Tag Archives: World 2.0

Integrated Entrepreneurship

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I've been asked to open a session about entrepreneurship, that took place at the University Fernando Pessoa.

What I talked about?

Simply this:

From Gary Vaynerchuck

and his book Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion (a real! – DIY start up guide for the 21st Century)

To know if you should start your own business and become entrepreneur ask yourself the following questions:

1 – Are you happy with your current job?
2 – Your employer allows it to have a public image? You can build it during your working hours?
3 – Do not allow it during working hours, but in your spare time?

If you answered no, to questions 2 and 3 , proceed at full speed, create your business.

If you decide to move forward and be an entrepreneur is important to respect 3 rules:

1 – Love your family!
2 – Work hard!
3 – Live your passion!

From Miguel Trigo

1 – Focus on people. Discover their needs and their not fulfilled desires.
2 – Develop and sell products / services that meet people needs and desires..
3 – Focus on people. Build a customer service company.!

What are your thoughts?

Join me, in this conversation.

Be present!

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Worldwide 2.0:

We live, Increasingly, connected to the Internet
Using devices, Increasingly, Mobile (ex: IPAD, smartphones),
allowing us
Greater participation (with comments, likes and shares) communities (we belong to share common values and interests) that,
turn, make us
Increase access to information,
Help us increase our knowledge about a subject (through people and their networks);
Allow us to
Increase our chances of being useful to someone (thanks to the constructive spirit in which we engage in conversations and projects that can benefit from the knowledge we have and we are dedicated to sharing)
as well as
Make more informed decisions

Summarizing, thanks to the Internet and technologies that are now at our disposal, Truly democratic countries, have all the conditions to be more educated citizens and a growing desire to be treated in compliance with the golden rule (Do not do unto others what you do not like them do unto you)!

Against this panorama, I believe it is important that organizations (who want to ensure their sustainability in times of crisis we are discussing) appear, showing that they are gifts to help people through these difficult times.

A good example of this attitude was given by Marks & Spencer decided that lowering prices for its products (sustainable), lowering the profit margins associated with their, but allowing its customers (that has M&S knows better than anyone) continue to buy products that are used, continuing to make more sustainable purchases.

World 2.0 Trends on Prezi

Great reset: the Florida way to constructive capitalism!

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I’ve finished reading the book “The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity” where I could find important contributions to constructive capitalism. I feel myself obliged to share with you some of Richard Florida thoughts.

Governments role

“Meaningful recovery will require a lot more than government bailouts, stimuli, and other patchwork measures designed to resuscitate the old system or to create illusory, short-term upticks in the stock market, housing market, or car sales.”

“Government spending can’t be the solution in the long run…it simply lacks the resources to generate the enormous level of demand needed to power sustained growth.”

“We need to revamp our governmental institutions and governance structure…with less authority at the top and more at the local and regional levels.”

Great Resets

“They are the great transformative moments when new technologies and technological systems arise, when the economy is recast and society remade, and when the places we live and work change to suit new needs.”

“The challenge is to accelerate the transition from the old to the new order…”

“Our efforts must concentrate on actively building the economy of the future. Instead of infusing scarce capital into the very banks and financial system that brought us to the brink in the first place…”

“…and instead of bailing out mismanaged old-economy companies, we must use whatever resources are available to accelerate the transition to an idea-driven economy…”

People, ideas and opportunites

“…we all have something we’re good at, our own creative spark, and there’s little in life more satisfying and rewarding than the chance to exercise that talent. The real key to economic growth lies in harnessing the full creative talents of every one of us.”

“The key is to expand the very concept of a social safety net, from one that provides just material well-being to one that provides real opportunity for every person.”

“We need to increase the velocity of moving people, goods, and ideas.”

“We need to support the growth of higher-paying knowledge, professional and creative jobs, and make sure that greater numbers of workers are prepared for them.”

Learning 2.0

“We need a learning and development system that is sync with the new creative economy.”

“We need a system of learning and human development that mobilizes and harnesses human creative talent en masse.”

Our Responsibility

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I just read the book “The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win” and would like to start by saying that the work that Jeffrey Hollender is doing to change the world, for better, is an inspiration to me.

As for the book that, I advocate as mandatory reading, for all those who believe that we only can change the world when we create economic and social value (the Constructive capitalism), is almost a manual on how we can, assume our responsibility and, implement concrete changes.

Presented cases of organizations as diverse as Nike, Wal-Mart, Novo Nordisk, IBM, Marks & Spencer, Linden Labs (best known for Second Life), E-bay, Patagonia and Timberland, help us understand the difference between corporate responsibility as a marketing tool from responsibility as strategy, as well as, that we can be an organization of constructive capitalism, whether we are recently born as an organization, either already have some path.

Now let's take a look at one of the Do-it-yourself lists, available in the book:

1. Ask a large swath of your company's associates (or if possible, the whole community): what does the world most need that we can uniquely provide?

2. Unearth “the” company's essence, or core identity, by identifying its purpose, work process, and values.

3. Conduct cross-departmental meetings to openly and honestly confront two questions:

- Where are, our actions out of alignment with our values?

- What can we do to ensure greater alignment?

4. Follow-up meetings, should focus on two additional challenges:

- What principles should guide how we work together?

- What are we unwilling to be transparent about ? Why?

5. Answers to the above questions, will help frame the thinking for this final question:

- What's our “specific business case” for forging a more responsible and sustainable company?

One among many

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I finished reading “One from Many: Visa and the Rise of Chaordic Organization excellent book written by Dee Hock, the man who was responsible for the birth of VISA (Visa International Service Association) and visa cards. I share with you some quotes…may be that you try to read it too.

“Why are institutions, everywhere, whether political, commercial, or social, increasingly unable to manage their affairs? Why are individuals, everywhere, increasingly in conflict with and alienated from the institutions of which they are part? Why are society and the biosphere increasingly in disarray?”

“Life is not about control. It’s not about getting. It’s not about having. It’s not about knowing. It’s not even about being. Life is eternal, perpetual becoming, or it´s nothing. Becoming is not a thing to be known, commanded, or controlled. It is a magnificent, mysterious odyssey to be experienced.
At bottom, desire to command and control is a deadly, destructive compulsion to rob self and others of the joys of living.”

“Life is a sacred contract between the dead, the living, and the unborn.”

“The truth is, that given the right circumstances, from no more than dreams, determination, and the liberty to try, quite ordinary people consistently do extraordinary things.”

“…people must come to things in their own time, in their own way, for their own reasons, or they never truly come at all”

“chaordickay’ord-ickadj. (en. and. cha’os and ord’er) 1. The behavior of any self-organizing and self-governing organism, organization, or system that harmoniously blends characteristics of chaos and order.
2. Characteristic of the fundamental, organizing principle of nature.”

“One either trusts or one does not. I prefer trust.”

“…possibility is not determined by opinion, only by attempt.”

“Failure is not to be feared. It is from failure that most growth comes, provided that one can recognize it, admit it, learn from it, rise above it, and try again.”

“If you have built castles in the air your work need not to be lost: that is where they should be. Now put the foundation under them.” (Henry David Thoreau)

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things” (Niccolo di Bernardo Machiavelli)

“the true strength of rulers and empires lies…in the belief of men that they are inflexibly open, truthful, and legal. As soon as government departs from that standard, it ceases to be anything more than the gang in possession and its days are numbered.” (H.G. Wells)

Constructive capitalism – People

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If you have not already, Before reading this post, please read: Constructive capitalism and Constructive capitalism (organizational model)

To be Constructive Capitalism, draft:

It is organized around the People.
Projects for Constructive Capitalism are created by people who want to change the world and, associate this desire, the development of business models that make use of their knowledge and skills, to transform, sustainably, the lives of others.

Choose the best people (for the project)…
The founder of a proposed constructive capitalism, can not but be aware that their success is closely linked to the selection of the people who take part. It is the job of the founder / leader of the project up, create a rigorous and transparent selection of people, based on the values and purpose of the Organization, as well as, for the most “team players”.

…who can engage one hundred percent (the project)
After choosing the best people, is also essential, create the conditions for all employees to a high level of achievement, in other words, everyone should be given opportunities to use their knowledge and skills, to help the organization / movement reaches the peak of their potential.

Focuses on recipients
The projects are built Constructive Capitalism thinking of the recipients. Who creates a draft constructive capitalism, is obsessed by the practice of “golden rule” to only do to others what we would have them do unto us.

People, by people for people!

Constructive capitalism (organizational model)

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I'm of the opinion that the business model that best fits the values espoused by Constructive capitalism is what brings together the power of business to the power of philanthropy. This is a thesis that is based on work:

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace 2006, which made access to credit to people who, hitherto, was denied this possibility, triggering a wave of social entrepreneurship, previously, difficult to imagine.

C. K. Prahalad who presented case studies proving the acquisition of wealth, by organizations that were able to create business models that have been meeting the real needs of populations that are the foundation of the social pyramid. simultaneously, Prahalad argued that only able to improve conditions of people in the bottom of the pyramid, if there is a market capable of generating wealth, Wealth Base of the Pyramid.

Jacqueline Novogratz that, in 2001, fundou o Acumen Fund. Project combining compassion (characteristic of charitable projects) rigor of the management (they must have a project geared to succeed in the capitalist market), support (through the patient capital) business projects that are able to transform the realities of millions of people who are at the base of the pyramid.

TOMS Shoes (Tomorrow shoes). This is a good example of how the power of business can help solve social problems. Blake Mycoskie, created a company that for every pair of shoes that sells, provides a pair, children who lack financial resources to buy.

Constructive capitalism

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Although I have already addressed this issue earlier, beginning today a series of posts on constructive capitalism.

For all the events we all global citizens we have passed in recent times and, face the reality of the century 21, the “capitalism money” appears increasingly less able to be the best systems.

I argue that the future is by Capitalism constructive ....

Constructive capitalism

It was while reading a post Umair Haque (Director do Havas Media Lab), I first heard on Constructive Capitalism. Haque argues that this new kind of capitalism based on the following laws:

1- The strategy is a commodity
2 – The competition is an obsolete practice
3 – There is nothing more than an ideal asymmetric
4 – Tomorrow is today
5 – Are the connections, no transactions (that create value)
6 – Are People, not products (that create value)
7 – Creativity, not productivity (is what creates value)
8 – Results, no revenue (is that they create value)
9 – The competitive advantage can be found in the DNA
10 – The next revolution will be institutional

However, I believe, constructive capitalism is not exhausted in the work of Haque. Over the next days I will present some of the models and theories (advocated and practiced by various authors and organizations) that help to complement the “laws Haque” but, think, constitute the essence of capitalism constructive.

Thinking about new models

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Thinking about new models is the task of us all. My last post, was about the model of wealth at the base of the pyramid, and opportunities within it. Lately I have been thinking, that the current crisis we are experiencing, calls for a new model: middle to base!

Nowadays, many people who previously qualified as middle class, are living a new reality, their purchasing power has fallen. Perhaps the easiest answer from all of us is – They have to stop buying unnecessary things!

However, I believe this new reality deserves a more thoughtful response. I think that people and organizations should join efforts to create innovative solutions in providing products and services that consumers have experienced (and liked) but, if they continue to be offered (only) in ancient manners (achieve maximum profit without worrying about people reality ), they will not be able to buy.

If not, I believe that all those who sell products / services that might be considered superfluous will, sooner or later, stop selling them.

Stop, think and construct

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Stop, think and construct! This motto has accompanied my recent thoughts, because of the book I've read lately (Wealth Base of the Pyramid), as well as, the situation that we currently live in Europe.

I have a passion for business and for business education (in practice), which leads me to read many books written by academics and entrepreneurs, that study business practices, and share with us (experiences from different organizations) what is best made in terms of adequacy to the reality of the business world we live in.

The Book of Prahalad, that I quoted above, is fantastic! Having been first published in 2005 (I read the edition is 2009, with the results of projects that reports up to date), shows us the existence of a new world of opportunities for organizations who can stop to think:

Who are (or they may actually be) their main customers
what their needs;
What business models that will create to meet those needs
How able to engage people in the co-creation of highly profitable business models (not only for the money they can generate, but especially the social impact that may cause).

Despite the recent Forbes list indicate that the number of billionaires has increased in the last year, the number of people living on very low incomes is disproportionately higher. According to Prahalad, these people who are part of the base of the pyramid, and are completely outside the capitalist system as we know it, can only overcome this situation by creating sustainable businesses (that can not be adaptations of models in use in countries and to people of totally different realities) and allowing access to high quality products at a price lower, a larger number of consumers.

Against this panorama, I have no doubts in stating that it is the duty of us all, stop to think and build a new model of capitalism, that focuses on people and our responsibility to change our lives!