Genius talent often carries baggage. Sometimes being really great requires mental wiring that is just different from the rest of the general population, but sometimes it comes from being coddled and pampered in order to continue the production of genius.
But the baggage can easily outweigh the benefits of the genius. At that point a negative reputation is formed, potential work is lost, and a career declines prematurely and for unnecessarily. Genius is wasted.
Everyone needs a jester on their life, the person who is always allowed to speak the unvarnished truth, and keep the genius in check. Without it, genius can become a burden rather than a blessing.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Tempation Of Cheap
I've worked on many projects where I had to overcome someone's decision to go the cheap way, yet when starting my own projects I'm tempted to go the cheap way.
The profit margins using cheap inputs can be enormous.
Yet those cheap inputs and methods create standards and expectations, which future clients and colleagues will measure you by.
This isn't about being expensive- its about being on the good side of the value equation between you and your client. Even if their budget is $50, you deliver (in their eyes) $51 of content. Going the cheap route too often delivers only $45 worth of goods- and eventually the client will figure it out.
In the long run, being known as "the guy/company/organization who does things on the cheap" will cut into future profits.
The profit margins using cheap inputs can be enormous.
Yet those cheap inputs and methods create standards and expectations, which future clients and colleagues will measure you by.
This isn't about being expensive- its about being on the good side of the value equation between you and your client. Even if their budget is $50, you deliver (in their eyes) $51 of content. Going the cheap route too often delivers only $45 worth of goods- and eventually the client will figure it out.
In the long run, being known as "the guy/company/organization who does things on the cheap" will cut into future profits.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Appraisials
If you really want to know what your organization thinks about you and your skills, give yourself a lousy self-review.
Your supervisor then has two choices- A) argue that, no, you are a great employee, or B) agree with your lousy assessment and leave it at that.
It may be one of the few times you get honest feedback from your review, even if you have to read between the lines.
Your supervisor then has two choices- A) argue that, no, you are a great employee, or B) agree with your lousy assessment and leave it at that.
It may be one of the few times you get honest feedback from your review, even if you have to read between the lines.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Scale Of Enjoyment
I've long suspected that the pricing of books and music backwards.
Most books are only read once, yet are often priced north of $15, $25 for a hard cover. Books are a great value when you divide the cost by the hours of entertainment that book provides, but the initial cost can be steep.
Music, however, strikes me as absurdly cheap, even at $12-$15 for a full CD. If that CD turns into a favorite, you will play it dozens of times over its life. I have a few recordings that I am sure I have listened to over one hundred times. My marginal cost per listen is somewhere around ten cents.
If anything, the pricing should be reversed: cheap books, expensive music.
Most books are only read once, yet are often priced north of $15, $25 for a hard cover. Books are a great value when you divide the cost by the hours of entertainment that book provides, but the initial cost can be steep.
Music, however, strikes me as absurdly cheap, even at $12-$15 for a full CD. If that CD turns into a favorite, you will play it dozens of times over its life. I have a few recordings that I am sure I have listened to over one hundred times. My marginal cost per listen is somewhere around ten cents.
If anything, the pricing should be reversed: cheap books, expensive music.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Death By Slide
No slides is infinitely more interesting that using bad slides.
There's a special place in hell for those who read bad slides to their audience.
There's a special place in hell for those who read bad slides to their audience.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Understanding Your Audience
The problem with having a stock presentation is that is doesn't take into account your the knowledge of your audience.
Beginning cooks are not going to enjoy a talk on the nuances between the differing genus of nutmeg. Professional cooks are going to walk out on your presentation on how to boil pasta.
If your audience already knows who your group is, move on to the problems that you see in the world and how you are trying to solve them.
Beginning cooks are not going to enjoy a talk on the nuances between the differing genus of nutmeg. Professional cooks are going to walk out on your presentation on how to boil pasta.
If your audience already knows who your group is, move on to the problems that you see in the world and how you are trying to solve them.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Happy
There's an old joke about a patient complaining to their doctor that they are not as happy as the people in the ads.
Making people feel insecure about their present choice is good in the short run, but I think bad in the long run. When your product doesn't deliver unending bliss to your customer, they are going to grow cynical about your next message.
Set reasonable expectations for your customer and the odds of them coming back go way up.
Making people feel insecure about their present choice is good in the short run, but I think bad in the long run. When your product doesn't deliver unending bliss to your customer, they are going to grow cynical about your next message.
Set reasonable expectations for your customer and the odds of them coming back go way up.
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