Posted on

No, I agree

I’ve had this one in the hopper for awhile, and silly enough I wasn’t sure how to write it. It’s about communicating.

My Biggest Struggle, Communication

I have to say my biggest struggle, and I think for most people, is with communication. This plays such an important role in everything we do from interacting with families, coworkers, and helping people solve problems, yet we’re all so good at sucking at it.

I realized just how bad I was when I heard myself say, “No! I agree.” Which is it Catter (my friends call me Cat), No or I agree?

In this situation, it’s always I agree.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for me, and is a little communication deal that can be solved just by changing my personal habits. A much bigger struggle  though lies in the same realm, framing the problem.

Frame the Problem

You can conquer nearly anything in this world if you can do one thing, frame the problem. What does that mean? This means that you can take a problem that you’re trying to solve and change your approach based on who you’re talking to. You frame the situation for them in a different way that speaks their language and get’s them emotionally involved in what you’re solving for. Simple…I know.

There is a short blog post here that explains techniques to do this in more detail: www.idea-sandbox.com, and a great video from Clayton Christensen called “Jobs-to-be-Done” that shows this working for a company that wanted to understand why people bought their milkshakes.

Clayton Christensen- Jobs-to-be-Done

Did you catch the reframe of the milkshake problem? The reframe is in the, “Why did you hire this product?” This tilted the problem and gave a  different view to the customers. It took them out of the  process of thinking what they’re doing, and put them in a state of why this milkshake was in their life.

This means that as a product owner you  need to change your messaging for every person involved. You need to nail the problem of your customer to the customer in their language, you need to frame a customers needs to a developer in their language, and you absolutely need to speak the language of your investors.

This is all simple stuff, but we struggle with it – all of us. If we didn’t, then we would understand every product ever created. My hope is that by writing this I can revisit it and understand how poorly I explained it 😉

The Delfonics – Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time – Live 1973

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOvfctgwnug&w=420&h=315]

I chose this song because I finally saw Jackie Brown last night and because honestly….Didn’t I Blow Your Mind? 🙂

Posted on

Pasting

The world is a weird place…a wonderful, funny and weird place.

Pasting

About 2 months ago I discovered something I really didn’t want to. I was writing something for work and for some reason I had to use the word “pasting”. It just didn’t look right. It looked like past-ing. Which in my world is the act of dreaming of the days that were. So I did what any person does. I Googled it to see if it would correct me. It didn’t correct me . I won the spelling bee!!! Wooo, but then I stumbled on a definition I wasn’t expecting.

According to Urban Dictionary:

Pasting is the act of putting toothpaste on one’s nipples with the intent of getting lightheaded or high.

Drugs are not my deal. I just don’t get them, especially when it involves household chemicals or needles. I’m not judging those that do use. I’m just curious about that first time it happens, when they think it’s a good idea to inject something…I feel the same for Botox.

I was so curious about pasting though. How was this discovered? Are my children going to have to be 18 to be purchase toothpaste one day? Does it have side-effects?

This was a real problem. Facebook pages and outraged parents against the awful tooth-whitening menace are all over the place. Such a readily accessible drug just feet from your children. What’s your family to do?

As I kept reading, I noticed that all posts where all from early 2012 and that was it.  There are videos, tutorials, forums, and everything you could think of if you wanted to get your paste on, but nothing new. I was so confused. If this was so awesome what happened? Why isn’t this all over the news? I can’t even buy Aleve-D without a pat down, thanks a lot meth.

Then I learned that the whole thing was a prank. It was started by a couple guys who tricked the media into helping spread the craze.

Makes me really think of the line:

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.

If the media is able to fuel a hoax like this without proof or investigation, what’s to say they get any of the important reporting correct?

Oh media, how I don’t miss you.

Jefferson Airplane – White Rabbit

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_raXzIRgsA&w=560&h=315]

Posted on

Tales of a PO: Week 6 – Ask for Help

You don’t win friends with salad, and you certainly don’t win friends by taking a really long time to solve problems.

The lesson for this week is to ask for help to get it done. This is especially important when it affects the ones around you. I know simple simple advice, but it’s the simple things in life. I finally accomplished a task tonight that has taken nearly a year. It took 9 months to accept help.

Outside help was brought in about a month or so ago and it was great working with them. There were some troubles though with  equipment failure. I felt bad to continue to ask for help, and because of that, it just drug out instead of just getting it done. Tonight was the end of it…wooo! I felt accomplished for about 5 minutes until I realized how long this whole thing took. Then I thought about the lesson.

Leaders put people in the position to get things done properly and don’t pretend to know everything. Get it done by letting others do what they do best.

The Beatles – Help

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNahS3OHPwA&w=420&h=315]

Posted on

Error Dirty Laundry

This is a short story that is completely true as I remember it. It was told to me by the parties involved about 2.5 years ago. I’m writing here because I never want to forget it and I would love to share it.

laundry

Trying to be a gentleman can be a stressful situation. Every moment with a guest receives a bit more attention than it really deserves and can be distracting for conversation. Doors for instance:  Does the door I’m trying to open push out or pull in? How far away are we from the door, and should I ignore what this person is saying and make a mad dash to try and open, only to find out that it opens out so then I stand partially in the door while holding it, making it a bit of a tight squeeze? Or do I just walk-through and open it, but first I have to leave the conversation to sprint ahead? Do the same rules apply at a business meeting (equal treatment) or should courtesy be extended to everybody here? Is it awkward that I squeezed through a door with my boss and chest bumped with no cause for celebration?

It can be stressful. And awkward. But there is one gentlemanly situation where it’s not either of these things: taking out the trash. With that said, onto the story.

Three years ago I had the great pleasure of meeting all of my wife’s friends and boyfriends. All of them lovely, successful people who have been friends for over 10 years. While out one night, a story of a friend that lives out of town was shared.

Their friend is a very independent woman who loves to do everything on her own, and is great at creating meaningful friendships. She moved to a big city by herself, prides herself in maintaining every part of her life, and supports herself in nearly every way.

Except when it comes to laundry.

During the story it came out that this independent woman was not a fan of laundry and would go through great lengths to not do it.  Friends from her hometown would visit quite often and it was understood that, as a friend, that if you visited her you had to bring a bag of her dirty laundry back home for her mom to take care of. Then, when the next friend would come to visit they would swing by the independent woman’s parents house, pick up the trash bag of laundry, and bring it back to her.  The ultimate “fluff and fold“. This woman loved her clothes. Every piece meant something to her and no laundromat was going to ruin her things.

It went on like this for months. Visitors would come, have a great time, and comeback with dirty clothes. The next trip, friends would stop by the parents house and pick-up the clean laundry on their way to visit.

The independent woman has some amazing friends. And one of those amazing friends has a very gentlemanly boyfriend…

The latest excursion to visit the laundry queen went as it usually went, except a much larger than usual load of dirties was sent back in 2 bags. No problem, put it in the car, give it to the mom and all was magically taken care of. A few weeks later a visit was planned, but there was a slight change.

The independent woman’s parents were going out of town the day before so they had to drop the laundry off with the friends that were about to visit their daughter. Awesome, the friends no longer had to make a stop in the morning and their trip just got simpler. All they had to do was to remember to bring the clean laundry on their way to the car in the morning.

With the extra time available, the friends (who are also roommates) decided to do a spring cleaning and start getting their place in shape. They even had the extra help of the gentlemanly boyfriend. Together they kicked the crap out of the place and got into shape. They went through every drawer, cupboard,  and room gathering everything that wasn’t needed and ready to be trashed. Tired and wanting to be ready for the trip in the morning everybody headed to sleep.

(alarm…it’s 6 a.m…shhhhhh)

The boyfriend is up and ready for work. He’s quite as can be trying not to make a sound so that his girlfriend and her friend will get enough sleep for their trip. He makes his way through the apartment, takes out the trash, and is off to the local grocery store to pick-up something for his lunch.

(cellphone call from his girlfriend)

  • Girlfriend: Hey!
  • Boyfriend: Hey, good morning,
  • Girlfriend: Did you mess with the bags by the door?
  • Boyfriend: Yeah, I took them out when I left this morning. They’re in the dumpster.
  • Girlfriend: THE COMPACTOR!!!!???
  • Boyfriend: Yeah, we had all the stuff we cleaned up last night. I wanted to help out.
  • Girlfriend: SHIT! Independent Woman’s clothes were in trash bags by the door!!! We hadn’t put them in the car yet…
  • Boyfriend: OH NO! Doesn’t the compactor start every time you close the hatch.

The independent woman was not a happy camper.

All of her favorite clothes were gone, because you only wash the clothes you wear.

On a positive note, she is much more independent.

(because this is the song that comes to mind when I think of this story…it’s very independent)

Beyonce – “Single Ladies”

Posted on

Leaders Pour Concrete

I talk way too much about Daft Punk. I can hear myself talk about them and I cringe. I think to myself, “Really, Anthony. Again?”

Well here it comes.

concrete

What is a Daft Punk? It’s a fun/serious electronic musical duo that have songs that can be listened to over and over and over again. They have relatively been unknown in the U.S. until this past May when their latest album was released. Except they were only unknown by name. Nearly the whole world over the past 20 years has heard parts of their tracks or were listening to tunes that were influenced by them in some way.

How could that be?

Because they’re leaders.  Silent robotic leaders.

Their new LP, Random Access Memories, is a great example of how they set their own rules. It’s funky, not too fast, very different from most things they’ve done, but you can tell it’s them.

The funny thing is I don’t know what they actually did on it. Every song is a collaboration of other artists, producers and electric magicians. The album brings back the days of funk and splices in the sound of the current era.

I was put off when I really started to think about it. Can they claim credit for a great album when every instrument, vocals, and production are provided from others? How can their name be behind it?

Because they’re leaders.

They knew the sound they wanted. Their spirit drove them to find the people to collaborate with, and take their industry in a new direction. They poured the foundation and found the best people to build the dream. They partnered with the biggest names that specialized in the music they were looking for, such as Nile Rodgers of Chic, Panda Bear, and Pharrell Williams.

This isn’t any different when launching a business. The founders job is to pour concrete, find the right builders, communicate the dream. The hard part is letting the dream become bigger than the team….even bigger than the silent robotic leader.

George Barnett – Get Lucky

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6NDY8FSr9M&w=560&h=315]

Posted on

Cheat

It’s pretty cool that growing up you’re allowed to have a cheat sheet.  You’re just called prepared instead of sent to the principal’s office.

Just something to think about.

Here is a fun cheat sheet in case you want to be prepared for the future:

Time Travel Cheat Sheet

Bright Eye – I Believe in Symmetry

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhyXdhhnY4&w=560&h=315]

Posted on

You’ve Got 20% Power

I no longer bring my laptop charger home with me and I’ve started to leave my computer unplugged longer throughout the day. Why? Because it gives me a only a set amount of power to get stuff down so I better be efficient and I’ve found that I need to get quicker at doing things. You stop wasting time with YouTube when you can see it visually eating your day away.

Unless it’s a music video. There is time for that:

Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/66822140 w=500&h=281]

Posted on

Swimming or as I Call It, Not Drowning

What gets your brain moving? For me it’s a combination of all the above: reading, writing, researching, running. I bet you already knew that list was coming because you sir/mam are a smarty pants who reads subject lines (the subject was changed at the last minute…so you probably didn’t know this list was coming…if you did…kudos)

I separate research and reading because I’m talking about reading for fun vs. thumbing through Flipboard following-up on what the topic of the day is. The one I’ve lately been neglecting (due to a back injury that I’ll be playing up for a couple more days) is the running. I can tell too. It doesn’t matter how much I read, write, or research I always feel unfulfilled. I always feel like there is something else to read, but when I run…that’s when my brain just lets everything out.

There is something about focusing on a physical hurt or exhausting moment that gives your brain a chance to let go and wander. Maybe its the adrenaline and endorphins. I don’t care either way. It works. It feels great. Not all physical activities do this for me though.

I don’t get the same feeling from swimming. This is probably because I’m not very fast, and what I do is really not swimming at all. I call it not drowning. I didn’t drown for 4 laps this morning and I didn’t get anything accomplished in the ole’ noggin. I did however get a chance to use my goggles, which makes my 10 year old self extremely happy.

I’ve left out writing because it’s a special one for me. Writing is really hard for me because my mind wanders so much that my point is almost lost in the middle of it. My boss actually made a point the other day to say that Twitter is probably a better forum for me…yeah that’s right…I picked up what you were putting down. Honestly though it helps me really cut the crap out of what I’m thinking (if I take the time rewrite it), and it helps me understand where I’m coming from and the story I’m trying to tell. It’s time consuming though and that’s why I went from a post everyday back in March/April to one every so often.

I used to write when I was really struggling in life in late teens/early twenties and it helped tremendously figure things out. It’s embarrassing to go back and read, but I actually transcribed them and hid them somewhere in this blog if you can find them. Until then…here is a pic from those days 🙂 It’s better if you look at this picture and then read it…if you find them.

Fun in Orlando

 

New Music Today…actually found when I researched “Not Drowning”

Not Drowning, Waving – Sweat

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDww4XAs4wY&w=420&h=315]

 

Posted on

Well Priced Luxury? Check…

The subject of this post was the subject of my Craigslist posting that I initially started with to sell Professor Xavier the XG350, the 2004 Hyundai XG350L to be exact.

My roll at my job is highly involved in the lean method of creating a startup, which  is essentially the scientific method. You test out one little thing, see if it effects anything, and then move to the next piece. I did this about 5 times on my craigslist post. I got zero bites with the funny headline. It made me chuckle, but laughing doesn’t move metal boy!  I also had the price set at exactly what I wanted for it. After a day or two, I reposted and changed the title to read “2003 Hyundai” and I upped the price by $250. Yeah that’s right, I upped it. I then got 1 serious call and 2 somewhat warm calls. The serious buyer ended up falling through because her dad bought a car for her (based on how excited she was when she found out she was the 1st to call and the 3 follow-up calls, I think she was telling the truth).

Then I realized that I had the year wrong on my car. I corrected and added the model in the subject “2004 Hyundai XG350L”. No calls. Not a one. Not even spam. What the hay? I even raised the price again, for fun. Sill nothing.

I then added more and more information about the location and how to get a-hold of me. Nope.

Then I took the model name out of the title. I changed the price back to the 1st markup and removed some of the location info and kept it very general. Still nope.

Then I received a weird call and the only question the guy asked for was the price. I answered, he hung up. I thought it was rude, but why didn’t he know the price? So, I decided to look at the ad through the eyes of the buyer, but using my mobile phone. Then I noticed a big problem. There was no price. The main one in the title wasn’t coming up and I originally thought it was redundant to have it in the post and the title. Big mistake. I then added the price in the title.

Eight hours later I got the call from the eventual buyer. Did they use a mobile device to look it up? Nope, but I learned a lot about testing out different ways of displaying an ad and what it takes to sell something. I only reposted the add 3 times over 2 weeks and changed the ad a bit a total of 5 times throughout the process. The car was priced at dealer levels and about $800 over what KBB.com says a private sale would go for. In the end I got exactly the price I wanted (not what it was posted at).

So, big fat hi-5 to persistance and the scientific method 😀

Today is actually when it sold, money in hand and I’m a tiny bit sad, kinda, sorta, not at all. Prof. X has moved on to wider lanes to roll, but honestly I was ready to move on. It was a fancy little booger, but fancy isn’t how we roll.

We’ll miss you little Prof. X, but there is a new tiny twerp on it’s way…and I’m so excited! But I’m probably jinxing myself…so shhhhh.

2004 Hyundai XG350L

What song would absolutely tie this post together for the “Song of the Post”?

Something that is my favorite (new car), somewhat hippie (new car), and named after the past (old car).

Xavier Rudd – Messages

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xv-yQK4_A4&w=420&h=315]

 

Posted on

A Bird Wants to be a Cat

Cat_sleeping_with_baby_chicks_cute_pic

I was at work the other day and I happen to be sitting by the window. We are on the 4th floor of a building that is in the shape of a U and the window was on the inner part of U. It over looks the other arm of the U and there is a pit at the bottom where another building caps off the open side of the U shape. This is some unnecessary details, but don’t you just feel like you’re there.

While speaking to my coworker I just happen to see something come off the neighboring buildings roof and go down in the pit. It was some kind of a white flash and it distracted me. (I would of made a terrible fish. I would of been caught immediately upon hatching. Shiny Object!!! Gulp.) I was so curious at what I saw. What was it? Was it some kind of animal thing? Was it just a plastic bag? I thought somebody had thrown something, but we’re too high for that. My coworker immediately said, “It’s just a bird.” I said, “Are you sure it was just a bird? It didn’t fall like a bird.” Then she blew my mind.

She said, “Yeah, it was just a bird. It didn’t want to be a bird anymore. It wanted to be a cat. So it jumped.”

I don’t know why, but this absolutely blew my mind. It occurred to me that that would be the ultimate choice. Of course you’re saying, “Duh, haven’t you heard of reincarnation?” Yes! I have, but it’s never occurred to me that it would or even could be a choice. It always seemed like it would be a random type of thing or God making the choice because of the planets needs. For instance, the world needs more manatees and then all of a sudden you’re eating lettuce. It’s probably not like that at all, but either way it was in the casualness of how she said it. “It wanted to a be cat”. My brain felt like it was dipped in Sprite…..cold and refreshing bath of thought.

I hadn’t felt that way in such a long time. Having a new way of looking at life or hearing a fresh perspective. It felt great, as if I had just heard my newest favorite song that wasn’t anything else like I currently listen to.

I asked her how she just came up with that. She said, “I didn’t. My 5 year old says that all the time.” I immediately got excited to have kids.

Metric – Artificial Nocturne

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVnQ5wsIaaA&w=420&h=315]