A thought I had a rough idea of some time ago, but the usual suspect pinpointed it better than I could have done it. That’s why he’s a master and I’m a novice. Thanks Seth!
Archive for March, 2010
Word-perfect
March 10th, 2010Can’t it be just like TV?
March 10th, 2010Martin Langeveld, a man with several years in the publishing industry, has recently released a white paper on the iPad’s opportunities for publishers. It’s based on a presentation he gave to an audience whose mindset is stuck somewhere back in time. Considering this circumstance, he steps up quite progressive, involving ideas of permission marketing, building a fan base with your subscribers. But he also suggests trying to force Apple to give away customer data so the publishers would have easier access to their yet-to-become-subscribers’ personal information, hence easier game on ads and monetization. Stupid old habit.
Whenever something remarkable hits the marketplace, it’s good that obviously no member of the old guard has been on the board who made it happen. Because their demand would have been: “Can’t you make it so it’s more like TV? Y’know, back then when there were only 3 networks?”
Sorry to repeat myself, but TV as in 20th century TV is over. Finito. Kaput. Looking at the history of communication, 50 years of TV are just a tiny fraction. Yet it seems to be the one with the most impact so far, mainly because we were foolish enough to believe what the box told us. What the nostalgia addicts are asking for is not TV as a medium, but the sheepishness of its audience. Now there is a medium on which almost everyone is a sheep, because no one can predict what’s next (with a certainty some people expect or they won’t invest).
To some this is exciting, to some just scary. Guess who’ll survive.
Rome
March 7th, 2010…wasn’t built in a day. That’s how we use to say, meaning “Take your time, don’t hurry” or “You can still do it tomorrow”, an excuse, a cheap ticket to procrastination. I’d like to add a new interpretation here. It’s easy to have an idea, but it’s hard to turn it into reality (implying that this very idea is not something you can do easily). Considering Rome, it was comparatively easy to have an idea of a grandiose city, but it was hard to build this place. It took ages of persistent effort to get it done.
Or like Edison put it: “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% transpiration.” Which calculates like 100 days of execution per day of invention, which is still efficient as efficient can be, I think.
We’re quite thoughtlessly swift about using phrases like “pigheaded determination”
Once you have set up a schedule, respect it. You don’t have to like it. But you will like the result.
Spacesuit Monkey
March 7th, 2010Being the first to do something is quite an ambivalent issue. It can be fun, make you feel great and earn you success. But you might also have a hard time, feel miserable and fail in the end.
Truth is that it’s a mix of both, and whoever you ask about an occasion when they were the spacesuit monkeys, the final result determines the way they tell the story. Because even the hardest times feel like having been worth going through when you succeed, just like the best of times feel shallow when you fail afterwards. Not necessarily though, but most likely.
That’s why it’s no use to bother and think back and forth over your next challenge. You can do it. Today we have more resources than ever, people are available more than ever and most of us crave to do something that matters, something that makes a difference, something that gives this day a meaning. And people are afraid, just as you are. But they’re also just waiting for you to tell them how much you enjoyed doing it.
I know. You have one more question. (Thanks Hugh!)
Name it!
March 7th, 2010Whatever you’re doing or about to commence, it’s important to be really clear about not only what it is, but what the result is going to be. For instance, working day to day is more than just making a living, it is also having and saving money for future expenses or investments. Buying a blouse is more than just shopping, it’s composing a new business outfit.
Almost everything you do has a hidden value that’s worth finding when you lack the motivation to quickly get moving. Once you’ve found it, name your activity the same. If it gains (perceived) value by this, it’s more likely your motivation will too. And if you find that the new name didn’t add any value (like saying “measuring waste of time” for playing games), it’s time to revisit the question if what you’re doing is worth doing at all.
Art vs. Craft
March 3rd, 2010Art is going out and doing something you’re passionate about, creating something that causes change.
Craft is knowing how to shape your art in order exceed (or meet) standards and expectations.
A lack of craft can prevent your art from being recognised as what it is.
When we admire artists, it’s not only about what they have done, but also how. Picasso was only admired when people realized how hard it was to paint like he did. What sets a “pro” artist apart from an “amateur” is that she has mastered her skills and never stops challenging herself, never settles. Every other explanation is an excuse, because it’s not the tools. Today every tool and material is cheaper than ever (except the ones available on the black market, but that’s another issue), so everybody could start doing whatever they like.
The challenge of doing art has not gone away, it has merely changed. Not only must you have a great idea, the tools and the skills, but also the perseverance to make it real. If you don’t, it’s easy to ask for help.
Enough?
March 2nd, 2010How much abundance can we create? Will there always be scarcity of something? How much is enough?
One Amazon was enough. One eBay was enough. One Google was enough. Continue the list yourself.
Every individual seems to settle for their favourite merchant of whatever, and overall we don’t really contribute actively to the variety of them. Most of the time, we’re just plain lazy. Not enticed enough by the opportunity of change, but dreaded by the risk. Plus, the above mentioned companies solved the scarcity problem in their niche good enough, sometimes excellent. Which eroded the need for something that was just a little better or a little different. Again, the challenge has been reset to come up with something totally different or totally better.
Every era seems to breed new dominators of certain markets. Which is good motivation for everybody to start something new — you could be next. It is also a warning sign for every current dominator — you too could be next. The risk is determined by the kind of relationship you have created with your client. If it’s just circled around the exchange of money and goods, you’re basically out of business every night your shop closes. The more value you add to your customers’ life, the more valuable your relationship, the longer your business prevails. The sought-after “magic”.
Which brings up the next question: How do you prevent the magic of your business from wearing off? You can’t. Here’s why: You can’t please everyone. Mass-compatible businesses like eBay or Amazon have lost their magic because becoming a commodity was built in. Don’t aim for this. It’s better to have customers who are absolutely passionate about you and market your business to their friends, which easily compensates for people who are all but. Everyone defines the “magic” for themselves.
Synergy is not achieved by compliance, but identical passion. Aim for becoming indispensable.
