Social Media Revolution

Surprising to me how powerful this information is and yet how very few people over the age of 55 actually understand just how different this world is going to look in 5-10 years. The Paradigm HAS Shifted.

Evolved Corporate Values & Culture

Though I’ve never worked for NetFlix and don’t know anyone personally working at the firm, I was EXTREMELY impressed with the presentation below as it speaks directly to the type of management I feel is most effective. Most people SAY they understand this way of thinking, however I have seen so very few people and companies actually try and manifest this type of culture in their workplace.

I hope one day to be a part of an organization that truly embraces this presentation at a core level… though I’m sure if I don’t find one that does, I’ll simply create one on my own soon enough ;)

What other companies that you know of actually PRACTICE and CONTAIN some or all of the values and culture posted above?

A Slow Process of Revitalizing Santa Cruz

Strongly recommend you take the time to read Tom Honig’s recent opinion piece in the Good Times Santa Cruz entitled A Slow Process of Revitalizing Santa Cruz and check out the document he’s referencing that started out on the back of a napkin… where most great ideas start out IMHO :)

As I said in my introduction to the Envision Santa Cruz event in March, though parts of the existing systems that have been around for generations are failing all around us, I see more opportunity than ever these days. Times of crisis present incredible opportunities for those bold enough to take action and present new paradigms.

Santa Cruz is full of such people in fact and I am so stoked and feel so blessed to be among a community of like minded DOERS who are out there taking bold action, creating new paradigms and at very least TRYING to create a better world for themselves and future generations.

Rack One up for Santa Cruz and 12seconds.tv

I thought it worth throwing out there that bootstrapped www.12seconds.tv, out of Santa Cruz, CA, with 1 full time developer, 1 mostly full time CEO, 1 part time UI Designer and an endless supply of good Karma and Community Capital backing them have managed to surpass the likes www.seesmic.com in unique visitors per month… Seesmic, who has been around for twice as long and landed over $14M in funding.

Yes, Seesmic has “changed their focus” recently by embedding their video player on desktops, but IMHO, I would be freaking pissed if I were an investor in Seesmic and be all over 12seconds.tv right now as this is a simple case study in doing more with less and that the people running your business are far more important than business model.

I simply can’t wait to see what continues to go down in 2009. I strongly feel we’re going to see a dramatic shift in perceptions and in the way business actually gets done from a grassroots level. Specifically, count on those who understand that Business is Personal to start exceeding like never before.

Business is Personal - The Twisted Logic of “It’s Just Business”

I believe business should be conducted in such a way that provides for the continued existence, progressive and collective growth and enlightenment of our species. There are clearly caveats as to what progressive means and what growth is and is not preferable, as some growth simply does not benefit the whole or create lasting systemic good or change (such as that which destroys the resources needed for survival of future generations or that which decimates other species).

What I really want to dig into here though is the logic behind a statement such as “It’s just business” or “Don’t take it personal.” Specifically I’m interested in what it tells you about both the person making such a statement and the institution that supports such a statement. IMHO such statements and mindsets are indicative of short term, short sighted and abusive behavior that at its core reflects a strategy that is directly in conflict with the natural law and the very survival of our species.

Again, it all comes back to the law of attraction, or “What goes around comes around” or “Karma” as some may call it. To live ones life without knowing or understanding that every action has an equal or greater reaction is to live in ignorance of one of the very simple scientific facts of life. I like to call it “Wake Theory” when explaining this as it puts things into some tangible visual context. For example, ones life can be viewed as a massive ship pushing through the ocean building a wake behind it, and depending on ones actions, as this ship slows down, the wake generated can either serve to lift you back up and push you forward… or come crashing down on your head, filling you with water, stopping your motion and driving you down. For some, the wake goes back pretty far and can hit you days, weeks, months or even years after the fact… or it can lift you up and drive you forward days, weeks, months or even years after the fact.

Thus, to ignore or write off the human component and reaction(s) to ones actions, regardless of where these actions take place (in the office or at home) is, again, IMHO, very short sighted and ignorant of one of the most simple laws of nature and human behavior.

As if simply saying “Don’t take it personal, it’s just business” somehow negates or softens the reality of the situation at hand. “Oh, ok, well, he/she says I shouldn’t take it personal, so I’ll just pretend the conversation never happened or isn’t as serious or insulting as it is.” When I hear people say “It’s just business” or “Don’t take it personal” I’m always reminded of Will Ferrell in Talladega Nights, who repeatedly insults his boss and the owner of his racing team, but starts each insult with “With all due respect…”. Eventually the boss calls him out on it but Ricky Bobby simply doesn’t have the capacity to understand why what he’s saying is still insulting. Well folks, you tell me, do these statements sound any different to you?

• “Your ugly” vs. “With all due respect, you’re ugly” vs. “Don’t take it personal, but you’re ugly”

• “I think you’re a total slacker” vs. “With all due respect, I think you’re a total slacker” vs. “Don’t take it personal, but you’re a total slacker”

• “A 2 year old could do a better job than you” vs. “With all due respect, a 2 year old could do a better job than you” vs. “Don’t take it personal, but a 2 year old could do a better job than you”

Is there a difference? Would hearing one of these over another make you feel any less insulted?

I think not.

So what’s the solution and point here? Well, understand that BUSINESS IS PERSONAL and every action has a reaction. Next time you’re in a position where you need to have a tough conversation with someone, or you feel the need to make a business decision that may put someone off or hurt someone in some way or another, take a step back, try and empathize with how the person you’re speaking with might receive what you’re about to tell them, and treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Also, understand that if someone ever does say something like “It’s just business” or “Don’t take it personal”, they’re more than likely coming from a place with little/no previous life experience that affords them the capacity to manage their relationships or job with compassion or empathy… much like Ricky Bobby. Understand that this is the type of person or people you’ll be needing to work with and deal with moving forward at your job and if you feel the management and owners of the company your working for follow a similar philosophy, then understand the chances of you getting screwed over, mismanaged and generally abused by your work place are extremely high. Those who tend to have no qualms with a statement like “It’s just business” or “Don’t take it personal” lack an understanding of “Karma,” “Wake Theory,” or “what goes around comes around” and very likely only view you as a disposable asset that can be replaced without thinking twice.

Personally, though I may not know you, I think your life can be spent in a far greater capacity than serving as a slave to people or an organization that lacks a longer term, more realistic and honest understanding of how the world works… Don’t you?

How to Fail: 25 Secrets Learned Through Failure

Was digging through the blog of a new friend (Taylor Davidson) and came across a gem of a posting.  The Slide Deck is below, but the full post is HERE:

“Slow Money” at NextSpace on Jan 22nd

Author Woody Tasch will be at NextSpace on January 22 at 6:30 pm to discuss his book SLOW MONEY.  In these difficult economic times, I think Woody offers us a very Santa Cruz solution that will allow our community to leverage its ideals and strengths to create a sustainable economy.
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Author and Investor’s Circle founder Woody Tasch will discuss his new book, Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered, at Nextspace (101 Cooper St) in Santa Cruz, CA on January 22nd at 6:30 pm. This event is free and co-sponsored by Nextspace, Pacific Mountain Advisors, and Bookshop Santa Cruz. Call 831-420-0710 or veronica@nextspace.us for more information.

Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money presents the path for bringing money back down to earth—philosophically, strategically and pragmatically, and with an entrepreneurial spirit that is informed by the work of thousands of CEOs, investors, grant-makers, food producers and consumers who are seeding the restorative economy.  This mission emerges from Woody Tasch’s decades of work as a venture capitalist, foundation treasurer, and entrepreneur. His explorations shed new light on a truer, more beautiful, more prudent kind of fiduciary responsibility, a fiduciary responsibility that is not stuck in the industrial concepts of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but which reflects the new economic, social and environmental realities of the 21st century.

Woody Tasch is chairman of Investors’ Circle, a nonprofit network of investors that has facilitated the flow of $130 million to 200 sustainability-minded, early stage companies and venture funds. An experienced venture-capital investor and entrepreneur, he has served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards, and was founding chairman of the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, which supports venture investing in economically disadvantaged regions. He lives in northern New Mexico.

Happy Belated Holidays and Happy New Year!

MY ANNUAL LETTER ON WHAT WENT DOWN IN 2008

Most of all, I’m just happy that so many of the people I love and care about were directly a part of our lives this year. In all honesty, though the world is changing drastically day by day around us, I simply can’t wait for what 2009 has in store and look forward to sharing another great year!

Blessings and Bliss,

Sean

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