Getting Better at Getting Better…..OK – Go, Innovate….Driving Miss Daisy (and everyone else)….Econ Recon: Election Inflection

“I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”

Kurt Vonnegut

1922-2007

Author of “Slaughterhouse Five” and “Player Piano”

Getting Better at Getting Better

The ever increasing degree of competition in the world means that learning and development can never end. A recent article looks at how the meaning of high performance in the worlds of sports, the arts and finally business, and what it now takes to achieve it, has changed over the years. The stellar performance of a few in years past is now the baseline for the  many. Learn more about why the only strategy for all of us is to  Getting Better at Getting Better.

 OK – Go, Innovate

Lessons for C-Level folks come from areas other than business and it pays to pay attention to them. Here’s a great example a Vistage member provided in the form the alternative rock bank OK Go’s latest music video for their song “I Won’t Let You Down.” The video is accompanied with a short article with a lot of wisdom about innovating. Finally there’s a short video by the members of OK Go about the making of the video itself.

The “I  Won’t Let You Down Video” is a stunning example not only of innovation but of execution as it was done in one take! (After a lot of rehearsal, of course!) Have a little fun and get a little wisdom by reviewing these “Lessons in Innovating from OK Go. “

 Driving Miss Daisy (and everyone else)

The wonderful film “Driving Miss Daisy” portrayed an aging wealthy widow who could afford to hire a chauffeur to drive her when she no longer could. The driverless car touted by Google and others will make it possible for all of us to have chauffeurs when we no longer can (or should) be behind the wheel.

But we really haven’t heard the whole story regarding the economic impact of this development. Some say what’s coming will be equivalent to the introduction of the automobile itself. A one page article in Forbes does a great job of laying out the economic benefits of a completely “hands free” driving experience. The starting point for estimating the windfall awaiting us is this is the value of your own life. Find out how much the government thinks you’re worth and how that figures into the Massive Benefits of Self Driving Cars.  A related article about the obstacles to be overcome to make this a realty is worth your time as well  as it describes how change often happens, and shares an example or two that will show you we’ve been down this path before.

As science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke once remarked, “Technological advances are greatly overestimated in the short run; and greatly underestimated in the long run.” Get ready for the long run; it may be here soon. How will the driverless car effect your life, and your business?

Econ Recon: Election Inflection

It will be a matter of discussion for some time whether the Republicans won big or the Democrats lost big. Whatever the truth may be,the economic news at the end of the week is good. The Dow has recovered most of it losses and unemployment just hit 5.8%. Where from here? For some commentary on the election and the economy, check out Brian Wesbury’s last Wesbury 101  Election Inflection.