The Compound Effect

Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine, wrote The Compound Effect about how small things done consistently over time have big outcomes.

This effect is more powerful if large groups of people are doing the same thing. 
THink of Angry Birds.  In roughly 3 years people around the world have played and accumulated 200,000 years of the simple game.  Your 15 minutes, my 5, his 90, add up to big results.

Opening weekend box office receipts tally $50-$100 million.  My $7, your $15.

150 less calories in our daily diet adds up.

Small inexpensive products purchased and consumed by groups and tribes combine for great profits, markets and niches.  Think Silly Bandz, soda, chap stick. 

Is there a product or service I can create that people will use in small ways and large numbers?

National Debt vs. Deficit Questions

What is the difference between the national debt and the budget deficit? 
How is each created and paid off?
What are the problems of having a natl debt and budget deficit?
What is being done  about them and by whom?

ADD #1

Attention!!  Deficit Disorder!!

Though the federal budget deficit is shrinking slowly, at what rate of decrease is enough to see a significant positive change?  What dollar amount is good for my children?  What % is it decreasing at now and why?
More to come.

Too Big To Know

T. S. Eliot wrote :
Where is the life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

Signals abound that information is everywhere.  That a kid in Africa with a smart phone has access to more information than the US President did 10 years ago.  Pretty amazing, and potentially pretty dangerous.  Dangerous for those who, as Seth Godin says, want to be revolutionaries.  The fact is, Seth points out, that we all say we want to be, but few of us act on it. 

Escape It or Face It?

Escapism is overtaking our lives.  Running to food, shopping, TV, video games alcohol and drugs and the internet.  But can we run forever?

Even criminals on the run will express relief when they are caught.  At some point we must turn and face the things we are running from.  When the average American watches 5.5 hours of TV a day and movies make millions in opening weekends, we have little emotion, energy or desire to tackle new things.  We have little money or resources to invest in ourselves or families.

Can we get out of debt, fix up our home, or buy inspirational and educational material to help our families?
Turn and face what we are escaping.

Forgotten Technology

In this day of re-purposing and up-cycling, what forgotten technologies are there that could be re-imagined for today's use?  There's sure to be lists of forgotten inventions, innovations and discoveries that could be used today.  Someone somewhere built a trinket, a device, a contraption that could have value today in a new arena that was not even around when it was first created.  Where are these forgotten technologies?  How can they be found and what can they be used for?

Getting started

Many authors are tackling the subject of momentum and how to start a new endeavor.

Guy Kawasaki says "The hardest thing about getting started is getting started."
Darren Hardy calls it "Big Mo", the momentum you need to get going.
Simon Sinek believes that you can't lead or create something without knowing why you are doing it.  The what and the how will follow if your why is clear and important enough.

If you wait until you are ready, you've waited too long.

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

Get a shot of your daily TED by listening to Simon Sinek teach the why of leadership.