Talk Like a Pirate Day!

 

Capt Terry Sparrow and First Mate Deanna spend "Talk like a pirate day" talking like pirates. See First Mate get fired, play with a mime, ride dangerous elephants, and stand trial as a witch! (If nothing else the Hack and Slash portion is a good show!)

Corporations must make their own Game

Chris Brogan and Julien Smith talk about “Making your own game” in their recently released book Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust. According to Brogan and Smith (2009), “making your own game is not just about trying to find innovating ways to improve your brand or business: It’s about understanding that the tools to let you do this are at your disposal…”

An exercise in the book asks the reader to think about setting new rules and breaking old rules. Gatekeepers=status quo. Gatejumpers = rulebreakers or someone who has found innovative ways to accomplish things outside of the norm. Some examples listed were:

• Radio > podcasters
• Print magazines >blogs
• Microsoft Office > Google Docs

The concept is easy to understand right? I think so.

Tonight I was listening to a podcast, Media Hacks episode 16. If anyone is interested the podcast is available on iTunes for free.

Brogan and Smith participated in the podcast. I found the podcast interesting, but I have to comment about the idea that making your own game in a corporation is hard.

I think everyone would agree that getting an organization to change and be a gatejumper is hard. However, if a gatekeeper does not find a way to be a gatejumper won’t they cease to exist? Microsoft, Yahoo! and AOL are all examples of organizations that must gatejump or eventually cease to exist. The automobile industry is a perfect example of the status quo suffering from not innovating and breaking the rules.

Can one person on the inside of a gatekeeper make a difference? I think so. Isn’t this a key idea in Tribes? Spread your passion with a group and a common leader. The leader could be the innovative person in the gatekeeping organization. The leader might even be the data analyst that just automated a bunch of reports.

I think leader is the key. Innovation is not enough for an individual to change an organization. Breaking rules and innovating is still not enough to change an organization. Someone will need to lead and spread the innovation and passion throughout the organization.

Organizations can not leave this to management. Management is not what organizations need in today's fast paced business world. Organizations need leaders – at all levels. Take risks, failing is ok, learn from the failure and take more risks.

Corporations must make their own game. Will this be hard? Yes, but the alternative is a slow death.

Last night I came across another gatekeeper gatejumper example:

Wii > Project Natel

Project Natel, if successful, is a great example of gatejumping. Can you imagine a gaming system that recognizes you? I can barely imagine a gaming system without controllers? Wow!

What are some of the gatekeeper / gatejumping examples you came up with?

Huzzah!

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is here! The thirty-third season at Revel Grove in Crownsville, Maryland is back, full of fun and more importantly Cheesecake on a stick! Yummy!

For those that plan on attending the festival be sure to print out the discount coupon. You must hurry though, the coupon expires on September 14, 2009.

Entertainment Recommendations:

Hack and Slash - “Let the swooning begin!” This comedy team, with their love of ale, is one of my favorite acts at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Swordplay, whip cracking, and a lot of laughs!

Swami Yohmahmi – Swami bills himself as the original slideshow geek. His act is PG-13 (Really!). Audience participation and a lot of laughs. Sadly, I have yet to see his show this year. In previous years this show made me glad I knew the answer is ‘42’ and that one should always let the Wookie win.

The Squire of the Wire: Michael Rosman – Michael’s show is comedy, juggling, and a high wire act. I’ve missed his act this year but thoroughly enjoyed it in previous years. Check out his promo video.

The Renaissance Man – Do not read your program during his show! Audience members are asked to volunteer for parts of his act. Comedy, improve, and a few bad but funny jokes.

A Fool Named “O” and “La-La” – Comedy show. O doesn’t say much but the audience participation, improv, and the comedy will keep you entertained!

Johnny Foxx – Johnny claims to have grown up in a circus. His sword swallowing, comedy and sleight of hand will amuse everyone in the family.

Jousting – A Renaissance Festival would not be complete without jousting. Here are some short video clips.

Food Recommendations:

• Cheesecake on a Stick!
• Turkey Leg
• Steak on a stake
• German Bratwurst with Sauerkraut.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is fun for the whole family. My only complaint is there is not enough time to see all the shows! Plan on visiting numerous times to see all the high quality acts.

If you are unable to see them all check out my recommendations. You will not be disappointed!

E-mail revisited

In July I wrote a blog entry about email. Since then I’ve witnessed a few issues with the way people use email.

Case 1: The cover your ass email

Is there really a need to spam hundreds of people to deny an allegation? If the allegation is not true then why would one worry about the allegation?  Many more important tasks can be accomplished instead. Don’t sweat it! Let’s assume the person denying the allegation is a leader. What message would the email send to his direct reports?

Case 2: Not including all the facts

Let’s say I wanted everyone to buy into an idea or maybe a product I want to purchase. I am responsible for presenting all the facts or ideas, pro and con, to those I am attempting to influence.

I find it very irresponsible to present only those facts or ideas that support selfish goals that sell an idea or a product. One must include all pros and cons based on facts and team members’ experiences – not just the ones that further ones goals.

I read an article tonight from the CyberPsychology & Behavior Journal.

Baker and Phillips (2007) claim ones “personal style may predict email use.” Those with low self-esteem, for example, may choose email over live interaction. Passing the buck, procrastination, or panic were other styles that could predict email use.

Baker and Phillips use the term e-break to describe the interruption in work flow monitoring email causes when it cannot be ignored. “Individuals who accesses e-mail when they had more important things they should have been doing were significantly e-breakers” (Baker and Phillips, 2007). One could argue that taking a break throughout the day is not a bad thing. However, does one really receive a mental and physical break by checking email?

Cassie e-breaking

One may try to rationalize the e-break but if the e-break is used to answer personal email this increases risk to the organization and the individual. Remember work email can be subpoenaed and individuals do receive disciplinary action for inappropriate email use.

In their study Baker and Phillips found 57% of email was used for work or study. Those that “are not buck passers are engaging in the greater (and more responsible) usage".”

One last interesting tidbit, the participants in the study reported they spent 7.41 hours a week on email. To me this seems high for a work environment.

How do you use email?