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.

People who travel to Yemen are often appalled to see the widespread use of the amphetamine-like stimulant called khat, which is legal there. By mid-afternoon each day, the cheeks of many men and even some women are bulging from the green leaves that they chew to “relax.” While it may be tempting to find fault with the Yeminis for condoning drug use, who are we to say it is any worse than drinking a couple of glasses of wine or a martini every night? In fact, while it is legal to use khat in Yemen, alcoholic beverages are banned there.

This mother in a village in South East Asia can’t  stop what she is doing to feed her child.  She can’t afford a stroller but the sling she is wearing allows her to feed her child while keeping her hands free to do other things.  These sling designs are so efficient that you find designer copies available in fancy baby supply stores in America.  Another example of necessity being the best catalyst for great ideas and design.  Multi-tasking is not an option in poor communities, it is a requirement for survival.

There’s been a lot of talk during this recession about how more people are starting their own businesses after being let go from their jobs. Even in the current environment of corporate downsizing, we still think of going it alone as a somewhat risky prospect, devoid of the perceived security of a corporation. When you visit a lot of places in the developing world, you realize that being an “entrepreneur” is the norm. Whether it’s fishing, farming, or selling wares in the market or street, there’s nothing more reliable or secure than knowing you have what it takes to do it on your own.

For the first time in human history, the majority of the world’s population is now living in urban environments.  Of the 3 billion people who live in cities today, about 1 billion live in slums without clean water.  Solving the problems of the poor can reward the business community both morally and financially.  Micro-payments are a fairly recent phenomenon in the west but they’ve been a way of life for people that come from places where one may only make a dollar a day.  Being able to handle small transactions is the only way to do business with the fastest growing, neediest segments of our society.

1 billion people x .05cents/person = 50 million dollars .  Not bad…

Sneakers are the most important accessory worn by today’s youth. In inner city neighborhoods, judgment is passed from a distance, so you must put your best foot forward at all times.  At the age where you live in your parents apartment, don’t drive, and in most instances, don’t have a  real job, your appearance is what separates you from the rest. Sneakers allow you to add some color and style to the traditional uniform of dark jeans or jean shorts, a black or white t-shirt or a sweat shirt.  You need sneakers for sports and for everyday wear but one thing is for certain, they better be clean.

Sneaker wearers have no problem paying in excess of $150 on the latest shoe endorsed by a popular athlete or rap star to have the style edge at school and on the block. The competition is cutthroat, so it’s critical to make a statement — a big, bold, confident one.  One that says, “this is who I am and I’m proud of it.”  I may not be able to afford a Mercedes or other pricey items that have badge value, but I can afford a great pair of sneakers that make an equally aspirational statement about who I am.  Just as you shouldn’t drive around in a dirty Mercedes, you won’t tolerate scuff marks on your sneakers.  Take care of your ride.

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

Anyone who has spent time in NYC during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas has no doubt witnessed a uniquely New York phenomenon – the pop-up Christmas tree concessions that miraculously appear every year on many city sidewalks and parks. While a city-run auction controls who gets the prime spots managed by the Parks and Recreation department – last year they ranged from $650 for Cunningham Park in Queens to $23,025 for SoHo Square – city code allows anyone to sell coniferous tress on any sidewalk without a permit, as long as they get permission from the owner of the closest business. Not only do these temporary stores give New Yorkers an easy way to buy a tree, they give all New Yorkers and visitors a wonderful visual and olfactory reminder that the holiday season is once again upon us.