I have to start by saying the following in the most non-judgemental way – I am PhD Cultural Anthropologist who did his dissertation research in Papua New Guinea and has spent the last 9 years doing market research (ethnographic consulting) for Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Microsoft, Kraft, General Mills, Adobe and many more. So I’ve read and gotten something from all those business books out there. But last night I’m reading Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and I hit a quote from one of his cast of characters and I am blown away by the insight the quote provides me – personally and professionally. Unlike most business books, the quote leaves me full and satisfied and able to apply it in so many ways. So here it is:
“It’s only those peoples that have an intuitive sense of what’s of importance and significance in their institutions, and know how to value them, that have a future before them – it’s only those peoples that one can truly call historical.”
Read that quote and then consider any or all of the following thought starters:
What does the quote say about:
1) How well I know myself?
2) My relationship with my family?
3) How I work with others?
4) The way I make decisions about my business?
5) The choices I make (or made) in my personal and professional life?
6) Who I trust as the next president of the United States?
7) How I make sense of the current economic bailout package?
The measure of great insight is how much clarity of thought you get and the positive direction that insight takes you. So I have an unlimited offer. Call me 410 223 3589 or write me rblinkoff@contextresearch.com and I will provide totally solicited advice based on this quote. My goal is to insight as many people as possible by using this quote. What do you have to gain?
September 23rd, 2008 - Posted in Anthropology, Behavior, Cultural Trends, Ethnography, Habits, Robbie's Thoughts | |
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3 Comments
I just read that it’s possible the engineer during the fatal California train wreck was driving and texting. As anthropologists we often speak about the evolution of technology or more aptly the evolution of behavior and technology. Boundaries around people’s behavior with new technology take longer to develop than the adoption of the technology itself. If these deaths in California (which did include the engineer) were due to texting while driving, it’s terribly sad and tragic. Even if texting ends up not the cause, clearly California and likely the nation, will create texting legislation. It’s not the first time in my personal experience where I’ve felt the need for the boundaries around behavior to catch up with texting and mobile phone adoption. I used to frequent the buses here in Baltimore and more often than I care to mention I watched drivers make phone calls and text while driving. As anthropologists it’s fascinating to watch the evolution of behavior with new technology. But when that adoption curve means likely death, society needs to step in sooner to speed up the adoption.
September 18th, 2008 - Posted in Anthropology, Behavior, Consumer Products, Cultural Trends, Ethnography | |
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7 Comments
Really, is it a surprise that his name is Karl? It’s kind of like a “he who shall not be named” and Harry Potter kind of thing, huh? He helped us Dems come back to our roots. We’re flying high on Obama — and rightly so. But we need to fully embrace our real work — to sit down and really engage with people whose points of view we do not share. We must remember, as a friend pointed out yesterday, on the face of it we share their values — autonomy, integrity, family, hard work. It’s not about turning them into us or us into them. It’s about finding ground on which we can move forward. And that’s where Dems shine in their lives. And it’s precisely this ability that makes Obama the person he is and the president he will be. Thanks Karl.
September 10th, 2008 - Posted in Anthropology, Cultural Trends | |
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2 Comments