April 2018 : A newsletter
/Welcome to the last week of April 2018. That was fast.
Here’s a quick rundown of ten observations on topics + experiences I’m finding interesting.
Over the past few months I’ve gotten into Strava. Not that the platform is without privacy concerns, but technology that promotes a healthy lifestyle and friendly competition is generally good with me. I’m optimistic this one is on the rise.
Regarding privacy, whether or not twenty eighteen is the year digital marketing gets turned on its head remains TBD, but overdue change is on the way. Maturing and increasingly controversial consumer platforms and technologies (ex: social media), new regulations (GDPR), mainstream AI, and more signal a shift that will leave a portion of the brand/agency/tech ecosystem asking “What next?” It’ll be an obstacle for some, an opportunity for others. At risk of TL;DR,the shakeout is on.
If fortune favors the bold, then constraints favor the creative. And if creativity remains the most sought-after skill in business, then we should all expect more ideas and less dilemma, larger bets and smaller barriers. This daily grind (plus Hanah One...not a paid advertisement) keeps me going.
One more note from the creativity soapbox: I remain fascinated by the increasing need for real-world storytelling in B2B marketing and specifically tech. There are always bright spots, but the scope of underwhelm continues to leave an open door for brands capable of expressing themselves and why they do what they do in plain language. It’s not always easy; it’s also not impossible.
One way to improve creative work is by teaming with an experienced editor. Here’s a snapshot of how I think about editing. Not all the answers and pro tips, but having launched a wide variety of ideas across formats, teams, and contexts, I’d rather share than safeguard. Punchline: The more you make, the better you’ll be.
I’m reading a biography of US Grant. It’s 1,104 door-stopping pages by the author of Hamilton, the biography that inspired the musical soundtrack that remains in heavy rotation on my at-home hi-fi. As for Grant (the book), it’s excellent. One of my favorite quotes is from Abraham Lincoln, who described Grant’s impact in easy-to-understand terms: “The only evidence you have that he’s in any place is that he makes things git! Where he is, things move!”
I look for a sense of git in every candidate I interview and seek to uncover it via two back-to-back questions. Here they are: 1) What do you do?; and 2) Why is it important? Ten times out of ten, they work. (No link..feel free to answer for yourself.)
As mentioned on many occasions, the power of video cannot be overstated. That said, I multitask to podcasts. Here are three of hundreds I’ve found especially engaging: Cal Fussman: The Art of a Great Question (James Altucher Podcast, ep. 324), Life is Hard. So What Are You Going to Do? (Jocko Podcast, ep. 112), and Sir Richard Branson: The Billionaire Maverick of the Virgin Empire (Tim Ferriss Podcast). (Note: As an editor, I recommend avoiding overused and oblique terms such as ‘engaging.’) In this case, let’s call them compelling.
This article is probably worth nine minutes (Medium est.) of your time: Here’s The Technique That Ambitious People Use to Get What They Want by Ryan Holiday.
And finally: “Life is either daring adventure or nothing at all.” -Helen Keller. Your move.
All for now and back to work. If I don’t return within the next month (or so), that won’t mean I’m not available. Just that I haven’t paused.
-John