Here is a clip of Jimmy Fallon and Christina Aguilera using office supplies and used them as instruments to perform Christina's "Your Body."
Here is the "Instrument" list:
stapler, iPhone keypad, coffee pots with pencil drumsticks, roll of sticky tape, water cooler jug, tissue box & elastic band guitar, spiral notebook (a.k.a. the "tear snare"), keyboard washboard, paper clip shaker, and scissors.
Innovative, talented, and pretty cool.
I was watching some of our team chat about the new iPhone 5. They shared the link for the video and said things like "Wow, dude ... I want one so bad!"
Here is a link to Apple's official iPhone 5 promotional video.
There is also a spoof of the video. It is very funny ... worth watching for a laugh and some perspective on how "big" the Apple brand promise has become.
In many ways, the spoof made me want the phone even more.
As a side-note, wouldn't it be great to design a product that was spoof-worthy?
As you think about what a spoof of your product or service would be, perhaps the bit of "truth" in the humor points at the real competitive advantage ... or at least towards the roadmap that leads towards creating one?
Perhaps you heard, Apple sold a few new iPhones last week.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this should tell quite a story.
The first picture shows the first hurdle ... just strong demand ... right?
At a little after 2am CST, the iPhone 5 seemed close. The upgrade process starts.
Clicking the button, however, resulted in no joy. The site was unavailable.
OK, lots of people must be hitting the site all at once. Let's try again ... and again ...
Progress; at least this is a new page. They must have fixed things?
It's after 3:30am and the next picture shows why pillows seem more likely than gadget love.
Give AT&T credit for good planning. How many ways can you anticipate failing?
I sleepily imagine my propeller beanie being taken away for failing to score ... my early adopter status is wavering as much as my sleep deprived body.
Oh, Apple's site probably sucks less than this ...
Alas, there's still a chance to wait in line this Friday.
Are you planning on getting the new iPhone?
Energy flows where focus goes … and questions are a great way to direct focus.
Planning is one thing, “real life” is another. So, how do you give stakeholders a clear picture of what’s happening, the relevant business terrain, and the best path for them to navigate given their daily challenges and objectives?
15Five is a
management tool that can help with those issues. It consists of a few simple questions that
each of your direct reports has an opportunity to fill out each week.
The name, “15Five”, comes from the concept that it should take someone 15 minutes to think about and fill out their answers to these questions; while it should take you about five minutes (per person) to review those answers and give feedback. These responses can be public or private, as you see fit.
The good news is that 15Five is simple and usable. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out.” More importantly, though, “Nothing in, nothing out.” If people don’t use a tool, it is tough to benefit from it, regardless of how “good” it is.
So, How Did Our Team Respond to This New Tool?
Predictably, after a week or two of using it, several members of the team approached me to ask how long they'd have to do this. However, just a few weeks later, some of those same people shared how much they're enjoying the process.
Ultimately, they recognize that it's helping them raise their focus from the immediate to a chunk higher. They also recognize that it's a chance to have a one-on-one conversation with their boss about what they want to talk about … without taking time away from their work or interrupting their focus time.
The 15Five process also gives respondents a chance to think about and prepare worthy answers (rather than to feel tongue-tied or regretful that they failed to mention something when they had the chance). The result is something they are likely to be proud of – and something to build upon.
For the manager, it is a chance to give individual attention to each respondent. It also provides an easy way to comment (or ask for additional information) about specific ideas. Just click a button and write your note. The other party gets an email that they can respond to directly, or they can see it in the conversation thread for that week’s report.
Where Is Value Added?
15Five helps people think about the business (rather than simply working through their daily grind). It helps them recognize why what they are doing matters, and how what they are doing helps move things in the right direction. As a result, using the tool builds confidence and momentum. Ultimately, 15Five helps people steer themselves to take appropriate actions and make better decisions.
As a trader, I understand that price is the primary indicator of the market. However, to get a better understanding, many traders use secondary indicators (like sentiment, momentum, rate of change, or even the response to good or bad news). Beyond a direct communication tool, these are the types of insights that the 15Five feedback mechanism makes possible.
For example, don't just look at one week's set of responses in a vacuum. Instead, notice the tone and the amount of care that someone uses when they send you their information.
Coachable Moments.
Here is another example. If someone typically writes three or four sentences to respond to a particular question, but this week they only responded with three words, that might be an important thing to pay attention to and note.
Sometimes a non-answer is important. Last week one of the questions was “What challenges are you facing? How are you going to fix it, and where do you need help?” Someone answered that they were not facing any new challenges that week. Great, right? Or, is that really an opportunity for coaching?
In that situation, my response was: “There are always challenges. Sometimes they are easy to spot because they clearly present themselves as problems. Other times they can show up as opportunities or choices … Sometimes, however, they are harder to identify because they could stem from something as subtle as conflicting desires. Remember that the goal of the question to look above the day-to-day activities to focus on your higher level intent and purpose.”
The point is that 15Five gives you great opportunities to add value - and the time to notice coachable moments. Here are some examples:
From my perspective, the thought process and preparation may be more important than the answers themselves.
So, Is It Worth Paying For?
15Five helps avoid communication problems by creating and preserving appropriate context for decision-making. In addition, it is a tool you can use to effectively direct focus and “steer” the company.
It is also worth noting that 15Five feels like a separate tool. Because of that, I suspect people respond differently to it than they would to a simple email or a discussion thread on the corporation’s private intranet.
Ultimately, this
process is something that people like better and gain more value from as they
do it more and do it better.
Bottom Line: It
clearly adds value. Give it a try.
Energy flows where focus goes … and questions are a great way to direct focus.
Planning is one thing, “real life” is another. So, how do you give stakeholders a clear picture of what’s happening, the relevant business terrain, and the best path for them to navigate given their daily challenges and objectives?
15Five is a management tool that can help with those issues. It consists of a few simple questions that each of your direct reports has an opportunity to fill out each week.
The name, “15Five”, comes from the concept that it should take someone 15 minutes to think about and fill out their answers to these questions; while it should take you about five minutes (per person) to review those answers and give feedback. These responses can be public or private, as you see fit.
The good news is that 15Five is simple and usable. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out.” More importantly, though, “Nothing in, nothing out.” If people don’t use a tool, it is tough to benefit from it, regardless of how “good” it is.
So, How Did Our Team Respond to This New Tool?
Predictably, after a week or two of using it, several members of the team approached me to ask how long they'd have to do this. However, just a few weeks later, some of those same people shared how much they're enjoying the process.
Ultimately, they recognize that it's helping them raise their focus from the immediate to a chunk higher. They also recognize that it's a chance to have a one-on-one conversation with their boss about what they want to talk about … without taking time away from their work or interrupting their focus time.
The 15Five process also gives respondents a chance to think about and prepare worthy answers (rather than to feel tongue-tied or regretful that they failed to mention something when they had the chance). The result is something they are likely to be proud of – and something to build upon.
For the manager, it is a chance to give individual attention to each respondent. It also provides an easy way to comment (or ask for additional information) about specific ideas. Just click a button and write your note. The other party gets an email that they can respond to directly, or they can see it in the conversation thread for that week’s report.
Where Is Value Added?
15Five helps people think about the business (rather than simply working through their daily grind). It helps them recognize why what they are doing matters, and how what they are doing helps move things in the right direction. As a result, using the tool builds confidence and momentum. Ultimately, 15Five helps people steer themselves to take appropriate actions and make better decisions.
As a trader, I understand that price is the primary indicator of the market. However, to get a better understanding, many traders use secondary indicators (like sentiment, momentum, rate of change, or even the response to good or bad news). Beyond a direct communication tool, these are the types of insights that the 15Five feedback mechanism makes possible.
For example, don't just look at one week's set of responses in a vacuum. Instead, notice the tone and the amount of care that someone uses when they send you their information.
Here is another example. If someone typically writes three or four sentences to respond to a particular question, but this week they only responded with three words, that might be an important thing to pay attention to and note.
Sometimes a non-answer is important. Last week one of the questions was “What challenges are you facing? How are you going to fix it, and where do you need help?” Someone answered that they were not facing any new challenges that week. Great, right? Or, is that really an opportunity for coaching?
In that situation, my response was: “There are always challenges. Sometimes they are easy to spot because they clearly present themselves as problems. Other times they can show up as opportunities or choices … Sometimes, however, they are harder to identify because they could stem from something as subtle as conflicting desires. Remember that the goal of the question to look above the day-to-day activities to focus on your higher level intent and purpose.”
The point is that 15Five gives you great opportunities to add value - and the time to notice coachable moments. Here are some examples:
From my perspective, the thought process and preparation may be more important than the answers themselves.
So, Is It Worth Paying For?
15Five helps avoid communication problems by creating and preserving appropriate context for decision-making. In addition, it is a tool you can use to effectively direct focus and “steer” the company.
It is also worth noting that 15Five feels like a separate tool. Because of that, I suspect people respond differently to it than they would to a simple email or a discussion thread on the corporation’s private intranet.
Ultimately, this process is something that people like better and gain more value from as they do it more and do it better.
Bottom Line: It clearly adds value. Give it a try.
Check-out Vizify if you want to see an interactive infographic all about you, your online activity and personal interests.
It was fast, easy, and fun to create -- and customizable enough that the result was better than expected. See for yourself.
via Vizify
It uses data from social media sites, so you don't have to type. Very clever.
Click here to have Vizify create an interactive infographic about you.
Sometimes you need a little caffeine boost.
Well, I heard about Sheets energy strips, which are a dissolvable energy-supplement, and figured I'd give them a try.
Each sheet is the equivalent of half a cup of coffe, with some vitamins and nutrients added for good measure.
They are distinctive because they are paper-thin, individually wrapped, dissolvable strips. No pills. No liquids. No sugar. No calories.
I watch programmers down Red Bull, Monster, Bawls, and Five Hour Energy ... yet, somehow, I know that isn't for me.
Energy Sheets are more subtle than that. They provide a quick and convenient energy boost without the sugar crash. And they work and taste good enough that I now keep a few in my back pocket and computer bag so they are there when I need them.
They also have sleep-time product called Sleep Sheets. It is honey flavored with melatonin and extracts from goji berry and chamomile — which are natural ingredients purported to induce restful sleep.
All-in-all, worth a try.
Instant Gratification & Shortening Attention Spans.
I was showing my son a web video -- and in less than a minute he was texting someone.
Let me make that more clear ... it was Less-Than-A-Minute! ... while he was standing with me ... and he did it without hesitation, apology, or sense that shifting his attention to the phone was in any way a bad thing.
I know "get over it". He was probably texting before we spoke, anyway; right?
You're probably seeing similar behavior more often too.
It is scary to realize how easy it is to focus on a phone, iPad or e-mail rather than a person.
Upon reflection, we spend a lot of time alone together.
There is a difference between physical presence and being present.
Focus can be pretty fragile if it isn't a conscious choice.
To demonstrate this, here is a seemingly easy challenge ... simply listen to a favorite song.
The challenge is how you can truly do that without losing focus and having other thoughts intrude (for example, without thinking about your to-do list or other songs that you like, or who you're going to meet with later in the day, etc.)? For me, the answer was not that long.
Sometimes it feels like modern life causes attention deficit disorder.
Attention Deficit Can Be Dangerous If You Aren't Aware of It.
Yet, losing focus while trading, in business, or even during a simple conversation - can have serious consequences.
When you are not aware of your focus, I bet it wanders. Mine does; I get distracted easily.
It didn't take long for me to realize that this happened to me while talking to my wife, while listening to a telephone call, even when ordering food at a restaurant. How can I lose focus on the waitress while I was ordering? Apparently, quite easily.
How about you? When you're listening to someone talk to you, are you really listening to them - or are you checking e-mail, texting, browsing a website, watching TV, playing a game, or thinking about what you're going to say?
Be honest with yourself; how often are you fully present? For me, the answer was not nearly enough.
Great graphic shows whether you should check your e-mail.
Here are some of the posts that caught my eye. Hope you find something interesting.
They just released a beta of the 4.0 version of their MySpeed plug-in for Flash, YouTube and other video sites.
Now imagine how much time you could save by watching at 1.5x to 2x the normal speed.
Use MySpeed to adjust the content to your preferences.
Take control and watch video at the speed you choose. The Enounce MySpeed plug-in adds a speed control slider that will allow you to change the playback rate of Audio/Video content. Patented Signal Processing keeps audio sounding natural (not "chipmunked") at all speeds; and allows listeners to comprehend and remember the information.
Here is a demo.
MySpeed is a great time-saver. More importantly, it makes things more exciting and easier to remember. It makes sense. You probably read a lot faster than most people talk. Well, after getting comfortable watching at 1.5x, going back to "normal" is painful.
I've used their products for years. MySpeed works great for audio and video. If you listen to business or training sessions, then this is a must-have. Check it out at Enounce.
I love the moment of discovery, when something unimaginable springs into being.
Sometimes frustration or seeming failure is the catalyst for something better.
With that in mind, I saw something that made me smile. Here it is.
Theory is when you know everything, but nothing works.
Practice is when everything works, but no one knows why.
Sometimes, however, theory and practice are combined ... that's when nothing works and no one knows why.
Here is a Dilbert comic that pokes fun at how hard it is to stay tech savvy these days.
