Ideas are Orange

Making American Soccer Work

Recently, there have been some major moves in order to revamp Major League Soccer (US). The most notable include signing David Beckham to the L.A. Galaxy, and a few days ago, it was revelad that Juan Pablo Angel (Colombian striker for Aston Villa) has signed with the New York Red Bulls.

These are bold moves, paying a lot of money for marquee soccer players! It assumes either Americans are warming up to soccer, or the market simply needs to be tapped using superstars.

But... did you know... americans don't like soccer. According to Harvard a Harvard Professor, whom I heard speak a few years back, and whose name I was not able to dig up, Americans don't like soccer because the scores are to low! Yup, americans are used to 100 point basketball games, 40 point football games, or 7 run baseball games. Very few want to stick around for a 1.5 hour match to see a 0-0 score.

So perhaps some changes or ideas to make MLS more [economically] attractive could be.

1. Eliminate or make off-sides more lax. Offsides make it hard for strikers to shine, and are the cause for a lot of anulled goals. What if offsides were ... but perhaps this would distort global soccer stats of goals scored and not scored. Or you could have off-side and non-offside goals.
2. Create new stats. Baseball game scan be just as slow. But in baseball you have runs, hits, and errors, you have batting averages, you have RBIs. Several stats. Soccer has less "activity" stats such as these and therefore people usually focus more on result measures. Think of it as "balancing the scorecard", including some new measures. They could include striking accuracy, or "near-scores", or out-of-area goal kicks. To get sportscasters and fans more interested, more stats are needed.
3. Allow power-plays. Much like in hockey, perhaps you could change the goalie for another striker... or 2 for that matter. I know it's controversial, and it would probably be suicide, but hey, it could be an opportunity to score more goals and keep stadiums full.
4. Crate a distinct food and gadget. MLB has cracker jacks, NHL has everything from octupuses to foam paws, NFL has beer hats, NBA has those soundsticks. Soccer needs its own tools. Perhaps something that resembles de "ole ole ole" chants for the tool, and smoething safer than fireworks. Some pop material gurus needed here.

With hispanic population being the most significant majority in the US, and americans saying in a survey that their favorite [american food] is tacos (official survey); the upside is huge, but the scores, the game experience and the regulations might need to change.

The RFID Anonymizer

As RFID becomes a mainstream technology in consumer packaged goods, the debate of its effects on consumer privacy also continues. There are a lot of interesting uses for RFID products when it comes to the supply chain, as this is what RFID was initially conceived for. Tracking razorblades that are easily stolen, or automating inventory count of crates, cartons and pallets are all fantastic uses.

But once those products hit the consumer's home, they might have a need to be anonymized. The supply chain benefits are beginning to get distorted by davvy marketers that want to know what's in your fridge, your closet, bathroom, etc...

As consumers, we need an RFID Anonymizer

RFID tags need to be anonymized. Perhaps there can be a product that allows to detect and RFID tag, and pull a trigger to disable it. Detection can happen in the same manner as keychains detect wi-fi networks, and disabling or anonymizing by pointing and pressing.

This creates two important things. First, the economies of RFID need to yield their benefits in the supply chain and not in the demand chain so that if tags are anonymized the RFID proposition as a whole doesn't fall appart. That is, it needs to focus on reaping the benefits before products hit consumers.

Second, the fact that RFID will inevitably will be used to learn more about consumer preferences, makes an RFID anonymizer an essential tool for paranoid and non-paranoid consumers. Consumers will not be able to opt out of buying RFID tagged products nor will all stores anonymize tags on exit, creating the need for a home device.

Some ideas on improving Kiva

I hace recently loaned some money through Kiva to some  promising entrepreneurs in developing nations (like my own). Kiva is a fantastic idea, the process of micro-loans cannot work without an enabling technology, and finally somebody put two and two together and launched this service.

I do have some ideas that could improve certain things:

1. The Listing: The People Listing needs to have filters (using dropdown menus) on top. The listing needs to allow people to boil down the large list  by several criteria such as: gender, country, business type, amount.
   In the world of donations (had significant experience building several projects for non-profits), people often donate to a specific target population (women, children), or for a specific purpose (education, nourishment, etc...). Kiva's criteria could be split in genfer, country, bus. type and others. For example, I am more inclined to donate to women in south pacific countries.
   If they really want to increase usability, this listing should be built using ajax, so that no reloading is necessary.
2. The "I have contributed widget": Contribution is the next big word! Warren Buffet gave away his money and so will Bill Gates. Everybody wants to be like No. 1 and No. 2, but suddenly they aren't the richest, but the ones that contribute the most. One should be able to export a Widget - to put on your site, your company's site, your blog, your LinkedIn profile, etc... - to show how much you have contributed.
   If people compete for stuff like having more LinkedIn connections, or more Myspace friends, surely they'll compete for the most amount of money loaned. The current widget asks people to loan to a specific entrepreneur, it needs to be the other way around, it needs to show how much a specific person has contributed. I'm sure some guy wanting to appear first on the list will donate a large amount of money.
3. Kiva + Google Maps: A mashup is needed here, mainly to show in a visual manner the areas that are getting more loans and less loans. A visual representation could show where the money is flowing and what other regions need support. Analytics are visual and I suppose "equality" is important here, but there is no visual way of knowing which areas (not necessarily people) are in need.

This is a great project... I definitely encourage people to loan at www.kiva.org

The Next Net - LinkedIn

Business 2.0 magazine published on its March cover the 25 hot startups to watch. It struck me that LinkedIn was not included in the top 25, as I think they will probably be 2007's most important web 2.0 application.

Here is the thing. Most web applications need only one thing, and one thing only to become great. Much like Google owns search, Flickr owns pictures and Youtube owns Video. Well, LinkedIn owns the people, who are what make it all happen. Or at least business people.

In any information system or application, there is always a bit of information to which all others are attached. In a CRM system for example, the basic input is having client accounts, that is to what you associate contacts and proposals. LinkedIn has the people, which is the piece of information to which everything is attached. The have begnu creating functionalities to "attach" certain things, like other people, answers, recommendations, but it can really be taken further.

LinkedIn is in a unique position to become the next killer app, because it can work as a hub to which all other apps. are attached. But they should be more concerned with linking the LinkedIn profiles with other things such as:

• Showing on your linkedIn profile the number of pictures you have on Flickr.
• Showing on your profile the amount of money you´ve contributed through Kiva.
• Showing on your profile Squidoo lenses that you´ve created
• Showing on your profile the [Lulu] books you have published
• Showing on your profile a map of places you have been (WAYN comes to mind)
• etc...

These could be attached through Widgets (what web 2.0 app. doesn't use widgets?)

The key thing here is that LinkedIn should focus on keeping and expanding the people, not the functionalities. The "people" functionality is more than enough, it simply needs to create a way to tap into other apps and make the profile more visible - by showing other bits of information (pics, kiva contributions, etc...) that people own.

Reuters's retail end

I recently read the article by Carl J. Loomis in Fortune about Bloomberg's Money Machine. It is of course fantastic. It really got me thinking about where Reuters is in the market and some ideas on that.

• We are heading towards an experience economy
• Owning the retail end of the business is where the experience is provided. That's why there's Apple Stores, Sony Style and Nike Town.
• In the next wave, you don't want to be in the back-end or being the provider of the guys facing the customer. Unless you are in India or China and your economy is at that stage.
• The experience requires great design!
• Reuters could use Jeff Han, to create a new kind of terminal that is organic in all features. That is touchscreen and motion enabled. That can be manipulated with fingers instead of keys. This would provide a great experience. I´ve seen and used a Bloomberg... not pretty.
• Reuters can beat Bloomberg in usability! If Bloomberg has the volume side of the market they can go for the margin side of that
• Reuters needs Microsoft for voice recognition purposes. With thousands of commands and options, these systems need some voice activated functions.
• Reuters should also apply some Wikinomics to the equation in order to get global ratings, build a massive investment guide, emerging markets information, etc...
• Reuters should be riding the ipod economy. Why isn't there a Belkin made accesory called the Reuters-Link that wirelessly downloads ll video and audio content to an ipod? Bloomberg can be accessed by a Blackberry... there are a lot more ipods out there. Reuters can learn from the Nike + Apple partnership.

I suppose it boils down to out-innovating your competition, but with a clear [blue ocean] differentiation, reducing features, raising content, creating usability, eliminating complexity.

The Corporate Nintendo DS

I recently bought a Nintendo DS with games Brain Age and Big Brain Academy. I have to sharpen up for some tests and decided to try all available alternatives. I am stunned at how effective and fun this is. These games take the rust off the basic skills that help you think an react fast.

Nintendo should make corporate games! A DS is not a kids toy and corporate games could be a great alternative to engaging in business situations. Games such as>

• Virtual stock exchange (Stock simulator, could connect to the net to get daily close quotes for example... or have them be fake.)
• Supply Chain Manager (imagine a fictitious country where you can chose a fleet and have to stock different sales channels)
• Selling & Marketing (something around building brands and building brand value with consumers with several sorts of experiences and advertising)
• HR Management (something like a tamagotchi, except you recruit, train, develop, compensate, etc...). You could build a workforce... perhaps "export it" to second life.
• International M&A - A game on acquiring and merging companies through several mechanisms like LBOs, reverse mergers, equity swaps, etc... You could dominate the globe and create funds.
• CBM- Certified Busines Manager practice test questions. Why isn't there a GMAT, SAT, GRE, or LSAT preparation game?

I was not a DS fan, but think there is application for this beyond the traditional video games.

This makes interactivity accesible and portable, vs. carrying a laptop computer to "train your brain".

There could also be a market around getting companies to create their standard competency models and Nintendo getting them to be assessed on a DS. People could train with situations, cases, questions and other elements to build up their skills.

Anyways, I found it tremendously fun and will continue training my brain.

Middle East Mega Projects

• Ideas, Innovation, and Brands come from the US
• Products come from China
• Services come from India
• and Experiences will come from the Middle East

Here are some of the Middle Easts's Mega Projects to deliver engaging experiences, staged in spectacular settings:

The Palm involves the creation of the world's largest three man-made islands known as The Palm, Jumeirah; The Palm, Jebel Ali; and The Palm Deira. Located just off the coast of the city of Dubai, the three palm tree shaped islands are expected to contribute to the city's position as a premier global tourist destination. www.thepalm.ae

The World was conceived by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, the development consists of 300 islands that together form the image of the world map. www.theworld.ae

Burj Dubai will be the centrepiece of Emaar's US$20 billion Burj Dubai District and the new emerging Downtown Dubai taking its place as one of the world's modern landmark buildings, alongside the likes of Empire State Building, Taipei 101, Malaysia's Petronas Towers, Sears Tower and London's Canary Wharf. Upon completion, Burj Dubai will hold the record in all four categories as recognized by the New York-based global authority - Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat - highest structure, roof, antenna and occupied floor.

A syndicate of three UAE banks, Mashreqbank psc, Emirates Bank International and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, have signed the agreement to provide the required contracting finance for the consortium chosen to construct Emaar's iconic Burj Dubai Tower, valued at AED3.2 billion (US$869m) and soon to become the world's tallest building.

The project, the Dubai Waterfront, is a conglomeration of canals and islands studded with luxury hotels and homes. Larger than the island of Manhattan, the development will reconfigure the map of this tiny desert emirate by adding 500 miles of man-made waterfront. www.dubaiwaterfront.ae

The 'The Mall of Arabia', due to open in 2008, will have four levels, around 1,000 outlets, its own theatre, and enough parking for 10,000 cars. The size of the mall will be 10 million square feet GLA (gross leasable area) when completed, making it the world's biggest mall.

Opening its doors in 2008, Restless Planet will set a new standard for imaginative theme parks, with three rides, including a special 'dark ride', and more than 100 lifelike, actual size 'animatronic' dinosaurs.

Ski Dubai is a formidable engineering feat, an incongruous 25-storey structure rising from the Gulf emirate's sands as some 1,000 labourers work round the clock building the Middle East's only indoor ski resort and the world's third largest. www.skidubai.com

The H Racer and Harry Potter marketing

One of the breakthrough 2007 HBR Ideas is Harry Potter marketing. What this means is that some brands can mature over time with their audience instead of focusing on a specific segment for life and acquiring, and losing customers over time. Instead, it aims at keeping those customers and evolving the brand with them.

I saw an innovative product that might have the potential to leverage Harry Potter Marketing. It is the H-Racer manufactured by Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies (HFCT).

• Small children could get their parents to buy the H Racer. HFCT could brand it around a key message of clean performance, cutting edge design, sustainable fuel and others. The main objective is to build a loyal fan base throughout different parts of the world that buys this message and loves this car.
• Then teenagers might have another H powered innovation that is more suited for them. Perhaps an H powered model airplane or helicopter, certainly something more advanced. Again, a small innovation to keep the brand maturing with the group.
• In the future perhaps HFCT might even make an H Racer for grownups, or license the technology to another company (like BMW). They will bring a brand and a loyal fan base (fans not customers) that would consider purchasing the car or other inventions that are H powered.

The H Racer is one of Time Magazine's best 2006 inventions. It would be interesting to see if they can pull off new inventions in the coming years catered to this evolving group of customers until that group reaches a purchasing power age.

the Virgin Atlantic Experience

During my holiday vacation I traveled from NYC to London on Virgin Atlantic. I did it in part because my younger brother wanted to fly the airline real bad. I observed something very interesting though...

Being interested in the "experience economy" it became obvious that Virgin Atlantic (VA) was definitely a player in this arena. And one of the key elements through which they create an entertaining, engaging, remarkable experience is by leveraging the power of communication.

During the VA flight, the flight manager constantly threw out fun lines that create a laughing emotion (what an experience is about). Here are some of the things he said (in a thick British accent):

• Ladies and gentleman, this is a non-smoking flight. If you do however decide to light one, we'll put you out on the wing where you can light it and you can smoke it!
• Ladies and gentleman, now that our flight has landed we do ask that some of our passengers stay behind to help out and clean the toilets. We do reserve this spot is reserved for those who stand up before the fasten seat belt sign is turned off.
• We are aware that you have the Internet and many choices and thank you deeply for flying Virgin Atlantic. The next time you feel like jetting off in a giant pressurized metal tube, please do think of us.
• Some sharp, smart passengers shave brought to my attention that our entertainment software is not up to date. I will make sure to have a serious chat with our engineers once we are on the ground and to point out that our passengers are much smarter than them. We do apologize and hope you enjoy the current movie catalog.

An experience requires:

• Communication that gives people value makes people want to be a part of the experience. There is no such thing as too much praise or saying nice things. Calling passengers smart, brilliant and other adjectives makes them feel great.
  • In contrast to the service economy where everyone is pointing out pains, problems, issues and other things that trigger buying reasons. In the experience economy, positive language is what feeds buying behavior perhaps?
• Nicely worded lines that make people laugh are key. This just takes practice and careful planning of what are the things you usually say (like saying that it's a non/smoking flight) and rewording them in a fun, engaging manner.
• Diversity is necessary - an international flight manager has a certain aura that makes him objective to the crowd. If it had been your local flight attendant telling you that the software is out of date, people would have been enraged.
• There are more practical ways of getting people to do things, like the toilet trick, instead of being coercive and setting limits. The limits become socially imposed.

My Multilingual Project

I am currently working on an interesting project. Interesting because it involves a Chinese company, an Indian Company and a Colombian Company. It couldn't get more diverse.

This is the project logo and project name in order to market the project internally. We decided to do it in three languages (English, Hindi, Chinese) to show the cultural impact and the need to communicate. English is the common project language for all stakeholders.

We are also getting the people to learn to write the project name and company name in all languages.

Several lessons from this:

• We need to be prepared to accept that different cultures and diversity brings new ideas.
• Diversity brings change. The need to change also comes from bringing in new people who challenge the conventional way of thinking.
• A lot of change initiative problems are linked to communication, it is important to address the communication limits in a culturally diverse atmosphere.
• People need to be engaged instead of informed. Getting people to learn to write a few characters is part of creating an experience instead of delivering a project.
• Speaking Chinese as a basic business competency is only a matter of time, and change readiness on the side of the corporate world.