I’ve been preparing a workshop on how to develop use cases, and I was taking some notes over the weekend. I started with obvious things like quick wins and bang for the buck, but a few things I read reminded me that there are often other considerations. There are any number of things you can…
Summary: A simple method to get out of your own assumptions, study a topic, gain insights on that topic, and then apply what you’ve learned to what you’re doing. “Eat your own cooking.” “The cobbler’s son has no shoes.” “Physician, heal thyself.” “Take your own medicine.” There are a lot of sayings that follow that…
Summary: The article introduces the creative thinking cards from Schoolofthought.org. It focuses on two cards, “Imagine you’re the devil” and “No Limits,” which encourage thinking outside ethical and practical constraints for creative brainstorming. The author emphasizes that this approach can help uncover innovative ideas and prepare for competitive challenges. Did you know that “devil’s advocate”…
Summary: The author criticizes articles that make generalizations about generations like Gen Z. While there are averages, individuals within a group can vary widely. Instead, focus on managing people based on their specific characteristics and needs rather than labeling them based on demographics. However, such articles can be valuable in pointing out issues that may…
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of staying within one’s area of expertise when creating content. The author recounts a podcast interview with a priest who made compelling arguments in his field but sounded foolish when discussing geology. The article advises content creators to stick to what they know and seek expert input when venturing…
Summary: “Yes” represents the allure of possibility and affirmation, while “no” signifies discipline, focus, and resource control. “Yes” is alluring, but can lead to illusions. “No” is a tool for maintaining focus, setting boundaries, and adhering to principles. “Yes, and” is a good tool for creativity, and “no, but” is suggested as a way to…
Summary: Buzzwords are both annoying and necessary, often used to sound knowledgeable without conveying meaning. However, they reflect current trends and ideas. When you can, replace a buzzword with something else. When the buzzword fits, back it with data and examples. Think of buzzwords as symbolic, encapsulating larger meanings. Critique (and limit) their use, but…
I like lists because they force the author to distill his thoughts down to a pithy, short, descriptive saying. That’s what I’m going to try to do here, riffing off the article “Publishers: 12 ways to overcome common innovation roadblocks” by Damian Radcliffe, which Bo Sacks distributed recently. Innovation has to solve a problem. It’s…
In the last few weeks I have had two radically different experiences with people trying to sell me their services to help me get better leads for my business. One was wonderful. He was honest, helpful, and came across as a decent guy who was trying to help me out. I’m happy to give you…
Brainstorming doesn’t work that well unless you follow the right procedures. The typical “brainstorming” session involves announcing a topic and inviting people to propose their ideas in an allegedly non-judgmental environment. A bunch of people get together in a conference room and say whatever they think. There are several problems with this model. People don’t…
You’ve heard of WordPress, but have you heard of WordCamp? It’s a great opportunity to learn more about WordPress, but also to get some general ideas about content, publishing, e-commerce, software development, and many more things. It’s worth your time even if you don’t use WordPress. I did a talk there a few years ago….
Sorry to be philosophical for a moment here, but it fits today’s topic. Human society needs two impulses: protection and exploration. Somebody needs to explore the great unknown, try the new food, make friends with the weird tribe on the other side of the river, and somebody needs to make sure we don’t burn the…
Zain Kahn’s “Superhuman” email says workers want to use ChatGPT, but bosses aren’t so keen. Why? Don’t they want people to be more productive? Of course they do, but there are some legit dangers in using ChatGPT. Which sent me on a bit of a search. What can go wrong? Let’s say you’re a programmer…
I recently learned about “Gall’s Law,” which is a principle in software development, but I think it’s far more applicable. I absolutely love it. It goes like this. “A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot…
Amy Kean, the CEO and Creative Director of Good Shout, says that if you want to differentiate your media business, you should hire more weirdos. Media is a small, fairly tight-knit community, and most people want to fit in. But that can stifle creativity. There’s been an influx of “really average people,” Amy says, and…