| Todd Henry, in his recent 'book bully' pod cast, | | | | book. Then I read the last chapter of the book |
| recommended that Accidental Creative members | | | | and came upon a new understanding, a satori (a |
| read the book "design" by Tom Peters. I don't | | | | moment of enlightened insight).When I read the |
| know if you've heard of Todd Henry yet, he is | | | | final chapter I got it...the proverbial 'light bulb' went |
| the founding genius behind Accidental Creative a | | | | off in my head. |
| lifestyle interactive site designed to appeal | | | | I realized that the point of it wasn't about the |
| specifically to creative thinkers of all shapes, sizes | | | | money, at least not directly. The truth that I |
| and art forms. If you aren't familiar with his work | | | | awoke to is that business people can get so |
| I have a feeling you will be soon. This special pod | | | | caught up in the numbers (as I obviously had |
| cast was called "the book bully" because, he | | | | trying to understand the philosophical idea he is |
| explains, his friends often call him a "book bully" | | | | putting forth) that they miss the most |
| who will beat up on you until you read what he | | | | fundamental building blocks of branding. Passion, |
| thinks you should read. In this case he is dead-on | | | | passion for who you are, what you stand for, and |
| right, this is a seminal book every person in | | | | what makes you unique? These questions apply |
| business/advertising/marketing should be required | | | | to you as an individual and your company as well. |
| to read, and perhaps read twice. | | | | Whether you are the CEO or the janitor, it's |
| One of the ideas in the book Peters discusses is | | | | about the Vision, it's about buying in to the |
| the idea that the MFA is the new MBA. This | | | | company Vision and helping to make that Vision |
| statement made the rounds a few years ago and | | | | work in a brand. That brand can be yourself, or |
| then died out. I never gave it much weight until I | | | | the company you work for. Business is about |
| read it in the context of this book. I became | | | | more than just quarterly reports and advertising |
| entranced by the boldness of that statement. I | | | | ROI. Sure, those things are important, but its' also |
| wrote one of my college professors about it and | | | | about caring passionately about what you're doing, |
| asked her what this concept might mean for | | | | and why you're doing it. |
| someone about to embark upon an MBA (as I | | | | That's the lesson that MBA's should be learning |
| am). Perhaps, I thought out loud, I should be | | | | from MFA's. It's not about which Masters Degree |
| pursuing an MFA instead of an MBA? My second | | | | makes the most money (which is where my mind |
| reaction was conditioned by my education. I | | | | was all along). In fact it's not about the degree at |
| researched the income levels of current MFA's to | | | | all, and it's not about the dollars...it's about who you |
| try and find a trend indicative of what Peters was | | | | are. It's about communicating "who you are" and |
| writing about. Certainly there must be some | | | | what that means to helping other people achieve |
| hidden economic story behind the statement by | | | | their dreams. The takeaway from his book is: |
| this great business guru (named the | | | | Being passionate about who you are and what |
| "über-guru" by the Economist). I found no | | | | you have to say helps other people reach their |
| such evidence and I began thinking that maybe | | | | dreams. Helping other people achieve their dreams |
| old Tom was missing a few nuts and bolts in that | | | | will make you fulfilled, both spiritually and as a |
| old engineer's head of his. | | | | businessperson. Understanding how to make a |
| The quote itself, it turns out, originated from | | | | dramatic difference in people's lives by being your |
| someone other than Peters. It is attributed to | | | | authentic self is the challenge of melding the |
| Daniel Pink, a writer at Wired Magazine (among | | | | spiritual and material together. Being able to do |
| other outlets) who first wrote it for the Harvard | | | | that will allow you to be as wealthy as you |
| Business Review. I went back to reading Peters' | | | | choose to be... in either world. |