The Network Effect (on us)

Posted on July 14, 2008

Albert-Laszlo Barabasi’s book left its mark on us back in 2002.  We still think that it is a pivotal work that is worth a read if you’ve missed it.  His theories have played out in Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and Ning.

It was Barabasi’s work that first led us to James Surowiecki and The Wisdom of Crowds.  Our Customer Cabinets(TM) were the end result.  Why should anyone “rent” access to a sample of their customers after all? It is far more effective to sponsor a community of customers and potentials…and tap into them constantly for advice and insight.  Add a robust database on the back-end and you have a strategic asset that just gets smarter about each respondent with every question you ask.  Infinite Learning.  Awesome Advantage.

Now we are on to the next application of these important theories about networks.  For years we have used Mind-Mapping in focus groups.  Get ready for Mind-Mapping on steroids.  We are excited…and the new product’s launch is just around the corner.

Stay tuned.

Holy Gruel? (and what about “norms”)

Posted on July 14, 2008

Last week there was an interesting story on NPR that highlighted the inadequacies of Nielsen’s media measures. The journalist’s suspicion is that a methodology based upon three, major television stations and diary entries may not be up to the challenges that today’s media borage presents.  (Not even NetRatings really helps them close the gap).

She posits that the entity best positioned to provide the Holy Grail of media measurement…is your cable company with their DVR technology.  Those set top boxes measure everything…with even more to come*.  A number of  entreprenurial ventures are stepping up to fill the void.  Two specialty firms were mentioned; TNS and *TRA—-and then of course…Google.

The radio story really is worth a listen.  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92442904

This whole rapidly changing media measurement scenario, leads me to a larger question (a bit of a tangent, I admit)….

With the media landscape changing so rapidly, how can “norms” from a decade ago still be valid?  Marketers always want to test their creative via “established norms”.  I know that this Facebooked, blogged-out, Googley-gooked world is VERY different from what it was just four years ago.  Relying on “established norms decades in the making just flies in the face of logic for me. 

What do you think?

 

Success vs. Significance

Posted on June 16, 2008

On Saturday I listened to a speech given by Deepak Jain, the Dean of NWU’s Kellogg School of Management. There was one morsel that I just can’t shake.  It got me bounding out of bed this morning and charging into work.  Jain explained to the recent graduates that they now had all of the tools that they needed to be a “success”, but then he challenged them to make an impact beyond the material to the social & global.  He challenged them to be “significant”.

When I think of those individuals who have become “successful”, the list is long.  When I think of those who are “significant” it is a whole different matter.  It is a far more select group ranging from Ghandi and Eleanor Roosevelt to Jim Henson, Steve Jobs and Walt Disney.

Who is on your list of “significant” individuals?  Let’s build a running list.  Weeks from now we can pull it apart and distill it down into the common essence.  It can be a roadmap to follow. Fuel for inspiration, aspiration and perspiration.  It can be a North Star to guide us.

Cause two things are for certain; none of us are here to just to pick up a paycheck, and all of us have limited time to make the kind of difference that we are uniquely armed to make together.

Who is on your “significant” list?

Budding Revolution?

Posted on June 16, 2008

I came across this graffiti artist again today.  His All-American(?) work seems to be popping up all over Chicago.

Wisdom of Crowds.

Posted on June 8, 2008

As Surowiecki enthusiasts, we found this article in The New York Times on the role of collective wisdom and decentralized collaboration in the Obama campaign really interesting.

Ice Cream Principles.

Posted on May 28, 2008

Suffice it to say that I’ve given some serious thought to the many virtues and wonders of ice cream.

As far as I can tell its a miracle food.

Might not have anti-oxidants but it can certainly work some magic.  

Despite my deep respect and affection for ice cream, I can say with complete certainty that I’ve never thought about a code of ethics for the whole category.

And I’m pretty sure that my version of a code for ice cream would go something like: eat it often, eat it happily and share when necessary.

The Pacific Ice Cream Manufacturers’ Association, however, penned something considerably more thoughtful. 

Take a look below to see the credo that shaped their organization, as written back in 1922.

Good inspiration here for how precise language can articulate value systems and galvanize an organization around core beliefs.

Time Travel.

Posted on May 27, 2008

Hollywood has landed in our backyard, at least temporarily.

It’s true.  What was once our corner intersection has been tranformed into a 1930’s street scene for the filming of Public Enemies.  A Michael Mann directed movie, it follows the story of how The Feds try to take down American gangsters John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd among others.  You can imagine that we’ve been on the neighborhood watch for the all-star cast including such legends as Jonny Depp, Christian Bale and academy-award winner Marion Cotillard.

But what really is fascinating is to see how they’ve played “Extreme Makeover” with an otherwise ordinary stretch of Lincoln Avenue.  

For starters, they’ve re-branded all of the street shops as more era-relevant offerings.  What used to be bars and restaurants have become old coffeeshops, garment shops and transient hotels:

Beyond just new signage, the crew has actually created working storefronts.  This bookstore turned bakery actually has baked goods in the window and the barbershop next door comes equipped with old school magazine reading and scissor-snipping barbers.

The famous Biograph Theater has done some time travel as well with a new brick wall, new windows and an altered sign. 

The time-travel to the 1930s has been great fun for the gang here at Peacock Nine.  But mostly its this production’s attention to detail and strive for authenticity that we find so completely compelling and inspiring.   

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