Fairly regularly, in my neighbourhood, a block gets shut down to road traffic so that the local community can emerge from their homes and hang out. Usually, it is very kid-centric, food, treats, games, sports, and always plenty of chalk … Continue reading A Community Block Party That Mattered
Hyperlapse is the latest and greatest. Just a couple of days after I had a conversation about Microsoft’s upcoming reveal of an image stabilisation tool with @The_Solimonster – my genius creative tech colleague – Instagram has one in production, a single … Continue reading Beta Learning: Download App, Press Record, Mutter Hmmmmmm
I visited Tate Modern at the weekend for one of their shows in the magnificent Turbine Hall. It was something to do with immigration and Notting Hill and the carnival and modern London life, maybe. I captured a little video … Continue reading One Moment, Art Installation; The Next, A Fight For Survival
We have so many stories to tell. And stories sell. A slight problem is that there is more information created every two months than in the previous history of the universe. FACT.
So, every story has a little competition on its hands. What to do? Well, when you are dealing with pain and guts and glory then a tearful, heart-wrenching stream of consciousness will probably do the trick.
But what about when the topic is teaching the process for submitting your expenses, or sharing your company’s three strategic pillars, or understanding why return on invested capital is critical for the long term success of the company?
A little bit of work is required, a bit of prep. How to unlock the power? How to galvanize the troops to follow you into spreadsheet battle? How to cut through the clutter?
Last night Lola, aged 6, was telling a story at bedtime to Lori, the details of which I was not privy to, but it was a real story, with detail and intrigue.
I remembered that aged 3, I recorded Lola regularly, asking her to tell me something, a story. Almost without deviation, her stories where highly literal descriptions of something in the room applied to an action.
“I want to tell you about windows that open…”
I expected some kind of genius insight, but, well, not really. It seems it takes a while to build up the strength and muscle of insight and regurgitation.
So, what are your storytelling skills like? Are they rich with insight and intrigue, or are they regurgitations of what I can already see with my own eyes?
Continue reading “Tell Stories: Weave Narratives. 10,000 Years Of History On Your Side”
The ability to socialize – communicate, build a network, prosper with people of all persuasions – is an ability that all young people do not have, apparently.
They are stuck behind screens of various dimensions and mobility! They are playing video games for 30 hours A DAY! They are all flaming and trolling innocent others and punishing all and sundry with nary a thought for hurt and shame! They have lost the ability to speak and have grown massive thumbs with which they grab the world and shake it…
All of it nonsense.
Continue reading “Fiendish Child: What We Have For Lunch Matters”
Young people are VERY annoying. They ignore your sage advice, they throw out all your “best” practices. They call you square. Now, one might be prone to a sanguine shrug, a “What do they know?!” But no, we don’t. We … Continue reading Fiendish Child: Follow Them To The Edge
Kids’ brains are being rewired, almost in real time, away from storing data to knowing how they might (re)find data when required – aka Dr. Google. Don’t believe me? Google it. FACT! Knowledge is increasingly less valued. Not undervalued. Your … Continue reading Fiendish Child: Knowledge, So What?!
Last year I worked through a few changes in the way people and organizations (co)exist, especially as technology changes our world(view) and networks blow away rigid structures. I called this series X is the new Y. Well, one article I read today really has 9 new Xs, so to speak, all from the genius of Joi Ito, head of MIT Media Lab. (Explanations begin around 16:30 of video) Ito calls them principles of innovation, and they fit perfectly into the x:y perspective. Resilience is the new Strength Pull is the new Push Risk is the new Safety System is the … Continue reading X Is The New Y: Another Take
SO, we are done and done. The pecha has been kuched, so to speak. It took a couple of weeks of thinking, iterating, practicing, culling, worrying, and letting go to get it done. It ended like this, in front of around 1000 people The whole process from start to finish was highly enjoyable. There is nothing quite like seeing the work come together before your very eyes, alongside the learning. Double whammy. This is the storify of the process of working out loud on a pecha kucha about working out loud. It got a bit meta, but I just about … Continue reading #PKyvr33 Close Out: It Was All Worth It, From Beginning To End
A Pecha Kucha checklist: 20 appropriate images chosen Single talking point for each image Script of sorts created A clear sense of outcome(s) from being there Slides played at real speed to understand justhowquicktheychange or – how – slowly – they – change so that 15% of the speech is NOT saying “Oh, wow, this goes so fast / hmm, where is the next slide!?” Like a flyweight boxer, all senses moving in rhythm, feeling light and honed Vague plan to deal with inevitable last minute fear that supercedes all the preparation that went before it Level of comfort that … Continue reading #PKyvr33 Day 17: Let’s Do This Thing
We are getting down to the wire now. The deadline for the slides for #PKyvr33 was yesterday, and I am basically there. One conundrum is the final slide – how do I best create an opportunity for MORE, encouraging others to participate, connect, network? The delight of pecha kucha is each presentation is easy-come,easy-go. The issue is that I don’t want the work to be just that. I want it to matter to some people. The last slide is a calling card of sorts. Ha. I am probably over thinking it, but still, people pays their money! So, I need … Continue reading #PKyvr33 Day 13: The Content
This Much We Know 