The Emerging Times

Constant Breakthroughs

What is Breakthrough Leadership? from Gap International on Vimeo.

 

Constant Breakthroughs

I was considering keeping this experience a secret, but then I felt guilty.

Most career-minded people and small business owners are constantly looking for the next breakthrough. How many people can you name who aren't?

Many months ago I embarked on a fantastic training seminar at Gap International.

SInce my first intro course, which spanned more than 18 intense hours of training over a weekend, I can honestly say that I have been more motivated and focused than ever. And as a result, my company and team has been better because of it.

Today I'm off to another, smaller, yet equally valuable event held at Gap International in Philadelphia.

I know I'll be better because of it. I hope you and your organization will learn a little about them, even pass it along to your team.

Thanks to Brian Lang for coaching me to the next level, and to my good friends Charity, Kelly, and Jeremy Brown for introducing me to this amazing company.

THX GODIN: The opportunity is here

The opportunity is here

Reading this reminds me of why I think this man is totally great. I hope you love this article from Seth Godin. Seth posted this note recently and I just loved every word of it. (Especially the Walt Disney mention at the end.)

Please enjoy his words (while i'm gathering mine).

Why not agree to disagree?

Why not agree to disagree?

Last night I met a very smart gentleman who worked at a brilliant company called Google. Not exactly an idiot, right? But here's the thing, after a long and intense series of conversations, the one and only thing we actually agreed on is the idea that none of us really knows what it will take to solve or even change the real problems in the global world today.

He said, "Even if you really try to make change, it won't be effecive—simply because change is inevitable and will happen with or without your participation—and that's how it goes." My thoughts were that change to him seemed like a pre-determined science, an organisim, a part of an evolutionary process that 'I wouldn't or couldn't even understand'. (to put it his way)

While I found myself unable to disagree with his comments, internally I very much disagreed.

But isn't that the point? Shouldn't we all agree to disagree? Regardless of my disagreement, our intellectual debate enabled me to have an unexpected level of "knowledge-sharing" around the philosophies that he finds 'essential' or even factual in his world. And sometimes these facts are a very hard thing to dispute in another person's world. Why? Because beliefs are almost like a religion—they convice us all to belive in what we think is true.

I honestly don't even really know where all of this is going. Perhaps i'm trying to a that it's better to have a couple of intellectual debates on an average day than to have none at all. Each conversation, debate or intellectual 'banter' make us all a little bit smarter simply by gaining a perspective from other smart people's perspectives—even if we DO disagree with where they are coming from.

So what do you have to lose? Why not JUST listen to what others have to say? It might just pay dividends in the end and open your mind to another world of thinking that you never could have had on your own.

 

 

Square Peg. Round Hole.

For the majority of my career I've always felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Perhaps you feel the same way. So how can we spin this problem (or our perceived problem) to work for us?

What if for a moment I could convince you that we are all squares, and the world around us is actually what's round? We each have our own personalities and demeanor that make us very different from the person next to us. I believe these this unique and individual differences naturally shapes our own specific point of view and perspective on things, on our lives.

So why do some of us seem to be able to fit or squeeze into that round hole better than others? I wish I knew the answer of that question, I really do.

My best guess is that some of us are able to adapt to the world and organizations better than others. And some of us never seem to understand or grasp the concept of conformity. We look at that round hole and we want to run away and work with the other square pegs in the world. Why? Perhaps it's because the other squares are just as afraid of the round holes as we are. Being with them makes us feel as if we can be ourselves, it's more comfortable there.

Regardless of what shape you are (or think you are), each of us figures it out simply by trying. By going for it. And in the end all of us usually succeed when we learn how to make our own way.

So why not do exactly that? Make your own way.

{This is the advice I got a long time ago when someone noticed that I was a square peg trying to fit into this round hole of a world.}

Inspiration that's always free

Inspiration that's always free
Why should I use my own words to inspire you today? There's plenty right here.

(Thanks for making my birthday easy today Seth.)

Technology for Mankind

Technology for Mankind
Google, Microsoft, Apple, and even your local mobile app developer thinks that the technology and tools/apps they make are making the world a better place.

But what exactly does that mean? Is GPS and Yelp REALLY making the world a better place? Compared to the Skin Gun? Can your ad or app do this?

Remember that the next time you pitch a bs feel good, act good, do good campaign.

This video from National Geographic shows how technology is being used with stem cells to quickly re-skin burn and accident victims. It undoubtably makes the world a better place and certainly instills a lot of faith in the continued combintion and convergence of technology and science. Enjoy.

(Thanks PC World)

Derivative of Goodness

Derivative of Goodness

When your seeking inspiration for a new idea, songs can always be inspiring. As my musician friend Jamie once said, "Music changes every mood. Instantly."

But when is a hit song so good that it inspires a trend, a passion, a position, an story, and a feeling so good that it makes people take action. To react, to even want to recreate it?

What inspires the cover?

I'll let the musicians give you that answer. But one thing I can say is that musicians and producers focus on a string of sounds, emotions, things made to move you. To connect with you.

Advertising is no different.

Musiciains like real dedicated companies want to express themselves too. Possibly inspire you like Apple does. It's either the words, the vibrations, the honesty or simply the beat.

Musicians are feeling magicians. Good songs like ideas have stories. They're taken and reused. It's only human nature. In the case of this song, it's reused and reinvented over and over again. Perhaps because it's able to inspire anyone. It's cultural magic. When things are good, they inspire. And when they inspire, they're meaningful for people. Here are three version's of Jason Mraz's song I'm Yours.

(Bash it all you want—it has over 90 million views for a reason.)

Version 1: Jason Mraz
Version 2: Christina Perri
Version 3: Jonus Brothers

Full lyrics

The State of Advertising : Start to 2011

Big ideas were at one point small. Here are twenty things, people, places, movements and ideas that are shaping the advertising business, media, culture and our lives today.

 

	1	If you have fans, it's easy to start a rally. A protest. Here's a little story on how a really dumb move (from a big soap company) got cleaned up by a thought-leader in the market—Method Home. The internet and social media today allow thousand to easily, virtually take action and attend our protests. VIEW
	2	A new model. Mark Zuckerberg gives to Newark schools, builds his brand and deserves Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Facebook rolled out Likes. Likes will become the new currency. These new data points have allowed us to target fans, interest groups, and a new level of psychographic. Facebook ads have monetized their idea—brilliantly allowing brands, companies, and people to easily reach and target people who already Like you or may like you. VIEW
	3	The Rebirth of Magazines. The end of the decade shows great signs for magazines and publishers. Leaders like Conde Nast we're first to market, transitioning quickly and catching media planners attention through high interaction rates and performance. And not to mention that digital books don't get tossed out, instead people read them more. VIEW
	4	Local Social—the next big big thing. At this very moment mobile-social networks are being used by more than 10 million people. FourSquare was first. Others like Facebook Places, Gowalla, Whrrl and SCVNGR have followed slowly behind. People are now checking into: actual places, events, snow storms, and life's ideas. These networks support the local-digital movement and show us that there is in fact a need for a more private, local network other than Facebook. VIEW
	5	People continue to be media. We're still spreading messages, ideas, and news far faster than any ad campaign ever could. Traditional advertising is expensive and online media success rates have flattened out. People still tune out and turn off commercials. One thing is for sure—the best ideas are spread by word of mouth. A facebook post. A tweet. A FourSquare check in. Give people an idea worth spreading and they'll spread it. Warning: Not every idea is worth spreading.
	6	Good is Great. Green is expensive. Toyota's bounce back from disaster shows how leaders get over hurdles and get back to being great again. Their getting back to making really good cars, and that's great. However, during this time American car companies like Ford successfully capitalized, focusing on innovation and branding—bringing new, healthy competition to the marketplace. VIEW
	7	City bike lanes + Google = ground for change. This year seemed to be the year that bike lanes seemed to pop up in every city. In NYC green bike lanes have sprouted up and bike culture (and the market) has now spread from the downtown urban hipster courier to the CEO. Moving on two wheels is now perhaps cooler than four. Noticing that Google added bike lanes to their maps was the virtual evidence of this physical change. VIEW
	8	Fandom: Conan Obrien & the blimp. Here's a fun and innovative use of traditional media. See the blimp, check-in on FourSquare and get the Team COCO badge. Pure genius for those of us who missed the orange-headed talk show host. TBS has built a lot of great day-by-day content around the show, giving me the content and updates I want through social media and Team Coco.  VIEW
	9	Sprint 4Gish iPad—the iPad you always wanted. This idea reached the influential tech audience, got buzz, and helped market a 4G wireless service through a one-of-a-kind experience. This is an idea worth spreading. VIEW
	10	Power the idea. They think they can, so they will. Tesla Motors, Smart, Nissan Leaf. Coda Automotive. The Chevy Volt. Even though I want one, the newer, greener cars (and electric bikes) are still overpriced and feel as if they're early to market during a slow economy. Ideas like GE's Wattstation™ will get us there. VIEW
	11	Great emerging agency talent : Johannes Leonardo (great work speaks for itself) VIEW
	12	Droid is more than a mobile phone it's about wide-spread, open source culture. Accessibility to more devices is what's driving Google's Android (primarily mobile) operating system past Apple's iPhone IOS. Google has a plan to take over the way we access information across all screens. Our phones are training us on how to use our TVs tomorrow. And this year when he's running on faster devices like tablets and the Sprint EVO, this year he'll be pushing out 2 GHZ (faster than my desktop macintosh in college) and takes 8 MP images—don't mess with this little guy.  VIEW
	13	What we're playing. Words with Friends and Angry Birds. We'll remember like we did Mario Brothers in 1986. McLuhan said, "With every new medium comes new addictions." This new content is perfect because it's casual, social and addictive—reflective of the virtual consumer culture today. VIEW
	14	The best channel is anywhere. From any screen. Netflix. Hulu. YouTube. The idea is on-demand entertainment. A channel, program and show that's on 24 hours a day. The winner will have depth over latest releases. Why hasn't anyone (yet) launched a movie premier live simultaneously across all devices? Remember the Victoria Secret Fashion show?I'd pre-purchase my virtual ticket. You? GET NETFLIX for iPad
	15	Making real places as cool as virtual ones. Today, most young people get their inspiration from behind screens. They're competing in the informational age of Google, on-demand knowledge and content. Someone once asked: "Are physical museum's a fad?" Can we find a way to make them more relevant today for the people of tomorrow? Here is an idea that was created by my agency and shares our common goal to do work for clients and brands that deserve great advertising. WATCH THE VIDEO
	16	(a space left for your next big idea)
	17	A Linchpin in the business. Godin's book was great, timely, and just might be the most important book all of us need to 'get' today.  VIEW
	18	Change for good. Crispin Porter + Bogusky takes home agency of the decade. My old boss moves onto better things. Becasue he can.
	19	Experiences in Motion. The Nintendo Wii changed the game market by driving innovation. Microsoft Kinect and Sony Playstation's Move have finally hit the market. Physical brand experiences and advertisements should continue to pop up all over the place. Think HD projections meets consumer-generated content or if pedestrian traffic could alter a billboard's content or message.
	20	A new relationship. Finally we have apps that talk to cars in fun and useful ways. We're past the standard iPod and mp3 player connectivity. Why not connect our devices to our old machines and reinvent the way we move, navigate and entertain ourselves on the go? If we can do it to our sneakers why can't we do it for our cars? Here's a small start. See the Fiat iPhone App VIEW

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(Sorry for any typos)

Honor vs. Reward

What do you think motivates you or your employees to go to work in the morning? Pick one of the following:

       A) Honor: honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions
       B) Reward: something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.

Which do you think motivates people the most in the short term? And in the long term?

I recently got back from a trip to Japan—a culture and heritage based on honor instead of reward. In Japan, it's considered rude to tip your waiter, the door man, even your assistant. Why? Because it's embarrassing for them to think they dishonored you by not doing their job well.

While in Japan I had the best food and hotel service of my entire life and I was treated with the upmost respect from the moment I landed till the moment I left—even at the airport. I think it's because of the culture of honor.

Most people, owners, and companies build a culture based on rewards and forget the value of building a culture based in honor. And that's a huge difference.

In the long run, people being motivated by honor will always surpass the results of those being motivated by reward.

I hope you agree.

 

 

 

 

 

Living in TRON

The Living Brand: Disney

Walt Disney knew what it took to take a 2-dimensional cartoon world and turn it into a real world experience, ultimately creating an international destination known as Disney World in 1971.

Now Flash forward to 2010.

Think about one of Disney's modern day properties like the new TRON movie. When a companies driving culture is to bring their experiences to life, you get ideas like this. It's like living in TRON.

How can your brand embrace the living brand concept today and bring your brand to life? Can you apply it to your: retail store, social media, customer service and trade shows like Comic-Con or CES?

You live in the future, of course you can.