be quiet! or how nature can help us improve our own marketing

Unless you work on TV, chances are that you find video of yourself somewhat surprising. Do I really sound like that? I didn't know I frowned so often!

You see, most of the times we hardly even notice our own behaviour. We may have a general idea of what we look like, but the fact is that whether you are a person, a brand or a nation, we always see ourselves from our own point of view, impairing our judgement and making it sometimes hard to understand how others perceive us.

This can be tricky, since understanding your counterpart's perspective is key to obtaining what you seek. After all, perception is reality. At least for a few critical moments.

On a totally different note, here's an incredible video, a little perspective from one of the world's most energy efficient predators.

augmented reality gets a boost

If you haven't heard about "augmented reality" yet, it's about time you did.

Basically the technology allows you to point your phone's camera to real world objects and get additional information not readily available to the naked eye:

Which way to the nearest subway? how much does this product cost and what's its carbon footprint? where is that movie playing and at what time? what building is that?

To help answer those questions on the spot, various developers have begun to offer their augmented reality applications for iPhone and iPod touch, IBM did it for Google's Android and now Nokia has finally joined the race with their free Point and Find app featured below.

It won't be long before AR revolutionizes more personal aspects of our lives, like the dating or business networking scenes. Just in case, you better start cleaning your record on google...



One Android example:

The Dangers of Virtue

When used as an unassailable argument to immediately discredit any opposing view, virtue becomes extremely dangerous. Labeling dissent as "Terrorism", "Repression" or "Axis of Evil" is a magnificent way to pay a deaf ear to inconvenient issues.

In 1980, the unassailable notion of self-determination brought hope of a brighter future for Rhodesia, then one of the most prosperous nations in Africa.

The great Bob Marley joined the celebrations as the world rejoiced to see the short-lived renegade state officially becoming an independent republic.

30 years later though, the smiles of joy you just saw in this video, and the hope behind them have all but vanished.

Crushed by a dangerous mix of incompetence, corruption and the Rhethoric of Virtue, Zimbabwe is today a failed state where the bank notes have become cheaper than wallpaper.

Although one of the saddest, this is not an isolated example: in the name of unassailable principles like Democracy, Human Rights, Self Rule and Freedom from Imperialism, millions around the world are being denied of their opportunities.

Democracies, dictatorships and pre-emptive strikes, from Argentina to Venezuela, North Korea to Iraq have advanced the personal ambitions of astute leaders, manipulating public opinion under the banner of Virtue.

But how is it that well intentioned candidates become so manipulative? According to a recent study at Tilburg University, old Lord Acton was right: Power does tend to corrupt, but only those who think they deserve it.

Thankfully there are encouraging signs: lawyers, professors and certain news organizations like Reuters have been fighting terms like "terrorism" precisely because of the bias they subconsciously create: in 1963 Nelson Mandela was convicted of "terrorism" and paid for it with 27 years in prison.

For an insight into the less publicized aspects of the Zimbabwean situation, check this documentary.

why ping pong is good for your career

Che used to say that one should grow tough without losing the heart's tenderness. Other, less violent people have also given us similar advice.

One of them is Tim Brown from IDEO, making here a good case on why working with friends and remaining playful is vital for creative businesses.

Chinese businessmen are not Latin ladies

A little instructional video for your upcoming trip to China.

Remember that unlike Latin women who say "maybe" to suggest they are down with your proposal, the Chinese use "maybe" to politely veil their disagreement.

thank youBill Green

plus ca change...

love this kickass 21st century version of The Little Red Riding Hood*.

And while I really wish I could present like this more often, I couldn't resist thinking how little has storytelling really changed since the Lascaux prehistoric cave paintings.

*by Tomas Nilsson on Vimeo.

copy and paste notoriety

Have you noticed how many blog postings, twitters and other digital ways of publicizing ourselves are basically quotes of someone else's ideas?

From the amazing speeches on TED to the more mundane updates on Facebook, copying and pasting and re-packaging other people's observations has become a completely acceptable way to establish oneself as an "influential".

While it is surely a good thing to help spreading ideas to a larger audience, it seems worth noting the disproportionate attention we pay to the messengers these days.

In this blog you will find the two clearly separated and labelled to help avoid any confusion or dubious credits.