Disqus - Latest Comments for bill_free

Re: How To Determine If A Problem Is Worth Building A Business To Solve

bill_free — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:46:24 -0000

Reinforces a crucial point: you can't build a solution until you've defined the problem, and defining the problem is hard. Also a great discussion of process with some insights into what Tim Brown has called "human-centered" design. Thanks for sharing this.

Re: Egypt's Revolution: Coming to an Economy Near You

bill_free — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:07:48 -0000

Economics is a perfect candidate for institutional innovation, since neoclassical economic thinking ignores the tightening constraints imposed by both the moral and physical environments. Its remarkable resilience reflects the barriers to institutional change noted by Peter Jones in his comment. Bureaucratic inertia in the face of King's "fierce urgency of now" is as predictable as it is frustrating. Umair's call for "millions of personal revolutions made up of billions of tiny choices" represents a direct challenge to economic orthodoxy. We have met the enemy, and he is us.

Re: Ten Things You're Not Allowed to Say at Davos

bill_free — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:02:42 -0000

You make, again and in context, a powerful point: that the members of the Davos circle, whatever their credentials, are not the ones who will deliver the change we need. Their vision - and I believe at least some are people of vision - is hopelessly constrained by a broken system that, at least for the moment, continues to supply them with material evidence of its sustainability.

The real danger of Davos lies in its irrelevance. Instead, let's celebrate those "tiny awakenings" - they are occurring everywhere. Let's find and nurture game-changers whose visions are human-centered and for whom real value is additive, not extractive.

Note: Small point, but I think "ethical, emotional and creative" activities are right-brained.

Re: The Scale Every Business Needs Now

bill_free — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:51:22 -0000

I agree that ambition at scale should be world-changing and life-altering. But globe-spanning adds a physical dimension that is neither essential nor even in all cases desireable. Ambition at scale can be reflected in a tiny nonprofit serving a forgotten rural community. It’s the size and value of the intention that counts.

For example: a global manufacturer of commercial flooring has committed to eliminate any negative impact on the environment by 2020. That’s ambition at scale. The fact that the founder of a company that makes landfill-clogging, formaldehyde-emitting carpet tiles believes he can achieve a zero footprint is truly audacious, globe-spanning or not.

Re: Why WikiLeaks Matters More (And Less) than You Think

bill_free — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:50:03 -0000

Dave Davis' observation that the value of knowledge is both transient and outcome-based is an instructive lens through which to view the Wikileaks controversy. To this point, anyway, the impending threat of yet another massive data dump says much less about the theoretical value of transparency and openness than it does about the tangible value created (or destroyed) in its execution. As with anything else, value is unlocked through the exercise of discretion and judgment in pursuit of the greater good. Think "because I will," not "because I can."

Re: VIDEO- TIME Exclusive: Julian Assange Says Hillary Clinton "Should Resign"

bill_free — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:41:10 -0000

Boy, we desperately need some guys in white hats. Sadly, Julian, you're not one of those guys.

Re: Reputation Management and the Art of Argument

bill_free — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:15:09 -0000

This is exactly the reason I cheered yesterday's news that Biz Stone had no plans to set up a Twitter news network. With relatively few exceptions, members of the Twitterverse aren't interested in responsible journalism or news-gathering. This requires patience, rationality and a willingness to refine and even throw out hypotheses when evidence dictates. Instead, it's all about spouting whatever opinion you happen to have on an issue and have it gloriously amplified within your "community of interest."

None of this will change until civil dialogue and rational argument become a much larger part of our national discourse. Until then, I wish you luck -- but applaud you for fighting the good fight.

Re: The Gap Logo Debacle: A Half-Brained Mistake

bill_free — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:47:15 -0000

This kind of stuff also happens when companies believe the world takes them as seriously as they take themselves. New logo, old logo or no logo, if GAP disappeared from our strip malls tomorrow, would anyone really care?

Re: Fables of the Deconstruction

bill_free — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:54:09 -0000

Is it possible to learn how to offer help without first knowing how to accept it? Great post. The nod to REM is the icing on the cake. Thanks!

Re: Real Prosperity Doesn't Come From Stimulus — Or Austerity

bill_free — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:03:09 -0000

Thought-provoking post, as usual. I think it would be useful to include Woody Tasch's slow money movement in this analysis. While the immediate focus of Tasch and his Investor's Circle is sustainable agriculture, "slow money" theory has broad and extremely relevant implications for the broader economy. It is also closely allied with the notions of prosperity and value you develop here and elsewhere on your blog.

Re: Real Prosperity Doesn't Come From Stimulus — Or Austerity

bill_free — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:55:11 -0000

Good observation. I've been thinking a lot about this myself, albeit on a regional level -- as it concerns the rapidly accelerating erosion of the middle class in the United States. For better or worse, as the U.S. economy goes, so goes the world. And maintaining a sustainable U.S. economy depends on reenergizing the economic potential of the middle class, now buried under $13 trillion in debt and hemorrhaging productive capacity. Old models will not work. We need to look at economies - global and local - in a new way.

Re: Happy 4th! Declare independence from negative nabobs’ tyranny

bill_free — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:00:43 -0000

The nattering. Don't forget the nattering.

And as for Senator McCain, he's using the Gulf disaster as an excuse to try and overturn the Jones Act. That's just the most recent clue to what might have been.

By the way, I wish Russ Feingold were reading this. If financial reform goes down in flames, it will likely be on his shoulders. He's earned my respect, but he's lost my support.

Thanks for writing, and happy Fourth!

Re: Web 2.0 Expo thoughts: Part 1 – Collaboration measurement

bill_free — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:33:47 -0000

Jeff: At my company we are trying to embed a true collaborative ethos into our culture. It seems to me that part of the challenge in developing a true collaborative environment lies in expanding the scope and intent of the interactions that ordinarily take place in work teams. Measuring "the frequency of value add in the conversation" seems to me to be an important component of this effort. But as you point out, aggregating linear contact data doesn't go far enough. I believe, among other measurements, there is a strong narrative (storytelling) component as well. Figuring out how to integrate this dimension into both data collection and analysis is a particular interest of mine. To me, it seems essential to a true understanding of how collaboration is (or is not) working within an organization. I'd be interested in any thoughts you might have.

Re: February retail-sales report: Economic recovery gains momentum

bill_free — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:22:07 -0000

"As long as wages stay flat and job creation weak." That's actually an optimistic take. And let's not forget there's $13 trillion in consumer debt (including all those upside-down, inside-out mortgages) out there.

But we'll take our good news where we can get it.

Re: Hillary for VP, redux

bill_free — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:35:07 -0000

By the way, just got a wierd fundraising e-mail from Dean/DFA about the public option. Aside from its oddly mangled baseball theme, I can't figure out exactly what they're trying to do. It says something about fighting to the death for the p.o., then says he won't rest until everyone has access to Medicare. Looks like the two are getting mashed up in the talking points.

Re: Hillary for VP, redux

bill_free — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:28:01 -0000

Dems were pissed because the president wasn't leading on healthcare. Now they're smoked that he's pushing too hard. If I can make another prediction, it's that folks will eventually learn not to underestimate him.

Re: Hillary for VP, redux

bill_free — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:31 -0000

I found Grayson's Medicare jump shot interesting in light of your recent post. You know, all this might be fun if it didn't cut so damn close to the bone.

You're right on the merits, and I think correct on the outcome. What irritates me is why this is so damn hard. The GOP is clearly running scared; passage of any reform turns this issue from a positive to a big fat festering negative in the midterms. But for Stupak and Kucinich, this isn't about votes. It's showboating. C'mon fellas. Pack up your pet peeves and pass the damn bill. You'll live to fight another day.

Re: Al Franken: Make us do this

bill_free — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:21:22 -0000

Thank you, Senator Franken.

Congressional Democrats wanted the president out in front on healthcare reform, and he's put his presidency on the line to get this done.

There are no more excuses. There is too much at stake. Fail to pass health care reform, and you damage - perhaps fatally - your own political fortunes and the entire progressive agenda. You asked for courage and leadership, and you've gotten it.

Now it's up to you

Re: I’m for a public option. Just not this public option.

bill_free — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:55:50 -0000

Agreed. When the "Medicare for all" meme briefly caught fire last summer I was, briefly, hopeful that it might have legislative promise. From a policy standpoint, it makes far more sense to expand Medicare than it does to create a second public entity, especially one that is actuarially suspect and seems designed to fail.

Regardless of the merits, trying to force a public option into an already complex legislative calculus seems counterproductive. Publicly endorsing a "strong" public option in no way promises a vote for whatever winds up in the reconciliation package. There's a good chance it could send the whole deal down in flames.

At this stage, expressing support for single payer as a matter of principle is fine. But not at the expense of the biggest advancement in health care policy in a half century.

Re: Digital iPhone cheapskates

bill_free — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:59:43 -0000

Thank you.

Re: How to Blog Almost Every Day

bill_free — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:04:42 -0000

Great post, Chris. Will use as motivation to stop procrastinating and get my blog up (using Thesis on your rec, btw). Also wise counsel on curbing perfectionism. I will try to take it to heart.

Re: Social Media Metric Dashboard

bill_free — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:34:02 -0000

I agree with Heidi on tracking retweets. In the program I am trying to design RTs are an important measure of both reach and engagement. Otherwise, this looks like an extremely useful too. Thanks for sharing it.

Re: Why Duke Energy Hiring Lisa Hoffmann is a Big Deal

bill_free — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:05:03 -0000

Always ready, Lisa. It will be great benefit from the experience of someone on the front lines. Congratulations and great success in your new role!

Re: Why Duke Energy Hiring Lisa Hoffmann is a Big Deal

bill_free — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:09:26 -0000

As a customer, I'm glad to see Duke making a move to leverage the social web. Social media presents unique opportunities and huge challenges for a utility. Kudos, Lisa, and much success in your new role. And to Charlotte for growing and nurturing is SM community. Great news all around.

Re: Roadmap for Social Media in a Regulated Industry

bill_free — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:33:44 -0000

Great wrap, Scott. Your second closing bullet nails it: "for social media to succeed in regulated industries, social business must be embraced as a culture in the same way."

The full impact of this point is easy to overlook. Companies in heavy regulated marketplaces embrace command-and-control communications as a defense mechanism. Rigorous message management serves, among other things, as a hedge against legal liability. As a media spokesperson, I can tell you the message I take to our legal and compliance teams is rarely the one that gets delivered to our stakeholders. For the most part, it's not paranoia. It's just plain common sense in a highly litigious environment.

More often than not, the thought of disintermediating communications in this environment gives me the heebie-jeebies. You're absolutely right: it's a culture issue. And culture change takes both time and intent.