Category: Story + Narrative

Story + Narrative, The Future of Work3 Comments

Farewell Guru, Hello Awesome.

ThisMuchWeKnow

When someone calls themselves a social media guru / ninja etc. I puke up in my mouth a little. Just sayin’. The great Guru boom is over pic.twitter.com/mmb7dQg0wj — Benedict Evans (@benedictevans) November 27, 2013 So I liked seeing this graphic on the death knell of the guru in job postings. Thank you, and good night, gurus everywhere. But what is this? Instead, the rise of the AWESOME! Oh, dear. As an Englishman, I used to use terms such as brilliant, wonderful, excellent. Now, living in N. America I use awesome, which, as my trusty source reference Urban Dictionary confirms, … Continue reading Farewell Guru, Hello Awesome.

Social Business, Story + Narrative, The Future of Work1 Comment

Everything I Learned About Change, I Learned From Rocky Balboa.

ThisMuchWeKnow

By film number VI, Rocky Balboa made have had some brain damage, but boy can he deliver a punch(line). I go back to this video extract (minus the intro-outro titles) at least once a year – it is the best piece of advice about working on change I have heard. Let me tell you something you already know… It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…You gotta be prepared to take the hits. Sometimes, when we talk about change, about the future of work, about embedding social inside the enterprise etc. we can get bogged down … Continue reading Everything I Learned About Change, I Learned From Rocky Balboa.

Story + Narrative, The Future of WorkLeave a comment

Won’t You Entertain Me?

ThisMuchWeKnow

According to an AdAge article, digital natives switch media venues 27 times an hour during non-working hours. This translates to an attention span of lasting 130 seconds. Yowser! As a digital immigrant, I was thinking how crazy it is to be a digital native and the schizophrenia it must cause – then I read that we ‘immigrants’ change media 17 times an hour. Crikey. Apparently, “What they (natives) are looking for is engaging content, and they dismiss so much stuff.” They are less inclined to adhere to the traditional beginning-middle-end mode of consuming content. They demand more. As communicators, as … Continue reading Won’t You Entertain Me?

Story + Narrative, The Curious Will Inherit The WorldLeave a comment

Where Do Kids Learn?

ThisMuchWeKnow

Yesterday, I wrote about where expert practitioners learn: from many sources, iteratively. Often, I parse an idea through my kids – the child’s clear eye of genius unlocks an essence long lost by me. So I asked Lola “Where do you learn?” and she immediately pointed to her brain. Of course! Then, she mimed (and why not?!) school, home, outside; then morning, afternoon, and night. And then, she wrote it all down, to ensure I understood. It was a full-body learning experience. Not only did I learn where she learns, but how. Marvellous. ←This Much We Know.→ Continue reading Where Do Kids Learn?

Social Business, Story + Narrative1 Comment

“Social” Is Good For Us: It Raises The Bar

ThisMuchWeKnow

This excellent WIRED article is worth revisiting again (yesterday, because it highlighted how 90% of everything is crap.) Enabling an audience, as the internet does for free, with zero barriers to entry, makes us work harder to provide value. When our work is stuck on a hard drive, or scribbled in a journal / notebook, it can languish, unloved, badly crafted. When, instead, we work out loud and share, we work darn hard to ensure there is tangible value to be gleaned from the content. Working out loud makes us better – all of us. As I have written before, … Continue reading “Social” Is Good For Us: It Raises The Bar

Personal Branding, Story + Narrative, The Curious Will Inherit The World2 Comments

Sturgeon’s Law: 90% Of Everything Is Crap. Yes.

ThisMuchWeKnow

We read more than we have ever done. And there is more stuff to read than every before – exponentially more. According to some random blog (ok, a WIRED blog, but who cares, I’m amplifying something I read online and you are reading it): The science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon famously said something like, “Ninety percent of everything is crap,” … I couldn’t agree more with Sturgeon’s Law, but nor could I be happier. That law allows me – nay, it practically invites me – to write. Stuff, crap stuff maybe 90% of the time, but stuff I am interested in, … Continue reading Sturgeon’s Law: 90% Of Everything Is Crap. Yes.

Social Business, Story + NarrativeLeave a comment

The Overview Effect: How Things Change Forever

ThisMuchWeKnow

The first picture of Earth, from space, was a pivotal moment in mankind’s journey of self-awareness. This is a great little video that talks about: “an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.” In some meagre way, I feel the social business journey does the same thing. When work is not about me; team; company – but instead an embrace … Continue reading The Overview Effect: How Things Change Forever

Social Business, Story + Narrative5 Comments

Hiring Advice From Dee Hock (Or, Why Experience Is Unimportant)

ThisMuchWeKnow

Which of these personal attributes is most important in someone you are hiring? Capacity Experience Integrity Knowledge Motivation Understanding I asked 25 students this question this week. Three answered ‘Integrity.’ This is the ‘right’ answer, according to Dee Hock – a leader before his time. Founding CEO of Visa, Hock has some great words of wisdom on many topics. Stumble upon more about these words here. I made a prezi to walk through this (see right – unfortunately and erroneously deleted). However, the gist of it goes like this… On hiring associates, Hock opines: “Hire and promote first on the basis … Continue reading Hiring Advice From Dee Hock (Or, Why Experience Is Unimportant)

Social Business, Story + NarrativeLeave a comment

73% Say: When I Share, I Care…And I Learn

ThisMuchWeKnow

Interesting infographic on how and what people read online. The data that most interested me: “73% say they process information more deeply, thoughtfully, when they share it.” So, when you share, you care more – about the info, about the recipients. This is something that has heavily impacted the way I work since beginning to work out loud, socially. I am constantly thinking: “(how) would this be useful for others?” I am curating content for my network (how ever small) – I am putting them first, AND learning more at the same time, by concentrating more on the data efficacy. … Continue reading 73% Say: When I Share, I Care…And I Learn