Get Friendly | Get Shouty

August 27, 2008, 2:14 am
Filed under: Get Activist, Get Friendly

Heroism is an ideal as old as humanity. Who will be the heroes of the 21st Century? What is heroism in the digital age? These are a few of the questions that a new group of researchers are seeking to understand.

Everyday Heroism is designed to bring together the general public and scholars interested in this topic to explore what heroism is, who performs heroic acts, and why.

Heroism Survey
Asks people to help better understand what heroism is.

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.

If you are interested in participating, please click here.

Resources:

The Banality of Heroism” Zeno Franco & Dr. Philip Zimbardo (2007). Greater Good Magazine. (2MB pdf).

The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. Dr. Zimbardo’s new book and website by the same title.

For Goodness’ Sake. Essay for O Magazine, Dr. Zimbardo, April 2007. (.doc)

“Is Lei Feng (雷锋) Still a Modern Hero?: A Consideration of Heroic Action in the Context of Culture” Paper. Franco, Z.E., Pamlin, D., Langdon, M., Blau, K. & Zimbardo, P. For the 4th International Conference on Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy, Guangzhou, China

2 comments

Content is king, context is queen, and community the soul*

July 14, 2008, 9:32 am
Filed under: Digital Strategy, Get Activist, Get Friendly, Great Stuff, Zeitgeist

Let’s get things straight here. They live on an island in Fiji. They (spear) fish, grow fruit and veg, compost their crap and drink a muddy narcotic and play guitars under the stars. That’s what they like to do.

And they won a big shiney silver wedge of a trophy. One that declares that Tribewanted is a more innovative and impactful social networking site than Skins on E4, and hold your breath…MySpace. Yes, MySpace, the world’s biggest online network, in a social networking competition. Bloody hell – how did that happen?

The team try to explain it here:

I think its hard to see it from the inside looking out – but here are the reasons the tribe members gave when we entered . I think it happened because we’re trying something different. And its starting to work. Very simply its about using a new and exciting way of communicating to make life better. And we’re not the only ones doing it either.

Not everyone can work on a project that is about building a sustainable island paradise. But we can all take inspiration in this vigorous enlistment of a community, the cleverness of building context in the clear signposts of their distributed messaging and consistently compelling stories.

John Dodds shared the American Marketing Association new definition of marketing:

Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.

It’s a big ask to educate our clients on the ever changing world, but if Apenisa Bogiso (Tui Mali) the Chief of Vorovoro can understand it I’m pretty sure I can help my clients get it too.

*thanks Kris Hoet and Kneale Mann

2 comments

Breathe. And don’t wobble.*

May 29, 2008, 7:31 am
Filed under: Get Friendly, Great Stuff

I was told the most beautiful story by Rachael, my new right hand gal at work, today. We were sitting in the sun and sharing stories, as we’ve just moved into our new offices and the place is still a bit of a construction zone. No access to servers. No access to the Net. So we chat.

We’ve spent the morning in the company of champions. Our GM is off to compete in some triathlons in the States and the guys he trains with are Olympic and Commonwealth athletes. Peter Robertson shared his theory on winning with heart (Health. Enjoyment. Attitude. Recovery. Training.) and one of his health tips is to make sure you get enough sun. Australians have taken the sun smart message a little too seriously and there is a bit of a country wide phenomenon of Vitamin D deficiency.

The new building has loads of natural light and the sun carves in and paints the room with reminders of our environment all day. I am absolutely dependant on the sun to shine myself I have to agree how important solar power is. We both remark on the smiles we see across the space even though the place is in chaos. There’s a new energy in the team.

We discuss how ‘from little things big things grow’ and how such a small practice like 15 minutes of meditation a day can so significantly change your life. Rachel tells me of a heart meditation “the inner smile”. This practice reminds her that we can open ourselves, open our hearts to happiness, embrace the warmth around us and shine light into the world.

Heart. Sunlight. Energy. Smiles. Openness.

I’m feeling very grateful. It feels like an auspicious start to a new place.

* thanks Wade

8 comments

Hello Pitches

May 15, 2008, 2:15 am
Filed under: Digital Strategy, Get Friendly

I love a good pitch.

It’s more than the energy and enthusiasm, the divergence and convergence of strategy, the caffeine, the late nights and the whole process of vividly imagining an idea into being.

I love it because it give you permission to be bold.

The Kaiser tells the wonderful story of what happens when a creative team (top chefs- Gorden Ramsey style) tackled a problem regardless:

They didn’t seek a compromise. They didn’t pander to their client. They weren’t chasing the money. They knew what was right and they just bloody well got on and did it. And the results proved that they were right. The resident cook said they were right, the customers were over the moon, hell even the management (to use British PR speak) were “delighted”.

As Bill S would say “boldness be my friend”. Have it as your compass. Both your team and your clients will benefit. Genius, Power and Magic….bring it on:

Moderation is a fatal thing; nothing succeeds like excess. ~Oscar Wilde

1 comment

TERRIBLE TWOS

March 18, 2008, 5:30 am
Filed under: Get Friendly

So that’s what two years of blogging feels like…..Happy Birthday to Me!

Last year I said “The Hundred Acre Wood grows for me every day- it’s my thinking spot and helps me demystify Heffalumps and Woozles”.

This year has been one that has let me meet Snuffelupagai (thats what I think the plural should be of Mr Snuffelupagus) . Not imaginary friends, even though most people can’t see them, real friends and I’ve had real adventures. Some to share and to which you’re all invited to participate :

and some to treasure just for me and those involved.

In in hommage to Ze Frank (thanks Adam- have a look it’s lovely) here’s some things I’m proud of from the last year:

volunteered my time for things I care about instead of just giving money
created events that I’d like to go to and invited people I don’t know to them
lived a week in another language
got some triple bottom line thinking across the line. “If it ‘ain’t doing good, it ‘ain’t doin’ good for the brand”.

So how about you? What have you done in the last year that you’re proud of?

4 comments

Advice to sink in slowly

February 14, 2008, 4:40 am
Filed under: Get Friendly

Advice_Posters_9

Advice to sink in slowly is a series of posters designed by recent and established graduates of University College Falmouth for the purpose of passing on advice and inspiration to first year students. A poster is given as a welcoming gift to every first year student when they enrol.

Student Advice Posters Gallery can be found here.

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Blogger Social ’08 (register by 02.15.08 or miss out!)

January 7, 2008, 6:18 am
Filed under: Digital Strategy, Get Friendly

What is it? Blogger social is like no other marketing event because it’s not about marketing and it’s not about blogging—it’s about the marketers behind the blogs.

Mark Goren put together this video compilation answering that very question.

Neither conference nor summit, it’s one weekend, held once a year, where the online marketing community descends upon a designated city for a weekend full of events designed to allow everyone to get to know one another better—and designed to give everyone free time to design their own meetups, too!

What blogging luminaries will be in New York for the Blogger Social? View the cool map that shows you that this truly is going to be a global affair. (Thanks Matt Dickman!)

You’ve got until February 15 to register. Do it here. Do it now. Can’t wait, guys…

All information on Blogger Social ‘08, including registration is available here.And if you wan to know who is coming along … the list includes: Susan Bird Tim Brunelle Katie Chatfield Terry Dagrosa Matt Dickman Luc Debaisieux Gianandrea Facchini Mark Goren Gavin Heaton Sean Howard CK Valeria Maltoni Drew McLellan Doug Meacham Marilyn Pratt Steve Roesler Greg Verdino CB Whittemore Steve Woodruff Paul McEnany Ann Handley David Reich Tangerine Toad Kristin Gorski Mack Collier David Armano Ryan Barrett Lori Magno Tim McHale Gene DeWitt Mario Vellandi Arun Rajagopal Darryl Ohrt Joseph Jaffe Rohit Bhargava Anna Farmery Marianne Richmond Thomas Clifford Lewis Green Geoff Livingston Kris Hoet Connie Reece CeCe Lee Jonathan Trenn Toby Bloomberg Seni Thomas

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New Year’s Resolution

January 4, 2008, 12:23 am
Filed under: Get Friendly

TV: Just don’t turn it on.

“You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”
— Steve Jobs, in Macworld Magazine, February 2004

4 comments

For your viewing pleasure

December 18, 2007, 11:31 pm
Filed under: Get Friendly

Most of the InterestingSouth presentations and are now available for your viewing pleasure!

My favourites so far:

How to make a place people love by Jeffre Jackson
The Art of Vocology by Tim Noonan
The Well Temered Environment by Dan Hill
and Dr Adrienne Whithall’s presentation on happiness.

In fact, ALL the presentations were fantastic … take an hour or so and fill your mind to the brim. You’ll be all the better for it.

A huge thank you to the guys at Precinct for their fabulous filming and editing. And to pureprofile for their big, glossy hosting.

2 comments

Saving grace

December 6, 2007, 1:33 am
Filed under: Get Friendly

One of the recent highlights of my time spent in Morocco was an adventure into the Little Sahara- trekking on camels under the stars, sleeping in a Berber tent and generally feeling the powerful symbols of the desert.

We arrived at Zagora at sunset after driving over the snow capped Atlas Mountains- a long day’s journey into night. We were then put on the back of camels and lead into the desert. There are more stars in the African sky than I could ever have imagined. And my mouth-open amazement at this glittering canopy kept me amused for hours while I tried to learn the gait of the creature that was carrying me. I still have the scars.

Every now and again a Land Rover would blind us with light as they crossed our path. I came to understand the importance of darkness. How often we overprivelage light to illuminate us and turn away from the knowledge and insight that a curtain of darkness can bring. You could miss a million stars by only looking at the light.

Darkness comes in many forms. We had darkness manifest itself in a person, and as Rumi might say:

i don’t need
a companion who is
nasty sad and sour
the one who is
like a grave
dark depressing and bitter

a sweetheart is a mirror
a friend a delicious cake
it isn’t worth spending
an hour with anyone else

My new friend Eli, a delicious true mirror who exhibits enormous courage under pressure, brought to life to me one of my favourite quotes: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness and nothing is so gentle as real strength”. His ability to keep both his feet on the ground in the midst of a dark hurricane, with wry good humour and a compassionate ability to see all sides brought me enormous comfort in some difficult situations.

There is a cost that must be paid for grace, but because the recipient of it’s gift can only see an effortlessness it is not often perceived. Sometimes you need darkness to truely appreciate stars. And so I am thankful.

1 comment

bless me!

November 16, 2007, 12:03 pm
Filed under: Get Friendly

I’ve chanted and welcomed prosperity, lit incense and been very careful not to touch. I’ve ridden side saddle on a motor bike, work-shopped Thai connections ideas and am finally in front of a screen again.

All part of a day’s work. A long day.

The monk’s blessing I’m told took about 2 hours. It didn’t seem that long at the time. The round-eye farang only noticed the passage of time when our muscles had a bit of a whinge but it really just passed in the blink of an eye.

I’ve spoken before what a relief it is to be in a land where you don’t speak the language and can’t read the signs. You don’t have to engage with all of the messaging that crowds in as you pass through. You can just witness and be free from having to interpret- you can just experience the moment.

And when you loose the imperative to have to understand, you can just be. And for that lesson I’m feeling pretty grateful right now.

1 comment

on the road again

November 15, 2007, 5:35 pm
Filed under: Get Friendly, Great Stuff

I wouldn’t have thought that after a 9 hour flight to get to Bangkok that I would be quite so energised on arriving at my destination. And I wouldn’t have thought that I would have an anecdote quite so soon, but here you go…

It’s about 4 am in Sydney. It’s been a long day but I’ve finally arrived in Thailand and was having a chuckle at how easy it is to get me to follow a total stranger and get me into a car. All you need to do is hold up a print out with my name on it pretty soon after I get through the arrival gate at an airport. It doesn’t even matter if the sign implies that I somehow got married on the flight without knowing- I will still hand over my suitcase to someone who says they’re here to collect me.

Sam, the lovely driver in question, had more delights waiting for me in the car than a bottle of water and a frosty hand towel (it’s way past midnight and waaaaay hot).

Karaoke. Yep, in car karaoke. With a list of AM radio sing-a-long hits, a microphone and a video screen with follow the bouncing ball lyrics and cheesy videos. What a hilarious way to be the midnight traffic jam in Bangkok.

You see Sam and I can’t really chat about our day and fill time in what (if you let it) could be stressy circumstances. So we don’t let it. Delightfully, we both know all the words to ridiculous girl pop anthems: Dancing Queen, Material Girl, Physical…. And we sing them. Loudly.

This is no time to be cool.

Best. Cab ride. Ever.

3 comments

Everyday activism

October 27, 2007, 7:34 am
Filed under: Get Activist, Get Friendly

The commitment to implement change everyday is quite a challenge.

One of the things I’m attempting to overcome is the use of the word ‘consumer’ :Stop calling me a consumer. I am a person a Facbook group started by Adam Crow.

Personal
Stop calling me a consumer. I am a person.

Work
Stop calling them consumers. They are people

Give it a go- it’s quite difficult.

Recently I was asked to define what kind of activist I am, and what my philosophy is…so here we go:

I am a practicing activist. To me this means everyday action. I believe in doing what you can with what you’ve got. I believe in knowing your karma footprint, addressing it and keeping it in check as much as you can, when you can.

I take personal responsibility in trying to make this place a little better every tomorrow. Because it makes me feel good. Because its fun. I have a lot of karma credits to make up!

If you’re at all interested Ed Cotton has started an initiative from the Planing for Good group PFG City Groups- Making it Fun and Easy:

1. We want to create PFG groups in as many cities as we can
2. Each city will have a leader who organizes coffee mornings – 30/40 minute brainstorms over a brief that happen once a month
3. The ideas generated are then sent inIt’s a good way to meet people and do good at the same time.Let Ed know if you want to lead a city or be part of a group, it’s an option. It’s still possible to contribute your own thinking and work with others outside these mornings. All we need is your name, your city and if you want to lead or participate.

This group has already done some great things. Check out Planning For Good- Ideas for the Idea Village-New Orleans

Emily has been kind enough to chair a Sydney group and there are quite a few tippy top types who have already put their hands up- so please, if you think you have great ideas, or want to contribute to something outside of your 9-5 (or 7-9 as it usually seems!) please send Ed a note.

9 comments

dog park

September 23, 2007, 5:05 am
Filed under: Get Friendly