• WOWOW: True Fans Want True Charisma

    edited by Alexander Becker

    True fans, true charisma, and true assholes, what's the difference anyway -- and the trouble with Steve Jobs.

    Kevin Kelly does it again, and it is amazingly, beautifully simple: You need 1000 true fans --

    A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author -- in other words, anyone producing works of art -- needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.

    A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can't wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.

    Ok? Here is the secret, from the angle of Bob Sutton's (no) asshole perspective --

    All accounts about Jobs make clear that he is not all asshole all the time -- that he uses nastiness strategically at times or sometimes simply loses his temper. As I show in the chapter on the virtues of assholes, if you want to be an effective asshole, you can't be all asshole all the time.

    ... it is interesting how often his anger seems to focus on two issues: aesthetics and ease of human use. Examples include his temper tantrum about the color that the vans were painted at NEXT, a story an engineer told me about how unhappy Jobs was with the color of the bolts inside a computer (he wanted the technicians and geeks who opened it up to be impressed with the beauty), and a story -- which is pure rumor -- that he fired someone from the Apple store because he didn't like the color and quality of the bags that she ordered.

    (...)

    I worry that, by glorifying Jobs, we are making the world safe for asshole infested organizations and fueling the belief that assholes make more effective leaders.

    The Fortune article: The trouble with Steve Jobs: Asshole, genius, or both?

    Jobs likes to make his own rules, whether the topic is computers, stock options, or even pancreatic cancer. The same traits that make him a great CEO drive him to put his company, and his investors, at risk.

    Finally, Steve Jobs speaks out himself --

    We had a big debate inside the company whether we could do that or not. And that was one where I had to adjudicate it and just say, We're going to do it. Let's try.

    This is exactly the point.

    What are you called when you're an asshole but no CEO? You're charismatic. When you're the CEO, it's all about charisma and unpopular decisions. As a leader, you're admired for making decisions, admired even for making unpopular decisions, admired as a martyr -- and ultimately, secretly, you're admired as an asshole -- because after all, it's your job, you have to do it.

    Just make sure that you act because you have to act like you have to act, that is, as long as you're being an asshole out of passion, charisma, or even chutzpah, your true fans will remain true fans and become even more fanatic. When it is fear that makes you act like an asshole, well, this is what you get: No fans, no charisma, no chutzpah, no passion, and certainly no reward.

    The more unique the vision, the more elaborate the idea, the farther ahead of the pack, the more charisma you need to just do it and to convince everybody else that you are right and that it works anyway. Again, the more charismatic, the more you polarize your peers.

    The trick is to appear as a total asshole not all the time and not no everybody at once but to try to appear civilized half the time or to half the people. This way, your reputation remains stable.

    One more thing: If you had a dream, would you want anyone -- except yourself -- to interfere, influence, or even taint the outcome of what you know would be the most beautiful thing in your life? Wouldn't you fight with everything you've got?

    I thought so.

    Chances are, that the asshole trait (or is it a gene?) makes any dream a little -- if not much -- more realistic.

    Have a great weekend and at least try not to abuse your peers too much. On the other hand, what are you waiting for? Make your dream come true already!

    Your true fans will take care of themselves.

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  • WOWOW: The Death and Underachievement Edition [Links of the Week]

    edited by Alexander Becker

    Underachieving and resolutions and social objects and modest change. Let's see where we end up.

    Discovering Personal Excellence

    There is a difference between corporate and personal achievement. Of course, excellence is about working as good as you can, always and without excuses but the point here is that personal endeavours have to be committed to with at least a comparable amount of excellence.

    There is no such thing as corporate passion. It is your personal thing. It is you who makes the dent in the universe, not your company. If it seems like it is the other way around, run. Make one yourself. A dent and a company, that is.

    Resolutions

    Death and Underachievement: A Guide to Happiness in Work by Ryan Norbauer pretty much sums it up --

    But we'll deal in a moment with what to do with our newfound perspective; for now it's enough just to note the facts. And all the facts point to a universe that is utterly indifferent to your body-mass index, your latest promotion, or how well-organized your reference filing system is.

    ... and...

    We do the best work we can, but we don't fret when we fail, nor do we jeopardize the quality of our work -- or the happiness of our days—by bowing to the pressure to take on more than we can handle.

    ... and...

    As The Underachiever's Manifesto has it: striving is suffering. It is only by accepting the illusory nature of achievement that we can hope to transcend it. Would it be mawkish of me to invoke Steve Jobs?: our time is limited, so don't waste time living someone else's life.

    ... and...

    There are also more sublunary and practical reasons why the pressure for extraordinary achievement is counterproductive. The diet that permits the occasional bucket of french fries is the one more likely to be adhered to, and the exercise regime that demands only a gentle stroll every day rather than a heart-pounding decathlon is the one more likely actually to be followed. Extreme expectations apply extreme stress and create extreme resistance and procrastination. In so doing, they undermine our ability to get anything we want. We forfeit perfectly serviceable rewards in the pursuit of enormous and unattainable ones.

    Yes and no. Sure, Ryan is perfectly right, but even better to do the decathlon if you actually follow it.

    ... and...

    The hard part of life is done: you are here and alive to read these words. As the Manifesto commands, stop worrying about being perfect. Dedicate yourself to the pleasures and benefits of mediocrity.

    Social Objects

    Hugh explains Social Objects for Beginners --

    The Social Object, in a nutshell, is the reason two people are talking to each other, as opposed to talking to somebody else. Human beings are social animals. We like to socialize. But if think about it, there needs to be a reason for it to happen in the first place. That reason, that "node" in the social network, is what we call the Social Object.

    ... where the social object is a "neutral third party", something that isn't part of neither mine nor your privacy. It is some safe haven. A clutch for you and me to hold onto until we think to know each other and start "connecting" for real.

    ... and he goes on with...

    Why The "Social Object" is the Future of Marketing --

    ... She'll only talk about it if it serves as a Social Object. A "hook" to move the conversation along. A hook she can use it as a way to relate to her fellow human beings.

    The trick to have people talk about you, then, is to become a social object. This makes it less interesting to talk to you, though.

    Presence of Mind

    Another one from 43f --

    Beginning the Year with Fresh Starts & Modest Changes

    Don't miss this little gem --

    Have you ever put up with a squeaky door for years and then one day, for whatever reason, suddenly found yourself grabbing the WD-40 and lubricating that particular nuisance out of your life? I have, and I'm here to tell you, it's awesome. You actually stand there wondering why you never had the presence of mind to affect such an improvement -- ridiculously trivial though its solution may be.

    Other than that, time does in fact matter, ask Steve Jobs.

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  • WOWOW: The Kids Edition [Links of the Week]

    edited by Alexander Becker

    Square watermelons this week, a bunch of nested lists, the what and the where, and something for the kids, from Steve Jobs and Bill Gates -- no, not the fisticuffs...

    Brainstorming

    • ... discovering blog topics, yes, but even more, following your excellence works this same exact way --

    • The Reverse-Process Technique of Discovering Blog Topics --

      Have a good think about the activities and events in your own routine, what can you find that gets results, sets you apart, or might be interesting then drill right down. Think from the point of view of a curious prospect and you might be surprised how many topic ideas you can think of!

    • Also, compare mindmaps here and there, where Hundreds of Post Ideas for Your Blog create the luxury of selecting the best and most appropriate ones --

      The key when you do it is to let your creativity run wild (because it can take you in some wonderful directions) but then to be ruthless in culling ideas that don't actually add anything to your blog. Remember - everything that you post on your blog either adds to or takes away from your blog's perceived value - so not everything that you come up with should make it through to the front page of your blog.

    • Ultimately, make sure to keep it in check: Master Your Muse and Multiply Your Blogging Effectiveness

    • Square Watermelon Problem Solving is one more instance of the common uncommon --

      Been there, done that: Believe it or not, your problem has most likely been encountered by others. This could be other companies, other departments within your company, even the guy sitting next you right now. Seek out those that have had similar issues and study their response. You shouldn't necessarily mimic what others have done, but clearly there is something to be said for taking an idea and customizing it so that it solves your problem.

    • ... with a mention of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), which 40 principles I happen to use, printed on small index cards --

      Two basic principles in TRIZ maintain that:

      1. Somebody, someplace, has already solved your problem or one similar to it. Creativity means finding that solution and adapting it to the current problem.
      2. Don't accept compromises. Eliminate them.

    Knowledge Units

    • Speaking of already solved problems: Google to Wikipedia: "Knol" thine enemy --

      The system is called "Knol" -- which refers to a "knowledge unit" -- and it will let anyone create, edit, and profit from creating a page packed with information on a specific topic.

    What to do and How

    • Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow on a --

      Project-Kill Day. This is a day where I am at my most productive state. I set aside large amounts of time to kill off the projects on my to-do list and get ahead. I've found, if you plan it properly, you can make tomorrow up to 3 times as productive as ordinary days.

    • From the Duh-department, but still --

      Provide Context for Better Ubiquitous Capture

      If it's worth capturing, it's worth capturing well, so take the extra couple seconds to remind yourself what the hell you were thinking about.

    Where to Get and How

    • Should You Write a Personal Mission Statement?

      Absolutely --

      Your personal mission statement should be a concise representation of what's most important to you, what you desire to focus on, what you want to achieve, and, ultimately, who you want to become. In its purest form, it's an approach to your life, one that allows you to identify a focus of energy, creativity, and vision in living a life in support of your inner-most beliefs and values.

      [...]

      A great personal mission statement is one that inspires you, motivates you, and offers you the opportunity for continued happiness and fulfillment.

      Making you look even better.

    • While we're here --

      Achieving Your Dream: How to Take the First Step

      Don't --

      • Wait until the situation is perfect.
      • Wait until other people agree with you.
      • Wait until your skill is good.

      Do --

      • Believe in your dream.
      • Visualize your dream.
      • Expect a hard way ahead.
      • Take one bite at a time.

      In other words: Baby steps are still all the rage -- la rage, that is........

    • Tony Soprano's Top 11 Tips for Success

      Three out of eleven --

      • The smartest route isn't always the easiest one -- in most cases there will be multiple paths to obtaining your goals. Instead of going with the easy route, you need to go with the smart route.
      • Think things over -- if you are angry or desperate you probably start acting based off your instincts in hopes of satisfying your feelings. Instead of acting on things right away, start thinking things over because then you will be able to act based on logic instead of on feelings.
      • Don't show off -- there is nothing wrong with buying nice things every once in a while but don't buy something just to show off. Although attention is good, if you are someone worth knowing sooner or later people will get to know you. People who just show off draw too much attention and in many cases are hated by others due to jealousy.

    • Why I Started Punching Jerks Again

      Is there a chance that we would have fewer AK-47-toting high schoolers if it were socially acceptable to take of a glove, slap it across an offender's face, and issue the good 'ol Sir, you have insulted my honor challenge? I think a little fisticuffs would do most men a world of good, giving options to the masses who put up with too much, consequences to loudmouthed idiots who would then think twice, and a release valve to a gender that otherwise comes up with far worse things to do to men, women, wives, and children.

      Don't miss the comments. Very insightful and they prove the point. Either point.

      Do what is right. You decide.

    Kids Corner

    • 5 Signs That You Have Settled --

      So all this begs the question: what do I do if I have settled? As Steve Jobs said in the same speech: if you haven't found it yet, keep looking... As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

    • Bill Gates: The skills you need to succeed --

      • A solid working knowledge of productivity software and other IT tools has become a basic foundation for success in virtually any career.
      • Beyond that, however, I don't think you can overemphasize the importance of having a good background in maths and science.
      • Communication skills and the ability to work well with different types of people are very important too.

    Don't settle.

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