May 17th, 2005
Several people have told me that radio in LA is the best in the USA. It makes sense. It’s the largest market, and people spend a lot of time in their cars. But, no matter what people say, you always learn a bit more when you first find things out for yourself.
Doug and I drove down to La Jolla for some good Mexican food. La Jolla hasn’t changed much since I was last there. Even the La Valencia Hotel was still there, one of the great hotels I used to love staying at. "The Cove" was a bit of a disppointment. I suppose Australia has spoiled me and coastal grandeur here in the USA will never be quite as exciting as it once was.
Driving was tense. It had really been a while, and I wasn’t really prepared for the 6 lane swerve and dodge. I should have spent some time in a video arcade practicing before I came back to LA.
The rental car had just about the strongest bass I can ever remember in a stock stereo system. Maybe hip hop has raised the bar so that any stereo worth its salt needs to be able to reproduce the full dynamic range of an average artillery barrage. Doug started tuning the radio as I drove.
Suddenly, Stevie Ray was there with Crossfire. That opening bass vamp sent a shiver down my spine as I cranked the volume. It was as if the tension stopped and the road was suddenly an exciting challenge. My foot plunged downward as the car lunged forward. The road signs flew by to the rhythm of the beat as I swayed and leaned into the curves and swerves. I was confident, in control, grooving to Steve Ray and driving like nobody was going to get in my way.
No wonder there are so many vehicle accidents on the LA freeways.
Then it was Steely Dan. "Drive west on Sunset to the sea…" echoing those great Donald Fagan lyrics. Sheryl Crow, The Cure, Wild Cherry. All I wanted to do was have some fun. LA driving, and LA radio, a marriage made in ….
Well, enough. LA radio is quite a bit better, or maybe we’re so numbed by the normal drivel that even merely above-average format radio turns us on.
When you rent a car in LA, make sure you initial the box on the rental agreement that says "Ass-grinding in-your-face bass option?". Maybe the extra collision coverage too.
You’ll be glad you did.
May 13th, 2005
I’m on my way to the USA again, flying over the Pacific toward LA as I type this. After 10 years away, some things have stayed the same, and some things have changed. But, the things which have stayed the same are bigger surprises to me than the things that have changed.
Somehow, I thought the last 10 years might have created, within my homeland, a greater understanding of the world. I left in 1996 and came to Australia. That was just the beginning of the Internet boom, and formost in my mind was the idea that the Internet was surely going to bring people together, create a sense of greater harmony and purpose among world nations. Such a dream was not to be. Whether by design or by misfortune, the USA is even more isolated in its world-view than it was when I left.
I think the technology obstacles were the first to hit me. Nobody can figure out how to dial my international phone number. The dot-au at the end of my email address seems to have even the well-educated flummoxed.
Then, I started talking to people and found out that the world I see looking in is so different from the one looking outward from the USA.
From outside, I still see the USA as strong, a leader in culture, ideas, and especially in the potential of the human spirit. I am thrilled to be returning, visiting, exploring new business ideas. Naturally, I see the problems in reconciling the events of 911 with policy and practice and culture. Nobody envies the USA the task of sorting out the myriads of issues which are vying for control of political and personal agendas.
From inside, the USA I used to know has changed. It is paranoid, self-consumed, directing energy randomly.
In short, to those in the USA, the threat the rest of the world presents is greater than the opportunity.
Anyone who knows business knows that innovation, leadership and progress require bold vision, but even moreso require that you look clearly at your market, your competitors, and not fear them. To take control of a market, you can’t be intimidated by obstacles, but must embrace them, find them the sweetest challenge, and have a clarity of vision greater than your rivals.
Leadership and fear are incompatible.
This is the crucial lesson the USA needs to re-learn.
