Week of May 16, 2009

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 –

 

 

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