A Business / Organizational Question to Answer

Succession, continuity. Means of securing perpetuity.

Post 21

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 3:12pm

"The very first question" ....

I'm guessing it has something to do with ideas because all ventures begin with one little (or huge) idea. Either that, or it's "what's the competition?"

Hurry up, Phil!

Teresa

Post 22

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 3:31pm

:-)

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 3:34pm

Teresa, one of your posts was very close as was another post in the high teens.

Post 24

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 4:00pm

What is the goal? & Why?

---Landon

Post 25

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 4:04pm

What is the expected demand for your product or service?

Post 26

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 4:12pm

What is your goal? What is your vision? When will you know you've succeeded?

Do you have experience with this kind of enterprise?

Post 27

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 4:31pm

What's the competition and what do I have to offer that does it better than the competition?

Post 28

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 7:24pm

Okay, here it is, after a bit of suspense! First, one more question: Within the last couple of days I looked at an ARI-associated political activism website and heard the news of an airline bankruptcy on TV. What do the two stories have in common?

(1) I just looked today at the website for "the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism". It has a significant number of subprojects including the "Rule of Reason" weblog, "Initium-the Daily Journal of Capitalism", several activism campaigns, press releases, senior fellow, a speakers bureau, etc. It's a professional looking website which looks as though money and effort had been put into it. But the "recent editorials" in the "daily" journal of capitalism are from 2004, the last activism campaign was in 2003, and the weblog (which by the way has an excellent recent post on the anti-military viciousness of the movie Jarhead!) has six month gaps without posting.

(2) A low-cost airline called Independence Air declared bankruptcy yesterday. The story happen to mention airports along the East Coast which were also served by five or six other low-fare carriers such as Jet Blue, Southwest. I immediately said Aha! I knew all I wanted to from the story.

So, the question is, if this two examples are examples of failure from (at least in major part) not addressing my preliminary business question or principle, is it now clear what that principle is? I'll hold off a few more hours to see if this colossal hint gives it all away!

Phil

The problem with a hint is that sometimes I don't know if I've given too big a one or too small...

...or simply confused people who think I'm a Martian :-)
(Edited by Philip Coates
on 1/03, 7:29pm)

Post 29

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 7:53pm

I am going to have to go with a take-off on one of my earlier posts, and that is; "what is the saturation point of the market I am aiming at? Has that point been reached? Are there enough people to support another site?"

Post 30

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 9:00pm

I think Phil's hint in his previous post was that: Objectivism is static information. You learn it once, then your done with it. You don't keep coming back to read "A is A." You don't keep on writing "A is A." over and over again, "A is A." "A is A." "A is A."

But then, look at this site. The corners don't meet up flush. Some of the trim looks a little tacky. But then... we have technology news, and science news, and political news, and art news, and so many other things, including yourself, Phil, an insightful and intelligent man. We've got some old people, and some new people, and some angry people, and some funny. All the while, people are learning how to improve their lives and other's lives. We are finding ways we can enjoy improving our lives, no?

All this fuss, just in anticipation of your question. Phil, do you know the answer to your question?
(Edited by Dean Michael Gores
on 1/03, 9:01pm)

Post 31

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 9:25pm

Objectivism is static information

Am inclined to say - so what - the Bible is static 'information' and look at what they've done with it...

Post 32

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 10:19pm

We have a winner! And it is our newest poster, L W Hall, who is the one almost exactly on target. A few posts back he said "If I wanted the site to be either profitable or self-supporting would be how many times can you slice the pie?" I wasn't sure of his meaning until he just posted, "what is the saturation point of the market I am aiming at?"

There's a good deal more to say on this and I was hoping to tonight, but, unfortunately I have to rework a lesson plan for a literature class tomorrow, so I will not elaborate for another day. So three further questions: (1) Does anyone who sees this point want to "flesh it out" or explain it more fully, give more of a 'proof' in the meanwhile? Note how the market saturation / how many times can I slice the pie issue seems to apply in the "low cost air carrier" example and answer this: (2) How might it apply to Objectivist projects from publications to websites? (3) Does it have anything to do with Oist projects stalling in the past, or failing to catch fire?

Phil
(Edited by Philip Coates
on 1/03, 10:28pm)

Post 33

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 10:53pm

Pies aren't being sliced. People aren't pie filling. New Objectivist resources are being created, and people will go to the best ones for themselves. Each new resource provides a slightly different angle or product. The different angles and products will make it possible for more individuals to find interest in Objectivism. Each of the new resources have been a success to some degree, and they have always been made by the free will of individuals, always by consent, by their own work, never at the expense of others.

I wish the greatest success to others promoting the some of the greatest philosophical ideas I've come to know: objectivism, individualism, capitalism. At the same time, I will work to make this site flourish.
(Edited by Dean Michael Gores
on 1/03, 10:54pm)

Post 34

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 5:24am

Oh, ugh! Why does this "saturation point" seem like a depressing predictor of the "end" to me?

So three further questions: (1) Does anyone who sees this point want to "flesh it out" or explain it more fully, give more of a 'proof' in the meanwhile? Note how the market saturation / how many times can I slice the pie issue seems to apply in the "low cost air carrier" example and answer this: (2) How might it apply to Objectivist projects from publications to websites? (3) Does it have anything to do with Oist projects stalling in the past, or failing to catch fire?

I've got zero time this morning, so I just want to say this about that:

It is a predictor of the end if the products (here meaning "principles") aren't reformulated (meaning "repackaged") to meet changing consumer needs, or offered in such a way as to show the many ways they can be used. "It can polish your floors AND be used as a tasty dessert!"

Terrible, example, I know, but I have no time!

I'll think about this more while I'm at work.

I don't like the idea of "saturation points" :(

Teresa

Post 35

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 6:21am

I am confused by all this talk of "saturation". Most of the people I know have never heard of objectivism.

My definition of "saturation" would be objectivism becoming as well known as Christianity. (Whether they agree with it or not, most people know what Christianity is, know that it is symbolized by the cross, know that it is about someone named "Jesus", etc.) We've got a long way to go before we get there.

Ted

Post 36

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 6:48am

Ted, that was a great point.

I think objectivism would greatly benefit from having symbols like the cross or Jesus/evolution fish. I'd love to have some symbols for freedom, capitalism, individualism, objectivism, etc. I don't like the Atlas Shrugged image for Objectivism. I like skyscrapers, and other great things produced by men through capitalism. The dollar sign is too tainted by dirty government money and it's incompetent protection against fraud-- and it only concretes an insignificant portion of the meaning of Capitalism.

I'd like a symbol that made the Objectivist's understanding of Capitalism concrete. Hmmm... Capitalism... the system of behaviors developed to maximize the ability for each individuals to live as they themselves see fit; by means of maximizing freedom from initiation of force; potential opportunities to be productive; and monopoly over the use of one's own body, that which was acquired through consensual trade, one's own work, and donation. I'd wear it on my cloths, I'd put it on my car.

(Edited by Dean Michael Gores
on 1/04, 8:23am)

Post 37

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 7:07am

Teresa wrote:

It can polish your floors AND be used as a tasty dessert!

Ha ha! I remember that Chevy Chase "Shimmer" sketch from Saturday Night Live back in the classic days!

From http://www.icriticus.com/lsn-archive/lsn-010599.text we learn:

        Su 1/10: Is it a dessert topping or a floor wax?
        "Saturday Night Live's" Chevy Chase delivers the good
        news that new "Shimmer" is both, on this day in 1976.

From this we can advertise:

Objectivism: An academic philosophy and a way of life!

Post 38

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 7:27am

In light of the fact that some disagree with the premise, can I still say, WHOOPEE?

I will save my agreement with him for another post.

Post 39

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 7:35am