Salim Ismail Metaphysics Of Growth

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    Salim Ismail Metaphysics Of Growth - Presentation Transcript

    1. The Metaphysics of Growth How does growth happen? Salim Ismail Ignite SF 2008
    2. Growth
      • Dictionary
        • 1. The process of growing.
        • 2. Development from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form; evolution.
        • 3. An increase, as in size, number, value, or strength; extension or expansion: population growth.
        • 4. Something that grows or has grown: a new growth of grass
        • Evolution, improvement, expansion…
        • ‘ more’… ‘better’
    3. Growth is Pervasive
      • It’s everywhere
        • Any startup
        • Your code base
        • Economy
        • Personal growth
        • Finance
        • Evolution
        • Children
        • Nature
        • Is there any aspect of your life that doesn’t try to grow, improve or evolve?
    4. Metaphysics
      • Physics: Studies reality
        • Science: The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation.
      • Metaphysics: Examines the nature and structure of reality
      • What is the nature and structure of growth?
        • We don’t think enough about this….
    5. Where does this come from?
      • Degree in theoretical physics
      • Comes from a lot of reading/writing I’ve done on philosophy/metaphysics for a few years
      • Robert Pirsig
      • “ Zen & the art of Motorcycle Maintenance”
      • “ Lila” – The metaphysics of Quality
    6. New Metaphysics
      • Via Pirsig….
      • Our philosophies today are based on a subject/object metaphysics
        • Western philosphy stresses objective thinking
          • science, logic
          • tries to represent reality
        • Eastern philosophy thinks everything is subjective
          • Meditation
          • Tries to integrate with reality by going inwards
    7. Structural problem in Philosophy
      • However
      • Large areas of life don’t fall into the subject/object buckets
        • E.g. Moral Values, or Love/Emotions
      • Causes a mess for philosophers… they’re having to cope with a major flaw in the underlying framework
    8. Need a new metaphysics
      • Re-engineer from the bottom up and chuck the subject/object metaphysics
          • It’s the wrong split in reality
      • Need a new one that better covers life experiences
      • Based it on Quality (= goodness)
    9. Take a phased approach
      • Dynamic Static
      Predictable Unpredictable Stable Unstable Definable/Divisible Undefinable Kinetic or Stored Potential Routine Exciting Safe Dangerous Limiting Limitless Easily measured Not quantifiable Old New
    10. Two Processes in Growth
      • Growth
        • Break free from old pattern
        • Take on uncertainty/risk
        • Leap for a new level
      • Consolidation
        • Take a breath, establish some solidity
        • Get ready for next leap
      • These are archetypal
    11. More on Growth… Grow Consolidate Unknown Known Yin Yang
    12. Examples Growth can be negative!! Feedback & full rollout Feature releases via betas Product Mgmt Term sheet and finally $$$ Talk to hundreds of VCs Get funding Testing / Implementation Implement a new design Software Exam Learn all semester Student Consolidation Growth
    13. http://hansvandevorst.com
    14. More characteristics
      • Growth is cyclical
        • Tree rings
        • Code versions
      • It is nested (hierarchically)
        • As one part grows, so does the larger whole
      • “ Reculer pour mieux sauter”
            • Move back so you can jump further
            • Break old patterns to make way for new
    15. Growth and Technology
      • All processes are either supporting
        • growth
        • infrastructure
      Unknown Known Yin Yang
    16. Processes Inside Companies
      • Growth Consolidation
        • Fundraising Legal
        • Marketing Accounting
        • Sales Administrative
        • Product Dev’t Testing
    17. Growth in Information
      • The internet is in serious growth mode
          • Lots of information types being layered onto it…
      • Text about things (HTML)
      • What I think about (blogs)
      • Who I know (social networks)
      • What I’m doing (twitter, pownce)
      • What is everyone else doing (friendfeed, Twhirl)
      • Where am I (Fire Eagle, Loop…)
      • What do I care about
      • What do I want (offers for sale)
      • What do I like / not like (reviews / ratings)
      Tom Coates: “ the web of data”
    18. The process is usually the same
      • New data gets traction on the internet
      • Company X tries to own all that data
            • Used to be AOL
            • Today: Facebook
      • Standards are agreed and the data opens up
      • Competition thrives (or not…)
      • Back to A…..
    19. Two Processes in Growth
      • Growth
        • Break free from old pattern
        • Take on uncertainty/risk
        • Leap for a new level
      • Consolidation
        • Take a breath, establish some solidity
        • Get ready for next leap
      • These are archetypal
    20. Now that you understand growth
      • Take some risks…
      • Pick a technology/domain you’re passionate about…
      • Find a great idea that’ll solve a real need…
      • Go start a company and grow it…

    + Rashmi SinhaRashmi Sinha, 2 years ago

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