Doing Good

Yeah sure whatever. Good is good. Absolutely. Savor the moments right?
Weekend summer festival time. Make it YOUR time to never forget.
The triumphant ring toss. Who would have thought winning a 2 liter bottle of soda could mean so much to a kid. So proud of himself, overcoming the odds, the challenge and then bouncing around the event like his dreams had come true. Good for Joe Riley.
Sure Escalades are nice. Individual achievement absolutely. Rolex, Calloway, Gucci - why not. Just don't forget to foster, host & serve up these moments to savor. For you - and for all of us - it will require a bit of patience & human spirit. But above all, what you need to produce this joy, is a great group of selfless people. People that go about doing good in the world so very, very quietly. Everyday. I'm in awe of these people. I really am & yes inspired to follow in their footsteps. I hope you are one of them.
Doing good. Bringing joy to another. Now that's a risk worth taking, sharing & celebrating.

A LIBRARY OF RICHES...

Remember what Libraries used to look and smell like? Well they still do...

I had forgotten. Shame on me. Today I spent the morning at my favorite place in town to conduct research and write concepts - the downtown Cincinnati public library - and I was amazed at the new wings and tools they've added in just five to seven years. It's been at least that long since I finished up grad school. I used to hunker down in the downtown library... same corner desk - for three to four years of night school working though mid-terms & finals for an MBA. I received that degree in 1999, and I don't think I've been back to the library since! Until today. Wow. It is such a beautiful place...rich with "teen" sections and flat screen computers, wireless technology & DVD's and a wonderful cafe and yes BOOKS!!
Don't give up on libraries just because you can research anything and everything from the comforts of your laptop. Get to the library. It's fantastic - and one thing's for sure - you'll leave "richer" than when you first entered. Now how many places can offer you that?

Without Courage There is No Virtue

To be greatly ambitious, while knowing one's limitations takes courage. The counsel of timidy is to stay low and safe rather than risk great failures. A coward avoids getting hurt. Leaders lead with bold confidence. Without courage there is no virtue.
I was fortunate to have two great sets of inspiring Grandparents. On this our nation's birthday - I can't help but think of my Grandpa Joe. He was shot serving his country in WWII's historic Battle of The Bulge - made it home to parent 6 great kids - the oldest my Mother Kathy. Grandpa Joe defined courage. I hope my children share his drive and enthusiasm for life. I will make certain they know Grandpa Joe, his enthusiasm for his country and his courage.

The Best Ideas Come From The Most Unlikely Places

Well of course they do. Where do you think 'best ideas' come from? The good idea factory? If that were the case, wouldn't every firm have a staffer drive down to this place every morning, pay for parking and wait outside the idea factory for the next great one to come leaping out of there? Ideas come from the most unlikely places - because only those of you INTERESTED enough in solving problems are paying enough attention to pick up on the next best idea. Creativity (at times) is a solid combination of hard work and openness to grace - so if you're exercising your 'openness to grace' part - then you'll be able to come up with these new ideas in the most unlikely places. Net, pay attention to the world around you. That's what great business people do - what talented, creative people do. Be a sponge of the world and transform the white space of life into a beautiful, poetic harvest of "best ideas".

A Little Piece of Incompleteness

Whatever expression you choose to use - "incompleteness" or "openness to grace" or perhaps "the unknown" - this unpretentious, and often uncomfortable place, makes life worth living. Some would argue it's what defines Art. This little piece of incompleteness, during the production process, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Marketers pride themselves on relentless planning, scheming and data crunching - a masterfully laid out blueprint - only to spread the seeds as widely as possible & reap a predetermined harvest. But along the way, the beauty of marketing is the "unknown" or better yet, leaving "a little piece of incompleteness". This is what makes spectacular movies, stories and Art -it's what comes from deep within us - and what makes life worth living. Why? Because without this uncomfortable, uncalculated tension, without the constant presence of the unknown - the program, in fact even life, remains dormant without it. This "incompleteness" allows the artist to create, to interpret, to "make gut decisions" and on and on and on. The intangible becomes tangible and relevant - and a vibrant breakthrough program is born. Magic happens. Allowing this "incompleteness" during the production of a piece of media or the execution of a marketing plan - allows for interpretation, participation & talents to surpise and delight your audience. Then, and only then - once your audience has weighed-in, is your program complete. Perhaps that's the key; leaving a "little piece of incompleteness" until your program can be enjoyed by the audience. Permit your audience to complete your program - allow them to receive it, absorb it, experience it & then and perhaps only then - is your Art, your media program, your life - complete.
Until that time, plan for a little piece of incompleteness in all your efforts.

Steering Committee

Ever plan a church festival? Steering committee? Who's behind the wheel?
The better question is how are YOU steering the team? Are you driving toward where you want to go - or where your audience wants to go or perhaps you hope to be heading where the client tells you to go?
How about creating a 10 minute long corporate video or :30 TV commercial?
In my business - all our years of producing videos and films - it has to be a poetic mixture of agendas. Net, all the above. It really does. That is the artistry of what we do as designers, writers and architects of any media. Somehow, you've got to create something that YOU love, your client pays for and is happy to drive, and most importantly, your audience engages in.
Oh yeah, and it also takes a TEAM to produce the product: writer, producer, camera, art director, editor....
In my experience, there are three different ways to structure the project.
Each leads to a very different feedback loop.
1. The goal of the team is to please ME, the architect (you perhaps).
2. The goal of the team is to make a product that they all love, is really cool and are proud of building.
3. The goal of the team is to build a great end product.
There's more difference between #2 and #3 than it appears.
Pleasing ME, you or I, is certainly very important - as the writer/director or architect, but that is usually where I begin all programs. IF you pursue #2 exclusively, you usually wind-up with something very nice, clever & fun, that no one is interested in using. In #2, the artists express joy and engage their creativity and talents, but the end-product most times miss the mark because of (overlooked) client and audience needs AND you've not shared YOUR needs & desires as the architect. Sooooo, the safe bet is #3. (thanks Mr. Godin).
Yes, lets build a great product - a cerebral, storytelling video - and lets have that team dialogue WAY upstream. What does a "great product" look like? "Great" for whom? Once discussions like this begin way upstream, before production or blueprinting, everyone gets to 'please' themselves - but in the name of a "great product".
Easier written than done, but all constituents can contribute mightily and peacefully, if common goals and end points are laid out before the production process begins.

Marketing OR Sales

Which business are you in?
Love this concept.
Marketing is a compelling story that is shared & spread passionately (virtually effortlessly) through your tribe of supporters and customers.
Sales is getting someone or group to say YES when it's easier to say NO.
Now, are you in the business of 'sales' or Marketing? Both. Yup. Understood.
However, I sincerely hope you can spend more time crafting 'Marketing' & sharing compelling stories...