Six Pixels of Separation - Marketing and Communications Blog and Podcast - By Mitch Joel at Twist Image

I flagged this BNET video to watch a little while back, but never got to it... until now.

It's pretty good, and it covers some big ideas around presentation structure and performance.

Give it a watch: BNET Video - Present Like Steve Jobs.

Welcome to episode #103 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. I'm getting a little cold on the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast Society Facebook Group, and thinking it might be best to connect through my personal profile. So, if you're connected to the group and would like to connect with me directly, please feel free to do so. It was a busy week of travel and client meetings, but there were some excellent audio comments that stirred some thoughts about the future (and power) of gaming, Facebook Chat, new ideas around how we connect and much more. Plus, C.C. Chapman is back with free music from Nine Inch Nails - nothing wrong with that. Happy Mother's Day to all. Enjoy the conversation...

Here it is: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #103 - Host: Mitch Joel.

• Running time: 45:10.
• Audio comment line - please send in a comment and add your voice to the audio community: +1 206-666-6056.
• Please send in questions, comments, suggestions - mitch@twistimage.com.
• Hello from Beautiful Montreal.
• Subscribe over at iTunes.
• Please visit and leave comments on the Blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
• Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
• or you can connect on LinkedIn.
• ...or on twitter.
• Facebook Group - Six Pixels of Separation Podcast Society.
• In a perfect world, I'd love for you to connect with me, directly, through my Facebook profile instead of joining the group - but, that's your call.
• Check out my other Podcast, Foreword Thinking - The Business And Motivational Book Review Podcast - sponsored by HarperCollins Canada.
• Foreword Thinking - Episode #9 featuring Beth Lisick.
• Beth's new book is: Helping Me Help Myself - One Skeptic, 10 Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone.
• CMA – Canadian Marketing Association – National Convention and Trade Show – May 12th – 14th.
• Seth Godin - Meatball Sundae - Purple Cow.
• Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational.
• W. Mitchell.
• Penelope Trunk – Brazen Careerist.
• Avinash Kaushik - Occam's Razor - Web Analytics - An Hour A Day - Analytics Evangelist, Google.
• Power Within - Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 - Winnipeg Convention Centre.
• Anthony Robbins.
• Loretta LaRoche.
• Mike Lipkin.
• Phil Town.
• Special ticket price - $149 - call the Power Within at 1-866-POWER04 - ask for Joseph (extension 229).
• Lots of travel this week – people are into the message.
• Grand Theft Auto launch.
• Feedback about my conversation last week with Garr Reynolds – Presentation Zen.
• Audio Comment – Whitney Hoffman – LD Podcast – PodCamp.
• PodCamp NYC.
• Looking Good Naked Podcast – Robin Browne - Promo.
• Audio Comment – Joseph Rogers – Little Rock Arkansas.
• coComment.
• Google Reader adds notes.
• Facebook Chat is really dangerous.
• Audio Comment – Bill Seaver - Micro Explosion.
• Social Media Batting Practice.
• Audio Comment – Daniel Martin – Mad Mortgage World.
• Six Points of Separation – Six Ways To Beat The Recession With Your Marketing:
• 1. Fish where the fish are.
• 2. Leverage search.
• 3. Dig deep into your database.
• 4. Do some community work – online and offline.
• 5. Hit the pavement.
• 6. Surprise and delight.
• Six Pounds of Sound – C.C. Chapman – Advance Guard – Managing The Gray – Accident Hash.
• Nine Inch Nails – ‘Discipline’.

Please join the conversation by sending in questions, feedback and ways to improve Six Pixels Of Separation. Please let me know what you think or leave an audio comment at: +1 206-666-6056.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #103 - Host: Mitch Joel.

There's something about the weekend that gets me in the mood for bigger think pieces. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Blog feeds, but I am more inclined to read a bigger/deeper article as I gear up to record a new episode of Six Pixels of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. On my flight to Orlando yesterday, I was struck by the article, The New Oases - Nomadism changes buildings, cities and traffic, from the April 10th, 2008 print edition of The Economist.

The New Oases looks at how technology - mostly laptops, mobile devices and widespread wi-fi - have changed everything we've ever known about how people learn and work together.

"The fact that people are no longer tied to specific places for functions such as studying or learning, says Mr Mitchell, means that there is 'a huge drop in demand for traditional, private, enclosed spaces' such as offices or classrooms, and simultaneously 'a huge rise in demand for semi-public spaces that can be informally appropriated to ad-hoc workspaces'. This shift, he thinks, amounts to the biggest change in architecture in this century. In the 20th century architecture was about specialised structures—offices for working, cafeterias for eating, and so forth. This was necessary because workers needed to be near things such as landline phones, fax machines and filing cabinets, and because the economics of building materials favoured repetitive and simple structures, such as grid patterns for cubicles... Buildings will have much more varied shapes than before. For instance, people working on laptops find it comforting to have their backs to a wall, so hybrid spaces may become curvier, with more nooks, in order to maximise the surface area of their inner walls, rather as intestines do. This is becoming affordable because computer-aided design and new materials make non-repetitive forms cheaper to build."

These are implications that are happening and shifting beneath our feet, but never spoken about. I found myself nodding in agreement as I read The Economist article - in an, "it's obvious, but why haven't I said it before?" kind of way. I definitely "felt" this type of new workforce when I visited the Google headquarters last year. Speaking of which:

"A particularly striking example, bordering on caricature, is the so-called Googleplex, the headquarters of Google in Mountain View, California. Naturally it has Wi-Fi coverage. But the Googleplex is famous for its good and free victuals, doled out at food courts throughout the sprawling campus, and for the casual mixture of play and work. Over here a software engineer is writing some code on his laptop, sweaty in his workout clothes from the volleyball game in progress on the lawn. Over there another one is zipping along on a scooter, heading for a massage or going to pick up his laundry from the onsite service. Google even extends this workspace, virtually, throughout the entire San Francisco Bay Area by running a fleet of commuter shuttles, all of which have Wi-Fi on board to allow uninterrupted coding... Some traditional property developers are drawing inspiration from this sort of thing."

We have all become Digital Nomads. Able to work wherever we're feeling most inspired (as long as there is wi-fi). I wonder how the masses will deal with this? Is it possible to just show up and grab any desk in an office building and log on (there are many companies that have this as part of their corporate culture already)? How will in-person, team collaboration dynamics be affected? What about the overall dynamics and vibe we get from going to our offices?

As you can tell, this article moved me, and I strongly recommend you give it a read and post your own thoughts: The Economist - The New Oases - Nomadism changes buildings, cities and traffic.

I wonder how quickly I would have found out about National Digital Media Day were it not for Twitter?

I love this idea. Here's the scoop, straight from the wiki (where else?):

"An annual day to raise the profile of the digital media industry and celebrate the dynamic work taking place in this sector.

In Canada, a massive cross-country event that will include gatherings, lobbying, education and celebrations. In other countries, linked in celebrations and demo camps.

Let's Get Organized Together...

Over a 24 hour period, we'd like to have demo and bar camps across Canada, exchanges, a national photo walk, streaming sessions, lobbying and partying, with hopefully some celebrity participation along the way...

Here's a few things you can do right now to help:

- Invite ten friends/colleagues to this group
- Help out with one of the above activities
- Set up a wiki for each of these groups so we can get crackin
- Secure sponsorships for T-shirts, resources and supplies (we would ideally like everyone to wear the same T-shirt design for a 24 hour period to raise profile of our industry)
- Coordinate a t-shirt design competition
- Host a bar or demo camp in your town

This is a purely organic event - meaning, that in order for us to succeed we need mounds of volunteer power. If everyone did just one thing we could blow this out of the water!"

Now, my understanding is that the above copy was taken from the already established Facebook Group viewable/joinable here: National Digital Media Day September 25. 2008. It looks like Lynda Brown from New Media BC is one of the main people taking the lead for this special day on September 25th, 2008.

Just the other day, I was thinking about the power of unconference, and wondering if, maybe, people were getting tired by the sheer volume and availability of the 'Camp movement. Then, an idea like this strolls across my Google Reader, and I'm back in love with the power of online communities, social networks and how they wind up connecting in the real world all over again.

Lynda, count me (and the Twist Image team) in.

It seems simple enough. If you want to get beyond making connections in Social Media and Web 2.0 channels, you have to move towards truly engaging with Consumers (and, more importantly, empowering Consumers to connect to one another - all the while you get out of the way). I'm constantly reminded of the notion that "permission" is always needed. Whether it's a double opt-in for an email address, or enabling the user to decide whether or not they are willing to part with their personal information in exchange for information or access (and how much they need to cough up plays in as well).

That was so Web 1.0, wasn't it?

Now, the cost of admission is authenticity. I think about that word a lot (probably too much). How authentic can a company truly be? How many working professionals do you know that do something publicly, and act quite differently in private - whether it's what you say in a Blog posting versus saying what you really feel in a team meeting, or hanging out with employees who are (and do) make fun of clients, one another, or the company in general.

Being authentic isn't always good.

Let me correct that, being authentic is always good, but the output of being authentic is sometimes pretty ugly.

I think this is why so many companies grapple with Social Media. They really do want to be authentic and join into these many conversations, but they're probably quite afraid of what the mass public will think when they see their warts, their foibles and their mis-steps.

I'd like to think Twist Image is above that, but we're not. Just like your company (big or small). We're human. We do amazing great stuff and, in the interest of transparency, we make our fair share of mistakes too. Who doesn't?

However, I do think that it does take some bravery - and a candid corporate philosophy - for this stuff to truly work and take hold. Because, if you're trying to be authentic, but only when the outcome is favourable to how you will be perceived, I'd argue that you're not being all that authentic at all.

It was just confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV, which was released on April 29th, 2008, has shattered every single entertainment industry opening...ever - we're talking music, film, books, you name it - raking in five hundred million dollars in its opening week.

The most successful entertainment launch... ever.

Iron Man who?

Now, let's be realistic, more people did see Iron Man than bought Grand Theft Auto IV, but for sheer dollars (and who is, really, keeping score on anything else) it wins. Hands down.

No doubt, the game comes with tons of controversy (I often tell people, if they have never heard of Grand Theft Auto, odds are that means their kids are playing it ;). You can read more about how it ranks versus the other big entertainment money grabbers over here: 'Grand Theft Auto IV' Races Into Videogame Record Books. Yes, it even rocked the opening week of Halo 3.

Video game Marketing is not that new of a channel. For years big brands have been making their way into everything from sporting games to action adventure. Burger King even went out on their own to create three games for the Xbox gaming console. Video games work on many levels: the messages are very targeted, the game developers usually don't accept any form of Marketing unless it's a fit and adds value to the game, and - most importantly - the value is there as they last forever and ever (or, as long as the video game is available).

And, there's another side: most games have some kind of community and online component as well. Sometimes, they are intrinsically connected, other times they are two separate (but linked) environments. Either way, there's usually a lot of action, engagement and activity (way more than your average 30-second spot).

Here's the bigger idea: where does your brand fit when it comes to gaming? I know this channel is not for everyone, but with numbers like Grand Theft Auto, and with more and more consoles offering online communities plus additional online content (not to mention multi-player online action), it's just a short matter of time before these gaming systems cowboy up and replace/become our entertainment systems.

After listening to one of my favourite Podcasts, For Immediate Release - The Hobson and Holtz Report, I was struck with a thought about those who have become Citizen Journalists (pretty much any one of us who can report on any situation be it in text, images, audio and/or video) and traditional Journalists.

There is a stark reality in this world: there are many events (from political to business to social) where reporters are not welcome and/or invited, yet regular people (like you and I) not only have access, but can then turn around and tell our story to the world as simply as hitting the "publish" button on a Blogging platform, uploading a video clip to YouTube or even tweeting it live on Twitter through your mobile device.

This begs the question: should Journalists be given equal access to these "private" events, or should attendees be forced to not publish anything they see, hear or feel?

Something tells me that both questions leave something to be desired. Is the bigger question: how do you - as an event organizer - contain the message as you would like it to be transmitted in a world where every witness is also a Citizen Journalist, Publisher and Pundit?

Something tells me that most of us don't want to deal with questions this deep. We would much rather stick our heads in the sand and, maybe even, sue those who don't follow our rules (much like the old saying goes: "if you don't like, it, I'm taking my ball and going home.").

What if there never were any rules, and everything we saw was commonly "put out there"? See, I don't think it's the fact that people are sharing their thoughts with the world, I think it's the fact that their thoughts can now be seen. heard and felt by the world... and yes, there is a big difference.

Every witness is now a Citizen Journalist. And, like traditional journalism, every truth is sprinkled with each individuals' own perspectives, slants and opinions.

Deal with it.

Six Pixels of Separation has been getting lots of link love and attention courtesy of Garr Reynolds. Garr is the author of the amazing book, Presentation Zen, and has a Blog by the same name. I had a conversation with Garr in episode #102 of Six Pixels of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast (which was posted yesterday), and Garr followed up with an overly exceptional and nice Blog posting, Six Pixels of Separation: A Conversation About Presentations. So, I'd like to welcome all Presentation Zen followers. I hope you'll stick around or subscribe and follow us in your feeds.

In yesterday's episode of Six Pixels of Separation, there was a special Six Points of Separation titled, Six Ways To Presentation Zen, where Garr walked through his top six most important rules to creating (and delivering) a great presentation.

I thought I would take this opportunity to drop a six more tips in terms of body language that may (or may not) seem obvious (in no particular order):

1.  Leaning - a common thing you might see a speaker do when presenting is to lean on the podium. Don't do this. As a speaker you may think it gives off the body language of "hey, I'm relaxed, and we're just chatting here," but it really does make the person look lazy (watch for this next time someone presents).

2. Pockets - keep your hands out of them. What might seem like a common gesture, looks really, really bad from the audiences perspective. I'm not sure why. Maybe it gives off a more "closed" message, but keep your hands out of your pockets. Same goes for crossing your arms... also a no no.

3. Back - don't turn it away from the audience. It might seem crazy, but watch how actors "work" the stage. Even when the move from side to side, they shuffle instead of turning their backs to the audience. It's an obvious one, but watch others presenting, and you'll see how often it gets done... and how bad it looks.

4. Third wall - this is when you are looking at people, but not really making eye contact. Have you ever been to a concert, and you would swear that the lead singer is staring right at you (for the record, everyone in your sections thinks the same thing). That, particular, lead singer was good at making eye contact. If you look at the audience but don't really make eye contact, that's the third wall... and people can tell. If you do this, you will not connect with your audience. Other bad eye movements - don't look at the floor, off to the side, etc... make (and keep) eye contact. Not enough to be creepy, but keep your focus on someone for one thought, or until you finish a sentence. Don't break eye contact mid-sentence either... that's like the third wall.

5. Podiums - ditch them. There's nothing worse than watching a speaker cling on to either side of podium like they are stuck in the middle of the ocean, and that podium is the life preserver. You don't (or shouldn't) need a podium to clutch on to. Know your content, know your story and speak from your heart.

6. Reading - don't do it. Reading a speech sounds like you're... well, reading a speech. If you can avoid doing this, I would recommend it. I recently watched the head of a very large corporation in Canada speak passionately (without a podium or written speech). He used great images with sayings at the bottom of each slide that acted as his guide. You could tell that his employees were loyal, listening and engaged. It's hard enough to read a speech and sound convincing when you're a trained actor, so imagine how the majority of read speeches comes off? I know this is something that is sometimes, necessary, but - whenever possible - don't read... speak.

I'd also recommend smiling - but not if it's inappropriate. What I'm trying to say is, don't be afraid to emote, smile and even laugh (where appropriate).

Did I miss any? Do you have more? Please share.