Quotes that Make you think

"The purpose of sociology [psychology or anthropology - really, any social science] is to enable the individual to see the everyday - the ordinary and mundane details of life - in a new way; to challenge, as it were, the perceived notions we hold of the world and the institutions and peoples that inhabit it."

- Peter Berger, Sociologist


Common sense is what tells us the Earth is flat and the Sun goes around it. - Anon.


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Social Intelligence and Leadership


This posting from Harvard Business Publishing, might give you some idea of how social and emotional intelligence - really, psychological concepts - can be applied to successful business leadership.

Dishwashers and Japanese Housewives: Applied Anthropology



The attached clip gives an example of the way in which anthropology is can be used in an international business context.

Anthropology and Marketing


Food for thought!

This very brief video gives a hint of the way in which the study of anthropology can be applied in a marketing - why people buy the things they do - context.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Malcolm Gladwell - What makes high-achievers different?



Hi All, the attached video - although a little grainy - is an excellent discussion of Gladwell's thoughts on "Why so some succeed and others fail," encapusulated in his book: Outliers. It's worth spending a little time with, and handily dispels the notion that anyone is truly self-made. Rather, it depends on any other number of variables found in our environment, and related to something as simple as our date of birth. Who'd have thought it? Go figure.

Take a few moments to review and comment on the video clip. What advantages (or disadvantages) do you have. Don't be overly personal, remember this blog is open to the world, but explain whether or not you agree with the clip, and give some supporting evidence as to why you believe that is the case.

Gladwell Archive and Interesting Material

Hi Folks, Find here (http://www.gladwell.com/2008/2008_11_10_a_adversity.html) a link to Malcolm Gladwell's Archive. If you've every some down time, it makes for interesting reading.

Meaningful Work through Passion, not Genius



This video on what Gladwell calls "meaningful work" is a really important one. Again, he draws from his book, Outliers, and gives the Beatles, and Bill Gates as examples of the idea, which argues that the key to excellence is not genuis, but rather passion, and being willing (and "willing" is the key word) -to go to any lengths to develop a skill or a craft, be it music or computer programming, to an extraordinarily high degree. It is this, he believes, that serves as the true foundation of success.

After watching the clip, add a comment of your own below: Do you agree with Gladwell or not? Do you think his examples are legitimate? Can you think of an example of your own? Do a Google search of "Successful People" and see you can find a story that supports the argument. If you believie genius is "born" not made, find an example of that.

Thursday, November 4, 2010