Maybe I should ... so I did

Not so long ago I was dared to start “vlogging” and even wrote a blog about it titled “Maybe I should”. It may be open to interpretation if I’d actually been dared but at the very least it needs to be reviewed to set the tone so you can decide.

Out of the blue I received the following LinkedIn message, or as I like to say, “the dare” —

“gpe !  saw your latest post. Sooner or later you are going to end up on a business video on the airplane entertainment system.  Best wishes...” *

Some would say it was nothing other than acknowledgement of one of my blog posts or maybe a humorous idea never to be realized. For me, knowing who wrote it, I saw it as a an idea to be capitalized on, if only to try and make it happen — I’d show him. Although I admit there are a couple of hurdles I’d need to overcome. Probably the biggest is I don’t like having my picture taken (let alone live action) , and was it even feasible I could make a video without throwing up? (Let alone offer anything that is of interest and develops my brand)

Looking for inspiration, I turned to my file of inspirational quote and came up with this —

“The most effective way to do it is to do it” **

So I did…

I made three videos to “pressure test” the idea, the concept, the utility, and if I could endure myself. The proposal on the table (with myself) was to develop a number of representative videos to determine if the whole idea could be a viable addition to my marketing channels.

Because these were meant to be concepts I was not concerned with —

• Production values

• My “longish” hair ***

• The background

• The camera angle (although I was trying to be creative)

I was more concerned with —

• Could I endure being in front of the camera?

• Could these videos be done in one take?

• Was I “sensical”?

• Could I develop something that I could used in my “marketing mix” ?

As mentioned, I filmed three videos but had to discard one because I missed a line that was important to the central theme of the story I was telling. The other two are attached for your entertainment (and comment) because how these videos are received will become an important determination for what comes next.

Will I become the king of airplane entertainment? Who knows? What I do know is you have to start somewhere.

iamgpe

*I have modified the quote slightly to protect the innocent

**Amelia Earhart said this

***I got a hair cut two days after making these videos and look much better

Three simple steps for getting things done...

I will admit the title I chose made me cringe a little because I’m always a little suspicious about anything that touts an easy road. How does the saying go again… oh yes, “Anything worth doing is never easy” (or something to this effect). And here I find myself suggesting you can get things done in three easy steps — obviously a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do”. I will admit at this point even I’m a bit curious to hear myself out… before proceeding with some harsh condemnation.

In reality, after some consideration, the steps for getting things done are simple, although progressing through the steps will be complex, and sometimes very complex. So maybe it seems I’ve been a little to premature with suggesting any harsh condemnation. In fact, let’s just shelve the whole idea because I think I’m really onto something.

Propose what you want to do

Debate what you want to do and make a decision how to proceed

Execute on what you want to get done, and do it.

Isn’t this so universally classic… something so simple, yet so difficult — somewhat analogous to starting something and believing it all can be said in in 500 words (or less). I’m not sure if this is overly ambitious or just arrogant. I suppose I should have entitled this, “Three simple steps for getting things done… PART I”

iamgpe

Advice for everything, and short enough for a T-shirt

I think there must be something buried deep in the human condition that craves some sort of simple proxy for things very complex and important. I know that physicists crave this because there is an ongoing search for the theory of everything — they’re looking for something so concise that it can be put on a T-shirt. How do I know this? I happened to read a book called the Universe on a T-shirt: The Quest for the Theory of Everything, by Dan Falk. I’lI say it’s a fun read, particularly if you’re not a physicist.

I’ll admit I have no ideal why this came to mind but here we are, and I suppose here we go…

As I thought about this more and more I kept wondering if there was some simple advice that encompassed everything but doesn’t involve very much math (and to be used when someone comes up looking for answers). I mean, isn’t that what we’re all looking for, something that’s smart, snappy and easy to digest when you’re out with friends?

Sure, a smart snappy meme is a simple search away, but since the Internet is still very much the wild, wild west and nothing’s been agreed upon, I should at least get my voice out there. So here goes, this is what I’ve come up with — “Keep moving, just not backwards”. It’s profound, meaningful, simple, helpful, and definitely will fit on a T-shirt (although I will openly admit it’s not so clever or unique). I should also mention that this can be taken literally, although it mostly should be taken figuratively; for no other reason that I believe constant movement in a literal sense is a biological impossibility. Wait.. I’m wrong… sharks are constantly on the move or they will drown… but I digress (although I hope my point is well taken).

At this point I’m not even sure if I’m trying to be serious or just writing with my tongue-in-cheek. Nonetheless, there are some important messages behind my newly minted meme, and I believe they’re worth noting.

• When you are moving, by definition there is action, and when there is action, something is getting done.

• Although the movement may sometimes be slow, you are still progressing forward.

• When you are moving you have momentum and that can take you far, particularly when you are a little tired.

• Moving takes you to new places.

• Not moving backwards ensures you are progressing.

• You are definitely harder to catch when you are moving.

• It’s healthier to move — it keeps you loose, agile, and strong.

• If you aren’t moving you’re probably not doing anything

All of this is quite literally and figuratively speaking.

I really should consider having T-shirts made... maybe even sell them on the Internet… I’ll make a fortune.

iamgpe