Tokyo

Having spent a week in Tokyo, mostly working, but sometimes watching, I learned how so many different perspectives, styles, ideas can exist in one place.

Decisions, Decisions

Go or nogo - Decide among alternatives - Create alternatives

In today's business environment, very few companies can rely on only one way of doing things. Decisions are a part of every executives responsibility yet I often see an entire room walk the path of semantics instead of focusing on their ability to construct the very values they targeted to achieve. This is a great way to think about decisions.

mondaydots hybrid: fastworks from jeff monday on Vimeo.

Another Looking Back Innovation

We spend our intellect and energy inventing ourselves out of the best solutions. At times simplicity rules the world or at least the buses of NY. A return to the bell pull cord. Riders of all ages understand it. Foreign visitors understand it. Bus drivers can easily explain it. It replaces more expensive and less comprehended touch tape buttons introduced in the 80's as technology established its footings. Cheaper to install and repair, the bell cord exudes great functional nostalgia.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/nyregion/13cords.html

What parts of your business can be pared down and remain the same or maybe evolve to something better?

Simplicity

Innovate by looking back

While studying Japanese gardens in hopes of bringing structure to my back yard I learned design principles followed in Japan for hundreds of years, taking advantage of the south exposure and utilizing the natural position of the sun to bring light to the garden and to the home. Egyptians created courtyards as private space that is shaded from the blaze of the sun. They often had water gardens to add to the cooling affects. In the Alps, heavy-built cabins had cold roofs that held the snow by ventilating between insulation and the exterior for extra insulation in the cold of winter.

Instead of working with nature, we work to control it. Light it, cool it, heat it. All driven by carbon based energy. Because it is easier and cheaper than developing expertise on interaction with nature.

What other lost arts could we be missing out on? Feng Shui next anyone?

Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae understands innovation. They are using policies - contractionist policies - to shift risk to people like me in a time of supposed stimulation. How you might ask? They are issuing weekly changes to policy. One that has affected me personally is the refusal to accept property appraisals from the norm to less that four months. This shift in short term real estate value fluctuation is bared by many people mid project like myself.
This means that you should not start a project that needs to be financed that is longer than 4 months or else any decrease in short term real estate value needs to be absorbed (i.e coughed up) by you!! STOP ALL CONSTRUCTION NOW that exceeds 4 months of duration.

Good Luck and Good Night.

WIll the world revert back to Darkness!

Some people think it is a good thing. A National Geographic map exposed me to the true scope of the issue. Most major cities no longer see starlight. Their skies are a steady glow. Sure I remember getting out into the country on a camping trip and seeing the stars for the first time in a long time. I have flown into major cities at night and come into the glow long before landing.

The NG map showed a global view of light produced at night and later articles also tell the tale of wildlife and their need for darkness. Europe is pretty lit; Africa, not so much. The US certainly shows off it's coastal living, but is pretty lit throughout. Having moved from Dallas, pretty lit up, to Michigan where I need to polish my car's headlight covers to drive at night, I have again grown fond of darkness. I now own more than an emergency flashlight and enjoy seeing stars again and knowing what phase the moon is in when I look out the window before heading to bed.

Staying dark is not so easy. I still want people to enter and leave my house without walking into a fencepost or tripping over something left in the driveway, so I started my search for sky friendly lighting. There are more options on the Internet than I ever thought. One company in particular solved my outdoor lighting issues without having to install new fixtures. They provide shades for your normal PAR 38 outside lights that direct those bright outdoor lights and stops blinding your neighbors and people passing in the street. My small contribution to darkening our skies.

Check them out if you need the easy route like me or if you want to be more elaborate:

Starry Night Lights

Dark Sky Friendly Outdoor Lighting Products

www.StarryNightLights.com

Found this on Alex Osterwalder's blog

Even beyond the business model, having now downloaded the SLIP, is the usability. The site has instruction every step of the way. In addition to the usual MP3 and Lossless downloads, they are breaking into audiophile quality files with 24/96 files.

If you build it, you will fill it

During my time in supply chain innovation, I came across an interesting operational rule of thumb for building warehouse space. If you build it, you will fill it. Processes aside, inventory targets aside, rules aside, the more space you have the natural forces of the efficiency of manufacturing will lead your organization to build it and fill it.

Keep your known natural forces in mind when changing things in your business. Business controls are essential to running a business. Even more powerful is creating an environment that will lead itself naturally to the end goal.

How I buy travel tickets...

I am not sure if this can equate to a pricing strategy but like many I have developed a fly/train/drive cost equation to choose my method of travel, probably like many people. With flying the convenience often outweighs a 12 hour drive, but for Amtrak (a favorite topic of mine) it is not so simple.

I live in East Grand Rapids, MI. And like many in GR, I like to travel to Chicago for the big city lights. Many neighbors spent time shopping in Chicago with the variety of stores that our town doesn't support. If I am to take the train myself, it makes sense. Downtown to Downtown is probably cheaper to ride than to drive. But once you get to around 3 people, it stops making sense. It becomes cheaper to drive. Now I am not sure how busy that train is, but I know they offer specials that you have to figure out how to catch and it certainly is not as easy as American Airlines Super Saver.

I would like to see either an easier way to communicate discounts or something in line with family based pricing. Or super saver packs. Riding that train would sure be easier than finding parking!

Can reviewing your customer buying strategy help you develop a better pricing strategy? What are the top three things that drive your customers buying decisions and patterns?