Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 45

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #701

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

A Man Goes To A Public Restroom – And Gets Trapped In A Time Paradox – Stalled – Omeleto – YouTube. “It looks like we’re doing more time travel links this week as well, so here’s a one-man short film for you. (Alistair for Hugh). Gore-Tex Is A Marketing Gimmick – FortNine – YouTube . “Breathable? Technically, yes. Waterproof? Technically, yes. Accidentally stretched Teflon with a great marketing campaign? Absolutely. Interesting case study of positioning and channel monopolies.”  (Alistair for Mitch). The Ars Guide To Time Travel In The Movies – Ars Technica . “After our links got sent out last week, there was a flurry of emails talking about good time travel movies. One of my favourites is Primer, filmed for $7000(!), and another great – under the radar – film is Source Code. Alistair recommended the Spanish flick Timecrimes, which I’d never heard of, and I’m looking forward to. Here’s an article rating movies on a (poorly labelled) grid, measuring scientific accuracy (x axis), and entertainment value (y axis). They’ve obviously made some serious errors (Primer is VERY entertaining, thank you very much), however Alistair’s recommendations are both in the more scientific and more entertaining quadrant. And, you can’t quibble with 12 Monkeys up in the top right.” (Hugh for Alistair). AI Thinks Different – Sean Carroll’s Mindscape . “Theoretical physicist and philosopher Sean Carroll takes on Generative AI, what it is and what it isn’t, and gives the very best analysis I’ve read/heard yet about why ChatGPT may seem intelligent, but is most definitely not, and why natural language models can’t be ‘intelligent’, in the way that we usually mean ‘intelligent’. Even if they are great at faking it. He’s not pooh poohing AI or ChatGPT, but does a fantastic job of explaining the inherent limitations in natural language models.” (Hugh for Mitch).The Rise Of The Meta City – Harvard Business Review. “I have always been a fan of the work (and writing) of Richard Florida, but it was the headline of this article that grabbed me first (then, knowing it was from Florida, I knew it would be meaty). So… this is a subject that I can’t get out of my brain. Digital technologies advance, remote work is a constant, people moved during the pandemic, and beyond the physical stuff we are thinking differently about what our work is (and how important it is in the grander scheme of things). So… what does this mean for office space and corporate headquarters? Maybe that question is too small? Maybe, the real question becomes: What is the competition like for talent when offices are no longer a major factor? And how does this impact cities as we have known them to be? Welcome to the era of the Meta City: ‘a web of cities that operate as a distinct unit and are attached to a major — often global — economic hub. The various communities that make up the Meta City may be in different time zones and noncontiguous locations, but they function together as a coherent network with a distinct structure and logic. The Meta City combines physical and virtual agglomeration, in seeming defiance of the laws of physics, making it possible to occupy more than one space at the same time. As a result, urban areas within the Meta City network can share economic and social functions.’ We’re looking at you, Miami, Dubai, Austin…” (Mitch for Alistair).A History Of Bookmaking, From Scrolls To Scrolling – Hyperallergic. “I’m not sure if you have been naughty or nice this year, but if you play your cards right, you just might find this book under your Christmas Tree this year. And, even if you don’t… this could be the ideal stocking stuffer for the book lover in your life. Hugh and I are both huge fans of books and why they matter. This article sure got the juices flowing… If you ever wonder about how we came to turn pages, this one is for you.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

From Rides To Rakes With Uber Tasks

Can your Uber driver do some gardening for you?

Uber is testing a new service called Uber Tasks, which is similar to TaskRabbit.
This service will allow users to hire Uber drivers and couriers for household chores and projects.
The pilot program for Uber Tasks is set to launch in Fort Myers, Florida, and Edmonton, Alberta in the coming weeks.

Can your Uber driver help you deliver your baby?

OK, that was sarcasm, but users can post tasks like furniture assembly, snow removal, laundry, packing/unpacking, holiday decorating, yard cleanup, garden maintenance, and lawn mowing.
Drivers and couriers from Uber can browse and opt-in for these tasks, with estimated earnings shown upfront.
Is this a great way to provide more earning opportunities for drivers and couriers that have additional skills over driving a car and to earn more flexibly?

How’s the business of Uber?

Uber reported its second profitable quarter in 2023, but is experiencing slow growth.
The company is exploring various avenues for additional revenue, such as a flight booking service in the UK and integrating video ads into its apps.

So…

Does this just make things more complex for the gig economy?Is this good for the Uber brand?How will Uber maintain quality control?Is this a layer of operational complexity that Uber can handle?Is this what Uber customers want?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · From Rides To Rakes With Uber Tasks – The Elias Makos Show – CJAD 800 AM

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

David Burkus On Building The Best Team Ever – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #907 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

What is the future of team dynamics at work? Let’s delve into the innovative world of leadership and management with David Burkus, an expert in organizational theory and psychology. David, with his unique blend of academic rigor and practical insights, has continually redefined our understanding of what makes teams excel at work. His latest book, Best Team Ever!, is as a testament to his dedication to uncovering the secrets behind highly successful teams. This book isn’t just a compendium of theories, it’s a roadmap drawn from extensive research and real-world examples. David peels back the layers of traditional management structures, inviting readers to explore the core principles that empower teams to achieve their fullest potential. A regular contributor to leading publications and a sought-after speaker, David has made a career of challenging conventional wisdom. His approach blends the latest research with pragmatic strategies, a methodology that has made his work resonate with a diverse range of leaders and professionals. What sets David apart is his ability to distill complex concepts into accessible, engaging narratives. His previous books, Leading From Anywhere, Pick A Fight, Friend Of A Friend, Under New Management and The Myths of Creativity, demonstrate the diverse workplace challenges David has tackled over the years. David consistently offers a fresh perspective on collaboration, innovation, and productivity. So, if you are looking to navigate the complexities of modern team leadership, how effective teams operate and thrive in today’s ever-evolving work environments, join us as we explore with the foundational elements that constitute the Best Team Ever! Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #907 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #907 – David Burkus On Building The Best Team Ever

Welcome to episode #907 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #907. What is the future of team dynamics at work? Let’s delve into the innovative world of leadership and management with David Burkus, an expert in organizational theory and psychology. David, with his unique blend of academic rigor and practical insights, has continually redefined our understanding of what makes teams excel at work. His latest book, Best Team Ever!, is as a testament to his dedication to uncovering the secrets behind highly successful teams. This book isn’t just a compendium of theories, it’s a roadmap drawn from extensive research and real-world examples. David peels back the layers of traditional management structures, inviting readers to explore the core principles that empower teams to achieve their fullest potential. A regular contributor to leading publications and a sought-after speaker, David has made a career of challenging conventional wisdom. His approach blends the latest research with pragmatic strategies, a methodology that has made his work resonate with a diverse range of leaders and professionals. What sets David apart is his ability to distill complex concepts into accessible, engaging narratives. His previous books, Leading From Anywhere, Pick A Fight, Friend Of A Friend, Under New Management and The Myths of Creativity, demonstrate the diverse workplace challenges David has tackled over the years. David consistently offers a fresh perspective on collaboration, innovation, and productivity. So, if you are looking to navigate the complexities of modern team leadership, how effective teams operate and thrive in today’s ever-evolving work environments, join us as we explore with the foundational elements that constitute the Best Team Ever! Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:04:56.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with David Burkus,Best Team Ever!Leading From Anywhere.Pick A Fight.Friend Of A Friend.Under New Management.The Myths of Creativity.Check out David on ThinkersOne.Follow David on LinkedIn.Follow David on X.Follow David on YouTube.Follow David on TikTok.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #907.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #700

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

So What Should We Do About AI? Let’s Count The Ways – The Society Library – Medium. “Jaimie Joyce is the founder of The Society Library, and works with the Internet Archive to create ontologies of the world’s laws. She’s an amazing interpreter of collective thought, and she’s been busy mapping the AI debate. Here, then, is Jaimie’s writeup on what we think about AI. With so many threads, it’s nice to have a loom like her.” (Alistair for Hugh). Tenet – A Misunderstood Masterpiece – Ben From Canada – YouTube . “Tenet is a Marmite movie: You either love it or hate it. I adored it—though David Fincher‘s The Killer may have captured my top spot these days. So many good clues (the opening music plays notes backwards…) But I couldn’t explain why I loved Tenet. It felt like solving a puzzle while it was unfolding before me. This video essay did a good job of explaining what the film was about (a temporal pincer movement); why you have to watch it more than once to appreciate it; and the specific moment when you know everything is going to get bonkers.” (Alistair for Mitch).American Elites Are Living In A Delusional Universe. Here’s Why The Next Crisis Will Make The 2008 Recession Look Like A Garden Party – Toronto Star. “Apologies for the paywall link (I read this one in the Apple News app). In any case, Canadian gold mining and film magnate, Frank Giustra, makes the case that … well the US (and by extension, Canada) is in the kind of trouble the Spanish were back in the 16th and 17th Centuries. By conquering the Americas, and mining for its gold and silver, Spain exploded in unimaginable wealth, suddenly and spectacularly. Eventually, overconsumption, inflation, debt, low productivity, and many wars cratered the Spanish system. This was a big surprise to the Spanish, who expected global supremacy to last forever. In the USA: the trade deficit has doubled in the past 20 years, household debt risen by 2.5x, government debt has quintupled, and the Federal Reserve now holds $7.87 trillion in assets (compared to less than a billion 20 years ago), with fed assets tied to inflation. And then there are wars (Iraq/terror, Ukraine, and now likely Middle East). From a pure financial perspective, this looks really bad. It’s even worse in Canada. Maybe everything will be fine?” (Hugh for Alistair).Posthaste: There’s A New Crisis Looming In A Commodity 400 Times Bigger Than Oil – Financial Post. “How many problems can your brain handle at once? Climate change, AI, wars with China (or in Eastern Europe, or the Middle East), and a few others I can’t remember right now. How about: we’re running out of fresh water.” (Hugh for Mitch). The Best Primer I’ve Heard On Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts – The Ezra Klein Show . “I don’t know and understand nearly enough about the conflict in The Middle East. I write this because, it is extremely rare to hear anyone candidly admit their knowledge is lacking… especially online. So, what does one do? Post links and articles and create content espousing what ’should be done’? As if the struggles in The Middle East haven’t been debated and attempted to be solved by those who have a deep bench of knowledge and expertise of both the region and the people? Sure, everyone has an opinion… and everyone believes that their opinion is the only path forward. Still, I see another swath of people. Those who are letting this scary moment in time allow knowledge, education and reflection to bubble up. While I may not agree with the title of this podcast… I did find the conversation illuminating. Still… no solutions… just potential (and painful) pathways forward. It’s going to take very brave leaders to make very bold moves in the hopes that the populations will agree, and attempt to make progressive steps forward. Perilous times.” (Mitch for Alistair).The Controversy Over TikTok And Osama Bin Laden’s “Letter To America,” Explained – Vox. ”I hesitated to post this link. No need to attract more attention to this kind of nonsense. Still, this may act as a lighthouse case study in understanding culture, memes, the new media and the problems we are facing. Justification for terrorism as a form of ‘resistance’ is starting to become both accepted and normalized. We can’t allow this to happen. Those who will then laugh at that sentence and wonder what a proper resistance might look like, if it doesn’t include a lot of terror on everyday people are not the kind of people that I want to be around. I’ve had more than a few conversations lately with my American friends who fear that their country could be on the brink of a civil war (as if we don’t have enough problems stacking up). With that, let’s not take a small swath of stupid TikTok videos and help fuel it into something much bigger…” (Mitch for Hugh). 

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

From OpenAI To Closed Doors – The Weekend That Turned The Tech World Upside Down

**UPDATED** – Sacking, revolt, return: how crisis at OpenAI over Sam Altman unfolded (via The Guardian)

This was, potentially, the strangest week in AI.

OpenAI‘s board of directors abruptly fired CEO (and visionary) Sam Altman last Friday, leading co-founder Greg Brockman and dozens of other OpenAI staff to quit in protest.
By Sunday evening, Emmett Shear (ex Twitch) was appointed as the new interim CEO of OpenAI.
More details emerged, indicating the firing was because of increased tensions over the speed of AI development.

Has AGI been achieved?

That speculation ran rampant over the weekend, with many believing the moves were made in response to AGI (Artificial General Intelligence – when AI is truly autonomous/as smart as human beings) being achieved.
Following the late Sunday night news, chaos ensued as dozens of OpenAI staffers quit.
The next day close to every staff member (700 employees) signed a leader threatening to leave, if the board does not reinstate Altman.

The Microsoft Factor.

Microsoft has invested over ten billion dollars into OpenAI.
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, got involved.
Nadella announced that Altman and Brockman will join Microsoft to create a “new advanced AI research team.”
He also invited every OpenAI team member to join him.

Some bigger questions to ponder:

If the best staff leaves… and goes to Microsoft… how long will it take Microsoft to ramp up, and does this diminish the power of OpenAI?Might this move push clients of OpenAI to move to competitors (like Cohere, Anthropic, and Gemini)? Even Meta’s LLM, Google, X, Amazon, Apple… who isn’t competing in the AI race?Does this create a mini-vacuum and opening for someone else in the AI field?If OpenAI has achieved some level of AGI, what do we do with regulation?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here

Mitch Joel · From OpenAI to Closed Doors – The Weekend That Turned The Tech World Upside Down

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Anne Morriss On How To Move Fast And Fix Things – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #906 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

Meet Anne Morriss, a seasoned leadership coach, prolific writer, and an indisputable authority in company creation. Anne has an acute understanding of the modern business landscape, and has devoted a significant portion of her career to exploring and addressing key issues that contemporary organizations face. An advocate for strategic leadership, she has become widely known for her insightful perspectives on the dynamics of trust, speed, and change within the business world. Anne is the co-author (along with her partner, Frances Frei) of the new book, Move Fast And Fix Things – The Trusted Leader’s Guide To Solving Hard Problems. The book (and this conversation) is an exploration of the balance between speed and trust in fostering organizational change. He other books include: Unleashed and Uncommon Service. He is also the Co-Founder of The Leadership Consortium. With experiences like her advisory role at Uber during one of the company’s most pivotal times, Anne offers piercing insights into the complex mechanisms of corporate action and cultural evolution. Beyond just writing about it, Anne is dedicated to the real-life implementation of her theories. She is a company builder, continually testing and refining her strategies in various environments. At the same time, her work as a leadership coach signifies her commitment to individual growth within the organizational context. Anne also hosts Fixable, a podcast in partnership with the TED podcast network, where she and Frances help to solve workplace problems quickly. The podcast offers deep insights, creating an invaluable resource for leaders aiming to improve their work environment and efficiency. In an era demanding quick results and transparency, Anne is lighting the way, demonstrating that trust-based, swift leadership is not only possible but also key to success. Anne embodies the transformative power of informed, strategic leadership. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #906 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #906 – Anne Morriss On How To Move Fast And Fix Things

Welcome to episode #906 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #906. Meet Anne Morriss, a seasoned leadership coach, prolific writer, and an indisputable authority in company creation. Anne has an acute understanding of the modern business landscape, and has devoted a significant portion of her career to exploring and addressing key issues that contemporary organizations face. An advocate for strategic leadership, she has become widely known for her insightful perspectives on the dynamics of trust, speed, and change within the business world. Anne is the co-author (along with her partner, Frances Frei) of the new book, Move Fast And Fix Things – The Trusted Leader’s Guide To Solving Hard Problems. The book (and this conversation) is an exploration of the balance between speed and trust in fostering organizational change. He other books include: Unleashed and Uncommon Service. He is also the Co-Founder of The Leadership Consortium. With experiences like her advisory role at Uber during one of the company’s most pivotal times, Anne offers piercing insights into the complex mechanisms of corporate action and cultural evolution. Beyond just writing about it, Anne is dedicated to the real-life implementation of her theories. She is a company builder, continually testing and refining her strategies in various environments. At the same time, her work as a leadership coach signifies her commitment to individual growth within the organizational context. Anne also hosts Fixable, a podcast in partnership with the TED podcast network, where she and Frances help to solve workplace problems quickly. The podcast offers deep insights, creating an invaluable resource for leaders aiming to improve their work environment and efficiency. In an era demanding quick results and transparency, Anne is lighting the way, demonstrating that trust-based, swift leadership is not only possible but also key to success. Anne embodies the transformative power of informed, strategic leadership. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:01:04.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Anne Morriss.Move Fast And Fix Things – The Trusted Leader’s Guide To Solving Hard Problems.Unleashed.Uncommon Service.The Leadership Consortium.Fixable.Frances Frei.Follow Anne on LinkedIn.Follow Anne on X.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #906.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #699

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

What To Know About The New Artificial Intelligence Executive Order – Holland & Knight. “Governments are scrambling to put a stake in the ground on Generative AI. The UK had a summit; the US had an executive order; Europe is tying itself in knots to play its role as digital regulator (thanks to the wide impact of GDPR) while not stifling innovation. Among it all, this Holland & Knight writeup was a clear-headed explainer of what the White House order tries to do.” (Alistair for Hugh). Fake Profiles And Anonymous Posts: How Social Media Is Upending College Life During The Israel-Gaza War – Forbes . “Last week, I opened FWD50 with a talk that didn’t directly address the horrible events in the Middle East, but rather, called for an investment in government systems we can trust — because if we don’t, we resort to far worse systems. This Forbes piece on the fog of war in a social era, where everyone can publish, and therefore is pressured to do so, was a good look at the world we’re in today, and how it’s playing out on campuses. The goal? ‘[These] accounts don’t necessarily try to change anyone’s mind; they try to heighten polarization’.” (Alistair for Mitch).Your Personality Depends On Which U.S. State You Live In – Atlas Obscura. “Fascinating map on the prevalence of various personality traits by US State (red=more, green= less). According to this data, the southeast is agreeable, stable, conscientious, but not particularly open. The midwest is extroverted, stable, and closed. The west coast is open, stable, but introverted. The northeast is open but disagreeable and emotionally unstable.” (Hugh for Alistair).  What’s The Future Of Books? – Esquire . “Mitch, Alistair and I have all been dissecting the ‘future of book publishing’ forever. You might say we’ve all made careers of it: Alistair runs some of the most interesting conferences out there, and got his start working with a book publisher whose idea was that books are just a (small) part of what readers want and need; Mitch, a voracious reader and writer of books was also one of Canada’s first podcasters, arguably the (new) medium most closely competing for the intellectual space that books once owned; and I run a company that helps educators publish digital books that are native to the web. Anyway, here’s the first article on the future of books I’ve read in a long while.” (Hugh for Mitch). The Day The Delusions Died – The Free Press . “Talking about politics is not easy. In fact, it’s not something I am interested in doing on social media. It could be local, national or international politics… it doesn’t matter. I am deeply interested in the topic of politics (I follow the news and have extensive conversations with colleagues and friends about it). Here is what I will say: I am become more and more enamored with public thinkers like Konstantin Kisin (whose work I have shared in this space before). Not because I agree with him (or would follow his thinking), but simply that he is doing it.. in public. And, whether you agree with his opinions (or not) we can’t be dismissive of how smart he is (and how well he presents his ideas). Whether it’s on his podcast, Triggernometry, or in an op-ed piece like this one. We can all scream at one another on social media. We can all show up with signs and march in the streets with very binary messages. But, with some research, deep thought and some attention to perspectives that differ from what your previously held beliefs, you might (just might) come to a different way of thinking that might (just might) put us all on a much better, healthier and more peaceful path forward.” (Mitch for Alistair).  Best Books of 2023 – Book Riot . “It’s that time of the year again… although it does seem like the annual ‘best of…’ lists are being released earlier and earlier. I don’t know about you, but this poly-crisis has really got me down. And when I am feeling down, I have one place to escape to: Between the pages. Especially great fiction (and, yes, I am still a fan of business and non-fiction books). I am also a big fan of the Book Riot newsletter. Here’s a big list of books that I have not read from this past year. I have already put a handful of these titles on my wishlist… and I think you’ll find a few gems in here for yourself as well. Happy reading… and escaping…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

WeWork…WhatHappened?

If you build it… will they come?

It’s hard to imagine flourishing office spaces and this desire for your work space to be something more than a cubicle where most emails get answered and your life’s desires go to die.
Still… this was the promise of WeWork, and the growing work culture that emerged as tech giants and venture-backed startups changed everything we thought we knew about work.
It might be fuzzy to see this after living through the global Covid 19 pandemic, but going to an exciting office space was… exciting.

In that high-octane world of startups, few stories are as vertiginous as that of WeWork.

Founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey in New York City, WeWork heralded a revolution in the shared workspace industry, only to spiral into a dramatic downfall only a decade later.

Rise WeWork Rise.

WeWork’s meteoric rise was fueled by a self-declared innovative approach to office space.
By leasing and refurbishing properties, then renting them out at marked-up rates to companies and freelancers, WeWork wasn’t just offering desks, it was selling a dream.
The spaces were not only functional but stylish, complete with amenities like apps, connected technologies, networking, events, free kombucha and hammocks.
This approach appealed to a wide audience – from freelancers to startups and even large corporations who wanted to be “in” and “seen” as innovators.
It wasn’t just an office… it was a community.

Was this truly innovation?

Was this more about branding and culture than a genuinely unique business model?
Shared office spaces weren’t new, but WeWork’s knack for strong marketing made them seem revolutionary.
Their model was simple yet alluring: Combine modern design with a community-focused environment.
This approach, coupled with aggressive global expansion, propelled WeWork’s valuation to a staggering $47 billion by January 2019.
Still, when WeWork filed for an IPO in August 2019, the financial disclosures revealed substantial losses, raising questions about its business model and sky-high valuation.
The following months saw a postponement of the IPO, the stepping down of CEO Adam Neumann (later dramatized by Jared Leto in the documentary, WeCrashed) amidst governance concerns, and a bailout by major investor SoftBank.
WeWork’s model was based on long-term leases and short-term rentals – a risky proposition vulnerable to market fluctuations.
Something that most real estate experts lnew long before the hype.

Then the pandemic.

Covid 19 decimated demand for office spaces.
The tech-industry halo that WeWork wore – positioning itself more as a tech company than a real estate firm – could not save it from the realities of its financial model.
Now, WeWork filed for bankruptcy.

What to do?

With my limited expertise in real estate (beyond some investing and a general interest in this space), it seems obvious that whoever takes over can break these properties down into three buckets: keep, renegotiate, and drop.
Asset liquidation to reduce debt is crucial.
This means selling off non-essential assets, properties, and leases.
The company might then be able to pivot back to its real estate roots, emphasizing sustainability and operational efficiency.
Perhaps a specialization in niche markets – such as tech startups or small businesses?
Maybe some partnerships or acquisitions by larger real estate or tech firms could provide stability and resources?
Even a franchising model might reduce operational costs and risks, making each local WeWork space independently managed and owned?

WeWork is at a crossroads.

Some of that by their own hand and getting ahead of their skis.
Some of that by the aftermath of the pandemic and what, exactly, businesses need as the return to office mandates change and adapt.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here

Mitch Joel · WeWork…WhatHappened? – The Elias Makos Show – CJAD 800 AM

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