The Tension - Howard Gray

The writer's Secret Service

There’s been a lot of anticipation about a new movie featuring a certain Mr. Bond. But Bond’s original creator wasn’t so excited. Twelve of the Bond movies have come from books written by Ian Fleming. They likes of Goldfinger, Casino Royale, and From Russia With Love are

The Tension

Research or Reassurance?

When we’re starting something new, it’s usually a good idea to do some research. Talking to people is a great way of doing this. But there’s a problem: a line so fine we can barely see it. It’s the line between research and reassurance. We probably

The Tension

Two forms of form

It’s a TV show. A podcast. A blog post. A slide deck. If we’re making something, we probably already have a form in mind. We’ve already chosen, and so we crack on with it. Sometimes it works out beautifully. Other times we find ourselves trudging through the

The Tension

Flexibility & Lock-In

There’s a lot of opportunity for us to work with more flexibility. The last year has proved it. Technology has enabled much of this new-found flex: from Zoom to Slack; Figma to Airbnb. However, many of these enabling technologies also seek to create the opposite of flexibility. They seek

The Tension

Two types of con game

The first type of con game is part of our lexicon. This confidence game involves a trickster building up the confidence of their mark before depriving them of something – usually through their wallet. And a knock-on effect of the con’s impact is that all the mark’s increased confidence

Positioning

Frames and Lenses

“Don’t care what anyone else thinks about you.” Maybe. But looking through the lens of others can sharpen up our own view. What do they see that I don’t? How do they explain what I do if someone asks? What would they omit that I’d like them

The Tension

Free or full price

In 2010, a heavy metal kid suddenly took the dance music world by storm. When Sonny Moore aka Skrillex broke onto the scene, he played over 300 shows in the first year. In the second year, he did maybe 10% of that. What changed? Well, a lot. Profile, direction, team,

The Tension

The Rust

On Sunday I recorded the first episode for a new podcast series I’m producing. The guest was someone I admire, but also find a little intimidating. I didn’t sleep well the night before. When it came to the recording, I knew I was nervous. I hadn’t hosted

The Tension

Zenith & Nadir

When I was a talent agent, there’d be a couple of times a year where a client would hit a deep dip straight after a tour. After the zenith, came the nadir. I never really understood it – until last week. I spent the week flat-out on an intense project.

The Tension

Pre Game / Post Game

Think of the last time you were nervous about something. Perhaps it was public speaking. Or starting a new job. Firing an employee. Traveling to a faraway destination. Proposing to your spouse. Meeting with investors. All of these experiences are moments in time. Moments in life. They’re new, novel,

The Tension

Back to The Tension

In the embers of last year’s summer, I started a new podcast. Unlike my first podcast series, Tickets [https://howardgray.net/2018/10/29/introducing-season-2-of-the-tickets-podcast/] , it was bitesize, one-way, and a little oblique and esoteric. I called this new podcast series The Tension [https://howardgray.net/2019/09/09/

The Tension

The Tension: Chaos / Order

What we can learn from the world of talent agencies, and why invisible order can power our infinite loop. Listen now: Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension] |Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tension/id1478890616] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=

The Tension

The Tension: Time / Energy

On this episode of The Tension: Untangling two of our most valuable resources. Listen now: Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension] |Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tension/id1478890616] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=461284&refid=stpr] | Google Podcasts [https:

The Tension

The Tension: No One Cares

On this episode of The Tension: A birthday lunch, some home truths, and the feeling of freedom from knowing that no one cares. Listen now: Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension] |Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tension/id1478890616] | Stitcher [https://www.

The Tension

The Tension: Natural / Rounded

Lessons from a New York institution: Astor Place Hairstylists. Listen now: Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension] |Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tension/id1478890616] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=461284&refid=stpr] | Google Podcasts [https://www.google.com/podcasts?

The Tension

The Tension: Microscope / Telescope

We all need to be able to deftly utilize the microscope and the telescope. One probably won’t be enough. Listen now: Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension] |Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tension/id1478890616] | Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/s?

Podcast

A new podcast: The Tension

A short-form podcast series on noticing, embracing, and harnessing the tension that shows up in the work we do, so we can get where we want to go. Listen on Anchor [https://anchor.fm/the-tension]| Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LMEdgYVPEaG5V8to6FXx0?si=QLYX-mYOSJexFNF8FbXNQg] | Listen on Stitcher [https:

The Tension

Overwhelm, Skateboards, and a new podcast

When we see a top performer in action they can seem to be floating on air. They’re able to effortlessly riff, duck, and weave. The waves they ride just keep on waving. We wonder: how do they manage this to keep this going seamlessly for 30 minutes, an hour,

The Tension

On Stage

They’re here because a promise was made. You’re up there alone. Exposed. You have 90 seconds to get their attention. If not, you’re done for. Connect to them with something every 30 seconds and you’ll fare far better. You’ve been working towards The Hour [https:

The Tension

Alchemy before Chemistry

You’ve probably heard people talk about chemistry: in work, in life, in love. You may hear about it far more in these contexts than in its more traditional setting – as a science. As a science, chemistry is clear, with specific elements and results. Then there’s alchemy. It feels

From Zero

Switching to Annual View

Whether we’re coming fresh out of a salaried role or have spent years out on the road as an independent, it’s easy to default to the monthly view. Just like a calendar, the month is the most easily understood timeframe. No time differences to manage, or weeks starting

The Tension

The Vessel & The Lens

Last week I had lunch with a friend who, like me, is a recent graduate of a coaching certification program. [1] As we compared notes on our various projects, I used a word I’ve been thinking about quite a bit recently with regard to my new venture. The Vessel.

The Tension

Labels In, Labels Out

We’ve always had labels in one way or another. First, the label tended to be the same as the job we did: hunter, blacksmith, doctor, cleaner, lawyer, CEO, intern. Over time the label became more nuanced, including a role descriptor, elevator pitch, or value proposition: PR executive overseeing the

The Tension

Ghosted: from URL to IRL

This week the video conferencing company Zoom announced its IPO. In the Forbes profile of its founder Eric Yuan, this nugget jumped out at me: For his IPO road show, Yuan deigned to make the 50-mile trek from his San Jose headquarters to San Francisco for a single investor lunch—

The Tension

Two Tunnels

Imagine your primary area of focus as a tunnel you’re digging. You may be digging into clay, sand, soil, or rock. If you have two areas of focus, you’ll have two tunnels. They may start far away or close together. Digging two tunnels simultaneously is almost definitely going