In October, 1991 an event of such profound importance happened in my life that I wrote the date and time down on a yellow sticky. That yellow sticky has long been lost, but I remember it; it was Thursday, October 17th at 10:22 am. The event was that I had plugged a Hayes modem into my 286 computer and, with a copy of Procomm, logged on to the Internet for the first time. I knew that my life had changed forever.
At about that same time I wanted to upgrade my command line version of Word Perfect to their new GUI version. But the software was something crazy like $495, which I could not afford.
One day I had an idea: “Wouldn’t it be cool if you could log on to the Internet and use a word processing program sitting on a main frame or something located somewhere else? Maybe for a tiny fee or something.”
I mentioned this to the few friends I knew who were computer geeks, and they all scoffed. They said that software prices would eventually be so inexpensive as to make that idea a complete non-starter.
Well, just look around. How many people are still buying software for their desktops and laptops?
I’ve had about a dozen somewhat similar ideas over the years (although none of that magnitude). What I came to realize was that if I ever wanted to make anything like that happen, I would need to develop my own technical and related skills.
So I got an MS in Information Systems Development, and a graduate certification in Applied Statistics, and I learned to be an OK R programmer. And I worked in jobs—e.g., knowledge management—where I thought I might have more “Ah ha!” ideas.
The idea that eventually emerged—although not in such an “Ah ha!” fashion—was that the single biggest challenge in my life, and perhaps most peoples’ lives, is the absolute deluge of information out there. And not just out there, but in our heads and in our personal information systems. The word “deluge” doesn’t really even begin to describe it.
So the big idea I am working on is what I call the “How To Get There From Here” project. And it’s mainly about how to successfully manage the various information and knowledge requirements necessary to accomplish something. This ranges from how to even properly frame the objective to begin with...how to determine the information necessary to accomplish it...how to find that information...how to filter it...how to evaluate it...how to process it...how to properly archive it...etc., etc., etc.
Initially I thought this might end up a long essay. Now it’s looking more like a small book. It’s very interesting to me because it involves pulling in so many different ideas from so many disparate domains and disciplines—e.g., library science, decision analysis, behavioral psychology—and weaving everything together into a cohesive whole.
Anyway, that’s the current big idea I’m working on.
In October, 1991 an event of such profound importance happened in my life that I wrote the date and time down on a yellow sticky. That yellow sticky has long been lost, but I remember it; it was Thursday, October 17th at 10:22 am. The event was that I had plugged a Hayes modem into my 286 computer and, with a copy of Procomm, logged on to the Internet for the first time. I knew that my life had changed forever.
At about that same time I wanted to upgrade my command line version of Word Perfect to their new GUI version. But the software was something crazy like $495, which I could not afford.
One day I had an idea: “Wouldn’t it be cool if you could log on to the Internet and use a word processing program sitting on a main frame or something located somewhere else? Maybe for a tiny fee or something.”
I mentioned this to the few friends I knew who were computer geeks, and they all scoffed. They said that software prices would eventually be so inexpensive as to make that idea a complete non-starter.
Well, just look around. How many people are still buying software for their desktops and laptops?
I’ve had about a dozen somewhat similar ideas over the years (although none of that magnitude). What I came to realize was that if I ever wanted to make anything like that happen, I would need to develop my own technical and related skills.
So I got an MS in Information Systems Development, and a graduate certification in Applied Statistics, and I learned to be an OK R programmer. And I worked in jobs—e.g., knowledge management—where I thought I might have more “Ah ha!” ideas.
The idea that eventually emerged—although not in such an “Ah ha!” fashion—was that the single biggest challenge in my life, and perhaps most peoples’ lives, is the absolute deluge of information out there. And not just out there, but in our heads and in our personal information systems. The word “deluge” doesn’t really even begin to describe it.
So the big idea I am working on is what I call the “How To Get There From Here” project. And it’s mainly about how to successfully manage the various information and knowledge requirements necessary to accomplish something. This ranges from how to even properly frame the objective to begin with...how to determine the information necessary to accomplish it...how to find that information...how to filter it...how to evaluate it...how to process it...how to properly archive it...etc., etc., etc.
Initially I thought this might end up a long essay. Now it’s looking more like a small book. It’s very interesting to me because it involves pulling in so many different ideas from so many disparate domains and disciplines—e.g., library science, decision analysis, behavioral psychology—and weaving everything together into a cohesive whole.
Anyway, that’s the current big idea I’m working on.
Of ideation, prioritization, and implementation, I agree that prioritization is the most impactful, tractable, and neglected.
Please see my post below. My current big idea is very similar to yours. I believe we may be able to exchange notes!
I got your PM. I live in Paris, France. Nonetheless, I would be happy to exchange notes. Can you access my e-mail?
I unfortunately did not. I am also unable to locate the message I sent you! Maybe its because I am new to this site.