SlyBrand

“Brain crack” is something I wrestle with on a daily basis. Today it went like this:

I got up and read an extremely challenging book for personal reasons. I commuted 20 minutes through Memphis past numerous billboards with my music on. I tooled around on the internet reading e-mail, news, blogs, word definitions and several articles. By lunchtime, I couldn’t form, much more, speak, a full sentence. I was at a complete productive standstill and officially on “brain crack.”

Here’s how I got off it:

I confessed to someone I trusted that I was mentally drained.
I followed his advice and went on a long, slow run on the Tour de Wolf.
I quickly jotted down the ideas that flooded my head on my run.

So, to YOU, 9 subscribers (I know you’re out there, I just checked my feed stats) …

How do you get off “brain crack?”

Here’s a thought-provoking and short post by Umair Haque, on branding and the importance of listening to customers.

“Mythos.”

Here’s a sensitive and uplifting little tune by Feist.
From the movie Paris, je t’aime.

In case you’ve noticed, things have been quiet on the blog front for a few months now. We’ve been working, not exactly feverishly, but definitely diligently on our new website. If SlyBrand is the skin on the bones, the site we just finished is the meat underneath. That’s kinda gross, but hopefully you get he idea. While it’s probably a little buggy now, we think it’s gonna do the trick. Please check it out if you get a chance.

Starbucks gets a fiver.

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Oh, to be a Level 5 Leader.

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My wife and I adore “The Office.” Both the BBC and NBC versions. I have to tip my hat to creators Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant, and to the writers for producing such a consistently hilarious TV series.

Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, Regional Manager of Scranton, PA paper company Dunder Mifflin, is one of our favorites. All appearences communicate that this guy is a complete buffoon. A major recurring theme in the show are the idiosyncrasies that arise from this mundane, dead-end workplace run by this very insecure and erratic manager. I’m continually asking the employees of the office “why do you people stay around?” Please watch the show. I can’t do it justice here. But what I can say is that the writers continually catapult Michael Scott into extremely awkward inter-office situations and that, in my opinion, is a large part of what makes the show great. But there’s something deeper about him—something I have not been able to pin until just now: Michael Scott is a relational genious.

That brings me to the point. More often than not, in any lasting relationship there can be a “white elephant” in the room. That awkward issue, real or imagined, can hinder clear communication. Communication is a two-way street, and both lanes have to be open in relationships, working or other, in order to move in a postitive direction. And as uncomfortable and awkward as addressing the “white elephant,” can be, I think we can learn something valuable from diving head-long into the process.

In that regard, Michael Scott is my hero.

For a good laugh: Be sure to check out Ricky Gervais explaining some of the slang he uses on the show.

Oh yeah, happy birthday today to Harvey. Thanks for being a SlyBrand subscriber, fellow “The Office” watcher, and friend.

“I don’t care so much about relating with someone in his strength, but if I meet a down-and-out man, I hope he would soon call me ‘a friend.’” —Anonymous

There is a recurring theme that keeps coming up on my radar screen. It’s that cultural tendencey we have to forsake being considerate or thoughtful of others for the immediate fix available through any number of nuero-stimulating channels. Don’t let me confuse you, hopefully this will clarify.