dispatches from the new world of work

WBYB, or Wild Blue Yonder Blog #1, or Post37000

Am I the last to do this? I am beside myself with delight!

Consider this Post37000. I am at 37,000 feet on LH416 during Leg #2 (Frankfurt-IAD) of my Moscow-D.C. trip. And ... I am hooked up to the world courtesy Boeing's CONNEXION. ($9.95 per session, $29.95 per entire trip.) Yup, my in-flight privacy is in tatters, but (for the moment), what the hell!

To quote myself (Whoops!) at the beginning of my seminars: IT'S NOT YOUR FATHER'S WORLD. Perhaps more later, but I want to get this in the air before something untoward happens.

Happy October 12! (Isn't it about Columbus Day? If so, how very fitting.)

Over and out.

Tom Peters posted this on 10/12/05.

Comments

How cool is that! No, it's not my father's world either (I'm old enough that I'm not sure his first flight wasn't with the Wright Brothers). Calendar's showing Monday as Columbus Day but we've certainly taken lots of liberties with historical dates. Today's the first day of Yom Kippur. Travel safe! Shalom.

Posted by Ed Di Gangi at October 12, 2005 7:54 AM

Ohhhhhhhh what a dilemmaâ€¦ (there is a jewish joke that to a jew, a dilemma is "free bacon")â€¦ that is precisely how I feel about your CONNEXIONâ€¦ oh how I appreciate the in flight privacyâ€¦ but OHHH how I will be hooked up "on board" the first chance I get. How lucky you are to be pioneering this! If you are on the port side, wave to me in Anguilla, BWI as you cross the Atlantic :) I can assure you I will wave back, at least electronically.

Posted by Gerry Riskin at October 12, 2005 7:56 AM

Ed - here's how it gets confused (source: Wikipedia). In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed every Oct. 12 as Columbus Day. However, in 1971 President Nixon declared it a federal public holiday on the 2nd Monday in October. In Europe (the cradle of civilisation) Spain observes it on the 12th.

Tom - it's a great advance but I hope you're in a seat that doesn't mean you end up disturbing your neighbour. You might want to work; s/he might want to snooze!

Posted by Mark JF at October 12, 2005 8:23 AM

And the 12th is my sister's birthday - happy birthday Victoria - 25 and holding!

Dr. T - you indeed lead a 'designer lifestyle' - love the IT advantages - the October 17 new edition of BusinessWeek has "Chief Endurance Officer" as a new chief - steal this idea! Power walk and talk triathlon and adventure ... lucky to have 6% bodyfat ...
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_42/b3955104.htm

Posted by Sean at October 12, 2005 8:40 AM

Perhaps you should add "Take Delight in Technology" to your one of your lists. Your posting to WBYB reads like my son hitting a 3-point in a tight game. Yes! Enjoy! Delight! And how thankful that it's not our father's world.

Travel safely.

Posted by A Thomas Dillard at October 12, 2005 9:39 AM

Thomas, I once declaimed on exactly your point. I said that old (35? 40? 45? 50?) CEOs need not be technically proficient in the new technologies, but that they "must" "be in love with" the "revolutionary potential" of New Tech. It's their job, then, to recruit the Best & Weirdest, FUND the Best & Weirdest, and Cheerlead the hell out of the effort.

Posted by tom peters at October 12, 2005 2:28 PM

Wow, I went, as Cathy guided us, to the Connexion Website--Lufthansa is serious! FYI: This is a Value-add that could change my purchasing behavior! Maybe significantly! I will at the very least check out Connexion flights-carriers before booking.

Posted by tom peters at October 12, 2005 2:35 PM

Fantastic ... but Qantas won't even give us power for our laptops in Cattle Class across the Pacific. Guess the "digital divide" is getting wider ....

Posted by Mike Linacre at October 13, 2005 1:20 AM