Week of February 9, 2009

Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . . 

IN OUR WORLD Coming to you live from the city of New Orleans.  I have been here all week working with one of my favorite clients at their National Sales meeting.  This is the first time I have been to New Orleans since Katrina.  Though we spent most of our time in the Quarter (largely recovered from the devastation) the company did a FANTASTIC team building event in the 9^th Ward.  Imagine almost 300 people working as a team, building a playground.  It was AMAZING.   

I spent most of my time working on the goal setting process I designed and doing some skill building presentations on communication and core planning skills. 

I am almost done with the second major revision to the Repeatable Successful Acts platform, adding the key element of WHY CLIENTS BUY to the content.  These are repeated habits of BUYERS and I will show how they mesh with the Repeatable Successful Acts of sellers.  This will provide a whole new dimension to the impact of this behavioral data. 

Next week I have two trips, one to San Antonio and then off to Atlanta. 

Great projects, wonderful clients and challenging ideas! 

 

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW 

A new project has revived a consistent paradox I run into when dealing with organizational culture.  This inconsistency is a strong challenge to the impact I can have on a system.  The first part of the issue is: 

• Don’t Ask A Fish About The Water:  This is one of the Creative Ventures laws and plays a major role in a lot of my projects.  Being outside a system I can find the strengths and flaws that often are not visible to those who are in the system every day.  The system often creates a false sense of reality.  Couple this with a strong knowledge of organizational dynamics and we create real value for our clients.

 

But then you have the other issue that creates the paradox: 

• The Observer Effect:  Often spoken about in the world of science in the same sentence as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.  Bottom line is that by observing a system, you alter the behavior of the system.  For example, if during an interview I ask a question of; “how many times do you check for company update bulletins?” the interviewee will assume they should be doing it all the time and answer; “always”, even though they seldom do.  Or you are observing a manufacturing process and those involved know they are being watched and behave differently than their regular actions.

 

This paradox necessitates a creative solution so that the data accumulated relating to the project has validity. 

I have developed a number of plans and processes I use to mitigate this paradox, but it is never eliminated. 

This is something to think about as you develop new ideas and modify existing systems.   How has the paradox impacted your data? 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT 

 

MOVIES:    The International – Clive Owen is one of my favorite actors and this thriller looks really good.  I think Laura might be out on this one.  Maybe a case of “Over-Thriller”   

NetFlix Fans:  State and Main:  This is another great David Mamet film.  He is one of my favorite writer/directors.  This little spoof on Hollywood film making has William Macy and Phillip Seymour Hoffman giving fantastic performances. 

TV:    What is the world coming to when the Presidents press conference bumps House!!!!  It is indeed a sad world.   

BOOKS:  Money Makers – By Anne Marie Fink, is a great book about sharpening your edge and not putting all your energy into yesterday’s successes. 

MUSIC:   The Weepies are one of my wife’s favorite bands and I like this song! 

 

WEB SITES:   Good site for all the rumors that run the internet about the greatest computer/software and entertainment company in the world… 

 

http://www.macrumors.com/  

SOUTH OF NORMALWith Valentines Day right around the corner here are a few Valentines Day facts:

• 15% of women send themselves roses on Valentines Day.  Where the hell are the good guys??
• 73% of men buy flowers on Valentines Day.
• 1.5 billion Valentines Day cards are sold every year.
• 3% of pet owners give their pets Valentines Day gifts.
• California grows 60% of the roses sold in the U.S. but South American grows the most in the world.
• 110 million roses are sold during the Valentines Day period.

Hey, do something a little special for your significant other. 

 

Even in a drought some rain may fall.The Weepies 

 

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

 

 

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