Why Top-to-down business is not working anymore?

Is it me or it feels like something is wrong when you buy a book in a physical bookstore? Why should I watch that horrible programs broadcasted on the TV for mediocre minds when I can  watch whatever I want on Youtube? If you have not asked that questions yet, maybe it´s time to do it. Because all these questions that deal with the Internet world as a substitute to some traditional products and services are changing behaviors, then societies and, after all, economies.

I am not the first saying that everything has changed. Don Tapscott said it in his brilliant book called “wikinomics” in 2006, where he anticipated the breakdown of the traditional companies if they don´t adapt their business strategies to the new economic scenario. Why should I watch TV news when all I need is to have a look in twitter to know what is happening?  Inmediate networked services are winning the battle of the audiences, and why is that? Is the same reason as always: when you can have it now, cheap an easy. Then you´ve got a winner.

And who is suffering all that change? The companies who still keep approaching their business in a Top to down approach (WE design a product, WE protect it from our competitors, WE send our message to the targeted people, WE sell it in a propietary way, WE dont have to ask the client if he is satisfied, WE are leaders, big and…dead). And, on the other hand, businesses, public institutions and organizations that change their mind and start working FOR their prosumers (producers & consumers) are experiencing higher growth rates than ever. It is as easy as finding the community you want to talk with, giving them the conversation they need to have, and finally, produce for them the products that nobody is giving them because they are not being heard.

The times when big companies enforced clients to buy their products ” in their way” finished long time ago. Now you have to adapt your business to the people. You have to listen to them, talk to them, study what are their needs, and build a product specifically designed to satisfy them at this moment. It has to be fast, it has to be smart (because if you don´t do it now, tomorrow you will have a competitor somewhere over the world), and it has to be sincere. Now doing business is the nearest thing to have a relationship: if you cheat your customer, there is not a second chance. The magic is gone.

If you want to think about that issues, please have a look to the following video:

We are too greater nation to limit ourselves to small dreams

It´s time to think big. When everything around seems to be falling apart, it´s time to believe. To believe in ourselves as a nation, as a community. This video just want you to think that we have been in tough times before, and as we did then, we will solve our problems and will take the place in the world we deserve. Leading is about make people believe that they can, and that is what I feel when I watch this video.

The major problem I see when I look to my loved country, Spain, is that I do not see that leadership. I do not see commitment, I do not see big dreams. If you have the same impression, it´s time to react. Complain about the situation will not lead us to a better future, but start doing things that change that present will (maybe) make our people believe that they can, that it is possible. Crisis are just times to change, and I believe that we can change.  Please do not limit ourselves to small dreams…

Managers, motivation and inspiration

It´s been a long time since I reached the conclusion that motivation is everything. Managers should not be people with power to fire but with power to inspire. Why do I say that? Well, teams are a really difficult issue to deal with (For me, the most difficult and challenging one) and the task of managing  people should be in charge of managers with the ability to motivate them, to inspire individuals to believe in what they are doing.

The job of the manager consists on creating a smiling face image each morning when his team wake up. My work rocks! is what the team has to believe, and the first person that has to beleive it is the manager. When you think that, everything that you do for the common purpose worths it, and then you become the most productive guy of the whole earth. Happy people creates successful companies, and the work of a good manager is to make people feel comfortable and happy in their workplace.

Motivate is difficult to achieve, but the excellence is being able to inspire. There is no work as demanding as that. Inspire people is give them an example of behavior every single day, every morning, in every decision. The values you want to see in your colleages are the values that you have to show, and that is the way you have to act. Every detail is a must, every reaction has to be clear and secure. You have to become the “Example man”, and your challenge is to create as many “Example men” as you can in your team,  so the day you have to go, the guy in charge will be, at least, as good as the guy that is gone.

A shared culture – Creative Commons

Today I am sharing with you this video about the creative commons licenses. It is not an easy question the intelectual property of the contents and the multiple ways it can be considered on the internet. Nowadays, we live in an interconected culture where sharing is not only important but necessary. Take a few minutes to think about it.

The 4 Hour Workweek! Is it possible?

Tim Ferris, the author of “The 4 hour workweek” summarizes in this video  the principles to get what he has achieved: The 4 hour workweek. These days with emails, blackberrys, sms, cell phones…is it possible? Well, when you hear him it really makes sense. Congratulations to him! I will definitely read his book. Thanks to Diana Carrasco for the information about this author!