Johan Brand
Friend of Playgroup
- Loves: Salt water... where my sail boat floats, Wind (heavy ocean storms), Snow (loads of fluffy white stuff)
- Hates: Spelling (Dyslectic Norwegian living in the UK = disaster), Melting snow, Crammed tubes
- Inspired by:
- Hirosi Sugimoto
- www.carls-cars.com
- www.onedotzero.com
- intelligent people
- the ocean
- My links:
My brain works best at 10 000 feet
I happen to spend a lot of time above 10 000 feet. Which seems to be a good thing. For some reason my brain is able to focus once I reach this altitude. Strategies and other complex problems I normally battle with in the office suddenly become clear and I can see the future.
So what is the reason?
1. I am high up and can easily see far ahead?
2. The thinner air gives my brain less resistance?
3. My brain responds well to me being buckled up?
4. All of the above
Honestly though, I think it is linked with the fact that my brain is a live wire and working in open landscape.
Multitasking in an open landscape
I really love working in an open landscape and multitasking has its advantages. Having said that, I do find myself writing 3 e-mails at once, while I am wrapping up a proposal or strategic document. On top of that the collaborative environment means that you do get interrupted constantly for quick updates, brain dumps or to give / get advice (while new mail keeps on flowing into your inbox).
Single tasking
The idea of single tasking is gaining traction again, and I have to admit that there are elements of single tasking that will work well within our collaborative environment. Depending on your role you can adjust the degree of single tasking, but I advise anyone to consider adopting a degree of single tasking.
I found this diagram somewhere on the web while I was browsing the subject of single tasking and think it could form a very healthy starting point for anyone considering adopting some form of single tasking.
Posted by Johan on 20 Feb 09, at 11:20 am
3 comments on this post
Good post Johan – food for thought...
Why is Albert Einstein on the tail of a Norwegian Plane?
Good point Vince.. I actually also thing that the fact I am heading somewhere really fast somehow makes me concentrate better.
Steve that is not Albert, but a Norwegian hero!
I like these questions you are posing here and the points you have made.
What happens when you are on a ryanair plane though Johan - I personally cant think any further than the safety card and the intense yellow interior which in turn wipes the most savvy minds of any evocative thoughts!
The question I pose is - could it be down to the brand experience - Norwegian airways is very smooth, nice earthy interior colours and an attractive scandinavian hostess to greet your needs - where as - Ryanair feels like you are in a tandum free fall situation, the interior looks like a lurid LSD induced dream and to top it all off you are getting bugged non stop about the in flight scratch cards and 'special offers on perfume'.
The working environment is more often than not the most difficult place to come up with that sparky idea...I find...the best times are when you are in your own little world strolling down the street, sat on a tube etc. really picking apart the problem and getting in the mind of the end user, drawing ideas from what you see around you - a form of market research I suppose...I am rambling now so I shall cease here...hopefully the above makes some manner of sense!
Vx