go team.

stephen

These are my homeboys from Propel.

Kids, this is called bootstrapping (taking our own head-shots)  [we're currently gray boxes on our site - but that all changes after tonight :) ]

Although we were ill-prepared (50mm macro lens + construction lights + painters drop cloth)  - we came through with some acceptable head-shots.

If we were ballers we would fly Dave White out, but we’re still a work in progress…. thus we did it ourselves.

be good

Stephen

I don’t know where I was going with the tree…

But, I do know where I am going with this post. Design.

Yes, design. And, it is the answer.

Here’s a recap of how I came to this [sentence above] - (and it’s something that both you and I have known for sometime -but I got another aha! moment with it)

So I was watching Heroes with my boys.

After the show, Hiro came on in a commercial and was telling everyone that they should unplug appliances when not in use because it could save like 10% on their electricity bill. . .

I was like  -

“See, take that Woodward - it does help if you unplug the toaster!!”

Woodward -

” Whatever, I don’t care it’s stupid.”

Myles -

“So what it’s like 10% on the electricity bill…”

Me -

“Yeah, but 10% collectively is a ton…. we’re like a bunch of snowflakes - you add us up and you’ve all of a sudden…”

Myles -

“Yeah, but when you know that 95% of the people (aka snowflakes) aren’t going to do anything, then it’s futile.”

Me -

“Damn-it!  You are right. (he’s right - don’t front and be all like ‘ i believe in humanity ‘…) “

Myles -

“It’s the people who design this crap whose job it is to make stuff that doesn’t use electricity when not in use”  (God that was a train wreck of a sentence - see footnote of post for clarification)

Me -

( Stunned silence - exit stage left to go write this blog post)

Myles is right, the design IS the answer, and those are designers can drastically effect behavior by how they design.  Everything CAN be designed.   Thus,  it might be said that MORE applied design thinking to our problems is really what we need more of.

I think this is powerful (not really that profound, but powerful. )

I’ll offer one anecdotal quip about design -  the iPhone -  by virtue of design it has changed the way we do a lot of things.  A lot.  Interact, purchase things, the ability to access data on the fly probably effects your travel patterns (i use GPS to look at traffic).

Have we mis-valued design all this time?  I dunno.  What matters is how we use it/value it going forward.

Anyways…

In the end, design IS the answer.  Americans are good at buying shit, by and large that’s about it (oh, and complaining - we’re still good at that).   [Scary fact - our GDP is 73% consumer product driven - we don't make shite no mo' - we buy it.]

Anyways, here’s a good link to article about design thinking - Idris Mootee.

He’s a smart dude.

I offer no resolution in this post, kind of Spike Lee style, and pass upon you the awareness of opinion only. If you agree - go do something.

Be good.

stephen

________________________________

Disclaimer notes - Myles and Woodrow probably didn’t say exactly what I typed - so if either one runs for president, these remarks cannot be used for or against them.

Took a peak around this afternoon, and here’s what I saw.

More after the jump… (click the continue reading link below )

No, this is not about ‘that’ kind of bender.  Instead,  I went on a bender of new perspective - and this morning it concerned America and the econ.

Now, I’m the first to admit that you will not get insight here on the economy; I offer only a front row seat to my meanderings about the many things I do not understand.

Today - I entered two more pieces of info into my head to klink around.

ONE: This youtube trailer of a movie called “BROKE - the new American Dream”

TWO: Nassim Taleb Link (audio) about why Portfolio theory is ‘Hogwash” (so worth the listen)

Click Here

Here are my take aways -

While I am not happy about all of the financial collapse/crisis/meltdown - (by which my retirement ‘nest egg’ go turned back into an embryo) — I am thankful that it happened during a time when I am old enough to be cognizant of the whole thing.  The last time we had financial woe’s (Internet bubble) I was in school and didn’t get it.  Before that (1980’s) I was still digging holes in the dirt with sticks, cause that’s what kids in NH do.

So - if I am smart (which the jury is still out on)  I will forever remember the following:

DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE - EVER!!!!

— the challenge now lies in masterfully applying that throughout the remainder of my breathing days.

be good

stephen