Week of September 21, 2009

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

 

IN OUR WORLD

 

Coming to you live from St. Louis where I ended my week of travel. 

 

I had a fantastic time in Atlanta with one of my favorite clients launching a leadership initiative that has a chance to move the potential success factor off the map!  The key will be the commitment from the organizations leaders and the organization itself in developing an accountability factor that spreads to EVERYONE.  Chances look good.

 

In St. Louis I had the honor of being part of a program for emerging financial service leaders.  I introduced them to the ELITE CLIENT CYCLE, a process for leveraging your top customers.

 

No time to catch my breath as I head out to Las Vegas on Monday where I am part of a due diligence team planning a major meeting in 2010. 

 

I am also going to take a tour of ZAPPOS, one of my recent case studies.

 

 

 

HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE

 

AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 

One of the new leadership ideas for organizations should be to “know the greater business community”.  This is a critical idea.  Think of it simply as “knowing what the hell is going on.” 

 

The idea that information can lead to knowledge and that knowledge connects to motion is strong enough to part of EVERY company’s mantra. 

 

How do you do this?  With the bombardment of information blasting our cranium, how do we know what’s important?  How do we filter all the junk?  Where do we find the best source of information?

 

I had a conversation with a speaker recently who bragged to me that he read 4 newspapers every morning and listed them all.  He then asked me which ones I read.  I said – NONE.  Oh, I might read USA Today if it was in front of my hotel room when I get up, but that’s it (except for the traditional Sunday morning ritual of reading the paper).  Newspapers are too general for me.  I want specific info that falls in my realm of interest.  So, here is how I stay in touch:

 

• Newspapers on line:  The NY Times and Wall Street Journal have great on-line versions that have their headlines listed with a 1 paragraph summary.  I decide what interests me and read it.
• Springwise:  A great newsletter about worldwide emerging business trends:  http://springwise.com/weekly/2009-09-23.htm
• Google Alerts:  Type in any info you want to read and Google will send you a daily clip email full of only the stuff that interests you.
• Wharton School of Business Newsletter:  Really good stuff from smart folks.    knowledge@wharton.upenn.edu
• Client Newsletters:  Any of my clients that have newsletters I make sure I read EVERY TIME it’s sent.
• Twitter:  I follow really smart people who post really smart stuff everyday.

 

That’s just a piece of my daily reading, but enough to get you started.  The key is that you don’t have to read EVERYTHING, but instead choose your stuff wisely!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

MOVIES:    Surrogates:  I am a Bruce Willis fan and will give it a look this weekend.  Just need a little entertainment time to send my brain on a short vacation.

 

NetFlix Fans:  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid:   I actually just met someone who had not only never scene this classic, they had NEVER HEARD OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

TV:    Thank God for DVR.  My travel schedule has me missing all my favorites, but I get to see them when I get home.  The House MD 2 hour premier was FANTASTIC.  Hopefully his new world view will take.  Looking forward to seeing the Mentalist when I get a second back home.  Both shows are worthy some space on your DVR.

 

BOOKS:  Ground Zero   – By F. Paul Wilson :    The latest in the Repairman Jack series was just released.  Only one more left before he stops writing this great character.

 

MUSIC:   The latest from the greatness of Colin Hay. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCUvrbybtIA&feature=related    

 

WEB SITES:   Create customized merchandise. 

 

 

   www.Zazzle.com    

 

 

SOUTH OF NORMAL

 

Time for CANDY NEWS!

 

• 15 of the top-20 selling candy bars are made by two companies, Hershey’s and Mars.
• More candy bars were invented between 1920 and 1930 than ever in history – Baby Ruth, Charleston Chew, Mounds, Milky Way, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Bit-O-Honey, Mr. Goodbar, Butterfinger and Snickers all made their debut.
• According to a Purdue University Study  it takes 252 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
• Austin, Charlotte and San Antonio lead the US in Halloween spending – $53 per household.
• M&M’s are the most popular candy sold in the US with all of us spending $425 million a year.
• And, just in case you were wondering, there are 22 M&M Colors.

 

 

And it seems so close as he reaches out his hand

But we are never quite as close as we are lead to understand.

Dreaming of Michelangelo – Counting Crows

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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