Is Business War?
29 March 2007
The UK's version of The Apprentice was back last night, complete with another platoon of 'interviewees' ready to slash and burn their way to the ulitmate prize - a year working for the UK's grumpiest man.I have mixed feelings about this. On the positive side anything that teaches and inspires people about business is a GOOD THING. The Apprentice rightly focusses on the basics; providing what people want, when they want it, and at a price that makes sense for both parties.
But then there's the other side. The side that makes business people look like pig-headed, self-absorbed morons*. The interviewees are UP-FOR-IT by God. They are WINNERS, they were BORN TO WIN and for the next few weeks we get to watch them WIN-AT-ANY-COST!
I realise, by the way, that this is entertainment, and not great art. I also understand that watching people work sensibly together towards a common goal would be stupefyingly dull television.
But I also think it's important to note that in my experience, business is not war. Neither is it lots of people shouting at each other and going off in a strop. The program fosters a general perception that is quite wrong, in my view. It implies that for someone to win, somebody has to lose.
Of course the best businesses, in a very real sense, are about everyone winning. No doubt Sir Alan would hate Semantic... but then he never looks like he's having much fun, does he?
*Not the first word that came to mind.
Posted by Nick Warren at 4:18 PM
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Happy Birthday Chris
24 March 2007
Yep, today is Chris' birthday. Many happy returns friend :-)
Posted by Nick Warren at 6:57 AM
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The Big Issue
22 March 2007
I picked up a copy of The Big Issue in London yesterday. This is unusual, as I rarely go anywhere without at least a couple of books to read. Actually yesterday was no exception*, but the seller had a pitch that was difficult to ignore.He stood like a statue on one leg, head down and right arm (with magazine) thrust out ahead of him. He looked like a cross between a relay racer and a hood ornament. He didn't move... didn't look at the passers-by... didn't do anything except make the magazine he was holding look like the most important thing in the world. And, most importantly, made some of us walking down The Strand smile :-)
Smiles, as I have said before, are worth a lot. I met with two new potential clients today. Each of them is trying to solve a pressing problem, and each of them is talking to a number of agencies as well as ourselves. At this stage I have no idea whether we will get the work, but I can say that both the meetings were relaxed, friendly and included a fair bit of laughing. And that, in my experience, is a good sign.
Smile's make a difference... whether you are selling a major web development or a copy of the Big Issue.
* "The Naming of the Dead" by Ian Rankin, and "Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite" by Paul Arden... since you ask.
Posted by Nick Warren at 8:19 AM
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Chessington 2007 is Live
19 March 2007
Hello friends. Big day. As you may have noticed the 2007 Chessington update went live this afternoon. As with ThorpePark.com this is a wash and brush up rather than a ground up rebuild... and there will be further updates over the next few weeks.Strange thing. The 2007 Chessington project started as a nuts and bolts information update, necessary... but perhaps not desperately exciting. Then this strange thing happened. Without warning it began to transform into a creative challenge. How can we squeeze every last drop of opportunity from the current site? How can we change it... without changing it?
Anyway, Mike went quiet for a couple of days and came back with what I think is a great design... my favorite of the three we have done. Fun, attractive and usable. Thanks to Mike, Chris and the team at Chessington for some great work over the last three weeks.
By the way, for those of you counting, since January 1st we've delivered entirely new sites and/or major updates for:
- Usborne.com
- Usborne.co.uk
- Thorpe Park
- Letts Educational
- Lonsdale Revision Guides
- Marwell Zoo
- Deep Sea World
- Chessington World of Adventures
And that's a team of just three people ladies and gents... two if you count the fact that I spend most of my time on the phone explaining that we don't sell anti-virus software :-)
Posted by Nick Warren at 7:35 PM
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Running with your Arms
07 March 2007
As some of you know I have very recently taken up running... and yesterday I learned something amazing and suprising. Running isn't about your legs, it's about your arms.I was running along the road when (for no good reason) my arms, which had hitherto flopped vaugely backwards and forwards, began to pump. This unexpected action resulted in a strange and immediate increase in speed, and seemed to involve my legs not at all. This is interesting. Ever since I've got back into running (after a thirteen year absence) I've spent almost all my time thinking about my legs. That's the obvious thing to do. It never occurred to me to focus any attention on my arms. Using your arms to run is counter-intuitive... your legs demand all the attention... you have to really fight to think about anything else.
When I left IBM (and my regular paycheck) behind I spent almost all my time obsessing about "Making Sales". Of course that's the obvious thing to do... all the books focus on "Making Sales"... and without them, obviously, you are finished. And of course the only thing that makes sense, once you've made a sale, is to do the work as quickly as possible so that you can get back to making more sales.
It's difficult, and counter intuitive, to lavish time on the work and relationships that are already "in the bank", but the results are strange and surprising. A lot like running with your arms.
Note: "Running", in my case, is a hopelessly optimistic description. Think of it more as a heaving, wheezing mass, rolling slowly along the road. Small children slipstream me in their pushchairs. Pensioners fly past by with their zimmer frames, stopping only to ask if I need help.
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Posted by Nick Warren at 8:52 AM
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What's with the Blog?
Eagle eyed readers will have noticed that there are currently no headlines on the Semantic.co.uk homepage. Well, Google has "upgraded" blogger, and the XML feeds we rely on to power the headlines appear to be no longer valid. Hopefully they will fix this shortly, but in any case we advise you to subscribe to the RSS feed... reading actual web pages is soooo 2004.P.S. As a special bonus (for reading such a dull post) I point you to www.allforces.com. Scroll down to the "Best Christmas Present Ever" post. Genius.
Posted by Nick Warren at 7:57 AM
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Nick out of Office
Hello folks. Just a quick note to let you know I'll be out of the office on Friday 9th and Monday 12th of March. Chris and Mike will be here if you need them.
Posted by Nick Warren at 7:47 AM
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And Marwell Zoo Makes Three
06 March 2007
As some of you will have noticed posting has been light since Christmas. Well we've been busy, and the fruits of our labours are now available for all to see... three new sites live in the last two weeks.www.marwell.org.uk
A ground-up redesign for this fantastic Zoo. We've been working with Rob and the team at Marwell since September. The new site is packed full of information, photos and fun.
www.letts-educational.com
It's always great when clients return to you having been away. Letts was purchased by Huveaux PLC last year, and asked us to help them develop a new site, along with our friends at Education Direct. Stage One of the project is now live and includes a full online catalogue, purchasing and registration. Thanks to Rebecca, Jason and Brian for being such a help with the project. Roll on stage two.
www.lonsdale-educational.co.uk
And Letts brought a friend! Lonsdale is also part of Huveaux PLC, and we've built them a new site with many of the same features, and including sample downloads and other bits and pieces. Thanks to Georgina, Margaret. Jason and Brian for all your help with this.
So what now? Are we sitting around twiddling our thumbs and drinking pinas collados? Well no. We have four major projects either underway or due to start shortly. Life is good.
Posted by Nick Warren at 7:46 AM
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