Adventures #41: The Accelerator, The Amplifier... The Tension
Hello!
This edition of Adventures… has a different vibe. I’ve packed up my Mailchimp knapsack (in the form of a 100mb zip file) and trundled over to Substack.
The format and design will probably evolve a little over the next couple of editions as I get to grips with things. One change I’ve noticed is the new interface has led to a few more words being written. I hope you’re cool with that.
Please do let me know your comments on this new format - I’ve learned I benefit hugely from getting the perspectives of others.
Speaking of which, many of my recent conversations have leaned towards the question of ‘what’s next?’.
I’m not sure any of us have the answers, but perhaps some clues lie in what's already been happening.
First, there’s the acceleration of existing and emerging trends: from overpriced MBA programs becoming eroded; to office space going from company foundation to unwieldy, unwanted overhead; and all that stuff people so coveted being called into question.
Second, there's amplification. The amplifier ramps up the volume on what you can already hear, but it also gives voice to the previously inaudible.
The loudest have a habit of being those things you've either put off or haven't ever really been much good at: that team communication process you never got around to overhauling; those two dirty pans left in the kitchen sink a little longer than they should have (ok, guilty).
Sometimes, the amplifier and accelerator work in tandem.
The movement becomes too rapid, the noise gets deafening, and the tension builds.
Before you know it, you question your work, your skills, your habits, your mindset.
However, this cuts both ways.
The accelerator kickstarts your slow hunches: that idea you thought could be a thing... now you see it can be a thing; it needs to be a thing.
And the amplifier truly surfaces the skill that maybe... just maybe... you thought you could become good at.
What about when things come back to a semblance of normality? What about when now becomes… next?
We can continue using the accelerator and the amplifier.
They won't - nor shouldn't - look like the ones that came before. They’ll be more human, attuned, holistic.
The accelerator can be used to galvanise small business owners trying to recover; the new entrepreneurs wanting to go out and start something; and those with a desire to learn and push things forward in larger organisations. The new accelerator will utilize network thinking, human-centered design, and active learning. It’ll have social impact and the SDGs woven into its DNA.
As for the amplifier, it won’t be ours to use, certainly not to shout and scream. Instead, we’ll prime it, then pass it to others.
Just to be clear, it still feels fast and scary right now. Accelerator and amplifier together.
Gradually though, as we move into what’s next, we can start to understand and then harness their power.
To quote Jon Kabat-Zinn: you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf them.
Thanks for reading, and as always I’d love to hear what’s got your attention right now. Just hit reply.
A simple recipe for working independently
Two of my biggest flaws are struggling with focus and sometimes feeling overwhelmed by ideas for projects to take on. For those of us working independently as freelancers, consultants, creatives, or solopreneurs this can be pretty common.
Here's the recipe for a hugely helpful practice I've been doing for the last 6 months alongside my friend and collaborator Josh. It keeps us focused, positive, energised, and reminds us that - yes, indeed - we are human beings.
A pair of podcasts
This month I was on the other side of the table; featuring on Comcast’s LIFT Labs podcast, and returning for a second appearance on the Portfolio Career Podcast. Click below to check ‘em out.
The Quarantined Independent
I love the metagame. Tom is a consultant who, as well as his work as a consultant, writes about being a consultant, and how other consultants can be better consultants. I reckon he’ll soon be hired by consultants as a consultant (if not already).
Here are the first three in an excellent series of posts he’s put together on working independently during quarantine.
Back to The Tension
This was a podcast series I created last year. It's some of the better work I've done, maybe because I just did it for myself rather than focus on a projection of what I thought might be popular.
Counterintuitively, each 2-4 minute episode took longer to produce than my 45-60 minute podcast 'Tickets', particularly as it was tough to craft the language I wanted.
As (I think) Van Gogh said, the most frustrating and challenging thing about creative work is getting what you put on the canvas to match the vision in your head.
(I’m sure there’s a cheap gag here re. ears and podcasts; I’ll leave that one with you)
I shipped episodes weekly from late Summer up until Thanksgiving, then felt I needed to take a pause. Writing each episode became harder, and frankly the metrics weren't very good (yes - contradicting the earlier point about doing it for myself). I felt bad about shelving it, but energy and $ needed my focus.
However, over the last 2 months, I’ve found myself talking about tension in so many conversations, and the need to explore this topic feels stronger. I pledged to bring the podcast back, but have still struggled to find the creative energy for the podcast. So, as a prototype / cop out, this - in a very small way to keep it moving - is The Tension. Three to start:
Creating / Capturing: There are times to focus on creating value, and others on capturing it. Doing the latter feels troubling right now, even when there are customers knocking on the door. But giving away absolutely everything for free isn’t sustainable. Instead, perhaps it’s better to take on a slightly different stance - that of contributing.
Accelerator / Amplifier: See the beginning of this email :)
US / UK (English): I’m switching between them more regularly than ever. This adds a lot of time to double-check depending on the context and audience, but I’m not willing to use only one. Most importantly, I just hope I don’t use an ‘ize’ instead of an ‘ise’ in a WhatsApp message to my Mum. That will not go down well.
Also: The perks of being a weirdo: I’m all for thinking like this, but I don’t really see much changing at a broader level. Many organisations proclaim they embrace diversity of all forms, but when it comes to being…well, weird - I’m not sure they actually want it. In the new normal, safety and stability will become more popular, and the weirdos will need to create other platforms for their weirdness to be accepted and encouraged.
Crossing the online course chasm
I did my first ever Tweetstorm. I guess I’m now part of a club I probably don’t much want to be a member of.
TL;DR: workshops beat courses, especially when you’re starting out.
How to introduce your workshop
Featuring a couple of my alter-egos, here’s a riff on introducing yourself in a workshop, class, or just about any public speaking situation.
This is my first foray into putting videos of my face onto YouTube. I’m still not sure how I feel about this; by the next time you hear from me I may have counted to 100,000 in a bid to go viral, or done absolutely nothing at all. It could go either way.
Also: How to create an interactive workshop in Zoom
Does the world need this restaurant anymore?
Last time out I mentioned I didn’t want to include any Coronavirus-related content as there’s just so much out there already.
I’m already breaking that rule because;
a) frankly, it’s very hard to avoid,
b) I don’t like rules, and
c) this piece in the New York Times by restauranteur Gabrielle Hamilton feels more about a life’s work than solely a story on the pandemic’s impact.
Additionally, it hits close to home for me as the restaurant in question is 5 minutes walk from my apartment. The bit about her frustrations with the NYC brunch crowd is especially delicious.
Also: the 2nd and 3rd order effects of where fast fashion and influencer culture collide (not to mention the pain the live music sector is feeling right now - a few friends in the industry have told me that many companies are now drastically revising their projections for when live shows will come back in any kind of significant way)
Shabaka and the Ancestors
I have to shout out my Dad for the tip here: this octet (that’s 8 - I had to double-check) led by Shabaka Hutchings originally got picked up by Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, and after spending two years recording in South Africa they released their new album last month.
‘We Are Sent Here By History’, blends African, Afro-Caribbean, and London jazz vibes: perfect for the warm glow of a late Spring evening.
Other things I've been up to this month:
- Kicking off the May edition of Workshop Creator: our crew is made up of 28 people from around the globe who are all looking to deliver interactive, engaging learning experiences for others. I’m biased of course, but from just our first group gathering there’s a wonderful positive energy and sense of connection happening. Workshops may indeed be the future of learning
- Making banana bread. Yes, another mid-30s cliche to go on my list. Nonetheless, I continue to tell myself I’m just so individual and unique.
- Not reading any books. Not learning any languages. Not doing burpees at 6am (or any other time). Not writing a novel. Not cutting back on mid-afternoon snacks (e.g. banana bread). Sue me.
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This is an email digest from me - Howard. I help people who want to make a difference get where they want to go.
This monthly dispatch collates a few of the things I've found interesting across education, entrepreneurship, and entertainment.
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