Comments on: the freedom idea

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 22 May 2006 03:45:50 +0000

Great story. Cute picture too! Keep up your great work. I just discovered your site.

By: Justin Kownacki

Justin Kownacki — Wed, 10 May 2006 16:08:59 +0000

This reminds me of the crepe wagon in Hampstead that’s been in place for 15 years or so, has a staff of 6 or so employees (usually 2 at a time), and has a line to the end of the block on most clear days. No overhead, no marketing, great crepes: what’s not to love?
(Interestingly, the owner was interviewed recently because the city decided he owed 15,000 pounds — sorry, no pound symbol here — in licensing taxes, so he decided to fight the good fight and increase his public profile in the process. I’m not sure if he won, but I hope he did, since 15,000 pounds seems like a crippling amount for a lone ranger business type like that.)

By: wilbur

wilbur — Wed, 10 May 2006 15:28:10 +0000

thanks for the post, really inspiring and true.

By: Evan Donn

Evan Donn — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:20:54 +0000

This is a great post, and illustrates the strength of the global microbrand idea. There are only so many ‘Local MicroVans’ a physical space could support — and it likely wouldn’t work as well if you tried to start something like a pickled herring van. However, thanks to the internet your potential market is no longer limited to your immediate surroundings and community — and somewhere, right now, somebody out there really wants pickled herring.
I just returned from last week’s OnHollywood conference, an attempt to bring tech companies and entertainment companies together. The buzzwords of the week were “User generated content” and “monetize” — basically, the big entertainment companies were desperately casting about for technology which would let them capitalize on the biggest thing which is hurting their profits. Not piracy, but content made by individual producers which takes eyes and attention away from their product. Attention is shifting away from the big brands and media which dominated the second half of the 20th century, and it’s being replaced by the individual microbrand — the big companies know it, and they’re getting worried.

By: DRMPro

DRMPro — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:19:20 +0000

Ah, your British. That explains the dark nature of your art. ----------------- Drmpro.net: http://www.drmpro.net Padfiles.net: http://www.padfiles.net -----------------

By: remember me

remember me — Wed, 10 May 2006 00:22:43 +0000

To rephrase that previous remark: “It is a touching tale, one that does resonate, but sometimes, it seems, it isn’t about sticking it to the MAN, just doing what’s NEEDED?”

By: Balaji Sowmyanarayanan

Balaji Sowmyanarayanan — Wed, 10 May 2006 00:15:34 +0000

When big co marketing is mainstream and all around you, a small mobile coffee shop run by a individual is ‘Freedom’.
What do you do when such small time operation is the norm? And all around you.
It is like your Happyness is Kathy Sieera Naked cartoon!
Aside:
Gautama Buddha after after careful contemplation said ‘No freedom for me’
If I figure out why exactly he said that, I will let you know
Till then enjoy the mocha!

By: remember me

remember me — Wed, 10 May 2006 00:15:25 +0000

Hugh,
It is a touching tale, one that does resonate, but sometimes, it seems, it isn’t about sticking it to the MAN, just doing what’s right?
Another question: has anyone tried offering a large chunk of change to this guy? Just to validate your conclusions, so to speak …

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Tue, 09 May 2006 16:43:13 +0000

Shipwreck, “what it is we as individuals can do about this rapid decline in our ability to attain true social, economic, and spiritual freedom”?
Why, find out own “global microbrand”, of course

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Tue, 09 May 2006 16:41:58 +0000

He’s not outdoors, he’s in a train station… with a glass roof.

By: Lev

Lev — Tue, 09 May 2006 15:54:12 +0000

He is rich at heart.
The opposite of the marketer with no soul, kissing the business worlds feet.
nice to see Hugh has a human side and can appreciate life!

By: dhuli

dhuli — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:20:20 +0000

I see many such microvans (called auto-rickshaws) selling sncaks and tea and fruits at many places in Bangalore, India. There is a sense of freshness, I think, due to the just arrived, buy it direct feel. Also, the prices seem reasonable, perhaps since there are no middlemen. I will try and send you a snap from here the next time I remember to notice one of these vans.

By: shelley Noble

shelley Noble — Tue, 09 May 2006 14:20:06 +0000

A-M-E-N! This is one of my favorites of all your posts. I could not agree more with you on this. “There are people who have money, and people who are rich.” Coco Chanel

By: Jace

Jace — Tue, 09 May 2006 11:45:28 +0000

He appears to be outdoors. What happens when it rains?

By: Agarda

Agarda — Tue, 09 May 2006 08:16:38 +0000

and life goes on.