Finding Talented People For Your Organization
Ernest Sheckleton was an extreme adventurer. In 1914 he turned his attention to the one remaining great object of Antarctic journeying—the crossing of the continent from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. He assembled a team, raised the capital he needed and set out on a 1700 miles expedition across one of the most fierce environments on the planet.
It didn’t happen. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. He didn’t make it. In fact, the expedition came to a screeching halt when their ship got wedged between chunks of ice floating in the ocean. Sheckleton’s trip turned into a rescue mission.
What’s amazing about this story is that no one dies. There aren’t any accounts of anyone getting eaten to survive or any mutiny happening with crew. Instead, they worked together to survive.
Great leaders know how to find and attract talent.
So how did Ernest do it? He put an ad in a newspaper (the Monster.com, linked in or craigslist of his time).
Had Ernest applied the method that is so commonly used today his ad would probably look something like this:
Men needed for expedition.
Minimum 5 years’ experience.
Must know how to sail.
Come work for a great team.
His ad didn’t look like this though. It actually read:
Men Wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.
Ernest was looking for specific talent. The people who thought this ad looked fun and were crazy enough to follow up were just the caliber of people Ernest was looking for. Ernest’ ad goes way beyond the norm. I get that. What I appreciate though, is that there is a greater sense of who he is and what he’s all about and the kind of people he wanted to attract.
People like Ernest, Marting Luther King Jr, Steve Jobs all communicated from the inside out. WHY they existed drove not just the products they created or causes they served but also the people they attracted. How do you attract talent?
We Stopped Dreaming About Tomorrow
It amazes me what human beings can accomplished when they’re united by a shared vision. Sometimes we need an external motivation to accomplish the impossible. Some of the greatest achievements have occurred as a result and the video below questions whether we are moving away from such great innovations. What do you think?
Don’t Think Different, Think About Different Things
We want everyone in our organization to “think different.” But what does that mean? Does it mean that we want them to think creatively? Out of the box? What happens when all that creative thinking is focused on the wrong problem? I read an interesting article in HBR, one that challenges the way we problem solve and focuses not so much on thinking different but thinking about different things. Here are some things that jumped out to me.
Dyson (the vacuum manufacturer) set out to invent a more effective vacuum cleaner. He noticed that vacuums lose suction as the bag fills, because the pores in the bag get clogged. Most people who tried to fix this issue in the past attempted to solve the “bag problem” by crafting a more effective vacuum cleaner bag.
Instead, Dyson realized a vacuum takes in a combination of dust and air and needs to separate the dust from the air.
Once he thought about the problem in this way, he was able to recall his own knowledge about the industrial cyclones used in sawmills. Industrial cyclones use centrifugal force to separate particles from air rather than a filter. He then designed a small industrial cyclone into a vacuum and created a highly successful business.
To solve the problem, Dyson focused on its essence.
Framing the problem this way led to a more innovative solution for the Dyson company. Check out full article here.
via Don’t Think Different, Think About Different Things – Art Markman – Harvard Business Review.
Starting A New Chapter
Launching out into something new is hard. It can be a little unnerving but at the end of the day the choices are simple: make a change or stay where you are. While the options may seem clear and simple, there are usually all kinds of variables that complicate the decision making process such as financial security, stability, fear of the unknown, convenience, good relationships and so much more. That’s why everything must be tested first. Depending on how you’re wired, every once in a while, something is birthed inside of you that you just can’t shake. No matter how much you ignore it, rationalize it away or talk yourself out of it it doesn’t go away. When you combine that with a sense of how finite our time on earth really is, it only makes you think more intently about it. At least it has for me. The fear, uneasiness and tension that comes along with it is good though. I love it and hate it at the same time.
I love it because it forces people to create and new creative things are developed out of a necessity to make something happen or as it has famously been put; “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” Perhaps we could all benefit from being there a little more from time to time. Necessity and innovation, things we need to capitalize on the opportunity to inspire people and help change our world. To me, the opportunities are so vast that the upside of starting something new is worth the risks.
That said, I have resigned my position at Bayside. My last day was yesterday (Feb 29th). Now it’s on to a new chapter that includes a company of my own working with an incredible partner and team.
A Great Ride
This is truly bittersweet because I love the people at Bayside. My bosses (friends and mentors) Ray and Lincoln, have been paramount in my growth as an individual during this season. They have challenged me in new ways while allowing me to explore some things for Bayside as well. I’m eternally grateful to those guys. I’ve also developed relationships with folks who feel like part of my family. I also want to thank the leaders at Bayside for a wonderful 4 years. Thanks for letting me pick and prod, tinker and challenge. I am most bummed about leaving the teams I was able to build and work with. What an unbelievable group of people! Working long hard days is not so bad when you are part of an incredible team. Love you guys. Also a HUGE thank you to the community of people that make up Bayside. I have met and worked with amazing volunteers who have hearts of pure gold. You guys are incredible too. My heart is full of gratitude for all of it. Seriously.
Even though I’m moving on, my work with Bayside is not over, we’ll continue to work on numerous projects together. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship. This new venture will also allow me to work with some other organizations as well which I believe are primed to make a big difference locally and abroad.
I feel reinvigorated and optimistic for all that is ahead in this new chapter. I have a great partner and an incredible team forming who all share my excitement for the unveiling of some really cool stuff. You’ll hear about it soon enough…
Let’s go!
Video: A Networked Society
Very interesting video about urbanization and the role technology is playing in cities around the world. A must watch.
Work vs Creative Labor
I found a great article on work and creative labor from 99%. As a guy who leads creatives, the topic of work and creativity is one I’m always trying to better understand. Work, as expressed below, is willed into action. Creative labor, on the other hand, is not always something I can “will” in existence.
As creative professionals, it’s easy to confuse “work” and “labor” — both are a regular part of our everyday. But when we confuse one for the other, we create the illusion that “creative labor” can be willed, managed, or measured, when, in fact, it can only really be, as Hyde points out, beckoned.
We can do much to create the time, the space, and the expertise that lead to incredible creative work. But there is no silver bullet; there is no “time-saving device” or productivity system that is going to alter the rhythm of invention.
via The Rhythms of Work vs The Rhythms of Creative Labor :: Articles :: The 99 Percent.художник на икониИкони на светци
Apple to announce tools, platform to “digitally destroy” textbook publishing
The technology to completely challenge the way textbooks are handle in universities has always been here. It’s the business model that’s scared so many away. An article today gives us reason to believe Apple is going to stir it up again. I love it.
“MacInnis sees Apple as possibly up-ending the traditional print publishing model for the low-end, where basic information has for many years remained locked behind high textbook prices. Apple can “kick up dust with the education market,” which could then create visibility for platforms like Inkling. These platforms could then serve as a sort of professional Logic-type tool for interactive textbook creation to complement Apples “GarageBand for e-books.”
via Apple to announce tools, platform to “digitally destroy” textbook publishing.
