Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Coming to you from beautiful Austin TX , where I have a couple of short client meetings, then Laura and I get to spend some time with our son’s.  Also a little relaxation before I hit the ground running with a very busy July.

The July newsletter is available:   http://tinyurl.com/ljeg53

I am working on a couple of curriculum projects for clients where they are really looking hard an education as a strategy to build a better company.  Every organization is filled with human assets, the better those assets are, the better the company – PERIOD.  Look hard at what you are doing to position your team to bring their best to your customers.

Talent will become your most valuable asset as the pool of really good people gets thinner.  Why would a people want to be involved with your company?  I ask this question all the time.  There is a ton of data out there that supports these two key categories:

• Value:  They want to feel they are of value in what they do.  TELL THEM!
• Growth:  They want to grow in their skill and knowledge.

Education initiatives satisfy both of areas.  Think about educating your people to build a strong future.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

I read with great interest the reports that were coming out of the big CEO Conference hosted by MIT in Cambridge MA and thought I would share something. 

One session dealt with defining a successful business and much to my delight one model had only THREE points:

• Willingness to Experiment:  Successful companies try things.  They look for ideas and then are willing to IMPLEMENT them!  Add real thinking to the formula and the risk is mitigated.
• Method for Measuring Success That is Not Just Numbers:  Find your meaningful metrics, but don’t think the numbers will tell you everything.  Find out what people are thinking by asking them.
• Method for Scaling Success to the Organization and Market at Large:  The success in an idea is found in its traction.  How does the impact of the idea move through both the organization and the market?

An interesting model!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Public Enemies  I’m a pretty big Johnny Depp fan.  I think we will take the boys to the Alamo Draft House in Austin!

NetFlix Fans:  The Zero Effect:   This is a GREAT Sherlock Holmes like mystery feature an eccentric detective who performs with a high level of mental acuity.

TV:    Hey Wimbledon is a two week tournament so I’m still watching.  Got to hand it to good old NBC.  They are on the cutting edge of 1960 technology, giving us a taped delayed version of Wimbledon.  In an instant society what the hell are they thinking?  They should give the tournament to ESPN.

BOOKS:  The Silver Lining   – By Anthony.  This book looks at the innovative structures companies are launching to change the face of business as a new era is dawning. 

MUSIC:   When ever I start to learn a new song I can’t get it out of my mind.  So here are two versions of the great Counting Crows song – A Long December (the second version is a cover by my new favorite Youtube cover girl!)

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHX4BS4zeo

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13ihc5nCKLU

WEB SITES:   Great site to understand social media.

http://mashable.com/  

SOUTH OF NORMAL

A few new vocabulary words you need to know:

·        Bricker Mortis – A housing market that has completely dried up.

·        Slip of the Thumb – Unintentionally sending a text message to the wrong person. 

·        Econoisseur -   Finding high quality items at bargain prices.

·        Goldman Sacked -  Fired investment bankers after the economic downturn in 08.

·        Black Buried:  Feeling of being overwhelmed by flood of email on your mobile device.

Now you know what everyone is talking about.

There’s reason to believe that this year may be

Better than the last.

Counting Crows

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

This was one of those odd weeks where you are spend all your time on getting ready for projects in the future.  I had a major cancellation which is both good and bad.  Bad, in that I had a lot of prep time that goes down the tube.  Good in that I don’t have to go out of town (though with the kitchen remodel, going out of town is not a bad thing).

I have been able to give the web site revisions some good thinking and jumped on the action part of that project.

I have been really pleased with the action generated by the recent podcast on Repeatable Successful Acts (RSA).  The RSA platform is a behavioral based sales application.

I was sad to hear of Michael Jackson’s death.  His recent life exploits, all enhanced by a celebrity starved media, make us forget the immeasurable impact he had on pop music.  He sold over 750 million albums and his epic pop cornerstone, Thriller, set Everest style benchmarks by going over 25 times platinum.  He launched the music video field and made MTV a teenage Mecca. 

Looking forward to a little business and relaxation in Austin next week!

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Last week I asked the question – ARE YOU THINKING?  I gave a couple of examples of companies that are literally in “think different” mode.  I am a huge proponent of adding thinking skill sets to ALL organizational curriculums.  Here are a couple of “traps” we often fall into when we forget to think:

• ANCHORING:  Your starting point can often heavily bias your thinking.  Sales people use this technique by positioning the highest priced item to “anchor” a high starting point.  Here are a couple of different ways to think:
  • • Seek information to help your decision making from a wide range of sources.  The more variety, the better you think.
    • View the problem from different positions.  To clarify your thinking pathway, write a problem statement.

• CONFIRMATION:  This is the “seeing what you want to see”.  We look for a point of view that will support our initial position, while avoiding information that will challenge it.  This always will cloud our thinking.  Here are a couple of different ways to think:
  • • Expose yourself to conflicting data.  Look at ideas that MAKE you think.
    • Don’t position every inquiry to become a “leading question”.  Try your best to stay neutral.

Thinking is your NUMBER 1 tool, a skill to build great decision making around.  We offer core thinking skills learning programs if you are interested in exploring how to improve the success of your team!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Transformers II.  Who cares about story and plot, this is an action movie!  I may also get to see the documentary about the making of the Broadway play; A Chorus Line.  Heck, it’s hotter than hell here and a nice dark, cool place is a good choice.

NetFlix Fans:  Fanboys:   This is a really funny road movie about a group of friends traveling to see the first release of Star Wars.  Things go a little weird and they end up trying to break into George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch to see the movie prior to its release.

TV:    its Wimbledon time and I am recording the matches every day.

BOOKS:  Thinking For a Change   – By John Maxwell.  A really interesting way of looking at 11 ways highly successful people approach life and work.

MUSIC:   When you are looking around for music, you sometimes stumble upon something so special that it makes you stop and listen a couple of times.  I have no idea who Ms. Shuber is, but her cover of Hallelujah stopped me dead in my surfing tracks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSnHqxYAaA&feature=quicklist   

WEB SITES:   Give away books you don’t want.  Get books you do want.

http://bookmooch.com/

SOUTH OF NORMAL

A few things going on down South:

·        This Sunday is International Naked Hiking Day!  Oh, you get to wear a hat and hiking boots!  Believe it or not this is a big deal in Germany and Switzerland.

·        15 year old Kate Moore of Des Moines Iowa won the National Texting Championship.  She can average almost 500 text messages a day. 

·        The most dangerous sport for women causes over 20,000 injuries per year, making it the most dangerous female sport in the world.  What is it?  Cheerleading.

Help me find a way to fill these empty hours.

Jackson Browne

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Another crazy week is in the books.  Here are a few highlights:

• The Wells Fargo Essentials of Excellence program highlighted my Repeatable Successful Acts platform in a two part podcast.  Here is a  link to the recording:  http://mfile3.akamai.com/1326/wma/wfargofunds.download.akamai.com/1326/e2Podcast_Proof/e2Podcast_20090616_PROOF_2.asx
• Great client workshop on teambuilding.  I started with understanding the concept of consensus.  I use a great exercise I created called THE COPENHAGEN PROJECT.  It teaches the impact of emotion on decision making.
• I completed two large client project reports using our graphic platform.
• I entered the first of the 7 rings of hell, as we started the remodel of our kitchen.
• The work continues on the revision of my web site and my very talented team is busy trying to find middle ground on all of our ideas.

Next week I’m teaching the first part of a two part educational program on presentation skills.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Are you THINKING?  I am in constant astonishment at the organizations that stop to think, that launch new ideas that make bold experiments on client value.  Here are a few results of thinking!

• Hyatt Hotels Gold Passport:  As part of their customer loyalty program they are adding a benefit called “random acts of kindness”.  The Hyatt mission is to provide AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY; making a difference in the lives of people we have the opportunity to touch.  They are now empowering employees to make that mission come alive.  Don’t be surprised if Gold Passport picks up your bar tab, comps your massage or treats your family to breakfast.  This is a shining example of increase the generosity of your service. 
• Carspaze:  Parking garages are notorious for being grim and grey places with no decorations.  A new technology now can transform those dingy walls into large scale ads full of color and impact.  This new advertising platform centered on the ability to digitally print photo quality images on to special fire retardant materials.  Cool idea developed by a European ad man who got stuck in a garage with car trouble.

Just a couple of ideas from thinking companies!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Nothing out there to really drive me to the movies.  Year One looks kind of funny and maybe if I get tired of golf or the heat, I may end up at this one.

NetFlix Fans:  Miracle:   Disney has now put this fantastic movie out on Blu-Ray providing another reason to see this great film about our 1980 Gold Medal hockey team.

TV:    its US Open time and golf will be on all day long, even if it is only running in the background.  For a great new guy series on the Food Network, try Man vs. Food.  Really fun show about a guy taking those classic food challenges, like eat a 72 oz. steak with baked potato, salad and bread in an hour (he did it).

BOOKS:  The Think Big Manifesto   – By Port with Samuels.  Follows the 10 Principles of Thinking Big and takes you out of your comfort zone.  Not terribly original, but still interesting.

MUSIC:   I had a chance to learn and play this song with some friends.  I’ve always liked it, so here is Again I Go Unnoticed by Dashboard Confessional (you get to work on your Spanish also).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbz0FUhTftY

WEB SITES:   Having a bad day, check this out.

http://www.badhap.com/

SOUTH OF NORMAL

The recently held the Webby Awards, honoring excellence on the Internet including websites, interactive advertising and online film.  The best part of the award ceremony is that award winners are only allowed a 5 word acceptance speech.  Here are a couple of examples:

• Biz Stone (co-founder of Twitter): “creativity is a renewable resource”
• Seth McFarlane (creator of Family Guy):  “what was this for again?”
• Jimmy Fallon (new late night TV host):  “Thank God Conan got promoted”

It’s another wasted night as TV steals the conversation.

Dashboard Confessional

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Just a quick trip to Houston to pitch a project on the power of our ROUNDTABLE platform in generating ideas, developing accountability and showing PROVEN RESULTS.  Prospect looks good.

Spent the balance of the week on three projects:

• Major report on the outcome of a strategic initiative launch.  I hate standard reports so I work from a graphic approach.  Takes a lot longer but the end result follows my mantra – Simple, Powerful and Elegant.
• Design and delivery of a custom program teaching the impact of great communication skills for gifted teen musicians at the Elan Music Festival.  Talk about a challenge!  What can you do to engage, impact, inspire and garner participation from brilliant young musicians?  Think simple and powerful.  I took them on a participatory / visual journey.  I think the program was a big success.  A good sign is that they didn’t want to leave!
• Redesigning my web site.  Great new things in the works!

Now, add the honor of doing a major podcast interview on my Repeatable Successful Acts platform that will be divided into two parts, with the first being released on Tuesday (scheduled).  Had the chance to work with a top interviewer.  It was great!  If I get a link I will let you all know.

Wednesday night and most of Thursday  we have had the worst thunderstorms that I have EVER witnesses.  Blinding rain, 80 MPH wind, huge thunder and a sky filled with close lightning strikes.  UNBELIEVABLE!  They were downright SCARY.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Here is a great exercise for the way you think about your customer and the level of service you give versus the level of service they perceive they get.  We just finished this exercise with a large remodeling company and it really opened their eyes and shifted a part of their strategy moving forward in 09:

• Put together a team from your company, no more than 5 people and ask them to define what they think the customer experience is for people doing business with you.  Define it in its entirety, the chain from contact to purchase.  From the first point of contact, how did they find you, who did they speak with first, how did they move from contact to purchase, how was your level of service, was their a connection to the buyer past the point of purchase?  These are core questions relating to the customer experience. 
• Once you believe you have a COMPLETE definition of the customer experience begin to give it some critical thought.  Is there a pathway that customers follow?  This is termed “knowing the Yellow Brick Road”.  If you are confident you have completed the basic road a customer follows you now have a position in YOUR belief of current reality.
• Next, BE BOLD.  Invite a few customers in and ask them to tell you their story about doing business with you.  See how close your definition and their story match.  Find the strengths and define the weaknesses.
• Be Strategic.  Now challenge yourself to seek areas of the process you can redefine to meet a new, refreshed connection to your customer.

In today’s world of chaos and flash fried loyalty you have to be on a continuous road to connect you to your customer.  The above exercises challenges you to define your “current reality” from a number of viewpoints, yours, your team’s and your customers.  With a total picture of where you are now, with the strength not of an unsure reality, but of a finely focused reality you can don ANYTHING.  Current reality is ALWAYS the starting point!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Pelham 183:   Good thing Laura is in Austin for a yoga retreat, because I think she would have passed on this one.

NetFlix Fans:  The Tao of Steve:   Oddly funny and weirdly paced.  I liked it a lot.

TV:    Holy Crap – Last Sunday was a sports junkies dream;  Roger Federer finally wins the French Open and in my opinion is the greatest player of all time.  Tiger mounts a 5 shot come back to win the golf tournament and Kobe puts on a scoring tornado of a show in game 1 of the NBA finals.  I was right in the great TV on USA as Royal Pains is fantastic.  I am a bachelor this weekend and will be watching tons of action movies!

BOOKS:  Glow   – By Gratton.  A book about leveraging your strengths or what makes you “glow”.  Loved it because it had three core ideas – Strong relationships, networks beyond the usual suspects and ignite energy in others.

MUSIC:   Though the video isn’t great this song is one of Laura’s favorites and shows the great storyteller that Bob Dylan is.  I play this for her all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBclyghxMQ

WEB SITES:   Creativity is everywhere.

www.strangedesign.net

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Yep summer is here, so here are a few beaches you might want to think about avoiding since they are the top SHARK attach beaches in America!

# 3   -   Long Beach Island NJ:  This is the island that provided all the source material for the movie Jaws.  In 1916 they had 5 major shark attacks in 11 days.

# 2   -   N. Shore Oahu HI :  Big waves with lots of surfers in shallow water getting cut up by the rocks.  MMMMMMM shark buffet.

# 1   -  New Smyrna Beach FL:  This is shark attack capital of the world!  210 shark attaches have been officially recorded with an estimated 500 not reported.  How in the hell do you not report a shark attack??

It’s hard to be compared to Dylan.  I was walking down the street and turned to see an African American, about 30, in a business suit behind the wheel of a Lincoln Navigator playing and singing Like A Rolling Stone at the top of his lungs.

Neil Young – On the Charlie Rose Show

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

A full week in town, in my own bed and setting my own work schedule.  Had an ambitious to-do list and made a strong push in getting stuff done, but I had misplaced my memory as to the need to be flexible as a series of client issues arose throwing my best laid plans into an unpredictable realm.  No worries though as that’s my favorite way of thinking.

Looking forward to finally getting to a couple of Creative Ventures projects that have taken a back seat to client issues.  I am in the second phase of storyboards on a complete web site revision.  Dr. Jim Hengstenberg, a trusted advisor and friend as well as a part of the Creative Ventures team for years, has been in town all week and we have worked through some back-logged issues.

June newsletter is available.

All in all a great week of work!

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

There is so much going on I thought I would just scattershoot on those things that I found interesting:

• The National Assoc of Realtors gave us a bit of good news when May showed pending home sales increased 6.7%, exceeding all expectations.
• General Motors has agreed to sell their Hummer brand to a Chinese manufacturing company.  Kind of weird to think of those tank size cars driving around in China.  GM has 16 buyers interested in the Saturn line and 3 interested in Saab.  The new GM will be a leaner organization, downsizing brand lines which will provide opportunity for those who can step in and revitalize existing brands.
• Overall auto sales are still down from a year ago, but almost across the board, are up from last month.
• Colorado State University has lowered the impact projection for the 2009 hurricane season that started on 6/2.  I’m not sure how a landlocked, mountain state university gang are the hurricane experts, but they seem to be quoted a lot.  No matter, as Jimmy Buffett said; “it’s hard to reason in hurricane season.”

Just a few tidbits of interest.

As usual, I am easily fascinated and have already filled three idea journals for the year.  What, you don’t keep idea journals!  Drop me a note and I will show you how.

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    The Hangover:   Not a good week in the blockbuster season, but the previews of this movie has made me laugh each time I have seen them.

NetFlix Fans:  Defiance:   WWII movie about escaping Jews who find refuge and conflict in the forest.  Laura loved this movie and I only liked it.

TV:    USA launched its new summer line up last night with the new season of Burn Notice and the new series, Royal Pains.  USA is the BEST at its character driven philosophy.    Both great new TV viewing.  Also the NBA Finals and the French Open (will Roger tie the great Pete Sampras?) are on the tube.

BOOKS:  Ignore Everybody   – By MacLeod.  A great journey into how we drive the creativity right out of people and what to do about it.  One of the best, original minds around.  Great graphic artist and insightful marketer.  Check out the web link to his web site.

MUSIC:   Not the best video, BUT the latest from The Dave Matthews Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au5JMhaBnv4&feature=channel_page

WEB SITES:   BEWARE OF BAD LANGUAGE.  This is Hugh MacLeod’s web site.  GREAT STUFF.

www.gapingvoid.com

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Here is an interesting list of the three absolutely worst brands and types of alcohol you can put in your body.  For some of you this will be a must buy list, for others an avoid list:

# 3   -   Absinthe:  This is that Greek liquor you have heard about.  This stuff is actually a psychedelic and is so bad that it’s been banned from the US since 1913.  Bottoms up and break out the Pink Floyd.

# 2   -   Devil Springs Vodka:  This is a New Jersey produced vodka that will take the hair off your head.  You can really take over a party with this one

# 1   -  Everclear:  Yep, the old fraternity fall back booze.  95% alcohol by volume makes this 190 proof.  Flavorless and colorless, it can be added to any other liquid.  By the way, car battery acid shares these same properties

Confidence is preparation.  Everything else is out of your control.

Richard Klive

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Coming to you live from the City by the Bay, beautiful San Francisco.  The weather is perfect, cool with breezes off the Pacific under sunny skies.  At night the fog rolls in to make for mysterious place. 

I had the opportunity to help launch a 30,000 ft series of strategic initiatives that will shape the organizations future.  You can’t get much more exciting than that!  The interesting thing about change is the immediate push back it gets.  The failure to see value, the idea of having to do something different and the thought that here comes something else to eat up my time are overwhelming and they set up a fear response.  The key then is to take the delivery model one step at a time and always start with value. 

Next week will mark my first week of 09 without travel!  I hope to get caught up on a wide variety of design projects sitting on my desk.  Despite all the travel I get to do I have never developed great work while on the road.  I need to have familiar surroundings.

The June newsletter will be ready to go on Monday.  If you want to get on the mailing list, drop me a note.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

I am a student of the creative process and am constantly searching for information on new avenues and directions in this way of thinking.  Tom Kelley is the General Manager of IDEO, the great design firm offers a couple of suggestions that will help you with some right brain thinking:

• Hire a Coach (I’m available!):  Find someone that understands the process and offer you ways to tap into your human gift of creativity.
• Keep a Journal:  Not just a diary type document, record “why am I bored or when did I feel engaged?”
• Blow Your Curiosity:  Focus on what you love while at the same time looking in new directions.  Pick up a copy of a magazine in a new area or listen to a new subject podcast.  Think cross pollination.

The creative process is the birth place of innovation and transformation.  Work some of these activities into your schedule to kick start your new ideas.

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    UP:   Pixar may be the most successful movie studio in the world.  Grab a kid and go see their latest masterpiece.  If no kids are available, go see it anyway.

NetFlix Fans:  The Legend of Baggar Vance:   This is a great little movie directed by Robert Redford with two fantastic performances by Will Smith and Matt Damon.  You will love this wonderful story.

TV:    Trying to see the French Open and check out the fantastic games of the NBA semi finals.  There are some great USA Network shows making their summer debut next week.  Make sure to see Burn Notice.

BOOKS:  Conversation Piece   – By Lowrie & Nicholaus.  Keeping with the creativity theme, this book poses questions that are designed to kick start your creative juices.

MUSIC:   A spectacular Richie Havens cover of a Van Morrison and Bob Dylan song.  WATCH THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah7d-sP7rDQ

WEB SITES:   To help your creative process -

http://creativity-online.com/   

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Science is always interesting.  In the world of genetics, earth shattering news hit the papers when Japanese scientists decided the world would be a better place by genetically altering monkeys so that they glow green under fluorescent lights.  Yep, glow green.  I imagine a group of scientists meeting to decide what trait might be the most beneficial.  One would say; “what if we could increase their muscle strength so that they escape predators more easily.”  “Maybe we could work on their eye sight so they can more easily find food.”  Then some guy in the back of the room raises his hand and says; “dude, what if we made them glow green?”  Yea, great idea!    Read  the story here:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090527/sc_nm/us_monkeys_green

She’s as sweet as Tupelo Honey, she’s an angel

Of the third degree.

Van Morrison

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Just a plain fantastic week.  Over the past weekend I was honored to have the opportunity to work with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership group in Ft. Worth TX.  This is the largest youth leadership organization on the planet.  It was fantastic to share my ideas on leadership and answer their questions.  We often hear about the problems with today’s youth, well HOBY showed me our future is in great hands!

Had a rough stay at the Ft Worth Hilton with a loud party in the room next to us that went from 12:20 AM to 3:00 AM.  I contacted the hotel not really expecting much of a response, but had my faith restored in customer service when Tracy Gimbel their director of Sales and Marketing called to talk about the incident, take some advice and then offered to give Laura and I free stay to make up for a sleepless night.  Bravo!  The perfect response to a dissatisfied customer!!!!!

Then I was off to Minneapolis to lead a full day teaching opportunity on THINKING.  70 people from a single client, all committed to long term learning.  I designed the program around a dynamic learning experience filled with team and individual exercises, strong visuals, and connected content.  I loved the energy of the day.

Thursday evening was a client party hosted at a fantastic venue (another client) in Dallas.  This was a great marriage of value for both and everyone had a chance to be part of a real experience filled with opportunities to interact.

Just a little time to catch my breath and then off to San Francisco.

I love being busy and having the opportunity to contribute on so many different levels.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

I am reminded once again that design is king when I read the annual Fast Company list of The Top 100 Creative People in Business (once again I did not make the list – can’t seem to get out of the 101 position).  It is interesting that design has supplanted R&D in many companies as the age old Frank Lloyd Wright saying of “form follows function” becomes the road to profits.  Here are a few ideas from the creative juggernauts:

• Design happens at the beginning:  Don’t wait until the end of an idea cycle to think what should this look like or how would someone actually use this.  Design is a Genesis process.
• Design is economically impactful:  11% of all consumer electronics are returned, but only 5% are defective.  The rest are brought back because of poor design, resulting in a $14 billion problem.
• Design fixes disconnects:  Most people disconnect from an idea because of complexity.  If I don’t understand, I’m OUT.  Think about how someone will connect with your idea – that’s a design mentality.
• Simplicity, honesty and enjoyment:  The creed of good design.  You know you have hit the right button when your product becomes an adjective to describe how something should be; “I want our showerhead to be the iPod of the plumbing world.”

It doesn’t matter what you do, there is an aspect of design in your day.  Spend some time focusing on it.  Don’t spend a lot of time as the competition for that damn Top 100 list is tough enough!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Terminator - Salvation:   The summer hits just keep on rolling.  This film, directed by Hollywood rebel McG is a must see for me.  I will have to make it a guy’s night out as Laura is out on this one.

NetFlix Fans:  Necessary Evil:   My little brother, Christopher’s movie finally hits the American market.  Check out the trailer - http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/16-dvd-a-blu-ray/2384-lionsgates-evil-and-dead-trailers-exclusive-first-look.html

TV:    Now that American Idol is over, what will become of TV?  The show, despite its recent 8.5% drop in viewing audience is a cultural phenomenon.  Last year it generated almost a billion $$$$ in ad revenue.  It has a 69% larger audience than any of its time slot rivals.  We have a break until next January, when my Tuesday nights are again lost to this powerhouse of (predominately female viewing) TV.

BOOKS:  Gone Tomorrow   – By Lee Child.  Jack Reacher is the best reoccurring character in book business – PERIOD!  This is number 13 in the Reacher series and I am a day one buyer every time.  The best part about a Reacher story is that you don’t have to read them in order.  Each is an independent adventure! 

MUSIC:   Last Friday night Laura and I with a group of friends went to hear some music.  You know I am a sucker for the singer/songwriter and though I had listened to some Ellis Paul in the past and thought, hmmmm pretty good, when I saw him live I thought – WOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWHqXMjCzDk

WEB SITES:   Very funny stuff.

www.americanhell.com   

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Hey, it’s wedding season:

• 2,200,000 couples were married in the US in 2008.
• Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher celebrated their 85^th anniversary in 2008 making them the longest married couple.
• $707,051,208 of wedding cake was consumed last year.
• The average American wedding costs almost $30,000.
• During a recent wedding gown sale, shoppers picked up 3,000 dresses in less than 37 seconds (possible Olympic event?).
• December is the most popular month to pop the question.

Laura and I will be celebrating our 30^th anniversary in August!  Not bad, since every other relationship I had experienced ended in me being dumped.  Laura often reminds me to watch myself, the day is still young!

Weren’t you the kid
Who just climbed on a merry-go-round
Hey, look, the world ain’t slowin’ down

Ellis Paul

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Just off the plane from Atlanta where I had another fantastic class of sales professionals to work with.  I taught a revised version of Interpersonal Communication skills.  As you know my style is very unusual driven on a multimedia / interactive delivery.  People love to learn this way.

The weekend was great as a bunch of family spent time in Fayetteville to celebrate Colin’s graduation from the University of Arkansas.  What a proud time for parents.  Fayetteville is a wonderful college town.  It was a perfect fit for Colin.

It’s thunderstorm time in Dallas and thinking your flight will get anywhere on time is a fools position.  Be ready to hunker down with a good book and your tunes. Yesterday we left the gate in Atlanta only to turn around and wait 2 ½ hours for the storms to clear in Dallas.

Next week it’s off to Minneapolis to teach a custom designed class on thinking.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

In touch times, when fear is the driving emotion, you need to tap into the power of the “touch”.  Now is the time people are looking for connections, for ways to feel involved and part of your relationship.  This is the time to cement your relationships and push your sphere of influence outward.  The formula for this plan is surprisingly simple and, if managed correctly, not very time consuming.

• Soft Touches:  Sit down on a designated night each week and write 5 – 10 HANDWRITTEN notes.  The power of this simple task is amazing.  People open a different sized envelope with their name handwritten before they open anything else in their mailbox.  Let your clients know that you are a valuable resource to them and available to help in any way they deem appropriate.
• Newsletter:  Create a simple newsletter that you can send to your clients that gives them some industry insight as well as a little fun.  Make it visual and not just text.  This pushes your influence further into their world.
• Social Networks:  I know, I know, you hear about FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on, but think it will be a pain in the butt to do, but that’s not true.  With a simple little management plan, you can become a player in the world of social communities.  Their power is increasing exponentially.  You may think your clients are not involved in this silly viral behavior and that may be true.  If so those are your customers of TODAY.  Your customers of tomorrow are as comfortable in the world of social networks as you are in your favorite pair of jeans.

Don’t go silent when fear is in the air.  It provides you an opportunity to stay connected and INCREASE the equity of your relationships.

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Angels and Demons:   The summer hits just keep on coming.  I loved this book and early buzz says it is way better than The DaVinci Code.  Star Trek was as good a movie as I have seen all year.  Is there a more valuable entertainment franchise than Star Trek?  There have been 6 television shows, 11 feature films, countless conventions,  books, video games, comics and a serious cult following.

NetFlix Fans:  The Wrath of Khan:   This is the second of the Star Trek films and one of the best with William Shatner as Kirk.  A lot of homage was paid to this film in the new JJ Abrams movie. 

TV:    Hanging around the History Network and you will find just about everything you want to know about WWII.  There is a series of shows now playing that are fantastic.

BOOKS:  How to Really Stink at Work   – By Foxworthy and Hartt.  I have only read excerpts of the book, but they made me laugh. 

MUSIC:   I am a huge Randy Newman fan and this is one of my favorite tunes by the king of movie and theme music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiLL2d-alc     

WEB SITES:   A fantastic web site resource for some of the best leadership and management trends.

www.coachingourselves.com  

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Some stuff I noticed:

• All states are looking for some new revenue sources but come on you guys at the Lone Star State Senate; a new tax on nude dancers that falls under the Occupation Tax structure.  They call it the “stripper tax”.  As John Prine said; “I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve.”

• Sikhs serving in the UK police force are looking to develop a bulletproof turban so that they can meet the requirement to wear protective headgear of the force’s armed response units without having to break their religious prohibition not to remove them.

• This summer AirTran will be offering the internet on all their flights.  WOW.  During the same week the adult entertainment industry put together a fly and buy package.  Ain’t capitalism wonderful?

Hold on tight with all of your might

You know it takes the time it takes to get it right.

Tony Lucca

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

Just back from Memphis for a day in the office, they off with a car caravan to Fayetteville AR for the graduation ceremony of my youngest son, Colin, from the University of Arkansas!  A big happening around the Harvill household as the house fills up today.

Memphis was one of the most memorable trips in my recent adventures.  I traveled with uber-agent Chris Ryan (always fun).  I delivered a brand new program on the power of fear and its impact on our thinking during tough times.  It was a HUGE hit.  Then couple that with the best ribs (pork) in the world at Rendezvous and Memphis was a gas!

While in Memphis Chris set up a tour of St. Jude’s Hospital, one of my top charities and one that Chris and I have been working on for a way to set up a function benefiting those holy folks.  I was humbled to my knees by this experience.  For those who are unfamiliar with St. Jude’s, it is a hospital (a poor description as they are so much more) for children suffering from cancer.  They are the state of the art facility in this field.  No family pays a single cent for bring their child there.  The place is holy.  We are faced with a blizzard of bad news everyday, but the truth is that the world is really filled with people like those at St. Jude’s  (www.stjude.org ).  

Next week off to Atlanta to teach Interpersonal Communication Skills.

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The demise of the American auto industry is a fascinating model to study and many people will be writing books about it.  Some of it I find interesting and some of it, not so much.  But I was engaged by the value being placed on the Saturn brand as GM gets ready to start selling body parts.

A group in Dallas, Black Oak LLC, is very interested both in Saturn and in a new way to position car dealers.  They are thinking of converting them into an independent network of retailers that would be free to carry and sell any brand they wanted!  It would be like a department store that carries multiple lines of clothing.

Dealers would be free to choose products they WANT to sell.

Now keep in mind Saturn is not necessarily a shining star in the sky of car sales.  Sales were down 21.7% last year.  Creative money guys with capital to risk (few and far between these days) can attack a trouble market with bold and riskful moves that are somewhat mitigated by current reality.  Hey, how much worse would a new idea do?

Keep an eye on this model and watch a number of former restricted fields of sales begin to look at creating a value based option around the idea of real choice!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Star Trek:   I really liked Wolverine (though it is hard for me to be objective since I am a comic book fan).  I can’t wait to see JJ Abrams treatment of one of my all time favorite franchise movies!

NetFlix Fans:  Last of the Dogmen:   Sitting in a hotel room I had the chance to see this great little movie again.  Check it out, you will dig it. 

TV:    Bad week coming up for me as House MD shuts down this season with a big finale on Monday night.  Good news is that the quirky shows I love on USA Network are getting ready to restart with the last season of Monk, then Psyche followed by Burn Notice.

BOOKS:  How to Really Stink at Work   – By Foxworthy and Hartt.  I have only read excerpts of the book, but they made me laugh. 

MUSIC:   This haunting tune of Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch has been featured on a number of TV shows and commercials.  I love the stark simplicity of the tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-BCagHSz0    

WEB SITES:   I am constantly bombarded by people talking about science and am shocked at the HORRIFICALLY BAD science that is out there.  I could write a book on the subject.  So here is a fun look at some stuff.

http://www.fearofphysics.com/BadScience/index.php

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Take a look at this way cool pre-fab house -  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_us/us_clayton_i_house 

It is the first of a HUGE wave of pre-fab technology that will eventually dominate the housing market.  Simple and elegant these designs will reduce construction costs, improve energy costs and provide a wonderful living experience. 

It seems my brothers and sisters are standing by.

Alexi Murdock

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .

IN OUR WORLD

What a week.  Sunday I was off to Minneapolis to each communication skills to a fantastic group.  They were great participants and I have the honor of teach our thinking skills workshop next month.  I got back on Tuesday night, and then left Wednesday morning for Atlanta to attend a meeting with one of my favorite clients to begin work on a new leadership model. 

Well, I’m back in the Lone Star State and I get a few days to get caught up and start a couple of projects.

Next week it’s off to Memphis for performing a brand new presentation.  I am way JAZZED!

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

AND ON FACEBOOK!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

OK, so you have you have heard of Twitter and Facebook and you think what a ridiculous thing, which cares and better yet why would these “social media” sites generate business.  Well, this brings me to the story of Betsy Weber, Chief Evangelist for TechSmith Software (http://www.techsmith.com/ ).

She moves TechSmith forward through a passion and deep understanding of social media.  For the past 6 years she has become a dominate player in the field of connections:

• Met over 7000 people
• Attended over 200 conferences – yep, 30 per year.
• Has over 3000 followers on Twitter (think of a text message sent to the world).
• Has regular personal contact with over 1000 people.

So, does this type of time consuming human interaction provide results?  Is a grass roots style of marketing effective?  Is there a place in your life to pursue these massively growing communities?  Well, TechSmith would say – YOU BET!  They have had double digit revenue growth every year for the past 6 years resulting in a total growth percentage of 259%!

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES:    Wolverine - Origins:   Yea!  The first big blockbuster of the movie season and I can’t wait!  I love the popcorn season!

NetFlix Fans:  Super Troopers:   OK, how low can your humor go?  I hate to admit it, but I laugh out loud at this completely juvenile comedy. 

TV:    USA Today did a great little project by opening an email campaign to see which shows that were on the bubble were loved by their fans.  Chuck was the big winner with a surprising 4^th place finish by the crime drama Castle.  I’m not sure if the networks will pay a lot of attention, but it adds a level of metric that the networks have not had in the past. 

BOOKS:  How a Nation Sinks or Swims   – By Alan Beattie.  Interesting and thought provoking.

MUSIC:   I have been in a jazz mood lately and was reminded of how much I love Pat Metheny when this song came on the iPod on my way back from Minneapolis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7fx_6Wl5P0    

WEB SITES:   I know you are probably not 15 years old and that the thought of reading comics is not your idea of Pulitzer literature, BUT, they are very entertaining and many of the most popular titles are designed for adults.  Maybe you would find the interaction of complex characters facing social issues a good read.  Besides, they are becoming the foundation for a large number of very successful movie franchises.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/

SOUTH OF NORMAL

For those of you, who from time to time, don’t get much needed sleep, you are probably surfing around the cornucopia of channels on the old plasma screen.  If this is true you know the fame of the infomercial – Slap Chop.  This amazing little device apparently makes it easier to, get this, chop stuff.  It is a fantastically successful sales mechanism for this little, seemingly simple kitchen tool. 

Now, add a little social media to the mix (notice the theme tie in with Things You Should Know located a couple of sections above?) and watch things start to explode.

Someone with some time on their hands did a remix of the commercial, turned it into a YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQA ) and the good old Slap Chop picked up some new momentum and sales started to jump.  This is a hugely successful video, passed all over social sites.

Just a little South of Normal thinking.

They fill your life with keys

And damn responsibilities,

Trading the maybe for the sure.

John Gorka

Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.