Stéphane-Robert Langer

I’ve essentially seen Clayton Christensen (“The Innovator’s Dilemma“) quoted in the context of the high-tech industry so it was refreshing to read about him in a post about innovation in wealth management. Alex Osterwalder suggests a few questions to ask yourself if you intend to identify “the next Skype of Private Banking”:

• What are the unfulfilled needs and niche markets?
• Which innovations (products & services, business models, technology, processes) are perceived as substandard?
• Which disruptive innovations have already conquered a niche market and are expanding customer numbers?
• Is any disruptive innovation already changing the incumbents’ market?

What do you think?

Paul Graham recently posted two great essays: The hardest lessons for startups to learn, and Why startups condense in America. I’d suggest you read the latter if you have time for only one. Or better yet, get yourself a cup of coffee, increase your browser font size a tad and enjoy both:-)

Brian Kurth, Vocation Vacations’s founder, insists that “happiness and passion can and should be an integral part of what you do”. His company thus gives you an opportunity to test the waters and spend a few days experimenting with a new job without leaving your current occupation. Vocation Vacations even offers gift certificates. I’m sure you could argue this is just a sign that people complain too much, that it has always been possible to pursue your dreams if you only had the guts. As for me, I think it’s a wonderful idea.

Wired News has a short story on why it may be good for us all (well, they say America but this can safely be extended to the earth’s population) to live in a world of expensive oil. The basic premise is that it makes alternative forms of energy more economically viable.