Who do you want to be today?Who do you want to be?Who do you want to be today?Do you want to be just like someone on TV? Oh, boredom is so terrible; it's like a dread diseaseNothing could be worseThan when there's nothing on TVI'd rather be a cowboy than to stare blank at the …
Enabling Factors for Innovating in Hard Structures vs Corporate—Or I Fought The Law and The Law Won: DeMarco Banter
Breakin' rocks in the hot sun I fought the law and the law won. --The Clash (sort of) I had a colleague ask the other day—what’s the story behind innovation in a massive bureaucracy like the US Department of Defense—what are the enabling factors? That last part had me a bit miffed—what are the enabling …
OFFSET STRATEGY X: Feed my Frankenstein–Neo-DeMarcoian Thought
Well, I ain't evil I'm just good lookin' Start a little fire And baby start cookin' I'm a hungry man But I don't want pizza I'll blow down your house And then I'm gonna eat ya —FEED MY FRANKENSTEIN I've always been fascinated by the evolution of military strategies, specifically the offset strategies employed by …
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RED vs BLUE Ocean Strategies: DeMarco Banter
When I first heard of the Blue Ocean Strategy—all I could think of was Blue Ocean, like open skies—few competitors, etc. Red Ocean, lots of blood, sharks, competition, and so on. I recently read Friedman’s book Strategy: A History where he addresses Blue and Red Ocean strategies. Just thought it might be interesting to dive …
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Ever Heard of This Guy…Pareto? Beyond the 80/20 Rule–Lessons for Leaders, Innovators, and Strategists: DeMarco Banter
For some reason, as of late, I've been hearing a lot of the theories and principles established by the influential Italian economist and sociologist, Vilfredo Pareto. I knew about the 80/20 principle, but it might need to be explored a bit deeper on how it applies in various aspects of life. In that reading I …
Innovation and Doc Martens: Culture in a Boot? DeMarco Banter
ORGIN STORY I've always loved Dr. Martens ever since I was in High School--I have 3 pairs of various styles now--but what's up with the boot, how and why did it become a "thing?" I had to check it out... Dr. Martens, also known as Docs or DMs, is a British footwear and clothing brand, …
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War of the Worlds in a System of Systems Strategy: Neo-DeMarcoian Thought
Systems Thinking My head is on straightMy heart is in peaceMy soul is incrediblyReady to change history It's a good dayTo fight the system, to fight the systemIt's a good, good, good dayYes, a good, good, good day. - Shungudzo, 2021 Systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving that views "systems" - whether they're parts …
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The Next George Kennan: Does the World Need One? DeMarco Banter
Gimme a ticket for an aeroplaneAin't got time to take a fast trainLonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' homeMy baby, just a wrote me a letter. --The Boxtops, 1967 Who is the next George Kennan? George Kennan was a prominent American diplomat and historian, best known for his successful advocacy of a "policy of containment" …
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Innovation in The Machine: Disrupting, Diffusing , and Accelerating the Silver Bullet
Welcome my sonWelcome to the machineWhere have you been?It's alright we know where you've been You've been in the pipelineFilling in timeProvided with toys and scouting for boysYou brought a guitar to punish your ma And you didn't like schoolAnd you know you're nobody's foolSo welcome to the machine -Pink Floyd, Welcome To The Machine, …
Biding Time with The Assassin’s Mace and China’s Strategy: Neo-DeMarcoian Thought
Do what they say Say what you mean …one thing leads to another You told me something wrong I know I listen too long But then one thing leads to another. —The Fixx, One Thing Leads to Another BIDING TIME AND HIDING CAPABILITIES The "biding time and hiding capabilities" strategy is a phrase attributed to …
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