... a beginner at something

Customer in control?

Thank you Wim Rampen for your blog post, and commenters for adding insights.

One of the key-premises of the “Social era” is that the power has shifted from companies to Customers. We’ve all read cases of “United Breaks guitars” and alike to prove this. We also know that Customers are more keen to follow advice from close friends, relatives and credible strangers online than from just any company representative. And there’s plenty of evidence that Customers are showrooming.

But does this all mean that the power has shifted? The more I think of it, the more I disagree. Customers, despite the social tools, mobile devices and what have you, are losing ground. And here are some reasons why.

 

From the reasons why I take away ...

Social Might Connect

 

Artists inform scientists what might be worth trying.
Engineers build what might be worth buying.

Marketers find people, offer win-win for mutual profit.
Industrialists make it affordable and cheaper - this might not work much longer.

Financiers take risks and take rewards, cyclically bubbling.
Teachers help future artists, scientists, engineers, marketers, industrialists, and more find their vision and calling. This might work.

Others create safe spaces for stillness and peace, to find personal truth. This might be worth trying. 

How to define by what is not

 

When I was 16, I was ignorant, like most at that age (nothing new to see here, move on, go to work). Almost 40 years later, I am still ignorant, that amount of accumulated knowledge and experience not making a visible drop in the ocean of what might be knowable. Here is one drop that stood out for me.

Generous generations

 

Grateful for our forbears' lives we enjoy building on foundations they laid and clean up messes they had to leave behind. And the next generation will build the next level and do it for us.

 

 

高安寺 Kōan-ji Temple, Fuchu, Tokyo

 

 

 

神事

Art Requires
a Commitment
to Kamiwaza
-- Seth Godin

Longing for 2013

Here we are, in the new year, and some of us choose to make resoutions. Fine if you like to, but for many it is better not to, writes Chuck Blakeman.

Instead of resolutely setting goals, I went to follow a faint calling to examine and re-discover what am I still longing for, silently, at the turn of the year. Yes, there it was, as always, noticed and celebrated rarely in the rush of getting things done. 

These longings are personal, I am sure you have yours, and no, you need not look for any now, or even reveal, just as some of mine may not resonate with readers, and some other may not be good to put in public. So if you long to know what are mine, ask in private.