Hey Everyone, Here We Go!
IN OUR WORLD
You may notice a new look for the blog. My master web dude, John Peterson and I are working within new posting software and are trying to get a look and feel that will be easier to read. Last weeks post was horrible and I hope to get the hang of it with this one.
This week opened the door to a schedule so insane that even I might be a little challenged to make happen. I am so blessed with a wonderful client base that it seems I am in high demand.
I had a FANTASTIC couple of days in St. Louis working with a new client. These are really smart people lead by a gentlemen who has his hand on the entire idea of IMPACT. I was honored to play a roll in their fantastic meeting and as so jazzed about the potential opportunity to become involved with them at a strategic level.
I then hit the design table where I am putting the finishing touches on a program that will be delivered next week in Chicago. A really unique look at planning and storytelling for a very veteran group of professionals and their support staff.
As soon as that is done it is on to finishing the design and construction of the London program. I am really excited about delivering my unique and dynamic approach to skill enhancement across the pond.
No time to catch my breath. These are fantastic opportunities and I am so honored to play a key roll with my clients!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
There is a very damaging myth out there and I run into it all the time. I call it the Myth of 100%. It seems somewhere along the road in the professional development programs fed to the business masses a mistruth was spoken. People were not only told, they were taught that the goal of a plan is 100%. It doesn’t seem to matter what the goal is, it could be bananas sold, deals closed, manufactored doorknobs, the idea is the only acceptable outcome has to be 100%. This crazy and damaging thought process has stopped more good ideas dead in their tracks than any single aspect of behavior.
It is often referred to ask “perfectionism” , the idea that I can not have any aspect of failure creep into my field of responsibility. How crazy does that sound? Now stop for a moment and THINK. The Myth of 100% is a fact in certain industries. For instance airplane landings. But those are the anomolies. The vast majority of plans have no hope of reaching 100% effectiveness. I know this because I have launched lots of new ideas, cutting edge strategies and innovative plans that don’t even have 100% on the horizon. If a company searches for 100% they will never take a step forward.
Take a different look at your planning strategy. New ideas are volatile, they often need time and space to become impactful. Here is a great example:
- In 1983 Apple launched the successor to the Apple II computer – The LISA. Though it suffered through a horrific design and construction process it was supposed to change the face of young personal computer world. The Apple engineers worked frantically to make The LISA appealing and had huge sales goals. Anything less than 80,000 units would be a failure. Only 100% of goal was going to be acceptable. Well The LISA barely ecked out 40,000 units for a wide variety of reasons. The Myth of 100% doomed the project.
- Now lets look at The LISA from another point of view. Though it didn’t sell well, its core foundation of technology gave birth to the Macintosh, a computer that would change the face of technology forever.
Forget the 100% goal (unless you are flying the jet I am on) and look to the incredible opportunity that a new idea can create. Let the fear of failure be mitigated as your bold move forward becomes your norm!
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES: 2012 hits the big screen this weekend. Now I am not a fan of disaster movies and director Roland Emmerich seems fascinated with destroying the earth (Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow), still the effects might drive me to the movie, though I doubt I will get Laura to tag along.
NETFLIX FANS: We were in a dinner discussion recently and I was shocked at how many people had never seen one of the greatest bait and switch movies of all the – The Sting. Redford and Newman are fantastic in this wonder movie full of twists and turns.
TV: Wow, even as a hard core Sci-Fi fan I was very leary of the remake of V and the AMC release of an updated version of The Prisoner. I missed the V debut but will give The Prisoner a look on Sunday night.
BOOKS: Try How Breakthroughs Happen by Hargadon. A really interesting read about both transformation and innovation.
MUSIC: The unbelievable Andy McKee on guitar with his version of Africa;
WEB SITES: Looking for new planning tools? Here is a great resource:
www.actionmethod.com
SOUTH OF NORMAL
This may not surprise you, but a couple of the big food makers have decided to pull some of their tag lines found on their various packaging. For instance, Kelloggs decided that it might be a good idea to pull; “Helps a Childs Immunity with 25% of Daily Antioxidents” which was a banner on a box of Coco Krispies (I remember eating these as a kid and loving the chocolate milk they made!). Nestles had a similarly bold statement on the Juicy Juice (not really much juice there) that they pulled. Seems we consumers will believe just about anything. Hey, could you pass me those little chocolate donuts with the increased fiber?
You can follow me on Twitter at CreativeVenture or on Facebook at Stephen Harvill.
Adios and Aloha – Thanks for coming on the ride!
SOUTH OF NORMAL
Here you go
SOUTH OF NORMAL
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