It’s a means to an end, a paycheck or a way to get to the weekend. All explanations of how far too many people describe their career. Leadership can come from each of us but often that strength is squashed by spending time during the week to make money in order to pay the bills and perhaps have some fun once in a while.
But what if we got to enjoy our work?
Sir Ken Robinson did an 18 minute talk at TED2006 and to date, more than four million of us have watched it. As a lifelong educator, his subject was about the fact that the education system is killing creativity. He returned to TED in 2010.
You’d think he would tell us all to go to school. You may be surprised by his thoughts on the topic and how we best look to our passion and life’s calling of which few people actually do. Ken is entertaining, thought provoking and funny.
If you haven't seen this, watch it, then follow your dreams.
Kneale Mann
TED | Ken Robinson
Showing posts with label evolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evolution. Show all posts
April 24, 2012
October 17, 2011
Let’s Connect and Get to Work
From Cave Walls to Instant Messages
Since the dawn of human existence, we have been working to improve our lives. There are better tools, advanced medical procedures, cleaner water purification, improved supply lines, more advanced urban development and enhanced communication tools.
We live in a time where there are more scientists alive than in any other time in history, combined. There are reports that the world’s population will reach seven billion this week.
The Shrunken Globe
We can send complicated documents across the globe with the press of a thumb. Our ability to share ideas is now instantaneous though some are working on improving that. And we are attempting to digest more content every day than we can ever consume.
So it’s curious when we get stuck with how to reach new customers, find new collaborative partners and share ideas with those who will want to work with us. It has become an embarrassment of riches in a time when patience is scarce.
The Best Social Network
We seem to be able to grow our personal and professional networks on the social web yet the question remains how much human connection is going on. So it is my new mantra to connect on the phone or in person with ten new people every week. If you and I haven't done it yet, let's fix that.
It's time for us to utilize the true power of social media for what they are meant to do - socialize and collaborate for real. Let's stop counting "likes" and Klout scores and get some work done. It's an over used cliche but I believe in you win/I win - not you win/I lose or I win/you lose. This is not about either of us asking for what we're not prepared to reciprocate. Teamwork is required.
So contact me and let’s find a way to utilize all these cool tools to truly connect, compare notes, do some business and help each other. Does that sound like a plan?
Kneale Mann
image credit: youthspeak
We live in a time where there are more scientists alive than in any other time in history, combined. There are reports that the world’s population will reach seven billion this week.
The Shrunken Globe
We can send complicated documents across the globe with the press of a thumb. Our ability to share ideas is now instantaneous though some are working on improving that. And we are attempting to digest more content every day than we can ever consume.
So it’s curious when we get stuck with how to reach new customers, find new collaborative partners and share ideas with those who will want to work with us. It has become an embarrassment of riches in a time when patience is scarce.
The Best Social Network
We seem to be able to grow our personal and professional networks on the social web yet the question remains how much human connection is going on. So it is my new mantra to connect on the phone or in person with ten new people every week. If you and I haven't done it yet, let's fix that.
It's time for us to utilize the true power of social media for what they are meant to do - socialize and collaborate for real. Let's stop counting "likes" and Klout scores and get some work done. It's an over used cliche but I believe in you win/I win - not you win/I lose or I win/you lose. This is not about either of us asking for what we're not prepared to reciprocate. Teamwork is required.
So contact me and let’s find a way to utilize all these cool tools to truly connect, compare notes, do some business and help each other. Does that sound like a plan?
Kneale Mann
image credit: youthspeak
July 24, 2011
Our Ideas Need to Meet
Imagination is what separates us from any other species.
This past weekend marked the first anniversary of Social Capital Ottawa which was a resounding success. Big props to Lara Wellman, Vicky Bisson, Sara McConnell, Rebecca Stanisic, Andrea Tomkins and Karen Wilson. It was an outstanding event, great sponsors, fabulous content and they nailed every detail. And thanks to Dennis Van Staalduinen who rocked the joint during our session and if you get the chance, ask him if he's going to double down.
During my portion, I touched on this talk from British author and speaker Matt Ridley who has been studying and writing about genetics, society and evolution for decades. He outlines in this fascinating TEDTalk that trading ideas is essential to our survival.
Ridley's website is the Rational Optimist and this is his TEDTalk from 2010 where explains why our ideas have sex.
Kneale Mann
This past weekend marked the first anniversary of Social Capital Ottawa which was a resounding success. Big props to Lara Wellman, Vicky Bisson, Sara McConnell, Rebecca Stanisic, Andrea Tomkins and Karen Wilson. It was an outstanding event, great sponsors, fabulous content and they nailed every detail. And thanks to Dennis Van Staalduinen who rocked the joint during our session and if you get the chance, ask him if he's going to double down.
During my portion, I touched on this talk from British author and speaker Matt Ridley who has been studying and writing about genetics, society and evolution for decades. He outlines in this fascinating TEDTalk that trading ideas is essential to our survival.
Ridley's website is the Rational Optimist and this is his TEDTalk from 2010 where explains why our ideas have sex.
Kneale Mann
December 5, 2010
More Inconvenient Truths
Our planet is a complex place. It is fascinating that we can go online and find information on anything we want from the comfort of our own environment. But you and I know there are conflicts beyond our scope that we wish we could solve. Economic issues, environment concerns, conflict and turmoil are everywhere.
Of course we need to strive for our dreams while working together on enjoyable projects and improve our careers but when you think of the big stuff, our grievances seem absurd.
Dr. Jason Clay is vice president of market transformation for the World Wildlife Fund. He says our goal must be to figure out how to produce more with less land, less water and less pollution, so we won't be the only species left living on this planet. He says we are using 130% of the world’s resources and the population will be nine billion by 2050.
Jason Clay is targeting 100 key companies to lead the charge but as part of the community, we can all do our part. [video]
knealemann | email
video credit: TED
Of course we need to strive for our dreams while working together on enjoyable projects and improve our careers but when you think of the big stuff, our grievances seem absurd.
Dr. Jason Clay is vice president of market transformation for the World Wildlife Fund. He says our goal must be to figure out how to produce more with less land, less water and less pollution, so we won't be the only species left living on this planet. He says we are using 130% of the world’s resources and the population will be nine billion by 2050.
Jason Clay is targeting 100 key companies to lead the charge but as part of the community, we can all do our part. [video]
knealemann | email
video credit: TED
November 19, 2010
Buying Social Media
And then we got greedy
Forty years ago, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency developed the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network or the Arpanet - the precursor to the Internet. And that brief blip in our evolution shrunk the world.
"We did radio last fall and it didn’t work."
Four decades later and there is no shortage of chatter about how the online space will do this and won’t do that. And many understand this activity is an augmentation of communication channels which will continue to evolve. The important ingredient is that you need time to decipher how it all applies to your situation.
“We bought television this time, we're sure it will help revenue."
Even large companies with global footprints are gingerly stick handling the social web to engage with customers and prospects while giving their organizations the best image possible. We are all bumping into each other and trying things. We will improve and advance but there is no end game.
There are some brazen advocates of diving in the digital deep end and going for it while others hope to mitigate the conversation by simply not participating in it.
I read a tweet the other day that claimed "every" large brand is in the social channels. I'm not sure who has the massive "every company on the planet" database but even if that were true (it is not), would they use the channels the same?
“We do direct mail. We did it last year. It seemed to work.”
Many still view social media as advertising channels that we can buy like we can with mainstream channels which is shortsighted. There are no quick fixes in any medium.
It happens more often than you may suspect that someone will utter the naive phrase “we’re gonna try it” in relation to picking a medium. We will make mistakes, that's the human thing we must endure. Experimentation is important but not to be confused with taking a blind stab in the dark.
"Our customers aren't on Facebook."
My suggestion is to identify expectations and commitment before taking any choices out for a test drive. Mainstream channels are alive and well and social media are simply opportunities to enhance the effort. But organizations are not campaigns.
Can we buy social media?
knealemann | email
Join me for Movember.
image credit: thisyear
"We did radio last fall and it didn’t work."
Four decades later and there is no shortage of chatter about how the online space will do this and won’t do that. And many understand this activity is an augmentation of communication channels which will continue to evolve. The important ingredient is that you need time to decipher how it all applies to your situation.
“We bought television this time, we're sure it will help revenue."
Even large companies with global footprints are gingerly stick handling the social web to engage with customers and prospects while giving their organizations the best image possible. We are all bumping into each other and trying things. We will improve and advance but there is no end game.
There are some brazen advocates of diving in the digital deep end and going for it while others hope to mitigate the conversation by simply not participating in it.
I read a tweet the other day that claimed "every" large brand is in the social channels. I'm not sure who has the massive "every company on the planet" database but even if that were true (it is not), would they use the channels the same?
“We do direct mail. We did it last year. It seemed to work.”
Many still view social media as advertising channels that we can buy like we can with mainstream channels which is shortsighted. There are no quick fixes in any medium.
It happens more often than you may suspect that someone will utter the naive phrase “we’re gonna try it” in relation to picking a medium. We will make mistakes, that's the human thing we must endure. Experimentation is important but not to be confused with taking a blind stab in the dark.
"Our customers aren't on Facebook."
My suggestion is to identify expectations and commitment before taking any choices out for a test drive. Mainstream channels are alive and well and social media are simply opportunities to enhance the effort. But organizations are not campaigns.
Can we buy social media?
knealemann | email
Join me for Movember.
image credit: thisyear
August 29, 2010
Do Your Ideas Procreate?
Imagination is what separates us from any other species.
British author and speaker Matt Ridley is a interesting guy who has been studying and writing about genetics, society and evolution for decades. He outlines in this fascinating TEDTalk that trading ideas is centuries older than farming. Idea sharing is essential to human life.
Matt's website - the Rational Optimist - has plenty to digest.
More from the TED site on Matt’s talk:
knealemann
Create experiences not campaigns.
image credit: TED
British author and speaker Matt Ridley is a interesting guy who has been studying and writing about genetics, society and evolution for decades. He outlines in this fascinating TEDTalk that trading ideas is centuries older than farming. Idea sharing is essential to human life.
Matt's website - the Rational Optimist - has plenty to digest.
More from the TED site on Matt’s talk:
“It is our habit of trade, idea-sharing and specialization that has created the collective brain which set human living standards on a rising trend. This, he says, "holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead - because ideas are having sex with each other as never before."
knealemann
Create experiences not campaigns.
image credit: TED
May 27, 2010
Seven Deadly Business Sins
"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." Abba Eban Technology has evolved, medical breakthroughs have lengthened lives and new inventions have changed the world.
Some things haven't changed.
"It's not evil to make money, it's evil to make money being evil."
Chris Brogan
We are flawed, help each other, make mistakes, create solutions, smell bad, collaborate, eat too much, save lives, don't get enough rest, consume far too much coffee, need more bran, complain about our lot, can create miracles and wear stress and busy like badges of honor.
If humans run companies, let's treat companies more like humans. If we applied the seven deadly sins to your company, how would it do?
Greed | Desire for wealth
Wrath | Fierce anger
Sloth | Disinclination to exertion
Pride | Inordinate opinion of importance
Lust | Desire for power
Envy | Admiration towards others
Gluttony | Excessive consumption
Again, this is about your business for a moment.
Which would you keep? Which will help build your offering?
@knealemann
Helping you integrate all you do with all you do.
photo credit | spauldingcomm
