Thursday, November 22, 2012
It's All Right Before Your Eyes
Recently, I had the opportunity to take a few practice swings with my brother-in-law's putter. It felt good in my hands. I liked the length, which was shorter than my own putter. I should cut one of my old putter's down to that length, I thought. I have a putter in the basement that would be perfect.
I rummaged through the basement closet in search. I went through my wife's golf bag, where I sometimes store old clubs. I began pulling items out of the closet for a better look.
No putter.
I unpacked the upstairs storage closet. Still no go. I went over to my sister's house, where I'd stored my clubs while my wife and I were travelling for a year, convinced someone had liberated the putter for their own round. I rummaged through their closets and in their golf bags. No putter. Had I lent it to someone and never got it backI? My recollection was foggy.
Eventually, I gave up looking and wrote the putter off. It was gone, sucked into some other plane of existence.
And then last week, I found that putter in the basement closet where I'd first looked, shining out at me like a beacon. It wasn't in some dark corner or hidden behind skis. It was right in front of my eyes. Somehow, in my initial search, I'd looked right through it.
A few days ago, in the kitchen, my wife asked me to pass her the olive oil. I looked at the spot on the counter where the olive oil always is kept, now just an empty space. "Where is it," I asked.
"Right there!" My wife's back was turned as she chopped onions. She turned, pointing to the olive oil bottle— right before my eyes. It was sitting two feet away from it's usual place, but it was still in my line of sight. I didn't see it, even though I was looking right at it.
My wake up call was the event this morning when my wife added "shampoo" to our grocery list. "But, I just bought some last week," I said. "No, you bought conditioner." I marched straight into the bathroom. "I bought shampoo!" I found the bottle, looked at the label and sure enough, there it was in plain letters — CONDITIONER. That mixup stung, because I'd made a point to double check the label while in the store to ensure I was buying shampoo and not conditioner—and still got it wrong.
Now, I might very well be going senile, but, I don' think that's the case. Disregarding my sporadic inability to pull up words when I want them, there's no other evidence to support it. The root of the problem is a wavering lack of alertness, making me blind to things right before my eyes. I have a growing awareness that this is happening most days in my personal life and have decided to make a conscious effort to change it.
Which then makes me think—what's getting past me in my working life? How much else am I looking right at and choosing not to see?
Seeing is not a true experience. It's selective. In order to cut down on processing the volumes of data that our eyes deliver, we've conditioned our brains to unconsciously choose what to process of all that we see. We see, but we don't always register that we see.
Need to test this theory? Watch a movie and then watch it again the next day — a good movie, by a director who knows what he/she is doing. Notice what you missed the first time you watched. The sub-plot you didn't even know was there, the facial expression of an actor that reveals something new, or an action in the background that changes the whole perspective on a scene and busts the film wide open. Your brain, having already processed the movie once the first time you watched it, is free to process more and allow you to see it all over again.
The incidents with the golf club, the olive oil and the shampoo switcheroo are signs of a constant struggle with an attention deficit that if left unchecked, will affect the quality of my working life. Blame it on an overactive and undisciplined brain that likes to run like an open tap when it's excited or anxious. I have to make a deliberate and conscious choice at the important moments to be present and alert. In fact, I know that being able to be in the moment and truly see what is happening in each moment is one of the keys to a successful, fulfilling life.
Pull out a project you're working on and "re-watch the movie," reviewing it all over again. What do you notice this time? Is there something you missed that could raise the whole idea to a new level? Are innovations, connections and ideal solutions still waiting to be discovered because your brain chose to miss them the first time?
Learning to retrain your brain and re-see is a whole other topic in itself. But, for today, for THIS MOMENT, will yourself to be totally aware. It's a choice. You're brain doesn't run mental marathons on its own. You can choose what you think and choose to see what you want to see.
So go ahead and choose.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Push It Forward

Launch days like that remind me that good work rarely gets completed all in one day. Things happen in pieces, moving forward in baby steps and leaps before finally coming together at the deadline in a flurry of activity. The secret to getting a successful new site launched on time, or any project for that matter, comes down to simply pushing things forward each day.
It's how things get done.
Prominent on my desk is an ever evolving list of ongoing projects and initiatives. And everyday, I go through it and review the next actions to be completed that will push the boulders a little further up the hill towards the finish line. It might mean grinding it out and getting my part of the project completed. It might be a phone call to a team leader or an email to a developer. Sometimes those conversations are simply a weekend debrief followed by a quick status update. And sometimes, it's a kick in the pants reminder that a timeline has been missed and no one's coming forth to explain why.
David Allen promotes tracking and recording Next Actions as a foundation for getting things done, which is why his very detailed and methodical book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity is a worthy read. Did I mention detailed? This guy goes into the minutiae of organization, which can be a bit daunting. However, I guarantee it's worth picking up a copy.
It's easy to get overwhelmed, viewing an ongoing project from a wide angle and seeing all the pieces that need to come together — and wondering if they ever will. Too many great initiatives suffer from poor quality and execution because somewhere along the way, the mojo was lost. Someone wasn't maintaining a narrow focus and actively pushing the small pieces forward. Consequently, the flame that lit the project burns out and getting that fire going again can take double the time and energy it took to start up in the first place. In my experience, once the momentum is lost, it rarely comes back as strong.
When I get home feeling mentally sapped from a hectic day, often all I want is the couch and back-to-back episodes of House Hunters. But, I know there are other things I want to do — write that eMail for the non-profit. Read that article. Research new trail bikes. I know it won't all get done that night, but if I can complete one next action and propel it forward, over the course of a few nights, it all magically gets done without much effort.
Agreed, sometimes problems and creative blocks are solved from taking a break. So pause, if need be. But, never let a time out go on too long. Keep the next action ready to go and after a healthy amount of time, resume shunting that project down the pipeline towards completion.
Want that oh-so-brief but mildly uplifting sensation of knowing you've accomplished something today? Review the ongoing projects from the ground level, seeing all the pieces and then ask yourself, "What's one thing I can do today to to push things forward?" Steve Jobs said it — "Great artists ship." Whether it's great or not can't be determined unless you get it out the door. - K
Monday, June 4, 2012
The King Of All Media Comes Into His Own
A credible argument could be put forth that Howard Stern came into his own a long time ago, however prime time TV is one area where he has yet to leave his indelible mark. Perhaps because he's aware of this himself, he's taken up residence this season as the left sided judge on NBC's televised gong show, America's Got Talent. Not surprisingly, he's making the most of it.
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You love me, America! You really love me! |
Yet, here he is once again and looking very comfortable in his big prime time opportunity. He's been on TV before. There were a couple of stints on the Fox network, the second attempt a short lived and ill conceived attempt to go up against Saturday Night Live. He was on the E! Network in the U.S. during prime time, but it was a smaller cable network with a limited audience and the show was merely a televised version of his morning radio show with Howard and his crew hiding behind microphones, trying to uncover the bridge between good audio and good video. It didn't always work.
Now he finds himself front and centre on a major network and a hit show with an established fan base. Call the brand of humour that made him famous what you will — crude, sensationalistic, sexist, low brow or downright mean and petty. In his new prime time slot, he's been forced to leave most of that behind and rely on his years of honed comedic timing and a comfort in who he's become to keep things entertaining.
It's working. The other two judges, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne, seem to like having Stern around. There is an ease and good humour at the judge's table, like they might actually be having fun with this preposterous gig. Piers Morgan, Stern's predecessor, could never manage that. Piers always seemed to be sporting a perpetual grimace as if internally he was debating whether his decision to be on this show was helping or hurting his career. Howard, a self confessed fan of AGT, appears to be relishing the opportunity. Unlike Piers, Howard is willing to engage and ham it up on stage with the contestants, something he's no stranger to having done it for years on his radio show. His 6 foot, five inch frame vertically challenges the TV screen and he looks a little awkward climbing out of his seat and slouching about on stage. But, he pulls it off.
And why wouldn't he? AGT is a natural extension of what he's been doing for years, discovering the truly bizarre oddballs and freaks of the world and turning them into comedic entertainment. He has a knack for uncovering the interesting human element in even the most undeserving loser and transforming that into something of value worth watching. And with his ridiculous Wack Pack and morning show team left on the sidelines, he's able to step out and just be Howard. He still manages to bring a much needed edge to the proceedings. On one episode, when an escape artist contestant narrowly misses being crushed by snapping steel jaws, Howard quips that he won't be content with the act until he sees someone die. The joke feels a touch inappropriate for prime time family viewing, but it's sly enough to slip by. After all, it's what every viewer is thinking and if there is one thing Stern is not afraid to say, it's what everyone is thinking. Howard continues to ride that edge just as he's done all throughout his career.
The only thing holding this season of AGT back from truly busting out is the inane host, Nick Cannon, who seems so starved for attention, it's embarrassing. One has to wonder just how shitty he must feel about himself when he looks in the mirror and remembers his antics from the previous evening's show like a bad hangover. Don't try so hard, bro. Learn from Howard. Keep it real and just be yourself.
During the filming of episodes in his home town of New York, Stern brought his elderly father up on stage for a comedic bit that no doubt melted the heart of even the most hardened Howard hater. Stern's always had a contentious relationship with his father, the paternal tension forming the driving force behind his life long desire for attention and approval in any manner he can get it. This night, with his father on stage beside him, the two berated a contestant in a classic Stern family dressing down. Yes, it was a funny, but one couldn't help wonder if it was a contrived effort by Stern to prove to his father that after years of being loathed by mainstream America, he was now experiencing his shining moment. "I'm on TV on a station where you and everyone can watch me. I made it Dad. I made it."
Yes, Howard. Indeed you have. Enjoy.
Monday, March 12, 2012
We Are Just Getting Started
“Only Apple could deliver this kind of innovation, in such a beautiful,
integrated, and easy-to-use way. It’s what we love to do. It’s what we stand for.
And across the year, you’re going to see a lot more of this kind of innovation.
We are just getting started.”
Tim Cook confirms my suspicions from the start of the year at the "new iPad" event on March
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Where Do We Go From Here?
As noted in a previous entry, Apple was unusually quiet over the winter holiday period. Now we know why. Without even a single media peep or product announcement, they were quietly racking up the biggest earnings quarter in company history; the second biggest sales quarter in history for ANY company.
The numbers include over $46 billion in revenue and $13 billion in profit. 37 million iPhones and over 15 million iPads were sold. It's going gangbusters in Cupertino.
Can they sustain it? Armed with these results, most "financial analysts" are bleating yes and predicting 2012 will be another stellar year. The rumours continue to swirl about new iPhone and iPad models, and with these two products alone accounting for 75% of Apple's business, one can't help but agree with the sheep.
The iPad is where it's all at and the vehicle Apple will drive hard to sustain their massive growth. Watch Apple's do as they successfully did with the iPhone — hold on to the older iPad 2 model and drop the price to $349 to create an entry level product and then introduce the faster iPad 3 as a premium option with a high-density display and Siri voice control features. Two models means twice the sales. Throw in their recent digital textbook announcement and school boards will be gobbling up the cheaper iPad 2. There's no limit here, only sky. Say goodbye to the PC — the tablet IS how it will be and Apple will innovate and market the hell out of the iPad models to ensure everyone comes around to their vision of the future. Siri voice control will play a huge part in that future and so will the iCloud sync services. And don't forget about a possible entry into the TV market. Apple is in the business of 'screens of all sizes to access your digital life' and TV is the next logical step. They've had plenty of fine tuning time with AppleTV. Whatever they come up with, it will first disrupt, then confuse, be dismissed and eventually become the industry gold standard.
Speaking of the new textbook announcement, the whole Education Event in NY felt lacking in the usual Apple flair. When first appearing on stage, Phil Schiller looked shell shocked, as though someone had just told him his dog died. It was a rocky start and throughout the presentation, the usual Apple buzz was missing.
Everyone talks about the focussed intensity and innovation that Steve Jobs brought to the company and how Apple will miss his leadership, but I say it is salesmanship, not leadership they will and already are missing. No one could SELL an idea like Steve. Not Phil Schiller or Eddy Cue. We craved whatever Steve was demonstrating. I didn't get that feeling from this presentation until long after it was over and I had a chance to play with the iBooks 2 and iTunes U apps myself. Then I got it. The good news is that Apple products still sell themselves once you get your hands on them. But, Steve's gift was to ensure you wanted to get your hands on them as soon as possible.
Salesmanship. That's what Apple will truly miss.
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iPads are where we go... |
Can they sustain it? Armed with these results, most "financial analysts" are bleating yes and predicting 2012 will be another stellar year. The rumours continue to swirl about new iPhone and iPad models, and with these two products alone accounting for 75% of Apple's business, one can't help but agree with the sheep.
The iPad is where it's all at and the vehicle Apple will drive hard to sustain their massive growth. Watch Apple's do as they successfully did with the iPhone — hold on to the older iPad 2 model and drop the price to $349 to create an entry level product and then introduce the faster iPad 3 as a premium option with a high-density display and Siri voice control features. Two models means twice the sales. Throw in their recent digital textbook announcement and school boards will be gobbling up the cheaper iPad 2. There's no limit here, only sky. Say goodbye to the PC — the tablet IS how it will be and Apple will innovate and market the hell out of the iPad models to ensure everyone comes around to their vision of the future. Siri voice control will play a huge part in that future and so will the iCloud sync services. And don't forget about a possible entry into the TV market. Apple is in the business of 'screens of all sizes to access your digital life' and TV is the next logical step. They've had plenty of fine tuning time with AppleTV. Whatever they come up with, it will first disrupt, then confuse, be dismissed and eventually become the industry gold standard.
Speaking of the new textbook announcement, the whole Education Event in NY felt lacking in the usual Apple flair. When first appearing on stage, Phil Schiller looked shell shocked, as though someone had just told him his dog died. It was a rocky start and throughout the presentation, the usual Apple buzz was missing.
Everyone talks about the focussed intensity and innovation that Steve Jobs brought to the company and how Apple will miss his leadership, but I say it is salesmanship, not leadership they will and already are missing. No one could SELL an idea like Steve. Not Phil Schiller or Eddy Cue. We craved whatever Steve was demonstrating. I didn't get that feeling from this presentation until long after it was over and I had a chance to play with the iBooks 2 and iTunes U apps myself. Then I got it. The good news is that Apple products still sell themselves once you get your hands on them. But, Steve's gift was to ensure you wanted to get your hands on them as soon as possible.
Salesmanship. That's what Apple will truly miss.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Where The Music Matters
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John Richards gets real excited Photo courtesy of KEXP |
John Richards is the best reason to tune in to KEXP. Not to take away from the great shows the other KEXP DJ's produce, but John Richards is the ringleader, the maverick, the voice of the radio station. Listening to his morning show streaming from Seattle is like being back in university and hanging out in the dorm room of the guy who had the killer sound system and a vast and eclectic record collection. Time spent in that room was an education in itself and John's that perfect teacher — a geek, a romantic, a rebel. He's funny and irreverent; his taste in music is stellar. Woven into each show are the instincts of an artist and great storyteller, each song choice revealing a new dimension to the tale or shading in a character's traits. Random computer generated music selections do not exist. What you get is a human being expressing himself through his musical taste, whims and encyclopedic knowledge in an attempt to connect deeply with his audience.
Name a radio station where you can eMail in a request and the DJ will personally eMail you back? Or a station that will play a song twice in a row — just because they can? If you tune in to KEXP over the next few days, you might catch John playing The Lumineers Hoy Hey which, as far as he's concerned, is the best song of early 2012. Which is why he plays it twice, back to back. That's the secret — spontaneity. He'll play Chet Baker because good friends just informed him via Twitter they had a baby and named him Chet. And then follow it up with The Replacements' I Will Dare.
It's live and interactive. It's the complete freedom to play vinyl. It's humorous and it's touching. His tribute show to his mother after her death was the most moving four hours of radio ever. It was the first time I heard Jeff Buckley's rendition of Hallelujah. I was compelled to stop what I was doing and just listen.
I was mesmerized the first time he played Death Cab For Cutie's Transatlanticism. By the end of the day I had the album. It was like that for Of Monsters and Men and Sigur Ros, for The Joy Formidable and The Decemberists.
KEXP is how radio used to be before it became formulated. It's a living, breathing, sweating organism. It's rock and roll, it's punk, it's jazz, it's Johnny Fever and WKRP in Cincinnati. The morning show visits unexpected places. Sometimes it is a horrible failure and John knows when that happens. It's all part of the charm and mystery — he just may fall flat on his face. It's something you'll never get with an iPod. I love the immediate access to all my music, but an iPod playlist never tells me a story. The Genius feature in iTunes is less genius and more disappointing. It will create a playlist of random music based on genre and song tempo, but it never takes a leap that surprises me.
I began to tune in to KEXP while sitting at my desk at my previous job. Being on the west coast and three hours behind meant John was just starting his show when I'd be getting down to my work at 9:00 a.m. While in Seattle last year, my wife and I dropped by the station to contribute our annual donation in person. KEXP is public radio which means they subsist on donations and funding. There are no commercials to pay the bills (another reason why listening is such a pleasure). Upon learning that we'd come all the way from Ontario, the very kind KEXP'ers gave us a full tour, showing us every room and broom closet. We had a chance to talk with the staff who seemed genuinely interested in our story. They stopped their work, said hello, asked questions. These are people with purpose, crammed into a very tight building to do their work and who view running this station as a noble cause. Where The Music Matters is their mission statement and behind it is a passionate commitment to ensuring music does not go the route of indifferent automation, but retains its originality and human soul.
I didn't get to formally meet John that day. He was in a production meeting when we arrived. However, as we were wrapping up our tour, he passed us in the hall and flashed a shy smile. My instinct was to stick my hand out and say, "John! Love the show!" but it felt intrusive and with part of me inside shrieking like a hysterical teenage girl as the guy who I've spent so many mornings with walked by, I needed to play it cool.
I am content to keep listening each morning and share the occasional eMail exchange. I plan my work around John's show — it is the very best way to start the day. I am continually inspired by his unwavering belief that by playing music that would rarely get airplay anywhere else, by sharing his daily musical story and journey, he is making the world a better place.
And he is.
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