EverythingSteve.com

New Format and Frequency

I'm sure you've experienced this plenty of times. You turn on a radio station, and...lo and behold, what was once an alternative rock station is now playing hispanic music...or vice-versa. Or the station you like literally moved down the dial. I've seen this "dial move" happen twice here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Well, after a few years of writing THIS blog, EverythingSteve.com, I've decided what I don't and DO want to write about. And this is leading me to change both my format as well as my place on the dial. In short:

I DON'T want to be a critic and write negative posts.
I DON'T want to be a wise-ass, simply for the sake of being a wise ass.
I DON"T want to delve into politics, or related issues I don't know much about and don't find empowering.

I DO want to force myself to make positive observations and share them.
I DO want to share positive experiences.
I DO want to become more adept at marketing and selling products and services online that I believe in, and which I think many of you will find useful.

This is why I've created http://Stuff-That-I-Like.com. You can also get there at http://stevesuggests.wordpress.com.

This new blog provides my own 'recommendation engine' for thoughts, experiences, products and services that I like, and which I'm sure many of you will as well. While I could have simply reformatted THIS TypePad site to do that, I wanted to start fresh in a new and clean house. And I didn't want my new house to include posts and topics that are inconsistent with the new look and feel.

Now, I know I could attract even more readers by putting up a more focused single-topic blog. And I will likely do that in the next several months. But for now, my "topic" is stuff-that-I-like. Come join me in my new home.

Incidentally, I'll be redirecting my "everythingsteve.com" URL to that new home in coming days. As long as I keep THIS blog up, you can find it at http://stevediamond.typepad.com. Thank you!

Made to Stick: A Ridiculously Low Cost Investment That Will Make You a More Effective Communicator

A question: How much of what you "created" last week, i.e., documents, messages, presentations, pitches, scripts, sales letters, ad copy...will anyone remember a week, a month, a year from now? What about an important conversation you had with your kid, your spouse, a volunteer group, a team of employees, etc.?

By necessity, we're great at filtering and deleting most of the content we're exposed to every day. For example, yesterday morning I had CNBC playing in the background as I got ready for work. I can only remember one 30 second TV ad for GE Aircraft Engines out of a 30 minute period during which I had to be exposed to 30 different commercials. I remember it because it was funny, which is an unusual ad approach for GE. But I don't remember any of the 'take-aways' from the ad. And I really can't remember any of the other ads.

Now, if you're 'in business,' there is a good chance you've heard of the book "Made to Stick" from Chip and Dan Heath. The question is: have you bought and read it? Trust me: I was more than skeptical about this book. "Oh here we go...ANOTHER tome on building the perfect message or story." And yes, a lot of what you'll find in this book is common sense. But it's presented in a very logical way with oodles of detail and interesting (and memorable) stories that back up the construct of the book.

What is that construct? It's the "six principles" of "Made to Stick" messaging: the SUCCESs Model, which stands for Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories. Is it possible to build messages, presentations, stories, etc., that contain all of these elements? Theoretically, but I'd say if you're hitting three or four of these elements, you're way ahead of the game.

Now you might ask, what IS this construct? Think of it as a system for making content sticky. Early on in the book, the Heath brothers describe a project conducted by an Israeli research team. Their research concluded that the elements which made particular ads memorable could be bucketed and systematized (oh, I'm sure that's not a word, but...) into several categories. The narrative then goes on to describe how this research team tested whether it could take three teams of complete novices: one that received no training on building creative ads, one that received a traditional methodology, and one that received training based on the six specific elements that this wide range of creative ads contained. After a two hour training, the third group created ads that were deemed 50 percent more creative and produced a 55 percent more positive attitude toward the products being advertised. The book states that its aim is to do the same for "your ideas" as the Israeli research team did for advertisements.

As I write this post, Amazon is selling "Made to Stick" for $15.21. This is one of these "loco crazy" values. You can take this book as far as you want to. For example, if you work on a team, you can buy it for your team and go through it chapter by chapter, book club style, over a six week period. We did just that on the product marketing team I'm a part of. I highly doubt any of us will look at messaging and storytelling the same way. A bonus: while I can't say there is any laugh-out-loud funny narrative in this book, the Heath brothers write with a light and conversational tone with some occasional dry wit. This isn't to say this book isn't serious stuff -- it is. I just have to imagine the purpose is to make the content more....you guessed it.

Want To Know What's Funny? #6

Orange County is funny. And it's a classic. Long live Crazy Town. Long live Jack Black. Long Live Orange County.

Taking Out The Trash Isn't In My WHEELHOUSE, Baby

Isn't it just loco how crazy hipster terms like "wheelhouse" quickly find their way into mainstream vernacular? I mean...even Glenn Beck is using it. But enough about Glenn Beck. No seriously: ENOUGH ABOUT GLENN BECK.

Yes, I'm just waiting for Bill Saffire to riff eloquently on the meaning of the word "wheelhouse." Until then, hopefully this definition will suffice.

Short and pithy blog posts. Yeah...that's my wheelhouse, baby.

Isn't an 'Up' Stock Market Truly Awesome?

Well, I'm hearing a rapidly growing choir of voices like Bob Prechter's concluding that we're not out of this thing just yet. I had a wake up call last night when I went to a medical clinic owned by Sutter Health. They were supposed to be building a large facility on the east side of San Carlos, California -- one they petitioned for, for many years. One they spent goodness knows how much money on for design, planning, lobbying, etc. The current status, according to the doctor who attended to me last night? On hold, due to the economic climate. The last time I checked, more people are getting older, fatter and sicker. On hold. Not good.

I Have to Apologize to the Tech Support Folks at Applian

This is the firm that makes all kinds of audio and video capture software. I found myself desperately needing Applian's Replay Media Catcher a few days ago and went to upgrade a copy that was languishing on one of my laptops. After paying the $10 upgrade fee, I was annoyed to find that the software wasn't accepting my registration code. It was only after a few days and multiple email exchanges from the polite and patient customer support team at Applian that they politely informed me I had been entering in the order number and not the registration code. Duh! Chalk this one up as a RTFN error.

So, apologies to the folks at Applian. Click here for my audio shout out to them.

Who Knew? Seth Godin Loves 'Cat Power!'

What...you've never heard of Cat Power? An Indie musician, Cat Power is really Chan Marshall, who has an interesting...errr...a unique singing style.

And in a post from several days ago, on the topic of "Fidelity vs. Convenience," Seth opined, "A backstage pass at a Cat Power concert is ten times higher fidelity than a ripped MP3." Why would he mention Cat Power in this context? Why not U2, or Petty, or most anyone else? I found this oddly humourous and cool, but also just...odd. One must conclude that Seth really digs Cat Power. The post itself is a really good one "about the trade off between delivering extraordinary experiences (which he calls fidelity) and doing it in a way that's cheap and easy (convenience)." I don't necessarily subscribe to the Bill Gross 'it's got to be 10 times better' in order for a customer to switch to that product or service, but twice as good is a nice start.

In any event, last Saturday I blogged about seven songs I really like and suggest that you sample or buy. So let's add an eighth song to the playlist, from Cat Power of course. The song "He War" has been on my iPod for quite some time. It's oddly jarring, but quite memorable...a lot like the songs the cool cats at my college radio station listened to. Needless to say, I wasn't a cool cat (something about playing "Billy Don't Be A Hero" on my radio show got me permanently banned). The most memorable thing about "Cat Power" is this repetive riff one hears over and over throughout the song.

So, check out my original seven songs. And give Cat Power a play as well. Click the song title to sample or purchase "He War."

Stuff That I Like: 7 Great Songs (MP3s), #1

I'm sure we can all relate to the songs that get "stuck in our heads," so to speak. This happens to me all the time. Well, these particular songs have been trapped in my brain for quite awhile. Yes, we all have different musical tastes, but I invite you to explore these selections. If you like them as much as I do, 99 cents * 7 = pretty short money to add them to your collection. Many of these are included on my various Saturday early morning run mixes. When it's just me, my iPod, my cardiovascular system and my legs on a quiet morning, music can "speak" to me in a way it doesn't when there's more going on.

1. Penelope, by Pinback
The song "Penelope" came out in late 2001 and was part of the album, "Blue Screen Life." Like many other recent discoveries, I first heard this song on Slacker.com, and then went out and bought it myself. So much for the notion of Internet radio killing music sales. In any event, Pinback is an indie rock band from San Diego. "Penelope" features a hypnotically repetitive guitar riff, rich melodic overtones and an infectious yet mildly percussive (by today's standards) backbone. Click the song title to sample or purchase Penelope, by Pinback.

2. Lake Michigan, by Rogue Wave
From the album, "Asleep at Heaven's Gate," this song evokes similar reactions from this listener as "Penelope" does: melodic, acoustic, rhythmic. Released just shy of two years ago, the lyrics as well as the music will stick in your head...although goodness knows what the heck these guys are talking about. Proving out there high levels of self-awareness, Rogue Wave describes its music as "blending wistful vocals over and under blankets of sonic textures." Well stated. Click the song title to sample or purchase Lake Michigan, by Rogue Wave.

3. Bodysnatchers, by Radiohead

Energetic, frenetic, and borderline "over the top," this is THE song for your highly caffeinated lifestyle. Radiohead rarely disappoints. "Bodysnatchers" was a fantastic album on so many fronts, and this is one of many songs on it I listen to again and again, although never sequentially. If you use music to get through a workout, this would be the song for your most intensive moments. Click the song title to sample or purchase Bodysnatchers, by Radiohead.

4. Edge of the Ocean, by Ivy

Even though this song is several years old, it really broke out, for me anyway, earlier this year when it was used in OfficeMax's then new "Life is Beautiful" TV and cinema ad campaign. Although I don't watch the show, apparently this song has made it to "Grey's Anatomy" as well. Ivy has a georgeous voice and this is a beautiful song. Click the song title to sample or purchase Edge Of The Ocean, by Ivy.

5. Clocks, by Coldplay

Overplayed crap...yadda yadda yadda? Not quite. This is the "Rhythms Del Mundo" version with an awesome Cuban backbeat. Lovely and sure to get a reaction...a positive one...at your next party. Click the song title to sample or purchase Clocks, by Coldplay (Rhythms Del Mundo version).

6. Help I'm Alive, by Metric

If you live in San Francisco, LA, or Boston and listen to the mainstream alt-rock stations in your town (i.e., Live 105, KROQ, WFNX), then no doubt this song from last Spring has been beaten into your head. If not, or if you don't listen to those stations, then enjoy what I consider to be a perfectly crafted, pop oriented yet nice and loud mainstream alternative masterpiece. Click the song title to sample or purchase Help I'm Alive, by Metric.

7. Oxford Comma, by Vampire Weekend

The difficulty I had in picking this last song reinforces that this will be a serial post (i.e., it's why I ended the title with #1). You may know this band from their single "A-Punk." This song is short, humorous, smart (I'm not a lyric guy in general, but I encourage you to listen to the words in this song) and very catchy. Yes, it includes the F bomb, but in an entirely good way...as if there's anything NOT good about the F bomb!Vampire Weekend is a NYC Indie band who, according to Wikipedia, met while attending Columbia University. These kids have a bright future. Click the song title to sample or purchase Oxford Comma, by Vampire Weekend.

Until next time, over and out. Oh, and please read my "Stuff That I Like" disclaimer.

Want to Know What's Funny? #5

I've been streaming radio stations through my car's audio system, thanks to my new iPhone and Wunderradio. This morning, while listening to the "Hill Man" Morning Show on WAAF in Worcester, Massachusetts, I unwittingly heard most of the following before realizing it was a spoof...and a good one! This one is in honor of the infamous Beer Summit.

UPDATE: The Onion gets in on the fun.

5 Ways to 'Channel' Michael Jackson for Business Success

With no disrespect intended for those not among us anymore, this Michael Jackson thing doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. Now we're conducting complete investigations into the practices of several doctors -- all at taxpayer expense! This is very draining, and more importantly it's sapping productivity right out of the workplace as brainless zombies like me head to the drool bowl to grab the latest headlines.

So here are five ways to take the best of Michael Jackson and use his unique methodologies to drive success in the workplace.

Business Scenario #1: Your laptop dies.
Your response: Go into your hallway, raise your arms and sobbingly yet loudly utter, "She's out of my life, she's out of my life....and I don't know whether to laugh...or cry!" Then go into your office and quietly dial your helpdesk.

Business Scenario #2: Your boss congratulates you in front of dozens of colleagues in a meeting for a job 'well done!'
Your response: You slowly and deliberately clear your throat and then in your best falsetto shreak out, "I'm bad. I'm bad. I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad I'm bad!" You then go completely silent and look down at your notepad, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Seriously now, no eye contact!

Business Scenario #3: You are brought in by HR for an alleged violation of the company's Harrassment policies.
Your response: Regardless of the circumstances you defiantly proclaim, "Billie Jean is NOT my lover!" You then storm out of the office, quickly pack up your belongings and rush home. For good.

Business Scenario #4: You and several colleagues need to work until at least midnight to collaborate on a presentation and product demo you must give early the next morning.
Your response: In order to lighten up the mood, at exact five minute increments you belt out, "Cuz this is Thriller! Thriller night!" while doing the moonwalk and that awkward double-clawing maneuver with your two hands. Keep this up for at least three hours.

Business Scenario #5: You're subjected to random criticism on a conference call with several people from around the globe participating.
Your response: Belt out several very frequent and random falsetto squeaks and screams. You may also want to start up a little 'human beat box' riff cupping your hands in front of your mouth to cause additional distraction. If the chorus gets particularly nasty, interweave a few loud, "Come on girl" refrains into the mix. You must also hang up several minutes before the call ends, so everyone can hear the stupid downward crescendo "call dropping" sound effect followed by the canned announcement that states, "This is Michael."

Please let me know how these techniques work out for you. No need to thank me, BTW.

"Free" Hits a Brick Wall in Mountain View...Tonight!

Oh yes yes yes. We've all been buzzing so much lately about the notion of "free" and "freemium" business models. All kidding aside, "free" is indeed here to stay. And why the heck are we going to start paying for stuff that used to be free? Isn't it amazing to see traditional newspaper and magazine folks fall all over themselves figuring out how to solve that one?

But I digress. So here's the question. What happens when a few of the key ringmasters of "Free" gather for a roundtable event in the middle of Silicon Valley? We're talking Chris Anderson, E.I.C. of Wired Magazine -- whose most recent and much talked about tome (Free: The Future of a Radical Price) expounds on the notion of "free;" and the CEOs of Ning, Pandora, YouSendIt, and others.

Does the Churchill Club, sponsor of tonight's event, wisely proclaim, "Wouldn't it be a great publicity gimmick to make this event FREE and try to sell premium memberships to all the folks we get to attend, not to mention get a lot of FREE buzz? Perhaps we'll pass on serving nibblin's and generate some revenue with a cash bar?"

Ummm...that would be a big "No!" For Churchill Club non-members, the admission price tonight is a buzz killing $77. So let me get this straight. I can buy 7.7 copies of Chris' latest book OR pay for more than two years of Pandora's PREMIUM "PandoraOne" service OR get 7.7 months of YouSendIt's premium "Pro" Service (enabling me to send behemoth files as large as 2 GB). OR I can sit in traffic for 45 minutes to get content that I can otherwise largely get for FREE by listening to this excellent NPR/Fresh Air podcast from July 8th? Or another podcast on Amazon?

I think I'll buy the Kindle version of Chris' book and sit this one out! Oh, and of course I'll chill out with my Pandora as well.

Wait wait wait! Did somebody say...Colbert?

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Chris Anderson
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

Stuff That I Like -- The Disclaimer

I've thought about this a lot. And it's not like I'm going to be hockin' the goods like Ron Popeil.

But...if I come across something I "like" and I can make a few pennies (literally!) by providing a link to it, then by golly I'm going to do it. You'll always know I'm doing this because my post title will begin with "Stuff That I Like," followed by a brief description. Depending on what I'm thinking about at any given time, I could crank out a few of these posts per day, or go a month without doing so.

Also, it goes without saying that if I recommend something, it means that I like it. If you decide to purchase it and don't like it, well...that's between you and the merchant. I'm simply recommending.

Oh, and a lot of what I'll be suggesting is digital content, i.e., music. And that's not returnable.

Finally, the music I recommend will be from Amazon. Although I'm also an iPhone/iPod person, the fact is that with Apple's new varying pricing scheme, I see no point in paying $1.29 for a current single that one can purchase on Amazon for $0.99, when the extra effort involved to add said single to an iTunes library takes about 10 seconds.

Stay tuned.

Nobody Writes Obituaries Like the New York Times

But I am so sad to read this one. Yes, even sadder than I was to hear of the passing of Walter Cronkite, not that one should compare these things. But alas, I just did. R.I.P., Frank McCourt.

(Photo by Christopher Felver)

Where Were You...

...when you found out that Walter Cronkite died? R.I.P. Walter Cronkite.

Pinch Me, Am I Dreaming?