Malcolm Gladwell Speech Winnipeg Centrallia-2012

“Dyslexics,” he said, “lots of them inhabit ‘Russian’ space,
Though written off by other folks, I’ve noticed that’s the case.
‘The Russians?’ I mean concept ones –‘how war might now be fought’
They had the concept Isr’el used when cleaning Syria’s clock.

“They got the tools and toys from Yanks, concocted deadly mix;
Now everybody fights that way – but that’s how it got fixed –
Before, Egyptians (Yom Kippur) shot down Israeli planes,
But ’82 was when the Jews got back on top again.

You notice it with Xerox too – their labs with lots of geeks;
Steve Jobs went round to take a look then let out whoops and shrieks!
‘A graphic user interface!’ ‘A mouse!’ ‘Oh! Now I see!’
He went back home to his garage – that’s how Mac came to be.

“Jobs called his team, put them to work, ‘Write me a GUI quick!’
Phoned friend to make a better mouse, competitors to lick;
You notice ‘Xerox’ ‘Russia’ is; his team and friend, ‘The States’;
Steve Jobs played role of ‘Israel’– that mix is how you make –

“New products – there’s three cultures there – each focus quite distinct;
Back-water’s good in Winnipeg, despite what people think.”
[You have the Internet which links you to such tribal group,
Link in and play your part with them – stir up creative soup.]

“Take education, there’s a field technology can fix;
First, flip it round – use Internet to import teacher-flicks,
So kids can stay at home and watch best teachers on the globe,
Then come to school for tutoring – new normal teacher-load.

“Consider on-line dating – you still meet up face to face;
The net can only go so far, then you take up the case;
So gatherings like this are great – just find where you fit in –
Are you like Russians, Yanks, or Jews? Pick one and work begin.”

We chatted hours on our way home – quite thought-provoking that;
Confirmed the work which we had done like satisfaction’s cat;
“I like that there’s three groups, not two; dyslexics; techno-ed;”
“I like three cultures, each affirmed; it’s best when all are fed –

“With cash which flows on down the line; and note in Xerox' case –
How they’re set free to dream and scheme – no pressure on their place;
I found my role affirmed tonight; the place I like to eat;
A thought-provoking gift indeed – now I must get some sleep.”

Thanks.

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