Tag: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What happened to “Next Level”?

If you followed job ads or start-up pitches, you would be hearing “Next Level” multiple times back then..

In the 90’s it was “synergy” (M&A terms). Before that “re-engineering” (The Japan that can’t say NO). Now, it’s “collaboration”.

The Recession inadvertently served as an Editor who cut out words that don’t fit with the times.

You can’t promise “Next Level” when all you do is cost-cutting, the same with “growth” in the time of austerity and sequester.

The best we can hope for is “business as usual” i.e. keeping the lights on (and the heat).

Housing crash created excess inventory, abandoned homes – sold for $1.00- and owners turned renters.

What we thought was security turns out to be insecurity.

ADT stickers, still visible, serving no purpose.

It’s not “safe” to live in your own home when the whole neighborhood were foreclosed.

Now we need the return of synergy and neighborhood watch.

We need neighbors and community.

To come back to the question, what happened to “next level”. The bubble busted.

It has reached its limit, speculation that is.

The quants are hard at work.

The marketers are not , since  companies are not expanding.

Everyone is busy “collaborating” i.e. cost sharing, ride sharing and burden sharing.

In down time, we rediscover the value of inverted synergy.

Like roommates in the dorm, or our parent’s couch.

Hard times don’t outlast tough people . Hang in there, until we meet again, at the Next Level.

Man who reads

Joan Didion‘s latest book about the death of her child has landed in the top ten of TIME magazine.

Her earlier book, “the Year of Magical Thinking” recalls the death of her husband.

By penning these experiences, she invited us, readers into her private chamber of grief  (saving his shoes, wishing he would come back).

Man reads in order not to be alone.

Reading is listening.

One night, I was alone with Steve Job’s biography whose cover had his blank stare. It felt eerie!

Then on rainy nights, books keep me company.

I could put down one book, just to pick another (then I will be in Peru, with conversations in the Cateral or travel back in time, to Chicago in late 19th century or French country side with Bovary).

It’s all there in black and white.

From Westminster to Wikipedia, we are the most blessed generation, not only for the abundance of  searchable literature, but also for living longer to enjoy them.

Life long learning.

The worst tragedy in life is a wasted mind.

I have no idea how a mighty country like the US  could feel impotent and watch its people (8% at least) sitting idle.

At the very least, get them a library card and have them log in the 10,000 hours (threshold to acquire a new skill set).

Local libraries order mostly low-brow  hard-backs , which perpetuate the cycle (Daniel Steel).

Three cheers to MIT for its radical free online University.

As “rad” as anything has ever happened since the 60’s.

Now just make sure rural broadband and fiber built out be completed.

We don’t want Earth’s billions live longer while remain isolated and ignorant.

In fact, world peace depends on shared assumptions and common ground.

When people agree to disagree, it’s a good thing. At least, they read and understand other’s views and values.

If they read at all.

Man who reads is man who makes peace.  I hope this year is “our year of magical thinking,” i.e. keep the books and lights on, wishing our man would come back and pick up reading where had left it.