Dispatches from the Metaphor in Motion Department


[ring binder birds fly - click large]

Corporate Drone #1178:

"...like I was sayin', Work. Eat. Sleep. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Whoa! Where the hell did that come from?"

Bet you think you know your office like the back of your hand, yes? Sure. Bet whenever corporate changes are imminent, you hear them coming over the hill with all the subtlety of a kids' pots and pans drum corps. Yes? The above was one of numerous unannounced appearances of sculpture and media surprises [we] created to soften up a client's culture for big changes; necessary, long overdue changes. No explanations. No fuss. Just Poof!, "hey, another one!" Not like clockwork. Give it a lull. Then, a different day, you round another corner, a different Poof-Poof! "Hey! Two more!" Still no answers. Just wondering. And maybe a teeny bit of nervous imbalance.

There's a method to the madness.

---

Non-drone, Seth Godin, notes on Page 20 of Purple Cow:

The reason it's so hard to follow the leader is this: The leader is the leader because he did something remarkable. And that remarkable thing is now taken -- it's no longer remarkable when you do it.

Leadership is two things.

1. Creating change.

2. Guiding others through change.

Funny thing about change. People hate the idea of it, resist the challenges of it, then bask in the glory of it. It's that thing about success having a thousand fathers and failure being an orphan. Change equals the chance of failure. Well then, make change the baby left on their doorstep. Lot's of babies. Incremental but remarkable babies. Keep 'em coming.

People don't remark on what they know is coming. For this reason, leadership that heralds "change" sets itself up for a fall.

People slighly off balance--for the right reasons--are more aware and more alive. Because life is more interesting. That ain't a bad sensation whether you're a consumer or an employee. It doesn't mean dumptrucks of cash either. Just the opposite. You just have to be, must be, brilliant in your poverty. Or find someone to do it for you.

Don't ask. Just do. And keep doing.

Keep, um, you know.... Leading.