Harmonic Aftershock

Leadership & Strategy Require Sound Navigation Skills

I am amidst a course in coastal navigation and was struck by 2 statements in the text book’s opening chapter – not in how it relates to sailing, but instead how it relates to business and the world I'm in.

 [Navigation is built around two simple questions: “Where am I now” and “How do I safely get from here to where I want to go?”]

It has been noted that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg thinks in terms of decades, not years. Having an vision is key and, more importantly, being able adjust how you get there based on uncontrollable factors (i.e. currents and wind) is the only way you’ll reach your destination. 

It’s not enough to simply layout the possibilities but to further make the call on where you’re going and plan out the roadmap for getting there.

[Inexperienced skippers tend to spend too much time at the navigation station and too little out in the cockpit where the real sailing is going on and where dangers can be seen rather than theorized.]

Liz Strauss once described the difference between skills vs. experience as, “The time invested in having faced a whole lot of decisions.” There is simply no better way of learning than by doing. And while data, insights, and theory are paramount in the business world, they must be paired with actual experiences and lessons learned in both failing and delivering results.

The one piece of advice that I won’t ever forget from a former manager is that in order to provide real value, “You must work the clay.”

Six Pixels of Separation: Mitch Joel’s book…finally

It was October 27th 2007 when I became a Mitch Joel fan after hearing him speak at PodCamp Boston 2. I remember writing the guy’s name down on my event program so that I could appropriately “permission-based stalk” him to learn more about this particular digital marketing thought leader who really struck a chord with me. In addition to subscribing to his blog, I downloaded as many back episodes as I could of his podcast through iTunes – And for a couple of months, Mitch and Six Pixels of Separation were a daily part of my life during gym workouts and office/client commutes until I finally caught up to his weekly production schedule.

I relate to Mitch not only for the fact that he’s a fellow Canuck but because of his passion for digital marketing, contagious work ethic, entrepreneurial mind, and that he’s a constant student of leadership. It’s been a joy over the past two years following and being inspired by Mitch’s career growth as he expanded his business to Toronto, secured a column in the Montreal Gazette, and now (finally) released his first book, appropriately named after his blog and podcast: “Six Pixels of Separation”.

I anxiously picked up my copy last week at Boston’s Barnes & Nobel in the Pru and it was the last one on the shelf (see photo above). And I can understand why as the book is filled with rich (and timely) case studies and is positioned as the “prequel” to Mitch’s blog. The book is ripe for those who are just getting started understanding how social media has fundamentally impacted business, marketing, and personal branding as well as those of us within the industry that are always looking for more fodder for our clients and projects.

A few select sound bites from Six Pixels of Separation that jumped out at me – the book is filled with many more great one-liners as well as contextual and thought provoking anecdotes:

• Embrace your community as the new currency.
• Trust is earned by an overall great experience with a foundation of authenticity.
• Digital marketing is not a one night stand…tangible results take time.
• Instead of asking “what” [the channels/tactics], please ask “Why” [the strategy].
• Ripples grow wider and bigger until they become waves. Waves never stop.
• The new business game is not about control. It’s about the volume of voices.
• Google is like an elephant: it never forgets.
• Branding is not the logo… Branding is the heart and soul of a business.
• You can’t fake passion.
• Great content = great word of mouth.
• Transparency is easy. Credibility is hard…credibility is everything.
• We’re seeing a new era in which everyone has become a citizen journalist.
• Take time to develop your own niche. Be the Cirque du Soleil of your industry.
• Remember, I’m Googling you just like you’re Googling me.
• Your business life just became a high-speed game of virtual paintball.
• Content is media…all content will become more and more portable.
• Mobile goes where other media cannot.
• Think in terms of tribes, not mass.
• A new business model does not have to be complex.

I had recommended Six Pixels of Separation to clients when it was on pre-order and will continue to help evangelize Mitch Joel’s debut into book publishing – I not only believe in him and his credibility but have personally benefitted by Mitch openly sharing his experiences and thought leadership over the years. I already can’t wait for his next book.