Category: The Curious Will Inherit The World

The Curious Will Inherit The World, The Future of Work2 Comments

Eat What You Study

ThisMuchWeKnow

I am no great of formal education. If I lived my life again, I would spend more energy tinkering on my own, rather than spending all those years expecting others to force-feed me stuff. It all starts out fine – check out the smiles on day one of school this week! – but enthusiasm quietens quickly. Education, as is, simply provides employers some sense of general intelligence and focused interest in a candidate. The usability of what was learned is left at the door. Adults learn by doing. Practice, practice, practice. Work harder. So, I liked this take on education your … Continue reading Eat What You Study

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Oh Dear. Anagram of Kindergarten = Entering Dark

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My eldest daughter Lola started school this week. This is how she felt about it. You might also sense the excitement of my 2-year old Zoe, by wearing her back pack, of wanting to go to school NOW. Maternelle https://t.co/BzrAF45QUS — Jonathan Anthony (@ThisMuchWeKnow) September 4, 2013 I am a firm believer that the curious will inherit the world; but also that school seems to prepare people for the end of the 19th century. So, here is my question: how long will it take for school to suck the life force out of her? An anagram of kindergarten is entering … Continue reading Oh Dear. Anagram of Kindergarten = Entering Dark

Personal Branding, Social Business, Story + Narrative, The Curious Will Inherit The World, The Future of Work1 Comment

Introducing Your #SocBiz Change Team: The Lunatic, The Impotent, And The Bullshitter. Which One Are You?

ThisMuchWeKnow

Being called a (MarComms) Generalist has always made me slightly uncomfortable. It suggests an inability to define one’s service offering. The opposite, a Specialist, also lacks comfort. Being pigeonholed and isolated as a one-trick pony hardly brings succour. So I love how the genius (lunatic?) that was Kurt Vonnegut articulated these brilliant specialist archetypes in Bluebeard (via this kottke.org post) in talking about change. “[M]ost people cannot open their minds to new ideas unless a mind-opening team with a peculiar membership goes to work on them. Otherwise, life will go on exactly as before, no matter how painful, unrealistic, unjust, … Continue reading Introducing Your #SocBiz Change Team: The Lunatic, The Impotent, And The Bullshitter. Which One Are You?

Personal Branding, The Curious Will Inherit The World1 Comment

Personal Branding: Are You Curious?

ThisMuchWeKnow

Curiosity is the number one personal attribute to possess. Curiosity will enable you to deal with change, even embrace it. Furthermore, curiosity will enable you to drive the change; sponsor it; own it. And dealing with change is the number one business demand to deal with. I am always on the hunt for data on curiosity. You could say I am curious about curiosity. This is from Diane Dreher: Curiosity… “is positively correlated with creativity, intelligence, problem-solving ability, autonomy, a sense of personal control, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. It is also associated with positive affect, subjective well-being, better long-term health, … Continue reading Personal Branding: Are You Curious?

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Hiring Advice For Finding A Job In The Social Business Era

ThisMuchWeKnow

I’m hiring, and I’m learning a lot about the state of the (MarComms) job seeker marketplace in the process. I wrote this to applicants as a (hopefully) helpful poke and prod. Hello. We HEART You. Firstly, thanks for applying for our job in the MarComms team. I appreciate it – the effort and hassle; the putting-yourself-out-there-ness. Now, enough heart. Let’s share some thinking about how we roll at. In no particular order… Some #FoodForThought By now, I hope you have seen the video The Old-But-Not-Quite-Dead-To-Us Brian made for you. If not, it’s here, in all its moustachioed, ironic, hipster glory: … Continue reading Hiring Advice For Finding A Job In The Social Business Era

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This Is What Entrepreneurship Looks Like in 2013

ThisMuchWeKnow

Coming and going to the Festival of Light event in Vancouver this week, Lori and I chanced upon The Entrepreneur (2013 Edition). When I grow up, I want to be like him. A simple premise: the teenage lemonade stand on the side of the road en route to the beach as thousands of people stream past. The kicker? Chips. Upsell to a larger size (with lid!) And, amazingly, Visa and Mastercard processing via Square, notebook and wifi. He was putting in the hours, advertising umbrella with LED lighting. He had the serenity of a man in control of his life. … Continue reading This Is What Entrepreneurship Looks Like in 2013

The Curious Will Inherit The World, The Future of Work1 Comment

MOOCs Are Not Enough. Education In Need Of Quantum Change

ThisMuchWeKnow

This is personal. As a father to two young kids about to enter formal education, I feel a need to foster a sense of awe and wonder in them about what they can achieve, to challenge them to move above, to move beyond… I am no education expert, nor am I a pushy parent. I do believe, however, in the need for large-scale progressive change in what education means; and what it holds for our children. MOOCs are a functional change in the service offering of education. They move us in the right direction. but, quantum change, at extreme velocity, demands … Continue reading MOOCs Are Not Enough. Education In Need Of Quantum Change

Social Business, The Curious Will Inherit The World1 Comment

Public Dreams; Social Business…

ThisMuchWeKnow

There are two local festivals I enjoy the most of Vancouver’s myriad cultural offerings: Public Dream’s Illuminares and the Powell St. Festival. After last night’s Illuminares I was reflecting on what exactly I find so satisfying about a simple lantern festival in a local park. It is not the thing / topic itself – lanterns last night, Japanese culture in two weeks on Powell Street – but the fact that they are social in nature. They are put on for us – both events are organized and curated by wonderful organizations – but they are enhanced by us. For every … Continue reading Public Dreams; Social Business…

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Don’t End Up Like “Phil”: Get Curious

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More grist for the mill on the topic of owning your own career, and being ready for change; of embracing ‘work is learning and learning is the work.’ A sad little parable from Brian Fippinger on the Social Hire website about “Phil” out of work and out of luck, rich with experience no longer required: Once you have become an expert at something, it is hard to go back to point A again.  But that is precisely where we all need to be, at all times.  At the beginning, back at point A. Exactly. Learning begins with curiosity. It is … Continue reading Don’t End Up Like “Phil”: Get Curious

Social Business, The Curious Will Inherit The World1 Comment

Working Out Loud Makes EVERYONE Curious(er)

ThisMuchWeKnow

I was reading a Yammer community social stream today on the topic of ‘working out loud,’ something I have engaged with at work (via yammer) and in this blog. A theme within that circulated throughout the hour long discussion was the power of curiosity. Working out loud allows the curious to participate with you. And, contrary to some opinion that ‘broadcasting’ your own stuff is self-centred / showing off, those that share are also curious – because they are inviting that feedback / co-creation. They want to learn and to grow. Someone commented in the stream: “The best cure for … Continue reading Working Out Loud Makes EVERYONE Curious(er)

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Innovation Via Disruption And Disagreeableness

ThisMuchWeKnow

Great short video from the inestimable Malcolm Gladwell on some requirements for innovation and entrepreneurship. http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2013/video–successful-innovation-via-disruption.html I was struck by the unusual combination of very different attributes, noted by Gladwell, required for success: creativity  – willingness to experiment conscientiousness – follow-through on goals disagreeableness – don’t care about approval Disagreeableness I often reframe around creative tension – it seems a good way to drive forward, at the edge, with positive intent. I know many people with one, or two, of these attributes. It is a rare combination to find all three in one person, hence, perhaps, the acclaim successful innovators … Continue reading Innovation Via Disruption And Disagreeableness

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What Makes An Effective Knowledge Worker? (Gurteen Knowledge)

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Do you sit at a desk most days doing brainiac work? Consider yourself a knowledge worker? Well, here a simple test: check off as many knowledge worker attributes as you can on this list of 38 from David Gurteen @  (via Thierry deBaillon) A delightfully simple yet profound moment of reflection. What makes an effective knowledge worker? (Gurteen Knowledge). connect people with people connect people with ideas are good networkers do not follow the rules have strong communication skills like people feel good about themselves motivate others are catalysts ask for help demonstrate integrity are self reliant open to share are … Continue reading What Makes An Effective Knowledge Worker? (Gurteen Knowledge)