Around the World in 23 Days

When Jules Verne wrote the scifi classic Around the World in 80 Days, the excitement and challenge was that technology could allow Phineas Phogg to travel at such breath-taking speed. When Rick Segal and I circumnavigate the globe in 23 days this August, the excitement will still be technology, but this time it will be what happens when we are on the ground between flights.

Rick and I have been talking about this journey for several months.  For a while it looked like we would be blessed by Doc Searls coming along with us, but Doc can't spare the time and he as other things to do and places to go.  Doc wanted to call this the "Flat World Tour," which in many ways, would be a very apt title. Thomas Friedman's book did a great job of showing how technology is making this a smaller, faster, more closely connected world.  Friedman focused on what big companies are doing in China, in India in supply chains and in global employee collaboration.  Rick and I are much more interested in the small companies, or in people who have not yet formed companies; on collaborations between people who are making geography irrelevant.  For me, I have a particular interest in companies that may prevail because they are empowering communities of people, rather than attempting to command and control them.

But Friedman sort of owns the "flat world" term and we don't want to mess with it. Besides we don't need to name the tour.  Rick and I are not rock stars.  We are just two guys with a common interest in what is gong on in the connected world, that is flying for the most part beneath the radar today but will make a difference tomorrow.

We are coming from different perspectives. I'm a writer and hope that this journey will sell more of the book I wrote with Robert Scoble and give me a mountain of material for "Global Neighborhoods" my new book. Rick is a Canadian venture capitalist who would like to show that Silicon Valley is not the center of the universe. He's a champion of his adopted country in technology and has passion for tech companies germinating there. I believe that Silicon Valley remains precisely that, but the universe is expanding at such a rapid rate that being at the center is becoming less relevant.

I've been looking at startups for over 25 years and will help Rick make any investment decisions that may come up along our way.  He has written four books and will collaborate to some degree with me on what the story and stories are as we find them.  By virtue of this adventure, Rick will be a major character in this new book or so I would assume.

I am grateful he invited me  I'm even more grateful for the mileage he has acquired that let's me travel for free. He is giving me the chance of a lifetime.

Comments

[Ellen Wallace]

So where are you going, and when? Switzerland on your route?

[Shel Israel]

Ellen,

The itinerary will be set by the companies we hear from. Do you have something interesting in Switzerland? If so, please write about it here or email me at shel@tseemstome.net.

[Dennis Howlett]

This is a great idea Shel and I'm sure it would get a lot of interest in Europe. Except that August is the worst month of all to be thinking of this. Europe goes on vacation then so France, Spain, Italy, large chunks of the UK, Netherlands and Germany are basically broiling themselves in my part of the world and beyond.

Except of course I'm going to live on one of the hottest places in Spain where we'll likely be in a ghost town as everyone migrates to the coast.

If you guys could push this back to September, I'd be more than happy to trumpet it around the people I know. and they're not just boring ol' accountants but folks of all stripes in EU.

Loic LeMeur I'm sure would be good for you, then there's Neville Hobson in Holland. I'm sure there's plenty more.

We've just come off Innovate!Europe so the Guidewire people could provide background. I made some excellent contacts as did David Tebbutt. We saw something really good come out of Greece for instance. Let us know what you decide or if there is any other way I can help then please get in touch. I can think of a few companies you'd enjoy meeting.

[Jeremiah Owyang]

Great stuff Shel, you were on my mind to day when I was travelling to San Diego on business with a colleague. We saw your article on Southwest Airlines and we even discussed "Global Neighborhoods" as an interesting topic.

I'm glad to see you're really doing your homework for this upcoming book by actually getting out there and trekking.

[KDPaine]

This is a fabulous idea. My father and I went around the world 35 years ago in what could be called the ultimate "old media" tour - visiting Time Inc offices everywhere we went, fueled primarily by bourbon, rather than technology. It's time to update the conversations for sure.

[Ivan Chew]

As you wrote, it's truly a chance in a lifetime. Maybe Rick or yourself might want to speak with IDA (the govt agency that hosted you and the other writers/ journalists about 2 years back). Maybe Singapore would be part of your itinerary. I'm hopeful. :)

[Shel Israel]

Ivan,

Singapore is indeed a possibility. But tell me--what's going on in innovation? If you recall, I wrote a series of very favorable blogs on Singapore, but kept asking the question: Can Singapore Innovate? Innovation is difficult in top-down cultures, as you and I have discussed. If there is a significant change since my last visit, then we would be likely to come back. Anyone else in Singapore is welcome to join in and educate us.

[roameri]

Dear Shel:
If you spot a good one in India, let me know. Ofcourse I am not in the big league. But I invest a bit.
Jamshed.

[Cameron Reilly]

Sheldon, if there is anything I can do to help you ensure Melbourne, Australia is a point on your trip, then let me know! You REALLY need to taste the coffee here mate. It'll turn your life around. :-)

[Shel Israel]

Cameron,

Good to hear from you. In fact, Australia is in pour plan, but I've heard they toughen up the brew by incorporating kangeroo entrails in the brew mate, and that could make me feel jumpy.

[Trevor Cook]

Shel, Don't be fooled Melburnians always say the coffee is great down there (which it is) but for everything else head to Sydney

[Gautam Ghosh]

awesome idea !

If you are in Hyderabad, India then let me know !

:-))

[Shel Israel]

Cameron is a trusted resource for me on many levels. But when it comes to coffee, his tastes seem to me to be--sheall we say--down under.

[Shel Israel]

Gautam,

Where is it near? I could not find Hyderabad on Google maps.

[JosephDP]

Shel,

Hyderbad is a major city in Southern India, near the center of the pennisula, more or less East and a bit South of Mumbai [which my old World Atlas still has as Bombay]. ;-)

Latitude: 17 22N
Longitude: 78 29E

[Startups.in]

Shel,

Hyderabad aka Cyberabad aka HiTec City is the capital of Andhra Pradesh(AP), a southern state in India. Bordering states are Karnataka(for which Bangalore is the capital) & Maharashtra(capital is Mumbai aka Bombay).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HITECH_city
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberabad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyderabad_%28India%29

Hope that helps.
Regards,
Nag /at/
Startups.in

[Jason Stamper]

Sounds like a ball, Shel. Might I suggest a stint in London? I don't know if we could get you tea with the Queen, but I am sure there would be plenty of journalists like myself keen to hook up. I'd be interested to chew the fat on the Israel vs. Vogels debate, too!

[Shel Israel]

Jason,

We are pretty certain that we will be in London in September. I'll also be there on June 6, speaking at Content 2.0 and would be happy to speak to you then.

[abbie]

i think what you did was great and i thiink your really brave