More Creativity Killers

I just finished one of the better business books I've read in quite some time. Pushing the Envelope: All The Way To The Top was written by Harvey Mackay, the founder & Chairman of Mackay Envelope Company. The title is a bit of wordplay, because it's not really about how to sell or "push" an envelope. Rather, it's about trying to surpass limits, going to the edge - all those cliches we think of whether we're talking about airplane test pilots or salespeople developing their skills to be more successful. The book is full of advice on hiring, motivating, training, producing, selling, and negotiating in business, that could just as easily be adapted for life in general.

Mackay really resonated with me in listing "creativity killers", the phrases one hears (or says) in business or other endeavors in life that dampen one's spirits and hinder progress. You know what I'm talking about: "That's against policy", "We tried that before and it didn't work", "The competition does it that way" ... you get the idea. I thought of a few more I've heard over the years: "That's just how we do things here", "Oh well, you know (insert your organization's name here)", "The system already works pretty well", and "(insert person's name) is the only person who can do this", and "It's not a priority". I try my best not to buy into that line of thinking.

Harvey Mackay's Website

GEICO's Cavemen: Their 15 Minutes Are Not Up

I've been amused by those GEICO TV ads featuring the "cavemen" since the first one, "Apology", premiered back in 2004. Roast duck with mango salsa, anyone? More ads have followed, as well as print ads & direct mail. And, one of them was in a series of pieces with Phil Simms in the Super Bowl pre-game show this year. Today, I read this in the trades:

Winner for most unusual piece of development this pilot season goes to ABC, which has turned a series of quirky Geico commercials into an actual half-hour comedy project."Cavemen" will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern Atlanta. Project, from ABC TV Studio, is penned by Joe Lawson, an advertising copywriter who was behind the "Caveman" ads -- as well as other Geico commercials (think the cockney-speaking Geico gecko, and the reality TV spoof "Tiny House").

I love my industry.

WDRE Remembered

One of the radio stations that was an essential part of the 1990s for me was WDRE-FM, whose passing 10 years ago this month will be marked by a reunion show on Y-ROCK on XPN on Wednesday.

In November 1992, the new owners of religious station WIBF (103.9 FM) in Jenkintown, PA decided to simulcast New York's WDRE (for "Dare To Be Different") into the Philadelphia market. For many of us, the "modern rock" blend was a welcome relief to the formulaic rock of WMMR and WYSP. The playlist was a mix of grunge and alternative: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, Liz Phair, Cake, as well as "older" artists like U2 and REM. By the time the New York station reverted to its WLIR call letters, the station had developed its own local programming and identity. Bands like No Doubt and Garbage developed a local fan base thanks to exposure on 'DRE and Radiohead played at the station's Christmas show(!) at Egypt (a club on Delaware Avenue).

Then there were the DJs, who really seemed to be having a good time while keeping up on all this great music: Marilyn Russell, Dan Fein, Bret Hamilton, Jim McGuinn, Preston Elliott, Mel "Toxic" Taylor, and the morning show crew of Sarah, Vinnie, and Spike.

The stations was still, however, never a big ratings success, and in February 1997, station ownership announced that it was flipping the format to hip-hop. But, unusual for radio, it gave enough advance notice for the staff to plan one final, blowout concert - "Bitterfest" (featuring G. Love) - at the Electric Factory, on the last day. It sounded like a blast!

Thanks for the good times guys!

Modern rock wasn't quite dead in Philadelphia; Y-100 (WPLY-FM) would become the home for some of the jocks ... but that's a story for another day ...

Y-ROCK On XPN's WDRE Tribute

The Internet Archive's WDRE Site

WDRE Tribute Site

Doctor, My Eyes Or Why I Haven't Been Posting

Some of you who look at this site every so often have noticed that I haven't been posting very often. So why is that? Part of the answer is that I've been busy reading, going to concerts, volunteering, etc. This leads to a bigger part of the answer: that at the end of the work day, my eyes just can't take it. My job requires using a computer, and after staring at that screen, the last thing I want to do most days is come home, and continue it. I don't even watch much television, beyond a few minutes of news, sports, and weather, or Lost and 24.

So keep checking on me, I'll try to do better!

To 2007: May The Music Not Be Forgotten

"When The Music's Not Forgotten" is a moving song by Steven & Sherilynn Collins, the husband-and-wife duo known as Deadman. It got some airplay in 2005, probably because it was recorded on the day Johnny Cash died, and was inspired by gret musicians like Cash and Ray Charles.

Please come close, for I long for you to hear, Hear the sound that will rid you of your fears. In a land where no water can be found, In a place where there is no fertile ground. Longing for, yearning not to be forgotten; In an age when the music is forgotten, In an age when the music is forgotten.

And the truth (and the truth) speaks of great and mighty things, Teaching us (teaching us) what the peace of Heaven brings; We must give (we must give), we must give to all the others, Those in need (those in need) who we fear to call our brothers; Reaching out (reaching out) so that we are not forgotten. In a time (in a time) when the music is forgotten, In a time (in a time) when the music is forgotten.

If we stand on a hill and do not touch, How can we do good? If we wash our hands of all our friends, What change can really come? If we hide our fears and don't draw near, Have we really lived? Or are we all just standing here, Hoping there is grace?

In a dream (in a dream) that I had not long ago, Visions of (visions of) a city made of gold; And a sound (and a sound) that I'd never heard before, such a sound (such a sound), saturating to the core; such a sound(such a sound)! One that cannot be forgotten. In a time (in a time) when the music's not forgotten, in a time (in a time) when the music's not forgotten.

Amen to that.

Deadman's Official Website

Best Records Of 2006

The wailing, the gnashing of teeth is over. I have chosen my top 10 records of 2006.

They are:

1. All The Roadrunning-Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
2. Behind The Levee-The Subdudes
3. Song Of The Blackbird-William Elliott Whitmore
4. The Trials Of Van Occupanther-Midlake
5. Corinne Bailey Rae-Corinne Bailey Rae
6. Dog Problems-The Format
7. The Warning-Hot Chip
8. Allright, Still-Lily Allen
9. American V-Johnny Cash
10. People Gonna Talk-James Hunter

Bubbling under ...

Worrisome Heart-Melody Gardot
Funnel Cloud-Hem
Tired Of Hanging Around-The Zutons
St. Elsewhere-Gnarls Barkley
We Are The Pipettes-The Pipettes

My Other Blog

The Christmas season has inspired a lot of movies and TV specials, religious and secular, good and bad, over the years. Everyone knows the various versions of A Christmas Carol, and It's A Wonderful Life. For kids of all ages there's A Charlie Brown Christmas, of course. But in 1996, I missed the showing of the made-for-TV movie The Christmas Tree. Apparently, a lot of people did see it, however, and still rave about it, although it hasn't been seen on TV since nor released on DVD.

It starred Julie Harris, Andrew McCarthy, and was directed by Sally Field, based on a book by Julie Salamon. Maybe there's a good explanation for its unavailability; if so, I'd like to hear it. And, so, my quest to rescue this film from obscurity begins with a blog. Check it out!

Chained Melody

Wal-Mart is one of those American institutions some people just love to hate. San Diego has shut the door on any opening their doors there, to protect local establishments and to protest their wage scale. It may be that some bloom is off the rose: the store chain's profits are down in a quarter for the first time in 10 years. I haven't been in one in a few years, because I have a wide variety of retail choices where I live. But I can't deny that using economies of scale in buying things (whether toothpaste or now, generic drugs), allows many of their customers to stretch their dollars.

And so we come to the typical American's love/hate relationship with chain stores, the subject of an article in the December 2006 issue of The Atlantic magazine by Virginia Postrel (former editor of Reason). We love the lower prices, the better hours and locations, and the wider choice of goods usually provided by chain stores. But she doesn't worry about how shopping at a Starbucks, Target, or Macy's in any location in the country can alter how we perceive a place:

Stores don’t give places their character. Terrain and weather and culture do.

Her argument is pretty convincing. Besides, I have little doubt that a hundred years ago, there were some people who welcomed, say, Woolworth's to their town, and others who fretted. Like Horn & Hardart, Two Guys, Best Products, and lots of other retailers, it didn't change to fit conditions, and disappeared from the scene. Someday, maybe Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and the Olive Garden will as well.

TV Commercials I Love: GE Healthcare

You've probably missed this one for General Electric Early Health. Running since February, usually during the Sunday morning talk shows, it promotes G.E.'s health diagnostic services and equipment. The ad features a "monster" rampaging on a beach, a la Godzilla, a trio of Japanese children, and well, you can see it here. It still makes me laugh!

The Election Results

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent, on everything from direct mail, to TV ads, to bribes and consultant fees, and finally, the election season has ended (well, except for the races too close to call). On the national scene, the Democratic Party has taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years, and are closing in on a bare majority in the Senate. For the Republicans, especially in the Congress, they have no one but themselves (and President Bush) to blame.

The Republicans won control of the House in 1992 (for the first time in 40 years) because of a backlash against Democratic scandals, and an overreach by the Clintons in pushing for an even bigger role for government in health care. The Contract With America, which was roundly denounced by Democrats and the Left, was an attempt to break from "business as usual" politics by nationalizing what are essentially hundreds of local races for Congress.

In the years since then, the limited-government approach of the Republicans was forgotten by many of them. Term limits, earmarks, deficit spending, regulation-it used to be that you knew where most House Republicans stood on these issues. But too many had become corrupted by a system they had railed against. And now, it's their turn to leave. Hey people, don't let the door hit ya ...

But the number of close races, the continuing disgust, anger, and disillusionment with politics should be a warning to the Democrats too: Don't abuse your new power. Don't lord it over the GOP (too much) or the President. Get things done. Or you'll be gone too.