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- T r e n d s & K n o w l e d g e -

Barry Diller, who was the CEO of Fox, Inc. prior to joining QVC, Inc., recently delivered a keynote address which was reprinted in the February issue of "Wired" magazine. Although Diller was addressing the convergence of the computer, television and telephone, his advice resonates with all of the changes and convergences happening today.

Here are just a few of his words ... it's worth the effort to get the entire article:

It made me think for the first time that there was nuance and artfulness in convergence. When you got its power right, when the various planets were aligned, you saw the possibilities in a different light, as if a new lens had been crafted on top of the one you saw before. A new medium can empower and liberate you, if you let it.

Successful convergence means having the patience to relax and follow your curiosity instead of hyperventilating and chasing the crowd. We need to be convergence contrarians -- willing to challenge conventional wisdom, yet able to explore other possibilities.

Redefining the mission of your ventures is slow, brain-bending work.

You cannot begin to understand the nexus of all these new technologies until you jump in and experiment. Open your mind to new ways of perceiving and processing. Learn the unique properties of this new universe. That takes patience, the patience to pursue the possibilities of unintended consequences. Knowing that should not be inhibiting, but liberating.

The point of all of this is that you can't know this -- there are no mavens to be found and no research worth its salt. There are no guideposts, no divining rods to tell you what to do.

To contact "Wired," call 415-222-6200.