We all have a list, whether it resides in our minds only to be viewed during those private times when we want to let our dreams fly or actually written down somewhere. This is not about winning a lottery or becoming fabulously rich, at least not for me, but it is a list of items you want to accomplish before you die. It sounds ominous. It was a charming film with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. But we all have one. Some call it a bucket list, perhaps a better title is the someday list. Someday we’ll get to that, someday we’ll achieve that.
I want to do more traveling, work with fascinating people, help where I can with whatever experience I can bring, see Europe, visit Australia, try zip lining, do a lap in an F1 car and many other things. Some excite me, some terrify me but all make me feel alive when I think about them. But it’s all pie in the sky without action, without a plan to actually accomplish the items on the list.
Life Gets in the Way
We get caught by the often self-induced emergencies in our day. We say things like “Wow, that was a tough week, so glad it’s the weekend” but we barely ever give much credence to the finality of life. We are not going to be here forever. We will not get it all done. We spend far too much of our precious time wishing and hoping for some day that never arrives.
Our minds take us on a banal journey of tasks and deadlines. We have to make our quarter, hit the numbers, beat the other company and launch the initiative. And to borrow from the Bard, it’s all a bunch of noise signifying nothing. The one emotion we all feel, consciously or subconsciously, is a need for purpose in our lives. All of this chatter about followers and connections, this portal or that interface means the square root of nothing if we can’t feel it right in our core and make human connection.
TED Returns
One item on my bucket (or someday) list is attending the TED conference in California which is on this week. Some of the brightest and most fascinating people – on stage and in the audience – attend this exclusive event. Admission is $6,000. Admission for TED2012 will be $7,500. I know a few people who have attended and all say without hesitation it is worth every penny.
From TED2011, French artist and TED Prize winner JR talks about how he has tried to make the world a better place.
Kneale Mann
visual credit: TED
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traveling. Show all posts
March 5, 2011
May 6, 2010
Technology | Time vs. Tools
Convenience Meets Conventional
I have great admiration for road warriors. If you've seen Up In The Air, you know it takes a special person to live on the road.
I am also a fan of technology when it helps us. Having worked on radio station builds, large scale events, digital marketing campaigns and even written for newspapers, I know we don't all share the same comfort with technology.
Mom Has Never Owned a Cell Phone.
This is not an age thing. Last week at lunch, one of my colleagues was talking endlessly about his iPhone. He added that his 10 year old wants one.
You see people of all ages on smartphones and netbooks. You can get a printed copy or one can be sent via email or text. If you have your confirmation number and your passport you can go right through.
Please Enter Your Code.
While fighting with the technology at an airport recently, I was trying to access my ticket at one of those handy kiosks with smartphone in one hand and passport in the other and luggage and a line-up behind me.
If you travel at all you know that in most major airports you don’t walk up to the ticket counter any more. You need to punch in codes and numbers and blood type and if you have trouble someone who used to work at the ticket counter will help you.
I Missed My Flight
After being told I was on a different airline by two airlines and back to the original airline, the woman politely told me that I had missed the deadline to get through security to my flight. For $75, I got the next plane.
I noticed later that the reason I missed my flight was because the electronic ticket that was emailed to me didn't get to my phone in one piece so I was missing a code.
Technology can help us but it can also hinder us. I worry about mom who has never had a cell phone and looks at her email once a week. This was simply an example and is not about airports, it's about knowing your customers.
Technology can work in your favor, but it can also hurt you if you get too far ahead of your customers. How do you strike that balance?
@knealemann
strategy. marketing. social media.
photo credit: interairport
I have great admiration for road warriors. If you've seen Up In The Air, you know it takes a special person to live on the road.I am also a fan of technology when it helps us. Having worked on radio station builds, large scale events, digital marketing campaigns and even written for newspapers, I know we don't all share the same comfort with technology.
Mom Has Never Owned a Cell Phone.
This is not an age thing. Last week at lunch, one of my colleagues was talking endlessly about his iPhone. He added that his 10 year old wants one.
You see people of all ages on smartphones and netbooks. You can get a printed copy or one can be sent via email or text. If you have your confirmation number and your passport you can go right through.
Please Enter Your Code.
While fighting with the technology at an airport recently, I was trying to access my ticket at one of those handy kiosks with smartphone in one hand and passport in the other and luggage and a line-up behind me.
If you travel at all you know that in most major airports you don’t walk up to the ticket counter any more. You need to punch in codes and numbers and blood type and if you have trouble someone who used to work at the ticket counter will help you.
I Missed My Flight
After being told I was on a different airline by two airlines and back to the original airline, the woman politely told me that I had missed the deadline to get through security to my flight. For $75, I got the next plane.
I noticed later that the reason I missed my flight was because the electronic ticket that was emailed to me didn't get to my phone in one piece so I was missing a code.
Technology can help us but it can also hinder us. I worry about mom who has never had a cell phone and looks at her email once a week. This was simply an example and is not about airports, it's about knowing your customers.
Technology can work in your favor, but it can also hurt you if you get too far ahead of your customers. How do you strike that balance?
@knealemann
strategy. marketing. social media.
photo credit: interairport
August 8, 2009
Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?
A piece of music can heal and transport you.
A great book has the ability to let you travel to far off lands to meet new people and read great stories.
A phone call from a long lost friend can transport you.
A few kind words can lift you from a bad mood.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Are you an inspiration for others?
@knealemann
Let’s create experiences, not campaigns.
image credit: davidhanauer.com
A great book has the ability to let you travel to far off lands to meet new people and read great stories.
A phone call from a long lost friend can transport you.
A few kind words can lift you from a bad mood.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Are you an inspiration for others?
@knealemann
Let’s create experiences, not campaigns.
image credit: davidhanauer.com
March 11, 2009
Make It About Them
Train vs. Plane
I love travelling by train and VIA Rail Canada is great. There are no body cavity checks, blood tests or shoe removal exercises, the service is friendly, your fellow passengers don’t seem as stressed and the train leaves on time!
For short hops – say, a one hour flight – by the time you get to the airport an hour or two ahead of time, wait for the delays, stand in line, go through security, stand in line, wait, stand in line, get on the plane, wait, taxi to the runway, wait, taxi on the runway, fly, land, taxi again, wait, get off the plane, walk through the airport and get to your ground transportation – the train can actually get you there faster.
Sorry To Interrupt
While on the train a couple of weeks ago, enjoying a nice cup of coffee and reading a book; my consciousness was shattered by this delightful phrase. “Can you fill this out for VIA?” Not ‘can we have your opinion’ or ‘sorry to bother you sir, would you have time to let us know how better to serve you’. Nope. They wanted me to put down my book, grasp the complimentary golf pencil and fill out a two-sided, double gate fold cardboard document the size of my laptop. I don’t think so.
Before I could engage with my interrupter, she had vanished into the next car. I then opened this manuscript and began to scan its contents. This behemoth came with 56 questions! I was on a four hour train ride and this thing would have taken me an hour to fill-out. Which begs the question: Who would?
What Do You Think?
While we grapple with metrics and ROI one thing has never changed – keep it simple. If you are thinking of conducting research, conduct on yourself first. Ask yourself the hard question: Would I actually participate in this? Would I actually sit on my delightful train ride and put aside work or a good book to fill out this 56 question investigative research piece? Really?
In order to think like your customers, you need to be your customers. To insure you get accurate feedback you need to engage rather than interrupt.
How do you ask your customers and clients for their opinion?
@knealemann
I love travelling by train and VIA Rail Canada is great. There are no body cavity checks, blood tests or shoe removal exercises, the service is friendly, your fellow passengers don’t seem as stressed and the train leaves on time!
For short hops – say, a one hour flight – by the time you get to the airport an hour or two ahead of time, wait for the delays, stand in line, go through security, stand in line, wait, stand in line, get on the plane, wait, taxi to the runway, wait, taxi on the runway, fly, land, taxi again, wait, get off the plane, walk through the airport and get to your ground transportation – the train can actually get you there faster.
Sorry To Interrupt
While on the train a couple of weeks ago, enjoying a nice cup of coffee and reading a book; my consciousness was shattered by this delightful phrase. “Can you fill this out for VIA?” Not ‘can we have your opinion’ or ‘sorry to bother you sir, would you have time to let us know how better to serve you’. Nope. They wanted me to put down my book, grasp the complimentary golf pencil and fill out a two-sided, double gate fold cardboard document the size of my laptop. I don’t think so.
Before I could engage with my interrupter, she had vanished into the next car. I then opened this manuscript and began to scan its contents. This behemoth came with 56 questions! I was on a four hour train ride and this thing would have taken me an hour to fill-out. Which begs the question: Who would?
What Do You Think?
While we grapple with metrics and ROI one thing has never changed – keep it simple. If you are thinking of conducting research, conduct on yourself first. Ask yourself the hard question: Would I actually participate in this? Would I actually sit on my delightful train ride and put aside work or a good book to fill out this 56 question investigative research piece? Really?
In order to think like your customers, you need to be your customers. To insure you get accurate feedback you need to engage rather than interrupt.
How do you ask your customers and clients for their opinion?
@knealemann
August 18, 2008
Travels & Tribulations
On the road again this week which has made me think…
Where did bumper man expect me to go when the tracker trailer was inches from me in the other lane? Why can’t the lid of your coffee cup stay put when you’re in the car trying to answer email …I mean, drive?
Could it possibly not rain the moment I get out of the car to unload my luggage into the hotel? Why do they tout GPS on my wireless device? It’s a tad tricky to navigate whilst operating a vehicle. Oh, you’re supposed to do that before you get in the car? Gotcha.
Is it possible that before I shuffle off this mortal coil, I will be able to secure a parking spot which is actually close to the meeting? What ever happened to the seminal 80’s goth syth super group This Mortal Coil?
Why does someone in the meeting always feel compelled to utter the rhetorical question “did you find the place okay?” My answer is usually “no, I got lost despite your meticulous directions”.
If you’re on the road this week – safe travels.
km
Where did bumper man expect me to go when the tracker trailer was inches from me in the other lane? Why can’t the lid of your coffee cup stay put when you’re in the car trying to answer email …I mean, drive?
Could it possibly not rain the moment I get out of the car to unload my luggage into the hotel? Why do they tout GPS on my wireless device? It’s a tad tricky to navigate whilst operating a vehicle. Oh, you’re supposed to do that before you get in the car? Gotcha.
Is it possible that before I shuffle off this mortal coil, I will be able to secure a parking spot which is actually close to the meeting? What ever happened to the seminal 80’s goth syth super group This Mortal Coil?
Why does someone in the meeting always feel compelled to utter the rhetorical question “did you find the place okay?” My answer is usually “no, I got lost despite your meticulous directions”.
If you’re on the road this week – safe travels.
km
