Comments on: Knowledge, Perspective and Institutionalism http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/ Entrepreneur | Writer | Speaker Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:23:47 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Eve Dmochowska http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/comment-page-1/#comment-44875 Eve Dmochowska Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:51:37 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/?p=819#comment-44875 Your post reminds me of an analogy i heard recently; "Living in the monkey cage". Basicaly,when you first enter a monkey cage, it stinks. You don't like to be there, and you can see all sort of reasons why you should *not* be there. But the longer you stay, the more accetable it becomes. before you know it, you've taught yourself to ignore the unpleasantires, and are Ok with the status quo. But anybody new who enters the cage, or who visits you is as put off as you were in the beginning. They bring a new perspective to something that should be obvious at all times. Now, of course I am not saying that business/banks etc are monkey cages, or that we are monkeys or;- any other metaphors you might draw from this story :-) But I am saying that a new, fresh outlook from an outsider is often (always?) a very good thing. It is one of the reasons why Meg W. from ebay stepped down after 10yrs, despite taking the company to great success. it is also the reason why boards have non-executive board members, who are not too embroiled in the company, but who can offer a new perspective. I have often thought that we need an informal gathering of web thinkers and entreprenuers in SA to offer advice, and this different perspective. it is just too easy to get so bogged down with everyday, that you do not see the forest for the trees. Your post reminds me of an analogy i heard recently; “Living in the monkey cage”. Basicaly,when you first enter a monkey cage, it stinks. You don’t like to be there, and you can see all sort of reasons why you should *not* be there. But the longer you stay, the more accetable it becomes. before you know it, you’ve taught yourself to ignore the unpleasantires, and are Ok with the status quo. But anybody new who enters the cage, or who visits you is as put off as you were in the beginning. They bring a new perspective to something that should be obvious at all times.

Now, of course I am not saying that business/banks etc are monkey cages, or that we are monkeys or;- any other metaphors you might draw from this story :-)

But I am saying that a new, fresh outlook from an outsider is often (always?) a very good thing. It is one of the reasons why Meg W. from ebay stepped down after 10yrs, despite taking the company to great success.

it is also the reason why boards have non-executive board members, who are not too embroiled in the company, but who can offer a new perspective.

I have often thought that we need an informal gathering of web thinkers and entreprenuers in SA to offer advice, and this different perspective. it is just too easy to get so bogged down with everyday, that you do not see the forest for the trees.

]]> By: Kat http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/comment-page-1/#comment-44772 Kat Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:23:21 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/?p=819#comment-44772 Well said. For me that's actually what makes the concept of brand perception such a cool thing - the ideas and reactions of people external to your company arguably define your business just as much, if not more than you do - so it stands to reason that companies should put greater stock in these opinions, especially when they're negative. I also have to admit that being a new-comer like myself, it's comforting to think that my relative inexperience can sometimes count in my favour. :) Well said. For me that’s actually what makes the concept of brand perception such a cool thing – the ideas and reactions of people external to your company arguably define your business just as much, if not more than you do – so it stands to reason that companies should put greater stock in these opinions, especially when they’re negative. I also have to admit that being a new-comer like myself, it’s comforting to think that my relative inexperience can sometimes count in my favour. :)

]]> By: how to start a conversation http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/comment-page-1/#comment-44734 how to start a conversation Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:43:07 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/?p=819#comment-44734 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Walter Pike http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/comment-page-1/#comment-44729 Walter Pike Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:26:15 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/?p=819#comment-44729 Here is a link to an article from Theodore Levitt called marketing myopia, written in 1960 and still misunderstood even today it should be essential reading for everyone in marketing - the ice cutters as well. www.dallascap.com/pdfs/MarketingMyopia.pdf If you are in marketing and have never read it - 1000 push ups please! Here is a link to an article from Theodore Levitt called marketing myopia, written in 1960 and still misunderstood even today it should be essential reading for everyone in marketing – the ice cutters as well.

http://www.dallascap.com/pdfs/MarketingMyopia.pdf

If you are in marketing and have never read it – 1000 push ups please!

]]> By: Knowledge, Perspective and Institutionalism http://www.mikestopforth.com/2008/07/15/knowledge-perspective-and-institutionalism/comment-page-1/#comment-44723 Knowledge, Perspective and Institutionalism Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:22:32 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/?p=819#comment-44723 [...] mikestopforth.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt One of the most inspirational characters I’ve ever met is a guy by the name of Rich Mulholland. Rich runs two companies, Missing Link and Thunk!, the former being a ‘presentation strategy company’ and the latter a ‘perspective lab’.  Rich’s story is an inspiring one – having progressed from rock band roadie to uber-successful entrepreneur in a decade, he is widely known and recognised for his irreverent style, piercing business insight and extensively tattooed body!  Personally, Rich has been t [...]

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