Posts

This Blockchain Thing...

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If you’ve been on Earth the last few years you’ve probably heard someone exult about bitcoins. If you’re the sort to describe wine in terms of its human attributes (tantalising, playful, teasing, coy, full-bodied) then you’ve probably talked airily about “cryptocurrency” and “encryption algorithms”, perhaps while fondly stroking a crystal decanter filled with a playful wine infused with memories of summer berries and earthy woodiness.  So, if I may for a moment, pause this heady feeling of tech savviness to observe that there appears to be a great deal more to this bitcoin thingy than just cool cash conveyance.   Bitcoin is not so much an invention (IMHO) as one (and only one ) clever application of a much cleverer technology – the Blockchain . The application of this technology is totally predictable but the beauty is that the technology itself was less expected). At this stage, the more honest among us are thinking “ what is the blo...

Does the past have a future?

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Mobile App Developer | Social Media Manager | Digital Marketing Specialist |Big Data Analyst | Data Scientist What do these jobs have in common? If you’re thinking that they’re all digital era jobs, you’re on the right track. More interestingly,  none of these jobs existed 10 years ago. And yet we continually talk about hiring people with “demonstrated” or “proven” experience.  I believe that experience is a metric of declining importance, and HR recruiters have to think differently about what “the best talent” means.  In fact, there is increasing evidence to indicate that experience is about as useful in predicting a candidate’s success as stock market data from the 1990s is in predicting tomorrow’s unicorns. In my  p revious post  I discussed some sobering data, and ruminated on whether or not we can truly ask children what they want to be when they grow up.  With more than half of students in Australia  training for jobs that wont exist ...

Why are you making an incredibly useful app??? (Part 1)

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Yes, someone did ask me that last week, when I was in Madrid, on study leave for my MBA.  I had just shared  ReMynd  with a professor if innovation. And it wasn't I who mentioned it was incredibly useful, though, of course I think it is! This colleague of mine used it, loved it, saw the value in it, and blurted the question out.  I can understand the true nature of the question - it wasn't about the app, it was about why I,  Zubin , built it. And part of the wonder was  how  I built it. Let me start with the "why". some early designs from my friend Nicola Every year I give myself a personal stretch project. Last year it was about learning first-had about entrepreneurship. The theory, effort, discipline, best practice, self mastery, courage and sheer hard work it takes to even develop an idea single-handedly. I got accepted into the Founder Institute chapter in Melbourne and went half way through the program before I had to bow out...

What do you want to be when you grow up?

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The future isn't what it used to be... Nearly 60% of Australian students (70% in VET) are currently studying or training for occupations where at least two thirds of jobs will be automated.                                Source: Foundation for Young Australians report There has been an increase, slow and steady, in the number of press reports around the automation of everyday jobs. Of course, thanks to the Optimism Bias , these reports are vaguely noted as interesting, marginally threatening, but irrelevant to use and our loved ones. This, I believe, is a grave mistake. We are part of the statistics, whether we like it or not. Note the following articles: Example 1:  "ANZ brings in robot workers to do boring jobs" Example 2:  "  According to a report by Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) from April this year, 44 per cent (or 5.1 million current Australian jobs) are at hig...

Switching from law to business (Part 2) – What’s it like

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In my last post , I had shared with you some of the insights I developed when transitioning from law (a technical, licensed profession) to “commercial” (a generalist, non-licensed vocation). In this post I would like to share my personal experiences on what it’s like “on the other side”. Scores of people have asked me this, and I cant help remarking at the phraseology – the other side. It sounds like there is a line, or perhaps a chasm that needs to be crossed, or perhaps a dark, mysterious river to be forded. Or perhaps it’s just a huge psychological leap of faith. In any event, I was by no means alone in wanting to make this leap. And that’s why I feel compelled to share with you these thoughts. I know most people who are looking to change careers at a mid-senior level would experience considerable doubt and anxiety over the decision. Perhaps my posts will help you. Technical to general – how your frameworks are completely different The first big adjustment is to re...