The Sanford Berenberg Experience: Message of the the Day

Good Morning,

My current read is Lisa Gansky’s new book “the mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing” (http://www.amazon.com/Mesh-Why-Future-Business-Sharing/dp/1591843715). In ‘the mesh’ Lisa Gansky shares with us some of the wonderful new realms of opportunity we are entering. These open as an increasing number of people more fully leverage the web, social networking and mobile technologies. The Author shares case histories from many organizations, including some of her own, and their success in the Mesh. Some of these companies I have previously heard about, some I am already associated with, and others were completely new to me. Some of my favorite features of the book are Lisa Gansky’s expertise in this subject. She writes like a pro (which she is) yet the book is so very easy to read. Add to this, she has a great sense of humor spread throughout the book.

The Mesh is a new world unfolding for us right now, and like new worlds it can be exciting and even a bit daunting, like walking into Willy Wonka’a Chocolate Factory with the awe and wonder of the fantastic and new (without the freaky Umpa Lumpas).

So what is the Mesh? And why is to so amazing? And why do we have to embrace it?

The Mesh is all about sharing. The Sharing of information through the web, mobile technology like smart phones, and social networking. The Mesh allows for the sharing of products, services and information between groups of people in provocative new ways.

So? What does that mean? Happy you asked! Through her book, Lisa Gansky aptly guides us through a thorough understanding of the Mesh.

Some examples include:

Through the Mesh, people are sharing baby clothes through sites like http://www.thredup.com. Think of the savings of baby clothing being used for the several months they fit, and then swap for a larger size, at a far reduced cost of getting new. And you don’t have to store up all those old clothes, but you still have to clean them… This can be done with books too, like through sites like www.BookMooch.com, although you only have to dust a book off, not clean it.

Through the Mesh, people can share the spare bedrooms, couches, tools, cars, their knowledge, or whatever. The sky is the limit. The Mesh is allowing the thinking of how business is even performed. For example, a network of private lenders (individuals) review requests for loans and their terms, and bid on them. This is allowing start ups to get loans without engaging banks or other financial institutions. The end of the book has an abbreviated list of Mesh organizations and companies broken down by industry and interest, with a far greater list on her website (http://meshing.it/). Check it out, it is very impressive.

Businesses of all sizes, even individuals can participate in a Mesh network. Additionally entry costs continually reduce as technology improves and while social networks and mobile phones become more powerfully pervasive. The concept provides a myriad of benefits (here is but a few):

-We don’t have to buy what we can share (pay for what we use, and then pass along to the next person, and save some money each time).

-We don’t have to store, or worse, insure and repair what we don’t own (most services carry their own insurance and maintenance capabilities).

-We don’t have to study and research everything we are looking to learn when we can reach out to a Mesh of experts who can clue us in by sharing and even teaching us what we need.

-We waste less as we are sharing instead of buying and discarding (this forces increased quality and directly attacks planned obsolescence, not to mention creates less garbage destined for the landfill).

-We have better access as these products and services are all web enabled and often have phone apps tied to GPS, etc., to help access more services (easy to see what is going on, and choose what we want, when we want, how we want).

-The more we use the Mesh, the more the Mesh helps us, it is a learning construct (the better the Mesh organizations understand us, they can better cater to us).

The future of mesh businesses is even more exciting as networks grow and then connect with each other. Imagine a network sharing rooms for travelers links up with a network sharing rental cars or bicycles. And those two networks combine with a network of tour guides and restaurants. Each of these networks gets a piece of the action all the while reducing a traveler’s stress and giving them an even better vacation.

Big businesses are now looking into the Mesh seeing how it both saves them money and expands customer offerings, and keeping themselves alive (read about the case of NetFlix and Blockbuster).

This book is also a call to action and I hope you read it and then see about getting into the Mesh.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
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