Your Greatness Is Your Own

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As I've always noted, it's important to have role models.  We need people to look up to, to be like, to remind us of what we can do, and to give us ideas of how to be better than we are.  We're social animals, we humans, and we work well with other people as references.

One of the great things about being a fanboy, fangirl, geek, otaku, etc. is that we usually have a lot of great role models and access to them.  Media fans have the actors, writers, editors, and so on to look up to.  Game fans have the programmers and producers to learn from.  Comic geeks have artists and writers and publishers.  When your geekery and your professional ambitions come together, you find yourself surrounded by people you can – and may want to – be like.

There is one thing you have to keep in mind however: You're never going to be successful like your role models.

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News of The Day 8/6/2010

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Dismal economic news which is bad, Disney gets a dismal property that is good, Supernatural the Anime makes dismal monster-fighting cool, and the chance to send money from iPhone to iPhone is anything but dismal! Let's go and see what's dismal and what's coolin geek career news!

Career:
A quick crib sheet on what to ask an employer.

Thoughts on how we can get rid of Business Cards. I'm gonna give it decades for it to go away if ever.

Economics/Geekonomics:
Consumer credit declines in June – Not surprised in any way shape or form. I actually think this might be a good thing.

Unemployment picture? Still like a horror film. Nonfarm payroll is ugly still – complete with unpleasant charts. Also things aren't good for people just not being in the workforce, despite a bit of a dip in the last few weeks. Lots of people just plain not looking . . .

Anime and Manga:
The teaser trailer for the anime adaption of 'Supernatural' is online. Doesn't give me much on the show itself, but it looks kind of neat – and seems to take some different directorial take than the show.

Comics:
DC Comics Senior VP of Creative Affairs is leaving in the next three months. Wonder what that's going to mean for DC and their continuing changes.

More Disney News – They acquired the rights to the gritty comic Oblivion. A minor thing apparently, but Disney is on the move, so let's see what else happens.

Locations:
The Globalization of Major League Baseball Talent – Because sports geeks are geeks too, and let's face it, this is just awesome chartiliciousness.

Mobile:
By 2012 Android is projected to outstrip iPhone worldwide. Of course 18 months is a long time, but I still say (and I know Bonnie will agree) that you can't go wrong knowing about Android as a programmer, marketer, and more.

Exchange money via bumping iPhones? Bump technology is going to allow it. The tech has been there for awhile, but this is going to be something that will appeal to many people. More on Bump here

Social Media:
Gaia Interactive gets a new CEO – It's Mike Sego, who's been there as CPO, and has quite a background. Good for Gaia? I'd say so – so what's next for them?

Facebook on 'Lockdown' to deal with Google– No, they're really calling it that. This is not just a plan, it's an attitude. So let's see what Facebook does as it gears up to produce something Google can't dilute.

Education Online's future is getting social according to this author. If you work in education or thought of it, something you may want to consider.

Technology:
Apple's new try-before-you-buy not what you may think – Well, it's a start.

Google is aiming for small business with a new blog.

Video Games:
Zynga's probable rival in Japan made a ton of money in Q1 – $279 million. This makes me want to get the popcorn . . .

Writing:
Is the Novella making a comeback – Something for you writers out there to think about.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:So do you think the Novella is making a comeback?

-Steven Savage

Frustration Friday: The Experiments!

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I hope you like science, because guess what?  Economically we are in the middle of a huge set of experiments in America.  You may not think of them as experiments but they are – in the sense that actions were taken and results most certainly followed.  Last week I talked about how we're in unknown territories, so consider this metaphor another way of looking at our situation.

* The US tried less financial regulation.  We learned that was pretty bloody bad.
* We're finding out what happens when a large quantity of people looking for work have to take 6 months on average to find a job.
* We're finding out just how long you can extend unemployment benefits for people.
* We learned what happened when you tie together a lot of different European countries with one currency.
* We're finding out how welfare and social systems can stretch.
* We're finding out  . . .

Well you can fill in any number of blanks.

We've been subjected to all sorts of economic theories over the years, great efforts, plenty of papers, and of course various political and economic policies.  As the world grows smaller and more complex, as the changes speed up because of technology and globalization, we've basically tried a whole lot to keep the economic ball in the air.

So now, in the Great Recession, we're primed to learn an awful lot about the things our economics and politicians and the like have been writing about, theorizing about, lying about, and the like.

What frustrates me is that we may not learn from all of this.  That we'll have people resort to ideology and deception and hiding to save their egos and bank accounts as opposed to learn.

But the experiments have been done.  These are no-going back experiments.

Learning or not is the question.  The willingness to learn is.

– Steven Savage