Friday December 21, 2012 is a long-anticipated day. We’ve long ago known it was the “end of the world” as we know it. It also marks the Winter Solstice, the darkest and longest night of the year – which marks the return longer days and light. It is of course the season of Advent in [...]
Archive | Entrepreneurship
In a fragmented world, go deep
I think I have a problem. I cannot go even a few hours without compulsively checking Twitter. I admit to doing what Tiffany Shlain talks about in her movie, Connected, where I sneak off to the bathroom to check email. It’s not even that meaningful, or joyous. I’m not on any particular deadline. There is [...]
If You OverCommit Here, You UnderCommit There
I think a lot about the question of how to spend one’s time. My life consists of three main things: writing, speaking and Board work. I write to hear an idea unfold. I need to write with space because what I think will come out and what comes out are not the same and it’s [...]
Making the List
As a reader, I love to learn from other people’s curated lists of what to read. As a critical thinker, I scan many but only read (and share) a few books. And, yesterday I had a chance to see the Best Book List thing entirely differently. As an author. Fast Company chose #SocialEra as one [...]
Creating Commandments
Blub, blub, blub. That seems the sound track of life right now. As #SocialEra (my new book) has been released into the world, the world has shouted back with enthusiasm. But some days and hours, I’ve felt like the surfboarder being battered by waves as they are flung beneath the surface, not knowing which way [...]
Dare Greatly
I scream at itsy-bitsy spiders. And prefer room service to trying a new restaurant in a foreign city. If my husband startles me… in our own house… when I know he’s there, I can still jump what seems like 100 feet in the air. There are many ways that I am a big chicken. I [...]
Just How Powerful Are You?
By Nilofer Merchant on April 30, 2012 in Entrepreneurship, Featured, Market Power, The Personal Story
When you write online, no one checks to see if you have a journalism degree before they start to read. If you experience an earthquake and want to report on its danger or safety, no one asks your credentials before you report to Ushahidi. And if you were interested a creating a new company, you [...]
Advice to Writers
When I was in grad school, I had this habit to clean the house to avoid the act of studying. I would study with some amount of focus for 20 minutes, and then go scrub the tub and so on. Someone could have created a barometer of sorts for how near it was to Test [...]
The Secret to Being Really, Really Smart
Surprised I was when I opened the Christmas present that held a Canon T3 Digital Camera. After the tornado that is Christmas was over with the ribbons saved and mounds of wrapping paper recycled, I sat down with the manual only to find myself regretting getting this present. How could that initial squeal of delight [...]
2 Ways to Skirt Self-Handicapping
So, why don’t we choose stand out? (Part II of a series on being distinct) If you’ve built a business, you want to have a unique competitive advantage that others can’t copy easily. For any individual, you want to be clear what ideas you are fighting for…or perhaps discovered your superpower. Distinction being the thing [...]