Monthly Archives: April 2005

Broken Networks: The Weakness of Weak Ties

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: The Internet has made it technologically possible for anyone to find and connect with anyone else — and for ideal relationships to be established. But these idealized connections are rendered almost impossible by human nature, which leads us … Continue reading →

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The Real Difference Between Humans and Other Animals

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Dave Pollard

A couple of years ago Chelsea, our dog, accidentally got into a fight with a woodchuck (she was exploring a large hole beside the walking trail in the conservation are near our home, and the sharp-clawed woodchuck didn’t like the … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 11 Comments

Decisions, Decisions

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: We spend much of our lives making decisions. Too often we use the wrong tools to make them, and, not surprisingly, end up making the wrong decisions. Or putting off making a decision at all. When I was … Continue reading →

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AHA!

Posted on April 10, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: Following is the most recent edition of AHA!: my proposal for a virtual ‘Discovery and Learning Centre’ that would use state-of-the-art tools and techniques to tackle business problems Monday to Friday, for a fee, and then on weekends … Continue reading →

Posted in Working Smarter | 10 Comments

Worth a Look

Posted on April 9, 2005 by Dave Pollard

Google Aerial Photos of Your Home: I mentioned this already, but it’s quite amazing. Use the map view to zero in on your home, or that of family or friends (or any other place) in North America (double-click to re-centre, … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | Comments Off on Worth a Look

Ancient Wisdom: Leave the Decisions Up to Individuals

Posted on April 8, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: Open Space offers a process for decision making that is the exact opposite of that used in most Western organizations: A collective understanding emerges from conversations, and individuals are then entrusted to decide what should be done. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 1 Comment

I’m Still Sitting Here

Posted on April 7, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: Perhaps the reason the world is in such terrible shape is that those who have the ideas and answers on how to change it are paralyzed by a self-inflicted and very human condition that is hugely difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 20 Comments

Ideas for Better Conversations

Posted on April 6, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: A summary of the importance of conversation as a catalyst of cultural evolution, the seven purposes of conversation, some ‘cultural anthropology’ on how conversations ‘operate’ today, and a first stab at some rules or principles we could learn … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 6 Comments

Three Beauties

Posted on April 5, 2005 by Dave Pollard

Talented beauties: Avril Lavigne, JoJo Levesque, and Eliza Dushku The Idea:  By making beauty scarce, we have paradoxically lessened, rather than increased, its value. This article explores how and perhaps why this paucity of beauty has come about, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 6 Comments

Meeting the Acute Need for Entrepreneurial Skills

Posted on April 4, 2005 by Dave Pollard

The Idea: The New Economy will have an explosive need for critical entrepreneurial skills. Universities are not equipped or inclined to provide them. You can’t learn them just by reading a book. We need to create a whole new ‘channel’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Working Smarter | 5 Comments