It is good to be going away again. It will be interesting to hear the stories in Cornwall about how people are coping with the recession; at least those who are able to afford a break. I have had a confusing few days back in Cambridge recovering from walks up Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike - just happy memories now. Here I have marveled at the wonders of May Week when the future leaders of the world, or pizza makers, celebrate the end of their education at Cambridge University with the May Balls. In June, of course - it is Cambridge!
It is one of the many wonders of the world of Cambridge to take a visitor from Beijing to the bridge between Trinity and Trinity Hall to watch the fireworks and have a glimpse of another world as the May Ball commences. Everyone on the bridge smiled and was happy and looked after each other in the crush. We had a glimpse of young people, energetic, healthy and excited by the next challenge.
But across town a few days later, I met two people in the private sector - a minority in the public sector dominated Cambridge. One suddenly said to me “I have lost everything but I will start again”; tough in your fifties. The other has problems in his private life and has struggled in the competitive private sector. He was very depressed. I never forget my friend Jacob Turnbull (retired from looking after homeless people) saying “It can happen to any of us”. I pressed upon my new friend a modest amount of cash and he burst into tears. What does a man do? Walk away. I am too old for the modern clinch.
Back home, I tried to escape by surfing the web and clicked on Google Reader for Fred Wilson (www.avc.com). Fred is an investor in, and user, of social network sites such as Twitter. In my depressed state, I was not ready for so much good news; to learn all the joy in his post about the secrets of Fred’s long marriage. Nor how to be a successful venture capitalist by building strong relationships with entrepreneurs. Investments decided never on price but on a strong relationship. What a Utopia for an investor and how different from those affected by the recession.
And then there was Robert Scoble (or Scobleizer as he is known on the web) looking to the future with his new venture Building43 (www.building43,com). He is advocating that we do away with the simple web1994 style sites; passive and like print on a screen. Scobleizer is promoting what he calls web2010 sites which reach out to customers with videos and incorporate social networks like Facebook, Twitter and FriendFeed. People getting involved with the products; learning, asking questions, immediate responses on Twitter and, most importantly, recommendations from trusted social networks. No need to rely on a food critic; listen to your social network for the best food in town.
Mary Porter makes the same point in her column Shop! on the DIY chain Focus “Clever brands know that the word of mouth created by delivering good service is ultimately the easiest and fastest way to drive sales”. Nowadays the “mouth” are social networks like blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Friend Feed. Will someone in Cambridge build the next big social network site?
It is a long way to Cornwall from Cambridge and a very different world. It will be good to learn how the British are holidaying in Britain and what business plan the Cornish are adopting during these difficult times. As those of us lucky enough to be part of the new waves we must never forget those who are in difficulties in the murky waters or overcome by the last wave. Let us reach out and help those who are struggling so that we all go forward together to prosper in the good times to come. Let us try and make a better world.
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