Brains on Fire

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  What would you do with 60 seconds?

  Posted on June 30th, 2010 by Robbin and currently 4 commenting.

  Speaking takes a lot of work and preparation. For the life of me I can’t figure out how NOT to tailor every talk to make it audience specific. And hey, we have day jobs around here.

  So I was delighted to be asked to be a part of the line up for the shortest marketing conference ever:

  

  Brilliant, brilliant idea.

  That’s right. 60 speakers, sixty seconds. I am BIG time jealous that this wasn’t my idea. I think I could get anyone to talk to me for 60 seconds. Don’t you? Very cool line up if I say so myself. Guy, Robert, Amber, Justin, David, about 54 others and… me. The topic is:

  How You Can Increase Your Digital Influence for Good and Profit

  So join us for an hour or so. It’ll be fun.

  

  P.S. Sixty seconds is longer than you think. Try it. Let me know what you come up with. I’ll time you on my iphone stopwatch if you send me your thoughts. OXOXO

  Tags: 60 Speakers 60 seconds, @ambercadabra, David Meerman Scott, Guy Kawasaki, July 6th, Justin Levy, Robert Scoble, Sam Rosen, Shortest Marketing Conference, The Influencer Project
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  Inspired by Chris

  Posted on June 29th, 2010 by Robbin and currently 0 commenting.

  
  I get lost whenever I see moss on a rock. Every. Single. Time. Photo via Flickr via Greg from Maine.

  Okay. A week or so ago I asked you guys for some inspiration and boy did I get it. So, here is what I am going to do with it over the next several months. I will use your ideas for a blog post here and there and we can get a conversation going. It won’t be as cool as sitting on the side of a mountain like Inspiration Point. But we’ll try and make it fun.

  Today I am picking Chris Rackley’s comment and running with it.

  I find it fascinating that we travel so far and (sometimes under harsh conditions) to be inspired by things. What is interesting is that we don’t go to them so that we can feel better about ourselves. In other words, I don’t go to the Grand Canyon for an ego boost, to think about how great I am. On the contrary, I go to see how small I am and how great and amazing the canyon is. I don’t think, “Hey! Look at me!” I think, “Wow! Look at this gorgeous canyon!” Perhaps that’s the deeper answer – the reason we’re inspired by sights such as the mountainside is because, for the briefest of moments, our minds are completely off of ourselves. I dunno, perhaps, right?

  I love that notion. For the briefest of moments as we go about our lives, we let our minds REALLY completely go off ourselves. Do you know what I am talking about. I easily get lost in the wonder of the world. So it happens in my head a lot. It’s a great feeling.
  
  But today, I am going to turn Chris’s observation on brands.

  When a brand looks at their employee and advocates in wonder, they in fact lose themselves a bit. They quiet down and quit saying “Hey, look at us.” And instead spend their days in awe of the people who love them. That connection is life changing. It’s hard work. And doesn’t come natural for a brand.

  Do you know any company or organization who does that particularly well? We do of course. (smiling) But I’d love to hear your thoughts.

  Tags: inspiration
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  Connecting.

  Posted on June 28th, 2010 by Robbin and currently 4 commenting.

  
  Beautiful Photo from Flickr via bitzcelt’s photostream.

  When my uncle died, I found out the most interesting thing about my dad and his older brother Zack. Seems that in their teenage years they were pioneers, rock stars who brought electricity to the rural farms of the Carolinas. It was hard work. But very, very good money. In many cases these farms were the last to get the magic of electricity.

  Grown men admired them. Pretty girls wanted to date them. They were loved and seen as somewhat magical as one by one they drew the wires that lite up the country side. Kind of a romantic story really. Two young boys, camping out, smoking cigarettes, drinking liquor, figuring it out and sort of making it up as they went along. My dad admitted that they had no clue what they were doing at times.

  So tonight is Sunday night. I do a little exploring on Sunday night as I get my mind ready for the week. Reading blogs of smart folks I love like Josh Hallet. Hanging out with @mackcollier of #blogchat. Reading The New York Times. That’s cool, huh?

  SO here’s the deal. In Josh’s blog post Social Media is the Last Mile, he makes the interesting connection between the last mile in the telco field and the last mile in Social Media. His point:

  For many brands social media is now a ‘last mile‘, that final connection with the customer.

  Don’t’ you love that?

  Isn’t that why are we are so giddy with learning these days? This is the rough and tough last mile. Almost everyone – every corporation, every organization and even every individual has a way to truly connect with the people who love them. Yeah there are challenges along way, things that have to get “figured out”. Who does what for instance.

  But in the end there is magic. Enlightenment. Innovation.

  Call me a romantic, but I love the idea of being a part of the team of explorers who are providing that last but oh so meaningful connection.

  What do you love most about the work you get to do these days? What makes it magical to you?

  Share. You know how I love to hear back from you, to connect with you.

  Tags: Blogchat, innovation, Josh Hallet, Mack Collier, Social media, The last mile
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  Finding your company’s soul mates.

  Posted on June 25th, 2010 by Robbin and currently 1 commenting.

  
  That’s me in Auckland last summer, dreaming that boat behind me was mine.
  
  Warning: This might seem a bit self serving but I love, love this world of ours and had to share this exchange. Stuff like this happens at Brains on Fire all the time. Amazes me. Every. Single. Time.

  A friend of mine and I were having dinner the other night (he’s a hopeless romantic). And he was telling me tales of his search for his soul mate. (See, I told you he’s hopelessly romantic.) I laughed and smiled so much my face hurt. Anyway, he was making the point that technology has made it possible to find that one perfect mate in the world. Even if that perfect person with those perfect “must have” traits exists in only .001 of the population and maybe even lives in India. His point:

  You can be picky and connect with anyone in the world these days because of technology.

  Hmmm.

  So the other day I got this really cool email from a soul mate of Brains on Fire in New Zealand:

  Hi Robbin
  Just firing through a note of thanks…. I love the daily dose of inspiration I get from Brains on Fire.

  I almost emailed you after your Searching For Soul and Inspiration posts, but after Lifting Others Up I thought ‘hey, I’ve got to get in touch and say hi from the other side of the world’ (I live in New Zealand).

  I tap into Brains on Fire for daily inspiration with my day job (creative director / branding manager) but it’s my passion outside of this that I’m emailing about…. I’m trying to Lift Others Up as well, but those who a re a little closer to the ground (kids). I’ve written a book that springboards off the Virtues Project to try to engage and put relevence into concepts like creativity, integrity, courage, love, joyfulness etc. You do this on an adult level, and do it so well, so I just wanted to drop you a note to say I love what you’re doing.

  Warm regards,
  Jonathan Collins

  And my response went like this:

  Dear Jonathan,
  You will never, ever know or understand what this note meant to me. Sometimes the universe sends you just what you need. And this day I need your words of encouragement. I promise to pay it forward. I love, love your beautiful country. I will come back soon. And we’ll meet. If you are ever on the eastern coast of the states, look us up.

  OXOXOX,
  Robbin
  
  Then this last night:

  Dear Robbin
  Don’t you just love this connected world of ours. From the far edge of our planet I can reach around to you with a virtual back-rub and a thank-you, then you reach back around to complete the hug. Small world. Magic stuff. I was so pleased to get your reply.

  I’m in Christchurch in the South Island, so if you’re ever this way I would love to show you around. I don’t get to the States much and when I do its usually LA where our business partner Phil Keoghan (from The Amazing Race) is based. We’ve launched a range of nutrition bars with him over there. Having said that I was around your way a few years back… just up the road at Hendersonville NC where I was handing over the World’s Biggest Cookie title to Immaculate Baking Co. So I know your patch of the planet is particularly beautiful.

  Great to be in touch. It’s made my day. (Oh, and I just LOVE your latest post with Jessica’s daily affirmation… what an awesome way to start the day!)

  All the best,
  Jonathan

  From me:

  You are not going to believe this! Logan Metcalfe, our CFO was formally with Immaculate Baking Co. Ive copied him on this email. And he’s from New Zealand. Also my friend Roger Dennis is from your town. Do you know him??? Jonathan, can I use this excange as part of a blog post? Would you mind?

  Cheers,
  Robbin

  And from our newest soul mate:

  I’m pretty sure I met briefly Logan when I was there in 2003! It’s this crazy!

  I haven’t met Roger (although I’m sure I will after this… I can see his skills being applied to our innovation process).

  Yes, absolutely – I’d be more than happy for this exchange to be part of a blog.

  I’m still reeling as to how small and connected everything is. Very cool.

  Best wishes,
  Jonathan

  It’s Friday. Reach out to a soul mate today. Because you can. We have the technology. Trite point maybe, but something we should never take for granted. Because connecting feels really wonderful… Have a the best weekend EVER.

  Tags: Soul Mates
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  I keep my beans on low.

  Posted on June 24th, 2010 by Robbin and currently 2 commenting.

  
  Something tells me that Jessica does not keep her beans on low.

  We had the most delightful clients in from Louisville this week – Emily and Laura. And Emily shared a funny story. This phrase delighted me. I don’t know why but it made me laugh really hard while we enjoyed an amazing dinner and drank some excellent wine at Deveraux’s on Sunday night. I won’t go into the whole story, something about a hairdresser in New York. But, here’s the phrase that captured my fancy:
  
  I keep my beans on low.

  I know, I know – it doesn’t take much to crack me up. Just saying and typing it right now makes me smile.

  Maybe it’s because I DO NOT keep my beans on low. I am either completely turned off or boiling over with passion. Not a lot of simmering action going on in my head.

  BUT I am so thankful and grateful for those along side of me that do manage to keep their beans on low all the time. They are consistent and calm and assuring. They are there when you need them. Every. Single. Time. They are more graceful leaders than me for sure. And they don’t topple over bottles of water in meetings very often.

  I suppose that is what makes the world more interesting. The bubblers and the simmerers. But here’s a connection I have been rolling around in my head. Stay with me. We believe all great movements have inspirational leadership. Not influencers. But people who have PASSION.

  I believe both kinds of people – those on simmer and those who boil over a regular basis can have extraordinary passion. And in an organization or a movement, you need a balance of both.

  So what are kind of person are you? Do you keep your beans on low? Or are you more like me. Are they constantly about to boil over?

  Happy Wednesday. I took the day off yesterday and it was amazing. I am totally recharged and ready to go. Let’s make this day count!

  Tags: ambassadors, Leaders, Movements, people