The Emerging Times

Cool Stuff I Found in Japan

Cool Stuff I Found in Japan

I recently went to Tokyo and Nagoya for a wedding and met with my great friend, and creative partner, Yutaka Tsujino, founder of The Traveling Office. On my trip I collected a few cool gadgets, novelties, and memories. I hope you find them super-cool.

Clockwise from upper-left: Subway Card (they're all touch-and-go), Coins (yen), iPhone Speakerphone (around $19.99), Japanese Wood Inlay Box, Gift from the Saatchi's father (wedding bride), Space Shuttle from Muji ($7.99), Solar-powered smartphone charger ($19.99).

 

 

 

 

 

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.}

When the business of change seemed simpler

When the business of change seemed simpler

In the 1970s, before television had a thousand channels, the internet, mobile phones, tablet screens, and all this technology, the business was (obviously) different.

During this time newspapers were strong, many new publications like Ms. Magazine emerged, big movie companies only invested in one or two blockbusters a year, tobacco ads were being banned on the television and radio, and Sesame Street premiered. These changes in media reflected the culture of this time.

As media and publications grew people in the biz thought it made things more complex, more fragmented. Relatively speaking, for the most part they were right.

However when you compare then to now, then seems quite simple. Wouldn't you agree? Since that time change has been fast, epic, significant, and for some it's polarizing. Not surprisingly, advertising still reflects our culture and society today. And a lot of us still think the business is getting more and more complex. It's just the nature of the business—it's the business of change.

I sometimes wonder, when we look back in thirty years will we think that today was actually simple? Even basic? Time shall tell. I think you should take a step back and look at this time in history—see the big picture. Maybe you'll realize what's going on and where your place is amongst all this change.

Thirty years from now it'll look easy to a lot of people, as if life in the business was a Tootsie Roll.

Inspiration: Andy Pratt Design

 
Inspiration: Andy Pratt Design
Here's a little inspiration from Andy Pratt Design. Andy's not only an amazing creative director, he's an amazingly talented illustrator and close friend of mine. His work always seems to make people smile. Here's a quick snap shot of my wintertime favorites. Check out all of his work (tons to see) or check out his latest notebook collection at AndyPratt.net

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.

 

 

 

 

Inspiration: Ed Ruscha

Inspiration: Ed Ruscha

I hope you're inspired this Saturday with some great masterpieces from the famous artist—Ed Ruscha. I've recently really gotten excited about his work (believe it or not) after watching an episode of Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel on my iPhone.

Right now, you have two options-you can a)Google him and explore the endless discussions about his work, or you can b) simply forget about all of that and sit back and soak in his canvas for a while-let yourself respond to his great art.

(And let's not forget, with all art there is no right or wrong answer to what you feel-it just is what it is.)

Start to learn more about Ed Ruscha here.

Unwire what is wired

Here's a free, 15 minute podcast from Sara Green from HBR and Gregory Burns, a Distinguished Chair of Neuroeconomics at Emory. Yes, Neuroeconomics. He's also the author of Iconoclast. Not only is it great, but it costs about $11 on Amazon. That's less than that fancy drink at your local bar—so just get it already. It's a real building block of knowledge, and a priceless read.

Here's his free interview podcast within the Harvard Business IdeaCast series. It's a nice way to refuel your thinking through this intelligent, simple breakdown on how and why we make the decisions we do—and how those decisions effect our decisions both as business people and as creative-types.

In fact, you should subscribe to the entire Harvard podcast series. It's intelligent, topical and insightful. Digital gems.

Click here to link, listen, download, save it. Or, grab it and play it for later. (Gregory's podcast is #4)

Flash Forward

Flash Forward

What makes this work interesting? It's beautiful use of Flash.

I don't agree that Flash should ever be abandoned by devices like Apple's iPad. There's been a lot of chatter about the friction between Apple and Adobe, but at the end of the day, Flash is what has powered the interactive boom since around 1999. Heck, I owe my early career to it. Flash was first to blow people's minds. And with work like this, it deserves to surely stick around. Enjoy it here.

I Hate Advertising

I Hate Advertising

We hear this all the time. People wondering why their peers or leaders 'don't get it'. They'll go through their week feeling depressed and wondering if they really even 'get it' themselves.

You probably DO still get it, but perhaps your head is a little twisted the wrong way. It happens. Reset your thinking and set yourself straight again by reading a book from someone you find inspiring in the business.

On these negative types of days, I sometimes get asked for advice. When I do, I usually pass along one of Paul Arden's books: It's Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be and Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite. I've also been a fan of Godin's Small is the New Big.

These books are very small, and can be picked up at anytime to restart yours beliefs and help you quickly get back on track to staying sane and optimistic. Reboot your optimism today.



   

Brilliance in Simplicity—Kashiwa Sato

Uniqlo store opening in France

Brilliance in Simplicity—Kashiwa Sato
Take a peek at the brilliant graphic design work of Kashiwa Sato. I consider him to be one of the most powerful graphic designers doing work today. When I say powerful, I am referring to the impact his work makes visually.

One of my favorite pieces of his is his for Uniqlo—a Japanese retailer (like the Gap in the states) The Uniqlo logo is designed to work (structurally) in all languages. As Uniqlos pop up around the world, it's amazing to see such an iconic look settle in so quickly—truly an eftfect of brilliant artistry. I hope you enjoy his inspiring work.

If you take away one thing it should be this—being bold and simple usually means being memorable. But there will always be a fine line between being simple and being boring. We'll leave that line for brilliant minds like Kashiwa.