We see genius in this real world application of the laws of physics. Others may see an unsophisticated way of moving goods. Primitive even. Could it be that your assessment may be based on how you’ve been taught to recognize and define brilliance.

Solutions are all around us, but the limitations that many are boxed in block the ability to harness the best ideas from whomever, wherever they may come from. This source may not look like who you’ve been trained or advised to look to for thought leadership. But consider that you may find your best answers here.

The key to harnessing opportunities and solutions is by refusing to be bamboozled into thinking that the best ideas come from those that are sitting around a conference table with you.

Again. Now. What do you see?

This man watches over his newstand on the corner of Broadway and 58th street in Manhattan. Like many immigrants, he is extremely proud of his business and works hard to make his way in his newly adopted country. He works very long hours so the little bit of free time he gets is very precious to him. Even though most of his immediate family are here in the states, he still sends money back home to other family members that didn’t make the journey. The three things that matter the most to him are his family, his hard earned money and his freedom.

Life is full of challenges. When you look at the faces of some, you see stress and tension often due to feelings of a lack of control over their destiny. While on the faces of others, you see serenity, composure, confidence and joy. When we see this second type of person, we often wonder what is it that makes them seem so energized and peaceful? This is more often then not due to the choices they’ve made that are inline with who they are and impact directly on where they are headed. To be certain about who you are and where you fit in the world has a way of minimizing some of the other stresses that come with life.

Sometimes in life, as in business, when everybody goes right, you may have to go left to find your answers. A different perspective is always a good approach to getting to the bottom of challenges that you may find difficult to solve with the same old approach. It could be that simple.

From the series, Diverse Insights™ Ten Commandments of Change.

Ali, pictured above, was a major inspiration for this post about the recession when we originally posted it a year ago. At quick glance, you couldn’t always tell that Ali was homeless because he always took great pride in his appearance. No matter what his circumstances, Ali made sure he always looked “sharp,” when out in public.

Ali was born in Morocco and emigrated to the United States in the fifties. He spoke many languages including both french and english fluently. He was a United States Marine and proud of that fact. Ali was always full of joy and you never heard a complaint uttered from his lips.

He moved to Miami two years ago in search of a better quality of life and to get away from the harsh New York City winters. We recently heard that Ali passed away on a Miami street late last month. Thank you for helping us all to remember what is really important in the world. Rest In Peace Ali.

What recession?

For people living on the outside of the American dream, double digit unemployment, having to cut back on luxuries and struggling to make ends meet are all normal parts of their existence.

They did not participate in the internet boom of the late nineties, all they experienced was the bust. They didn’t benefit from the recent financial boom, led by the hedge fund “geniuses” during this decade. They only experienced the subsequent crash.

When they hear people speaking about how things are getting worse, they find some humor in this because “things getting worse” is just a fact of life. They marvel at the weakness of the privileged, who find it difficult to deal with a new economic reality that is nothing new to those who are not so privileged. On the contrary, it is a life they were born into and have had to live with daily, forcing them to develop the skills to deal with difficult situations. Hopefully tough times will make us all take a closer look at the skills of those who rarely get to experience the euphoria of “boom” times and whose resilience, perseverance and creativity helps them to survive the inevitable busts, crashes and disappointments that come with life.

Street food constitutes up to 40% of the daily diet of urban consumers in the developing world. The different equipment that is used to prepare the food speaks to the creativity and ingenuity of the food stand owners.  You see all kinds of impromptu kitchens set up on street corners around the world with one purpose in mind, to offer an alternative local food choice that is cheaper and more authentic than the corner cafe or deli.  

This elaborate breakfast pastry stand in the Middle East is full of local patrons every morning waiting patiently for a treat to go along with their Chai (tea). An open pot of oil burning on a city street is very different from the hot dog stands that we are accustomed to seeing in the States and would probably get shut down quickly due to safety issues.

Opportunity abounds on the streets if you have the confidence to put your talent and the right product to the test.

There are certain experiences that cross cultures. Getting your hair done is one of those experiences. Young girls and boys of all ages and races remember reluctantly having to sit still while their parent styled their hair. You can find this same expression on young faces around the globe every morning. No matter what the hair type or race of the child, the experience is equally as unpleasant. We all may have more in common than we think. Beauty carries a stiff price no matter what the age.

Whether meeting friends for brunch, getting together with the extended family for a meal, or simply sitting on a wall with friends and neighbors, people around the world seem to make time on the weekend to kick back and take a break from the work week. It doesn’t matter if the location is urban, rural, or on the banks of the Mekong river as in the above picture, there is a universal need to hit the pause button and refresh and rejuvenate by connecting with the people who matter the most.

To “pimp” or personalize your ride is  common in the inner city. Tinted windows, DVD players in the headrests, and high end audio systems can now be found in the minivans and SUV’s of soccer moms in the suburbs.  Mom riding on 22 inch rims under the cover of “privacy glass” with the kids watching Sponge Bob Square Pants in the backseat is no longer an uncommon site.  The roots of these enhancements can be traced directly to the inner city. These automotive style enhancements, born from the hood, have made their way to the design departments of car manufacturers in Stuttgart,Detroit and everywhere in between. If you want to know “what’s next,” begin your search in the communities where most trends begin.