Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .
IN OUR WORLD
It is often strange how ideas gain traction.
I have been working on ideas around “clarity”. I even wrote about it in the most September newsletter. The idea was spawned by attending a recent series of meetings with three different clients around three completely different projects. At the end of each meeting, on a subject that I was not only familiar with but helped design, I was struggling to articulate what the heck had happened. The content was blurry and I was convinced that the people charged with carrying out the project were as confused as I was.
So, I started the idea of creating some work around the action killer of ambiguity and the need for simple, clear, action steps that are defined around the core project. How could I help my clients regain focus?
Now I have a program called The Curious Clarity of Teams. I have pitched the idea to Fast Company Magazine who is interested in having me write for them and it made the cut for one of my first three articles. I have two clients who have already booked the program in presentation form for their teams.
Ideas are all about traction and traction is about value.
I have had the opportunity this week to spend most of my time in production work on customizing a couple of Repeatable Successful Acts applications as the weather in Dallas (Armageddon like) stopped all travel.
Next week I will be in beautiful Sedona, AZ where I have the great honor of introducing my unique take on how transformation beats innovation every time!
HEY, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER –CREATIVEVENTURE
AND ON FACEBOOK – STEPHEN HARVILL!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
The major indexes recovered some of yesterday’s losses in the wake of overseas markets that rose, as investors found some relief from a successful issuance of Portuguese bonds
This was the opening line in one of the daily business reports I get. I had to laugh at the fact that the great American business machine was impacted by Portuguese bonds.
This is a great example of the shrinking planet and how small changes can impact a large system and how the impact is getting harder and harder to predict.
This is basis of Chaos Theory in the field of physics. Systems are sensitive to small differences which can create hugely divergent outcomes.
They often say; “both God and the devil are in the details.” So in planning, the best strategy is to spend as much energy as necessary to create simple, powerful and impact plans based around ideas that carry the same attributes.
Here is an idea for your next meeting (and Lord knows, there is always “the next meeting”):
- Thoughtfully Reduce Content: Here’s the deal, most meeting are 60/40. 60% of the info is necessary and important, but it’s surrounded by the 40% of really unnecessary stuff. The issue is no one wants to be accountable for defining the difference between the two. The exercise is one of simple “thoughtful reduction”. What happens when X or Y is removed? Use a model of NEVER MORE THAN 3 impactful items per meeting.
- Follow Up: Create a simple follow up summary of the decisions made around the three items. Make sure any action has an “accountable” attached to the expected outcome.
Those seem like small, easy adjustments. There not. They take an intense amount of discipline, but they will change the way ideas move through your team. Remember, small is significant. Small changes everything!
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES: The Town: Ben Affleck is both acting in and directing this one. His last directorial outing was Gone Baby Gone, which was my favorite movie the year it came out.
NetFlix Fans: Gone Baby Gone: This movie was my favorite the year it was released! Directed by Ben Affleck, it was fantastic!
TV: FX sports some really good programs and they just launched Terriers on Wednesday nights. Show premiered this past Wednesday. Check it out.
BOOKS: Clutch – Sullivan: This book is about how and why we behave the way we do under pressure. There is a section that highlights Focus, Discipline, Adapting, Being Present and the conflict between Fear and Desire.
MUSIC: I really like this song by Tyler Hilton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMmsyy9yqwM&feature=channel
WEB SITES: Where art and creative thinking meet!
http://www.uncommonthinking.com/
SOUTH OF NORMAL
As you might imagine, I subscribe to a ton of internet news sources, some along the lines of normal thinking and business news, others, not so normal.
Let me introduce you to Chris Guillebeau, one of my favorite completely South of Normal thinkers – http://chrisguillebeau.com/
Chris is an expert on the “simple life” and his new book – The Art of Non-Conformity (http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/the-book/ ) has just hit the shelves.
Take a few moments from you hectic life and meet Chris. I think you’ll dig his stuff.
Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com
Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.
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