Week of July 13, 2009

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

 

IN OUR WORLD

 

What a week.  I had to reschedule a couple of trips as the project load that requires design and production time finally caught up with me.  I have three HUGE projects in play, all of which are matters of THINKING.  Here’s a fact, thoughtful activity is time consuming and needs an intense amount of focus and you simply can not do that in your hotel room.

 

In addition to my client projects I have a number of internal ventures that are “in play”.

 

• WEB SITE REDESIGN:  This project is a great team effort and it still looks like a 4^th quarter launch.
• NEW PROGRAMS:  I have two new programs that I have already introduced to audiences which are both picking up serious momentum:

 

• • • Decision Making in Times of Fear:  This program deals with how climates of change and apparent chaos are actually the best time to make decisions.
    • Upside Down Thinking:  This deals with the incorrect mental models we build and how they impact our thinking.  It is a way cool visual journey with great new participation exercises.

 

• RICH MEDIA:  I am scripting four new short videos on programs and ideas in addition to launch a very simple podcast.

 

I have the great joy and blessing to be involved with all of you and I never take it for granted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

 

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

OK, times are damn tough to understand, especially economic times.  Here are a couple of examples:

• The Fed says we may hit 10.4% unemployment.  Unemployment goes in the “freak out” category.  No matter what other news is out there, unemployment hits the emotional grand slam on the fear factor.  A closer examination shows that huge hunks of this are related to two sectors, housing and automotive.
• JP Morgan Chase showed a second quarter profit of $2.7 billion!  The exceeded analysts pointing to a bright spot that banking companies are seeing in the midst of tough economic times.
• Remember those bad guys at Goldman Sachs?  Well they are mounting a big comeback.  Their second quarter net income was 33% higher than a year ago.  They beat analysts by $3.49 per share.
• Business inventories fell faster than sales, possibly pointing to a much needed increase in production in the near future.
• Intel and Johnson & Johnson are both up beyond any analyst’s expectations.

OK, there seems to be a preponderance of evidence that glimmers of hope are out there, but evidence isn’t the real impact factor, its emotion.

Emotion drives EVERYTHING.  By recognizing this key factor you can begin to plan for it.  Give emotion its place in strategic planning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

MOVIES:    Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  I am a HUGE Harry Potter movie fan.  They are the definition of a “franchise” storyline.

 

NetFlix Fans:  For All Mankind:   In honor of celebrating the anniversary of Apollo 11, this fantastic documentary is now in Blu-Ray!

 

TV:    I’ll be up early to watch the British Open, but again, we are in the windless doldrums of TV.  Nothing new, but the last season of Monk is almost ready to launch.

 

BOOKS:  Getting Real   – This is a book from the gang at 37 Signals (collaborative project management and just plain cool guys).  A FANTASTIC read!   Check them out at www.37signals.com

 

MUSIC:   Here is the ABSOLUTE greatness of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan on MTV’s Unplugged.  This is a MUST WATCH.  It’s 3:39 of musical heaven!

 

     

 

WEB SITES:   Looking to learn about how writers think?  Try this crime writer’s blog.  Very interesting stuff.

 

 

http://www.theoutfitcollective.blogspot.com/     

 

SOUTH OF NORMAL

 

My Springwise newsletter gave me the follow way cool new business idea!

Although street art is experiencing a renaissance, the old issue of vandalism remains. YrWall is an interactive virtual graffiti wall that avoids the drips and damage because, quite simply, there’s no paint involved. Users paint on a projection screen using a can that’s actually an infra-red beam controlled by a button and tracked using a computer vision system. By pressing the faux spray can’s button, users draw on the wall much like using their computer’s draw function, but without the mouse and on a much larger scale. A pop-up interface provides an array of digital paint colors and also allows users to select themes like nature or urban; grabbing images from these themes to add to their piece.

YrWall, which can be hired short- or long-term or installed bespoke, has already been quite a hit at events like the UK‘s Secret Garden Party. Adding to the concept’s appeal and branding opportunities, people can receive a free digital copy of their art to share with friends, or can have their design printed on t-shirts and stickers right after they’ve finalized their piece.

While YrWall isn’t going to eclipse the interest in genuine street art and good old spray-can graffiti, it’s an appealing mix of physical and digital, and of performance and play. Which could make for an irresistible offering for event organizers and their novelty-seeking clients.

 

 

She’s my pride and joy.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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