Kiwi Scrum

July 2008, Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

This Kiwi Scrum message should be useful to you. If you think I'm missing that objective, please let me know.

LinkedIn Hint:

Last month I recommended that you aim to develop at least 50 Linkedin Connections. The Kiwi Scrum Web page explains why.

Only a tiny number of you have ever used LinkedIn Answers. Finding interesting questions to answer is easy. There is VALUE to you in thinking about a question and in writing a reply to the question. You also get to compare your own thinking with the efforts of other people. This is an opportunity to learn to three ways. You learn about the topic, you learn which LinkedIn members have useful knowledge, and you learn who you are in this context.

I highly recommend an active approach to using LinkedIn Answers.

Explore the Useful Common: Recession?

While you can access much of the useful common, via a Google search, I rely almost entirely on people I know to direct me to topics and people who I should pay attention to.

I've got an interest in Economics. For the past five years I've become increasingly critical of the mismanagement of the US economy. Catherine Austin Fitts first alerted me to the high level of corruption in both government and business. GW Bush said early in his Presidency that “Debt doesn't matter”. As the US dollar declines in value and the Euro becomes the new reserve currency of the world, the fallacy of that argument becomes obvious.

I've discovered that news of the recession we are moving into isn't wanted. Most people choose NOT TO KNOW, and respond much like Ronald Reagan who said ”It's always morning in America”.

Ryze is quiet about it. Where there is activity, people say, “My success is guaranteed because I don't believe in failure”.... “The is no depression because I won't allow it.” Or listen to GW Bush, “The economy is strong”.

When markets are open, the price is set at a point where half of the bidders are wrong. In the next few years it might be wise to carry less rather than more debt. Yes, modern governments will increase the money supply to “bail out” the big lenders. The effect of that is to debase the value of money. Everyone loses, it's not a costless process.

Another Social Network - Ryze

LinkedIn lacks forums for discussion. Discussion across a group is an efficient way to share ideas and information. The network that does this best is Ryze. I've recently opened two new networks on Ryze to affirm my confidence in that network. There are over 700 NZ members of Ryze. I hope my Team Downunder network will help them to make good use of Ryze.

You can learn more about Ryze here.

Invite Your Friends

Membership of Kiwi Scrum is growing steadily. Currently 275 people.

Use your group membership of Kiwi Scrum to increase the number of connections you have. This is really important to you as an individual and for the efficiency of the NZ linkedIn network as a whole. Far too many NZ members of LinkedIn have only a tiny number of connections.

If the economy does have a difficult time for the next 2-3 years, as I expect, having well developed connections to people both overseas and in New Zealand is likely to be very valuable. Build those connections early, be prepared. You connections will improve your market intelligence and increase your learning rate. In the long run those who are learning fastest, will be in the best position as innovators, investors and marketers.

That's the purpose of the Open Future Limited web site. See my 3 minute video here.

Best wishes to you all,
John