The Three Sides of the Quality Triangle Are Dead

There used to be a really cool model for producing great work, three sides of a triangle that dictated how things would happen. 

Side 1 of the Triangle = Quality

Side 2 of the Triangle = Speed

Side 3 of the Triangle = Cost

It was reasonable that you could ask your clients (or yourself) to pick two. Only two of the sides could be achieved at once. 

If someone wanted Quality and Speed, it would Cost MORE.

If someone wanted Quality and low Cost, it would take LONGER.

If someone wanted Speed and low Cost, the Quality would SUFFER. 

People lived by the Quality Triangle for a long time. But that time has passed. 

I love Amazon, but it's model is to provide ALL three sides of the triangle. It has embraced that on a significant scale. And this approach to business (the expectation of customers) has permeated every industry, from creative to manufacturing (though we may all  be loathe to admit it). 

If you're a creative especially, this can be a hard thing to accept. We need our time. We always need MORE time. 

What's the solution? We can rebel against the collapsing of the triangle. But we do this at our own peril. Going slow has come to imply that someone is passing you. Being expensive implies someone can do it for less. And though the qualities others provide may only be 90% as good as what you provide, there are some people who can't appreciate that last 10% anyway. 

I'm not advocating for less quality or less time or that we cheapen ourselves. I am advocating that we be aware of the market, and figure out how we are going to respond accordingly. Providing deeper value is part of the solution. Audience/customer experience is key. So maybe we start there. 

Thoughts?

2017 Progress Report: My 3 Words

My three super words for 2017 are Deepen, Sharpen, Share. These are the three words that are supposed to guide my approach and intention through the year. 

• Deepen: Working on deepening relationships is not easy. Especially when you would prefer to not to talk to anyone - which is my usual resting state. So one thing that works for bringing a little juice to my game is focusing on another word entirely: Gratitude. Every morning I spend time meditating around this one word, what it means, and what I can be more grateful for. I usually think about the ONE THING that is frustrating me the most, then I try to come at it from a place of gratitude and questions like 'Why the hell am I facing this challenge?. This often forces me to accept responsibility for where I am, and by extension allows me to go deeper. Mostly, but not always. 
• Sharpen: This is about upping one's game. When asked how he would approach cutting down a tree in six hours with just an axe, Abraham Lincoln replied "I would spend the first four hours sharpening the axe." You can't do great work if you are dull, and I've been working pretty hard at eating well, getting exercise (T25, yo) and being awake to opportunity. This isn't a 24/7 proposition, but my game is getting better - especially creatively. Improving habits. 
• Share: This is perhaps the thing I need the most work on - and is directly related to the deepening mantra above. Because I'm a hermit who would prefer just sitting in front of his keyboard (sharing online counts very little - sharing with the people in front of you is the goal), I need to force myself to share. To have conversations. To engage.Even at work, I can disappear for hours and not talk to anyone. So I'm trying to pick one thing to share with the people closest to me, each and every day (you have to start somewhere).

Overall, I'm doing all right. There's still lots of room to grow and shake things up. To make bigger impressions. To connect more. To love more. That's the goal, isn't it?

Try the 95% Rule

Einstein's 'Theory of Relativity' is, at the end of the day, all about perspective. How you see things is a direct result of your position in space. 

So what if we made the choice to put our headspace in a positive place? So that what we saw was through a filter pf gratitude and joy?

This doesn't always work. The glass half-full conundrum fails miserably when the glass is shattered by illness, depression, death, poverty, war or a myriad of other things life likes to throw at us.  People out there are suffering well beyond anything considered humane. That's indisputable.. 

But I bet 95% of the time, for most of us, happiness is a choice. Those of us who are lucky enough to live in the middle, in relative comfort, should exercise that when we can. 

Thoughts?

What do We Want to Create Today?

When was the last time you asked yourself that question?

Was it this morning? If not, why not?

What's holding us back?

Who are we trying to please, other than this goal?

Are we all afraid it might not be good enough?

Or would we prefer to watch other people make stuff, every time we turn on the TV?

Just some questions. 

Get Started with the Cool Calendar

Want to create some cool stuff? Of course you do. 

Here are the steps:

• Download this cool calendar, where you can mark off your daily progress. This was inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, who forced himself to #FindtheHour and write comedy everyday. Thanks Jerry. 
• Have some fun. This isn't a chore. This is you. If you break the streak, so what? Just start again. 

So do you want to commit to do this with me?  The first person who comments below - and who is in - will get some #FindtheHour swag and some other coolness down the line. I'll also be posting at least 3-4 times a week letting you know how to make it easier - and will look to you for ideas as well. Let's make it happen. 

Music to Create By

Need some inspiration? Hell, I do. 

Create to this:

Enjoy. 

The Seduction of False Victories

This is Day 40 of my '100 Days of LinkedIn', which is 100 posts on content creation and the movie business. Call me crazy. 

In most movies, there is a moment in the story about half-way through where the plan just might work. 

• Pages 45-60: False Victory - Things are going right, then suddenly they aren't. (In Indiana Jones, Marion is taken hostage by Germans).

In business, this happens all the time. You win the big account and all seems right with world. 

Until...

Things change... and the bad guys close in. You snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

Your answer to this is where Academy Awards are won and lost. And where businesses rise or fall.

What We Need Most: A Revolution in Civility

With all that's going on in the world of business, politics, and on the streets of the inner cities, the real revolution isn't so much a radical approach of new ideas as it is a radical embrace of civility. The simple act of respecting one another enough to show common decency and grace has vanished, a tremendous casualty. 

That perhaps is where our deepest thinking needs to happen. Around regaining our ability of discourse. 

It's obvious that businesses like Wells Fargo have lost their way. Politicians disrespect any ideas but their own. Law enforcement and 'the people' push the edges around each other, often at deadly consequence.  

Our differences aren't what we need to smooth over. That's the good stuff. 

Our approach to how we communicate, how quickly we pull the trigger, how we respond to an idea that's different than our own: that's what needs to be examined.

Ask forgiveness. Give forgiveness. That might be a great place to start. 

Fun and Games

This is Day 39 of my '100 Days of LinkedIn', which is 100 posts on content creation and the movie business. First I post it here, then I post it there. Call me crazy. 

If you haven't read my post about how the structure of a good movie is similar to that of a good business and maybe even a good life - you might want to start here.

Right now, we'll take a look at FUN AND GAMES, which usually occur within 30-45 pages/minutes of a movie - and how this might relate to what you're up to.

• Fun and Games (pages 30-45): Your decision to enter the New World look like the right one. Minor obstacles are overcome, and everything looks pretty peachy. Beware: this is a false victory. 

This is when the bad baseball team gets the new coach, has some initial fumbles, but then goes on an immediate winning streak. Or when Indiana Jones finds the first real clues to where the Ark is. 

Or, in the case of the BELVEDERE SALES LEADS, I start closing deals. I start making real money for a change, and maybe buy myself a Porsche and a house on the beach. Hey, I'm King of the World. 

Or, maybe it's when you start to see big orders rolling in. You ride around the office on your hoverboard giving your people high fives.

In business - this is the initial run of success. But as we all know, sustainability is the ultimate goal. Not the one-off moment of champagne and Black Label Vodka with Kanye.  

Because, again as we all know, those things lead to hangovers. And the very old saying:

This too shall pass.  

There's a hurricane out there somewhere. 

Game on: In it to Win it

This is Day 38 of my '100 Days of LinkedIn', which is 100 posts on content creation and the movie business. First I post it here, then I post it there. Call me crazy. 

If you haven't read my post about how the structure of a good movie is similar to that of a good business and maybe even a good life - you may want to start here.

Right now, we'll take a look at the TURNING POINT, which usually occurs within the first 20-30 pages/minutes of a movie - and how this might relate to what you're up to.

By page 30: The Turning Point - our hero (you) is thrust into the NEW WORLD. 

Pretend for a moment that you're working your hapless job under the fluorescent lights of another eternity. When suddenly your co-worker Jack hands you the legendary BELVEDERE LEADS. These leads, it has been said, can only lead to more sales and untold riches.

The catch?

They cost $10k. But the ROI on that promises to be so much more. We're talking happiness. 

The other catch?

You're broke. Barely paying rent. The only thing of real value you have is your Mother's diamond ring she left you just as she passed away from cancer. A shitty death. 

So after much debate, you sell the ring. You get the money. You get the leads. And now...

You have entered the New World. Everything is set for you to go on your journey and grab the golden ring...

If only it were that simple.

Some of us never sell that ring (which in itself might propel it's own journey). Or move away from the ordinary world. Take the chance. 

So sad. 

Go make your business your life and your life a movie. It can be done. 

SXSW 2017: Microcasting your Way to Success

I've spent a good part of the last two weeks watching the Olympics. It's been a terrific study in how to reach millions of people: high drama, great production values, lots of various platforms.

But what about the person who has a huge idea but a small budget? How do they get  heard?

Lately, I've been giving a fair amount of thought to this and a concept I'll call Microcasting. Too many people measure success by audience size, views and retweets, but what if you took a different approach and delivered your content to just your most passionate audience, however small? Kevin Kelly says you need only 1,000 True Fans to be successful, so what if your strategy was less about ‘broadcast' and more about ‘microcast' to tap into your niche audience to effect change? 

To that end, I was lucky enough to be invited to be part of a potential panel for SXSW with Hanson Hosein, Gillian Sheldon, and Liv Faris to discuss just this. Our session is called Microcast: The Future of Fan Engagement, and will outline a step-by-step approach to real ROI for brands and causes, and discuss actionable ways of making a powerful impact even with shrinking budgets and ever-changing algorithms. Our belief is that by thinking about the ‘small game’, you can really set yourself apart on the path to true audience engagement and growth.

Want to help get us into SXSW?  Give us an upvote at: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/67954

Even if you don't have access to Michael Phelps before he leaps into the history books again - you can make a big difference here. Thanks for your time. 

3825.5 Miles of Good Road

As some you may know, I just got back from a journey with Jim Pidgeon and Diego Castello working on a documentary about The Power of Dreams. The documentary features Forrest Fenn, who 6 years ago hid a treasure in the rockies worth 2 million dollars to get people off their couches and 'out into the world'.

His philosophy is simple: push the edges. 

Hearing him talk about that - hearing how he pushed the edges throughout his life - was an amazing experience. An experience that explores the fine lines between curiosity, obsession, and lunacy.

Making a movie, writing a book, singing a new song - this is lunacy. You are risking it all and putting it out there. You are exploring and pushing on the corners of your own big world. 

For me, this isn't always easy. I love the routine. The easier path. The tried and true. Certainty. 

But certainty is our greatest illusion. And creativity our greatest truth. 

What am I searching for? That point of contact between horizon and the road you are standing on. 

What do you think? Tell me your dreams. 

#FindtheHour Launch Party

Some of you may know that I have started a #FindtheHour movement - currently a movement of one. What this movement is about:

• Finding the ONE hour a day to work on what makes you happy. For me, it's writing. For you, it might be photography, or painting, or learning about real estate, or.....
• What is foundational to this pursuit is this question: What would you be doing in life if you had no financial/family/work obligations? Like, if you won the lottery and were smart about it. Whatever the answer to that question is, is what you should be doing for that hour. 
• One hour sounds so easy, doesn't it? It's a heck of a lot harder than I imagined. The first day I almost broke - but it's gotten (a bit) easier as I've gained some momentum. 
• "I'll start tomorrow" are the words that kill passion and creativity. Now is the time. 

How to get started:

• Pick a time of day that works best for you.  My time is 9:00 - 10:00 at night. But this means I have to look at my weeks carefully to know when I have events or dinners, etc. Then I have to plan accordingly. On those days, I try to knock it out first thing in the AM (for many people, this is a great way to get the day started and will become their default). But I'm still experimenting. 
• Let anyone who is going to be affected by this new mission (husband, girlfriend, etc) know what's up and get their buy-in. This is critical. And let them know about the progress you're making along the way so they can get excited too. 
• Be diligent. When the hour hits, you have to turn off the email, sit down, and DO THE WORK. Nothing gets in the way. Nothing. 
• Download this cool calendar, where you can mark off your daily progress. This was inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, who forced himself to #FindtheHour and write comedy everyday. Thanks Jerry. 
• Have some fun. This isn't a chore. This is you. If you break the streak, so what? Just start again. 

So do you want to commit to do this with me?  The first person who comments below - and who is in - will get some #FindtheHour swag and some other coolness down the line. I'll also be posting at least 3-4 times a week letting you know how to make it easier - and will look to you for ideas as well. Let's make it happen. 

Don't Break the Chain - Let's Get a Streak Going. 

There Are Only Two Questions

There are really only two questions:

Are you a Buyer?

Or, are you a Seller?

If you're creating content like I am (commercials, scripts, movies TBD), then you're most likely on the selling side of the equation. Pitching. Trying like hell to communicate value. 

In this era of noise and static and infinite content, it can appear a challenging place to be. Buyers (the people usually with the money) can appear to hold all the cards. 

But if you remember you have something buyers need (and if you really do), it is possible to flip the conversation. To get Buyers to have to sell you. Reframing the conversation is important and possible. 

Especially if you stop treating yourself like a commodity. Because you are truly not everyone else. 

Make sure that last sentence sinks in. 

BTW: if you are neither a Seller or a Buyer, you're not really in the game. 'Artists' sometime pretend to live in this space, but not the pros. The pros embrace. 

What the Weekends Are For

What's nice about the weekends? So many things. 

A chance to regroup. Reset. Reconnect with family, friends. Take a pause. Reflect. 

And damn straight, put on your dancing shoes. 

But it's also a great time to look at the week ahead and make dates with yourself. 1 hour time blocks each day where you can #FindTheHour and focus solely on the work that matters to  you. 

If you schedule it now, today, you have something to aspire to. 

Every Sunday night at 5:00 I've got an alarm that goes off reminding me of this. It's some of the most important work I do all week. 

                            My current streak. Squares represent Days I've missed.  Oh well. Get back on the horse. 

Want to let me buy you coffee? Email me.