Here is one of the first photos of the Google Fiber space my son Josh designed in Kansas City. This video also shows, the product hardware, packaging, and more of the space that he designed. For me, it is hard to keep up with the latest developments in technology. The video also previews some of Google's newest products being rolled out now.Google internet in Kansas City 

Innovation is easy at Quirky.com

Do you have the next great product idea? Have you always wanted to be an inventor but didn’t know how to go about it? If so, then Quirky is the company for you to contact. Not only can you potentially get your product manufactured and marketed, you also have the opportunity to join a community of like-minded people to give your input on other product ideas. Each week Quirky produces at least two new products. It’s rapid innovation and community involvement!

The Quirky process starts when you submit an idea (it costs $10 to start the process). The next steps are community input (from the Quirky network) and product evaluation. If changes are recommended, no problem – in fact, it will make your final product even stronger as the idea gains depth and refinement from the review process. And, even if you are not an inventor, you can become an influencer in the Quirky process and also earn money and experience.

The two main steps to selecting a product idea are the community and staff evaluation. During the community evaluation, Quirky members (anyone can join for free) review, comment, and vote on the ideas. Ideas may be moved to an “under consideration” category and be placed on a list of promising ideas. Ideas are analyzed in design potential, marketing potential, and viability. Not all ideas move through into the development process, but all ideas receive valuable feedback.

Quirky products are sold on the Quirky Web site and in national stores including Target, Office Max, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and more.

http://www.quirky.com/

Thomas Friedman - Video C-Span

Hi Folks,

Remember the Thomas Friedman C-Span video to the governors convention we had on VHS on globalization? Well...he addressed the governors again in July, 2011. The video link is now on the web. I will be posting this in a few of my classes as optional viewing. Check it out if you are interested.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/300480-1

Leadership AND/OR Management

Many debate the difference between leadership and management. John Kotter the author of the popular book Leading Change provides a defintion that provides clarity for me. He states that leadership is about change and management is about keeping order. In fact, several textbook definitions of management state that management is about budgeting, controling, monitoring, etc. On the other hand, leadership is typically associated with establishing a vision and moving forward. When I think about both of these definitions, it is difficult for me to think about a CEO that doesn’t do both. Moreover, it is difficult to find a frontline manager on the shop floor that doesn’t do both as well.  Both need to organize, monitor, etc. AND they need to paint a picture of the future for others. The concept of leadership is not leadership OR management, it is Leadership AND management. I believe the concept of leadership and management is actually a polarity that needs to be managed. This means that individuals with direct reports need to lead and manage. They need to find a way to provide structure AND create movement. John Collins the author of the best selling book ‘Built to Last’ states that outstanding organizations avoid the Tyranny of OR and tap into the Genius of AND. To that end, the concept of polarity leads me to believe that we may need a new definition of Leadership AND Management.