1. I'm currently in the process of courting a Strategic Innovation firm (DeSai Group) in hopes they will invite me to join their team -- to formally represent them in growing their Innovation and Change practice area. (In case you're wondering: Having a "real job" with a Best of Breed firm serving the Fortune 1000, has always been the secret to my success in serving the local entrepreneurial market.) I'm actually out there on the street doing the stuff I counsel local Trainers, Coaches, and Consultants to do in their own Sales & Marketing efforts -- and this "in the trenches" experience is where we get all the rich, practical content that we now provide worldwide in SPEED® School.
2. We've been meeting a lot of truly innovative business people here locally (Atlanta) as we work to book our Fall and Winter line ups for The High Velocity Radio Show.
Enter Brent Brooks and the incredibly talented team at Blank Stage:
Bottom Line: I witnessed an ecstatic client get more real work done in an hour and a 1/2 than he would have accomplished in a month of meetings with some ad agency or marketing guru.
What I Saw Last Night: I won't do it justice here. For that, you'll want to have a conversation with Blank Stage's Lesley Gray. Lesley@blankstageproductions.com 404.406.0366
But see if you can picture this: Armed with just a little input provided by the client (brief questionnaire before-hand, and short interview just before the fun starts), six or seven professional Improv Actors play out in rapid fire, scene after scene vividly portraying dozens of absolutely hilarious situations that effortlessly create awareness, desire, excitement, concern, curiosity . . . and evoke every other thought and emotion one would want to elicit from their target market. Pan camera left, and see the client furiously taking notes the entire time (except when he laughed so hard he spewed his coke and dropped his pen).
It was by far the most entertaining evening I've personally enjoyed in a very long time. More importantly . . .
- The client thinks I'm a genius for connecting him with these folks and this process.
- After 90 minutes of pure delight and fun, this usually harried executive walked away with a bounce in his step, a twinkle in his eye, and more practical ideas for getting the real work of marketing done than he would have ever accomplished through any other means.
If you serve in a marketing capacity for your organization, or consult to those who do . . . get to know the folks at Blank Stage.
