March | 2013 | 4 0 2

March 5, 2013

Day 101: Good Design

Thank goodness for good F/A’s (friend/accountants). I had a tax appointment with mine today and I left it impressed by his efficiency and depth of knowledge, and baffled by the fact that he seems to really enjoy accounting.

Towards the end of the appointment, I asked for some advice about a couple of my dormant retirement accounts from previous employment. Our conversation confirms why good graphic design is so important to each and every business (especially investment firms). As a relatively intelligent person and admittedly undereducated consumer, I must represent at least some part of the desired investment population.

Here’s how the conversation went:

Me: “So is there any benefit to combining those two 401(k)s into one account?”
F/A: “Probably not right now, unless one is performing better than the other.”
Me: “Well, one of them has nicer-looking graphs in their materials.”
F/A: “Like, the line goes up?”
Me: “Hm. There’s no line. I think I mean that the pie charts look nicer. They’re really clean.”
F/A: “That’s good, but you might want to look at the graphs.”
Me: “Yeah, ok. I’m sure the graphs look nicer too.”

…

March 4, 2013

Day 100: Borrowed from Bertrand

To celebrate 100 days of blogging, I’m taking a little blogging break tonight to figure out my taxes (Step 1. Look at pile of receipts. Step 2. Watch The Bachelor. Step 3. Look at pile of receipts again.). It’s going to be a long night.

While I shuffle paper and create the same spreadsheet five times over, I’m borrowing some content from philosopher, mathematician, historian and social critic Bertrand Russell.

These are his 10 Commandments of Teaching. I love them and originally found them on my absolute favorite blog, Brain Pickings.

From Mr. Russell:

Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:

Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.

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March 3, 2013

Day 99: Dance Rights

A little over a year ago, German choreographer Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker told a Danish blog that she had not been asked permission for her choreography to appear in Beyonce’s new Countdown video. The controversy unearthed a great discussion about dance art and who owns the rights to it. Once a movement is out in the world, can anyone use it, reframe it and call it their own? What if the original costumes and setting are used for “inspiration” as well? How far is too far?

Dance is a little harder to pin down than music, which has more rules and regulations about what constitutes plagiarism.

Whether Beyonce’s choreography team was right to appropriate the work or not, I’d like to share the video of the works side by side. At the very least, I think it’s wonderful to see brilliant modern dance make its way through pop culture channels.

March 2, 2013

Day 98: Mall Mantra

I went to the mall this afternoon. I was already in the area and figured it would be a good opportunity to shuffle around Nordstrom Rack and get in a good dose of people-watching.

Apparently, 100 million (thousand) other people had the same idea. Twenty-five minutes into looking for a parking spot, I was absolutely determined to make it inside. I was also feeling pretty calm, all things considered. So when I finally pulled into what seemed like a promising row, I startled myself by slamming both hands on the steering wheel and screaming, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!” at the Subaru taking up three parking spaces (it was actually an incredible parking job). Then, I slammed on the gas and hurtled forward through the row.

Just two hours prior to bruising my palms and yelling at an empty car, I was reflecting on my favorite, favorite mantra:

May all beings everywhere be happy and free,
and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life in some way contribute to that happiness and freedom.

It’s a beautiful concept and I think it’s especially applicable during the moments when no one’s watching. Although I was alone, I know I didn’t contribute any goodness to the world in the mall parking lot today. I could have practiced patience and I practiced intolerance instead.

In the grand scheme of things, I didn’t cause major damage by solo screaming (although, the poor bug hanging out on my dashboard didn’t seem pleased). But making peace a habit in the small moments makes it possible to spread peace on a global scale. My favorite mantra only gets accomplished one thought, word and action at a time.

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March 1, 2013

Day 97: Good Work

In January, I started a 40-hour/week contract position with a smart, savvy and totally hip (I don’t use that word lightly—this place is hip) digital marketing agency. Working there has really informed how I view good collaboration and healthy work environments.

The collection of strategists, creatives and producers working smoothly together and in parallel with each other is pretty amazing. Sure, people get stressed. But it’s the good kind of stress that leaves you in slightly stunned wonder at the end of each day (“How did we possibly get that much done?”).

From my very new and somewhat-outsider perspective, here’s what I think is going on:

Everyone is allowed and expected to be flexible in his or her role. The strategists come up with copy when the writers aren’t available. Writers create timelines when the producers are on other projects. The producers dig for good imagery when the designers are booked up and the designers are fierce strategists. Everyone defers to the “expert” in the room when one is available, but no one works in a tightly defined box.

People laugh. Often. And loudly. All thirty-plus staffers sit at two gigantic tables and work next to and across from each other, so laughter travels fast.

People like each other. The agency doesn’t hire employees on a whim. It’s a lengthy get-to-know you process in which cultural fit is highly valued. It’s easy to work with people you like. Since it’s easy, work gets done quickly, efficiently and with minor (if any) pauses to mediate personnel issues.

It’s not personal or hierarchical. Since the majority of the work done is on behalf of an outside client, the best idea always wins. It doesn’t matter who came up with it. This type of mentality serves all parties well. The clients are happy with the level of thought and execution put in at all levels of all projects and they continue to send the agency business.

In short, it’s a pretty cool and functional place.

Month: March, 2013