.smart .simple .mobile - BLOG

Getting your bearings

Did you know that the oldest accounts of the bearing principle dates back to the Egyptians when they used tree trunks under sleds?   The earliest example of a recovered bearing is a wooden bearing supporting a rotating table dating back to Roman times.

Leonardo da Vinci is often credited with drawing the first roller bearing around 1500 AD, and the first caged ball bearing was originally described by Galileo in the 1600's... But most of these innovations weren't used for practical purposes until the 1700's.  Further, it wasn't until the late 19th century when the visionary innovator Henry Timken introduced modern industrial use of bearings.

Bottom-line; bearings are about reducing friction and increasing efficiency.  They've been around for 5000 years, but put to mass use only in recent centuries.

We think the many definitions of the word "bearing" (in addition to the above) are great metaphors for living a conscious life - and are useful when asking oneself about one's direction, balance & meaning.  Here's a few other Dictionary.com definitions of the word:

• A manner in which one conducts or carries oneself, including posture and gestures; a man of dignified bearing
• The act, capability, or period of producing or bringing forth; a tree past bearing
• Something that is produced; a crop
• The act of enduring or capacity to endure
• Reference or relation: It has some bearing on the problem
• Architecture:  A supporting part of a structure
• Direction or relative position; The pilot radioed his bearings
• Then there is "Baring"... Being open.  Revealing or divulging; to bare one's arms

craig a. james   .smart .simple .mobile 2010

When are you a Leader?

This little story is about my attendance at a forum for new County Executive in Cuyahoga County today (Cuyahoga County is found in Northeast Ohio).  It's a story of leadership - in SmartSimple fashion.

The forum was for a rather small group of community leaders who have been meeting for several years around the topic of economic development. These leaders were there to hear from the candidates for County Executive, a new role midst a new governmental structure.

As it turns, I arrived late and had to leave early.  I didn't hear all of the candidates.  But what I did encounter is leadership - unexpected.

The picture:  I arrive.  I'm running toward an elevator as its doors are closing.  I jump into the elevator just in time - and the doors bounce open.  I hit the "close" button in characteristic multi-hit fashion (why do we do that?!) 

As soon as I do, I hear someone doing the same thing (running toward the elevator).  I scramble to hit the "open" button in even faster multi-hit fashion.  A man and woman enter.

  My memorable view at the Forum on 7-28-10

We had a 1-floor-ride together, the three of us.

Might we be going to the same place I wondered?  No.  I was heading to the forum - and they were heading to a book sale located on the same floor (the forum was held at the Cleveland Library).

It would have been easy to do the "silent ride" thing on that elevator - after all, it was just one floor.  Instead, we chatted briefly.  I asked how they were.  The gent said "I am blessed".  He said so with a penetrating authentic gaze deep into my eyes.  His words were accompanied by a slight smile, which I somehow felt was strained by many years of life's challenges.

He didn't ask me for a thing.  He wasn't selling a thing.  He wasn't vying for a vote.  He simply gave me a moment of reflection.  A moment of gratitude.  A moment of grace.

He prompted me at that moment to realize, yes! - I am blessed.

Before the door opened, I told him I liked his answer - a lot... and I copied it right back to him.

This little story is no complement nor slam to the candidates on stage today.  In fact, it's probably unfair for me to mention them at all since I was there for such a short time.

All I know is this:  I know the exact moment when I experienced leadership & inspiration at the forum today.

Leadership can be so Simple at times.  A brief moment.  Anywhere.  Anyone.

  craig a. james

 .smart .simple .mobile 2010

Where are you on the Wish<-->Worry Continuum?

I'd like to introduce you to a thing we call the "Wish<-->Worry Continuum"... a consciousness-creating tool to help manage one's dreams and desires in life.

We all tend to be at one point of this Continuum at any given time. 

Consider this:

(No worries if you can't read the thought bubbles - they're repeated later in the post)

Let's say you're reevaluating your career, your financial situation and your future (probably most of us are).

We could stop in various boxes along the Continuum as we reevaluate our options, but it's easy to get stuck in the boxes on the ends - i.e., "Wish" or "Worry".  Sometimes we do end-runs to/from Wish and Worry without stopping anywhere in between.

Definitions:

• WISH:  A dreamy unconstrained, almost "separate from self" thought.  A "Wish" often acts like a noun even if we use it as a verb.  It's a "picture".  "I wish money grew on trees and time was endless". Heck, even if there's only a 0.0001% chance of that possibility, it's worth thinking about.  At least you're aware of what you'd consider to be ideal.
• DESIRE:  Again noun-like and something that's "out there" - but it's a bit more personal and digestible.  "My desire: To have the money I need and have control over all of my time too".
• WANT:  As we move down the continuum toward Want, we start using verb (versus noun) definitions of the word: "I want work or a job that also lets me have control over my time".  Even more personal.  It's Real. You can taste it.
• NEED:  Gut impulse. Very personal. Vivid.  Brief. Not hard to understand. "I need work"... or "I need money".
• PROBLEM:  Often our Wishes, Desires, Wants and Needs are packaged with Problems (or so we perceive).  Problems are usually matter-of-fact descriptions of barriers and obstacles.  We often make Problems nasty monsters with irritating rigidity - They're "fact" (we believe):  Example: "Work takes time - There's no way around that".
  
• WORRY:  Now that we've encountered the rigid monster of Problem, we easily fall victim to the monster's first-cousin; "Worry".  Worry is even more insidious.  It pulls you into self-centric dooms-day statements: "Oh no! I just can't find the work that lets me have control over my time too"... What am I going to do!?"  We wring our hands, sometimes to the point where our Worry spins us all the way back to Wish.  We bounce back and forth.  Meanwhile - we're standing still.

When you dream, ponder, and wonder about your future... where are you on the Continuum - and why?  Are there circumstances that make you more prone to be in one box or another?  What's the "optimal" mix?

The answer likely lies in a combination of all of the above.  Dream-crazy is good, as long as we tell ourselves "OK - I'm in Dream/Wish mode right now" - - It's useful in bringing clarity to our passions and dreams. 

Even a dose of Worry isn't so bad.  We all can use an increased sense of urgency here 'n there.  But it, too, needs to be in its place.  Know when you're there and put it to work.  Worry shouldn't drive actions, but rather be a wake-up call, prompting one to know one's fears and providing the required courage to look those fears straight in the eye.

Regardless, we believe consciousness is one of the first steps in navigating the Wish-Worry waters.  It's one of the keys to what we call "Adaptism" - the mode of choice & elegant adaptability.

                   SMART                 SIMPLE                 MOBILE

            (consciousness)          (clarity)          (change-ability)

When we're conscious of what we're feeling and thinking, we're far more likely to come up with hybrid solutions - "And" solutions versus "Or" solutions.  In the context of the work-time dilemma outlined in this post, perhaps there is work that *does* provide the desired control over time.  Or how about this possibility:  Finding work that is so aligned with your dreams that there's no longer worry about "control over time" because you're living your dream every single day.  Why not!?

We'd be interested in your comments on how you might manage your Wish-Worry Continuum.  What might be your "optimal" approaches?

Wishing you a great day - even if you worry it might not be one.

 - craig a. james | .smart .simple .mobile 2010

Is "Social Media" a dirty word in Business?

Social Networking.  Social Media.  Tweets.  Facebook.  Blogs.  Microblogs.  Foursquare. 

...Terms, technology & communication-modes are converging at breakneck speed.  How do businesses make sense of it all?  Should they care?  Where do they begin?

A meeting along this line today prompted me to post an article we wrote for Strategic Social Networking earlier this year.  It's found embedded, below.  It takes a look at why businesses do (or don't) use social media - and if they don't, why they should.

What's the "SmartSimple" moral of the story? 

Just start.  Keep it simple.  A few baby steps. 

As Guy Kawasaki says, 'If you're building a house, you need a plan before you do so.  If you're hiking with a sleeping bag, you plop down your sleeping bag and sleep.  If there's a snake, you move".

He's suggesting that Social Media is "sleeping-bag-territory".  It's new.  It's here.  It's here to stay.  The point is; it's changing so fast that one cannot "plan" in traditional terms.  He argues that the best "strategy" is to start with tactics, i.e., get in - start - and build the plan along the way.

Our SSN article enumerates a thing or two that might help you & your business ponder your first steps:

"Three Reasons Businesses Don't Leverage Social Media (and three reasons why you should")

I’m sipping coffee in a little coffee shop amidst Cleveland’s Little Italy, pondering a colleague’s recent question: “Why has business taken so long to see the value of social networking?” I look around. The place is packed. Patrons are communicating feverishly – with people located somewhere else. Texting. Talking on mobile phones. Clicking on laptops. Our technology tools have become an extension of our voice and ears, and social media has become part of our language.  

Businesses want to connect with, persuade and sell to people just like you and me – right? Yet, so many companies fail to embrace the communication modes so many of us prefer. Why?

1 – Fear (of losing power and control)

Consider the history of the U.S. Postal System. In the 1700s, the British controlled the colonial postal system. By 1774, the colonists viewed the royal post office with suspicion. Shortly thereafter, an alternative mail service was established. The inter-colonial mail service was the “social media”, the colonists were the “bloggers”… and those in power (the British) didn’t like it.

2 – Social Media has a bad rep (for business)

Consider the origin of social media. It didn’t start with computers, but it was born online… the phone line that is. It was known as “phone phreaking.” Phone phreaks were techies tired of the telecom monopoly extending sizable charges for long-distance calls. These early explorers built phone-system tapping devices that allowed them to make free calls and conduct virtual group discussions. More recent social media ancestors include Limewire and Napster – through which music was shared. A number of corporations, telephone companies and record labels look back on this history often sighting a different word: Stolen.

3 – What’s in a name? Everything.

The very term “social media” conveys images of idle socializing, gossip and misinformation. If it were referred to as “Critical Business-Advancement Messaging Networks” businesses would consider it more popular than the buzzword of the day. This is where NING and others have an upper hand. Though the name may mean different things to different people; the design of the solution resonates with business-types. Like Sun Microsystems said back in the ’90s “the network is the solution.” That’s what NING conveys: a solution providing user-controlled networks for specific applications and communities of interest. It implies context and purpose.

So why should you (and your company) leverage Social Media?

1 – The people you want to hire use it – a lot.

Smart businesses realize that value-creation depends on ideas, creativity and collaboration. Social media is the mechanism of choice for many of today’s talented creative innovators. Your company culture should be friendly to social media (unless of course you don’t want smart innovators on your team). Have you hired anyone lately without looking at their LinkedIn profile? Do you know that the top talent is likely evaluating your company’s social media presence as a qualifier as to whether they want to work for you (or not)?

2 – The people you want to reach (your customers) use it. Listen to them.

Angie’s List conducted a survey and found that 58 percent of their respondents use social media. They consider it a strategic tool for business development. Social media is a powerful listening system. Sure, you can ask customers what they want, but they may or may not tell you what they need. However, overhear them talking with each other - well then, now you’re getting the straight skinny.

3 – Happy employees = happy customers = revenue + profit

A report called Executive Insights into Enterprise Social Network Strategy indicated that social media was critical to providing a work-life balance for employees. Employees don’t operate 9 to 5. Rather, they mix their personal and work lives. Sure, there’s the risk that promoting social media could cause distraction during the work day, but it also promotes work in the off hours.  One of our clients learned this lesson in at least one case. They proudly proclaimed that securing one of their new clients was thanks to an employee trading Facebook messages with a friend. Upon closure of that deal, management didn’t care if the exchange happened during the day, at night, online, in person, in a suit or in sweats.

 - - - Here's another article, written by Money & Risk.  It's a great primer:  

"A Social Media Primer for Business Executives"

craig a. james | .smart .simple .mobile 2010

What's your Pattern of Life?

On Thursday 7-15-10, when "doing" a Google... one would have found this:

 

So, what-the-heck is that?!

What does it represent?

(Click the image, above, to find out)

It's the celebration of the 125th birthday of Josef Frank (1885-1967).

Architect.  Designer.

He created 200 beautiful patterns between 1909 and 1950.

My 125th birthday will be in the year 2088 (whether I'm there to see it or not)

So... when will your 125th birthday be?

If one were to Google, Schmoogle or Boogle (or whatever they'd call it on your 125th birthday)... how would you be represented if you were the search-engine icon of the day?

- What patterns are you leaving behind for future generations to ponder?

...Just a question.

craig james | .smart .simple .mobile  2010

Little Starfish

As I learn about writing - and practice the craft - I find that I strive for some unrealistic magical insight - depth - and meaning... each time I write.

Tonight, I don't strive - nor do I struggle... at all.

I just write.

Tonight, I write about a little starfish.

A bright young women filled with energy, wisdom, power & passion.

She remains anonymous. 

But if she reads this - she knows who she is.

She is also all-too-aware of her recent losses.  Her guiding lights - her stars - have moved on.

They are however - with her - forever.

She shall prevail - even stronger... She shall carry with her, her starfish - both of them - into eternity.

STARFISH - In Christian symbolism, the Starfish represents the Virgin Mary (Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea) who lovingly creates safe travel over troubled waters and is also seen as an emblem of salvation during trying times. The star as well as the Starfish are seen as celestial symbols and as such, they represent infinite divine love. In addition to love, the Starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition. 

 - craig james | .smart .simple .mobile

All Witne

Spain wins World Cup.  Cleveland loses LeBron.

A country celebrates -- A city regroups.

So, what is all this - we make... of sports & sports stars?

  

                        LeBron "Comes Down" Witnessed by C. James via iPhone 7-11-10

What's "winning"?  What's "losing"?  Why do we compete?

 - - Probably not answered within the context of this Blog post.

Regardless:  We Are All Witnesses of an historic moment in Cleveland this weekend.

craig james  | .smart .simple .mobile

Are you Creatively Promiscuous?

Caught Terry Gross interviewing Colin Firth on NPR today - an archive from 2009. 

Colin stars in this week's DVD release of the film "Single Man", by Tom Ford.

I was fascinated to learn of Colin's ability to act with passion without speaking a word.

        

What's more - I was intrigued by Colin's reference to his compulsion for what he called "creative promiscuity".  He shared that he pours himself into an acting project 110%, but then finds himself anxiously anticipating the "next thing", even though he has no idea what the "next thing" will be.

He's energized - Yet unsettled.

...It makes one ponder:

Do we seek routine, predictability & security?   Or do we seek adventure, mystery, challenge & change? 

FreshAir with Tom Ford @ first... and then Colin Firth.

Listen.  Enjoy.

- Craig James | .smart .simple .mobile

Brilliant Collaboration Requires Kindergarten "Simplicity"

Ponder this:  Kindergarten kids are smarter than CEO's.  Tom Wujec and his TED talk gets one thinking about smarter & and perhaps simpler ways of approaching problems - and working as a team.

Tom challenges our traditional thinking surrounding planning, strategy and success.

The challenge: Build a structure with;

• 20 spaghetti sticks
• One yard of tape
• One yard of string
• A Marshmallow

Get the marshmallow to sit atop your free-standing structure as tall as possible.  You and your four-person team have a short time to do so.

                               

The stats? 

• CEO's and MBA students score among the worst. 
• Kindergarten kids? You guessed it:  Among the best.

Why?

CEO's & MBA's are busy with power struggles, jockeying & lying... Further, they have the compulsion to create the "perfect plan".  Plan, plan, plan... before they really try anything at all.   After creating their masterful shock-proof "perfect plan"... they discover they have merely a few precious moments to implement.

They leap to the climactic moment - scramble together their structure (based on their prefect plan) - place the marshmallow on top, and...

Their creation collapses.

Now what!?  Mad-scramble.  Panic.  Crisis.

Ding!   Time's up.

The Kindergarteners on the other hand:  They've collapsed their tower multiple times - early in the process.  In fact, they've already tried to stack the marshmallow on top of their creation way before they've planned anything at all.  They begin with the end in mind. 

They develop thick skin.  They get used to multiple "failures" - They learn from each one - They adapt - Repeat.  They try again and again until something works.  Such an iterative approach is just one advantage the kids have over the big-guns.  Tom's 7-minute video shares additional insights Re: group dynamics, extrinsic motivation... and more.

So - are you preparing the perfect plan? - - or are you trusting that perhaps a little "play" may go a long way.

More on Tom Wujec:

      Tom Wujec's Website

Cheers,

- Craig James | .smart .simple .mobile

fireWORKS

It's the Fourth of July.  A reflective holiday midst a care-free picture of shorts, flip-flops and cookouts.

  Cleveland at night. Fireworks at Progressive Field. July 3, 2010 - by iPhone

As a member of the SmartSimple "team" (Craig, here) I'm feeling reflective about what this holiday represents - not just for our country and its history - but for Sue & me, personally.  Our metal has been tested - It's been through some fire since July 4, 2009.  We know we're not alone.

But "fire" does work.  It makes one stronger.

1000 degree temperatures are used to cure metal coatings onto parts.  The metal becomes stronger - it adapts to the part to which it is adhered - and the resultant metal-part combo is stronger yet.

A group of guys 234 years ago had the courage to jump into a fire.  They took pen to paper and wrote the King a little note.

That started a little firestorm all its own.  They emerged not only stronger - but the strong-est.

Declaration of Independence

What fires have jumped in front of you recently?  Do you retreat, or jump into them?  Do you look for fires - or avoid them all together?

How to Juggle it All

Met with my close friend, Steve, today.  We compared notes on how to juggle all the priorities and pressures of life.   He let me bend his ear.  He listened.  He helped.

Midst our chat, he told me a story.   Many years ago he participated in a multi-day retreat where the act of juggling was used as a mechanism to teach certain lessons related to business and leadership.

Steve explained that he was excited to learn how to juggle - and that he knew he'd master it quickly.  

He was wrong.

Day after day, everyone was competently advancing their ability to juggle.  But Steve couldn't.  The instructor knew he needed special attention.

In a one on one session, the instructor asked Steve if he ever played baseball.  The answer was yes - for years. 

What was discovered?

In baseball; one does everything one can do to catch the ball. Dive for it. Whatever it takes.

In juggling, it's important to find rhythm and patterns... and especially at first, not bother to catch the balls at all.

Steve's brain was hard-wired to do the exact opposite of what he needed to do.  He found himself diving for great catches; but not learning how to juggle.  After the instructor helped him become conscious of this dynamic, Steve was able to clearly see the thought-patterns & habits that were holding him back.  More importantly, he learned where he needed to focus his attention and how to build new habits for this new challenge.  Shortly thereafter, he conquered the juggling that was previously conquering him.

Do we find ourselves juggling life - or is it juggling us?  Are our old patterns and habits applicable or hindrances?  Are we adapting and charging forward, or are we stuck chasing balls?

Steve brought me a couple gifts.  One was a book on writing.  Coincidentally (or was it?) within the very first page was a little story about W.C. Fields.  He lost his ability to juggle for six years after he read a scientific analysis of how he performed his juggling act.  Maybe one can become too conscious?  Perhaps there's a difference between "consciousness" and "self-consciousness"?

So how can we become conscious (but not over-conscious) of what we're doing and why?  Perhaps we should look to writers for help.

The authors of the book suggested that writers can increase their consciousness and confidence by gathering materials - i.e., inventorying thoughts, ideas, stories & unique words.  Basically keep a list.  Then, draw from that raw material when there's a book to be written.

It got me thinking.  I think I'm going to start three lists to help create additional awareness in my life:

1. What do I find myself doing over and over?  Like, for example, why am I compelled to write this blog post?  I don't get paid for it.  But I do it.
2. When I can't sleep, what are the topics that keep me awake?  Maybe those are the things I should look straight in the eye - and deal with.  Meet my fear.
3. When do I laugh? ...and I mean laugh -  You know, that "I'm laughing so hard I think I'm going to throw-up".   When was the last time I've experienced that?  What gets me there?

My new list-making makes for a new habit.  I may drop the ball here or there, but then again, maybe I need to be okay with that.