Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

Globalization is not a recent phenomenon; it began in the 1870s when international trade and investment expanded to sell mass-produced products worldwide, driven by technologies such as steam engines and electricity. The peak of globalization occurred in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The economy advances primarily through improvements in productivity. The technological advancements mentioned have significantly influenced this productivity growth. For example, a smartphone, which combines the functionality of a computer with that of a mobile device, exemplifies technological progress that has brought convenience to mankind. However, smartphone technology and network effects haven’t contributed to the expected boost in human productivity. Technology can be categorized into those that enhance productivity and those that do not. Although today’s technology development exceeds that of the past, it doesn’t automatically lead to greater productivity. To build wealth, incre...

Steve Jobs envisioned integrating a computer chip into existing wireless phones. He seldom pursued new technology development; rather, he aimed to combine existing technologies to achieve his goals. Innovation means creating significant change through the right blend of what already exists. Often, even one’s own business or profession remains underappreciated. If you grasp that well, your chances of business failure will significantly decrease. Unfortunately, this is often not the case in reality. Focus on the essence. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Geography always outmatches technology. While technology propels human civilization, it is still influenced by geopolitical conditions, climate, and the natural environment that geography shapes. For instance, a typhoon brewing far away might not immediately affect my location, but when it strikes, my home is endangered; likewise, my survival hinges on recognizing significant societal changes and technological innovations. Therefore, the purpose of exploring and learning geography through travel extends beyond mere enjoyment; it is essential for survival. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

My mother uses an old cell phone instead of a typical smartphone. My father passed away without ever owning a cell phone. Though they were my parents living in the same era as technology advanced, they struggled to learn how to use a computer. As a result, my parents felt increasingly out of touch. Existing in the same timeframe doesn’t guarantee that everyone experiences the same advancements in civilization. Although time progresses universally, its impact varies among individuals. This variance is shaped by our memories and cognitive perceptions. Thus, the saying, “You don’t miss your water till the well runs dry” remains relevant. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The most important thing in product design and development is “imagination.” While others developed laptops to fit the size of the battery, Steve Jobs imagined a laptop that could fit in an envelope. Then he pressured the battery company. If no technology was available in those days, he would wait. He traveled around the world in search of technology that matched his imagination. He envisioned putting a workstation (OS•X) in a cellphone and developed it for 3 years, but when Apple couldn’t deliver, he demonstrated it by connecting it to a separate workstation. It was a scam, but no one criticized him. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

In a rapidly evolving technological market, companies thrive not by producing durable, long-lasting products but by continuously innovating new models. If car manufacturers create vehicles so robust that customers drive them for over 30 or 40 years, those companies risk failure. Therefore, product cycles are crucial in manufacturing: if they are too short, trust is lost; if they are too long, bankruptcy follows. Nevertheless, newcomers often aim to make them more robust. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

I meet a lot of entrepreneurs from very different fields. All of them have one thing in common. They do not know the nature and essence of their business. Especially in the case of technology-based enterprises, technology is seen as a means to make money. Surprisingly, however, it is often the case that building and managing human relationships, rather than technology, is the core of the business. By separating technology from customer management and collaborating with other business people, I can see an increase in their performance. Instead, they have to give up greed and start. Then their performance is proportional to the amount of patience. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Google founder Sergey Brin, one day asked a great question. “What will happen if we give this service for free?” The result was, as we know well, “MONOPOLY”. Google gives employees 100,000 meals a day for free. This is because Google found that providing free meals is more profitable for the company. Initially, a payment system was introduced in the cafeteria. Soon, however, Google changed its mind when it saw the people waiting in line. Google learned the “opportunity cost”. Google's technology is excellent, but they realize it is not about making money. Fate changed when they discovered that the Business Model for that technology made money. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Here a product is being made by only three countries, South Korea, China, and Japan. It's not a semiconductor but a nail clipper. You might think that a nail clipper is not a big deal, but it's not as simple as that. Nail clippers are a combination of all sorts of advanced technologies. In the 1980s, South Korea could produce submarines and battleships, but they did not  possess  the technology to produce nail clippers. When the upper and lower teeth are in mesh, the chink must be 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters. When perfect engagement, the nail is not cut properly on the contrary, the outrange of this tolerance, is cut out coarsely. Today, thanks to technological advances, South Korea has been able to narrow this chink to between 0.05 and 0.08 millimeters. South Korea, to achieve this goal, produces a special steel called "15CM" through POSCO which is specially made for this nail clipper. Many different advanced technologies are combined in this tiny nail clipper. Don't ...

Good design balances "form follows function" and "function follows form. An example of a design where form follows function is an airplane. An example of a design where function follows form is a doorknob on one side of a sliding door that opens only in one direction. It doesn't matter which came first, the chicken or the egg. The more you understand the technology, the better the design will be. With their many features, smartphones have simplified their form with touchscreen functionality. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Questions. Who is the biggest threat to GM? 1. Hyundai Motor 2. Tesla 3. Google 4. Consumer Well, how about this? 1. Which gasoline car should I buy? (Competitor: Hyundai Motor) 2. Should I buy an electric car or a gasoline car? (Competitor: Tesla) 3. Should I buy an autonomous car? (Competitor: Google Waymo) 4. Should I buy a car? (Destroyer: Consumer) In this context, the biggest threat to GM is a shared car service company like Uber. Innovative technologies trigger market change, but business models are ultimately the most creative and disruptive. Innovative technology comes next. The biggest causes of business problems are business models first, and the second is business models too. In other words, the key to success is the same. The original business model has to change and evolve. - Joseph's "just my thoughts"

In the USA, even in one country, the time difference between the west and the east is 3 hours. People thought that time was a natural thing. But it is not. It's very political. The time that man lives in a unit of minutes is too short. However, since the invention of the steam locomotive, the appearance of faster vehicles made crazy changes to the concept of time. The shift in distance made people realize what time was. Sandford Fleming, an engineer and inventor, asked to unify the time difference caused by long-distance transportation, but people rejected his request. If the boarding time were not fixed, the railroad would be useless. The history of the 24-hour clock was made only about 140 years ago. Even with the invention of high technology, if nothing is consensus, nothing benefits. - Joseph's "just my thoughts"