Week of May 4, 2009

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 –   

 

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.