Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Making Other Plans
I have been told that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. When I hear this I divide the difference between what I have accomplished, what I am planning and what has happened instead. The result is often a hodgepodge of successes, failures and pipe dreams that may never be.
Regardless of how much money I spend on a project, it never is a failure. Take Google for example. They recently bid $5 billion on wireless spectrum that they had zero plans for. Google is known for risky, off the cuff decisions that sometimes lead to useless products and dead ends. Ever heard of Google Ride Finder and Google Mars? The question though becomes was it worth the investment and I think looking at their 25 percent net profit is enough to make a case of the end justifying the means.
I am in the subway, staring at a movie poster thinking about what plans I have for the rest of the day when this older Asian fellow strikes up a conversation. He asks for directions on which train will take him to West Portal. He then makes small talk asking me what I do for a living and when I tell him he shakes my hand vigorously and says “Aaahhh.” His name is Dennis Lee and he too is a photographer. Like a magician he suddenly produces a small photo book and starts showing me his portfolio.
We talk about his work and mine. The train comes and he asks for my card and if I want to go get coffee at the Metro Center. Suddenly I realize he is lonely. That’s when I realize he spotted my camera back pack and knew I was a photographer from the beginning. I chuckle to myself; it was his plan the entire time.
Regardless of how much money I spend on a project, it never is a failure. Take Google for example. They recently bid $5 billion on wireless spectrum that they had zero plans for. Google is known for risky, off the cuff decisions that sometimes lead to useless products and dead ends. Ever heard of Google Ride Finder and Google Mars? The question though becomes was it worth the investment and I think looking at their 25 percent net profit is enough to make a case of the end justifying the means.
I am in the subway, staring at a movie poster thinking about what plans I have for the rest of the day when this older Asian fellow strikes up a conversation. He asks for directions on which train will take him to West Portal. He then makes small talk asking me what I do for a living and when I tell him he shakes my hand vigorously and says “Aaahhh.” His name is Dennis Lee and he too is a photographer. Like a magician he suddenly produces a small photo book and starts showing me his portfolio.
We talk about his work and mine. The train comes and he asks for my card and if I want to go get coffee at the Metro Center. Suddenly I realize he is lonely. That’s when I realize he spotted my camera back pack and knew I was a photographer from the beginning. I chuckle to myself; it was his plan the entire time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)