Cube56 – How to Solve Complex Problems

Some problems are simple, then you have big complex problems.

Many look to solve complex problems through finding that one magic bullet to make everything sunshine & rainbows.

Tim Harford presents in a ted talk about a way to solve the most complex problems.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0056-How-to-Solve-Complex-Problems.mp3]
[mp3 – 10:00] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Is there a person, organization, government, or business that you have put too much dependence on?
  2. If you don’t have the time or resources to do all the experiments, how else could you find solutions to complex problems?
  3. Where are some examples where you have seen the “god complex”?

Cube55 – Security, Responsibility & $100 Start-ups

This Cube focus on part of chapter 5 of The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau & deals with several things, ending with a couple of ideas of businesses that took less than $100 to start and earned enough for the founder to not need a traditional job.

Inside the cube is also this quotation:

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes “sightseeing.”

~ Daniel J. Boorstin

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0055Security-Responsibility-100-dollar-Start-ups.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:50] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Who are some people or organizations that promote building a business, investing, or passive income?
  2. Do you want to earn independence?
  3. Do you have other low-cost start-up ideas?

Cube54 – Change in Relationship

Relationships are never static.

We control fifty percent of a relationship. We influence one hundred percent of it.

~ Joyce Brothers [wiki]

This cube highlights a clip from TNT 241 looking at the changing of relationships between some media and their audience and their supporters.

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0054Change-in-Relationship.mp3]
[mp3 – 8:04] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. What other options do your Customers, Friends, Family, or other relationships have?
  2. Can you offer more value & receive what you want in other ways then you considered before?
  3. Have you adapted due to the world around you changing?

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?

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?