Early Spring?

A beautiful day today, hitting the mid-70's. I had a meeting on Johns Island (between Charleston and Kiawah) at Briar's Creek, and, fortunately, it involved 18 outdoor locations.

Is Spring here? Felt like it was just 'round the corner today. And with Daylight Savings set to begin a bit earlier this year (a national holiday, that day should be), I'm thinking shorts instead of sweaters, Softspikes instead of socks and sensible shoes.

So it's a pretty good day today. Good news from a client or two, a couple of good project prospects moving closer to starting ... think I'll have a cold beverage...

Thoughts upon watching Oscar

I watched The Oscars last night because I couldn't sleep. Amazing that the show itself didn't put me under. I gave up around 10:45, I think, long before most of the "big" awards were handed out. But this morning's New York Times filled me in. One photo from the Times is remarkable for the star power: Here are Coppola, Lucas and Spielberg handing over The Oscar to Scorsese for "The Departed." A quick run-down of some of my favorite movies of all time are reflected here, from "The Godfather" and the Indiana Jones series to "The Conversation," "Raging Bull," "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" and, yes, "Jaws."

Here's the thing, however. I watched "The Departed" on Saturday night (yes, the DVD is now available), and I think that the big-small screen - the 40+ inch TV in our home - I believe TV now offers more time for better character and plot development than the 2 or 2.5 hour film.

Is this crazy? Yes, maybe so. I need to think about this some more...

"In a word": Marty Kaufmann's wrap-up of Golfweek Resort Marketing Conference

"Resorts must define themselves," writes Golfweek's editor of "The Golf Life" in the February 24 issue of the magazine. Marty Kaufmann sat through almost all of the one day Resort Marketing Conference the day before the PGA Merchandise Show, and his editor's perspective is clearly evident in his wrap-up.

"Why did a golf resort on a remote, desolate stretch of Oregon coastline quickly become America's St. Andrews, the most desired of domestic bag tags, while perfectly pleasant resorts convenient to major cities stir feelings of indifference among visitors?"

In a word, Kaufmann says, Bandon Dunes is "pure." And that's the secret sauce of its brand.

I moderated the panels, my friends Gordon Dalgleish and Frank Sanders spoke, and overall I think the 40+ attendees got way more out of it than they dreamed. Will their brands benefit? We'll see.

We'll see.

Blogging can be lonely...

But Seth Godin, in his blog says to be humble and aware of why you (I) blog in the first place. A quick post worth reading. (His, not mine.)

Working from home

I'm sure I've written about this before, even shown you a photo of my home work space. But I came across this collection of articles in BusinessWeek at about the same time our own Neil MacKenzie decided to move his job with us from Greensboro to Atlanta. (Here's Neil with Anne Cassity and "Santa Paul" in our Greensboro "World HQ.")

I'm convinced I am more productive not driving to some office to set up business for the day. And though Neil will be hundreds of miles from HQ (as is Eric Gordon, who works with us from Richmond, VA), he'll get more done. What most of us need is bandwidth (lots and lots) and the right tools to communicate.

Coming next, inspired to think about it by a BW slide show, the tools I need to do my job from anywhere.

NBC Nightly News

I'm not going to wax on about the life or life support the nightly newscast lives, at least not in this post. I watch NBC Nightly News, usually the next morning via video podcast. I like Brian Williams; he's another in a line of solid, smart and trustworthy deliverers of the news (from NBC, Huntley, Brinkley, Chancellor, Brokaw; from CBS, Cronkite; from ABC, Jennings).

No, I just wanted to say that sometimes the newscast surprises me. In November last year, the broadcast had a single sponsor, Philips, who reduced the advertising content from 8 minutes to 5. More time for news. And last night (or, this morning), the last 3 minutes was a live performance by a Wynton Marsalis quintet (from Jazz at Lincoln Center), from New York, but celebrating Phat Tuesday.

Pretty cool.

"A championship team instead of a team of champions"

I posted this once before, but in a different location, so I thought it was worth posting up here:

The title of this post is a slightly paraphrased dictum, #4 of "7 notions of innovation," from Kodak's Antonio M. Perez, as quoted in BusinessWeek's IN special section. Here's a link to the article.

At Burris we have a championship team, and it's probably our greatest strength. Six individuals, each with his or her own unique personality and skill set, but all enjoying what we do, (most often) for whom we do it, and - at least I believe it - getting along quite well as a team.

What we need now, what we seem to always need, are more customers to replace the ones whose projects we just completed. We have to keep selling, the key to selling what we do is being able to define it.

We continue to say ours is "an idea company." Need something fresh?

My "-ias" syndrome

Maybe today's the day for confessions...

A friend asked in an email today about my business. I've said this to several before, but it strikes me that there's a lot of truth to it, so I thought I'd share with this audience.

I told him I suffer from an "-ia" problem.

"When we finish a major project, as we did recently with Yamaha Golf Cars, there's this wonderful sense of euphoria. And it's followed by - no, it's simultaneous with - a foreboding sense of paranoia."

Euphoria and paranoia, simultaneously. My "-ia" syndrome.

Ever since we became a project-driven idea company, this is the way it's been. When we're busy, we're busy, and we put so much into it that there's this great sense of accomplishment and relief and satisfaction as we near and come to completion. But, then, what's next? Maybe there's nothing. Uh, oh.

A technology confession

I don't admit this easily, but sometimes I fall into a technology trap. Yes, me.

On Thursday of last week I read in David Pogue's New York Times column about a service called Spinvox. Sounded cool. What it's supposed to do is take your voice mail messages and transcribe them into text and email them to you. So, no dialing in to your mobile VM and letting the prompts take you forever. Just read your voicemails.

I signed up. (It's free for the rest of 2007 in the U.S.) I received my registration info last night. I followed the directions to the letter this morning. But it didn't work. What's worse, I had difficulty UN-forwarding my mobile, a problem with Verizon.

So I spent about an hour this morning setting up and trying to UN-set-up my new SpinVox account.

I don't admit this easily, but sometimes I fall into a technology trap. Yes, me. I think something sounds cool and/or time-saving so I adopt the tech promise quickly ... only to lose time sometimes, mired in a process that saps my energy and patience.

I don't admit this easily, but sometimes I fall into a technology trap. Yes, me....

Update: Six hours later...
A Spinvox tech rep called me, walked me through their system, and my service is working now. I still have an issue with this and that relating to it, but it's working, and my faith is restored.

Lawyer friendly

We're working with a legal firm to develop a new "corporate" identity and message. Among the concepts we've considered is a clearly humanizing direction built around the partners' - especially one of the firm's namesakes' - ability to tell a good story.

I must admit that I'm influenced to some degree by current campaigns for Volvo and Cisco.

The Volvo automobiles campaign is built around the brand's being known for safety. It's theme - "who would you give a Volvo to" - extends the brand DNA by introducing an interactive or user-generated element. The web site features not only current advertising but also input from owners. "This is our way to inspire you to think about the people you care about." Well done.

A campaign for Cisco products is better executed. Extolling the idea of a "human network" (presumably connected by Cisco networking devices), this web site combines product demonstrations with true, user-contributed stories of good deeds and "wow" moments.

For our client we're introducing the storytelling motif to outline about seemingly complex examples of the law and legal processes procedures within captivating, easy-to-follow narratives ... told by one or more of the partners. They're not "case studies," not really, partly because we are uncomfortable identifying clients and adversaries. We call them "briefs," and we're using them not only on the web, with video, shot in simple settings, but we're also setting them up in recommended advertising media executions that tell a little - but not all - of the story and drive the reader to the web for the rest.

In the process of seeing what the firm has done, you "meet" one of the lawyers, get to know them perhaps a bit better than just a photo and a bio can do.

Our work is beginning to taking shape now. I'll show it to you when it's ready.

BusinessWeek's "Innovate"

On this cold Saturday, I caught up on some of my online reading. If you have a few minutes yourself and want to stimulate some fresh thinking, either (a) call me and we'll brainstorm together, or (b) go to BW's "Innovate" weblog for the latest round-up of ideas.

Ideo's method cards

At Burris we have our "Inspirator." It's a figment of Dean Wagner's imagination, a block of wood, unfinished, sporting an "On/Off" switch on top. (You can see it here on our new web site's placeholder.) It's pretty cool, and we're adopting it into our culture as a figurative device for turning on creativity.

Heck, an idea company needs something like an Inspirator.

Ideo, on the other hand, has their "method cards." (Click on the title of this post to see them at work.)

What do you use to fuel your creativity?

"I don't care"

Our annual homeowners meeting was today. I go for the oysters. Each year, at the conclusion of the meeting, we have an oyster roast just off the beach. Wonderful. But this year during the meeting there was an issue that caused a lot of discussion, a few motions and seconds and discussion and the "call to question" ...

There's considerable erosion on what the Isle of Palms refers to as "North Beach." The 18th hole at the Wild Dunes Links course is threatened, and the owners of property near there and the community at large are attempting to mobilize to move sand from one part of the beach to help stave off some of the problem. (It's probably too little too late, but as most of the residents in our community are quick to say of themselves, "I am not an engineer.")

Anyway, there's a petition to remove sand from an area near our little community (from an area affectionately known as a "spit") - 36,000 truckloads - to the badly eroded area. Some of the homeowners in our 'hood want to do what they can to help out; others fear that the removal of 5 feet of sand over a 1 million square foot area - the area of the "spit" - might cause a problem at our part of the beach.

I listened to more than an hour of point and counterpoint without participating in the discussion. I just wasn't moved enough by either side to formulate an opinion. One thing I've noticed about myself, a change that's come to me over the last several years: Some things just don't matter. I'm still opinionated about a lot of things ... about most things, I guess. But not everything.

At this point, about this issue, I really don't care.

How good are your notes?

The "Scooter" Libby trial reminds me of a couple of my own shortcomings. I don't take very good notes ... and my memory is not so good either. So if I were called to the stand, my notes having been subpoenaed, having to recall with whom I spoke about what, I would certainly fail.

I asked Betty yesterday how she manages her notes, to-do's and the like, whether she uses her Day-Timer system, her digital calendar and contact system, both, neither or what. You know, Microsoft's Entourage (Mac) or Outlook (PC) does a great job of linking calendar and contact info. Mac's iCal and Address Book - which I use - do not. I write to-do's and notes and such in a little black book (that's all they're good for now), unless I'm at my computer. If I'm at a keyboard I'm likely to tap in a texting program, then paste into a calendar to-do.

What works for you?

Being there

I'm reading Bill Bryson's latest book. It's hilarious, a beautiful capture of growing up in the '50's and early '60's.

Outside the major story, Bryson tells us about his father, who was an outstanding sportswriter - especially about baseball. Bryson senior was there for many of the key plays and games, and Bryson junior uses 1951 as an opportunity to wonder aloud something many of us wondered about:

"But then he had to be there. It was part of his fate, too. I am not exactly suggesting that Bobby Thompson hit that home run because my father was there or implying that he wouldn't have hit it if my father was there or implying that he wouldn't have hit it if my father had not been there. All I am saying is that my father was there and Bobby Thomson was there and the home run was hit and these things couldn't have been otherwise."
Bill Bryson - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir

I sometimes wonder the same thing. And I'm convinced others do as well. I'm absolutely sure my brother Brad believes North Carolina's basketball team would have beaten NC State on Saturday, February 3, if only he'd been in front of the TV to watch anything more than the very end of the game.

Meetings

Do you get more work done in or outside of meetings?

As another Burrisite prepares to move outside the office to do his day-to-day work, I think about productivity and its causes. I know I'm extremely productive working from home. I use a lot of IM, email, Skype conferencing, web access - I use all these and more to push out work, to execute work, to wrap-up one assignment (self-imposed and otherwise) after another.

How about you? Where are you most productive?

The photo above is from a meeting at Dunes Properties yesterday. Jeff Satterwhite from Softwired Systems in Greensboro made a presentation of his work in progress for the company, and a number of decisions were made. As a result, Jeff and I are able to move forward, aggressively.

This is how it works best for me. I'm most productive getting stuff done outside of meetings. But if I need items approved, bought into, checked off, a face-to-face is almost always best.

Golf Travel

On p. 16 of the February issue of Conde Nast Traveler, in the "Feb.Online" column, there's this request:

"Tell us aobut your experience at U.S., Canadian, and Caribbean golf resorts and you're automatically entered to win a weekend at a top golf getaway." (Click on the header at the top of this post to go to the site.)

I just finished moderating Golfweek's Resort Marketing Conference during the PGA Merchandise Show, and one of our speakers, Frank Sanders, president and founder of CSM Research, delivered a compelling presentation on measuring guest satisfaction. Once again I call for the golf travel industry to work together - or for some private enterprise - to develop a consistent standard for capturing and reporting golf travelers' experiences, a sort of J.D. Power research with a ranking system.

Why is this important? There are at least two reasons:

1. It's such a small market. By some estimates there are approximately 2 million golf travelers; that is, golfers who go away to play golf for at least three days and two nights every year. That's a relatively small opportunity, and if a golf resort or destination is going to prosper, it must know what kind of service it delivers ... and, therefore, the likelihood of what I call "refer and return."

2. The hospitality industry itself is getting better, and the standards its setting are elevating the quality and service standards of travelers. I just this morning checked out of a Fairfield Inn, where the beds have been upgraded, the showers improved, the high-speed internet installed throughout - in short, the Fairfield is today what the Courtyard was yesterday, and there's be ongoing improvement right on up the line. But not so much at the typical golf resort.

My advice to golf resorts and destinations? Go after guest satisfaction and own it. Someone like Frank can help. So can Burris.

Is proper English important?

Some bristle when I correct their grammar, syntax or spelling. "You know what I meant," they're likely to say. (Well, not always.)

I found a new blog by Dick Cavett today, and his subject is the language and how politicians - especially the Bushies - use and abuse it. Here's a stand-out comment:

"Getting a little thing like words right, is it so important?

"The right answer is: Yes. As when poorly worded road signs cause fatalities. Sloppy language leads to sloppy thought, and sloppy thought to sloppy legislation. And why not a sloppy war? What if someone issuing an order with grave consequences made the (tiny) error of confusing the last letters of Iraq and Iran?"

I also received a resume and cover letter today. The job applicant (we are not hiring, no) said he "works "not in a haphazard manor...." Well, I hope not.

Write it. But, then, please review it. Please.

Have you seen my luggage?

Awoke early Sunday morning to prepare for the journey back east from Phoenix. Just before departing for the airport, I thought to check the status of my flight. CANCELLED, it said on the web site. I called US Air, and I'd been re-booked for a 2:30p departure, arriving Charleston at 9:50p. In other words, a 6-hour delay.

I called again to confirm what I'd been told on the first call (I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy when it comes to dealing with the airlines). Yes, confirmed, but the 2:30p departure is full of stand-by's; don't take any chances, the voice on the other end of the phone said. Somehow, I didn't feel all that confirmed anymore.

Calling a third time, I get "Ruby," and she suggests I go through Chicago instead of Charlotte. "Can you make an 8:30a departure?" she asks. Since my original departure was scheduled for 8:45a, "Sure," I say. OK, she says, let me just confirm that I can get you on a United flight out of Chicago. "Please hold." Literally, 25 minutes later, she returns to the line. I'm halfway to the airport by now. "OK, you're confirmed."

I won't go into the special security screening or the other confusion just trying to get a boarding pass. The connection in Chicago was tight, and the fact that we arrived late made it tighter. I made it though, just barely. But my bags didn't. And the airline couldn't find a record of two bags, just one, and they aren't sure if it's my suitcase or my golf clubs.

I guess we'll find out when one, both or neither arrives in Charleston, maybe today.

My radius for driving vs. flying has just expanded ... again.

The desert, golf and the PGA Tour

Six friends - including my brother Brad - visited with two other friends in Scottsdale this weekend, playing a private course there, The Country Club at DC Ranch.

I love visiting the desert, especially this time of year. Dry air, brilliant sunshine, fast greens ... it's a great place to escape the winter back East.

It just happened to also be the week of the FBR Open, what we used to call the Phoenix Open. I don't know the stats, but I'm told more than 100,000 people attend the event, the charitable contributions are significant, and it's a big boost to the local economy.

How do they do it? Compare it to Greensboro's PGA Tour event, now the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts something or another, known to many of us who grew up there as the Greater Greensboro Open, or GGO. The GGO is played on Forest Oaks, a marginal course located more than 20 miles southeast of Greensboro - away from High Point and Winston-Salem.

Here in Phoenix (actually, Scottsdale), ticket sales are brisk, there's that great stadium on the par 3 17th, there's reportedly the largest all-day ('til 10p) cocktail party on the Tour at a tent village called the Bird's Nest. All this stuff and fun and excitement. And in Greensboro the organizers have difficulty selling 10,000 tickets to individuals.

In 2007 the GGO has new dates in August, it's part of the FedEx Cup and finally the Jaycees have been pushed out of the leadership roles. There's a new lease on life for the event. Let's hope they can create some real excitement with their new opportunity. Hey, if I wanted to watch a golf tournament, I'd turn on TV.