INTRODUCTION - THINKING LONGER AND HARDER

When I worked for IBM, the corporate motto was "Think". As I have grown older, I appreciate more and more the importance of "Thinking Longer and Harder". 

One of the definitions of Squishy is: "not firm, steady, or fixed". I have not yet written a chapter for this book called "Squishy Systems". If and when I write this chapter, I will define a Squishy System. Until then, I will just give three examples. The Stock Market is a Squishy System. Commercial Search Engines are Squishy Systems. Everyone's mind is a Squishy System.

There was a time when I liked Science Fiction. This book suggests some interesting Science Fiction.

There was a time when I found insects and biology fascinating. This book speculates on how life developed.

There was a time when I was interested in the stock market. I learned a lot of useless things. I was not writing then. This is not a book about the stock market.

There was a time when I was interested in the physical sciences, everything from the smallest atom to the vast universe. And beyond. This book is definitely influenced by this time.

There was a very long time when I was interested in business. The relationship between people and technology was complex and intriguing. What I have written in this book about people and the internet  could make you a better salesman and financially more successful.

Now is the time I want to write about many things. Perhaps too many things. 

Chapter 1,  "Time is of the Essence", bridges the gap between business and the rest of Reality. Readers who only want to improve their salesmanship abilities can benefit from some of the subject matter and can ignore the rest. Similarly, if you like to be mentally challenged or made to look at things in a different way, this chapter will start you down this path.

Chapter 2,  "How People Really Buy", begins the discussion of the buying decision process people go through and how this process has been changed by the Internet.

This Book reveals my conclusions about sales and marketing and how it has been, will be, and can be affected by the Internet. But this Book also reveals much more - my total Worldview of Reality.

I feel that my Worldview is correct and logical. I believe you have a different Worldview and your Reality is different than mine.

We are both right. Or maybe we are both wrong.

If you are interested in science (maybe science fiction), philosophy, or just broadening your mind, you should read  "Why Wood Bees Can't Sell".