to ask for what we want, dealbreakers and the real way to build rapport. This leads to an observation about the Incognito event at Santa Monica Museum...

“All lives have equal value.”...

I wrote a new essay about MicroFinance, based on what I learned at the recent conference “Microfinance from Below: The Power of Savings and Savings Groups in Frontier Economics.” To read, it please click here. In the article I explain the nature of microfinance, differentiate between micro-savings and micro-lending and describe the market these services reach. While doing so I also consider the nature of poverty...

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...

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...

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...