Reading Jim Collins's popular book Good to Great, I realize the importance of people.
In his description of level 5 leadership, he stressed the importance of: Get the right people first, then let them decide what to do.
Having unsuitable people will affect the culture and de-motivate the right people.
What defines a person? It's his/her previous experience, education and "character". Among them, "character" is the most important, because it is the only thing that can't be changed, and it will affect his/her future growth. With the right "character", one can quickly gain experience and obtain new knowledge.
What defines the "right" character?
I would say integrity, optimism, open-mindedness, responsibility.
These are things that's formed in the early stage of life and can never change in the later life.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Difference between product and research
Having launched more than 4 major releases into production, I finally convince myself that I am qualified to talk about the difference between application research and product.
In research, you want to keep at least three new ideas going in parallel, because it's cheaper to fail any of them (the cost is just your time) than having nothing to show at the annual review. You grew used to failures, because that's what 99% of risky research is supposed be.
In production, you want to stick to the next release and make sure it's as solid as time allows, because anything went wrong in production, someone's head is going to roll. You became pragmatic the pace for advance. It's more important to make a strategic move than solve a hard problem.
Ideally, a company would need both. But only the really big monopolies can afford to have both, in their good times.
When the going gets tough, product group are much safer than blue-sky research.
In research, you want to keep at least three new ideas going in parallel, because it's cheaper to fail any of them (the cost is just your time) than having nothing to show at the annual review. You grew used to failures, because that's what 99% of risky research is supposed be.
In production, you want to stick to the next release and make sure it's as solid as time allows, because anything went wrong in production, someone's head is going to roll. You became pragmatic the pace for advance. It's more important to make a strategic move than solve a hard problem.
Ideally, a company would need both. But only the really big monopolies can afford to have both, in their good times.
When the going gets tough, product group are much safer than blue-sky research.
Monday, February 2, 2009
How America has changed since Nov 2008
You can tell just by picking up any movies pre-recession.
"The Holiday": big SUVs, huge house in LA, first-class flights. Just 10 minutes into the movie, you know Amanda's lavish life is not happening today. She can safely get her mind off the little sentimental troubles and focus on how to pay the bills.
Let's face it, no business is recession-proof. Not marketers on Madison Ave, Not celebrities on Sunset Blvd, Not even the mafias on the Strip.
And when Graham, the charming British book editor, portraying his mother, an important Random House editor, a strong working woman. I have to say the game has changed, and the movie script writers weren't pay attention.
The recession is an excellent chance for POD (I mean publishing on demand, not just print), because the blockbuster model of publishing is simply not sustainable.
"The Holiday": big SUVs, huge house in LA, first-class flights. Just 10 minutes into the movie, you know Amanda's lavish life is not happening today. She can safely get her mind off the little sentimental troubles and focus on how to pay the bills.
Let's face it, no business is recession-proof. Not marketers on Madison Ave, Not celebrities on Sunset Blvd, Not even the mafias on the Strip.
And when Graham, the charming British book editor, portraying his mother, an important Random House editor, a strong working woman. I have to say the game has changed, and the movie script writers weren't pay attention.
The recession is an excellent chance for POD (I mean publishing on demand, not just print), because the blockbuster model of publishing is simply not sustainable.
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