The new "old" way of entertaining ourselves....

I was reading today that time spent online for entertainment has dropped 29% while communication online has grown 18% during the same period (2006-2008 - Netpop Research).

Why is this? Is it because we are getting tired of the offerings out there (hey, poker is even maturing) or is it because at the heart of why communities and technologies are evolving at such a rapid pace is because it betters the way we do what we do day-to-day? Communicate. Even the forms of "entertainment" that we have been participating in online during the popularity and previous growth spurs have not been around long enough to earn my ranking up there with the truest form of entertainment, I mean in the big scheme of things how long has Internet gaming been around compared to say, watching sporting events, cards or dice games? Even though we try and bridge the gap and make these games as life-like as possible who would not prefer to be sitting around a table with friends a cold brewskie and have a game of cards? Playing online fills the need for available players and convenience but I am not sure it fills a higher level or hierarchy of needs for us to really communicate (Maslow anyone).

Anyway, as I ponder this information I will write back and discuss this in more detail but this post is really to capture the news that makes me go hmmmm..

So next time you Tweet, SMS, Digg, IM, MySpace or Facebook(post) are you entertained or really just communicating? Let me know.

M

Releasing the Handbrake

1st off I am really new at this so don't expect too much from me in the beginning.

What is driving me to write down my thoughts and put it on the net, you ask? It's because I truly am a collaborator and I feel that if I put it "out-there" it will stir up conversation and dialogue that will hopefully help me to learn more on how to utilize "communities" or get people working together to help each other get thru the tough times and drive successfully organiztional and personal change - because we all know the story - the only thing that is certain is change -right? And how can you get more interesting of a topic than to try and figure out how to get your organization to a performance and cultural place where you are firing on all cylinders (another car reference, I see a theme developing here...) because in these times of tight times and tough decisions the cultures that were on track before the r*^%s#! are the ones who are going to make it through the recession (oops!) with the most success.

Topics that are on my mind to write about in the coming months are going to primarily focus on innovation, how to lead as a positive example, how best to communicate corporate or organizational directions, and most importantly how to get the different personalities in your company to "release the handbrake" and enable them to contribute and leave behind their own legacy of success and not because they HAVE to but because they WANT to (big difference).

So whether you agree or disagree with my posts I truly hope you come back provide conversation (either positive or negative) and help me try and figure out the best way to enable all of us to thrive and be successful in this world of change. Because as the most famous farmer of all once said; "You can't milk that cow forever". Thank you Farmer Brown.

I love this diagram, it has so many commonalities in how I envision organizations and how best for us to approach change and continue to innovate, increaseing the level of entrepreneurialship (see now I am making up words), and that there IS going to be a way to capsuleize the best way to navigate change both at the organizational and individual level while maintaining your own integrity and style.

Just try for a moment to visualize the steps in the diagram while overlaying what you want to do for your organization (or yourself) and how to take the momentum (or lack of it) and that the best way to accelerate it or change it is with a quick A,B, C, D, E, (to be defined) and put yourself in the right position to hit the accelerator (think of what a new Ferrari would feel like pulling away in step E).

All the best, M.