Archive for 'General' category
- Slow Down Now
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
If you are looking for an interesting read, go to the library and borrow Dan Ariely's Predictably Irrational. While the book is enthralling for many reasons and the implications of his research are incredibly far reaching, what truly fascinates is that in each and every experiment, he teases out how the two forces that pull most at humans - logic and emotions - are inextricably interwoven and can easily trounce one and other based on the framework of inputs and subtle cues that surround the decision.
As marketers, human resource professionals, and entrepreneurs we innately know that what we do makes a difference - that the inputs we create affect the outputs - however, sometimes in the day-to-day "To Do List" it is easier to get something done quickly in a typical format instead of carefully questioning why we are crafting our work as we are. Terrifyingly, Ariely shows that even the seemingly small choices we make (the boxes we ask people to check on a form, the number of options we present on a shelf, etc.) can have significant effects on how our employees and customers act.
His words of wisdom and mad-scientist experiments have made me realize that the most dangerous thing we can do as professionals is rush through even a seemingly simple task or decision. It is in our haste and heightened emotional states when we seem most susceptible to making predictably irrational decisions and creating inputs that encourage those around us to do the same. Hence, my advice for the ...
- America the Problem Solver
Posted by Jim Kupel
Reading Unbroken, the amazing survival story of Louis Zamperini, and watching the Clint Eastwood super bowl ad provide a sharp contrast to the recent Florida primary contest. The former remind us that Americans are problem solvers with a strong spirit of shared sacrifice.
Laura Hillenbrand's historical novel about U. S. POWs who survived being adrift in the Pacific for more than 45 days without food or water and then had to survive prisoner of war camps through the remainder of World War II is an incredible tale of American determination and problem solving. The book introduces dozens of American innovations during the War years that enabled us to succeed.
One of these demonstrations of ingenuity and determination occurred right across the harbor from our office. During World War II the shipyards in South Portland, Maine produced over 200 liberty ships. During roughly the same time period from 1942 to 1946 Boeing, Bell Aircraft, and the Glenn L. Martin Company built over 4000 of the B-29 "Super-fortress" aircraft that helped end the war.
Hillenbrand conveys the American spirit through the eyes of prisoners of war in Tokyo. "... the POWs looked up. There, so high that they appeared to be gleaming slits in the sky, were acres and acres of B-29s, 111 of them, flying toward an aircraft factory on the rim of the city. Caught in what would later be called the jet stream the planes were flying along at speeds approaching 445 miles per hour, almost 100 miles per hour faster ...
- Ted Talks and RSA Animates - What do you do?
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
TedX's "Ted Talks" and RSA Comment's "RSA Animate" are two incredibly popular websites from America and the United Kingdom that do essentially the same thing, in two different ways, with similar results. Both websites share a brief (less than 20 minute) presentation or lecture from an expert via online video. TED Talks makes use of a slightly more traditional speaker-at-a-conference setting for their videos - ensuring that their speakers are incredibly dynamic and interesting performers; while, RSA Animates turn the speaker's lecture into a voiceover and a hand draws pictures of what the speaker is saying on a white board. The effect of both of these websites is that the viewer is absolutely enthralled - deeply engaging in whatever this leading thinker has to say. The viewer then goes on to tell people about points made in the video, which (here's the "kicker") drives more traffic to these two organizations' websites, thanks to word of mouth advertising and viral marketing through sharing of the videos online.
So, TED talks, RSA animates; what do you do?
I can't tell you how many times people have said, "no one is interested in the specifics of what I'm working on" or "our work is esoteric and therefore we can't get the word out." I'd posit that if you have ever said these things, TED and RSA have proved you wrong.
It is true that when working with clients on website copy, I always have to remind them not to ...
- How to Conduct a Great Interview
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
As consultants we often have "executive interviews" as part of our methodology. Interviews can help you extract valuable qualitative data and give you a better sense of the importance of or passion behind an idea. However, there are also pitfalls to avoid with interviews. For example, many interviewees try and give you the answers that they think you want or will be wary of airing "dirty laundry." To avoid pitfalls and collect the most objective data as possible try the following:
Be on their turf, in a private room. Going to the interviewee can make them feel more comfortable. It is important that their workspace provides someplace where they can be sure no one can hear their responses to increase honesty.
Let them know the purpose of your interview on a macro-level without any subjectivity. Telling them "We are looking to discover information to help further shape our efficiency project" is much better than stating, "We want to know if you are doing too much or too little work and if someone else can do the work faster and for less money."
Start with a question you know they will ace. Asking a broad question that everyone in their field would have an answer to helps create a sense that this isn't a test, they can do this, and we will not make this painful or hard.
Ask extremely open-ended questions, without pre-cursor statements. An example of a good open-ended question is this, "Does work ever get slowed down for any ...
- The End of Rugged Individualism
Posted by Jim Kupel
The idea that "the rugged individual" is the foundation of America's greatness is an outmoded idea. In the 21st century America's greatness is tied to vision and teams - teams that perform exceptionally well under a wide variety of circumstances.
This point was illustrated to me this month while we worked with a client that operates the largest proton treatment facility in the world. Developing and managing this facility is a team enterprise. And there are lots of similar examples over recent decades of how teams with a mission and vision excel - from Navy Seals to Google.
We need teamwork now more than ever, but we're caught in a political discussion from the last-century of "rugged individualism" versus government - an argument originally championed by Hoover.
Americans greatness is rooted in men and women with entrepreneurial vision and passion - but let's not mistake that truth with the idea that it is Government that destroys political equality and stifles initiative. It isn't bureaucracy alone that threatens us - it is a lack of vision, teamwork and the ability to implement complex solutions in an increasingly complex world that threatens our dreams.
- ARTHUR!
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
I recently had a rather frustrating consumer experience as I was shopping for a new mattress. I thought it might be helpful to create a "case study" of my experience to explore ways in which the situation could be improved.
Industry: Retail, National Chain, Mattresses
Services (Needed): Research, marketing, employee communications
Situation: In pursuit of a good mattress, I drove around Portland, Scarborough, and South Portland to various stores carrying one of the "Big Three" mattress brands (Serta, Sealy, Simmons). I began the process of trying the mattresses I knew I might be interested in. Through my shopping experience thus far, I had a specific level of quality mattress in mind, I knew the materials and I wanted the bed to be made from. I also knew what price I could get online and the price for comparable mattresses at every competitor in town. I was in short, a very knowledgeable consumer ready to purchase if the price was right.
I was pleasantly surprised when on my last stop of the day when I walked into a large, national chain, mattress retailer (the subject of this case study) and discovered that they carried all of the major brands plus a great selection of lesser known ones. A first impression of "I should have just come here first; what a great selection of mattresses!" is a very positive customer reaction; however, this is where the positive reactions end.
I quickly noticed that the walls were in dire need of a paint job, the ...
- Dance, Hot Dog, Dance
Posted by Beth Austin
A couple of years ago a friend and I went to a roller derby event to try something new. Our viewing experience from the competition perspective was unremarkable, but we did find a source of entertainment from the team's mascots. For reasons that are still unclear to me, the local roller derby team has a pair of hot dogs as their mascot(s). The costumes consisted of full hot dog regalia - bun included - with a face cut out. For the entire event we watched these two very enthusiastic hot dogs jump and cheer and dance. They would bust a move at even the slightest provocation - and it didn't appear that the dancing thing came all that easily decked out in the hot dog suit. My friend and I became mildly obsessed with these dancing hot dogs, and for the weeks following, any conversation could be interrupted with random non sequiturs and casual musings such as "Do you think the hot dogs practice?"
Not long after the roller derby experience I had a bad day at work. This day resulted in my sending an e-mail to my friend that read something like this:
Subject: Is it too late to be a roller derbyist?
Dear [friend],
My experiences today at work have prompted me to make a career change. Thus, I've decided to join the roller derby. I briefly considered becoming a dancing hot dog, but then realized that I already am.
Love,
Beth
Last week I had another one of ...
- Innovation, Government and Technology
Posted by Jim Kupel
John Seely Brown* has been quoted as saying "I think right now we are experiencing something we've never experienced in the history of civilization. All past infrastructures have unfolded slowly at first, until they reached a critical mass which then sparked explosive expansion and adoption. Finally things level off and stabilize for decades at the time often 70 to 100 years. What's interesting for me is that the infrastructure we're moving into is in exponentially increasing infrastructure because technology is exponentially increasing."
He also reminds us that "all infrastructure is social/ technical." The example he uses is the development of the nationwide electrical grid. That was a huge social and business innovation.
If John Seely Brown is correct and technology continues to increase exponentially, developing governmental processes that are able to respond to these changes is essential.
We have already seen that technology has the power to alter the fate of nations. This is demonstrated as recently as the events in Egypt and Lybia. Clearly the recent debt ceiling debate in Congress suggests that even in the most technologically advanced nation on earth our human social infrastructures are not keeping up.
By helping our governmental representatives solve real problems we help adjust to new technologies that stand to alter the face of the planet.
- My Red Herring Nightmare
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
Last night I had a nightmare in a common theme for me: I am rushing about trying to get a long list of things done but then I see something that needs to be “saved”. Last night, it was a little girl with a very scary man following her. The dream ends when I rush the at-risk character into the protection of my car and speed away from the trouble. I share this dream because I have learned to use it as a reminder in my life that has applications for business.
As managers, we often get so bogged down in our day-to-day to do list that we forget to stop and nurture the small, less-pressing, but often more important, visions or goals of our organization until they are on the brink of disaster. While these ‘at risk’ items turn into puppies, birds, and children in my nightmare, they almost always represent a burgeoning strategic objective or goal that has been sitting on the back-burner of my task list for too long in the real world.
In my dream, my car is there to whisk me away from the danger, but life isn’t always so convenient. Thus, it is important to have a group of people available to you that you can call on to help you move your goal out of harm’s way quickly so that you may keep your business growing, and perhaps get a better night’s sleep.
What are the red-herrings on your list keeping you ...
- Inspiration
Posted by Beth Austin
I admit it. I had writer's block last week. I now sheepishly submit my blog post a week late because the muse just didn't move me when it was supposed to.
It happens to all of us (and to some of us more than others). And "writer's block" isn't limited only to writing, as we have all found ourselves "stuck" on various work projects, whether it is creating a new marketing piece, working on business strategy, or picking up the phone to make that sales call. So how do we un-stick ourselves?
As I stared at my blank piece of paper for far too long, I thought about a video a colleague had recently shared with me. The video is long, but the gist of it is that the people who are most successful at what they do are the ones that have passion for what they do (think Steve Jobs, the Wright Brothers, etc.) It's not what you do, it's why you do it. It's the inspiration behind what we do that frees us from arbitrary limitations.
To find inspiration, I've always found it helps to look at things in a different way. Taking a new perspective is sometimes all it takes. The Blue Ocean Strategy is an example of this. In their book on the topic, the authors encourage us to separate ourselves from our competition by being truly different. Even though we may be starting with the same product or service ...
- Indy 500 Lessons
Posted by Scott Good
The Indy 500 is this weekend. Going an average of 225 miles per hour, the 500 miles is traversed in about two hours and fifteen minutes. Does this mean that the race is more equivalent to a sprint or a marathon? The answer is, "Yes." The Indy 500 requires the razor sharp attention and presence of mind of sprinting and the endurance of a marathon. Racer Patti Sue Plummer once said, "Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about." Whether a sprint or a marathon, this saying rings true.
Think about what goes into a successful racing team ... A driver (sure, the focal point), the guys who function as the pit crew during the race, a man or woman who drives the trucks who transport all the equipment from city to city, accountants, lawyers, marketing people who promote the sponsors, people who clean the garages, schedulers, and the person or organization who sponsors the whole thing. Now consider your own business. You probably have the same - or equivalent - functions: C-suite leaders, accountants, lawyers, support people, and the woman or man out front who is actually getting the work or generating the revenue. If the Indy car driver fails, they all fail. If your salesman (or, "rainmaker") fails, you all fail. If the supporting team fails, all fail, as well ...
- Non-Zero and the Defense of Optimism
Posted by Jim Kupel
The title - An Optimist's Guide of the Future - makes Mark Stevenson's new book sound like a self-help treatise, but it's not - unless you are wed to the notion that the human race is bound for early extinction without an immediate intervention. Then the book has a self-help sort of appeal as it explores some great ideas for solving many of our most vexing problems.
Human genomics that eliminate disease; bacteria that excrete fuel; nano-manufacturing that changes the energy dynamic of the planet; and space travel that makes us realize that in fact we are on "spaceship earth[1]" are just a few of the current explorations that Stevenson introduces. As you read this funny and stimulating book, you may find yourself asking "why don't we read about one of these ideas on the front page of the paper every day - instead of the daily doom and gloom?
One idea Stevenson introduces in his chapter of the future of the Internet and the Web, is that human progress is not a zero-sum game: "just because I win, doesn't mean you lose." The idea was pioneered in the book Nonzero - The Logic Of Human Destiny[2] By Robert Wright. It has since been restated by Bill Gates (on our relationship with China), Bill Clinton, and others.
Despite the painful changes in our current economy, the huge implications of Arab Spring and the many advances in science and business today, suggest we need another model to inspire our progress. Another ...
- Seasonal Reflections
Posted by Jim Kupel
A big rainstorm yesterday washed the last bit of snow and ice out of a north facing valley on the roof. Spring is coming to these northern climes. It has been a long winter; made longer by the emotional toll that empathy for the current crisis in Japan and the emerging democracy struggles in the middle-east take on us in a globally connected world. As I watch the last cold drops splatter to the thawing earth, I am reminded that like the weather, the economy also has seasons.
And much like in agrarian societies who understood that even after the harshest winter spring would still come, today's generation will learn that the difficult economy also has a season and that spring is returning. Think of American economic history; the generation that went through the most difficult times was also the generation that was able to win World War II and then prosper in developing a completely new economy.
This may be a difficult time, but we will get through it.
Like the last drifts of snow melting from the roof, the effects of America's most recent recession will take time to disappear entirely, but they will, and when they do, how will Generation Z respond? Will they be like the Greatest Generation and re-envision what business means? Will they connect to their agrarian roots and tirelessly work the cold soil of the current market until the fruits of their labor spring forth? Will they devote themselves to helping their fellow ...
- So Beautiful: A Pragmatic Romantic's Take on Valentine's Day
Posted by Beth Austin
In honor of Valentine’s Day (or “Black Monday” as a good friend of mine calls it), I will take a break from my usual topics and instead focus on this question:
What is the greatest love song ever?
Someone posed a variation of this question to me several years ago and it resurfaced in my memory last weekend. At the time, the group debating the question volunteered songs performed by a number of likely candidates such as Dion, Carey, Holiday, Sinatra, and other usual suspects. My answer, however, surprised even me: Joe Cocker’s You Are So Beautiful. Let me explain.
At face value, this song is, well… pretty lame. I realize that Cocker is no Pavarotti and the lyrics seem as if they were assembled by a committee of lovestruck 12 year olds. But the magic really happens when you watch him sing it live. Ignore the distracting “muscle spasms” and what seems to be a rather significant antiperspirant failure, and what’s left? Heart. Every time I’ve seen him perform this song, he’s singing the bejesus out of it. The simplicity of the lyrics seems completely appropriate when it’s so heartfelt. And the “missed- it-by-that-much” voice cracking at the end only adds to the beauty and authenticity of his devotion. It all seems so… real. Dion, Carey, Holiday, and Sinatra – this is what we like to imagine love to be, and try to distract ourselves from the fact that love really might be just a herky-jerky ...
- Generation Z
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
I have been working on a white paper and webinar on Managing Generation Z (a.k.a. the Net Generation or the Homeland Generation). To give you an idea of some of the topics that I will be covering, below are some very short answers to questions that I will be expanding upon:
Question: Who is Generation Z?
Short Answer: Born 1991-2001.
Question: When are they entering the workforce?
Short Answer: Some already have but the majority will be next year and in the eight that follow.
Question: Why does it matter that a new generation is entering the workforce?
Short Answer: You have just adapted to managing Generation Y (my generation) but Generation Z functions and needs to be managed in a very different way to gain optimal productivity from your employees.
Question: How does Generation Z differ from past generations? How will this affect my company?
Short Answer: Generation Z s a have many differences that will impact both the way you manage them as employees and interact with them as customers.
A few things your organization will want to consider are:
• New ways to share knowledge and develop processes
• Providing feedback or structure employee evaluations
• Preferred communication methods
• Earning their trust
If you are interested in receiving more information about the webinar or obtaining a copy of the white paper, please send us an email or provide your email address in the “subscribe” box below and we will send you more information. I look forward to talking with you ...- It's not just about chocolate
Posted by Scott Good
There is a lesson to be learned by observing tensions abroad. (1) Situations are usually more complicated than they seem, and, (2) they sometimes, even bring out the best in people. Businesses and families can learn the same lessons and take advantage of them, if they take the time to do so.
I am often amazed at the intricacy and secondary impacts of seemingly simple issues. The little, West African nation of Ivory Coast is in flux. About two months ago, they held their Presidential elections. You may have heard that the election is highly disputed and may even lead to civil war. However, many news accounts focus only on the impact on the price of cocoa. I love chocolate – especially if peanut butter or mint is involved. However, let’s scratch a little deeper … Ivory Coast is a divided country with a predominantly Muslim north comprised of many recent (first generation) immigrants who came to the country from neighboring ones for economic reasons. The southern part tends to be populated by people who are multi-generational Ivorians and have deep roots in the cocoa industry. By the way, the little country produces 40% of the world’s cocoa. The election is in flux between Gbagbo (from the South with close ties to trade unions and the “Old Ivorian” culture) and Ouattara (educated in the US, from the North, reportedly has strong ties to interests outside the country). Because of the dispute, population groups and infrastructure are being affected. For example, over 15 ...
- Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Your Business
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
At the close of 2010, many of us took time to reflect and set goals for ourselves for 2011. Now that the New Year is underway and we have made our own personal New Year's resolutions, it's a good time to think about your "business resolutions". In the same way that a New Year's resolution helps us focus on a goal and better ourselves, a business resolution does the same for your organization. Getting everyone you work with focused and moving in the same direction will help you accomplish your growth goals. Below are some resolutions that we commonly reserve for our personal lives that can also help us as professionals.
- De-clutter - Particularly if you are a retailer, a clean, clutter-free store communicates higher quality goods and can lead to a willingness and perception that your prices should be higher. Clearance items are cluttered; luxury commands its own neat space. If you are not in retail, organizations can still help increase efficiency, so take three hours to clean your files and sort your piles this January.
- Get finances in check - Though the IRS helps us stop once a year to reflect on our finances, taking a moment during the New Year to determine where the money went and where you think it should go in the future will focus your expenses for the upcoming year.
- Lose weight - You can take this literally, and it will be the quickest way to reduce medical expenses for the company. But, I was ...
- 308,745,538
Posted by Scott Good
The 2010 US Decennial Census results were released earlier this week. We are 308,745,538 people! That is a lot of anything!
Not too many people (besides me) get intrigued by such data, but perhaps more people would do so if they knew better how the results are used. One of the primary uses of the census is to reallocate seats in the US House of Representatives. A big deal … sort of. But look a little deeper.
• Reallocation requires redistricting in the states in which seats were added or lost.
• States where seat numbers change have more (if a seat increase) or less (if a seat loss) votes in the Electoral College. Interestingly, Florida is staged to gain two seats while Ohio will lose two. Remember any sort of recent elections that were impacted by these states?
• Congressional representation impacts how some federal programs deal out funding for things like infrastructure, transportation and health care – all critical topics in the next ten years.
With all of the counting and talk of reallocation and other downstream effects, I was reminded of a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that I heard once.
“If government knew how, I should like to see it check, not multiply, the population. When it reaches its true law of action, every person that is born will be hailed as essential.”
Emerson’s point is that a government’s role (per Emerson, at least) is to provide opportunities for people to develop their character and value to society. Knowing a ...
- I love economics
Posted by Scott Good
When I tell people about my ardor for economics, I often get the “look”. The “Are- you-serious-how could-anyone-really- get-excited-about-THAT?” look. Honestly, I am as bored as most people when having a discussion about IS/LM curves, aggregate demand, or mundane economics topics. To me, though, economics surpasses the theoretical realm and affects the decisions we make on an everyday basis.
Social economics and utility theory bridges that gap between “what should happen in a perfect world” and “what really happens in an imperfect world.” When determining why people make certain choices – economically or otherwise – it is interesting to consider the things that impact them. Economic theorists may say that choices ultimately come down to which one yields the greater economic benefit. Psychologists may say that choices are driven by inner motivations and behavioral characteristics. Theologians may refer to one’s personal beliefs and values. Mathematicians … I’m not sure what they would say, but it would probably be pretty complicated. From my perspective, utility theory and social economics is an amalgam of all of these areas.
A lot of it boils down to understanding what individuals truly want to do given the financial impact, the sense of security or well-being, their sense of loyalty or responsibility to others, and the expected returns to them. All of this is complicated by the available choices, degree of risk involved, time table for the expected returns, etc. This can get very complicated very quickly. However, our little brains make thousands of choices using social economics ...
- Buzz Marketing Events: Theater of the Masses
Posted by Heidi Wurpel
Portland, Maine ends up in the national news on occasion and 2010 has proved a busier than normal year for our fair city. Among other notable events, we received recognition for a topless female parade and a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) rally bolstered by Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (better known as Lady Gaga). I have attended many of the events rotating through Monument Square and Deering Oaks Park, as have many friends, peers, and co-workers, and the activity of this year have led me to realize event planning continues to evolve due to viral, mobile communications.
Today, buzz marketing events, whether political or professional, can no longer rely on content alone to generate a newspaper story tomorrow. Popular events will generate news immediately via instant feeds to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube; not by journalists, but by the masses. The masses determine what is ‘news-worthy’ based on the quality of their pictures and video recordings. As an event planner and marketing professional, I have realized I am no longer crafting marketing messages, but am directing massive interactive plays and therefore, for a successful event, basic principles of the stage apply:
Take the sight-lines of your lead into account for every member of the audience – the more clear photos and video, the more advocates you generate.
This is theater in the round – ditch the podium and stationary microphones. Move.
Be sure presenters speak loudly, slowly, and clearly – they are not speaking for people to hear them but for cell-phone microphones to ...