I’ve met and interviewed hundreds of CEOs and, while you get a sense with many of them that they have leadership skills — after all, why are they CEO if they don’t — it’s rare that you hear a story that so clearly defines a real business leader.
Yesterday I met such a guy: Chairman of Rackspace, Graham Weston.
Why do I know he’s a business leader? Well, let’s back up and start from the top.
Yesterday he drove me around the neighborhood in Windcrest, Texas.
This is not a place you’d probably like to live. It’s economically depressed. How depressed? Well, even the local Walmart closed down.
We drove around and I saw store after store that was shuttered. Evidence of the economic troubles this neighborhood is going through is all around.
So, when Jack Leonhart, mayor of Windcrest, came to Graham and asked him to move Rackspace’s headquarters there, it’d be understandable if Weston would have answered “thanks, but no thanks.”
He probably should have, because when he brought that idea back to Rackspace’s employees and executives they thought he had been doing some illegal drugs somewhere.
It was an idea that everyone hated so much, several Rackspace executives and employees told me, that when Rackspace hired a firm to do focus groups with employees that firm quit after almost getting assaulted at employee meetings. They thought it was a hopeless idea.
After all, there was even a well-publicized shooting at the bus stop in front of the mall.
But today Rackspace is moving into the mall (video of Graham showing me the mall from the outside), right on schedule, and everyone we talked with yesterday thought it was the most exciting thing that Rackspace had ever done.
Wait a freaking second. How did one guy who had an absolutely crazy idea that 1,400 people hated, including his partners, turn this all around in about a year?
Business leadership. There it is. Thank you to Rob La Gesse who introduced me to not just Graham and Dirk, but a whole range of interesting geeks in San Antonio, TX. That video shows us at a beer fest last night where I met one of the guys who built the first Wifi modem along with a famous developer who built much of the stuff behind the Amiga.
We shot most of the interview on our HD camcorders, so we’ll have that up on FastCompany.tv in a couple of weeks.
In that interview you’ll hear his latest crazy ideas: he’s opening up Rackspace to the community and won’t build a security fence around the Rackspace plant to keep them out. In fact, he’s putting a park right in front of the building. More of that and more about Rackspace’s business in the interview we did with our professional equipment.
I give you a front-row seat on the future. Focusing most of my efforts now on next-generation augmented reality and artificial intelligence, AKA "mixed reality."
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://clevermoe.com/scobleizer-news/
BUY OUR NEW BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Transformation-Robert-Scoble/dp/1539894444 "The Fourth Transformation: How augmented reality and artificial intelligence will change everything."
WATCH MY LATEST SPEECHES:
State of VR with Philip Rosedale (done in VR itself, very cool): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zAA1EVGUZU
At GEOINT, June 2017: http://trajectorymagazine.com/glimpse-new-world/
Augmented World Expo, June 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4xHILvLD8E
At Leade.rs, April 2017: https://youtu.be/52_0JshgjXI
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BIO:
Scoble gives you a front-row seat on the future.
Literally. He had the first ride in the first Tesla. Siri was launched in his house. He's been the first to share all sorts of technologies and companies with you, from Flipboard to Pandora to Instagram.
Today he's focusing on mixed reality, AKA "next-generation augmented reality" which will include a new user interface for EVERYTHING in your life (IoT, Smart Cities, driverless cars, robots, drones, etc).
That's based on his view thanks to his past experience as futurist at Rackspace.
Best place to find Scoble? On his Facebook profile at https://www.facebook.com/RobertScoble
He has been a technology blogger since 2000, was one of five people who built Microsoft's Channel 9 video blog/community, worked at Fast Company Magazine running its TV efforts, and has been part of technology media businesses since 1993.
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SPEAKER PITCH:
Apple and Facebook now have revealed their Augmented Reality strategies, which means your business needs one too. Rely on Robert Scoble, the world's top authority on AR, to bring to your conference what businesses should do next.
SPEECH ABSTRACT #1:
TITLE: The Fourth Transformation: What's next in mixed reality (AR and AI) and the future of technology?
Here's an example of this talk at Leade.rs in Paris in April, 2017: https://youtu.be/52_0JshgjXI
Why "the Fourth Transformation?"
Soon we will have phones and glasses that do full on augmented reality. Everything you look at will potentially be augmented. This world is coming in late 2017 with a new iPhone from Apple, amongst other products. Microsoft is betting everything on its HoloLens glasses that do mixed reality and the industry is spending many billions of dollars in R&D and funding new companies like Magic Leap.
This future will be the user interface for IoT, Smart Cities, autonomous cars, robots, drones, and your TV.
This is a big deal and Robert will take you through what mixed reality is and how it will change every business.
Learn more about Robert's speaking style and contact his agent at http://odemanagement.com/robert-scoble/Robert-Scoble.html
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SPEECH ABSTRACT #2:
"The Next Two Clicks of Moore's Law."
Over the next four years, or two clicks of Moore's Law, a ton about our technology world will change. Scoble will bring you the best from his travels visiting R&D labs, startups, and innovators around the world.
He views the world through his rose-colored-mixed-reality glasses, which will be the new user interface for self driving cars, Smart Cities, IoT, and many other things in our world.
He'll send you off with some lessons for companies both large and small.
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SPEECH ABSTRACT #3:
"Personalized Meaning: What is Augmented Reality For?"
As we enter a far more technological world where even cars drive themselves, I predict we'll see a blowback toward the analog, more authentic world.
What role does augmented reality play in both worlds?
Get Scoble's insight into where augmented reality is going, see tons of real-world demos, and understand what he means by 'personalized meaning.'
CONTACT:
If you are looking to contact me, email is best: scobleizer@gmail.com.
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ENDORSEMENTS:
IZEA Top 25 Tech Influencers: https://izea.com/2017/07/07/25-top-tech-influencers/
Time: One of the top 140 Twitterers!
FT: One of the five most influential Twitterers!
Inc. Top 5 on list of Tech Power Players You Need to Know: http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/30-power-players-in-tech-you-need-to-know.html
Next Reality: #4 on top 50 AR influencer list: https://next.reality.news/news/nr50-next-realitys-50-people-watch-augmented-mixed-reality-0177454/
View all posts by Robert Scoble
Published
28 thoughts on “A real business leader”
I remember going to that mall as a kid and it was a pretty happening place. It’s a bit saddening at the lack of economic development in that area. It was nice to hear about Rackspace moving in, and the incentives the city offered them to do so. I did find it interesting that the CEO said San Antonio doesn’t flood , considering they have experienced two 1000 year floods in the last 10 years.
I remember going to that mall as a kid and it was a pretty happening place. It’s a bit saddening at the lack of economic development in that area. It was nice to hear about Rackspace moving in, and the incentives the city offered them to do so. I did find it interesting that the CEO said San Antonio doesn’t flood , considering they have experienced two 1000 year floods in the last 10 years.
I would like to “listen” in to this interview. Here’s a news flash for you: not everyone can hear. You have never included subtitles with your video clips, despite many requests to do so. You are not attracting Deaf visitors but many others who are able to read/prefer English subtitles.
I would like to “listen” in to this interview. Here’s a news flash for you: not everyone can hear. You have never included subtitles with your video clips, despite many requests to do so. You are not attracting Deaf visitors but many others who are able to read/prefer English subtitles.
Jared: I understand your request, but when doing videos from cell phones it’s hard to even add text titles, not to mention full-blown video subtitles. I’m trying to get a budget to do those for our professional, videos, though.
I’m not opposed to getting you the source files, though, if you want to do them for us.
Jared: I understand your request, but when doing videos from cell phones it’s hard to even add text titles, not to mention full-blown video subtitles. I’m trying to get a budget to do those for our professional, videos, though.
I’m not opposed to getting you the source files, though, if you want to do them for us.
Great post and great story.
I think Graham will be more happy if you fix a typo on his surname (Weston not Westin).
Looks like you are spending too much time in hotels 😉
stv
Great post and great story.
I think Graham will be more happy if you fix a typo on his surname (Weston not Westin).
Looks like you are spending too much time in hotels 😉
stv
@3. Scoble it seems lately your objective is more focused on the method of getting your stories out…using Qik. Rather than getting a great story out to as many people as you can reach using the right tools. Qik seems more useful when doing videos of limited imterest to a limited audience. This story could be a Dateline type story as it is more human interest than tech. So it behooves you to be prepared to make it available to as many as possible. Qik is a cool tool but I don’t think its sufficient for your overall business goals
not going to have much fiber round there for the wan links are they – they of course have diverse routing from more than one carier and in separate trenches to diferent Exchanges (Central Offices) dont they ? oh and teh backup microwave links 🙂
not going to have much fiber round there for the wan links are they – they of course have diverse routing from more than one carier and in separate trenches to diferent Exchanges (Central Offices) dont they ? oh and teh backup microwave links 🙂
@3. Scoble it seems lately your objective is more focused on the method of getting your stories out…using Qik. Rather than getting a great story out to as many people as you can reach using the right tools. Qik seems more useful when doing videos of limited imterest to a limited audience. This story could be a Dateline type story as it is more human interest than tech. So it behooves you to be prepared to make it available to as many as possible. Qik is a cool tool but I don’t think its sufficient for your overall business goals
I’m not asking for live video subtitling, which is not feasible and cost-prohibitive to do.
All I’m asking for is a good faith effort on the part of FastCompany to make available the subtitles within a day or two for any videos generated for the site.
I’m not asking for live video subtitling, which is not feasible and cost-prohibitive to do.
All I’m asking for is a good faith effort on the part of FastCompany to make available the subtitles within a day or two for any videos generated for the site.
The Windsor Park area just recently became part of Windcrest. Windcrest is a ritzy suburb. The Windsor Park area is section eight housing and a run down mall.
I doubt your girlfriends rich parents hang out in Windsor Park – unless they hang out at flea marts and pawn shops.
The Windsor Park area just recently became part of Windcrest. Windcrest is a ritzy suburb. The Windsor Park area is section eight housing and a run down mall.
I doubt your girlfriends rich parents hang out in Windsor Park – unless they hang out at flea marts and pawn shops.
@Court Typically the residents of Windcrest are pretty well off financially. Alot of them are retired military or families who have always lived there. Unfortunately this affluence hasn’t transferred to the local economy, especially retail outlets along Walzem Rd. where the mall is located. This was one reason the city offered lots of incentives to Rackspace to relocate there, in order to try and jumpstart the economy.
@Court Typically the residents of Windcrest are pretty well off financially. Alot of them are retired military or families who have always lived there. Unfortunately this affluence hasn’t transferred to the local economy, especially retail outlets along Walzem Rd. where the mall is located. This was one reason the city offered lots of incentives to Rackspace to relocate there, in order to try and jumpstart the economy.
I remember going to that mall as a kid and it was a pretty happening place. It’s a bit saddening at the lack of economic development in that area. It was nice to hear about Rackspace moving in, and the incentives the city offered them to do so. I did find it interesting that the CEO said San Antonio doesn’t flood , considering they have experienced two 1000 year floods in the last 10 years.
LikeLike
I remember going to that mall as a kid and it was a pretty happening place. It’s a bit saddening at the lack of economic development in that area. It was nice to hear about Rackspace moving in, and the incentives the city offered them to do so. I did find it interesting that the CEO said San Antonio doesn’t flood , considering they have experienced two 1000 year floods in the last 10 years.
LikeLike
I would like to “listen” in to this interview. Here’s a news flash for you: not everyone can hear. You have never included subtitles with your video clips, despite many requests to do so. You are not attracting Deaf visitors but many others who are able to read/prefer English subtitles.
It’s very easy to add subtitles to your video if you have direct control over the original content:
http://jarednevans.typepad.com/blog/2008/01/high-quality-vi.html
You can also use http://overstream.net to add subtitles if you don’t have direct control over your video clips.
LikeLike
I would like to “listen” in to this interview. Here’s a news flash for you: not everyone can hear. You have never included subtitles with your video clips, despite many requests to do so. You are not attracting Deaf visitors but many others who are able to read/prefer English subtitles.
It’s very easy to add subtitles to your video if you have direct control over the original content:
http://jarednevans.typepad.com/blog/2008/01/high-quality-vi.html
You can also use http://overstream.net to add subtitles if you don’t have direct control over your video clips.
LikeLike
Jared: I understand your request, but when doing videos from cell phones it’s hard to even add text titles, not to mention full-blown video subtitles. I’m trying to get a budget to do those for our professional, videos, though.
I’m not opposed to getting you the source files, though, if you want to do them for us.
LikeLike
Jared: I understand your request, but when doing videos from cell phones it’s hard to even add text titles, not to mention full-blown video subtitles. I’m trying to get a budget to do those for our professional, videos, though.
I’m not opposed to getting you the source files, though, if you want to do them for us.
LikeLike
Great post and great story.
I think Graham will be more happy if you fix a typo on his surname (Weston not Westin).
Looks like you are spending too much time in hotels 😉
stv
LikeLike
Great post and great story.
I think Graham will be more happy if you fix a typo on his surname (Weston not Westin).
Looks like you are spending too much time in hotels 😉
stv
LikeLike
@3. Scoble it seems lately your objective is more focused on the method of getting your stories out…using Qik. Rather than getting a great story out to as many people as you can reach using the right tools. Qik seems more useful when doing videos of limited imterest to a limited audience. This story could be a Dateline type story as it is more human interest than tech. So it behooves you to be prepared to make it available to as many as possible. Qik is a cool tool but I don’t think its sufficient for your overall business goals
LikeLike
not going to have much fiber round there for the wan links are they – they of course have diverse routing from more than one carier and in separate trenches to diferent Exchanges (Central Offices) dont they ? oh and teh backup microwave links 🙂
LikeLike
not going to have much fiber round there for the wan links are they – they of course have diverse routing from more than one carier and in separate trenches to diferent Exchanges (Central Offices) dont they ? oh and teh backup microwave links 🙂
LikeLike
@3. Scoble it seems lately your objective is more focused on the method of getting your stories out…using Qik. Rather than getting a great story out to as many people as you can reach using the right tools. Qik seems more useful when doing videos of limited imterest to a limited audience. This story could be a Dateline type story as it is more human interest than tech. So it behooves you to be prepared to make it available to as many as possible. Qik is a cool tool but I don’t think its sufficient for your overall business goals
LikeLike
I’m not asking for live video subtitling, which is not feasible and cost-prohibitive to do.
All I’m asking for is a good faith effort on the part of FastCompany to make available the subtitles within a day or two for any videos generated for the site.
LikeLike
I’m not asking for live video subtitling, which is not feasible and cost-prohibitive to do.
All I’m asking for is a good faith effort on the part of FastCompany to make available the subtitles within a day or two for any videos generated for the site.
LikeLike
My girlfriend’s very rich parents live in Windcrest, which is a suburb of San Antonio anyway. Must be two sides to the story I guess.
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My girlfriend’s very rich parents live in Windcrest, which is a suburb of San Antonio anyway. Must be two sides to the story I guess.
LikeLike
@Court
The Windsor Park area just recently became part of Windcrest. Windcrest is a ritzy suburb. The Windsor Park area is section eight housing and a run down mall.
I doubt your girlfriends rich parents hang out in Windsor Park – unless they hang out at flea marts and pawn shops.
LikeLike
@Court
The Windsor Park area just recently became part of Windcrest. Windcrest is a ritzy suburb. The Windsor Park area is section eight housing and a run down mall.
I doubt your girlfriends rich parents hang out in Windsor Park – unless they hang out at flea marts and pawn shops.
LikeLike
Interesting puff piece.
LikeLike
Interesting puff piece.
LikeLike
@Court Typically the residents of Windcrest are pretty well off financially. Alot of them are retired military or families who have always lived there. Unfortunately this affluence hasn’t transferred to the local economy, especially retail outlets along Walzem Rd. where the mall is located. This was one reason the city offered lots of incentives to Rackspace to relocate there, in order to try and jumpstart the economy.
LikeLike
@Court Typically the residents of Windcrest are pretty well off financially. Alot of them are retired military or families who have always lived there. Unfortunately this affluence hasn’t transferred to the local economy, especially retail outlets along Walzem Rd. where the mall is located. This was one reason the city offered lots of incentives to Rackspace to relocate there, in order to try and jumpstart the economy.
LikeLike