Week of March 16, 2009

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

 

IN OUR WORLD

 

Just back from a great teaching experience in Atlanta, where I had the honor of teaching the updated version of our Interpersonal Communications Workshop.  This deals with the power you have in 1 on 1 communication interactions.  Debuted a new learning game and updated a series of exercises that enriched the content.  This is a time for skill building and those organizations that stress skill sets will have a strong team in place for both existing and future opportunities.

 

A couple of really interesting projects are on the table:

 

• MARKETING – We are working as part of a team on a complete simplification (my role) and redesign of marketing materials including print and electronic deliveries.  This is a great time to look at the desired outcome and ways to reach those who make actual purchases.  Most organizations can save a ton of money while increasing their effective impact.
• SALES PROCESS – When was the last time you actually connected the dots that create sales, both from an existing client and new client strategy?  Most sales processes are so individually driven that the actual ability to manage them to an effective outcome is limited at best.  We are working with three clients to actually identify and simplify the life blood of the organization – sales.

 

Next week it is off to Miami.

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

YES, March Madness is here, the biggest sporting event of the year.  You will be reading a lot about the impact this annual right of spring has on business and the classic productivity drain it brings.  It is said that more time will be spent on brackets than spreadsheets. 

 

This year it might be a little different.  Workers are really concerned about keeping their jobs and might not feel so bold as to watch the live stream on their computers during the work day.  I’m hoping good employers might cut their team members a little slack.  Think about this:

 

• COMARADERIE:  This is great opportunity to create a little morale boost:

 

• • Set up an office pool with the entry fee going to charity.  The winner gets a gift certificate.
  • Keep a big bracket posted in the office so people can follow the results.
  • Put a TV in the break room and allow them to watch during lunch and breaks.  Don’t worry about monitoring the watching time, when given a chance most team members won’t abuse this.
  • Have a team color day when they can wear their team’s logo gear.

 

Hey, now and then HAVE A LITTLE FUN!

 

By the way, I just watched President Obama fill out his bracket on ESPN.  Now you may not agree with his recent decisions, but he is a populist guy who knows how to touch people.  I didn’t know he was a lefty!

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

MOVIES:    My wife is a big Nicolas Cage fan and we will see Knowing on Saturday.  I can not tell you how sad I was to learn of Natasha Richardson’s sudden death.  The wonderful actress and wife of Liam Neeson died from head injuries received in what at first was thought to be a harmless fall on a beginner ski slope.  As a movie person, I am saddened by losses like this.

 

NetFlix Fans:  In the Line of Fire:   A great little Clint Eastwood movie about an old secret service agent who knows the President is in danger from crazy John Malkovich.

 

TV:    Better Off Ted is an entertaining new comedy on Wednesday nights.  Worth the watch.

 

BOOKS:  Fault Line   – By Barry Eisler.  Eisler is one of my favorite thriller writers whose main character is the assassin Jonathon Rain.  This book introduces a new character and is next on my Kindle.

 

MUSIC:   Bon Iver is a band that my son Colin turned me on to.  Very different sound, but I really like them.  Also try a band called The Tallest Man in the World.  A very Dylan like group.

 

 

WEB SITES:   We are getting into the “movie season” with the Watchmen being the first really big movie.  To keep up and get excited about movies coming out go to the best of the best trailer site.

 

 

www.apple.com/trailers

 

SOUTH OF NORMAL

Every March, Austin TX hosts the famous South X Southwest music conference.  This is the largest and hottest music scene in the world and Austin is flooded by music and movie folks.  There are over 150,000 attendees (can’t even get BBQ at the Salt Lick), 80 music/movie venues with over 1,800 musical acts performing and there are a ton of WOW, seat of the pants jam sessions.  SXSW is HUGE.  One of my favorite bloggers, Church of the Customer (www.churchofthecustomer.com) posts a great survey of what’s going on at SXSW and came up with a couple of really out there websites – WARNING – WARNING – some bad language may be found in these sites, but they are still really funny!

• www.passiveagressivenotes.com – Funny stuff.
• www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com  –  This guy has a book!
• www.sxsw.com/interactive –  Get a feel for the conference.
• www.urbandictionary.com – Find out what the heck all the new lingo means.

When I was in Sunday school

We would hear about the time

Moses split the sea in two

Jesus made the water wine

Used to make me sad to think

Miracles don’t happen still

But everywhere I look is a miracle

Peter Mayer

 

 

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

 

 

 

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