Early in the 19th century, an Italian named Lorenzo ran a grocery store in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, a town of 700 people. He augmented the modest earnings from his shop by giving Italian lessons. In a town that size and at…
Big data is in the limelight. Big data is making some seriously big noise. But really, does big data deserve its star treatment? Information research company Gartner defines big data as “high volume, high velocity, and/or high variety information assets…
We’re motivated by basic needs, such as companionship, shelter and self-esteem. We’re plagued by fears – of death, poverty, loneliness and public speaking. We’re more open to messages from those we like than those we don’t. We respond positively to…
Answer this question honestly. Do you know your clients? Beyond their names, beyond their company titles? Beyond their partners’ names or their favourite restaurants or their sports teams? Bet you don’t. Bet you don’t know what motivates them, what drives…
Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, Nothing is true, everything is permitted. When I first read it, my instinct was to dismiss it. Surely some things are irrefutably true. I could think of dozens of statements of fact that are supported by…
At the age of 26, a prodigiously talented musician starts to lose his hearing. Devastating for anyone, this is especially depressing for someone whose life is spent writing and performing music. In one letter the musician writes that the ‘most…
Photo by Rolands Lakis There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science…
What grand plans have you made in your life? What big ideas have you had? Where are they now? Did you act on them? Did you implement them? A few of you will answer yes. Most of us won’t. There…
Here’s a test. I want you to look at this photo. What can you see? A bare attic? Timber paneling? A small window? Look out the window. What do you see? Sunlight, but no detail? Now imagine what might be…
In 1988 Newsweek ran an article titled ‘Mimic your way to the top’. In it, they asked their readers to visualise the scene as the top executives of Microsoft met with co-founder and CEO Bill Gates. “Bill Gates is talking….