Posted: October 1st, 2009 | Filed under: life purpose | Tags: food | No Comments »
In a humanist burial ceremony Keith Floyd – chef, bon viveur, bow-tie wearer, and a whole host of other excellent adjectives – was cremated in a coffin made of banana leaves and draped with sunflowers. A last creative act from a remarkable man.
Not without his faults (extremely heavy drinking mainly) Keith brought his unique character to cooking and helped demystify food to a nation that was just beginning its current love affair with celebrity chefs.
On the day of his death the Twittersphere was buzzing about it. Documentaries have appeared on TV, and I am sure that there will be the inevitable re-release of his books and TV series on DVD.
Keith Floyd was much loved because he stood out from the crowd. His passion for food and warmth of character were clear for all to see.
Not just because I love food, I have been very struck by the reaction to Keith’s death until I realised that we all love creative people, people who dare to be different, who are not afraid to expose their weaknesses. Keith Floyd is someone we can talk about. He decided to make a difference with his life, in his own way – he created remarkability. Remarkability in that he stood out from the crowd, and remarkability in that we had stories to talk about him. By creating remarkability Keith left the world a richer place for his being here – the one thing we should all do, otherwise what is the point?
I am celebrating my birthday this weekend over dinner with some close friends – I’ll make sure that we all raise a glass to salute the life of a remarkable man.
Posted: September 30th, 2009 | Filed under: - Usable Tools - | Tags: social media | No Comments »
This morning I attended an interesting seminar hosted by the Word Of Mouth UK Association in which The Guardian shared some research they have recently conducted on what makes one person more influential than another.
You can find out more by visiting their website (shame about the cheesy music) and I have put the flyer that was handed out at the bottom of this post.
They introduced 4 concepts which I will share here:
- Weak Ties
- Bridging Capital
- Status Bargain
- ACTIVE – measurable characteristics of influencers
WEAK TIES
Having an abundance of Weak Ties gives an individual access to new sources of information and the ability to spread that information.
Weak Ties are either Social Glue or Social Oil:
Social Glue
- Strong ties: close family and friends
Social Oil
- Weak ties: colleague, friend of a friend, extended family, person met through hobby activity or online
Strong ties help you get by – they provide you with emotional support.
Weak ties help you get on – they give you the power of amplification through the size of your networks and cross-network sharing.
BRIDGING CAPITAL
Bridging Capital enables influencers to package this information in a away that makes it easier for other people to take it on board.
It is a combination of Social and Cultural Capital:
Social Capital
- size & diversity of your network
- ability to spread messages
Cultural Capital
- accumulated knowledge
- ability to influence others
The ability to spread a variety of information in a variety of contextual settings is vital. If all you do is bang on about fishing wherever you are, you will soon get ignored.
STATUS BARGAIN
Individuals will modify their views to take on the opinions of others; the bargain is that they gain enhanced status by being more knowledgeable. Influencers feed this.
We trust the opinions of people we know who make Status Bargains.
ACTIVE – measurable characteristics of influencers
Evident in a higher incidence amongst influential people are a set of shared characteristics:
- Ahead in Adoption
- Connected
- Traveller
- Information-Hungry
- Vocal
- Exposed to Media
Whilst none of this is really new thinking, what is interesting is that there is data you can play with – the Guardian’s Word of Mouth database – with results fused to TGI, it enables agencies and brands to identify and understand key players active in word of mouth.
Check out – http://www.guardian.co.uk/adinfo/wom/ – and share any of your insights and comments on this.
Posted: September 25th, 2009 | Filed under: life purpose | Tags: personal mastery | No Comments »
Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great” (one of the best business books you will ever read) has written a new book examining failures and successes; lessons that apply in both our work and our personal lives.
So many of us at the moment are suffering setbacks in our lives having been made redundant; now looking for new employment or working out how to work for ourselves. In the difficult days “never give in” is encouragement you really want to hear.
“The main message of our work remains: we are not imprisoned by our circumstances, our setbacks, our history, our mistakes, or even staggering defeats along the way. We are freed by our choices.
The signature of the truly great versus the merely successful is not the absence of difficulty, but the ability to come back from setbacks, even cataclysmic catastrophes, stronger than before. Great nations can decline and recover. Great companies can fail and recover. Great social institutions can fail and recover. And great individuals can fail and recover. As long as you never get entirely knocked out of the game, there always remains hope.
“This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Winston Churchill
Never give in. Be willing to change tactics, but never give up your core purpose. Be willing to kill failed business ideas, even to shutter big operations you’ve been in for a long time, but never give up on the idea of building a great company. Be willing to evolve into an entirely different portfolio of activities, even to the point of zero overlap with what you do today, but never give up on the principles that define your culture. Be willing to embrace the inevitability of creative destruction, but never give up on the discipline to create your own future. Be willing to embrace loss, to endure pain, to temporarily lose freedoms, but never give up on the ability to prevail. Be willing to form alliances with former adversaries, to accept necessary compromise, but never – ever – give up on your core values.
The path out of darkness begins with those exasperatingly persistent individuals who are constitutionally incapable of capitulation. It’s one thing to suffer a staggering defeat – as will likely happen to every enduring business and social enterprise at some point in its history – and entirely another to give up on the values and aspirations that make the protracted struggle worthwhile. Failure is not so much a physical state as a state of mind: success is falling down and getting up one more time, without end.”
Jim Collins, “How the Mighty Fall. And Why Some Companies Never Give In”
Posted: August 13th, 2009 | Filed under: creativity, personal mastery | Tags: better business | No Comments »
Like many people who have moved from full-time employment to being self-employed I have been lucky enough to have had the time, as well as the need because potential clients have asked me, to do something that most people don’t do but should. And that is to answer a simple question:
- Why would you hire me?
The text below is taken from a short PowerPoint presentation, which you can download here. In marketing terms it is my value proposition, and I have found it very valuable in explaining to coaching clients and agency management just what would be the value of working with me.
Another thing I’ve learnt; nobody is going to come to you in these tough times unless you market yourself and what you offer the best way you can. Because, quite frankly, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogging and social media tools have created a level playing field where anyone can distribute themselves and their content with equal ease. If you are holding back well don’t, because there are plenty of other people who won’t be.
You hire me to create change
In your business, your personal life, or both
3 ways to change
PLANNING – communications and marketing strategies on projects and pitches.
MENTORING – working with senior management to provide clarity, expertise and resource to fix problems and grow the business.
COACHING – as a life coach working with a limited number of creative individuals to help them get clarity about their lives and create the life they want.
I create change based in INSIGHTS and expressed in CREATIVITY
INSIGHTS that provide new clarity, plus the foundation and spark that stimulates change.
CREATIVITY for business or individuals.
Creativity for business
Marketing and communications STRATEGIES & IDEAS that help create competitive advantage.
ENTREPRENEURIAL approaches to generate new revenue from current and new clients.
WAYS OF WORKING to create powerful cultures that connect people more effectively to business goals.
Creativity for individuals
People I work with have:
- Increased clarity about their life.
- Renewed energy and focus.
- A clear picture of how you can lead a balanced life and get the most out of it.
- A plan to make that happen that you can act upon every day.
Remarkable people and businesses doing remarkable things
I only work with a limited number of clients at a time.
They are all highly creative individuals and are creating amazing work and breakthroughs in their businesses and their lives.
Remarkable people
- I only coach creative people.
- I only coach face-to-face.
- I only coach a limited number of people.
- I have my own method but I coach you.
- I focus on action.
Remarkable businesses
- I only work with entrepreneurial start-ups, or global businesses.
- I help you fix your senior clients‘ business challenges.
What they say
“You get straight to the insights, and then you give me the structure and support to create the changes I want. Working with you is changing my life.” Coaching Client
“Magnus applied creative thinking to some unique challenges in leading the solutions both within the agency and within the client organisation. In all of this Magnus had a consistently positive outlook and a healthy sense of perspective balanced with a great deal of experience that proved very valuable. I’d welcome the opportunity to work with Magnus again.” Paul Collier, Dell
Are you next?
Would you like to spend an hour talking about the changes you want:
- in your life?
- in your business?
- in both?
Then please let me know – magnuswood.com/getintouch
Posted: July 30th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: personal mastery | 1 Comment »
If you could travel back in time and give advice to your 20-year old self; what would you say?
The first thing might be “I know you’re not going to listen to a word I say but…”
I am sure this list will be pretty organic as I make more mistakes and learn new stuff but here’s my starting-point. I’d love to hear what advice you’d give your 20-year old self.
Remember everyone you’ve ever done business with and use social networking tools to keep in touch.
Be someone people can rely upon.
Always produce the best work you can, and always strive to make it better than other people’s work.
You aren’t going to “get discovered” – you’re going to have to tell the world about yourself.
Work hard, take care of your integrity and your reputation will take care of itself.
Know the rules so you know how to break them properly.
Take more risks. But remember the difference between courage and foolhardiness is, at most, only a few minutes thought.
When the fat lady does finally sing, make sure that you can hear her.
Sleep less. Get up an hour earlier for 3 weeks and you will be amazed that you can do it easily, and delighted with this extra hour all to yourself.
If you never say no; then what is your yes worth?
You can have your cake and eat it. But not all at once.
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Save money. It may seem boring but you’ll be the one smiling when you have a new car, deposit, holiday, cushion when you lose your job.
Cause and effect are not always closely related in time and space.
The easy way out usually leads back in.
Discipline is not a bad thing – especially when it’s self-discipline. Do you want success? Do you want results? Then have the self-discipline to make it happen.
Anticipating the pain is always worse than the pain itself. Don’t waste your time worrying about how much something you are striving for is going to hurt on the way. Whatever that pain is: A) it won’t be as bad when you’re working through it, and B) it will all be worth it when you are celebrating your success.
Yes you will make mistakes but don’t beat yourself up – just don’t do it again, and learn what didn’t work that time.
Motivate yourself; don’t strive to have what others have. Be fired up by the internal motivations that drive YOU, not the external trappings of wealth, power, and success. If you’re any good – and that sort of thing is important to you – they’ll come the more brilliantly you shine at what you are doing.
No company will ever give you loyalty. Only people will.
Food doesn’t make you fat. Eating more calories than you burn up in the average day does.
Let your individuality shine out. What makes you unique gives you your particular edge. Don’t copy others – work on expressing the uniqueness of you – whatever it is.
Having fun is much more fun when you’ve done your work first.
Get it in writing. This is true for multiple cases of “it”.
If something cannot go on forever it will stop. No matter that you don’t want it to, and usually when you least want it to. Or expect it to.
Confront the brutal facts of your current reality – no matter how unpleasant they might be. Then take ownership of the position you find yourself; admit to yourself your role in making all of this happen. When you do this, and only when you do this, you can start creating the reality you want.
Life a life of purpose. Our unique talents and personality mean that we all have a unique contribution to the world – one that’s going to enrich the world and fulfil you. Work out what your purpose is – and start living it as much as you can, as soon as you can.
Rest and recharge often. Then you can go and work hard. And party.
If you are selling something for money; the sale is over only once you have gone to the bank.
Nobody ever gives you power. You take it. Don’t ask for permission to do something – if every fibre of your being thinks it’s right, and I mean really right and you’re not kidding yourself, then do it. Then do it again.
Standing out from the crowd and doing your own thing – being a leader – that’s a lonely gig. But better to be slightly lonely than ripped up by regret.
The secret of life? Be at peace with now – whatever that now is – because now is all you really only ever have.
Posted: July 28th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: food | No Comments »
Well, not quite everything. A little while back I did a Pecha Kucha at a Wunderman company jolly.
If you’d like to read about the mystical power of eating penises, or how everything is solved by a nice cup of tea, then click here to download the presentation.
Posted: July 27th, 2009 | Filed under: observations | Tags: london | No Comments »
Having snapped up a bargain Reiss suit the other day next I had to find an affordable yet quality tailor to take up the trousers.
Provided you don’t mind dropping your trousers in a workshop amongst 4 or 5 male and female tailors, then Rafaele Condilio in Dean Street is your man.
My trousers were expertly taken up and for a surprisingly low price. As I left Rafaele pointed out that they do made-to-measure and, given the quality and the price, I will take him up on that sometime soon.
His workshop can be found above Wen Tai Sun Art & Crafts (well worth a visit for Chinese cultural bits and bobs); the door is round the corner in that road that leads down to the Soho Hotel.
Rafaele Condilio, 80A Dean Street, W1D 3SN. 020 77 34 01 89
Posted: July 23rd, 2009 | Filed under: insights | Tags: better business | 1 Comment »
I believe that there are 8 things you will find in all of the best businesses in the world.
Aim to be the best
Have a crystal-clear idea of what they strive every day to be the best in the world at.
Have a Guiding Vision
A goal that everyone believes in, and is playing their unique part in making happen.
Believe in talent
In creating an environment for people to do their best work ever.
Create strong cultures
Ones in which entrepreneurialism, creativity and team-work are encouraged and rewarded.
Never neglect delivery
Understand that delivery – both excellence and value-for-money – are basics that can never be neglected.
Commercialism runs throughout
Everyone lives the mantra of “control costs” but management spend wisely to generate business advantage.
Never stop moving
Are never satisfied with where they are, and always want to be ridiculously better and more successful than their competitors.
Download the presentation version here.
Is there anything else you would add to this list?
Posted: July 17th, 2009 | Filed under: - Usable Tools - | Tags: personal mastery | No Comments »
The first two steps in changing your reality to the reality you want it to be are:
- Facing up to that reality, no matter how unpleasant it may be
- Being clear about your responsibility in creating it
Do this and you will have a firm foundation to change your world.
Posted: July 15th, 2009 | Filed under: insights | | No Comments »
In a relationship that is working we should both be leaning in together equally and supporting one another. When a relationship is wrong one person is leaning in more than the other and the other person pulls back, prompting more leaning in. The relationship gets more and more imbalanced and topples over.
Some people repeat this cycle all of their lives – with the same person, and with similar types of people. Of course at times one person will need more support but, over time, the couple should lean on each other equally.
When you feel that you are doing all of the leaning in, all of the work, all of the compromising, then you have to ask yourself; am I really in this relationship for the right reasons? Am I in this relationship because I don’t want to be alone?
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