Novel Ideas Bookmark

I've been toying with a new concept for a while now, and I thought I'd share with all of you and get your opinion.

I am an avid reader with an entire room devoted to my books (as well as stacks and stacks of them in every corner of the Idea Guy headquarters!) I do my best to retain the morsels of information inevitably contained within each book -- but with so many concepts and so many books, that can be a difficult task.

I took to sticking Post-It notes on the important pages of each book, but that became messy and kind of a pain since it required referring back to the physical book itself. I tried jotting down notes in a book journal, but that was a nightmare when trying to find which page of the journal referred to which book -- plus I was a juggling act to read the actual book, then put it aside and open the journal to record the notes.

A possible solution arose when I began using an index card for a bookmark. I could easily jot notes on the index card and retain my place in the book. Once finished, the notecard could be stored in a plastic file box -- but the space on the index card wasn't sufficient to capture all the ideas in most of the books I read.

I finally decided to add a litle oomph to the index card concept and created the Novel Ideas Bookmark. It's a bright yellow 8x6 card that folds to 4x6 for easy storage in one of those index card storage boxes I mentioned above.

The front of the card is horizontal and contains spaces for book title and author's name to allow for easy filing. The card opens like a book and the inside is ruled to allow for journal-like entry of important points in the book. I list the page number and then the concept I wish to note. The back of the card includes additional ruled lines for final points. I also included a spot on the front of the card to list the most valuable lesson I learned from the book, as well as a favorite quote. The bottom/right corner of the card front allows for a "1 of X" indication in case I need more than a single Novel Ideas Bookmark to record details -- but I have yet for this to happen.

Once a book is read, I can replace it on my bookshelf and file the card/bookmark in my office for future referral. I can file books on subject, author, or title -- and information is always on-hand.

If you'd like a set of my Novel Ideas Bookmark, you can purchase a pack of five for only $5.50 (free shipping in US) by clicking the button below, or you can print your own by downloading the PDF printing template available in the IDEAS-4U Yahoo Group. It's free to join the group (just add your email address to the forma at the top of this page or click here) Once you join, you'll find the template in the Bonus Freebies folder in the FILES section.

Let me know what you think!

Pecha Kucha: 20 Slides 20 Seconds

Favorite author Dan Pink explains a new concept in PowerPoint presenting initiated by two Tokyo-based architects who've turned the process into a competive art form.



The rules are simple: 20 slides -- 20 seconds each.
Take 6 minutes and 40 seconds to relate your message, then sit down and shut-up.

Think how much more efficient your meeting would be if everyone who needed to speak would adhere to this simple rule. This is definitely going in the next edition of Boring Meetings Suck!

Pecha Kucha.
Live it, learn it, love it.

Group Genius

I am in the midst of reading "Group Genius, The Creative Power of Collaboration" by Keith Sawyer and came upon what might very well be one of my favorite chapters of the book, Chapter Five: Small Sparks.

One of the quick stories of creative collaboration contained within has to do with the fact C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein met while they were in the English department at Oxford University. Both harbored a secret hobby of writing short stories of fantasy fiction, and ended up creating a small group of like-minded writers called "The Inklings" who met frequently to read their works and critique one anothers efforts.

Who knows what might have (or might NOT have happened) should the two of them not collaborated?

A few more pages into the chapter, the author shares a list of five basic stages that (according to psycholigists) are always embedded in creative sparks generated by the collaborative process...
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1. Preparation
This involves a period of hard work, studying the problem, and speaking about the topic with everyone else working on it.

2. Time Off
The team member changes context and engages in other activities -- often in conversation with others.

3. The Spark
During time off, a solution appears. That solution is deeply embedded in the knowledge and social interactions generated during the Preparation and Time Off stages -- and it builds on sparks generated by others in the group.

4. Selection
The "Aha!" feeling doesn't always mean the idea is good. Creative people are very good at selecting the best ideas for follow-up, or they collaborate with others in the selection process.

5. Elaboration
Working out the details of an idea typically requires generating a lot of additional ideas. Bring all the disparate ideas together in a cohesive form always requires social interaction and group collaboration.
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It's a great read with a lot of little revelations that add up to proving a big idea -- none of us is as smart as all of us.

Pick up a copy at Amazon.com.

Marketing Geeks In Demand

My buddy (and fellow Marketing Geek) Jim Kukral wrote an excellent add-on piece to Steve Rubel's insight into the newly realized position of "Geek Marketer" in a recent AdAge column. Geek Marketer is as good a title as any (although I tend to prefer my long-running "Idea Guy" moniker.)

Jim agrees that the Marketing Geek role is in demand, but that most companies view rewarding this newly-minted marketing position with old ideas of remuneration. Jim says: "They [agencies] are expecting to pay this person an average salary. Guess what? We're way more valuable than that."

Jim makes a great point about most traditional businesses, agencies, marketing firms, etc. expecting to pay an 'average salary' for this above-average (and extremely valuable) new role. In some cases, this single individual can make a significant difference in the success or failure (distinction or extinction) of a company stuck in the rut of old-advertising mentality. BUT, it is my view that the true Geek Marketer isn't actually looking for a salary (average or otherwise) but is in constant search of the opportunity to work with cool people on cool projects. Never before has the cliche of "do what you love and the money will follow" been more true.

By combining the artist's innate love of "The Cool Project" with the savvy of a marketing guru, you end up with a Marketing Geek who understands the value of the expertise they bring to the table. They don't necessarily need to be paid a salary so much as rewarded in accordance to the value of the ideas and concepts they bring to the table -- as well as their ability to execute and implement those concepts in a successful (and profitable) manner.

The Marketing Geek isn't going to look upon a 'salary' as the thing that binds them to a company. It's more like the minimum retainer required for first access to their ideas. The real reward needs to be connected to the profit and challenge in making those ideas a reality. By all means, provide a salary (average or otherwise) when attempting to entice a Marketing Geek to work within the walls of your company (we've all got rent and car payments to make in between those world-changing ideas), but keep in mind money is not the true motivator that will ultimately keep them working for you (with you.) There needs to be a connection to the profit in the end value of their concepts, and the freedom to explore undefined and dark alleyways to find the light (and the profit) on the other side.

mea culpa. quechup.com

I accepted an invite to a new social networking site because it came from Hugh MacLeod -- turns out it was all a scam (to which he fell victim himself) and now I've helped perpetrate the problem.

If you just received an invite from me to join Quechup -- delete it. It wasn't from me. They sent email to everyone in my address book completely and totally without permission.

Scummy bastards.