Thoughts on the Tube: Culture and Entrepreneurship

I had an interesting experience on the London tube the other day.

I got on the District Line at South Kensington and as soon as I was seated, and as if by some compulsive nerve, I started playing “Who has the Biggest Brain?” on my iPhone. What was absolutely innocent, and entirely personal, seemed to have amused my American co-travellers. This family (husband, wife and 2 kids) had this expression on their faces, which can only be described as being completely amazed! I on the other hand felt naturally British, and quite embarrassed! I couldn’t figure what had tickled them – whether it’s because I had picked a game they were hooked on to as well or because I had an iPhone. Anyway, we got friendly (this is also very rare on the London tube where eyes are usually focussed on books, newspapers, personal gadgets or just thin air). The wife pulled out her iPhone and shared her favourite bowling game with me. They explained how I could move with a swipe and could flick with a swoosh. And the husband added, eyes wide, that this was free!

So I thought I should also share my game with them. I explained how my game can measure the size of the brain and this too was free. At first they were amazed to learn about this new game. But that didn’t last long – the husband was nodding his head as if to say he already knew how the calculations were made, and even remarked that he had seen something similar. I felt bad. Absolutely disgusted at my inability to keep them entertained! They left a couple of stops later and I was left mulling over this strange meeting.

For some reason the experience reminded me of what Stephen Fry said after his recent documentary series in the USA. If I remember correctly, he felt that the Americans will never hide their amazement at learning something new (unlike the British) and equally claim that such things can happen “only in America”. This American family were amazed one minute to learn something new and by the second minute had somehow already, hmm, owned it! Perhaps this explains the entrepreneurial spirit so often seen in American business? Absolutely anything, any weird idea, seems to fly there. Americans can take something alien to them and with a few changes completely internalise it. Compare this to Britain and one is constantly reminded that risk aversion is the best policy. You often hear “don’t mend what is not broken”.

But may be keeping an eager, open (and a slightly forgetful) mind, may mean that we are open to new discoveries. It could lead to innovation and entrepreneurship. And we can learn that from the Americans.