Monday 23 February 2009
Trend Report: Green, Co-mingling Perspectives
An really interesting presentation about "green" trends and where we go next...
Sunday 22 February 2009
Understand Innovation in 5 Minutes
This presentation explains the difference between innovation and invention...and why innovation is so important. Take a look and think about it...
More Warm up Exercises
"Do you know me?"
Each person is given a nametag and an index card. The name tag has the name of another person in the group on it. Everyone is told to circulate, meet, mix and mingle to gather information, insights or stories about the person on their tag from group members. The opening line "Do you know me?" is used to help generate clues and conversation. The index card is to be used to write down the information collected. At the end of a designated time - about 15 minutes, each participant introduces their "name tag" and its person to the group.
A brand called me!
Each person is given a blank name tag. Explain to the group that corporations are recognized by a specific logo or symbol. (McDonalds arches, Apple Computer's Apple, etc.) They are given 2 minutes to draw their personal logo. This logo should reflect their personality, their interests, major or any thing they would like other people to know about them. Then give the group time to mingle and see what each others logo looks like. When it looks like the entire group has mixed, instruct everybody with a similar logo to form a small group. You may be surprised at how many similarities there are in your group.
Color Jacuzzi:
The object of this small group exercise is to get the group to quickly meet the other members. The facilitator calls out a color of the rainbow: - for example RED:
Red typically is the stop/turn- off color - so each member of the group quickly tells what is the one thing (that they can disclose in public) that is really a turn off to them .
Orange: is the motivation color - what motivates them
Yellow: is the inspiration or creativity color - what was the best idea they've had
Green: is the money color - what they plan to do for money, or the dumbest thing they ever did for money.
Blue: is the sky's the limit color - what is your favorite fantasy about your future
Indigo: is an odd, or different color - what is the most daring thing they ever did.
Purple: is the color of royalty - if you were ruler of the universe for a day - what is the first thing you would do?
Sunday 15 February 2009
The 10 rules of effective language
I liked this, Dr Luntz has just written a book about this subject Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, it's What People Hear by Dr Frank Luntz (£15.99, Hyperion)
This is from www.psychologies.co.uk
From 'Words That Work' by Dr Frank Luntz
1. Simplicity: use small words. The more simply an idea is presented, the easier it is to understand – and, therefore, the more credible it will be.
2. Brevity: use short sentences. This is less about self-restraint than it is a matter of finding exactly the right piece of the language jigsaw puzzle to fit the precise space you’re trying to fill.
3. Credibility is as important as philosophy. If your words lack sincerity, if they contradict accepted facts, circumstances or perceptions, they will lack impact. Tell people who you are or what you do. Then be that person, and do what you have said you would do.
4. Consistency matters. Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. Remember, you may be making yourself sick by saying the same exact thing for the umpteenth time, but many in your audience will be hearing it for the first time.
5But offer something new. If something doesn’t shock us or bores us, we move on to something else. If what you say generates an ‘I didn’t know that’ response, you have succeeded.
6. Sound and texture matter. The sounds and textures of words should be just as memorable as the words themselves. The rhythm of language is in itself musical.
7. Speak aspirationally. Messages need to say what people want to hear, to touch people at the most fundamental, primal level, by speaking to their deepest hopes, fears and dreams. The best speeches make idealists of us all.
8. Visualise. Paint a vivid picture. Take M&M’s: ‘Melts in your mouth, not in your hand’. The slogans we remember for a lifetime almost always have a strong visual component, something we can see and almost feel.
9. Ask a question. A customer complaining to the shop manager that her meat has too much fat in it is less effective than if she asked: ‘Does this look lean to you?’. Similarly, asking ‘What would you do if you were in my shoes?’, puts direct pressure on the recipient of your complaint to see things your way. Making a statement in the form of a rhetorical question makes the reaction personal.
10. Provide context. You have to give people the ‘why’ of a message before you tell them the ‘therefore’ and the ‘so that’. Some people call this framing. I prefer the word context, because it better explains why a particular message matters.
Sunday 8 February 2009
Do you like optical illusions? Then you'll love these...
Michael Bach is a specialist in visual illusion and he has developed a web site with over 80 optical illusions.
So take a look here
Business and Generosity...Generation G
I just picked up this really interesting post on a friend's blog
It's about GENERATION G (a new "recessionary" trend from trendwatching.com)
GENERATION G | "Captures the growing importance of 'generosity' as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy—and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care—the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers.
In fact, for many, sharing a passion and receiving recognition have replaced 'taking' as the new status symbol. Businesses should follow this societal/behavioral shift, however much it may oppose their decades-old devotion to me, myself and I.”
You can see the whole article http://trendwatching.com/briefing/
Need help with naming your business?...
Then this is the place to go..."The Fantabulous Breadline Design"
As there are going to be so many freelancers out there now with the new "auto-entrepreneur" scheme, this handy little web-site could be just what you need to help you think of names for your business...
Take a look... "flyingweasel.com" is memorable, non?
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