creatorbase

'Running the Gauntlet' will awaken your creators for positive change and growth

This is a change agent toolbox for your C-suite. Jeffrey Hayzlett’s new book Running the Gauntlet, with interactive tools including social media and video guides, is clever and exactly what business, marketing and technology leaders need to invigorate their 2012 initiatives and cross-functional teams.

No doubt, Jeffrey is a force of nature after many years of either running his own gauntlets or leading teams in senior executive roles for companies like Kodak. At 6'3, 270 pounds, a big voice and John Wayne like persona -- Jeffrey is an engaging leader determined to help companies and the economy grow, regardless of perceived or real obstacles and threats.

The new book has 33 chapters and reads like conversational blog posts, each starting with a Tweet-like headline and SnapTag to launch a brief video guide from any web-enabled device.

For example, Chapter 28 discusses how customers have always had the upper hand but companies should now engage customers with social media and the web to create opportunities and minimize risks. The SnapTag in the upper left corner on page 163 enabled me to scan the brand/round tag image in seconds with my iPhone, launch a video and interact with Jeffrey and the community about the topic. 

Chapter 29 continues with the customer theme by getting into advisory board and executive relationship building programs. Yes, I completely agree with this sort of commitment and thinking around customer engagement and collaboration, and will work these ideas into Ektron's 2012 strategy. 

Throughout the book and digital content, there are references to Kodak and other companies and leaders that appear to follow some chronological order but also help to create a storyline that provides credibility for all ideas and recommendations. This makes Running the Gauntlet (RTG) real and certainly more actionable. 

Full disclosure, I received an advance RTG copy from Jeffrey to help prepare for our Web Innovation Now video and this blog. But seriously, I couldn't put the book down since last week and stayed in most of New Year's weekend to read it and watch SnapTag video clips. No, I'm not boring but it is the season for gauntlet teaming.

Change is never easy but it is inevitable. I recommend Running the Gauntlet and Jeffrey Hayzlett. Do yourself a favor, take change by the reins and go! 

 

Remembering Steve Jobs' creativity, life and wisdom

'You've got to find what you love' said Jobs in his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. Watch the ~15 minute video above, read the full transcript and share his wisdom.

I'll write another day about our meeting in 2004 in Palo Alto at his flagship Apple store. Our brief conversation made an impression then and now.

Summer ends and Ektron’s new era of community innovation begins at OMMA Global NY

A Time to Remember

The past few months will probably go down in my history book as the most exciting summer break to date! We’ve all been there when considering our school days and those one or two summer experiences that seem to stand out. It used to be that things slow down in June, we enjoy time off with a variety of adventures, and then get back into it in early September. For me, this last summer was unique, influential, and I’m happy to share details about my new role and focus at Ektron, with thoughts from Tom Wentworth in this brief video. 

I wouldn’t call the summer of ‘11 a vacation because there was more uncertainty than usual given that I was unemployed and searching for an outstanding team to join. But I had some unexpected time off and wanted to make the best of it. And that I did with a handful of activities and pursuits, like…

• Spending quality time with family at home and on-the-go
• Connecting with ATP execs and pros at the Wimbledon Championships 2011
• Preparing and auditioning for ABC Shark Tank season 3 in Dallas
• Blogging and being an entrepreneur with creatorbase and the DMS
• Swimming, playing tennis and working out at the gym
• Riding and trying to fix my Triumph Sprint 955
• Doing industry research, reading and thinking 
• Pitching potential employers, partners and clients
• Meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones
• Landing at Ektron in the SF office

The summer of ‘11 was extraordinary but wasn’t all bliss because the 24/7 news stories about the deficit, economy and unemployment were constant reminders we live in challenging times, and gainful employment is not a guarantee, even when you're an over achiever. But the time off absolutely renewed my faith in how important it is -- at least from a SF Bay Area perspective -- to always pursue your passion, continually stretch your skills/expertise, take risks, enjoy every moment, and act daily with creativity and integrity as if it’s your last day on earth. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the Web and the many opportunities we all have to innovate and collaborate for the greater good with this amazing platform, still in its infancy. The journey continues!

OMMA Global NYC 2011

Today, I’m kicking-off my new role with Ektron (and as a creatorbase blogger) by moderating the ‘Essentials of Real-Time Marketing -- Email Plus Websites’ panel. The audience is in for a treat as industry veterans including Jeanniey Mullen from Zinio, Denise Giacoia from Trizetto, Josh Glantz from Publishers Clearing House and Fred Swain from Tafford Uniforms discuss and debate best practices, insights and what’s passé. Join us Monday, September 26^th at 12:15 EST at the Marriott Marquis NY on the 7th floor or watch video from our session and other OMMA Global speakers after the event.

Stay tuned for more interesting developments via creatorbase and Ektron. Our focus will be on reaching, engaging and empowering the global community and us providing a space (digital and face-to-face) for you to create value! Want to connect on Facebook? Join other creators by liking this page.

 

What does the future hold for tennis fans, players and sponsors?

The professional tennis season is in full swing with the French Open and AEGON Championships completed in June and the 125^th Wimbledon Championships coming to a close on Sunday, July 3rd. Other ATP tournaments and the U.S. Open are ramping up now. Can you tell I’m a tennis fan? 

Whether you’re into tennis or not, there is much to learn from the ATP’s evolution and insights as an entertainment and sports management organization on the Web and in cities worldwide. Conceptually, every business has it’s own stars, matches, tournaments, venues and seasons. Common success themes to consider for any industry are:

• Content strategy and editorial to create storylines and value for key stakeholders

• Realtime content creation and distribution to drive authority, immediacy, sharing and multichannel engagement

• Web, email, social, mobile, search, television onsite and print channels and solutions to enable, grow and interact with communities and individuals

• Affinity and passion that inspires action and participation 

I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate for a few days early in this year’s 125^th Wimbledon Championships. An extraordinary experience that was 30 years in the making; a guest of the ATP focused on blogging about and enjoying this grand event as a loyal fan. You can read more about some of my Wimbledon adventures and see related photos. Fun aside, let’s talk about and tune into the business and future of tennis.

Tennis is big business and has been for decades. Everything from equipment, clothing, courts/clubs, tournaments, professionals, sponsorships, etc. generates billions in revenue each year worldwide. So you may ask yourself, “what’s the future of tennis” -- in terms of digital and onsite experiences -- for fans, players, sponsors and friends from the ATP working behind the scenes? John Phillips and I discuss this in our creatorbase thoughts video above and get into some futuristic examples that are in play now, and touch on what's to come.

With more than 4 million people participating onsite at 62 ATP tournaments in 32 countries and more than 4 million people actively engaging online each month via ATPWorldTour.com, mobile and social channels -- there are many opportunities to create and monetize compelling tennis experiences that entertain and WOW the tennis community. Businesses in any industry can learn from the ATP's playbook and successes to date.

If you're doing similar things as the ATP/tennis community in your industry, I'd like to learn more and share your insights. Stay tuned for another creatorbase thoughts video from Wimbledon.

Want to connect on Facebook? Join us by liking this page.

Remembering Challenger's creators

Twenty five years ago yesterday, January 28, 1986, is an unforgettable day. Twenty five years after NASA's first fatal in-flight accident, the memories of Challenger and crew are strong and vivid.

I was working at CBS TV in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1986; just getting started in my career during an exciting time. West Palm Beach is about 150 miles from the Kennedy Space Center so most NASA launches could be seen on the horizon with naked eyes, even from that distance. My father worked for Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies organization that provided support to NASA, so space missions were a big deal in our home and for the local community. And JFK's legacy was a strong force in the area because of his role in the NASA program, and the Kennedy home in Palm Beach was visited often by extended family. 

January 28th was a beautiful, crisp day with perfect visibility. I was at CBS, just before my shift started, watching live in the studio lobby with a vantage point to see the launch on TV and in the sky at the same time. After 73 seconds, it was immediately apparent that something went terribly wrong. It was a surreal and very sad moment.

Seven lives were lost in the Challenger explosion: Dick Scobee, commander; Michael J. Smith, pilot; Ellison Onizuka, mission specialist; Judy Resnik, mission specialist; Ron McNair, mission specialist; Gregory Jarvis, payload specialist; and Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist and teacher. The world mourned.

The Challenger crew were very special people. They gave everything in the spirit of science, innovation, education and a desire to create something good for humanity. I will always have fond memories of them and their achievements.

 

Jamie Oliver's food for thought and action

We first met Jamie Oliver as the "Naked Chef" from England. He's been creating in the kitchen since childhood and developed a passion early on for fresh, honest food and family experiences. A tireless author, entrepreneur, practitioner and TV personality for a number of years -- he is now on a mission to help Americans make needed changes in lifestyles and diet. In particular, he is focused on educating children on how to change course with this rally call: 

"I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again, and empower people everywhere to fight obesity."  

Tune into his passionate talk (~20 minutes) recorded at TED on February 10, 2010. I believe Jamie genuinely cares and has great ideas to make a huge impact with food-related issues:

To learn more about Jamie Oliver's wish (and plan) to help educate children, click here for more details and ways to contribute to this important cause. 

What do you think about this post? How do you feel about Jamie's wish?

New Web 2.0 Guide with Interactive Marketing and Environmental (Green) Benefits

Updated June 14, 2011: New product ideas come and go. But it's safe to say that Web 2.0 (i.e. ABC Shark Tank investors and community on Twitter; Google, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Groupon, eBay and Foursquare growth; this blog and websites like millions of others, etc.) has helped to turn around the economy and is igniting entrepreneurialism worldwide.

Web and social media services are increasing in popularity with incredible adoption by the day. Similar to the rapid growth of TV infrastructure, programing and viewership in the last century when television went from black & white to color -- people from all walks of life are discovering and relying on real-time web content and experiences to live, work, play, buy, learn, and be social.

Remember the infamous TV Guide that rested on millions of coffee tables and was the periodic source for programming info, editorial content and sponsored ads? It's now time for a new Desktop Media Solution next to every PC/laptop, so people of all ages and backgrounds can be reminded of and access relevant brands, content, services and offers via the Internet, while also using their Desktop Media Solution as a reading tool to organize and hold paper, books, notepads, magazines, etc. 

The new Desktop Media Solution will:

• replace millions of single-function copyholders from companies like Fellowes 
• be updated periodically based on community preferences (friendsourcing) with a selection of media refills available to order and receive by snail-mail with a few clicks of the mouse
• help to protect the environment (made from recycled materials and thinking)
• help brands physically interact with consumers, 24/7

Even though digital (i.e. web, email, social, mobile, search, etc.) is like a fast-growing vine, people need tangible tools to help bridge the gap between digital and point of sale experiences. Customer retention and loyalty can be a challenge when relying only on digital experiences that are quickly out of sight and out of mind. And the volume of these digital experiences are increasing by the day so it's important for companies and content on the Web to stand out and be engaging for consumers.

The Interactive Brand Opportunity. It's Huge!

I recently did a post in the Sitecore Community about how successful brands, Web 2.0 companies and publishers today are creating and leveraging interactive brand ecoystems with their websites at the core. Managing digital campaigns and conversations with the Web are standard practice today and there's no turning back.

When thinking about the Desktop Media Solution value proposition, envision personalized guides or media/reading stands sitting next to millions of PCs and web browsers -- including a web-based community that is creating content for the Desktop Media Solution based on their preferences, friends and recommendations. This content can also be purchased online and delivered via the Postal Service as "'media refills" for the Desktop Media Solution:

Desktop Media Solution Demo

Blast from the past. It's a little dated -- including the "CreatorKiosk" name that was issued on the patent in 2002 -- but you'll get a sense of the functionality and value proposition. Click here to view the interactive demo.  Note, you will need a Flash Reader to view the demo.

See more patent 6488251 details for the Desktop Media Solution -- the only product of its kind for brands, consumers, Web 2.0 companies and publishers on the Web, and the next best thing since sliced bread! It's a useful blend of low-tech, high-tech and green. Remember, there was only one TV Guide per television set and the same logic applies for the Desktop Media Solution with on-demand, printed media refills when consumers choose to receive them via snail-mail. 

FYI, the original product (Copy Grip, created before the Internet) was sold in stores like Office Depot, college bookstores, computer accessory catalogs and even via a test market at K-Mart. Customers loved the product based on sales and feedback! In 2002, the original product was redesigned and patented to become aligned with how consumers now use the Internet and to incorporate recycled materials/thinking for a more eco-friendly offering; the new Desktop Media Solution. 

Are you an ABC Shark Tank fan?

Interested in following this developing story? Please join me via this Facebook page ("Like") and share with others. I'll keep you posted on how my ABC Shark Tank mission is progressing leading up to and after the audition in Dallas on June 25th. Thank you for your support!