Trent365

Today is Part I of a special series I'm doing for the next few days with expert storyteller - Hasani X.

I asked Hasani why is storytelling such an effective way for us to communicate.

As you'll hear, he reckons we're basically hardwired to absorb stories.

NB: Here's a link to Hasani X's website if you'd like to learn more - https://bit.ly/3yNTxwU

#storytelling #communication #branding

Invariably, as companies grow a bit bigger, there tends to be more of a focus on The Handbook. The SOPs. The P&Ps.

And that's important. Companies need to do this to ensure consistency.

The problem is, when an organisation focuses too much on the Handbook, they can stifle their creativity.

Employees think less about being creative and more about following the Book.

Creativity is probably a big part of how your company got to where it is.

It's the reason you were able to create a unique product or service.

So, by all means, create the Handbooks...but just ensure there's enough scope in there for the creativity to continue to flourish.

#creativity #employeehandbook #SOPs

We like to have definitive answers

We prefer the absolute.

But most of the time, it's not that simple.

It's rarely all of THIS or all of THAT.

Should you use THIS social media adverting or THAT traditional advertising?

The answer is almost always...BOTH.

Thanks to Gary Vaynerchuck for the inspiration!

#lifelessons #eitheror #noabsolutes

You've heard the expression 'There's a market for everything'.

Well, if you've ever doubted it...take a look at this.

An Italian artist has just sold what he calls an 'immaterial sculpture'.

And what is that?

Well...nothing.

Literally...it's nothing. 

Just space. Just air. Not even a vacuum really.

It's not like he sold it for $1 either.

It sold for EURO 15,000.

So, the next time you're not quite sure if there's a market for your widgets...consider this.

Here's a link to a story on the sculpture if you want to take a look - https://bit.ly/3e5AVAx 

#marketdemand #art #value

Whether it's gambling, trading stocks or currencies or launching a new product, service or marketing campaign, you can get away with being greedy.

You can get away with holding out for better returns. 

You can get away with not taking any of your wins off the table as you progress.

As long as you stay focussed. 

As long as you stay disciplined.

As long as...you're not lazy...not even for a moment.

If you do, it can all unravel pretty quickly.

Conversely, you can get away with taking risks and being lazy too...as long as you're not expecting too much in return.

As long as you're not being greedy.

#risktaking #greedy #lazy

Malcolm Gladwell, famed author of The Tipping Point, is pretty bullish on the future.

He believes that we as a society are moving away from a reliance on the Hierarchy and becoming more accepting of the Network.

And that, according to Gladwell, is a good thing.

He may well be right.

He cites Black Lives Matter and the US vaccine rollout as examples of how the Network proved to be a better solution than the Hierarchy.

So the question is, Is your business ready for this?

Both in the way your company is structured and operates and how you deal with customers and clients.

How will that all change as we move away from Hierarchy and towards Network?

Here's a link to the article - https://bit.ly/36kWE3g

#thenetwork #hierarchy #thefuture

A sabbatical is basically an extended break from or leave from your job.

It can paid, unpaid or partially paid.

It can be for 1-3 months or more.

Some sabbaticals require the employee to undertake specific tasks, activities, further education, etc.

I think the benefits of a sabbatical, to both the employee and the organisation are self-explanatory.

However, if you're going to allow sabbaticals, you should certainly be having some robust discussions about your official Sabbatical Policy.

#sabbatical #policiesandprocedures #companyculture

What fascinates me most about Change is how much we don't like.

People are generally risk averse.

We don't like change. We'd prefer things to stay the same.

However, as the famed Dutch-American impressionist Willem de Kooning said, sometimes we need to change, just to stay the same.

Whilst I don't necessarily think that applies on a personal level, on a business level it absolutely does.

Anywhere you have a competitive landscape, those competitors will be working hard to change things. To remove you from your position.

So, if you want to stay where you are, you actually need to change...just to keep pace.

#change #competitiveedge #maintaining

Why do we travel?

Sometimes it's to get to another destination and experience it.

Sometimes it's simply to enjoy the journey.

But sometimes the place you want to get to most is a WHO, not a WHERE.

That's the message in a brilliant ad campaign from Skyscanner.

Because sometimes we travel just because we want to see our mother again.

Or maybe it's to hug our granddaughter for the very first time.

It shows a real understanding of the true intent of their customer.

And that...is magic!

NB: Thanks to Nick Day for sharing that Tweet from Trenton Burke.

#intent #customerinsights #adcampaign

I recently described a conversation I was having as 'meandering'.

The definition of meandering is 'moving slowly in no particular direction or with no clear purpose'.

The person I was speaking with took that as an insult. 

That's not the way it was intended.

In the context of our discussion, which was about early stage product development, I believe meandering conversations are important. 

They allow you to seek and absorb feedback without preconceived ideas and biases.

At a later stage, once the product is defined, sure, you want to be the opposite of meandering. You need to be focussed and targeted.

The lesson is that even if we both know the definition of a word, we may have different perceptions of it.

Also, that as the context changes, so too may our perceptions of the intent of that word.

Communication is tricky sometimes.

#interpretation #context #communication