What in the world are you doing with your life?

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on November 19, 2008
in Reality Hacking, legendary and life.time
. 6 Comments

Generally this kind of thing happens after near-death misses (I’ve had 2 so that’s first-hand talking).

What happens if you suddenly realise how absurd it is living/working/spending your time.money.energy the way you do? And instead of dissolving the irritating awareness in your morning coffee and ploughing back into life.as.we.know.it..

you stop.

And give the idea a bit of room to breathe.

What happens if you don’t want to go back anymore?

————-

What happens if you decide tomorrow won’t follow the same largely predictible script?
Is it even possible if you aren’t prone to multiple personality disorder, win the lottery, fall desperately in love or somesuch outrageous turn of irreversible external circumstance is foisted upon your being?

[Just asking. I'm feeling oddish & it could be contagious. Perhaps more of us are feeling like this.]

One of the joys of digital globalization is sharing moments of brilliance that can burst into viral meme streams. This is one whose RNA has infected many webheads with humour, humanity and heartbreaking inspiration, its Prof Randy Pausch’s legendary Last Lecture :

This is a fairly long video (just over an hour) & not friendly for those on slimmed bandwidth, but if you save up your bits & watch one video this month.
Make it this one.

“You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend or not.” - Isabel Allende

(..and no mom, I don’t think I’m dying of any dire disease. Though I do apparently ail from an appaling addiction to alliteration.)

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Learning Event : Marketing for a New World

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on November 6, 2008
in corporate education, events, executive education and learning events
. 0 Comments

We have a Huddlemind event in 3 weeks time [27 Nov 2008 9am - 1pm] >> for all of you who have been waiting for Dave to do a session outside of the business school. He’s teaming up with the man who started Saatchi & Saatchi’s At Play1 [interactive marketing across all media channels] division and now director of Interactive Marketing at Saatchi & Saatchi in Los Angeles, the pioneering Uwe Gutschow.

It’s going to be a headshaker to break loose traditional marketing paradigms and move your business into the unstoppable flexible, connected, global market.
You’ll leave with practical implementable campaign strategies for web or mobile, that are kind on budget and potent for relationship building with your customers. Powerful stuff!

Check out more here: http://huddlemind.com

BOOK HERE:

When you click, it’ll take you to mail to Sandy at Huddlemind. Pop “book me” as the subject and she’ll get back to you to reserve your seat. Else call us on 021 433 0886

PS. Nomadic Marketing alumni get R100 off = R599 ..or if you apply new marketing strategy already: collaborate as a threesome and book together to get R100 off each of your tickets.

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  1. now headed up by Nomadic Marketing lecturer and wildman Allan Kent [↩]

Hooray! open.source leadership: Rock on the Obama era

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on November 5, 2008
in globalization and leadership
. 0 Comments

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Nomadic Marketing 4 : the networthing dinner

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on October 9, 2008
in GSB, Gatherings, corporate education, executive education and learning events
. 0 Comments

Nomadic Marketing1 : with its first major programme revision/evolution, is underway next week. Programme director, Dave Duarte has built a brain.friendly and immersive curriculum for delegates to engage with topics and faculty, in an unprecedented learning experience around social media that no amount of lecturing or conference style presentations could offer.

image thanks to Cape Town Daily Photo

One of the sexy new features is an Urban Tour using GPS, semacodes, mobile apps and other digital exotics to create a blended-reality marketing session through Long Street.2 Jon Cherry and Heinrich Hattingh of Cherryflava are rustling up the magic.

The dinner on the 2nd night is a key feature of the programme’s success and gives delegates a chance to meet some of the pioneering forces of social media in South Africa, in relaxed real.world context. I’ll be organising the merriment for NM4 delegates, Nomadic Marketing alumni and social media people with “interestingness”.

It’ll be at the gorgeous new Doppio Zero at Mandela Rhodes Place on the eve of the 15th October. We have only 60 places available, with delegates getting priority seating. 3 bright minds who are doing extraordinary things with new media applications will be giving quick presentations and Q&A so you can learn from their experience: MarcAnthony Zimmerman [Broccoli Project - love this!], DeWaal Steyn [Die Burger] and Marlon Parker [Cape Peninsula University of Technology].

International award-winning wine estate Moreson will be sharing some of their wonderful yield with us. [Thank you so much Nikki!]

————————–

This is an opportunity to connect & re.connect with some great people, sexy ideas & generally have a fun eve together. Want to come join? We’d love to see you there (bring yourself, money for yr meal and your interestingness)

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  1. A 3day programme offered by UCT’s Graduate School of Business [Executive Education] - celebrated as South Africa’s leading Social-Media Primer for marketing executives and strategic leadership; it’s worth taking a peek here. [↩]
  2. thanks to Cape Town Daily Photo for the pic of legendary Long Street. [↩]

Globalization street.smarts: take the 20 question quiz [cocktail party conversation as markets gently crash]

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on October 7, 2008
in Economic Factors
. Closed

Alrighty, for those of you who have an opinion on the world markets. Come test your contextual knowledge on globalization (yes, economics can be sexy AND remarkably useful to understand in a wobbling world).
They’re questions slung together for the 1st year class, so it’s no in-depth analysis, but good grounding basics & worth a refresher
They’re mostly true/false or 1 word answers (I’ll pop the answers up at the end of the week when the students have handed theirs in)
Give it a go
>>
Continue reading ‘Globalization street.smarts: take the 20 question quiz [cocktail party conversation as markets gently crash]‘

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Living a life poets write about

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on September 17, 2008
in courage
. 2 Comments

“We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the distant horizon, we can see the glittering prize” - Steve Biko

(I used this quote as my about for the first year of this site, and it’s how I opened my talk at the 1st Joburg Geek Dinner because it says so much to the genius and dignity of those who dare to stand up and pursue their beliefs, however unpopular they may be. To give me the heart to grow up & do the same actually!)

Throughout humanity this is one of the strongest evocations of the spirit that drives explorers, pioneers and thought leaders over the edge of the known. This call to adventure seems tantalizingly impossible (by the way there’s NOTHING quite as effective as saying IT’S IMPOSSIBLE to those wildminded ones with fire in their bellies, it’s like a teenage dare, they WILL find the way! and humanity will move forward again).

This one is a challenge toward real ubuntu, to something irrationally utopian: to discovering what would happen if we weeded the greed, to dare to co.create a global genius. Perhaps we’ve already begun. Continue reading ‘Living a life poets write about’

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Preparing for an Epiphany : high class head.wrestling

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on August 29, 2008
in Heisenberg, epiphany and learning events
. 4 Comments

Next Wednesday eve, Cape Town will pingback after seeing so many of the blogger community from Joburg for Wordcamp & more last week. At the SA Business Schools Expo at the Sandton Sun, Epiphany (the new baby) in collaboration with Huddlemind (homebase) is doing a transcity mashup of minds. On an issue that seems to be affecting all of us, particularly if we work in new media, mobile and associated tech.

Is there a BUSINESS CASE for staying in South Africa when you’re one of our best & brightest ?

Do you believe that we’re all just biding our time waiting for a big buy-out, and anyone who isn’t has had too much of Nic’s Kool-Aid?

The organic process of establishing a well-rooted economy isn’t being given the chance to flourish in these accelerated times. As soon as the blossoms of our baby blogosphere started to show fruit they’ve been whipped off by corporate harvesters as Vincent & Mike have pointed out. Initially from local companies scooping the ones that glow from the top, but the shortage of talent is a global economic reality (and South Africans speak English), the best & brightest are plucked from here into fueling the intellectual capital needs of those who have the heft to pay handsomely. The vortex of the brain-drain in SA is rapidly accelerating because of crime, corrupt leadership and absurdly unfavourable conditions for entrepreneurs.

Regardless of what industry we work in, there is an unyielding perception that we have to leave SA shores to “make it big”.
Is that still valid in a flattening world? Maybe the cracks are starting to show, opening up opportunities to leverage your geopositioning to strategic advantage. To build what Hugh Macleod defines as a global microbrand, geographically agnostic success.

The best that we can do is to keep refreshing our headspace (doing a Zander challenging our bounds of possibility). There are challenging contrarian thoughts from lucid thinkers and brave pioneers that help stretch our horizons beyond insular dinner party conversation - repeating the same highly charged superficial sliver of reality that makes news. I selfishly want to create more interesting conversations around me so I don’t have to deal with rounds of regurgitated opinion at parties.

An enriched debate may be a fun place to start a good convo & we have some sexy thinkers on the panel: Branko Brkic (Editor, Maverick), Mike Stopforth (CEO, Cerebra), Paul Jacobson (New Media lawyer, Jacobson Attorneys) and Joshin Raghubar (Aspen fellow/ CEO, iKineo) and opening up into a open debate  with the audience, facilitated by David Donde (journalist, GQ and presenter 567/702).

BTW. this is NOT a lecture by talking heads. We’re tackling the question dynamically and collaboratively, engaging through provocative public debate - not only from the expert panel - but from bright minds in the audience too. We co.create the solutions to the issues to make sure they’re practical and relevant to reality.

This session is highly recommended if you’re considering a great trek of your own, or bleeding some of your company’s best and brightest to higher bidders globally. It may make for an interesting inflection point on your future strategy.

————————————-

Wednesday 3rd Sept. Sandton Sun. 17h00 - 19h00 (come earlier or stay later because you’ll have access to the Expo at your leisure)
Tickets are R250 (includes admission to the Expo) book online (click here) at www.epiphany.usgeni.us or give me a call on 082 832 6434 or mail me. easypeasy.

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Cerebella #3 [geek girls at Origin]

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on August 25, 2008
in Heisenberg and cerebella
. 2 Comments

cerebella

I’ve finally broken through my seemingly impassable writer’s block! And ladies first, with a huge thank you to the fine women who came to Origin. And to the fine staff & the divine David of Origin for letting us loose in your space and being brave enough to run an honesty system on settling our bills.

To brilliant friend & story-engineer Nikki Friedman [Big.Words.Scare.Me] who inspired fascinating conversation about whether we were leopards or tricksy ground squirrels, and why debate on why authenticity is fundamental to successful personal branding. AND for bringing us the sparkling golden MCC from Moreson. Champagne, cupcakes & coffee have a natural affiliation with merriment it seems!

Storytelling is one of the unexpected skills that will stand us all in good stead for the turbulent times to come. It’s one of the cornerstones to being able to discern ourselves from the noise in the attention economy. A skill that can offer tangible rewards for business, whatever your industry; but invaluable if you’re a leader. If you have a moment for a video I heartily recommend Isabelle Allende’s magical session at TED via my commentary on the Women in Leadership page.

Thank you to Cerebella Sarah Blake (check out her great piccies here if you’re curious about how Tim looked in a dress!) for getting the Quirkstars like Katharina and Lyndie there and all those yummy chocolate cupcakes. AND in an evening of but wait.. there’s more >> 5 of the hot-off-the-press excellent eMarketing textbooks (Creative Commons licensed & available for FREE download here BTW) as surprise gifts.

We were honoured to have the Femtrepreneurs from the States represented. My fiercely smart intern Jane Mull & Tascha Terblanche who I lectured to the next morning. There were a host of wonderful women who I hadn’t seen in ages, like the lovely Hajra Bibi (friend of starblogger Tertia, who I miss madly, having started this crazy meme with me), wild&wonderful redhead Tania Odendaal, web-copy queen Kerry-Anne Gilowey, MangoPR beauties Cath Luckhoff, Nicole Capper & Bev Merriman, Springleap’s gorgeous Josie, PopSustainability visionary Kim Heismann, fellow Neophyte Martene Rosenbaum .. and more, like new friends like illustrator.thinker Zara Alyssa who I met at the Flying Solo unconference (brain.child of 2 of  the awesome women who were there - Jo Duxbury and Pam Sykes)  who wrote a great post on the eve’s adventures.

Thank you all it was good fun, and some healthy debate around what it means to be authentic, where to even begin marketing yourself online and some good connections made. I’ll make sure we increase the frequency of our frivolities and cerebrations for the next Cerebella gatherings into the summer.

PS. If you want to join in: just pop on a comment here or mail me here and I’ll pop you on the invitation list (our events are free and co.created - come, share back what you’ve learnt out in the world, maybe contribute/sponsor something that you think will surprise/delight/add value or share the linklove online. happiness)

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Practical Innovation: relentless problem.solving

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 26, 2008
in Emotional Mastery, UCT lectures, creative genius, innovation and learning events
. 2 Comments

My heartfelt thanks to Dave Duarte: for the opportunity to guest lecture in his stead on main campus while he led the 3rd successful run of Nomadic Marketing at the Graduate School of Business. I’ve seen Dave present countless times - and trust me it’s NOT an easy act to follow - he speaks with ease and engagement on topics that straddle both traditional and the pioneering edges of business. [Though I guess that's what you would expect from someone who specialises in the economics of attention.]

innov8.jpgInnovation is one of those spaces that has to bridge both. This often elusive strategic advantage that could catapult you into uncontested territory (with the benefits of time, little competition, easy PR and high desirability in the marketplace) is often seen as the “soft stuff” best left to the creatives/scientists/inventors to envision. Mistakenly.

Never more so has there been such an urgent need for clarity on how to initiate, manage & implement innovation with accelerated competition and tightening resources on a crowded planet.
Companies that realise that the birthing of innovation is induced through rigorous process rather than entrusting it to luck or epiphanies of genius; those who specialise in it, like Google, BMW, 3M, GE, NASA offer insight on how to apply this in our own lives, businesses and careers.

I’m going to be writing 2 posts on innovation from our lecture series to de-fuzz the fluffy concepts around this word so treasured by management consultants. Essentially just as a memory recall for the students, so forgive me if they seem a little disjointed. (though as always you’re welcome to comment and nudge me if something needs more clarity or really connects with you & you want more info)
Continue reading ‘Practical Innovation: relentless problem.solving’

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Promise to include the boys.. (next time)

Published
by
Maximillian Kaizen
on April 2, 2008
in Cape Town, Gatherings, cerebella, community development, geek girls and networthing
. 6 Comments

sinn-gals.jpg

It’s been a frenzied few months, but { Huddlemind } is getting stronger by the day and it’s time to look up from the books and get out to play.

Many months ago at a geekdinner in Cape Town, the bright Sarah Blake suggested that we start doing geek.girl gatherings here in South Africa. What a great idea! what appalling timing!
We’ve finally resolved to do something about it: though admittedly we haven’t really rolled up our sleeves on organising a serious event, no extravaganza of prizes, nor yet with seeming effortlessness whipping up a luscious feast for the occasion - because we’re too damn BUSY. As you probably are.

Instead we spoke very nicely to the good peeps at Gardens Virgin Active & Stormhoek who are sponsoring workouts and wine (virtue or vino balance each other out surely) and we’re inviting some of the startlingly bright women we know to just come & hang out at my new fave wi-fi & alt.office spot & re.connect ..before we drown in to.do lists and meet our demise ingloriously, at our desks. No karoshi for me thank you!

This isn’t necessarily a GEEK.girl session - I’ve realised there are sadly very few of us xx chromosome creatures who go crazy for code - and more about the tech.supported social media infused lifestyle and embracing the new economy that women are flourishing in. One where relationships have heightened value over process. And where trust is the gold standard.

So all that said, it’s ever a good idea to enrich your networth: come hang out with us at Sinn’s on Wed 9th April afterdirections-to-wembley-squar.gif work at about 6ish . Click on the p

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