Specialization

Specialization is what made the industrial revolution possible.  Or, more accurately, its what made the industrial revolution so impactful in society.  Specialization allows people to get very good at a relatively small set of skills.  Then, combining that specialized skill set with the skills of others, you can form the Captain Planet of industry.  Working in harmony, a group of specialists can accomplish things that a group of generalists may not.

This has lead to a feeling in the world that specialists are more important than generalists.  SME, or Subject Matter Expert, is an important title in many organizations.  They have concentrated some specific area of knowledge in one person while making them available to the entire institution to spread the wealth.

There are two big problems with this thinking, though.  First, concentrating knowledge like that leads to a culture that values knowledge hoarding rather than knowledge sharing.  An SME is only as valuable as his knowledge, and if he keeps sharing and educating, he may eventually work himself out of a job.  Additionally, having more knowledge that others gives you a special status or power.  Keeping that power is another reason some people are reluctant to spread learning around an organization.

Second, specialization really impacts the ability to think critically and laterally.  I believe that the more diverse your experience, the better the skills at problem solving.  That doesn't just apply to specific fields, but also across them.  Knowledge of linguistics may help with math.  Chemistry may help with business.  Cross-training enables your mind to connect seemingly unrelated concepts into new ideas that may change the world.

So I implore you, do not overlook the importance of the broad thinkers in your organization.  If, for no other reason, than some day you will depend on them to provide the direction and leadership that all companies need.

Present-Fighting vs. Future-Fighting

In business, there are two very important sets of responsibilities.  The first focuses on day-to-day operations.  It is very important that things don't go out of whack, because no one likes change.  Your customers will be mad, your boss will be disappointed, your coworkers may be disdainful, your house plant will wilt and regulators may slap handcuffs on someone.  I'm going to call it present-fighting mode, because your job is to maintain the status quo.  Sadly, this has nothing to do with boxing gifts. :(

The second focuses on the future.  What is the future, you ask?  No one knows, and that's why it is important to think about it.  Unfortunately for those engaged in firefighting, the future will bring change and people will have to adapt.  You should be thinking about future change some of the time, so you don't get blindsided.  You're preventing yourself from being marginalized, rather than making others happy.  Here we'll call it future-fighting, because you need to find the prevent the new status quo from gobbling you up like a grue.  


At my experience level and age, most people I know are focused on present-fighting.  That is their job and there is a lot to be said for doing your job well.  Doing your job poorly, for example, will get you fired.  No one asks the lower-level people to look at anything outside the here-and-now, so few people do.  But you need to!  You need to devote at least some time, like 30 minutes per day, to thinking about and planning for the future.  As you move up in an organization, future-fighting becomes more important and can lead you as high as you want to go.

Infographic Resumes

I've just been introduced to the amazing world of infographic resumes.  I'm so impressed that people decided their resume needed a little spice, and decided to personalize and visualize them.  An infographic resume is a picture containing the thousand words that is your work history.  Of course, there are often additional words to explain the pie chart, but I'm not counting those.

From what I've seen, most of the infographic resumes are done by graphic artists.  They have the artists eye to create something visual and enticing, and the skill to make it happen.  Oh, I've seen a few from engineers or computer programmers, but the skills required definitely hide themselves well in non-artist professions.

I've thought about creating my own.  There are a ton of different graph types that would make short work of my entire work history.  But I'd want it to be representative of me, as well.  So... it would need something like a labyrinth with a single path picked out.  Or maybe a juggling club.  Or my own personal logo, which I've been working on.

These resumes are great for those who want to show off their personality and have jobs that could encourage that.  One purpose of a resume is to get an initial interview, and an infographic resume would succeed splendidly, if I was the HR manager.  Just don't overdo it, or expect that a visual resume with pictures of fluffy bunnies skipping in the meadow will get you a job as an exterminator.

Choosing a business opportunity

Having just finished my graduate degree in Business, this one is particularly close to my heart.  I am now in a position I've never had before - people are coming to me with their ideas and asking me to be a part of them.    It's exciting - because I get jazzed by other people's passions - and scary - because I'd be responsible for the fulfillment or derailment of another person's dreams.  If I want to be involved, I need to pick something and go with it.  So how do you choose one opportunity over another?

Questions to ask yourself

What you really need to succeed is the right attitude.  To do that, you need to find a path that matches you as a person.  Some introspection is required (in my case about 5 years), but these questions are well worth it.  

• Where do I want to be in 5 years?  10?  20?  
• What kind of work setting do I like?  Structured?  Unbound?  Secure?  Shifting?
• What is most important to me in life?  
• Is there anything I won't do?  Too dangerous?  Too disgusting?  Against my personal code?  
• What am I good at?  
• What do my family and friends think about my choices so far?  

Those questions above are certainly not comprehensive about planning your direction in life, but they are a great start.  Now that you have that all sorted out, you can start planning your future. 

What opportunities are available to me?  

This is really a function of your network of friends and family.  It is difficult to find a new job or other opportunity without the aid of your network.  In fact, many schools, including mine, tout the quality and reach of their network as part of the admissions process.  It is much easier to talk to people you already know than find work in a completely new geography.  

Which involve people I can work with?  

The people are super important.  Without a great team, an enterprise can't succeed.  Unfortunately, they can also kill the enterprise, if they are in the wrong positions.  Be sure (or at least pretty sure) that your partners are competent or able to learn, and good people.  You're going to be working with them for quite a long time, if things go well.  

Where can I make money?  

For me, this is one of the least important.  Yes, there are certain things you can do that won't make money.  But those are few and far between.  I know lots of people do things that I would have guessed wouldn't make poodle spit, but they have turned it into a career.  Don't be afraid to follow your dreams, because building custom cat towers can certainly be a full time job, if you do it right.  

Just do it!

Thank you, Corporate America, for reducing that awesome phrase to a tag line for shoes.  :(  But after you are pretty sure you have the right path, go for it!  Take the time to develop your contacts, try your hand at something new, and get involved.  It is crazy how easy it is to start something, if you know where you want to go in the future.  Or even if you don't know where to go, you can start something and see what it feels like.  

Best of luck in the future!  :)

Think hard before suing

Ah, law.  It is an imporant institution, but there are often better ways to handle a dispute.  I'm not trying to disuade you, but please be aware of the following items when deciding to take someone to court.

Its super expensive

I hope that everyone knows about how expensive it is to hire a lawyer.  Their rates are notoriously expensive, and can sometimes be measured in 5-minute increments.  Unfortunately, there also may be court costs associated with your suit, costs to pay off in the case of a loss, and the costs that may be passed on to you to pay for the other party's defense, if your lawsuit is frivolous.  In all, bringing a court case can cost tens of thousands to millions of dollars in fees alone.  

It will take forever

Another thing that lawsuits are notorious for is the time it takes to have them processed.  The courts are overworked, and they often have difficulty getting cases through their tight workload.  And schedule problems aside, there are a number of different motions you can make in court to get more time.  One example is the Motion to Extend Time, which allows a someone three weeks to submit an answer to an allegation.  

You have to put complete faith in a stranger's judgement

There are likely very people reading this who have a lawyer on retainer.  And hopefully very few who have so much contact with a lawyer that you would trust their judgement without a second thought.  For those of us who don't spend our time in court, we often have to trust that a lawyer has our best interests at heart and that we can trust their judgement when it comes to law matters.  I am terrible at accepting things I don't understand, so this is one of the strongest issues that might prevent me from executing a lawsuit.  

Any prospective business relationship is ruined

Lastly, there is a long-term consequence.  If you pursue a lawsuit, it is unlikely that the defendant will ever do business with you again.  You may even be on such poor terms that they begin to dissuade others from buying your product or service.  A lawsuit can be one of the most effective ways to burn bridges in history, so be sure before you do so.  

Why NOT to use business jargon

Jargon, basically, is a set of words used primarily by specialists for discussing a specific field of study.  Jargon is supposed to be made up of words that have very specific meanings to define exactly what you are trying to say.  But business jargon is often meant to confuse and mislead.

Bad reasons to use jargon

1. To sound smarter.
2. To cover that they don't know a better word.  
3. To make other people feel stupid.   
4. To fit into a group.
5. To evade difficult topics.

Why they're all terrible reasons

Because none of them is the reason jargon exists - to make things clearer!  Each of the reasons above is hiding truth for different reasons.  In one case, it is a weapon, in another a shield, and in another a white flag. Thankfully, I can keep using those metaphors because their use is too wide spread for them to become jargon.  

Words to Avoid

You can find a good list here.  Or here.  Or here.  Or any number of other places on the internet.  Personally, I despise the phrase touch base.  I think it has something to do with my dislike of baseball, though I'm not even sure that's where it comes from.  It gets more difficult when you try to avoid words that you learned had specific meanings, like I did in grad school, but don't have perfect synonyms.  ><

What you should say instead

Say Exactly What You Mean!!!  That's not so hard.  Putting your thoughts into easily understood sentences was something we learned before we entered junior high school.  Then, in the years of schooling since, we learned to be indirect when writing.  I, and everyone else, appreciates it when you say things succinctly and clearly.

Meeting Etiquitte

Meetings are a fact of life, unfortunately.  No matter what business you work in, private or public, for-profit or non-profit, people have to get together and talk.  That's all it is.  But in the business world, there are many unspoken rules about how a meeting runs and the etiquette surrounding it.

Deciding to have a Meeting

This is the most important step.  Meetings are formal requests to use someone else's time, and often require them to perform some work prior and after - making them a drain on the person.  A meeting also takes time away from other activities, so there is a very real opportunity cost to holding one.  Finally, you have to be sure that the topic of your meeting can be addressed best this way.  Not everything requires, or even benefits from, having everyone involved.

Setting up your Meeting

So you've decided to have a meeting.  There are x things you need to consider.  The attendees, time, and place.  

Choosing who you will invite involves both planning and politics.  First, be sure to invite the people who you absolutely need, such as contributors or approvers.  Without at least a portion of them attending, there is no purpose for your meeting.  The second group is determined by the interpersonal relationships and power structure.  Anyone who isn't a stakeholder and doesn't have the clout to get in the door can be overlooked.  But there may be people who may be offended if you don't invite them, even if they likely won't attend anyway.  Remember, meetings over nine people tend to be for communication, not work.  

The time and place will be determined by your attendees' availability.  When setting up meetings, first find out if someone else controls the calendars, and, second, have two or three time frames (2-3 hours) in which you can make it.  Be more flexible with your schedule the more important it is to have a certain attendee.

The Meeting

First, show up on time!  It is not hard to do, if you schedule properly.  And, in the USA at least, it is impolite to be late.  For me personally, it is one of my biggest pet peeves, and will sour me on a first impression.  

In the meeting, if you are in charge, be in charge.  Make sure to tell the group what the purpose of the meeting is.  Have an agenda, to make sure you address important points. Moderate discussions to make sure they don't run too long.  Respect the thoughts of those in the room.  Respect everyone's time.  

And if you're the attendee, be helpful and productive.  Try to be familiar with the meeting topic and agenda (if available).  When the meeting is called to order, sit down and give your attention to the moderator.  Respect the thoughts of others.  Be helpful when asked questions.  Give your best when asked to address a problem.  Don't be rowdy.  Just be well-behaved!

Post-Meeting

Responsibilities after a meeting really depend on the culture of the organization.  An emailed thank you may be appropriate.  Many attendees appreciate minutes.  Agreed action items should have timely follow-up.  At the very least, thank the attendees for their time.  Time is so valuable!  

Defining your customer

For some companies, the question "Who is your customer?" strikes them as too simple.  They sell to everyone. They sell to people with two feet (everyone).  They sell to people concerned with money (almost everyone).  People with a home (everyone).  People in the United States (not everyone, but still pretty big).  You should definitely have something more substantial than that!

Benefits of a Defined Customer

• You can really get to know exactly what your customer wants.  This applies to all of the marketing concerns - price, product, promotion, placement.  
• You can reduce spending on advertising and promotions by targeting where and when your customer is most receptive.  
• Your employees have a clear idea of who will buy, making them better able to focus.  
• You can calculate the value of a customer, and decide how much you want to spend on each. 
• Your people will have a better idea of what you do.  
• If you do it well, others may gravitate to your offering just because it has a strong, desirable image.  

Creating Segments

The key is to segment the total market into chunks you feel you can serve well.  I'd suggest starting with a geographic region, such as the USA or New York City.  Then you can further subdivide that group into smaller segments that fit your product.  You can use combinations of the following factors, or any other way of distinguishing people that makes sense.  They generally fall into two categories.

• Demographics - age, sex, race, income
• Psychographics -  personality, values, attitudes, interests, lifestyles

There have been many text books and business books written about the customer. I suggest you give your customer some thought, and if you want to get deeper into talking about your customer, start by reading the wikipedia page about Market Segmentation.  If you really want to get deep into it, the book Market Segmentation: How to do it, how to profit from it by Malcolm McDonald is a great, thorough text.  

What is money?

Money, of course, is why most people are involved in business.  At its basest level, it is anything that represents the value of a person's actions.  In the case of the USA, that means green slips of paper.  Canada, it was multi-colored slips of paper.  In Yap, they use giant stones.  Seashells, silver, food.  What makes thedollar, yen, and euro special is that they don't have any purpose beyond representing a person's value to society - and money allows people to exchange it.

Power

To some, money represents power.  It has long been known that the people who have the most money tend to have everything they want - even things that are not for sale.  It can get people to do things they wouldn't normally do.  The phrase "Everybody has a price" refers to the cost required to get people to do something they wouldn't normally by paying them enormous sums of money.  And with enormous wealth, often comes the ability to break the law and receive a reduced punishment, even for such heinous crimes as murder.  

Living

While money does sometimes bring out the worst in people, it is a strong means to the end of living in our society.  The capitalist system works under the assumption that every action should receive a reward based on the demand for that.  Companies pay people for their services in the form of employment.  Employees pay companies for food from a store.  Each person, in theory, receives money from the market that is comparable to what the market will pay for their services.  So you need to use and be familiar with money to live.  Caves in the woods are no longer prevalent in North America.  

Side-item

Then there is the concept that you should do what you love.  If you find something that the market will reward, and that you love to do, you will do your job for pure enjoyment, and the money will be just a side benefit.  This represents the ideal strategy because it reduces the severity of the word "work" to the fun of the world "play."  

Tool of Oppression?

The problem with money is that it tends to accumulate over time.  And that means that people who have made a lot of money, and are prudent, can continue making more and more money, passing it on to their descendants.  And where there is no money, it is difficult for people to achieve.  Which is one reason why the black minority in this country isn't making drastic financial steps, even 40+ years after what some consider the "end" of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.  

I like money.  From what I've learned, I believe that it enabled the world to grow beyond a few small city-states through trade.  We just have to make sure that it isn't also our downfall.  

Challenges

Challenges in Business

There are many different definitions of challenges, and it is amazing how many apply to business.  In my mind, it is the single most important word you can have in your vocabulary when dealing with business.  First, it is:


A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking

Welcome to a job that offers a challenge!  The zest of a tough fight, well fought!  It is exhilarating and energizing.  It reminds you of your own strength and the power of your will.  And the definition above is certainly descriptive of today's business arena.  With improved efficiency, large corporations, and cost-cutting, you may be challenged every day to keep yourself employed and the company on the track to success.  For some, it is more... It's: 

A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition

Business challenges you to succeed.  It beckons you with the promise of the fun you can have testing your skills.  That test of skills can be decided, with a winner and a loser.  And best of all, it doesn't have to be decided by you!  The market will act as the referee and you can really bare you teeth.  And you'll need everyone behind you, so challenge is also: 

To summon to action, effort, or use; stimulate

Challenge your people to do their best work, and you will likely get it.  People revel in the knowledge that they can do something great, and are united in the cause to do something great.  Make sure they don't let the stimulus slip.  Keep pushing, and your company will grow big and strong.  You'll be a challenger!

One who competes against the holder of a title or championship

Personal motivation, leadership, management advice, goal - Challenge is a huge part of business.  Remember that as you lament the difficulty of your job.  And also as you seek to improve it.  

Your Workspace

I'm sorry for the lapse, all.  I have a strategy for not letting that happen again.  ><

Now, on to something truly important to a businessperson - the office.  Your office is any work space that belongs to you.  It can be a traditional four-walls-and-a-door office, a cubicle, a desk sitting in the warehouse, or a room in your home.  The key is that it is yours.  You spend your time there, it reflects on you as a person, and you should make sure others perceive what you want them to.  Below I've given you some tips on how to furnish your office to best effect.  

Keep your office tidy

No one likes to be neck-deep in unfiled papers and folders.  For many, it makes it more difficult to get work done because things are getting misplaced.  Or, if you're naturally untidy, it means that four months from now a coworker is going to ask for a report from today, and you'll have to dig through three inches of papers to find it.  But more importantly, people perceive a tidy desk as indicative of a tidy mind.  When your office is organized, people believe you are as well.  It doesn't take much time to maintain, once you've done it, so make it a regular part of your end-of-day routine.  

Picture say 1000 words... about you!

The pictures, paintings, photos, printouts, etc. of your office will tell people a lot about what you value.  If you have an entire wall covered in pictures of heavy metal bands from the 80's, you won't get much respect.  On the other hand, if you cover the entire office area with work memorabilia, charts, and graphs, people will think you have no life outside work.  You want a balance represented in your office.  Consider adding a few photos of your family or friends.  A couple nice prints of your favorite painting are good conversation pieces and make the walls less bare.  My personal favorite is to dedicate one wall to drawings of important concepts.  A mix like that will show both your professional and personal side, while still remaining modest.  

Furniture Arrangement as Personal Feng Shui

The furniture in your office may be nailed to the floor or otherwise immovable.  But there are things you can change to suit your self.  Putting the couple chairs far away from your desk suggests you welcome visitors.  A potted plant can make the place warmer with its life.  And if you can move your furniture around, all the better! Then visitors can see how independent and creative you can be with your space.  And how strongly you can exert your sense of control!  

Room use sends a message, too!

So far I've talked about how you set up and decorate your office.  But you also have to think how you'll use it. If you are always busy with individual work and can't (don't like to be) bothered, you can keep your door closed and/or turn you desk to face away from the door.  If you like to have everything printed out and at your fingertips, your desk may be completely full (but still tidy!).  If you want to have lots of visitors, put a candy dish just inside your door - everyone will stop to say hello and eat M&Ms.  

Just as your appearance says volumes, so does your work space.  A person's office is their sanctuary and their fortress, providing a safe anchor spot at work.  Treat it as if it is a part of you, and it will reinforce your message with power.  

Organizational Purpose

I've been flooded with discussions on strategy lately.  And one of the main questions that comes up is along the lines of "What is the purpose of the organization?"  Organization, of course, can mean any group of people - not necessarily a for-profit corporation.  It can as small as a two-man garage band or as large as Wal-Mart.

I'm a firm believer that every organization needs a purpose, no matter how small.  Purpose can be anything.  It could be to make music, to enjoy the company of friends, mutual protection, or any number of other reasons.  The most common in business is "to make money," which was the mantra pushed in a book I read, The Goal.  Making money is a key to survival, but it can't be the only reason for an organization's existence.  BUT...

Problems with Organizations Focused on Making Money

• Wouldn't be a very rewarding place to work.  
• Output would tend to reflect only high-reward opportunities. 
• Ignores new opportunities.
• Can breed unethical and/or illegal behavior.  
• Creates a hostile, driven work environment.
• Don't make a true impact on the world (for good or evil).  

That last one is the key.  You really want to make a difference in the world, and an organization is the best way to do it. It enlists others and gives them something to strive for.  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts is no more obvious than in a smooth-running organization.  

Here are some organizational purposes.  

1. To make easy-to-use, aesthetically pleasing technology
2. To help people suffering from the ills of third-world life.  
3. To maintain and distribute common goods.  
4. To provide convenient drug and convenience stores.  
5. To provide high-quality baked goods and meals containing them.   
6. To protect the United States.  

What do you think about the Chicago Cubs?  Fox News?  Your local high school?  

-sjk

My Answers:

1. Apple
2. Red Cross
3. Government
4. Walgreens
5. Panera Bread
6. U.S. Army

Setting Boundaries in Business

I've been involved in several projects, and the one thing that keeps coming up is the scope.  It is supposed to draw the line about where the project can and can't go.  Boundaries help determine where people should spend their time.  And its great for focused creativity.

Benefits

Drive Decisions

Similar to a vision statement, the scope of a project allows people to make tactical decisions about how to proceed on a project without direct supervision.  When people are unclear about the next move, referencing the scope helps.  Boundaries keep people from wandering from the vision.  It keeps them from regularly chasing new distractions and forces them to focus on the task at hand.

Focused Creativity

Creativity, too, can benefit from some limitations.  Often I've been told that you shouldn't take any idea out of the running during the brainstorming phase, and I agree with that.  But you need to start with some boundaries on the brainstorming phase itself, or the mind wont' have any place to begin.  For example, if I said "Let's discuss how to make money," your mind may go blank.  It would be more helpful to say "How do we use our people's skills in a different way to make money?"  Now you have something to analyze (the people), making for a more fertile discussion.

Comfort

We should never forget the psychological benefits of boundaries - that they make people comfortable.  You may view this as either positive or negative, but people feel safe when they know the boundaries of their life.  that is why changing jobs, corporate restructuring, and new product launches can be very stressful.  

Downsides

The greatest downside to using boundaries is in overuse.  People will resist innovative ideas specifically because they are outside their current boundary.  They allow great ideas to pass, often to their chagrin, because they can't aren't open to the possibility.  Or they may see its potential, but use their job scope to prevent it from moving forward.

-sjk

Four tactics to improve relationships with representatives from other specialties

At work, almost everyone is required to work regularly with others.  They need to collaborate on requirements, align execution, and work closely on followup and maintenance.  But 50 years ago, companies started to fragment, and divide up by function.  And its causing massive difficulties for some, as they try to bridge the gap between functions in their organizations.  A few reminders that can help you work well with others:  

1. They are protective of their domain.   
2. They already have a full workload.  
3. They have a different culture that is specific to their function, department, etc.  
4. They might not know what the heck you're talking about, or the reasons behind what they do understand.  

It's important to understand the above lessons.  If you want some steps to follow to help build a good relationship, the following worked for me:  

1. Treat them as equals.  They are less likely to be threatened.  
2. Don't formally demand much of their time unless its very, very, very, very important.  
3. Try to learn elements of their culture, including jokes and acronyms.  
4. Learn how to talk with people like them.  People are unique, but many of them are quite similar.  

Do you have any other little tricks that you think would help others to relate to people representing other functions?  

-sjk

5 Differences between Marketing and Sales

In my experience, there is often a correlation drawn between Marketing and Sales.  In fact, in some organizations, they are put into the same functional silo.  Traditionally, they are distinct functions, which can require significantly different skill sets. 

First, lets start of by discussing what they are. 

• Marketing is any activity that influences the customer opinion of your product or service.  This includes everything from sales to advertising to fulfillment to customer service.  

• Sales is the act of pursuing and completing the goods exchange with the customer.  That means it includes the entire sales cycle of finding prospects, pitching, and closing.  That is the end of the sales function in many companies. 

Whenever I talk about "Marketing" or "Sales" below, I specifically refer to the people within the function, not the actual function itself.  Below I've listed some of the key differences between Marketing and Sales.  When you read these, think about how they relate to the definitions I gave above.  

Sales brings in money directly - Marketing brings in brand awareness and recognition.

The first, most important, difference to consider is what they bring to the organization.  Sales, of course, brings cash.  And without cash, your company would grind to a halt quicker than you can start a chant by saying "Chapter?"... and waiting for a response.  Marketing works to get your brand into the mind of the customer.  Without it, you may get sales, but they will be significantly less, especially in B2C.  

Sales talks directly with customers - Marketing influences markets. 

Next, we have to discuss how each group connects with the customer.  Sales often has a direct line to the product buyer, be it end user, distributor, or other.  They hear the complaints and answer the objections.  Marketers work on a macro-scale.  They try to influence a group, from hundreds to millions, by broadcasting to the public and leading the company's actions. 

Sales is internally competitive -Marketing is unified.

Every company is unified around a message, and often Marketing is able to state that goal in the clearest way possible.  And a big part of their job is getting every customer-facing group to live their message.  They work together to convince others.  Sales is on the opposite spectrum.  They are chasing the same goal, but sales people are fiercely competitive.  A good sales person likes to stand alone, on their merits, because they have pride in their competitive sales skills.  

Sales capitalizes on Marketing - Marketing capitalizes on Operations.

One of the most interesting things to me about organizations is that sometimes individuals or groups can convince themselves that a certain function or skill set isn't as important as another.  But every group capitalizes on the skills of another to function well.  Sales needs Marketing to make the brand sticky in your mind.  Marketing needs Operations to fulfill the product promise implicit in the marketing message. 

Sales requires skill in selling - Marketing requires skill in marketing.

Sales skill involves a lot of procedure and memorization.  It also requires a personality that is dedicated, independent, and self-confident.  On the flip side, Marketing skills include trend tracking, number analysis, design, psychology, leadership, IT, and others.  In fact, Marketing people can have a variety of different skill backgrounds.  And their personalities can range across the board, and many different personalitiy types thrive.  

Conclusion

I want to remind you of the definitions of Marketing and Sales I gave at the beginning.  Marketing touches every point of customer interaction, while Sales is a very specific point of customer focus.  Their importance in formal organizations varies, but they are both indispensable. 

Do you have any other thoughts on how Marketing and Sales differ? 

Overcoming Adoption Apathy

Change management has been high on my personal list of business concepts for a while.  I've been really focused the last few weeks on overcoming adoption apathy - the feeling that sets in during any type of change initiative that prevents you from wanting to change anymore.

Source

I'm sure everyone has, at one point or another, wanted to change something about either themselves or someone else.  At the beginning, everyone sees the need to change.  They're excited about improving the situation.  You have buy-in from everyone.  But then after a few weeks or months, that great momentum diminishes.  People stop being excited about the change, because its actually taking place.  But because they're not paying attention, the actual change itself slows, stops, and may even reverse.  

Overcoming Adoption Apathy

Over the past few weeks, I've come up with my personal ideas for working through Adoption Apathy.  I've tried out several, and these are the tactics that seem to work best for me.  

• Approach the change tangentially.  When I think about an obstacle all the time, I get overwhelmed with the scale.  I do better just going about doing it, and forgetting about how big of a chore it is.    

• Have a secret change partner.  The most powerful push for me to work is when I know someone is counting on me, and they will recognize my work and accomplishment.  But your brain is wired so if you tell someone your goal, it will fill you with happy chemicals.  So you have to keep your goal to yourself, but know who you're hoping to get recognition from.  

• Keep it fresh.  Don't let the change be something you did last month.  Make changes in your plan that still meet your goal within the framework of your plan.  This keeps you engaged and excited about it.  

• Don't fret over failure.  Yes, you should set goals.  They should be B-HAGS (big hairy audacious goals) so you push yourself to the best of your abilities.  But meeting those goals is not life-or-death.  If you don't meet them, remember that the journey was important, too.  There will be another chance tomorrow.  

• A change plan doesn't work for everyone.  You have to know the people involved (yourself, employees, customers, etc.) to find a change plan that will work.  Just be aware that a single change plan, no matter how broad, will not touch everyone involved.  Work to adapt the plan to the individual, if you can.  

I hope that some of these help you.  Each individual and each group is different and needs different rules to make change happen.  If you have any other ideas, I'd love for you to post them in the comments below.  

-sjk

Robot Prototyping Program

I've talked about 3D printing (aka. Additive Manufacture) in other posts.  The "limits" there are often thought of the be only in your mind.  Of course that doesn't address the fact that you can't easily make moving arts in those additive manufacturing processes.  And you can't use every material for home 3D printers.  And you have to be a designer to get it all to work for you.  Wow, there are a lot of barriers, aren't there...

One company is trying to remove that last one.  This article discusses the possibility of a universal robot prototyping software that helps you build a robot in just a few hours.  Again, the "possibilities are endless", but a) they haven't finished the program yet and b) you need to have additive manufacturing capabilities.

Automation like this is a great thing.  It looks like designers are learning from computer programmers.  Additive printing is a new technology that started by only taking CAD drawing or other drafting documents.  They're adding a layer of intelligence to it, making it much easier to program.

-sjk

Bacteria Backpacks

Whoo, doggy!  I'm always intrigued by the crazy things medical science comes up with when it comes to pharmacology.  The breadth of drugs, the diversity of their manufacture (traditional, biologics), and now their dosage medium.

According to an article I found from Kurzweil, scientists are trying to use bacteria for delivering nanomedications inside the body!  That means more targeted drug treatment with less side effects.  The caveat is that they sound very difficult to produce.  Just the idea of tying loaded beads with nano-wires boggles the mind.  It is certainly not something that can self-replicate. And scientists might have a tough time getting something like this shelf stable.

But I love the idea of tying bacteria up with nano-wires.  Nano-wires could be the next Spider-man-web-like material.  Maybe using these wires is the way to secure nano-level electronics?  I'm sure there will also be frivolous uses of such technology, such as individually branding a bacteria for carrier purposes.

Top 5 Map Comparisons for Mind Mapping

Mind-Mapping is a wonderful technique when you think there is nothing for you to talk about online. I took 45 minutes this morning to create some mind maps that allowed me to find probably 100 posts worth of topic material!  So here are my Top 5 Map Comparisons for Mind Mapping.  

1. It helps you figure things out when you're lost.  
2. You can see shortcuts between ideas.  
3. Someone else can follow you into your psyche.  
4. Shows you where you could use more detailed surveying.   
5. Use it with a moral compass to find your way in the world.  

I've found it much more useful when trying to trace my own thought pattern than generate ideas.  I haven't had much luck using a mind map for recording a brainstorming discussion, for example.  I think using it for mapping my existing knowledge base is the first time I've actually found a use for it that I endorse!

-sjk

Dose of Skepticism

Everyone knows that it is important to be skeptical to keep yourself from believing theories which don't fit with the facts of the world.  I'm not telling you to completely divorce yourself from the idea of religion, life after death, and other important metaphysical questions.  I'm suggesting that you don't fall for things like this bird-wing hoax.

In the elaborate hoax they pulled, they had videos, fake articles in media, website - the whole nine yards.  In fact, I was initially taken in, because it was such a cool idea that I wanted it to be true.  I'm so glad I wasn't the editor of some news outlet that picked it up, because they must have egg on their faces for not fact checking.

I'm glad they did this.  It pokes fun at the media who blindly accepted what they heard on the internet and it shines a light onto what could be a different part of our gullibility.  I thought my blind spots were pretty well covered, but this one just went right past my bull s*** detector.  It reminded me in a hilarious way that I can't accept everything I read on the internet.  Thank you, science pranksters!

Another tiny sign of the death of privacy

Facial recognition software has come a long way, and I've always been a little afraid of what it could do.  Now I'm contemplating a move to the country, where there is no such thing as cameras, and everyone travels in buggies.  This article discussed the capacity of a new system used to scan public camera systems to find faces.  And of course, the comments followed my exact fears: big brother has another tool to monitor your movement.  

This is another move away from the "privacy" of the past and toward the "privacy" of the future.  By that, I mean that people will become less and less secretive of their lives, unless they are doing something illicit.  They will only object or work around the system when they don't want people to see, of course setting off flags that they should be investigated.  

Is this a step toward big brother?  Yep, absolutely!  But I think that with the myriad of ways we currently tell people about our lives, we're looking at a tiny reduction of privacy.  Google tracks your IP to give you better search results.  Apps allow you to check in at a location.  Tweets are a new way to scream that you're not home.  

Over the next 50 years, x things will happen.  First, we will all become more accustomed to having our privacy invaded like ants under a microscope.  Second, all of the "disgusting" or "weird" things we occasionally hear about will be exposed.  Third, those newly uncovered proclivities will be accepted, provided they don't hurt anyone.  And finally, certain parts of the criminal code will be repealed as we discover that a huge number of people are already breaking laws, and don't want to stop.  

P.S. This last one is dependent, of course, on how much money is tied to it.  For instance, the states are unlikely to raise speed limits because they make too much money off speeding tickets, and/or will lose federal road-maintenance money.  

Timing your work

Today I'm going to tackle a topic that is both a personal issue and strength for me - timing work.  The vast majority of people out there have some sort of metrics relating to work performance, whether it is very specific (number of calls made per hour) or very broad (is my small business making money).  Since time is a finite resource, everyone needs to worry about their own time and how it is being spent.  

I read an article discussing two types of scheduling - forward and backward.  Forward scheduling starts with the estimated duration to find the end point.  Backwards scheduling starts with the deadline and works backwards to discover when it needs to be worked on.  Most knowledge workers, myself included, use backwards scheduling to determine when we need to work on a project and if we'll need to put in overtime or bump another project to get it done.  I'm pretty aware of my capabilities, so I feel pretty good at back-scheduling.  

I run into a problem when I'm given freedom and have to set my own work schedule.  If I'm not given a deadline, I can't effectively back-schedule, and my work load starts to pile up, waiting for a deadline to spur me into action.  Oh, how my life was difficult until I discovered that setting deadlines for myself took care of the problem.  I had to learn that my problem was using backwards scheduling when forward scheduling was appropriate - without knowing what those two were!  

If you have any scheduling strategies and/or stories to share, please post a comment.  

-sjk

New Business Opportunities

Happy Fragrance Day!  I certainly hope you get to enjoy all the people out there who smell nice.

Everyone wants to get in on the ground floor of a new business.  They want to be a part of the realization of the next great idea, and make a pretty penny along the way.  The main problem is how to do that!  There are a lot of web sites that outline ideation, and I really like reading about them.  But when you're a skilled professional that wants to find a growing opportunity, how do you do that?
 
Be excited. As I've begun my personal path toward the front end of the innovation curve, I've noticed that the more excited you are about an idea, the more people are drawn to you.  The more people who are around, the more input you have for your own ideas.  And a bonus is that people will help you refine your idea, not to mention execute effectively. 

Talk to everyone about new ideas.  I'm not advocating that you share all your ideas with everyone.  But if you begin talking to people about new ideas - especially those that you know you will never implement, you become a valuable resource for vetting ideas.  You basically get in on the ground floor of other people's great ideas. 




Share your ideas with everyone.  Ok, now I'm advocating that you share your ideas.  Sharing is the source of many innovations that have occurred in the past.  Many will tell you this is a terrible idea because it lets all your secrets out.  The rewards are not to have the best idea, though.  Those come from great execution.  You just have to be aware that there is competition out there and not be afraid of it. 

I have found these based on a my experience with social media, and applying the ideas I found there.  They are not new, but they do really focus on the value of relationships.  I can't wait until I get to explore new ideas with my grad school teams post-graduation. 

Manipulating Gamers for Data Mining

Actually, this is the second time I came across this topic, and it is very cool.  I had to post on it.  Scientists are using video games to get people to do menial data-related tasks by making it a game!

First Example: Scientists created a computer game called "Planet Hunter" that allowed players to search targeted areas of the night sky - specifically the stars in them.  Those stars had varying luminosity, and when that dipped, it could signal a plant crossing in front.  In their first year, hunters found two planets, and got the titled "Planet Hunter!"

Second Example: Someone came up with an app called "Ghost Hunter" that drove people around to different locations in their neighborhood seeking ghosts.  The people would capture a ghost after finding it, and it would upload a photo of the location.  The article suggested this could be used for creating crowd-sourced 3D maps, for example.  

Third Example: Fitocracy has an app that allows you to track your workout.  But the catch is that it also links to your friends and gives you a level based on the time and activity you complete.  So you get the satisfaction of leveling up, and the thrill of competing with your friends.  In this case, you're data-mining on yourself!

In the first case, they are using our love of games to get us to do menial tasks we wouldn't do if you paid us.  In the second, they are directing your activity by rewarding behaviors that over time provide detailed information about a certain topic.  

What other kinds of things could you push by making it into a game?  Open-source coding efforts?  Electronic filing?  Neighborhood beautification?  Organizing tourist movement at a tourist location?  Reducing traffic congestion?  Getting people to live a greener lifestyle?  Eating right?  Balancing their household expenditures?  Basically, this comes down to another way you can translate a person's need for entertainment into a positive action for whoever sets it up.  

Traditional Media

I'd like to talk about traditional media.  Just to recap: Traditional Media (aka Mass Media) is any communication channel that reaches a broad audience and is inherently a one-way communication channel.  This includes:

• Newspaper
• Television
• Radio
• Internet Banner Ads
• Billboards
• Magazines
• Point-of-Sale Displays

Traditional media is no longer the powerhouse it once was.  In the past, it was very effective because there were a limited number of communication channels, so an advertiser could use one and reach a large percentage of their audience while also reaching a large percentage of the general population.  Traditional Media's reach has slowly declined for a number of reasons, including the proliferation of options in a given communication channel, invention of new communication channels, and the desire to have a 2-way communication relationship with customers.  

I'm not saying that Traditional Media is dead (yet), but when you choose to use them, you have to:

• Be sure you are reaching your target market.
• Have a strong marketing message that has been tested for effectiveness.
• Be willing to make a substantial investment in a small number of media channels. 
• Smoke cigars, drink scotch, and pretend you are in the 1950's.  

Silence Gun

This one is pretty interesting.  If you'd heard about noise canceling headphones, you might immediately jump to the conclusion that this gun produces the same effect - offsetting sound waves that cancel the entire effect of a sound.  Of course, humans have way more ways to make them silent, and this Silence Gun is a completely different tool.

The silence gun works on the mind.  It takes sound and replays it .2 seconds later.  That causes your mind to hear an echo of your own voice and pay attention to your words.   They sound strange, and BAM!  You quiet down because your brain is really really confused.  The device is a psychological weapon that attacks the way you experience reality through one of your senses.

The idea of attacking (playing with?) how a person experiences reality is nothing new.  Stereograms allow you to focus your eyes and have your brain pick out an image.  I also read about a handy way to reduce the pain of a cut using a telescope or binoculars.  Unfortunately the silence gun can be used as a weapon... Now I have to develop a sound-canceling gun to point directly at the silence gun to prevent my voice from being silenced (1st amendment anyone?).

Learning Technology

I love the idea of learning technology.  A piece of equipment that figures out, over time, how to run optimally make life a bunch easier, right up until it stops working and you have no idea how to live without it.  Enter the Nest Learning Thermostat.

This is a great example of taking the automatic learning processes developed in artificial intelligence and leveraging it for use in a mundane environment.  There are relatively few parameters for the AI to track and respond to, so its not nearly as complicated to create and install as it would have been 20 years ago.  And finally, it allows you to set your thermostat and forget it.  I have no idea how many times I have tinkered with a thermostat over the years after having found my optimal setting because of climate change.  :(

Lots of things could do with a little "learning" capability.  Phone systems could learn how to correct bad signals.  Toilets could learn how much water to use in a flush.  Refrigerators could learn when to turn on their compressors based on the fullness of the fridge.  Chairs could learn the height preferences of their sitters based on weight.

Beware, though.  If you make everything smart, appliances will start talking back to you, like in the Flintstones. "It's a livin'."

Net Present Value

Today I impart the most important takeaway ever from Finance or Financial Management.  Always do a project if the Net Present Value is positive. It represents the culmination of a project cost calculation that includes the time value of money and the likelihood of different outcomes, and spits out a value for the project that you can use to objectively compare it to other projects (if you have limited funds).

Net Present Value (NPV) is a financial calculation used to determine whether to pursue a project.  NPV takes into account everything (if possible) about the project.  You need to quantify reward and financial outlay, of course.  But you also need to consider the risk of a project not meeting your projections.  In a simplified example, if you have a 50% chance to win $1 million and a 50% chance to lose $1 million, rationally, the chance would be worth exactly $0.   That evaluation needs to be done with a person's risk tolerance in mind, too.  While rationally that chance is worth nothing, a someone with a high risk tolerance may believe that the possible reward is worth the possible loss.

All financial projections have flaws.  I learned about several of them.  But the model with the LEAST flaws is NPV.  This calculation is the way a numbers-oriented manager chooses new projects.  There are underlying assumptions that must be stated when doing the calculation, but if you only make conservative assumptions, the calculation is defensible and persuasive.

Modular Robots

I think I just stumbled across a very cool idea - modular robotics.  I found this article about robot cubes.  They each have different programming and a different action associated with them.  They can be combined in multiple ways and the resulting "robots" do a number of different actions.  

Modular robotics is an interesting concept.  I like the idea that programming is incorporated in the module attached to the machine.  I'm sure that idea can be extended to other types of robots, rather than the cube-shaped educational toys discussed above.  Today it is already being done to some extent with smart camera, being manufactured by Cognex.  Their cameras have complete operating systems with a human-machine interface built in, and the capacity to connect relatively seamlessly with many control systems.  

Now we just need to get other parts manufacturers to manufacture the same type of equipment.  Pre-programmed hands that know the proper grip strength to not crush an egg.  Pre-programmed pumps or bladders to fight fires.  Pre-programmed treads/wheels/feet, for locomotion.  And of course a central processor that allows the linkage of all those.  And those are just based on the human anatomy!  What about chainsaws?  Size-restricted appendages?  Super-alloy materials?  Magnetic systems?  We could have a modular Magneto robot!

Japanese Crazy Fake Mirror

Whoa, this crazy fake mirror is awesome!  I'm not sure exactly how it works, but it seems to video the person on the other side through video, tracks their movement, and maps it to a character.  Then it displays the pre-made character on the other side of the mirror, as if the character is actually the reflection of the individual!

Outside of pranking people, which is in itself immensely satisfying, you could do a number of other things.  Use the motion-tracked people and environments to test ergonomics.  The one-way mirror technology be the way walls become computer consoles.  Even the motion-capture technology must have been used in movies, though the video didn't use special suits.

I like this use of technology, because it is a novel way to bring together several technologies.  Japanese television in particular loves to bring new and innovative (and sometimes crazy) new products to the market.  I love Japan.  :)

Word is your bond

I'm trying out a new format, dedicating my Fridays to the practical skills and knowledge that a business person needs to succeed.  They will range from basic to advanced, and I will only cover things that I believe everyone in business should know to make them a well-rounded business-minded individual. 

"My word is my bond."  I'm sure you've heard this almost cliche line spoken in old westerns or samurai movies.  It requires a long-standing pride and effort given to building a positive reputation in a community.  It signifies that you can trust that person not to go back on an agreement.  More than that, it assures the listener that you agree in spirit, as well as with terms.  It says that, for good or bad, the agreement has been struck and it won't be broken on my end.  And it doesn't require any more formality than a solemn promise. 

Some today might think this idea quaint.  I believe that many chose to allow the honor represented by that sentence to fall by the wayside as corporate America became more driven by contracts and written documents than by handshake agreements.  More and more, companies and individuals attempted to put into writing every possible circumstance so each side would have the exact specifications of the agreement.  It removed risk, but also removed the partnership and trust that makes separate parties work together well. 

Every business person should be able to make to say the phrase "My word is my bond" and have people respect it.  It would make many things easier.  If you could trust every single one of your employees to do what they say they do, then you can also trust them to bring any problems that are outside of their control to you for corrective action.  If you trust the word of your peers, you can ask them what their priorities are, and not be afraid of stepping on landmines when doing your internal political planning.  And if you can trust the word of your employers, then you don't have to worry that the plug will be pulled on your division without notice. 

I don't want to sugar coat it, though.  There is bad with the good.  Being true to your word sometimes entails work, sometimes a lot, sacrifice or hardship.  You will go far in business if everyone can trust everything you say.  Remember that as you are standing by your word and doing the right thing.

Happy Leap-Day

Happy Leap Day!  Enjoy these vintage photos, courtesy of NPR.

Microsoft Surface

I'm changing the layout of my blog a little, and making it a bit more structured.  I'm devoting Wednesdays to technology.  In the world today, the pace of technological innovation is increasingly rapid.  I know this and it scare me a little.  But I also know that if I stay abreast of it, I will not be left behind.  To that end, I'm going to explore some of the innovative technologies out there. 

Today's topic: the Microsoft Surface!  It is basically a touch screen computer, but it is so much more than that!  Each pixel in the screen is able to "see" what is above it.  And the pixels together can form images and figure out how to react. 

It can interact with physical objects, such as credit cards, if it is linked to a cashier system.  The video suggests that it can also figure out that you just put a cell phone down and make the pictures explode onto the table for quick sharing.  It looks like they are already marketing the surface system for bar/restaurant tops and point-of-sale displays, which are my first two thoughts. 

I'd like to get one, but I have a few reservations about the system.  First, the screen is integrated into a computer, which means that the computer is likely not capable of upgrades.  That means that, despite it's cutting edge nature, you'd have to get rid of the system in a 5-6 years.  I think a screen with a connection to a box that could run the software on it would be a good product to sell to early-adopters of the technology.  It's also missing a text-specific input device.  I'm sure that with vision sensors under your fingers, you could come up with some pretty interesting vision input methods, but I'm sure that hasn't been explored yet.  

4 C's of Social Media

In my SM class, we learned bout the 4 C's of social media.  communicate, connect, collaborate, co-create content.  I guess that could be construed as 5 or even 6 C's, but I'll let that slide.  :)  

The communicate and connect aspects are the ones most used today by businesses.  They are attempting to get to their customer base in a way not before attempted (connect) and to blast them with marketing information (communicate).  That basically is a one-way communication method.  It forces the business into a person's life, which consumers have been fighting for years.  

The trick is to engage people through the last 3rd and 4th C's.  Getting your consumers to talk to you, work with you, and create content with you is the best way to keep them engaged.  To do that, you have to have a conversation.  You have to allow the consumer voice to be heard.  And you have to respond authentically to them.  

To be a true social media hub, you have to be an orchestra conductor.  You have to bring together a profoundly different mix of online voices towards a single purpose.  In fact, the orchestration idea is being used to create new art projects.  This weekend, I'll be involved in a collaborative project with hundreds of swing dancers that will be used to explain quantum computing!  And all the collaboration will be done over the internet.  

Book-Bound Artwork

Wholly crap!!!  This website is un-freakin'-believable!  The artist cuts designs out of books with surgical tools, making entire 3D diagrams out of a single book!  Check out one of the pictures from the site below.

I can't believe the intricate work needed to make works of art like this.  It reminds me of an artist I saw who used layered colored construction paper to do make similar effects, but with much less detail or depth.

The artist uses an existing item, in this case layered paper, to create an exciting works of art.  But the artist doesn't do it with words, which are the traditional message conveyed through books.  Instead it is a visual message....  This is like sending a picture attached to a txt message on a phone.  But so much more cool!  It also reminds me of flip books because it tells a story in 3D.  I wonder what it would look like to have an overlay like this as a flip book....?

Impossible Photography

I listened to a Ted Talk by Erik Johansson, at this link.  He discusses his desire to create photo-realistic images using photoshop.  He seems to be a modern incarnation of M.C. Echer, an artist famous for perspective drawings that were not possible in a three dimensional world.  

One thing he said struck me quite profoundly - his comment that he felt traditional photography was limited.  It is all about the setup.  For a photograph, you have to set up the right lighting conditions, the right scene, and have the right film in the right camera.  And so the photography process ended when you snapped the picture and created an indelible image.  With Photoshop, he was able to extend the creative process beyond taking the picture.  Technology allowed him to modify photography, allowing him freedoms previously reserved for painting and drawing.  

Overcoming a limitation is a great way to come up with innovative processes and products.  For instance, Google Docs allows collaborative editing of google-formatted presentations, documents, and spreadsheets.  They worked to overcome the barriers to collaborative editing by taking advantage of cloud computing and storage technology. 

If I look at another traditional media - sculpting - what can we come up with from there?  The ability to digitize and recreate sculptures at different locations?  A tracking glove or other device that allows you to sculpt in 3D using analog tools?  How about an installation where you combine the two and have a single piece of art that can be modified by others, where you can highlight its evolution over time?  

My first inclination is to put photography in its own category, because it has such a clear delineation between setup and post-processing.  I'm going to continue looking for other places where people move the immovable, or could if they wanted. 

Leadership vs. Management

These two often are used interchangeably, but I've learned in grad school that they should be applied to two distinct, but important, qualities.  I've heard several ways to define the two, and all definitions point to dramatically different purposes and applications.  

One that has stuck with me is that Management is the ability to produce results, while Leadership is the ability to produce change.  Managers take the current situation and existing processes and get them to be the best they can be.  Managers are concerned with things like efficiency, continuous improvement, and other ongoing improvement initiatives.  By definition, they are not focused on, nor produce, chance because that interferes with the system's functioning.  Leaders look at the current situation or processes and, instead of asking "How can we make this better?", they ask "Should this be the way it is?"  Leaders take into account the external situation, including competitive drivers, cultural trends, and a variety of other factors.  When they analyze something, they are prepared to make changes that will benefit the system in the long term, but my cause problems in the short term.  

It is important to notice that the two seem like they are mutually exclusive.  Managers refine and preserve while Leaders change.  But they are both important skill sets for anyone who seeks to be the head of a team of any size.  Each person in charge should be able to get the most out of their reports and systems, but should also be aware of opportunities for improvement through drastic change.  So what school has given me is the ability to think both as a Manager and as a Leader.  I naturally think more as a leader, and have been spending my conscious effort on managerial topics.  I'm very excited to try them out.  

S(CAMPER) attempt for Tissues

The S in the SCAMPER acronym stands for Substitute.  It asks you to look at your product innovation and try identify what you can substitute in the product makeup that would make it an innovative product.  I've found a list of questions to ask at this website, and am going to post here what I've come up with.  I'm going to try to use the S to come up with some ideas for how to change facial tissue.

Let's see.  Repackage the box as oval from cube for aesthetics.  I could have tissues be a stand in for building blocks.  That could be a way to get more schools buying boxes, if they could double as building or stacking boxes when empty.  Maybe they could be a stand-in for temporary storage.  Have removable covers to protect against the elements.  Redesign the package so it can fit into different types of spaces.  Engineer it so it fits in a standard container, then sell refills?  Change the name from facial tissues to clean cloths, and make them way more durable.  Put antibacterial agents on them to protect against infection.  As part of the advertising campaign, you could crowd-source a new name.  Is there some way to disassociate them from colds and the sniffles?  Associate them with feeling better and relief - almost a medical bent.  I feel most tissues are focused on preventing embarrassment for having a runny nose.  

Feelings: Two things jump out at me while using SCAMPER.  First, these are great at sparking ideas.  I got a lot of leads that I likely wouldn't have without the suggestive questions and lateral thinking directive.  The other is that once you get a few ideas, the boundaries of a given letter may make some people uncomfortable in voicing new ideas.  It took me a few minutes of consideration before I allowed myself to run with some ideas up there.  Trying to force my thought process into areas dictated by "Substitute" wouldn't have worked well for creative thinking.

Do you have anything that's been bothering you that you want to Substitute out to make it better?  Product or Process here.  :)

Ballbot

Well, here is something very interesting that I figured I'd share - Ballbot!  This gentleman came on a Ted and chose to discuss his new robot.  The interesting thing about it is how it moves.  It has a single ball under it, rather than a set of wheels.  To control itself, it has three wheels that turn to move the ball underneath it.  The control wheels are in turn driven by a control box, that compares the robot's upright posture with its current equilibrium.  With all of that, it stands upright without seeming to do anything (aside from the 100+ adjustments per second).  It also has some interesting modes that allow it to act as a bit of a toy.

Off the top of my head, I want to get three of those with bumpers on them and use them for juggling.  There are a lot more uses, though, than that.  Mobile serving trays?  Chairs that run up to you when you're ready to sit down?  Drives for equipment in a warehouse?  You could change the ball to be more grippy and durable, and have an outdoor version.  Single-wheel high-speed vehicles?  Positioning is important.  It could be a geeky new toy, or a badge of honor for the super-rich, or the next big elderly conveyance.  It could end up representing the decadence and decline of the American way of life, if its image isn't actively managed.  :(

What I'm trying to say is that the dancing robot routine at the end is cute, but definitely not all that can be done with it - especially if it has some programming already built in.  I can't wait to see one that can take rough surfaces.  That one looked like it couldn't function effectively off of a smooth surface like a wood or concrete floor.  Also, maybe there is some way to make it generate its own electricity from solar, so it can be used as a pack robot outside?  Possibilities are quite numerous.

SCAMPER and Ideation

The process of ideation can be difficult for some people, me included.  But when coming up with ideas, there are many processes that can help out.  One that's both easy to remember and very useful is SCAMPER.  It is an acronym that stands for:

• Substitute
• Combine
• Adapt
• Modify
• Put to another use
• Eliminate
• Reverse

The plan is you should take each of the acronyms and apply them to whatever you are trying to change.  As an example, for "Eliminate", companies cut the number of cords for external hard drives from 2 to 1 by using the power from a USB connector to power the storage device.

When I read about SCAMPER, it strikes me that it works better with products than a service.  All the examples I've found of applying SCAMPER have been for vaccuum cleaners, cups, electronics, and a host of other products.  That said, I'm sure it can be adapted for use with services, as they all have intangible parts to them that can be changed through the use of these methods.  I can't wait to give SCAMPER a try.

Barcoding Artwork?!?!?!

Well, I"m just flabbergasted!  The Wall Street Journal posted an article that discussed how companies are starting to gussy up barcodes!  When I've worked in packaging, I'd always thought of them as a necessary space-wasting technology. Now, as I understand it, some companies are making the barcodes into doodles.  One was a school bus, one was a patch of flowers.  One was a city skyline!

If you're able to incorporate a barcode like that successfully enough into your product, you could get it into the logo!  For example, if you have a logo of a Scottish man in a kilt, you could design the kilt pattern so it is actually a 2D barcode!  Or you could have a snowy background with a barcode.  Or a smiling face, with barcode teeth. And all of them could reinforce your brand.

Divergent Thinking

Have you ever day-dreamed?  The answer is yes, as sure as I'm wearing my comfy sweatshirt right now.  And your subconscious is great at divergent thinking.  It takes a theme floating around in your head (important or not) and builds a narrative.  Your dream will be unique, often interesting, and sometimes surprising.  Your brain follows a strand of story, filling in the details as needed. 

Divergent thinking is the same way.  You use ideation techniques, some of which I'll explore during another post, to expand the number of ideas you are working with.  At the end of a divergent thinking session, you have hundred(s) of ideas that you can refine and combine until you have a working solution to a problem. 

Divergence is not difficult when you are in the right frame of mind and are surrounded by people who are supportive.  The problem is that some people jump to quickly beyond divergent thinking and straight into the next step, Convergent Thinking.  To prevent that, the leader has to enforce rules.  Such as No Criticizing Ideas!  Even using negative words, such as "but" can stifle a person's creative mind.  Using "And" builds on ideas, while not shutting an idea down.  Its a classic improv trick. 

Colors - Moods and Meanings

Since I'm hoping to get into design, I was intrigued when I found this infographic on color and its symbolism in the United States.  And I liked how it even gave some insight into how corporations choose logo colors.

When I was young, a friend used to have people over every Friday night for a dance party in his basement.  It was a little lame, but I was 14 and had a really fun time.  He had an adjacent bedroom with a king-sized bed that everyone used for relaxing.  It was lit by exactly one bare light bulb in the middle of the ceiling.  Originally it had a red bulb in it, and everyone liked it because it gave the room a calm, relaxed atmosphere.  But when it burnt out, and was replaced by a blue light, everyone stopped hanging out in that room.  It had lost its relaxing vibe, and picked up something much more energetic, despite being about the same brightness.

Ever since then, I've paid attention to how color affects people and their moods.  It's also given me reason to pay attention to a person's favorite colors.  I haven't noticed any patterns yet, but a certain lady I know loves the color yellow, and she's one of the most bright, energetic people I know.

Happiness Advantage

Train your brain to be more positive, and you receive a host of benefits.  Hm...  The benefits of a positively oriented brain are familiar to me.  I wonder if following the five suggestions they have would make me even happier.  Follow these suggestions for 21 days to improve your happiness doesn't sound so hard.

3 Gratitude - Writing three things each day that you are grateful for makes your brain begin scanning the world for positive rather than negative things.  

Journaling - If you write about a positive experience, it allows your brain to relive it.  

Exercise - Teaches your brain that your behavior matters

Meditation - Allows your brain to get over the cultural ADHD created by our multitasking culture

Random Acts of Kindness - Write 1 email every day praising or thanking one person in your social support network.  

Let's see... I'd say that if you do each of these things every day, we'd be talking about 40-60 mins/day.  I'm going to give it a shot and try it out!  :)

3D Printers

3D printing is super awesome!  It allows you to repeatedly deposit layers of material, eventually creating a full three dimensaional object.  They run off CAD designs, and can create an enormous number of different objects.  Additionally, it can also create those objects using a crazy big number of different materials.  Reading today, I found out that there are 3D printers that can work with many different types of metals, plastics, food (such as frosting), and even human tissue (printered bladders are real).  You can hear about a printed human kidney here.

I've been thinking of the application possibilities for this type of technology.  The most blatant is to replace traditional manufacturing, specifically fabricating a part out of a single material.  That would likely be with single-material printers, but could become more robust with multi-material heads based on the sophistication of the system.  You could also sell items to people over the internet that are able to be printed on a 3D printer.  This one is more problematic until the technology become pervasive in the consumer home.  That said, you can certainly use it for artwork and small through-the-internet sales of artsy or specialty products.

I'm very excited about this technology, and am thinking about investing in a 3D printer of my own.  To do so, I'd need to overcome a couple barriers - the biggest one is that I don't know how to design 3D objects in CAD software.  Not impossible, but something I'd have to learn.

Dr. Seuss Sums up my philosophy on people

Today, I'd like to talk about someone very important to me - Dr. Seuss.  His books guided me when I was young, both in fueling my imagination and in guiding me in my life.  The Places You'll Go was a gift to me when I graduated from high school, and its message has stayed with me ever since.  


Now, I'd like to talk about a different quote, specifically: 




‎"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss


I've been living this way in my social life for a while now.  The latest time I've come across this is actually with a winter hat shaped like a baby seal.  It's cute and most people think its awesome.  And I wear it when I'm not at work, so it doesn't affect me professionally.  But one person actually suggested it was a little too crazy, and I politely told her that it was my choice and I liked wearing it.  I bet a couple years ago I would have been much less likely to deal with it that maturely.  


It took me several years to figure out who mattered and who didn't.  And I'm still struggling with the idea that those who matter don't mind.  The problem is that, in my job, I often face political concerns that forcibly bring "the people who don't matter" into my life.  I've read many business books that suggest that if you have a strong will and the right direction, those people will melt away, but that just isn't the case, especially for my age.  

Technology of Storytelling

I happened across this TedTalk, discussing the technological evolution of story telling mediums, beginning with the book, movies, twitter, etc.  Originally, we had the oral tradition of passing down stories.  Then it began to incorporate the visual, when we began creating pictographs in caves.  Next came the written word, in the form of the first writing systems.  And since then the main innovations have been adapting the medium (light, sound, paper) to better convey the story.

I've read about the basic structure of a story - the characters, plot, and settings.  I love storytelling because it allows you to use a medium, either new or old, to tell a story that is completely unique.  One of the dangers today is that your work will be derivative.  This is especially important when you consider the speed at which information moves through the collective consciousness.  But everyone adds something to any idea they touch.  That said, I tend to shy away from telling stories because they can be so heavily influenced by the world around you, which is toady filled with other people's information.  But down the road...  :)

This fits into the technological evolution of just about everything in our society.  Social networking, manufacturing, and even FOOD, all are moving from traditional methods to more modern techniques.  I would like to suggest that, once again, our society is changing in a fundamental way, and its impact will not be fully understood for many, many years.

Ideo and the Deep Dive

Years ago, I saw a story done on ABC Nightline profiling the company IDEO.  They are based out of Palo Alto, CA, and specialize in consumer product innovation.  Basically, they take a product (in this case a shopping cart), analyze it via their process, which I'm going to disect below, and come up with a prototype for an innovative version incorporating their findings.

They don't show their entire methodology, of course.  But from the video, they have several stages they go through for their planning. 

1. Issues discussion - brings to the forefront the most important concerns of the product.  These can be any identifiable need or desire.  (e.g. safety, security, ease of use, mobility, looks, color, texture, reusability, etc.)  
2. Qualitative use investigation - interview people who use, make, repair, monitor (or any other adjective) think about the current product status.  They seem to focus on what the product is not good for and what the customers want the product to do.  This is a hands-on activity that includes personal interviews, facility visits, and individual trails.  They want to find the real experts on the product.  
3. Share Learnings - teams from the qualitative investigation return to the office and communicate their findings.  This allows more data to be gathered by splitting the investigation and get everyone on the same page before moving forward into brainstorming. 
4. Brainstorming - They begin by throwing out wild ideas and posting them on the wall.  Those ideas are encouraged to be crazy, but on topic.  This leads to a wild bunch of ideas that fuel each other and generate more themselves.  They also ding people (by ringing a bell) to stop people from attacking ideas.  
5. Idea narrowing - The team votes on the best ideas for innovation based on constraints set up by the moderator (time, materials, cost, etc), and those are moved to the design board.  The team makes sure there are advocates for each representative group to prevent the most important issues from falling through the cracks.  It also helps prioritize them for discussion and inclusion. 
6. Mock Ups - At this point, the full team splits up into smaller teams to make a first version of their new product.  This is then presented to the group at large.  Each is evaluated, and eventually combined into a single prototype - the final deliverable for this process. 

This video was the impetus behind my desire to move into a more creative job.  Their team organization, the short deadlines, and the ability to use my well-rounded skill set is exciting.  They follow innovation procedures similar to those I learned about in grad school, but what I'd really be concerned with is how they would fare in our increasingly technological world.  I'm sure that since this segment aired, many competitors have begun to compete based on niches (automotive, electronic) or specialty services (green production, integrated marketing). 

I am in no way deterred, though.  Despite the probable competition, I believe innovation is more important than ever before.  I look forward to exploring more later.