As someone who works in the internet world, I like to hear internet success stories. Stories of cool ideas becoming game changing products and big money keep me going and give me hope for what I'm working on. To me, the Googles, Facebooks and Amazons of the world are something to be studied, appreciated and mimicked. Their stories are my textbooks, and like most internet folks, I soak up every drop of knowledge I can from them.

But when it comes to the companies that don't make it, well, I don't spend too much time on those.

I think this is partially because it hurts us to see the downside of this hyper-fast, flavor-of-the-week, often random business environment that is the web. And hey, it's a bit scary to look at the failures - and even scarier to imagine being part of one.

But beyond that, I don't really focus on the failures because the entrepreneurs from the companies that fail often want to move on, not dwell, and try something new as soon as possible. Get back on the horse, etc.

In short, the stories don't get told, they get buried, shrugged off, and not shared. And hey, who's gonna publish a book about a failed small business anyway?

Today I ran across a blog post that changed my mind - and in truth - the story of failure gave me more insight into making a start-up successful then the pile of success story books sitting behind me gathering dust.

Take some time to read the lessons learned from the failure of the promising internet company Monitor110 - as seen through the eyes of Monitor110's co-founder Roger Ehrenberg.

Because as British scientist Sir Humphry Davy observed, "The most important of my discoveries have been suggested to me by my failures."

Posted by James at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The execution of this Vauxhall piece is pretty awesome.

First, the Flickr photos of the piece.

Now the explanation.

You've gotta admit, that's pretty rad.

Posted by James at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Did you ever sell lemonade to make some extra scratch when you were a kid? I know I did a couple of times...and while selling the 'ade wasn't that profitable in the burbs, the kids featured in this article are making some serious bucks and learning some real business and marketing skills.

A good example, Fischer and Alston, best friends who run a lemonade stand in Tribeca. Here's a part of their interview with New York Magazine's Joanna Goddard:

How do you make your lemonade?
FISCHER: My family took lemons and squeezed and squeezed. We were sweating. But Alston’s family mixed powder with water. And the thing is, when you taste it, there’s really no difference.

Did you draw signs?
FISCHER: Alston made signs and spelled some things wrong.
ALSTON: When you spell things wrong, they say, “Oh, that’s cute.”

So you do it on purpose?
We misspelled lemonade: LEMADE.

Classic stuff - read all the interviews with lemonade stand entrepreneurs here.

Big thanks to Creative Victuals for the link.

Posted by James at 05:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday I happily ran across a documentary on the Sundance Channel called Garbage Warrior - the story of radical architect Michael Reynolds, creator of the Earthship. The story follows the history of the eco-architect and the opportunities, inventions and obstacles that stood in his was as he tried to develop and explore the world of completely sustainable housing design.

Whether you're an eco-minded person or not, the story demonstrates realities that innovators of all kinds face. They are:

1. During times of comfort or relative prosperity, innovative thought is not valued as highly because true innovative thought will force change and most people, by nature, fear change and will aim to keep the status quo wherever possible. Right or wrong.
2. In times of crisis, innovation is welcomed with open arms. Once comfort, security or prosperity is removed from the picture, making changes is almost effortless.

I'll let you watch the film for yourself to hear Michael's story, because it's something that will leave an impression on you.

From a business perspective, I wonder where the point of balance is. How do you push a culturally entrenched organization to open itself to innovation after the start-up excitement wears off and before the company is in crisis. Because let's face it, sometimes when the crisis hits, it might be too late to innovate.

Posted by James at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm uploading some more shots from my trip to Barcelona, and I ran across three things I've been meaning to blog about. Each represent innovative thought, two solve common problems and one is just outright cool. Check them out:

1. The Dyson Airblade:
I think we all know that one of the worst designed and most annoying products out there is the bathroom hand dryer. They never get your hands dry, and they leave you longing for effective, yet not environmentally friendly, paper towels. In Spain, as I've mentioned before, paper towels are rare, and pretty much non-existent in public restrooms.

So James Dyson, the guy who makes those Dyson vacuum cleaners, decided to solve the hand dryer issue by creating the Dyson Airblade. The Airblade uses two "blades" of high-speed air to pull the air off of your hands. In 10 seconds, your hands are perfectly dry. It works so well, I got my hands wet again just so I could use it twice.

2. The Fast Food Trash Can Handle
Ok, this one is so stupid it's genius. If you've been to a fast food restaurant, I know you've had to do the super-fast tray-in-trash shove. Well someone decided that was dumb, and made put a handle on the trash door. Suddenly, you can get your trash in the can without having to touch the nasty door or slam the tray and hope for the best.

Seriously - good thinking here.

3. The Ariel Atom
I posted about the Ariel Atom a couple years ago - but I got to see one in the flesh exoskeleton at a hotel at the beach. Seriously beautiful, simple, and made to go fast. Love it.

Posted by James at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"All you can do is admit to yourself that yes, this is an adventure, and to accept it as such, surprises and all. With a little bit of practice you eventually get into the flow of it."

Hugh at Gapingvoid seems to have gotten a bit more reflective as he finishes up writing his book. Check out this post - which is where I pulled the quote above. And if you don't read that, read this one, but both are worth the time.

Timely stuff for me, and I'm guessing I'm not alone.

Posted by James at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)