dispatches from the new world of work

Event! World Knowledge Forum

I had the privilege today of speaking at the opening plenary session of the 8th annual World Knowledge Forum in Seoul. My fascinating position in the lineup was immediately after Colin Powell, who keynoted, and immediately before Philip Rosedale, founder-creator of Second Life/Linden Lab. (I had to wonder if I was just a space bar between the two.) In any event, the meeting has a lineup that rivals that of Davos—and it's a lot more fun to be doing this in Seoul, where, despite the looming nuclear neighbor to the north, there is an "Asian optimism" missing in the rest of the world. I was lit up by the whole thing. But my afternoon actually topped my morning—my 3rd and last speech of the day was to several hundred students. Such groups lift the heart—but they're also stressful; young women and young men will not tolerate the bullshit that their elders, unfortunately, often become immune to. Back to VT tomorrow—long flights but worth it.

(Incidentally, I'd be hard pressed to adequately express the warm feelings I have for General Powell. He is, through and through, a remarkable person—and a million million miles from being full of himself, unlike many of his peers with whom I've had similar dealings.)

Tom Peters posted this on 10/17/07.

Comments

Looks like a great lineup. Congrats Tom.

Posted by Dan Schawbel at October 17, 2007 10:00 AM

Hi Tom,

It seems they are neither streaming the talks, nor making them available for download.

TED has proved that doing so is the best way to brand such a conference. Now even Davos does so.

I think you should tell the organizers that they should be doing that.

Rgds,
Jay

Posted by Jay at October 17, 2007 10:08 AM

Thanks for that 'up close' insight about Mr Powell. I would love to hear him speak. He is clearly a supporter of simplicity and therefore a friend of mine!

'Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand' - Colin Powell

Posted by Trevor Gay at October 17, 2007 5:22 PM

The "Asian optimism" is appreciated here given Asian emerging market funds for investor class participants ... :>] Meanwhile Russia's / Putin's encroachment plans into Europe may need a new General Powell to mitigate ... :>]

Posted by John at October 17, 2007 5:26 PM

Hi, sir. I was one of those stressful students, yesterday. personally, it was really good chance for me to hear your lecture. And for me, '800 hundreds people in a history book' lesson was especially impressive. I hope I would see you soon. I can't define SOON here, though :D.I would start reading your book and hope you have fun in Korea.

Posted by Jung Hansung at October 17, 2007 9:26 PM

Colin Powell was a disaster as Secretary of State.

He had superior knowledge of the consequences of invading Iraq (if you break it, you buy it), he had
doubts about the authenticity of the intelligence, and he knew better than the President or the Vice-President that Saddam Hussain didn't have the military means to fight the US, since Powell's Army had decimated the Iraqi forces years earlier.

He also must have known that President Bush had already decided to go to war, regardless of any UN
decision.

Had he publicly voiced his reservations and resigned before the US attacked Iraq, he might have prevented this tragic and costly war.
But he kept his mouth shut. And as we know, silence denotes approval.

So, in my mind Colin Powell is NOT a hero, but a coward who did not stand up and assume his job as Secretary of State and try to keep us out of this war. Instead, he played the role of a "good soldier", obeyed his orders, and allowed the war to begin.

I once thought that he might be a Presidential candidate that I could support. But no longer.

And anything he might have to say about "knowledge" is probably worthless ...

Posted by Franz Hespenheide at October 19, 2007 3:26 PM

Tom,

An observation - the World Knowledge Forum speakers line-up looked remarkably like the BoD of Pier I.

Look at the picture of all those male speakers. Talk about a group not reflecting diversity.

Where oh where were the women? Are we still not part of the knowledge elite?

Pat

Posted by Patricia Murray at November 4, 2007 2:53 AM

Hi, Tom

It was greatful to see you at the forum.
I'm an university student in Korea. Although I'm not good at English, I was trying to pay attention to your speach without interpreter. I don't think I could understand what you said all, but I do say that your speach was pretty impressive.

If it's possible, I want to e-mail with you. It would be great if you could be my mentor.

Thanks.

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