Cube53 – Unseen Freedom

This cube looks at planning, too little or too much?

The bulk of this episode comes from The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich A Hayak.

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

~ Napoleon Hill, author Think & Grow Rich

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0053Unseen-Freedom.mp3]
[mp3 – 7:45] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Are there decisions you should leave for others?
  2. As you have seen an organization grow, how has the decision making structure effected the growth?
  3. Are you too controlling?

Cube52 – What Does it Take to Build? Vision, Security, People

Vision, security & people are all involved with building something great.

This cube features three mini-cubes. First from the tv show Build It Bigger, an episode on the Kuawati Tower – Al Hamra. Next a segment from Mega Disasters : San Fransisco. Last this quotation:

You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.

~ Walt Disney

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0052take-to-build.mp3]
[mp3 – 4:05] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. What thought came to mind while listening?
  2. Could you help the people around you with vision, security, or manpower?
  3. What do you need to move forward?

Cube51 – The Right Stuff

We all make decisions every day. Then we live with the results.

This cube features Paul Winkler on his radio program he podcasts, The Investor Coaching Show, looking at an article about how some employer are striving to keep their best employees around. See if either yourself or your organization have been handcuffed due to past decisions.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0051The-Right-Stuff.mp3]
[mp3 – 7:45] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Are there lifestyle changes you need to make to achieve a bigger dream?
  2. What does your organization promote for those involved?
  3. Has past decisions severely limited options you or your organization have today?

SartingCube Top Downloads – June 2011

Just seemed like  a quick month. Something about summer & the stage of live I’m in makes it go by quick, but here are the top downloaded episodes in June and some of my thoughts on each.

#1. Cube 42 – Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0042Answer-to-the-Ultimate-Question-of-Life-the-Universe-and-Everything.mp3]
[mp3 – 4:55]

This was a fun episode because I worked in so many geeky jokes referencing sci fi, like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, where both the number 42 and the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” play a role in the story. One that had a major impact on the more technological culture (or geeks).

#2. Cube 43 – Feed The Network

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0043feed-the-network.mp3]
[mp3 – 5:40]

Thinking of this combined with a prior Cube 28 When Blocked You … which looked at how the internet has changed the thinking of societies. The government attempts to prevent what the  citizens want by locking down the internet & the citizens work on a solution that gets the word out.

#3. Cube 40 – Risk & Fear

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0040Risk-and-Fear.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:40]

Most people don’t have a proper perspective on risk, nobody has a perfect understanding of all the risks we take on throughout life, but this episode highlights one major risk all employees take on and few realize.

A key to dealing with this risk is not starting a business. Many people who do still have most if not all their income tied to them doing something on a regular basis. As I see it, there are two things needed. First develop multiple ways you earn income. Second, learn more & expand your skills.

#4. Cube 46 – Survive, Upgrade & Win

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0046Survive-Upgrade-Win.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:40]

I grew up running for elections in this special part of the Boy Scouts called the Order of the Arrow. Each election involved some candidate forum that in some regards is similar to what happens at the end of Survivor.

Anyone running for office, or doing any sales, marketing, or just trying to convince someone else of anything should listen to this one. Rob did a very skilful job working with people.

#5. Cube 25 – How To Succeed

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0025how-to-succeed.mp3]
[mp3 – 7:47]

Still a great listen. I am not sure if this episode or Cube 50 – How to Change is not my “First episode to listen to” but joined they are the first two. We are coming upon the six month mark of StartingCube, during this time a good part of time has been focused on finding great cubes that I and others can use to build their dreams. The biggest thing is that I have kept my mind focused and filled, it has helped.

It is interesting that this episode has been in the top 5 downloads every month since it was released. Not bad for a recording made over 75 years ago.

Looking Forward

I will be shocked if Cube 50 – How to Change is not one of the top downloaded episodes in July, if not longer. It really explains why I do many of the things I do, both on StartingCube and other places.

One idea is to have more posts highlighting sets of cubes.

Cube50 – How to Change

This is a very special episode, one that explains part of the reasons why StartingCube exists.

 

There are two clips inside this cube, first from the episode of EconTalk titled Don Boudreaux on Public Choice, where Russ Roberts poses the question to Don Boudreaux how he could be changing the world since Don does not vote in elections.

Second clip is from Seth Godin’s book Tribes. Seth tells a story of a process a couple uses to have dramatic change where they are.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0050how-to-change.mp3]
[mp3 – 8:16] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Who do you promote?
  2. Have you found people with common goals to work with?
  3. How are you influencing others?
  4. Why?

 

If you would like help picking your next episode to listen to, try the random cube page. It’ll show you a the artwork of a few cubes at random & you can pick which to listen to next.

Cube49 – Price of Cheap : Paying Peanuts for Skyscrapers

One reply to someone saying that something is *FREE* is “at what price?”

This cube looks at the potential costs involved with going with the low bid.

Featuring  Connie and Sheila Talk Episode 60 Reinventing your & your business with Daniel Clinton, owner of DC Enterprises

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0049Price-of-Cheap.mp3]
[mp3 – 8:00] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. What is a time you have went with the “low bid” and been disappointed?
  2. Are there items you are willing to pay for good quality, and unwilling to sacrifice quality to save a buck?
  3. Should your employees, contractors or coaches be based on price alone?

 

Cube48 – I Don’t Know : The Truth Many Will Not Say

This cube comes from July 2009, an episode of EconTalk where Russ Roberts talks with Justin Fox. This particular segment focused in on precision & how people react under stress & uncertainty.

Macroeconomics:

a branch of economics dealing with the performance, structure, behavior, and decision-making of the entire economy. This includes a national, regional, or global economy.

~ wikipedia on Macroeconomics

To learn more about John Keynes, you might want to watch the videos linked to in Cube 33 Organizations: Machine or Human.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0048I-Do-Not-Know.mp3]
[mp3 – 7:10] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Are there desired results that you really cannot measure easily or completely?
  2. Do you really want answers or do you want the truth?
  3. Think of someone who tends to say “I don’t know” – what profession is that individual in?

 

Cube47 – Culture Game : How to make or succeed in one

A special thanks goes to Roshun who recommended this cube, when you find a great clip, send it in using the forum on every StartingCube.com page.

 

Every group has a unique culture that defines the rules of the game needed to meet your goals, or at least maximize the options.

Sometimes these written or unwritten rules are developed intentionally, other times they are not. In Built To Last, Jim Collins has a whole chapter on the types of cultures common among large industry leading organizations.

 

This cube can be viewed from at least two perspectives:

  1. employee
  2. system designer or leader

We want to urge you to listen to it from your natural role and then later listen trying to think from the perspective of the opposite role.

 

When you have a great ah ha moment, share it below in the comments, or comment on what others have shared.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0047Culture-Game.mp3]
[mp3 – 8:05] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. What are 3 ideas an employee could take from this & be more valued as an employee?
  2. What are three ideas an employer could take & help them develop a culture that naturally finds the right people for their organization?

Cube46 – Survive, Upgrade & Win

Survivor is a TV game show that lasts over a month and has very little rules, it’s filed in many countries, but at the end of the twenty-second USA season, a couple very insightful thoughts came from the man refereed to as Boston Rob.

During Survivor : Redemption Island there was one person who was central to lots of friction : Special Agent Philip.

The Cube today focused on two points where Rob presents some thoughts:

  • Addressing how he could stand Philip
  • Why he should be selected/elected/voted as the winner

If you ever have run for election, or tried to get someone to part with money (either make a sale or donate to a cause) this is a great cube for you.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0046Survive-Upgrade-Win.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:40] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Do you have a dream you are willing to spend a third of your life to achieve?
  2. What about 10 years?

Cube45 – Power of a More Human Group

 

This cube features the book Linchpin by Seth Godin.

Linchpin is generally defined as:

  1. A pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in position
  2. A person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization

What does it take for a group of people to succeed at a task or causing change in the world? There is a choice of direction, two paths that have worked at causing major change. Now in this Cube Seth looks at an option that has been less popular in the last 100 years.

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0045More-Human-Group.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:40] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. How is your group different from the competition?
  2. What happens when the wind shifts on your organization?