Gene Kim - Rock & Roll Kung Fu Low Tech Style

Posted by Matt | | Posted on 8:46 AM

0


I have worked with Gene for about 5 years and he never ceases to amaze me. We have had many interesting conversations and Gene's thirst for knowledge is never ending. Gene is a founder of Tripwire and just a really smart and curious person. Gene is well know in our part of the software world and has a great technical knowledge which we refer to as Kung Fu. I was in visiting Gene and Dwayne Melancon the other day and Gene pulls out this ancient looking device. Dwayne and I normally discuss the newest gadget coming out or website we found. So we harassed Gene thoroughly but Gene had a great point. He is easily distracted by email the Internet and every other possibly thing. I realized that I am the same way. So what is this thing? It is the NEC MobilePro 900c and it is actually a new product. It is a device with a full keyboard and some software. It allows Gene to write and not be distracted because he can't go to email or the Internet. Focus is a very difficult thing and going more low tech and slowing down might be the answer to better focus.



A New iMac Released Tomorrow?

Posted by Matt | | Posted on 9:40 PM

0

For some time now there has been rumors of a new iMac to hit the streets. It has been rumored to come out later this summer but the summer is disappearing rapidly. I am not a Mac user but I think our next computer purchase will be an iMac. My wife will love the easy interface for pictures and video and I think it will reduce her frustration she has will our slow Dell.


Apple is hosting a Mac-related media event. The rumor is that they will be available directly after the meeting. According to www.appleinsider.com Apple has issued 3 new price points to suppliers. A 24” will look great in our office! Apple sure knows how to get the media worked up over a product release.


Made to Stick - Concrete Ideas

Posted by Matt | Posted in | Posted on 10:12 PM

0




The current book I am reading is Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. I am only about half way through the book but I wanted to make a post based on what I have gleamed so far. The book is interesting but the concepts seem simple but not obvious. Most of the concepts to this point are around how stories are constructed that make people remember stories.




The point that I found very interesting and useful for me was the concrete idea. This is one of the most simple and most overlooked concepts I have read about in a long time. I have just completed the first year of an MBA program that ended with a Finance class. You could tell that the teacher was smart but could not get the ideas across in class. I thought that the class was going to revolt after the first couple of weeks. Most people realized it was not going to change and just accepted it. People struggled and I was fairly frustrated myself. Then he instituted a project that the class had to go and figure out the weighted cost of capital for their own company. This was finally something concrete that was close to home for all of us. All the sudden people started learning something! Because of a concrete idea they could latch onto. I learned more from that project than hours of teaching or problems. As I looked back on most of the classes we took the concepts I remember and will take away are concrete examples that I could relate to. I will give another update when I finish the book.