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For those of us who were not able to make it across the ocean or country to see the newly famous David Armano’s presentations in New York or Boston, Ann Handley has kindly provided a great summation here.

As usual, it sounds like David was at his thought provoking best, working from personal insight through to practical methods for engaging your clients. As David’s own post explains, he wrapped up his presentation with three words — Empathy. Experience. Curiosity. — all of which came to him at the last minute.

I am particularly fascinated by the word "curiosity". This, to me, seems one of the chief roles of an agency … to ignite the curiosity of your client AND their customers. You do this by empathising (with both the client’s misapprehension of new media and the customers who join the conversation), and by dimensionalising the experience … providing many open doors from a single entry point.

Ann provides a nice step-by-step explanation of some of David’s points. In particular, she focuses on the steps that we all must take to help soothe the concerns of brand owners who are concerned at placing their brands in the hands of their consumers — the Five Bs:

1. Be transparent — let your client and all the stakeholders know what they are signing up for
2. Be prepared — what happens when things go REALLY good or really BAD
3. Be honest — admit that you are new to it all too
4. Be authentic — don’t provide a canned response
5. Be diligent — watch what goes on in the community as it grows

Remember, it is all very well to open the door for your clients … but you also need to help them negotiate what they find inside.

S.

It was warm when I left Sydney. A friend did suggest that I pack for snow … but really, it is October, and even Chicago does not have snow in October.

Coming from a country where snow is rare means that any snowfall is miraculous. It also means that I have no idea how COLD snow makes things. Well, I know that snow is cold, but that knowledge does not have an innate connection to understanding. So, sitting in an office on the 21st floor, I was watching with wonder at the clouds closing in (yes Mr Armano … even snow clouds can be wonderous) … and then the wind hit and a flurry of snow slapped the windows. I laughed. It was great!

But then I had to go outside. The cold wind hit me like a fist. My light coat was no shield and I watched as the snow hit and melted into the fabric. I knew it was cold and I knew it was snowing … yet still I smiled at the unpredictable weather. I smiled also at my own willingness to suspend belief …

There are many things that we can “know” in this world. But if a message has to break through to us, it needs to work not only on the level of fact. It needs to work experientially. It has to thrill our senses. It has to give us goosebumps.

After all, we are all seekers of unexpected experiences. Whether it is a snow storm or something more manufactured, it is the experience of a moment that creates a memory. That is what is remarkable.

S.

I am making an unexpected flying visit to Chicago. I am sitting in the plane ready to go … Knowing that I will be back in just a few days, it feels strange and chaotic. Of course, my last post was exactly about this sort of thing! So I am keeping my mind and senses open … And waiting to see what chaos ensues! S

I head a great radio interview this morning with Joan Wasser. She is here visiting Australia at the moment and she was talking, briefly, about her current motto — “Beauty is the New Punk”. I love it.
It is easy to think that “beauty” is skin deep … but anything truly beautiful has a profound stillness to it. The Beautiful defies both logic and emotion (sorry David), yet draws strength from them. And we may not be able to articulate it … but we know it when we EXPERIENCE it.
More to come on this, I am sure.
S.

Part one of two faux training videos for Microsoft UK employees featuring Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in their roles from the BBC version of The Office. There is another one as well … visit Google Video to see for yourself!

Taipei 101’s elevators are fast. But they are not as fast as the culture shock you get from flying between cities in Asia.
From the typhoon induced chaos of Taipei’s international airport to the relative calm of Hong Kong … right through to the ease of being back in Sydney … the changes in sights, smell and even air pressure remind you that you are in a different place. And that is before you hear language, or read a sign.
The last few posts have been done from airport lounges, and even from the plane waiting for push-back thanks to Typepad’s mobile blogging setup. I must say I was inspired by David Armano’s use of it … and thought I would give it a try.
So how fast can you blog? As quick as you can send an email, apparently.
S.

After a couple of days of storms it was relatively quiet here in Taipei. And it was our first chance to escape the confines of the hotel. The obvious destination? Tower 101. It is the tallest building in the world. And as the lift catapults you upwards at 60km per hour you are cushioned from the force by some cool technology that creates a pressurised bubble within the car. At the top you are greeted by a spectacular view. But you can feel the building sway … And with a typhoon approaching I was a little nervous. The building also has a massive pendulum that helps it balance in any condition. I’d like one of those myself! More from Sydney over the next few days. S.

Kids are so flexible … they can get their feet into their mouths without a problem. As adults, we often loose this ability … except in a metaphorical sense. This is mostly how I feel when writing this blog … I am always on the verge of placing not just by toe, but my whole foot, into my mouth.
Since I started blogging, I have found a number of times where I was under the misguided apprehension that I had an original idea. I raved on and on about authenticity only to then find the most in-depth and innovative thinking on the subject in blogs by Johnnie Moore and Chris Corrigan.
And my recent ramblings on innovation were (nicely) pointed out to have similarities to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of Flow (thanks to Clay Parker Jones). In fact, I think I had read his work years ago and in the meantime had absorbed his ideas and turned them into my own.
It is funny (and sometimes frustrating) to find that our ideas are those belonging to others. But it is also a testament to our education systems and to our own self-learning. Sometimes it is possible to arrive at the same solution to a problem … even if you are working in isolation or in secret. But as I have said before (and as many others have said before me) … it is not about the idea — it is how you bring it to life.
And maybe, just maybe, it is not putting a foot into my mouth — I am just sucking my toe for inspiration.
S.
By the way … the photo is inspired by Katie’s uncanny geographical skills and unmatched oratorial abilities.

OK … I tried to embed the Google Video below … but didn’t seem to work. You can check it out here.

By now I am sure you have seen the video of Majora Carter’s presentation at TED. If you have not, take a look and then read Guy Kawasaki’s analysis of why this presentation makes such a powerful impact.

There are many great quotes within the presentation … but one reminded my of Olivier Blanchard’s recent post where he declared himself a capitalist (no surprises of course!). But it is the perspective that Majora is able to draw across her own experience, her past and the way in which she is building a sustainable future in poor neighbourhoods, that really brings her story to life. I particularly like the way that she leads us down a path, makes an assertion and then repositions her previous statement — always focusing on the positive, the optimism and the potential. She uses the art of storytelling to great effect.

While I often focus on STORY, sometimes it is the TELLING that really wins out. Actually, almost always.

S.

About Majora:
Majora Carter is the Macarthur-winning founder of Sustainable South Bronx, an organization dedicated to holistic community development, sponsoring projects that create jobs, protect the environment and bring beautiful green space to the inner city. In this charismatic presentation (which received a prolonged standing ovation), she explains the inspiration behind her commitment to environmental justice and her vision for a renewed South Bronx. [Recorded February, 2006 in Monterey, CA]

I was dancing around Flickr and found this. Just had to share it.