What would happen if this was in UK!?? How Chris Hadfield brought space travel back to us Earthlings - Telegraph

How Chris Hadfield brought space travel back to us Earthlings - Telegraph:

Brilliant indeed. Well done to the commander and Canada! 

A thought just came to my mind, why do we not have such brilliance from UK yet!!?  

Maybe the potential consequence of any such creativity might bring? (some might argue that)  if this happens in UK's space station (if there was one!) and with a British astronaut that did such great work (whether or not his/she could sing).  All we could hear now would be the MPs shouting to each other in parliament and media/lobby groups' complaint as to why the money was spent on making such frivolous video!? 

Lets wait and see what  @RichardBranson   video will be like when Galactic flies... no doubt that video will be interesting but it will be his and his financier's achievements.

my comments re What if you learned about personal branding from the greats? | LinkedIn

What if you learned about personal branding from the greats? | LinkedIn:

great post and IMHO if I might add, need to adopt sun tze art of war: 知己知彼，百战不殆. namely know thyself and know your enemy (the world/competitions), 

1.) Know yourself, 

2.) where you want to go and 

3.) then you can devise the right strategy, self branding included. 

the brilliant three examples (in the above blog, Richard brandson, Martha Stewart & Bill Gates) are case in point, we cannot create the same successes (and no one will be able to, ever!) due to the fact that we are not them.  

However we can and have to create our own success (having our own history, challenges, personal stories..) so, first step might be to look back and have a "personal away day"... decide where you come from, where you would like to go, and then decide on how and in fact whether you wanted a personal brand!?

I think having fame & fortune (at least at level of the 3 mentioned) might just be over-rated. :)

BR

@GarethWong

My comments re What Would Ashton Do—and Does It Matter? - Harvard Business Review

What Would Ashton Do—and Does It Matter? - Harvard Business Review:
(must read article & research links above)

I would like to argue that most things relating to celebrities are meaningless.. as per the brilliant documentary done by Chris Atkins shown on Starsuckers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starsuckers

although some celebrities are using their fame to help people, invest in firms like Ashton and maybe likes of @Stephenfry is doing something more by engaging & challenging our mind with his learned intellectual programs (I have to confess I don't watch much TV even before seeing starsuckers)

IMHO, present days popularity and fame is very much like in the 20/30s , they can only influence how you spend the leisure pound, and how they can potentially manipulate media for a 'cause'... 

love the comments made by @annielennox made when she received the HONORARY SKOLL AWARD FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP @skollworldforum  this year reiterating her previous points (Annie Lennox attacks 'horrible' TV talent shows with 'stupid row of judges' - Telegraph http://bit.ly/16giVM2 ) but pointing towards the kardashians (still don't know what the fuss is about, beyond me)

please do not forget that Ashton does not mean anything outside of the popular culture, I am quite sure he is a lovely guy and happy to share a cup of tea with him if he is a down to earth guy.. 

you asked the 1 right question, which is "real influence" should be measured by money or time spent that is done based on suggestions by the influencer.. good example is money spent (e.g. donation to church, local community centre, charity) or time spent /habit change, like joining a martial art club to church choir or really get involved with a local homeless charity, local farm or even create own transparent foundation (not one of those that create one's own worshipping community, fine line, I know!)

Online/mobile, it is very difficult to fit into my definition above as people just change the habit of location of consumption (How to waste one's time)... the best measure I would like to argue then is how much money is spent (only viable measurement) but we human would not like to ask obvious questions, as typically we KNOW we do not like the answers (like why our banks do not know how risky their positions are!? ) .. 

the question is how much money is spent online based on the 'influence', have you guys noticed that there is no research whatsoever on how much total money spent online by whom, via whom and for what!? likewise, if google is the defacto standards, why they charge on per click and why not through per transaction done via their system?? (I love Google services though, as I cannot find any alternatives! so, pls don't break it up yet until I find a replacement for the G-services)

fact of the matter is most people (me included) do not challenge ourselves enough and it is much easier to consume (passive, to be influenced but hardly lifting off fingers, let alone butts) than to create (get involved, try to understand real issues and put some plans into action).. 

This highlight real opportunity for whoever, @aplusk  included if he/she can really affect influence and change the world for the better (via whatever platforms) or just influence how you spend/preserve your resources. 

good luck to us all!

BR

@GarethWong 

RT @GarethWong Must Watch Bril.! @rorysutherland @ICACanada Next revolution will b psychological not technological http://bit.ly/10g19Ag SlidesPls!

The next revolution will be psychological not technological - YouTube:

nothing I can add to the Brilliant lecture by Rory, culminating in many hours of talks given by him, this is probably one of the best, we just need the slides & links to the videos he refers to to make it more complete for those that have not seen the videos..

Cultural clout, interesting view indeed...

Cultural clout:

"Arena Media's Justin Gibbons unveils a new study from Work Research and Bournemouth University, Cultural clout – the role of culture in consumer decision-making, at Shift 2013.

Cultural clout: The role of culture in consumer decision making from Newsworks

see how Tai Chi Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang do not move with 20ppl pushing him, 陳氏太極拳 - 陳小旺 VS 亞洲大力士 - 龍武 - YouTube

陳氏太極拳 - 陳小旺 VS 亞洲大力士 - 龍武 - YouTube:

Chen Tai Chi vs guy that can push a 25 tonnes articulated lorry, can he push master Chen and move him outside of a circle over 3minutes!??

Grandmaster Chen (70years old dring filming) can already stop 20 people pushing him though, fascinated popcorn/dramatic documentary on an almost unbelievable martial art with thousands of years history!

Video - Weekend With Buffett: Berkshire Hathaway Meetup - WSJ.com

Video - Weekend With Buffett: Berkshire Hathaway Meetup - WSJ.com:

The Warren Buffett Gig... a pretty concise video

My comments re Rat Meat Sold as Lamb in China Highlights Fears - NYTimes.com

Rat Meat Sold as Lamb in China Highlights Fears - NYTimes.com:

Must read>>>

can you blame our mainland Chinese friends searching the world for "safer baby milk powder"!??

This is a systemic problem very much like the financial market where short term profit rules except consequences much graver that would affect people's long term health and even might kill people..

Huge problematic issue that need some urgent solution! any ideas??  do not believe that it is only a Chinese problem, as it will affect the world!!

"The police arrested 63 suspects accused of “buying fox, mink and rat and other meat products that had not undergone inspection,” which they doused in gelatin, red pigment, and nitrates, and sold as mutton in Shanghai and adjacent Jiangsu Province for about $1.6 million, according to the ministry’s statement. The account did not explain how exactly the traders acquired the rats and other creatures.

¶ “How many rats does it take to put together a sheep?” said one typically baffled and angry user of Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter-like service that often acts as a forum for public venting. “Is it cheaper to raise rats than sheep? Or does it just not feel right unless you’re making fakes?”

The cases described included a company in Inner Mongolia, a northeast region of China, caught with 23 tons of fake beef jerky and unprocessed frozen meat adulterated with flavoring chemicals and swarming with bacteria. Six suspects in Guizhou Province, in southwest China, were caught with 8.8 tons of “toxic chicken feet” adulterated with illegal additives. Chicken feet, steamed or boiled with spices, are a popular dish in parts of China.

The Ministry of Public Security also described cases of traders selling pigs and ducks that had died from disease, and of another perennial problem: pigs injected with water to increase the weight, and price, of the pork sold on the market.
"

Chinese mothers force gold price rebound | South China Morning Post

Chinese mothers force gold price rebound | South China Morning Post:

IMHO, its all very well when we have all the ETFs & funds based on Gold etc, which satisfy the demand from the 'trader' part of the finance community, we cannot escape the in escapable fact: supply of Gold is limited and demand is either constance or increasing (vs no more new gold found!!) therefore, the investment of the gold bullion is a sure thing!

consequently, maybe governments worldwide should really think about a possibility of using gold rather than debt/currency based model...!?


"Chinese mothers have beaten Wall Street hedge fund managers in forcing a turnaround in the price of gold after it dropped last month.

Taking advantage of the steepest drop in three decades, they have shored up prices by splashing out on gold for their daughters' weddings in the past couple of weeks, foiling the plan of finance gurus who have been short selling the precious metal in the hope of pushing it lower.

"The drop in gold price last month was caused by Wall Street fund managers who wanted to short gold and push it below the US$1,300 per ounce level before piling back in," said Haywood Cheung Tak-hay, the president of the Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society."

'via Blog this'

My short comments re the bold statement by "BlackBerry CEO predicts death of tablets in five years (Wired UK)"

BlackBerry CEO predicts death of tablets in five years (Wired UK):

It's great to be bold, ambitious, & visionary. But success will only arrive if one can deliver, case in point, if iPad,iPhone don't work, no one will pay for them!

I'm a BlackBerry family ; sadly now I have both a torch AND a Z10 as I can't get my 25,000 contacts over.. no. Solution!

As I mentioned to thorsten via email and blog, he needs to be strong & bring company private & focus on products & find a vision/ redefine their own niche.

That advice hasn't changed but with Tim cook being forced to give back cash AND do what a typical ceo do (albeit very rich one!), thorsten's opportunity might be opening up! He needs some vision for the future and Erm deliver (without much short term distractions like quarterly earnings reports!)

more of my previous and still valid comments are here:
http://garethcxo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/my-revised-suggestion-short-blog-for.html?m=1my blog in 2012 re how to secure future of blackberry

What do you think? or you think he is on the right track!?

BR
@GarethWong
(on a z10)