Dave Morin

One thing I have begun to learn about my generation over the last couple of years, is that we have a vastly different view on relationships, romantic, work, life, or otherwise. I think this comes, most obviously, from our use of communication technology to stay in touch with each other. But, at a more abstract level, we don’t look at time, or geographical distance as an inhibitor for close personal relationships.

Case in point, an email string from a co-worker and friend this weekend went something like this:

Friend: Greetings from Beijing, Dave. Thanks for taking care of that so quickly!

Me: No problem! What are you doing in Beijing? (I had just seen her in a meeting like two days before)

Friend: Vacation - weekend trip from Tokyo where I am visiting my boyfriend who is here for the summer. I’ll be back on Monday. (Clarification: Meaning, she went on “vacation” from Tokyo, where she was already visiting her boyfriend who is there for the summer. And, is going to be back in California on Monday)

It’s a different world for our generation. Again, we see things less in units of time and geographical distance, and more in simply what it takes to “be” there with that person. Maybe online, maybe a simple flight to somewhere (the coasts, maybe Europe, or even Beijing), maybe on the phone. Time is irrelevant in a way. Relationships aren’t confined to geographic space, and more to the strongest connections created between people. For our parents, their world was confined (most of the time) to their hometown. Our generation is seemingly more and more, only confined to the world.

Last week, I was simultaneously talking to two co-workers whom I regularly collaborate with. One was in China, the other in Sweden. To me, I wouldn’t have known the better. Save, the one in Sweden informing me that he jaunted over there for the week. The other, I knew, was in Beijing. He helped me upgrade to first class for a flight I was taking the next morning (because he had domestic frequent flyer miles he wasn’t using due to his move to Beijing). Sweden friend helped me on a project I was working on with some information and quick brainstorming. All via instant messaging. What time it was didn’t matter, nor did the geographical space or location that each of us was in.

My thoughts on all of this are still becoming clear, with more and more conversations about it every day. What does this mean for the future of communication and collaboration technologies? Job choices? Living choices? Will we live anywhere, work anywhere, be with who we want to be with, no matter where they are? Will technology enable this? Or, inhibit it?

What a cool time to be part of it all

Happy Sunday!

Written from The Grove - San Francisco, California

From my sister, who is about to do an Ironman in two weeks. She’s one of the best triatheletes in America for her age. Go Lo!

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot

Written from Cupertino, California

I’ve begun the endeavor of writing my first book, which if you’re a regular reader of my blog, will revolve around some topics that I discuss here. Mostly looking the new “digital” generation, that I am lucky to be a part of, the things that influence us, the way we work and play, and ways to interact best with us. It’s going to be interesting storytelling. I promise.

One of the first topics I am looking at is multitasking, the fundamental concept of time, and our perceptions around it. Most commonly accepted definitions of a member our generation always include the word “multitasking.” New brain research has started hitting the streets recently, so I’m in search of everything I can find. In a conversation I had in Chicago last week, an article in Discovery magazine was forwarded along to me. It’s fascinating, discussing the possibilites behind boosting productivity by looking at time in completely different ways:

The Mind in Overdrive

We live in a world of constant information overload, trying to constantly increase our productivity in relation to dollars and time units. What if there was a different way? An interesting future awaits…

Written from North Beach - San Francisco, California

My friends over at Student Monitor (the leading college statistics shop) announced yesterday with worldwide fan-fare:

Apple Computer Inc.’s iconic iPod music player surpassed beer drinking as the most “in” thing among undergraduate college students

And, in at a close second: Facebook. What a year in the student market!

(Wonder who had a small hand in both of the top 2? *wink*)

Beer, you’re cool and all, maybe next year.

I’d like to present case-in-point to HP’s ridiculousness in Nate Johnson’s last blog post:

http://www.mog.com/beta

Click “Check out TEAM MOG” and witness fantastic worldwide collaboration.

Welcome to my generation, business world, get with program…or we’ll fire YOU (and your company).