Ping me up Scotty!

Last night I attended this techie get-together, China Pings Silicon Valley: Redefine ChineseTech Startup Ecosystem, at Rocket Space’s cool HQ on Fremont Street.  As we all know China is quickly becoming a world-class hub for cutting edge technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The place was packed with more than 250 people wanting to learn, network and share. I figure the average age was “20-something” and the average IQ was “120-something” or more.

Having spent many years in the electronic media/television business as part of an earlier wave of innovation, when satellite and cable technology (and a few loopholes in FCC regulation) enabled reaching the critical mass that would launch Superstation TBS, CNN and the many 24-hour networks that would follow, I wanted to hear what was going on with this wave.

Fascinating stuff – and it made me reflect. I recalled being at a company retreat at which an up-and-coming, Ivy League MBA raised his Nokia 7110 mobile phone with its 1” screen high above his head and with great solemnity proclaimed “One day, everyone will be watching TV on this”.  After I recovered from my 2001: A Space Odyssey "Dawn of Man" flashback moment, I sensed that my time was up in the media world.  For me it was all about “content and communication” – and this 1” screen with poor quality image and sound was not for me.  I was a BIG PICTURE guy!

I enjoyed most of my two decades in the media business but for me that was the turning point (probably aided by two decades of relentless business globe-trotting as well) and so I left to work on the next chapter of my life and here I am in my home-town, always one of the most innovative places in the world, and thankful for it. And I guess that up-and-coming, recent Ivy League MBA grad was right because I’ve sure got my eye on a Samsung Galaxy phablet where I can keep connected and watch my songs on You Tube,  like this one!