August 20th, 2010
A few days ago I was watching a cyclist approaching a hill. They had good pace by the midway point but up ahead was a side street. The cyclist would either need to slow down, almost to the point of stopping to check for cars and at the same time lose all of their impetus, or take the risk that there would not be any vehicles turning into the side street and power across it.
They powered across it and nearly got hit by a car.
The near accident aside, it got me thinking about momentum. It is not always easy to come by – but when you have it, going with it is easier than not, even in the face of persuasive resistance.
Next time you find yourself in a golden period of creative momentum it might be worth turning your thoughts to projects that are beyond the immediate future.
The momentum of now may create the genius for later.
Tags: cycling, genius, impetus, momentum, persuasive, resistance
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August 16th, 2010
Sometimes when I mention that I am in marketing someone jumps up and tells me how great they would be at it. “I am always having good ideas”, they say.
You and five zillion other people.
I can count and use a calculator – doesn’t make me a genius accountant.
One in about ninety six thousand good ideas turn into good products or services. It’s not until a good idea is executed that we find out that it wasn’t such a good idea to begin with. And that’s assuming we had the resources to action it in the first place.
Good ideas that are cultivated into good outcomes are rare, hard work and worth claiming. That’s why people get ‘precious’ with their ‘ideas’.
One million good ideas never leave the mind. Of those that do, the majority are dreadful.
When one of yours works, claim it. You deserve it.
Tags: accountant, genius, hard work, ideas, marketing, products, services
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August 13th, 2010
The young son of one of my colleagues is a good runner. After a phys-ed session, he mentioned to one of his friends that he was buying new trainers on the weekend. The phys-ed teacher made a point to the class to avoid buying particular brand trainers. In his opinion, they were not as good as particular alternate brand, no reason given. My colleague’s son, now, only wants to own a pair of particular alternate brand trainers.
Lack of reference renders the phys-ed teacher’s content theory rather than a potential fact but can be equally influential.
Very few people can get away with making factual claims without some form of reference or supporting documentation – Stephen Hawking, Sir Richard Branson, and Madonna King would be some of the few. They have a history of reliability and positive Ethos.
What is the source of your information? Is it fact or theory?
Researching your information may cost you time.
Not researching your information may cost you your reputation.
Tags: brands, Ethos, fact, Madonna King, misinformation, opinion, reliable, Sir Richard Branson, Stephen Hawking, theory, trainers
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