gigaom.com: FireHost secures $12M in fun
gigaom.com: FireHost secures $12M in funding to promote its secure cloud: The company that claims Kevin Mitnick, The Clinton…
http://wp.me/p10LZV-2KGq
UK to harmonise IP law to considerably s
UK to harmonise IP law to considerably strengthen the UK’s protection for registered designs:
http://ow.ly/lIYvz
The Network Society – a relevant quote
“networks cause a comprehensive restructuring of society at large – they are breaking old models of organisation. In a network society, the network becomes a basic unit of organization at all levels, in a mass media society, the basic units are the large collective ‘masses’. A network society is based on individuals who form voluntary connections with other individuals regardless of location. Online social networks, media networks and technology networks act as the catalysts for a networked society.”
Taken from Grow VC’s Manifesto quoting Jan van Dijk, The Network Society. Sage – (second edition) 2006
Business needs social media – it is not a fad
In the grand scheme of things, Social Media is an embryo in a world of technology where everything is changing so quickly. For those of us who were not born with an iPad in our hands, there is a sense that the rate of development is an unstoppable bullet train (see How are humans going to become extinct? for some fascinating posturing). However in the realm of social media I think an important element of context is missing in the common questions so often asked: Does it work? Is it just a fad? How do I use it? Isn’t it just for over-sharing teens? Doesn’t it take a lot of time? How can I measure it? Is it safe and trusted?
There is of course this huge rate of technological advance but in fact there are 2 time-frames we need to consider:
- Technological advancement and what it enables for individuals and groups;
- The evolution of human nature within society and culture.
Throughout history we have examples of the pendulum swing where society and culture force the swing to turn back. Think of the liberal 60’s versus conservative 80’s. It is like there is a natural human system of checks and balances. Why would this be any different in the case technology? Read more…
Overcoming fear, conquering the world
Overcoming fear
So, I have a fear that I need to overcome… Whenever I think about the upcoming Scuba course I am doing, I realise I have to go through the practice of letting water into my mask and demonstrating I can purge the water.
My fear of water coming up my nose however completely panics me. Even the thought of it… So, today while swimming at the gym I was practicing again, it just wasn’t working and I kept thinking, “Ugh, who needs to dive anyway? I did my scuba course and haven’t dived since – I won’t miss it.”
Thing is I knew that this was my irrational reaction to an irrational fear. I knew more than that that I really do want to dive again. So to overcome my fear I am realising, it is like learning to drive a car, ride a bike or get used to creepy crawlies… it is a mental attitude.
The fear resides in our thinking and the solution too resides in our thinking. Who is the boss of our feelings, fears or thoughts? How often do we think or say, “I can’t help feeling this way!”?
How not to go about recruitment
Not too long ago I was on the hunt for work. I was looking at consulting and permanent roles and built quite a good network of recruiters who were helping. It also meant that my CV went up online. Having worked at Monster I am quite au fair with how some some “CV trawlers” might get in touch speculatively to see if they could put my CV into searches they were carrying out – to build their numbers. What I was not ready for was quite how unprofessional some of these recruiters may actually be.
I since since found a job and was all settled in when, out of the blue, I received an email from a recruiter… to my work email address. I was rather surprised! Today we have LinkedIn – a global database of professionals. Why then was the email sent to my work email address? Most recruiters quite proficient in milking the network to find passive job seekers. Using LinkedIn is unobtrusive and it is a feature LinedIn cater for with their recruiter tools and products.
Steve Jobs biography – what’s my takeaway?
Having just finished the fabulously well written biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson I have found myself contemplating what type of man Steve was. Would I like to work with or for him or would I naturally hate him?
I wrote a short tribute post on the day Steve passed away. There I was already aware (how could one not be) of his different approach to being an entrepreneur and taking the hard route.
After reading Walter’s biography however, I was struck by the difficult man he was. Difficult to work with, difficult to be related to and yet how inspiring he was, or could be at the same time. I think I would have loved to hate him. Admired and despised him. Maybe not different to how some of those close to him felt? We did share a lot of interests, Zen, design, beautiful tech, the blend of intuition and knowledge and wanting to do things differently. Read more…
