The Philippe Back Report

Apple released iBooks2 and a new textbook creation app for the Mac (You’ll need Lion for that, and even if these things are free, they’ll end up pocketing money from that new tide of upgrades – I know they will from me).

Keynote already made a huge difference to helping me communicate to an audience (people seeing the presentations tell me regularly: hey, this is definitely *not* a PowerPoint, it looks waay better, and is more effective!).

So, I was using it on my iPad to convey ideas in meetings, where it brings a sense of closeness and bonding that helps in securing business.

But with the textbooks that do come to life, we enter a new dimension. Think about all Seth Godin PDFs in the form of animated Textbooks, think about curated content with comments on a given subject put together and released to the world!

Mmh, in a sense, it is weird that this is announced aroud the time SOPA gets protested and MegaVideo got busted by the FBI. But I may digress.

Anyway, this is a super gift for all of us who have value to share. And sharing this way is really making it all exciting. That’s what Apple products have succeeded in doing: getting people involved in getting excited again. It is not happening with Linux, it is not happening with Windows. It is happening with Apple products, and a bit less with Android phones.

I’ve bet a lot of the farm on Apple. Not because I am any kind of fanboi, but because it is the logical thing to do when a cash-laden company uses it to roll out such innovative and stimulating stuff ot the world.

That’s what Apple is strong with: cash-loaded, innovative, master of their supply chain, and controlling the delivery channel. Walled garden? Sure! But generating money and recognition for the players: very very true indeed! Love, money, recognition: they made it so that you get the three assembled with Apple.

That’s what leadership is about: instilling the motivation to follow and make your best.

So, Apple may lead to people challenging jumping off buildings at Foxconn (and doing something about it, as was reported) but they also deliver us these.

I started with an Apple II eons ago, moved off when they were out of fancy, and am back to them 20+ years later. Yet another proof that you can turn things over given the right decisions. Quite different from Kodak. But quite alike to Fujitsu.

Some more info: http://mashable.com/2012/01/19/this-is-how-apple-changes-education-forever/

The old way: get the dog to comply through usage of fear. Also know as: the owner as oppressor and dictator. Negative reinforcement.

The new way: get the dog to commit through the usage of leadership. Also known as: the owner as leader and guide. Positive reinforcement.

I find it very interesting that dogs and humans have so much in common here. And I never really understood why people in charge too often choose the dictatorship avenue.

So, if you really are interested in positive outcomes from a committed team, you know what to do!

The Digital Innovation Platform

We need to change the mindset towards innovation: make it cool, make it accessible.

Enable open social networks about that.

But talk is cheap. Let’s get real. With real products.

Think-Do-change

Think=share resources

Do=talk about it-pitch ideas

So that peers can give feedback and make the idea grow.

Change=build

Through closed workspaces. On the web.

Get in touch with mentors. And with … Money!

Good but today, this is not live yet. (and from what I saw just a Ning.com community)

The community is wired with twitter, fb, and linked in.

The next European innovation 2.0 tool.

There is a need for a lot of feedback.

The innovation dream in Europe: being able to achieve things that have not been done anywhere else in the world.

Potential for quantum computing is going to change computing. I would say spintronics but who am I hey!

Over qualified people not finding a job up to their talent.

Root of the issue?

Europe is currently losing ground against competition. There is an emergency here.

Innovation affects all of us.

To address this:

First innovation is not research. Entrepreneurship is not innovation.

Innovation is connected to both but is on it’s own.

Shared risk. Since putting more money down the tubes isn’t going to help.

Society that supports individuals wanting to take risks.

But how?

By improving access to innovation.

Today: to fuzzy.

By providing facilities

By enhancing our participation.

By removing barriers.

We aren’t there yet!!,!

Think – Do – Change loop.

The eyif process looks like a funnel.

From idea to help to reality.

So, the digital innovation platform is there to help.

Some soundbites and opinion…

Things are never going to be like they were before.

No more life long shelter, no more people looking for you. We have accept that we are going to another society.

We have accept that there is a duty to play our part as a society and influences on a daily based through social innovation.

We are never going to be back to the old ways. You have to innovate in order to participate. Even as a consumer. Prosumer anyone?

Eyif could well be a movement supporting this in our European space.

SECURITY IS IN YOUR OWN TALENT!!!!! YEEEEEESSSS!!!!

+10000000!!!!!

SME is not equal to “startup”. Geez yeah, I hope so. Knowledge is quite denser at a startup.

If only one takeaway: security lies in our own talent. Cool!

Merge Einstein and Jobs and keeps that in Europe. Interesting pun on jobs. And I am not really wanting such a cross over. Psychologically speaking, we may end up in dire straits!

Burning Focus

The more I am in my line of business, the more I come to appreciate the power of focus.

Focus is the enabler. Focus allows one to get somewhere instead of spending scarce energy and time for no clear outcome.

Focus is really what is missing in a lot of places. Including mine when I am not achieving what I want to achieve.

When I feel like I am spinning my wheels, it is that I’ve lost my focus. When focus is laser sharp, there is no issue. Things get done, progress happens, the client condition gets improved.

And focus doesn’t come only in one size: focus has to be clear from the top strategic positioning down to the task being carried out right now.

This means: focus on what business line we are in, focus on what processes are key, focus on what objectives we are after, focus on what technology to learn and use, focus on what systems we put in place, focus on what kind of changes we want to do, and focus on what time and resources we want to spend on achieving our goals.

Focus is a harsh master but it is like Zen. You have to get rid of the superfluous baggage to move faster, lighter, and with more confidence, pride, and joy.

Given today’s social pressure and hectic frenzied society, the only answer that makes sense is to focus on what is our true path. And that’s not living the life of someone else because we think that it is what we think we want. We have to listen to our own drummer that calls us.

That’s the mission, that’s what gives focus, that’s where the energy comes from.

I came to think that I am there to contribute to make better “next ones.” Because we are still in the stone age when it comes to communicating well, improvement, walking the talk, and generally getting results that are up to what we can be up to.

There is elegance is the mission, this is what feeds my soul when we work together. And it will feed yours too.

So, focus is the ultimate power, the ultimate aligner, your harshest master and best friend ever.

Cut the crap, drop the useless, harness the load, and get moving. You’ll love the feeling!