Mad Young Thing

Caution: L&P's promo is awesome

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Caught up with me old mate Brendan Boughen (not pictured here!) the other day.

Brendan's working for Ogilvy PR, and he told me about L&P's latest web promotion, Paeroa Tourism, which he described as a cross between Flight of the Chonchords and Borat.

He was right. This is hilarious.

The media kit was... awesome too. A typewritten cover letter from Maurice Morrison, badly photocopied fliers touting the seven wonders of Paeroa (that's two more than Thames, in your face Thames!), a bright yellow t-shirt like Colin's wearing in the pic above, and a six pack of L&P. Thanks Brendan! Good humour and bribery will get you everywhere. Check out the Facebook page.

On a slightly more serious note, it brings up two thoughts for me:

Yes it's the age of authenticity, but you can still carry off fictional characters in an online campaign if you do it very well, and if it's very funny. (Easy as that, eh!)
New Zealand's small towns have a great opportunity to use social media to differentiate themselves. We have some really neat, quirky towns around the place like Bulls, Taihape (where iJump clients Gravity Canyon are based) and Tirau. (By the way, those photos are from another iJump client, EyeballNZ.com). Could they (should they) do a Coos Bay? And what on earth is it with Ngaruawahia? Looks deserted every time we go through (which admittedly isn't that often).

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:54:00 +0000

I'd heard that The Life and Death of Peter Sellers was not for the fainthearted, but the cheerful opening titles lulled me into a forgetful sense of security.

It is full on. His life is a train wreck in slow motion. It is a tragedy. It is hard to like Sellers, which is a gutsy move for a film (you're supposed to like the protagonist).

I love most of Sellers' work. The Goon Show played a huge part in developing my off-beat sense of humour (made even more off-beat by the fact I was listening 30 years out of context).

But the life behind the laughs was a nightmare. Sellers was a boy who never grew up, who became entrapped in an industry that encourages emotional immaturity.

It's a very well-told movie, if you know Sellers and his work.

It makes me wonder: will the future enable the kind of big, but dysfunctional superstars like Sellers?

Or will the disruption that's happening in media and entertainment mean that vulnerable but gifted people like Sellers (and Michael Jackson, and many others) won't be able to insulate themselves from reality?

That's a long question. I bet the answer is even longer.

We all make policy happen

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:50:00 +0000

I've just read the NZ Institute's report (PDF) on this country's competitiveness, based on World Economic Forum data.

Some good recommendations, as far as I can tell. Key areas for improvement are innovation, and we as a nation need to enable this.

However, the language of the report, particularly the all-important last slide (Policy implications for New Zealand) is just not accessible.

Perhaps the argument is that policymakers are used to dealing with dry, abstract language. That may be so. But...

Isn't it better, if you're painting a goal, to paint that goal and vision in as vivid terms as possible? When you're making recommendations, if you show me what the outcomes of those recommendations are, and why those recommendations are needed?

I also suggest this because policy ultimately needs us all to deliver it. Government may propose, but the people dispose. Public servants, local governments, business people and ordinary citizens all make policy happen. Let's embrace that.

Language and Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:25:00 +0000

(This is a long post, my apologies. If I'd had more time, I would've made it shorter)

At the Art of Hosting workshop I realised that relationships are infrastructure. They're the roads, the power lines and the plumbing that allow things to happen.

And they're more important now than they ever were.

In the 20th century and the industrial age, everything was about automation and efficiency. Even as we turned the corner into the Knowledge Era and the 21st century, our focus was still on automation. And automation can do us a lot of good, but it needs to be balanced with relationships. Real relationships.

Why are relationships important? Because together, we face concepts we have never come across before. We're all discovering them from different directions and background, and that affects the words we use to name these new things.

Take the phrase social media. To me, with my freelance journalist background, social media suggests that the media is not just the companies I write for, it's an opportunity for me to make my own media. For anyone to make their own media. Media to me means getting your word out there.

Joseph Jaffe doesn't like the term social media, he prefers conversational marketing. Why doesn't he like "social media"? Because he comes from an advertising background, where media is a property you buy in order to put your message on it. And to him, you can't buy social media (he's right!).

A closer example, The Pond announced New Zealand's "first social media and network creative consultants". This kicked up a stink among NZ's social media consultants, but Leighton from the Pond was quick to point out to me the "creative" part of the description - a phrase that makes sense if you're in the ad industry. They come up with creative ideas (as designers and copywriters do) specifically for social media.

The problem in both cases? Same words with different meanings. Sometimes there's no short way to explain something. You have to talk it through with people so they understand. Then you can start using jargon, but use it with care, knowing that people are prone to interpret things differently from you.

Does fear motivate or paralyse you?

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:12:00 +0000

I've never been fond of fear. So much bad stuff happens because of fear, but recently I've heard - from three different places - about the good side of fear.

I'm not superstitious, but the same message, said different ways, three times in a row tends to get my attention.

It started with Inside the Mind of the Turtles, an excellent book I recommend to anyone dealing with uncertainty on a daily basis. (So that's, like, everyone).

It has 7 principles for dealing with uncertainty. Number one is overcome your fear. So far, so good.

But as I read on, I realised that's just the beginning. There's some very healthy fear that happens when you stick your neck out and take a risk. You need to overcome fear's paralysing effect, face reality, and respond to it quickly. The right kind of adrenaline rush.

Next stop was Joseph Jaffe's interview with (well, monologue interrupted by) Jeremiah Owyang, where Joseph shared that his first boss, founder of Nandos Chicken, was motivated to great lengths (and successes) by a fear of getting it wrong. That was mind-blowing, most people who are afraid of getting it wrong don't do anything.

And today I heard a great interview with Phil McKinney and Geoffrey Moore (author of Crossing the Chasm) where they pretty much said the same thing. Fear motivates. That's why Apollo 11 happened ... because Sputnik was in the sky overhead, menacing, glowering. The moon had very little to do with it ... but thank God they did eventually go "in peace, for all mankind".

As I look back over my own career I see growth spurts that came about through negative situations. Bad motivations, that eventually forced me to find good motivations.

It's a mystery of life. Very bad stuff often produces very good stuff.

How do you harness fear in your life today?

The Warrior thing (nothing to do with league)

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:49:00 +0000

I just had a really annoying incident, but for some weird reason, I really enjoyed it.

One of my sites got hacked. It's happened before, and although it got resolved, we never did figure out how it happened.

So it happened again, and I was tearing my hair out, trying to stop it happening. And then I changed tack.

I looked at what this pathetic little monster had defaced my site with... I read his semi-literate message. And it had a username and an email address.

This was not a malicious hack... I mean, I didn't lose access to my files, nor was my site being used to propogate a virus. It was just a severe annoyance and a loss of an afternoon I didn't have to lose in the first place.

So what was it, if not outright malicious?

I Googled the username, and found a site called Zone H, which lists the exploits (literally!) of hackers around the world. The news part is very interesting, it gives an insight into the motivation... from the site: "defacement is a media" ... really? Yes. It's often a form of protest or activism... hacktivism, they call it.

Okay, so now it was personal. This attacker had left enough personal information about himself on the site to make it a mini-vendetta for me.

And I beat the sucker. I found out - painfully, through trial and error - where I'd let him slip in, and I beat the bastard.

Strangely satisfying. A bit like Kirk beating the tar out of Finnegan.

Reminds me of the workshop I was on on the weekend. Very much about peace and love, but at the same time we were told - especially the men among us - about being a warrior.

And I guess this was a great example.

Social media like booze? Alex & John from Spin - iJumpTV 65

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:52:00 +0000

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Almost exactly a year ago we met Alex and John from Spin Advertising and Design in Christchurch. They talk about how social media has helped build their sales and extended their networks. A year on, it's amazing how little has really changed - pick up some best practices in this interview.

Earth Hour's social media success - JJProjects - iJumpTV 64

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:01:00 +0000

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John Johnston (JJProjects) led the social media campaign for the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour earlier this year. Find out the connection between success and letting go of your message!

Earth Hour's social media success - JJProjects - iJumpTV 64

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:45:00 +0000

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John Johnston (JJProjects) led the social media campaign for the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour earlier this year. Find out the connection between success and letting go of your message!

Social media and live theatre - The EDGE - iJumpTV 63

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:57:00 +0000

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Josie Campbell, Communications Manager at The EDGE Performing Arts Venue, tells us how she uses social media to build buzz and hold conversations with her customers.

Pocketsmith's social media advice for startups - iJumpTV 62

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:19:00 +0000

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Pocketsmith is a bootstrapped software startup from Dunedin. How did they reach a global audience and sign big overseas deals? The founders offer their secrets for building online community, what to blog about, and how they use Twitter.

We spoke to them in May; NBR spoke with them earlier this week!

Pocketsmith's social media advice for startups - iJumpTV 62

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:09:00 +0000

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Behind the scenes of Blinka.me - iJumpTV 61

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:06:00 +0000

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Blinka.me is a "social reconnection service" launched in New Zealand and featured recently on ReadWriteWeb. We interviewed CEO Duncan Shand about what Blinka.me is, and how it came into being. Inspiration for all new startups!

In a nutshell: social media is essential to launch a new startup cost-effectively, but don't forget a great, simple concept, good design and offline activity.

"We Live in Public" - fascinating. Disturbing. And we got in for free!

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Image, which has nothing in particular to do
with this post, via Wikipedia

My mind is just freshly blown by We Live in Public, a film that, if you saw it in the 90s, you'd think it was a dystopian sci-fi flick.

Radio Wammo highly recommended it to Marie and I, as social media geeks, and so we rocked up at the theatre 5 minutes before it started, forgetting that the film festival is not like ordinary movies. It was sold out!

Gutted, we looked to see what other movies we could see, when a woman walked past, asking where the Film Festival was. We said which film? She said "We Live in Public". We said, sorry, it's sold out.

"Great!" she said. "It's my movie. I have comps, come with me!"

Talk about being at the right place at the right time.

So it was a fascinating, disturbing, entertaining, provocative, extremely well-put-together experience. Yes, we had technical problems with the projector, but to me that was all part of the show (I know, I'm more philosophical than most and that's not my reaction when the DVD player doesn't work at home, but meh, I knew someone would fix it - and they did).

Plot summary - late 90s dot-com millionaire does an experiment in shared, surveilled living. It goes a little bit crazy, he loses all his money, then he does the shared, surveilled living thing with his girlfriend. Doesn't go so well. He disappears, reappears, and is now plotting some kind of comeback.

His biggest problem? (well, one of his problems?) Being too far ahead of his time.

Rewind to 1999, and the experiment in shared, surveilled living underground - we have it today online, we call it Facebook (etc.) and we've grown accustomed to living under surveillance.

Great Q&A session afterwards, and Ondi's last answer was very profound - yes, we're living in a self-surveilance society that could easily turn into a nightmare. The only thing we can do - the biggest and best thing we can do - is be aware, be conscious, of how we use the tech.

I think I've always had some kind of awareness (give or take) because I need my alone time. But it's so easy to get caught up in the craziness and let the technology drive us, not the other way around.

Let technology serve you, and don't let go of your values. Don't let ego wash away relationships as the most important thing.

These are my fragmentary thoughts after watching the film. I'm sure more will form in days to come.

See also, Jacques Attali's book A Brief History of the Future, and We Think by Charles Leadbeater. Both very balanced portrayals of the future that acknowledge the dark side as well as the potential of technology.

Social Media in India with Parmesh Shahani - iJumpTV 60

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:31:00 +0000

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What's the hottest social network site in India? Are businesses in one of the fastest growing economies embracing social media? And while newspapers and magazines struggle in the West, are emerging economies different? I met author, editor and venture capitalist Parmesh Shahani at the recent XMedia labs event in Auckland, and got his thoughts on social media in his home country.

Elegance

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Elegance
Originally uploaded by Wilhelm Augustus Hohenzollern

Sometimes elegance isn't what we think it is.

When I got my Macbook Pro in 2006, I quickly started to get a design sense, so when my rather ordinary laptop bag broke, I decided to go back to the Mac store for my next bag. It's been a good bag - until about 2 months ago.

Somehow, 2 months ago, the doohickey that holds the strap onto the bag just disappeared. The little metal thingie was gone.

It still held up alright when the strap was around my shoulder, but as soon as the strap slackened, it would come off. Quite stressful when your expensive laptop is in the bag!

For the want of a little metal doohickey, I was willing to buy another bag at around $65 (yeah, it was on special!). I asked at the shop about whether they sold parts and they said if I had the receipt they could replace it.

I couldn't find the receipt.

I was seriously considering shelling out $65 on a new bag, until I remember a story about Einstein. (I won't bore you with the story, suffice it to say Einstein was involved with a paper clip).

I chose a matching colour paper clip, twisted it around a bit, and voila. I now have a whole lot less stress carrying my bag around.

Which to me is elegance, even if it is not the traditional Mac way (ie. pay lots for whatever you do).

Scary Washing Machine - behind the scenes! iJumpTV 59

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:59:00 +0000

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Who bought the famous Scary Washing Machine from auction site Trademe? It was appliance retail chain 100%, and Tango Communication's Zac Pullen tells us how it happened. Here's the original listing on Trademe (check out the comments): http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Laundry/Washing-machines/Top-loader-6kg-under/auction-223309871.htm And here's Scary's new home online: http://blog.100percent.co.nz/

The legal profession needs reinventing

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:50:00 +0000

Lawyers and/or geeks, correct me if I'm wrong.

Laws are made (theoretically) by the people for the protection of the people's rights.

Yet a whole industry (okay, profession) has arisen that makes its money by charging people $2000+ for a template agreement.

They're able to do this because of inertia. Simply because that's the way they've always done it.

Isn't it time the legal profession came in for a bit of reinvention?

Here's the geeky part: laws are made for the people, (kind of) by the people. Just like an open source code base.

Others then interpret the code base in order to apply it to particular needs - as we've seen with the hundreds (thousands, even) Twitter apps that use Twitter's open API.

What if we took the same approach to law?

How much of law is just code, and not dependent on interpretations?

My Dream Scenario

I'm a business owner. I want to hire a contractor, or partner with someone on a project.

I want an agreement that is legally binding, but as an entrepreneur who does a lot of partnering, I don't want to need a lawyer on staff to get stuff done. I just want to do stuff.

Wouldn't it be great to go to a website where I and my potential partner in crime can go and fill in dynamic forms that automate the process of lawyering.

Where my partner and I work out the kind of business relationship we want to have, enter the necessary parameters, and then the software would show us areas we need to think about.

Instead of the anxiety of

a trip to a lawyer's office
a conversation where it's highly possible to get the details wrong (after all, you may not have all your paperwork with you)
not knowing what you'll be paying until afterwards

you get

an agreement, that reflects your wishes, that is legally binding.

And if there are any anomalies, you can contact a lawyer through chat on the site. Or send an email.

It's the kind of disruption that's hitting every single industry. Milk the system (music industry, lawyers) and people will live for the day when you will be automated.

Act like a valuable partner, live to serve, and move with the times, and you'll be closer to the original definition of profession.

(Awesome photo from Steve Punter!)

The HTC Magic, NZ's first Google Phone - iJumpTV Extra #58

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:23:00 +0000

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Vodafone loaned us the brand new HTC Magic for a couple of weeks. It's the first handset in NZ to feature Google's Android operating system. What does this mean? Find out.

Social Media and Social Change in New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:15:00 +0000

I gave this presentation to a group of students from Regis University in Colorado this morning. Thought I may as well spread the word further.

Social Media and Social Change in New Zealand

View more presentations from Simon Young.

Chris Brogan and more at Marketing Now - iJumpTV #54

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:12:00 +0000

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The highlights from the hugely successful Marketing Now Conference in Wellington, New Zealand. Features: Chris Brogan http://www.chrisbrogan.com David Meerman Scott http://www.davidmeermanscott.com Sharon Crost http://www.getbusinesswow.wordpress.com ...plus your invitation to join http://nzsocialmedia.ning.com/

ANZAC Day thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:28:00 +0000

(Written on ANZAC day)

Every year, the news on ANZAC day leads with growing numbers of young people attending dawn parades.

And on Twitter this morning, it was people in their teens and 20s encouraging us all to remember ANZAC day.

Why? Why is this solemn occasion such a hit amongst younger people?

Here's my theory:

We have deformalised much of our society, and missed out the opportunity to feel completely in awe. The closest thing we have is a music concert, and often that is limited to a particular age group. ANZAC Day is a rare occasion to gather as a whole community and contemplate something truly awesome - the utter destruction of war. (By awesome I don't mean good, I mean something that strikes you speechless)

We have ignored our European/British/Western heritage, and we hunger to understand it better. ANZAC Day ceremonies are full of distant memories of the past - uniforms, cenotaphs, Bible readings, brass bands, traditions. Where did this all come from? Even when I was at school I learnt more about New Zealand and American (!) history than the British Empire from which New Zealand came. And while I'm a statistical minority for growing up in church and understanding the history of Christianity (somewhat), I'd guess most young people these days know very little about this religion that really defined the Western world. So taking part in an ANZAC ceremony must be a mixture of the familiar (celebrating our basic New Zealand-ness, or even Antipodean-ness) with some aspects that are as unfamiliar as a Hindu or Buddhist ceremony.

Other observations:

ANZAC Day is not about glorifying war, but it is about celebrating soldiers. Might be a difficult distinction to make. I think what unites us is the sheer emotion - the realisation that war is crazy, and maybe some wars shouldn't have happened, but these men and women were incredibly brave to go through what they went through, and they need our help and recognition to heal.

It's also set off a lot of thoughts in my mind about why war memorials are as formal as they are. War is certainly not formal. It's chaotic, violent, unpredictable. Maybe the solemnity and formality of our ceremonies is part of the healing.

What do you think?

(Image courtesy of Hugo90)

Building brand advocates with Stephen Johnson - iJumpTV #53

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:11:00 +0000

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It's one week and one day until Marketing Now hits Wellington. Alongside standout international speakers like Chris Brogan and David Meerman Scott, we'll be hearing from more local speakers like DraftFCB's Stephen Johnson.

I asked Stephen for a sneak preview of what he'd be sharing at the conference. Here's what he said!

Marketing Now sneak preview #1 - Sharon Crost (iJumpTV #52)

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:25:00 +0000

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Sharon Crost is one of the international social media specialists visiting Wellington on April 15th and 16th for the Marketing Now conference. Sharon's all about unleashing your inner superhero, and her session at the conference promises to be extremely interactive! We had the pleasure of talking with Sharon direct from her backyard organic farm in San Francisco.

Want to share our office space?

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:34:00 +0000

Our former office mates have made their trip to Melbourne, so we're on the hunt for some more cool, creative, like-minded people.

We've got 3 spaces available for freelancers or creatives who want to be in one of the best, friendliest locations going.

The details:

The office is at Level 2, 228 Queen Street, Auckland. There's also entry through 3 Lorne Street.

The cost is $150 + GST per week per desk. This includes:

fast internet
electricity
a desk and mobile drawers
good company (if we do say so ourselves!)
ambience
use of shared kitchen including microwave, fridge, hot water, etc.
a secure office in a secure building

And in the area:

About a zillion cafes
Almost 10 art galleries
Two great bookshops - Jason Books (on the same floor as us) and Parsons Books
Albert Park
The Library and Academy Theatre
AUT and Auckland University

About the building:

About 100 years old, the HB Building is a bit of a creative hub. These are the hallways where you'll meet print and online publishers, web developers, graphic designers, branding people - and some really interesting financial people too.

Interested? Email simon@ijump.co.nz or marie@ijump.co.nz or give us a call on (09) 379 5421.

You can download a higher-resolution version of the poster here.