Watching a Shirky talk always means leaving with a huge amount of pearls, but check out the above plus the quote below and tell me it doesn’t resonate with any creative endeavours you have been involved with:
“…they don’t care that they saw it in practice because they already knew it couldn’t work in theory.”
If you work with a client or in a corporation / organisation which doesn’t get what you’re trying to do even though you have showed them the solution, forget changing minds, time to change the company you keep!
Then surround yourself with people who take care plus improve each others output.
At the time of writing, we have nearly four hundred cases here (no deaths) and taking this approach could ensure the spread is contained.
Nearly all of my paid work has been cancelled although I just got notified I was approved for the COVID-19 Employer Payment for the next three months.
I feel lucky to be where I am.
However, the whole world is sharing this experience and every country is approaching it slightly differently, although many are adopting as isolation strategy.
I’m wondering (out loud) what good can come as we collectively pause together:
SOCIAL
We weren’t ready for this. Some knew:
It’s becoming clear that a mammoth economic recession is coming, along with a radical disruption of societal systems. This is a start not the end, and our overlapping society of nations will have to rethink many of its operating structures.
There’s a collective growing literacy at understanding exponential curves, inter-dependent industries and sectors plus how much small percentage points matter when it relates to economies.
Everything is being revealed as fragile.
Although this does present an opportunity to reflect on what is important. How, after a certain level of comfort and freedom is gained, everything else is a bonus.
We’ll also be critiquing the stale idea of traditional working cultures as swathes of humans turn to digital methods to deliver and continue their workload. However, as the crisis abates, I feel there will be a massive hunger for the physical and in-person again.
There are no special cases when princes, politicians, celebrities are getting it. The real super stars are those illustrating the innate goodness of humans:
Wildlife have rediscovered usually polluted areas like the canals in Italian cities:
As time goes on, this global pause will provide precious data and critical evidence for scientists to go further in proving the impact we’re having on the world.
CULTURAL
Talking here about the wider understanding that we all share a common space and are part of an operating system which is now in danger of collapsing.
Our streets and towns and cities personify the quiet we need to reflect on what’s crucial. To ask questions which transcend a rigged monetary system, to recognise the importance of community and amplify the need for evolving the politics of our time.
This forced reset is also ironic, separating us all from symbiotic elements of family, friendship, food, nature, place, space etc. which make us, us.
Going forward, the medical (especially front-liners) and educational establishment needs to be elevated, celebrated and remunerated properly (along with others who are now deemed ‘essential’ like rubbish men, supermarket workers, warehouse workers etc.), whilst we dull the idea of celebrity in its importance.
This crisis simply illustrates how interconnected we all are.
Everything is linked.
All aspects of our well-being are joined to man-made constructs like capitalism as well as natural systems like the wider environment which need to remain healthy.
This is an opportunity to transform.
Become warriors and guardians of wiser and kinder system of living.
This joint deep breath, allows us a chance to redesign our intent as humans in focusing on the right things (rather than continue doing the wrong things righter).
The world has changed so much in three months, imagine if it we were intentional in rebuilding it.
Truly hope wherever you are reading this you’re staying safe and sane.
Your solitude will be a support and a home for you, even in the midst of very unfamiliar circumstances, and from it you will find all your paths.
Developed and delivered a three-afternoon session course for a eager group of startups at CreativeHQ.
DK’s sessions on social media highlighted the importance of utilising a variety of tools to build an online company culture quickly and effectively—which is a priority for a startup business. One of the most important themes was how you can use your online culture to build your brand and leverage it to build a marketplace around your business. He is an absolute guru in the field and his hands on approach allowed people to pick up practical areas to focus and develop during each session. This was not your usual run down on social media, it is a look at who you are, who is your audience and most importantly—how do you get started today. I am forever reciting “Culture eats strategy for lunch.” Jill McCarthy, Business Associate, CreativeHQ
The “how” suggests that improvement is always possible. The only question remaining is how we will find success. The word “might” temporarily lowers the bar a little. It allows us to consider wild or improbable ideas instead of self-editing from the very beginning, giving us more chance of a breakthrough. And the “we” establishes owndership of the challenge, making it clear that not only will it be a group effort, but it will be our group.
What are the top 3 tools an organisation can use to implement social media culture?
A crowbar, a mirror and some cakes. Wasn’t being glib—you’ll have to move some people/attitudes, humanise practises/successes and reward/celebrate change.
The above is taken from my random one hour surgeries I hold on Twitter where anyone can ask me anything related to social / digital media.
