The Evolution of Social Networks

Posted by admin – August 10, 2011

(As with all my entries, this constitutes my thoughts alone and do not represent the views of Google)

In her bestseller: “The Mesh”, Lisa Gansky demonstrates the value of living in an interconnected world and how the new business models will rely on social networks. When I first read it in 2010, I never found it particularly insightful or innovative; yet pundits raved about Gansky’s thought leadership. My belief was, and still is, that social networks are technological manifestations of the “6 degrees of separation” theory, or how many degrees are you from Kevin Bacon. (Side note: with the advance in technology, it’s not longer 6, but down to 3. Malcolm Gladwell speaks about this in “The Tipping Point”).

Unimpressed with “The Mesh”, allow me to share some insights (or delusions) on social networks.

“Likes”, “+1;s”, “Re-tweets” – all infiltrating the web and becoming as commonplace as sinking financial institutions. Social networks (as mentioned in the Mesh) either solidify the physical relationships we have (Facebook) or help facilitate introductions between strangers (LinkedIn/Twitter). Google + combines both with Circles and streams. There is another reason that sets Google + and Linked apart from Twitter and Facebook – shared commonalities.

As in life, we form connections with folks with whom we share commonalities – Football, cooking class, alumni, even extremes like political reform.  These “physical connections” typically need an introduction. In Social networks, this is eliminated.

The best social networks though retain shared interests. In my view, this is why Facebook (in its current form) is in danger. The many folks removing friends or deleting profiles, is because they don’t wish to share information overlapping interest group (friends vs. family vs. employees). Examine your physical relationship and evaluate how often you mix your various groups. Facebook is a behemoth because of first mover advantage, and the consequent critical mass (i.e. all your friends are on, so you wont move unless your friends move).

The next evolution of social will be a “Social Path”.

As an engineer, I’ll compare with physical properties (space and time) and  contrast the evolutions Social is undergoing.

  • Phase 1: X co-ordinate (single point in space): Creation of webpages, profiles, blogs give an online presence. Google’s success building the indices between these points though algorithms (Page Rank)
  • Phase 2: X-Y plane (distance): Connection’s are formed between various “points in space” – trackbacks, pings, links. The early formation of Facebook/Linkedin. In addition to being found through Google, recommendations are through reviewing prior connections (email).
  • Phase 3: Speed between X-Y (Web 2.0): Groups are formed with similar interests. LinkedIn and Google +’s circle’s.
  • Phase 4: Velocity (magnitude and direction): The formation of “Social paths” where a system will “predict” connections between social groups based on a desired outcome that may or may not be known.

Phase 4, will be a combination of “6 degrees of separation” between social groups that simultaneously steer you toward completing an action. This will facilitate common interests and overlap of complementary actions. Imagine a system that places you with peers of common interests, then predicts the social interaction required to advance to a predetermined (yet possibly unperceived goal). This would be a system analogous to a chess master iterating several moves ahead. Such a user experience would “understand exactly what you mean and gives you back exactly what you want” (Larry Page).

Draw the comparison to a parent that notices their child displaying excellent hand/eye coordination. The parent enrolls the child in tennis club, but notes their child is also a team player, so exposes the child to soccer. Noticing that strong hand/eye co-ordination and strong social development may be a prelude to playing in an orchestra the parent again is proactive to their child’s needs. At every iteration, the parent perceives their child’s interests and skills and acts accordingly.

While I may be wide of the mark; one thing holds true: tomorrows companies will innovate ahead of what is seen today; they continue to create blue oceans and drag the market with them. I have no doubt that Social is here to stay, in what form, tomorrow will tell.


A month old Googler

Posted by admin – August 3, 2011

“How are you settling in?”

“Things going OK…”

“How’s the first month?”

Casting my mind back… the first week was really a matter of understanding the SA office and being exposed to internal structures and departments. Orientation was the second week followed by meetings the rest of the week and week three. Week four – back to the SA office and finally starting to bend my mind around my current project.

I’ve been so busy; yet I feel like I haven’t accomplished much. Yes, that’s partially down to understanding a new company culture, people and organization, but also learning more on Search and also how a global company creates global products while simultaneously acting local. I know I have stuff to accomplish, a list to work through, a project to plan; yet I feel like I’m in some form of limbo: neither moving forward nor back, but in a form of stasis.

Though I’m constantly learning, it feels like I’m yet to prove my worth at arguably the worlds most desirable company.  No doubt it’s partially down to my A – type personality and desire to show results. Simultaneously, I know I’ve got a role to fulfill to as a leader at a company that can truly have an affect on the South African environment.

Fortunately, among the goals setting, projections, people to meet, food, fun, games and….food, I’m not the only one. It seems this is par for the course and as many more experienced/wise Googlers before me: this is typical. This really does feel like an entrepreneurial experience – yes, among the thousands of employees – the entrepreneurial spirit AND environment still exists. The challenge will be to both continue upon an accelerated learning curve and yet be able to add value to Google and South Africa.


Shamrocks in debt

Posted by admin – July 17, 2011

 

(As per usual, these are my thoughts and I do not represent the views of any entity, albeit company, individual or cyborg)

It’s hard to believe that a country full of such welcoming, hard working, friendly folks are in the financial turmoil they are in. Not to say that Spain, Greece, Portugal are any different, but having spent a week here its paradoxical that the city (Dublin) once touted as Europe’s Silicon Valley is in financial distress.

At first glance it makes no sense; according to one of the Locals: Google, Facebook, Accenture, Adobe, Microsoft and maybe another two companies bring in approximately 45% of Ireland’s GDP. Astounding. Yet, that could be reason: FDI flows in (due to generous company tax incentives), employment ramps up, foreigners come in droves and local property prices climb. Except this accelerated level of growth in a small country is unsustainable. Demand outstrips supply – prices climb; borrowing grows on the back of expected income – Crash. -the house of cards comes down. Driven once again on a lack of long term planning and greed.

Local property prices have dipped anywhere fro 30 – 50% and average salaries are probably 30% lower than in the U.S. Yet these effects are not confined to Ireland. A Belgium couple I met are said to make $60k between them. No way they can afford property (even if its lower than the highs of early 2008); and if they could there wouldn’t be many seller. Think if you had to sell and lose 50% of the value you invested in, i.e. paying off a mortgage for your house at n inflated 150% current market price.

But to return to my week – the Dublin offices are great! Google has bought another building (3 in total) and staff numbers are growing – much like the rest of Google. Noogler training was informative and mostly targeted toward first time employees, its still fascinating to learn more about Google. It is indeed innovative – from products to finances! I’m two weeks in, yet feels like I have been here for a month. It’s true that an MBA teaches you very little, except perhaps the capacity to learn. I’m going to need that!

 

 

 


10 days in ZA; 5 days at Google

Posted by admin – July 10, 2011

I’ve been back in South Africa for 10 days now, and have started at Google South Africa at the start of this week. In many respects, I’ve started to experience a form of “reverse culture shock”. When I first left for the U.S. 3 years ago, culture shock never really hit me till ¾ months after. Part of this was that everything was still new an a novelty – so much to see; so much to learn. But once this initial period of “wonder” lifted it became normal to compare things.

Now being back home, it’s a comparison again. This time though, its not only comparing between the life I lived for 3 years in America, but also the South Africa of 3 years ago. It’s a dual culture shock – things are not the way I remember, the way they should be – It’s strange to feel like a foreigner in my county of birth.

It is good to be back though, with my family and friends, but I do miss those I left behind in the U.S. Thinking back, I had never expected to have had grown such a strong affinity to the U.S, even calling myself American on several occasions since I have been back. Even more, before I left, I had never thought that I would have made such good friends that I now miss. Perhaps that’s a rationale that prevents people from meeting folks when they move – the inevitability of separation. Yes, it’s hard; it even hurts – but the relationships I made and friendships I formed far exceed the longing for my oversees friends.

Regarding my new job, sorry – no secrets will be shared here. I can tell you that Google is a great place to work. Even though the South African office may not (yet!) have the grandeur and prestige of the home base (Mountain view) or European offices (Zurick, Dublin, London) – I can truly see that the most valuable asset is people. Yes, I hear you say, all companies say that. Yet, in my co-workers I find a sense of belonging – usually there is a period of settling, a period of almost sparring to find ones place – no such thing here at Google. I believe firmly that its not technology, prestige or even free food (though these do help!) – rather it’s the people that make Google great.

There is a lot to learn. I have ambitions of “doing big things”, but I know that this initial period will need to be dedicated more to “ears, than to mouth”. Yes, it’s going to be hard, but the first few months need to be dedicated to first understanding – culture, people, process – before making any major decisions. That said, I look forward to making an impact in my role working with small businesses – South Africa, and international.

 


Choosing Productivty over potential

Posted by admin – June 16, 2011

After a weeks vacation (and subsequent leave from writing here) I’m back in front of my repaired Mac, ready to share my thoughts on productivity versus potential.

This discussion was sparked by a friend with similar thoughts at the same time as I am about to start at Google. Essentially the fundamental question is: given one option, should you choose productivity or potential. Put another way – and in business speak – selling over planning,or action over business plans.

It’s an interesting question, where in its purest form productivity and potential are on the either end of the spectrum. If you are all action, there is no time for planning, similarly all planning and there is no action. If I were to choose, I would err on the side of action. For all the planning in the world – or to maximize potential there can be no proxy for delivering results. Even with all the potential in the world, if you are not executing, then there is no point. Think about sports stars – the next Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Pele, etc. all have the potential and the training, but without delivering they are relegated to memory, if that.

The optimum place is therefore is in a place in between. Ideally while working there is space for “Just in Time” mentoring (if that’s an avenue to maximize potential) where you can maximize potential for a given period that is just beyond where you are.

From an systems perspective its a stepwise function that allows you to set incremental gains for your given state. This process would (theoretically) allow for equipping for the most output.

Perhaps this JIT mentoring approach is a reason why many of the greatest leaders (business, military, political) advocate for having several mentors, each skilled in different areas, or why on a board of directors you should also have a diversity of views/perspectives. This would be a way to counter, or rather, cater for many kinds of possible outcomes.


The paradox of choice

Posted by admin – June 3, 2011

During the last few months, I’ve explored the next step in my career. Now that I’ve accepted an offer to join Google South Africa, I wanted to share thoughts on the paradox of choice.

I’m unsure of the actual number, but the human mind is incapable of making more than 5 or 6 decisions in parallel manner leading to several outcomes (Interestingly for master chess players they typically think 3-5 steps ahead and that can take easily take an hour). For an everyday example, this is why selecting from a menu is difficult; too many choices inhabit the decision making process. Its a strange paradox – choices limit decision making. This is especially true when options are unevenly distributed, e.g.

Choice A has options: 1,2,3,4
Choice B has options: 1,2,5,6

It’s simple to compare options 1 and 2, since they have the same basis  (salary, leave days), but evaluating leadership development versus innovation? Decisions become increasingly complex when some are dependent on others, i.e. option 3 informs option 4, etc.

Additionally, timing and weighting play into decision making too. Is work experience more important than qualifications? Depends on the decision – I’d rather hire one candidate with 10 years experience and no qualification vs someone with a qualification and 2 years experience, but not if its 25 years experience versus 20 years experience and a qualification.

Similarly with weighting – giving importance to one attribute over another. Do you value work life balance over career progression? How about responsibility versus mobility?

In my situation, I followed a systematic approach through my decision making process,
1.    List options of various choices (give the attributes of each choice)
2.    Rank importance of each on a 10 point scale (relative to each other)
3.    Score the various options (10 point scale)
4.    Total by multiplying weight by score and adding and compare

This procedure provides a sense order and articulates options that you have already internalized. It may be necessary to provide a range and likelihood of occurrence (if unknown).

With any decision, when permutations exceed 5 or 6 outcomes, focus first on what you can control then leave the rest out. In all decision making, never exclude the importance of serendipity. A process like this always allows you to be prepared, but only as much as what you can control – “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” (Seneca, Roman philosopher, 1 AD)


Another rotation on the molten rock around the gaseous body

Posted by admin – May 23, 2011

Thank you for the numerous birthday messages I received. So glad to have made it past the rapture and have now been on the this giant molten rock that has orbited around a flaming, gaseous super-body 31 times.

I’m not usually a big celebratory person and when I mentioned it to a friend, he gave some very insightful advice. “Birthdays (and Christmas) aren’t really for you; they’re for those that care [love] you and allows them a chance to celebrate you.” I had never this perspective. What intrigues me, is the ability to gauge the impact you’ve made to others on a yearly basis.

I’ve often heard “I need to make my millions first” or “when I retire” as rationalizations for current behavior/actions. I am by no means opposed to small bouts of self indulgence; in many cases it’s necessary. Rather, it’s when this mindset dominates and diminishes ones capability to live for others – thats when it becomes problematic.

Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) – one of my favorite reads – gives simple advice on living. Written from the perspective of a 40’ish year old man that spends the last few living months with a former university professor, it covers much wisdom deals in living for others. Perhaps the most sobering part of Albom’s book is the conventional view of  death and the impact we have only at the end of our innings. In Tuesdays with Morrie, the old prof has a “living funeral” where loved ones speak openly and fondly about his life so he may experience his impact firsthand.

What if birthdays allowed us to “recalibrate” our lives to have yearly “living funerals” to gauge the impact we are having on others. I suspect this self imposed mental model would challenge many closely held beliefs where birthdays are not to celebrate our lives; but our lives through others.

So to complete this posting, I hope I’ve have had some influence on your life (over the last year); when all is totaled, I hope there are more positives than negatives. Thank you again for your wishes; after the next complete cycle of the this molten rock I hope my total is even more positive.


7 lessons I learned about life from Tetris

Posted by admin – May 18, 2011

Last night I came across a virtual treasure trove of memories – Mario, Dig dug, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Zelda and – arguably my favorite of all time – Tetris. For those too young to know the joys of Tetris, head over to http://www.freetetris.org/. The aim is to create as many lines as possible before the various shapes fill up the container.

20-25 years on, it’s interesting to see how those hours playing Tetris coincide with many of my world views today.

1. Calculated risk is rewarded
You score more for one score of 4 lines (in one go) versus four scores of one line. There is inherent risk – only one shape (and orientation) will get you the 4 line score: the vertical line. The risk is to build your montage to ensure you have a gap to place the vertical piece. This is aggressive and unless you get the required piece, you will lose, but the score is greater. Although the next generation is random, you can guess what the next piece will NOT be placed on prior pieces.

Lesson:  It’s not blind risk, but calculated risk that gets the reward.

2. Have a plan before you press play
You need a plan. At first glance, Tetris is only about completing lines, but the more thought out your strategy the better you’re placed to succeed. It’s easier to plan how you’ll place the pieces at the start (when the speed is slower) than at level 12.

Lesson: “Failing to plan is planning to fail”

3. Sometimes all you want is a “L”
You’re successful! Your screen looks more like a horizon than skyscrapers and all you need as that “L” shape. But you get something else…again and again. Put it where it will cause the least damage and get to it later (i.e. place it in a non optimal spot).Perhaps you should change your long term plan and be content with scores of 3, not a score of 4.

Lesson: Learn when to adapt, when to place plans on hold and when to change all together.

4. Seeing the next piece while juggling the current piece
The best Tetris players know where to put the current piece to maximize the placement of the next piece. Not seeing the future, leads in the wrong direction. How do you see the next piece in the preview plane? Develop peripheral vision and see more than the average Tetris players see.

Lesson: Develop a peripheral vision to see opportunities others don’t.  This will often allow you to optimize your current situation.

5. Slightly shift  that piece
Right before a piece gets placed, you can move it horizontally to fill a gap. This very small movement allows you to fill a gap in the horizontal direction, unlike the conventional vertical direction and can maximize future points.

Lesson: Those incremental, last minute plans may optimize your situation. Don’t neglect the small details – they could be very big.

6. When going gets tough, you just need to survive
When you start, pieces fall at an easy pace, allowing you to orientate yourself. At the higher levels, the pieces fall like rain. The best you can do is survive – place the pieces as best you can – and just keep going.

Lesson: Life can just be a blur at times, you need to survive first then get the big points later.

7. All messes can be fixed – keep calm!
You messed up, thought that piece was going to fit in a hole and you missed. It’s ok. Build around it and keep calm. If you keep your wits and don’t beat yourself up, you can recover pretty quickly – It may even turn out to be a good thing.

Lesson: Like Douglas Adams says – “Don’t Panic”. You messed up in life, its ok, you still have time to not only fix it up, but use it as an opportunity for something else. Just don’t get hung up on it.


A goodbye is a seam between yesterday and tomorrow

Posted by admin – May 16, 2011

Watching friends say “Goodbye” to each other – at the conclusion of their two year MBA – I was struck by the love and genuine caring between once strangers, now friends: It is true “a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met”. Through the hugging and high fives these strangers are forever joined by a common experience that will last an eternity.

By definition “Goodbye”  – literally – “God be with you”, implies the end of something. A time limit reached or a challenge concluded. There is undoubtably sadness – by ourselves, or by those we leave behind – goodbyes are never easy. They are a ending point. A conclusion.

But I offer another view: I urge you not to think about the “goodbye” as the period at the end of a sentence, rather as the comma between two linking thoughts. A transition point: a seam between memories of yesterday and the possibilities of tomorrow. Hold onto the memories and experiences of yesterday and use them as a base to live though the future of tomorrow.


My last lecture

Posted by admin – May 13, 2011

Over the last 3 years the graduating Babson MBA class invites their favorite professors to give one last lecture. The aim is for the wise profs to impart one more life lesson. I’ve been fortunate to have attended each year and am amazed at the wisdom they share. This is would be my last lecture…

Throughout life, we are constantly told to succeed. Succeed at school, gain a degree, be top of your class. Succeed at work, find love and have a family. For those who start businesses, we are urged to beat the market, beat competitors, raise venture capital and grow you company so that you may one day do an IPO.

Rarely are we told how to succeed in life. The race has us beat before we have begun and so today, I share not my wisdom – for I am short of it – but the wisdom of those with more experience; those with grayer heads and sharper eyes. Those that have tasted the victory of a full life.

The first is “If” by Rudyard Kipling, with the advice to any young man (or woman) heading into the world where they will move from being a child to being an adult.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!

–Rudyard Kipling

The second is from a prayer written by theologian Reinhold Neibuhr and share wisdom on choices.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Both of these passages have been my companion during the various challenges I’ve had in life including facing mortality and the meaning of life at 21, understanding family illnesses and loss and knowing that at times decisions we make will not benefit me, but benefit those around me. More importantly, the wisdom contained within, have allowed me to understand the importance of grounding and seeking the that truth comes from knowing oneself first. For without doubt, the greatest challenge that you will face are not the in the world outside – but with the world inside.

Today your journey has no ended; today you journey has begun. Equipped with your MBA strive to understand the words ushered in quiet  by Lao Tsu hundreds of years ago – “He who knows others is learned; he who knows himself is wise”.