I've tapped into a rich vein of reading lately. The next one on the list is by my new hero Sir Ken Robinson. It's called 'The Element – How Finding Your Passion Changed Everything'.
I know, I know... it sounds like a namby pamby self-help book but its not really in that genre. It's really a celebration of different types of creative capability talent and how to discover your passion and maximise your creative potential.
Good read so far... will let you know how I get on.
My dad has just introduced me to Sir Ken Robinson - writer, inspirational speaker and creativity expert.
This clip is three years old now but still thought provoking and very funny. He argues we need to rethink our view of intelligence, reprioritise creativity and reinvent the way we educate our children – I agree.
Incidentally, he is speaking at Cumulus Conference 27-30 May hosted by Ravensbourne College.
As I mentioned in my last blog, I've been reading the brilliant book 'Play' by Stuart Brown which I've discovered should come with a health warning.
It can put you into the kind of deep, contemplative mood where you start to ask the really big questions in life – especially if you are a person of a certain age.
You may have a challenging job, a big mortgage to pay, a family to provide for or maybe run your own business with employees to consider. At times like this, if you're not careful, you can feel crushed by the weight of responsibility from it all.
As Brown puts it, you may "suffer the same crises of the soul that comes from pouring every moment of your time and every ounce of your being into others' expectations".
You start asking questions... What happened? Where did the 'old me' go? Is this all there is?
The good news is there is a simple antidote to these conundrums. Play.
Play is the book I wish I was capable of writing. Stuart Brown M.D. dissects the intuitive principles of play that underpin Playgroup with analyses from psychological and neuroscience perspectives but that not what its about. It's actually a survival guide!
Brown describes how play prepares us for the challenges thrown at us in our business and personal lives. It is an inspiring and optimistic book and I highly recommend it to everyone.
If you want a great summary of the current rules of brand engagement, look no further than What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis.
But don't hang around... they'll soon change again!
On the 10th of March I am joining colleagues Sean and Keely climbing the 800 or so steps of BT Tower as part of the BT Red Nose Climb.
I'd like to say my primary motivation for this was my generous spirit or unwavering commitment to support our clients in everything they do. But to be honest, I'm driven to do it because Mike thinks I can't.
If you would like to encourage my apparent imminent death then please make your pledges in the comments below.
Thanks in advance!
Right now, nothing gets my goat more than hearing or reading the words 'in the current economic climate' or similar.
Every sales email I receive informs me how in the 'current economic climate' I can't afford to be without a particular product or service. (And yes I can actually). Newspapers are full of gloomy 'current economic climate' stories. You can't switch a TV on without hearing of layoffs as a result of the 'current economic climate'. If you Google 'current economic climate' you get around 2,670,000 matches.
Client and colleagues are at it too – my mailbox has 62 matches – and that's without all the emails I deleted.
It's almost like the world is in depressing unison at last. Nations stand united, complicit in the biggest excuse in the history of the world "yes, we are performing badly... but in the current economic climate..."
Wherever you come across 'current economic climate' you might as well read 'it's not my fault'. But to every short selling hedge fund manager, banker that has enjoyed the bonus culture, and consumer burdened with debt after buying all that stuff, yes it is your fault. Face up to it.
So I say bollocks to the 'current economic climate'. I refuse to indulge it any more. Let's be innovative, service our clients better than ever, be more competitive and raise our game. And if it does all go pear-shaped lets be honest and accept that we made mistakes or just weren't good enough and not blame the 'current economic climate'.
At Playgroup we advise clients on 'employee engagement' issues. We bang on about the importance of honest communication, the power of collaboration and robust HR systems.
But nothing does more to bring a team together than a good night out or better still a trip away somewhere.
Last week half the company went on a subsidised ski/snowboard jaunt to Morzine, France. If you really want to get to know your colleagues try sitting around in your long johns swapping stories of how you broke your ribs or your chair lift catastrophe or exaggerate the 'hugh air' you pulled (well... a couple of feet anyway!).
The 'teachers' enjoyed teaching, the 'learners' enjoyed learning and a jolly good time was had by all. Any shared activity is fundamentally engaging but this type experience, where individuals really collaborate in playful activity, pushing their personal boundaries and building trust between each other really delivers long-term brand engagement benefits. Even for those that broke bones!
And then there's the Après-ski - but that's another story!
Meanwhile, the non-skiers that chose to stay behind exacted their revenge by organising an all expenses paid night on the lash at a comedy club.
Next year we'll see if we can get the whole team away together. It's a good brand investment.
See pictures of the trip on our Facebook page here.
I was in Oslo, Norway last week ahead of Playgroup opening an office there.
The people we met epitomised Playgroup values – playful, collaborative and genuine – and you really do get a sense of a creative, thriving, innovative business community.
Maybe it was this spirit that came up with the idea of recycling human poo to power the cities buses while cutting CO2 emissions!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2009/jan/27/biomethane-energy
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/01/oslos-buses-to.html
The trial goes live in September.
Web site, it’s been 36 days since my last blog.
I’ve missed you, where have you been?
Sorry, we’ve been crazy with work.
Your blog is not ‘work’?
Well yes, but it’s not like ‘real work’ is it?
What is real work?
You know... creative thinking, sharing with clients and colleagues…
Sounds a bit like blogging.
OK you got me, but it just takes so much time.
Does it really?
Yes. It can take up to… er… well… 30 minutes!
You can’t spare 30 minutes for me?
I suppose I could if I really needed to.
So you don’t ‘need’ to?
Well blogging is not supposed to be mandatory. When you’ve got something to say, then say it!
You’ve not had anything to say? You have no opinions?
Of course! There’s so much going on in the world I have something to say every day!
So why haven’t you been blogging – don’t you enjoy it?
Yes, I love blogging. I actually find it quite therapeutic.
So what’s the problem?
I guess I could be guilty of a little procrastination.
Procrastination? How many days did you say it was since your last blog?
OK, OK, what do you want from me!?
Just a little support, a little bit of creativity. A few thoughts or ideas that let me breathe. That let me be... alive.
I’m sorry... I’ve neglected you. We’ve all have.
It’s OK, I know you didn’t mean it.
I’ll make it up to you, I promise.
You’ve got a deal.
---
PS You not really alive are you?
No, I’m just code and lights, you are talking to yourself again.
Oh...
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers may have danced to the tune in the 1930's but the line was still very relevant to me today.
On the way to work this morning, I was poked in the eye by a young lady waving her fag around like she was Cruella De Vil. It occurred to me that smokers seem to be rather more inconsiderate than your average.
So I then made some further observations on the rest of my journey. I noticed the preparation ritual. For fear of breathing fresh air when exiting the tube, they ready themselves, poking around in handbags and pockets for a lighter. At the top of the stairs, oblivious to the masses behind them, they pause momentarily to light up, causing a pile up and much tutting from people like me.
Then they saunter along the pavement, in a gentle zig-zag to ensure nobody can pass, with a sneer that says “I’ll get there in my own sweet time”.
The builders in Goswell Road enjoy their eternal fag break next to the dance school. The object of the game is to stand on the narrow pavement with the fag-bearing arm poking out at a jaunty angle designed to cause the most inconvenience to passers by.
So is it just me, or do smokers tend to exude an attitude that sticks two fingers up at the world?
To take this rant back to brands, I remember in the early 90s there was that brand of cigarettes called “Death” that sold very well. I think I will write to Gallaher Group and suggest that they create a new brand call ”F’ You” – I’m sure it will sell like crazy.
I came across this today...
http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/
I discovered that I am Superman – mild-mannered, good, strong and I love to help others.
Who are you?
