Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni

Why Productivity is Such a Big Deal

Everyone wants to be more productive. The idea that you can get a lot done in less time and in a way that minimizes waste is compelling. Even better is the appeal that we can work better and produce higher quality. But often we mistake busyness for productivity. We pile on lists of tasks and keep trying to punch above our weight. Tim Kreider writes about The 'Busy' Trap for the NYT: Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously your life cannot possibly be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy,... Read more →

Why Short Term Advantage Leads you Down Blind Alleys

[Position = perspective.] On November 7, 2001, Sabena Belgian World Airlines became SN Brussels Airlines. It later merged with Virgin Express to form Brussels Airlines. I flew round trip on Sabena from Italy once. Belgium was my one and only destination, so it was an easy choice. The company was founded in 1923 and based in Brussels. There are many reasons for the airline's demise. Lack of funding was a primary cause. A very similar problem that led to the demise of Swissair. Before it ran into money issues, however, Belgium's international airline suffered from a limiting marketing strategy. Like... Read more →

Innovating: Beyond the Sex Appeal

Innovation, like leadership, is a word that has tremendous sex appeal. But the real sexy part is what happens when it happens. For that, you still need to do the work. Use with care. The work includes figuring out that innovating is often about behavior change. Whether you're the company doing it or wanting to innovate, the consultants, the sponsor or partner in innovation, your behavior is also up for change. It's important to remember that innovation demands trade-offs. For example, satellite radio offers a broader selection, but you lose free music; online grocery shopping gets you home delivery, but... Read more →

What's Next Depends on What's Now, But it's not a Straight Line

“A home isn’t just a home. When people are safe, healthy and happy in their houses, it enables them to be more in control of their own futures,” says Fernando Assad, social entrepreneur and founder of Programa Vivenda, Brazil. The statement is from 2019's IKEA highlights page. It rings even truer today. IKEA's new catalog is out. It tells us a lot about where we are, what we're feeling and doing right now as individuals and a society in many parts of the world. Every year, the Swedish company dips into our collective cultural roots and presents us a reflection... Read more →