I had an interesting conversation tonight and it brought me along to choose this picture above. Its amazing how much of GAI can be lost to stress. I try to do things everyday that allow me to keep from stressing out. I travel a lot so for me it comes down to music :: and :: function . If anyone has been to the airport recently they know how much of a pain it can be and how long the lines are. I need something that has basic style when traveling through the MIDWEST and something that’s functional when hitting up the WEST COAST. Whatever it is they both have to be able to adjust to my mood :: inspired :: intense :: rubic :: whatever. Whatever keeps you balanced I hope you find it, but for me …. I need no extra weight/buttons/glamour/show… just MY MFI.
“I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious” - Albert Einstein
Brigade located at 1300 W 9th St, Cleveland, 44113 - (216) 621-1700, is now carrying the BlackCoat Made for iPod. They start selling today. BONUS: The first person to purchase a BlackCoat MFI from them gets a free iPod nano!
During the genesis of Silicon Valley, and the creation of Accidental Empires, there were two dominant sides to start-ups (”geeks” and “suits”). As described by the book’s author, Robert X. Cringely, the reason for Silicon Valley’s creation had a lot to do with Geeks just wanting to create their own empire of innovation and not have to work for status quo business and the “suits” associated with it. The reality is that creating “business empires” takes both, but making geeks wear suits as a means to an end is not part of the formula (for sure).
I bring this up because I was indirectly invited to a “Harvard T Group” here in Cleveland, where entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and consultants share experiences, tackle problems, and wear suits. Evidently, wearing a suit was as important, if not more, than having a great idea. I was invited two hours before the event, and had no time to change from my staple DDC Lab jeans, Gianfranco Ferre white shirt, and BlackCoat uniform. Boy, did I hear about my presence afterward; I was basically told not to show up in anything but a suit if I wanted to be taken seriously. Sheesh, I thought Sweet Lou (Gerstner) dispelled the whole theory around “dress for success” as he restructured a struggling Big Blue, (i.e IBM).
I could be wrong, but there seemed to be an interesting disparity between entrepreneurs and the rest of the people in the Harvard T Group. Would more entrepreneurs show up if wearing suits did not matter? Hmm.
Either way, I can play the game; the dress dilemma is a main reason BlackCoat was created.
Well, it’s almost election day and we at KOYONO hope you get out there and vote to your heart’s content. If you are really on the fence and don’t care for either party, then you can also consider just voting out the Incumbents! Jack Clafferty from CNN has been pushing this on his Broken Government program and there are a few organizations out there building silimar coalitions. VotersRevolution.org and Voidnow.org (Vote Out Incumbents Democracy Now) are two non-profits dedicated to getting the word out about such a cause. Check them out. VotersRevolution went so far as to write a few songs!
Another story, today, about the changing cultural relevance of pockets.North Jersey Media points out that there was once a time when pockets were considered a low-class concern. All of us KOYONO fans, of course, recognize that most of life now includes carrying things…more like having peripherals for our primary processing center (brain). You need your sorage devices (PDA, iPod) for data and your communications module (cell phone). We really think of pocketing as a means of enabling integration of these tools into your look and your life.
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After upgrading to the new version of WordPress, we decided to do a few more updates to the BlackCoat blog. We hope you like them. Notice the social network bar for bookmarking. Enjoy, expect more and spread the word.
Best,
Jay
Wow, what a match. Portugal just beat England in an exciting World Cup showdown. Of course I was the only ONE at Claddagh enjoying the match. Every one, and I mean everyone, around me made comments about how they “hate” soccer. Someone very un-G.A.I. guy next to me mentioned that the only reason America will come to like the game is because of illegal immigrants. Why bring freaking politics into it - what a crock?
I think the US economy will go as the popularity of soccer goes in the country. It’s a sport that demands constant pace, creativity, stamina, luck and global recognition. Also, the stigma around soccer players is that they are rebels (well grounded to become innovators in my book). Interestingly, it’s the only game that is exactly as long as the natural length of most meetings (Peter Drucker stuff). No more and no less. As an entrepreneur, time is everything. I know exactly when the game will start and when it will end (+ 10% max). Very little advertising and distractions. It’s all about the game. I love it.
Compare it to watching Golf, Base Ball or command and control American Football. (all of which I have or now reluctantly play). Boringggggggg and freaking time consuming!!!!!!
There are so few sports where you can join in a game anywhere in the world like soccer. When I was in Singapore last, there were a few locals playing a 6 on 6 match and they let me join in for some bare foot beach play. Fantastic! Immediate friendship, fun and exercise. If anything, it’s not a bad thing to know/play in this flat, highly competitive global economy.
Jay
Stop leaving your bogos spam comments. That is very un-G.A.I. and down right annoying. Go do something creative with your life.
Jay
The “BlackCoat” is an overcoat alternative that was designed by KOYONO in 2000 that embodies the spirit of Geniuses, Artists and Innovators (G.A.I.). It is a symbol of the complexities that people trying to change the world face as they balance the need for conformity with the urge to constantly push the envelope. TheBlackCoat.com is a tribute to the continuum of positive change that G.A.I. makes.
Jay Yoo
