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I was conducting a workshop recently and the hotel meeting director, who knows me, learned it was my birthday, so she arranged for a cake during the afternoon break. I thanked her, and told her I am 64.

“You don’t look it,” she said tactfully.

“Well, who ever thought I’d be singing that song?”

“What song?”

“When I’m Sixty-Four.”

“I’ve never heard it.”

“It was the one by The Beatles.”

“Who are The Beatles?”

With that the room stopped, and everyone stared. Our very competent, charming, and energetic meeting director is 25 years old, and doesn’t know anything about the Beatles. (When her boss came by, only slightly older, she was able to name two of The Beatles and cite about six words to one of their songs.)

My message to you is that we are dealing with demographics with starkly different reference points from our own (and so are our client executives). They don’t know what life is like without texting or cable or Wikipedia, and they view Kennedy’s death in the same way they view Lincoln’s death—distant and remote events in dusty history books. The take the net for granted the way we take electricity for granted.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming everyone has the same contextual connections and reference points that you do. Take pains to ensure that you’re reaching out in relevant, contemporary terms. There are bright, talented people in organizations and entering organizations every day whose greatest influences are in many cases alien to senior management.

Icons only exist over centuries when they are carved into marble. Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles—you can’t rely on any reference point without testing. I notice that I don’t recognize and couldn’t identify about a third of the presenters on major awards shows. Apparently, others can.

We need to be sure the proper translations are in place.

© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

By Peggy Holman

What does it take to change a social system--and an industry like journalism?

A new story of journalism is being born as the old story is dying. At its heart, that new story stays true--and enlarges on--a purpose many journalists hold dear: "to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing" (Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel).

For nine years, Journalism That Matters (JTM) has:

• Engaged people from all aspects of journalism: print, broadcast, and new media; editors, reporters, bloggers, audience, reformers, educators, and others;
• Created space for conversations about what matters most;
• Worked with what's emerging for news and information in a democracy.

In Seattle this January, JTM hosted 240+ people from mass media and hyperlocal media, entrepreneurs, technologists, academics, students, nonprofit organizers, artists, activists, and others to consider the question:

What's possible for our region when journalists and the public come together?

The 3 1/2-day conference began with a "News and Information Commons," in which Northwest media organizations shared their work through informal displays and conversation. The evening program featured three "conversation catalysts." Each spoke for 10 minutes on journalism and civic engagement. Norman Rice, former Seattle mayor and president of the Seattle Foundation, spoke for the people. Tracy Record, former newspaper reporter and now publisher and editor of the West Seattle Blog, spoke for the press. Chris Jordan, a visual artist, provided a systems-oriented twist to storytelling that engaged the heart as well as the mind.

Attendees then participated in several rounds of World Café conversations, moving between groups of four, cross-pollinating ideas, and discovering new insights into the questions or issues that are important to them. 

The rest of the conference used Open Space Technology, a process through which participants self-organize, setting the agenda based on individual passions and interests. Each day began with a plenary to organize the agenda. The day also ended with a plenary, to reflect on emerging themes. Captured eloquently by student participant Amy Rainey, the themes included:

• Passion. "At this time of transformation, we all need to connect with our feelings and care, and put that caring into our work," artist Chris Jordan told the audience during an opening night speech. "It's time to take the templates off and speak authentic human being to authentic human being." This idea of showing passion in our work--and showing love for the communities we cover--came up repeatedly.
• Community. We quickly learned that generations define communities differently. For younger people, our communities are online, not necessarily based on geography.
• Collaboration. On Saturday, I tweeted that the word of the day was "collaboratory." By Sunday, a group was working on plans for a JTMPNW collaboratory, a learning lab for entrepreneurial projects and nourishing connections, and tying the idea to the creation of a civic commons.
• Engagement. Journalists need to stop talking to their audience and instead engage in a conversation with them.
• Media Literacy. In an information-packed world in which everyone is a journalist, the public needs better training about evaluating news sources and information for accuracy and credibility.
• Hyperlocal. Several discussions focused on the need for collaboration between hyperlocal neighborhood bloggers and mass media. On the final day, a large group worked on building a roadmap for mass media and hyperlocal journalists to work together and find financial sustainability.
• Government Coverage. Many participants were concerned about the effect that cutbacks at traditional media outlets have had on state and local government coverage. But we also learned about new projects to solve this problem. One attendee, Trevor Griffey, is starting a nonprofit site called Olympia Newswire to cover this year's legislative session and revitalize statehouse reporting.
• Business Models. Creating new business models was, of course, a big part of the conversation. "It doesn't have to be one model. It can be lots of small revenue streams," I overheard someone say. Those revenue streams include memberships, foundations, grants, advertising, holding events, subscriptions, and so on.

If there's one thing we all learned, it's that the opportunities for collaboration and experimentation are endless in our new news ecology.

JTM did a great job using social media and aggregating that information. You can read notes from the various sessions on the JTM wiki, catch up on the tweets, view photos, and watch videos. If you're interested in joining this conversation and attending future events, join the LinkedIn group.

Moving Forward

On the final morning, the group identified its next steps. Session notes are posted, and the work continues.

Peggy Holman hosts conversations that matter, inviting people to gather around the issues most important to them and move their dreams into action. Her book, The Change Handbook, co-edited with Tom Devane and Steven Cady, has been warmly received by people wishing to increase resilience, connection, collaboration, and aliveness in their organizations and communities. 

Alan’s Monday Morning Memo’s mission is to help readers to thrive.

March 8, 2010—Issue #25

This week’s focus point: The recovery is clearly underway in the US, somewhat more slowly in other places. There is quite a distance to go, but if the stock market has the same performance this year as last, it will surpass the pre-recession levels. Stay away from “doom and gloomers.” Here’s your key: Crisply identify what value you bring to clients (How are they improved after you leave?); establish exactly who can write a check for that value (virtually never in the training or HR areas); and determine the optimal ways for you to reach them AND them to reach you. There’s your marketing plan.

Monday Morning Perspective: Do not look back on happiness or dream of it in the future. You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it. — Henry Ward Beecher

You may subscribe and encourage others to subscribe by clicking HERE.

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Contact information: info@summitconsulting.com
http://www.contrarianconsulting.com
ISSN 2151-0091

© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

Alan collapsing in hysteria after a testimonial gone over to the dark side.

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

A columnist for the LA Times (Mary McNamara) is the latest in a slew who agree with me about Ellen Degeneres on Idol. If a major media star of her magnitude (awards, host of awards shows, popular talk show, popular TV shows, etc.) can’t handle the pressure and demands of a rather simple, idiosyncratic, and subjective judging assignment on a show whose audience is ready to love you, then what’s going on?

A good lesson for all of us is that “only the gifted few can wing it.” A master in one area doesn’t metamorphose into a master of another without preparation, skills, and some affinity for the work. (Every time Randy Jackson says “pitch” I think Ellen’s going to throw a baseball.)

We all require a market need, competency, and passion to succeed. A large paycheck is seldom enough.

© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

Reprinted from the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers:

Ask the Expert : What “Golden Rules” Can Be Broken?
by Alan Weiss

The speaking business has changed significantly in the past decade, but the people in it often seem not to have noticed, as if watching jet aircraft from the insular comfort of their stagecoaches and thinking there’s nothing odd about that. I’ve seldom seen so many antiquated ideas bandied about as if still contemporary. I’m sure it was useful at one time to know the best way to kill a Tyrannosaurus, but even if the approach still made sense, the great beasts were last seen tens of millions of years ago.

I’ve been asked to report on what “golden rules” can be broken. I assume we’re talking about speaking and not Commandments, so here are my nominations:

1. Working through intermediaries.
It is ethically and pragmatically necessary to establish a relationship with the person who is making the investment in the speaker. That is never a bureau, a meeting planner, or an event manager. We must find the individual whose objectives and evaluation are critical, because it is their investment. The better bureaus and meeting planners readily facilitate a meeting with the true “buyer.”

2. Acting like a “hired hand” and ecstatic to have the business.
I actually heard an NSA convention speaker say that he was a “hired hand” who would help a client move tables or set up recording equipment. I’m not a hired hand, I’m a highly skilled professional, and I’d no more help with non-speaking activities than my doctor would help find an oil leak in my car during my visit, even if he knew about cars. We must stop undermining our value.

3. Thinking that stage mechanics and movement outrank words and meaning.
There have been bogus citations of “research” purporting to show that non-verbal behavior has more impact than words. This has been perpetuated by those who either never looked at the “research” or don’t know how to use words. Words are the tools of our craft. I’ve listened, rapt, to people who speak well even if they choose not to—or can’t—move at all.

4. Believing that audience evaluations are important.
“Smile sheets” are just dumb. The audience members are the last people you want to ask about success. We’re often called upon to make them uncomfortable, to shake them out of lethargy, to accept radical change. We don’t need for them to like us, we need for the buyer’s objectives to be met (see #1 above). You’re not in this business to be loved. If you need love, get a dog. (And within the profession, I’m bored to tears of undeserved standing ovations.)

5. Maintaining a fee schedule.
You should stop looking at a speech or training program as an “event.” Think about what you can do prior (e.g., interviews, surveys) and what you can do at the session (e.g., handouts, coaching), and what you can do after the event (e.g., newsletters, email access), and you now have a project instead of an event, that is worth ten times your “speaking fee.” The problem is that you probably “throw in” most of those extras for free to prove your value! (And bureaus demand “fee schedules” because they treat speakers like an ongoing cattle call.)

6. Thinking you have a “message” and this is an avocation.
This is an occupation, and unless you are meeting a market need (or creating one) no one cares about your “message.” It’s great if you overcame some challenge or learned some cosmic lesson, but unless you can interpret that into practical improvement for others, it’s just a nice story over cocktails and nothing others want to pay to hear. (No one will pay to see your vacation slides.) This is a business, not a hobby.

7. Listening to “experts.”
Unless the ski instructor is six yards ahead of you on the hill doing exactly what you want to do, the instructor is a fraud. Drinking brandy in the chalet is insufficient. Only listen to those who have done what you want to do repeatedly and successfully. Most people at conventions lie to each other about how well they’re doing, and too many people giving advice are solely “advice-givers,” with no real credentials of success.

Feel free to break all of these rules. I have. So do the people I coach. Now, follow me down the slope….

© Alan Weiss 2009. All rights reserved.

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

Post from: Contrarian Consulting

• "OSHA Listens" public meeting live streamed Thursday, March 4
• OSHA fines Endres Processing $137,000 for combustible dust hazards
• Information on preventing worker injury and death in combustible dust fires and explosions
• Tree company owner guilty of negligent homicide in worker death
• Workplaces with high injury and illness rates in OSHA sights
• Green jobs safety is focus of OSHA forum
• OSHA conference aims to help improve worker safety and health
• Preventing worker injury and death is goal of OSHA seminar
• OSHA publishes overview of medical screening and surveillance requirements
• Job openings

• Power plant gas explosion kills five workers, injures 46
• Agency reschedules "OSHA Listens" public meeting for March 4, Webcast available
• C.A. Franc fined for willful fall hazard violations following a worker's death
• Contempt orders issued against employer for ignoring OSHA citations
• Agency orders railroads to pay worker fired for reporting work-related injury
• OSHA proposes $683,000 in penalties against Mueller Industries subsidiaries
• OSHA proposes change to injury/illness data collection
• OSHA's 2011 budget will help agency protect more than 100 million workers
• New respirator safety videos available on OSHA's Web site
• Latest QuickCards™ focus on marine cargo handling safety
• "QuickTips" on reporting unsafe working conditions
• Job openings
• Registration is still open for National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety

• National summit addresses workplace safety issues for Latino workers
• "OSHA Listens" meeting to solicit comments and suggestions on key issues facing agency
• OSHA proposes more than $1.4 million in penalties in connection with fatal explosion
• Company president forfeits car in whistleblower case
• OSHA announces informal public hearings on hazard communication rule
• OSHA expands its San Antonio Office to better serve workers in central Texas
• New OSHA videos provide proper respirator fit and use guidance
• New publication addresses protecting workers against exposure to hexavalent chromium
• 'QuickTips' for workers on preventing cold-related injuries and illnesses
• Department of Labor newsletter and job openings

• HAPPY NEW YEAR!

• Assistant Secretary Michaels promotes worker safety at green jobs conference
• Workers die in grain bins from preventable hazards
• Save the date: National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety slated for April 14-15, 2010
• Alliance aims to promote labor rights of Mexican and other Hispanic workers
• Construction advisory committee discusses workplace safety and health issues
• OSHA compliance assistance helps employers enhance worker safety and health
• 'QuickTips' for workers on safe work practices
• Department of Labor newsletter and job openings
• Season's Greetings!

• Dr. David Michaels confirmed to assume post as head of OSHA
• OSHA cites companies for egregious violations of workplace safety and health standards
• DOL Regulatory Agenda outlines OSHA regulatory priorities
• OSHA publishes employer-specific occupational fatalities on Web site
• OSHA guidance document focuses on training, PPE for emergency medical responders
• Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health meets
• OSHA to sign alliance promoting rights and safety of Mexican and other Hispanic workers
• NIOSH hosts workshop on making green jobs safe
• NIEHS clearinghouse helps to enhance worker safety and health
• 'QuickTips' for ski resort workers to stay safe on the job
• Department of Labor news and job openings

• OSHA issues crowd control guidelines for protecting workers during retail sales events
• OSHA issues compliance directive to address flu prevention for health care workers
• OSHA welcomes GAO report on under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses
• Agency promotes H1N1 worker precaution and protection
• Agency issues final rule revising its acetylene standard
• Stakeholder meetings addressing combustible dust hazards are scheduled
• OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program helps promote safer and more healthful workplaces
• OSHA employee authors article promoting firefighter safety
• OSHA area office to enhance worker safety and health at upcoming 'Safety Fests'
• Calumet City Area Office completes Voluntary Protection Programs on-site evaluation
• OSHA reminds VPP participants about process safety management questionnaire
• 'QuickTips' on preventing cold-related injuries and illnesses
• Department of Labor news and job openings

• OSHA issues largest fine in its history to BP Products North America
• Acting Assistant Secretary Barab testifies before Congress on state plan state OSH programs
• OSHA addresses need for combustible dust standard
• Agency releases Nevada OSHA state plan performance report
• OSHA tracks worker fatalities and catastrophes
• Grain handling operators reminded of mandatory safety measures to protect workers
• Interpretation letter states high-visibility garments are required for road construction workers
• OSHA addresses workplace violence and fatigue at international work, stress and health conference
• OTI Education Center expands training in response to new Nevada law
• Labor and management collaboration leads to improved workplace safety and health
• OSHA to showcase national office exhibit in Philadelphia and New Orleans
• Events page features training course on identifying combustible dust hazards
• QuickTips on slips, trips and falls
• Department of Labor news and job openings

• OSHA issues proposed rule to adopt Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication System
• Recordkeeping is focus of new National Emphasis Program
• OSHA revises enforcement policies for fall protection during steel erection
• OSHA awards more than $6.8 million in safety and health training grants
• NIOSH offers guidance on controlling silica exposure
• Free safety training video for temporary workers raises workplace safety awareness
• Education centers host training to enhance workplace safety and health
• Pennsylvania Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Conference slated for this month
• OSHA, NIOSH and Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners renew alliance
• QuickTips on fire safety
• Department of Labor news and job openings

• OSHA issues final rule updating personal protective equipment standards
• Nursing homes and manufacturing establishments are among sites on targeted inspection list
• OSHA updates national consensus standards in its acetylene standar
• New bi-lingual construction safety training resource aims to help improve worker safety
• Grantee offers training on process safety management standard
• More than 50 percent of OSHA's Region V area offices attain VPP recognition
• Strategic partnership aids in reducing construction injuries, illnesses and fatalities
• Events page features conference on work zone traffic control
• QuickTips for National Preparedness Month

• Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis responds to decline in worker fatalities
• Advisory council will discuss federal workforce H1N1 flu preparedness at special meeting
• Pandemic influenza and small business preparedness is topic of OSHA forum
• OSHA grantee offers free training on construction hazard prevention
• Annual AIHA/ASSE North Texas OSHA regulatory update seminar slated for Sept. 15
• Strategic partnership leads to lower injury and illness rates on construction project
• National SGE of the Year award recipient honored at VPPPA conference
• QuickTips for employers to plan now for upcoming flu season

• Agency establishes "watch list" to help strengthen integrity of Outreach Training Program
• "QuickTakes" tops 75,000 subscriber mark
• DOL launches new electronic newsletter
• Forum focuses on pandemic influenza and small business workplace preparedness
• OSHA grantees offer free training on pandemic flu hazards and SHMS design
• Standup forklift and special purpose particle accelerator hazards are focus of new SHIBs
• Fourth annual Drug-Free Work Week slated for Oct. 19-25, 2009
• Next SGE of the Year award to be presented at VPPPA conference
• Strategic partnership helps to lower injury and illness rates in construction
• QuickTips for working outdoors in high temperatures

• Latest guidance document focuses on combustible dust hazards
• Pilot national emphasis program targets workplaces that release hazardous chemicals
• Illinois seeks approval for a public employee-only occupational safety and health program
• Consultation services is featured in latest OSHA brochure
• Maritime advisory committee will discuss marine terminal safety issues at Sept. meeting
• OSHA plays role in strengthening ties with Hispanic community to help improve job safety and health
• Grantee offers free training on scaffold and ladder safety
• VPP site representatives to gather at national conference
• Strategic partnership helps foster safety and health in the construction industry
• Events page features workshops on swine flu and asbestos removal
• QuickTips for the cleaning industry