The Business End of Technology

Here's an article I contributed to recently by John Hazard of eWeek on business service management and the best practice meme ITIL. -- Notable prediction by Forrester for 23% growth in the BSM market this year!

Spinning the Big Donor

Reality TV is a little different in the Netherlands. While our shows have become more bizarre and more-luck-than-talent based, the "Big Donor Show" can win savvy contestants a kidney through persuasive appeals to its donor.

Even the Dutch aren't entirely happy with it, admitting it is "controversial." The wishes of the organ's donor override the order on the current four-year waiting list while the donor is alive. But the education minister says his hands are tied as freedom of speech keeps him from "interfering in the content of programs." ...Every education minister's conundrum.

In Memoriam

The click-rates are high on articles about the rising number of casualties lost in Iraq or a mother camped on the lawn outside the president's house because her son was killed.

When you think of the government in the 21st century, you may think of the postal system, government schools or social security. The framers of the constitution had a primary emphasis on one purpose and it wasn't the redistribution of wealth. The central government provides for the common defense.

They knew there was a cost to freedom. And there still is. Happy Memorial Day, particularly to you veterans. Eyes right.

A Big Little Book from Seth Godin

Do you remember Big Little books when you were a kid? I must have had twenty or thirty of them (Gentle Ben, Johnny Quest,...) and dog-eared the pages on every one. There's something handy about a pocket-sized version of a good book.

Seth Godin's new book, The Dip is "a little book that teaches you when to quit (and when to stick)," although it would require a hip-hop size pocket in your britches.

The house was packed this morning for Seth's Chicago installment of the book tour at Maggiano's. The point of Seth's presentation, although he says it's not meant to be motivational, is to encourage you that the "dips" you find yourself in from time to time may be cul-de-sacs where you need to recognize a lack of potential, but more often are setbacks that real visionary success doesn't often come without.

For example, Seth predicts the Zune's failure for not doing what something with real vision, something that's worth the investment of sticking through the dips, does - being the best in the world. It's objective is to be an iPod challenger, but not to be the best. Microsoft is destined for a cul-de-sac on this one, even with the new Halo-3 version.

So pick something you can be the best in the world at and stick to it and work through the dips. Good advice from someone who's the best in the world at writing powerful big-little books on marketing!

Wii Would Like To Be The Next iPod

The Wii is an innovative twist on videogaming -- no question about it. I had a chance to try it out recently with some friends and it is immediately obvious that in the words of another marketing pitch, "this changes everything." The next thing begging to be built into the package is foot controllers, which will make things even more interesting as the most popular video game of all time is FIFA Soccer.

But as great a product as the Wii is (too great in fact; Nintendo is now doing their best to "fix this abnormal lack of stock") their punchy marketing story certainly played a big part in its success. This is a great ad. Even after seeing it a few times, it's still fun to watch. It's got different levels of humor -- the smartcar, the stereotyped characters, the men on mission, and a bringing-the-world-together message. It's all about you. No wonder.