The Power of New Ideas
May 12, 2008
By Editor-in-Chief,
JEFFREY S. HALL
Last month I wrote about the “R” word, and what we could do about it. I said recessions are partly psychological and have a way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So if we have the power to make things go down as a result of our collective thoughts, we can make things go up as well.
There are many across the Westside who, despite the headlines, are forging ahead, creating new industries that will replace the old. This is progress – and it’s inevitable.
In this issue, you’ll learn about two innovators from Brentwood who started Gorilla Nation, a company that helps smaller websites get the advertising support they need. Their company is growing at a rate of 70 percent a year (and just raised $50 million, to boot).
Then there’s Jody Miller of the Palisades, who’s come up with a great way to match companies in need of quick, top-tier talent for temporary projects. She builds flexibility into the equation for everyone involved, including her team, who all work from home. Business is booming. If there were a recession underway, Jody wouldn’t know it.
The folks in Santa Monica are celebrating “sustainability,” which seems like a fairly mainstream idea today, but was viewed as quite revolutionary when Santa Monicans first started talking about the concept over a decade ago. Someone has to lead the way.
Dr. Nadav Morag of the Center for Israeli Studies at American Jewish University weighs in on what it’s going to take for Israel to survive and for the Middle East to calm down. Thank goodness there are those who simply won’t give up. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, progress is one percent inspiration, the rest is perspiration.
We also feature Dr. Orli Peter of Beverly Hills who practices “Brain Music Therapy,” which might hold out hope for those suffering from insomnia, depression and other stress-related disorders. By listening to the right kind of music, people can experience vast improvements in their mental health. The field of neuroscience is beginning to take off in many exciting directions. Experts learn more and more each day, which offers hope to many with loved ones affected by emotional and psychological issues.
And then there is the Malibu story, which is about community overcoming their differences and coming together to do the right thing for the environment, the city and the future.
The people we feature this month represent just the tip of the iceberg here on the Westside. We all know people who make things happen, achieve breakthroughs and create jobs along the way.
And we all have a choice. We can get wrapped up in the depressing headlines of the day or we can get out there and make a difference. Personally, I vote for the latter course.
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