Therefore you better have a strong digital media strategy in place if you have any aspirations of climbing to the top. If you don’t, here is where you can get a great one: Sandweiss Koster

JESS3 designed and animated this for the JESS3 lecture at AIGA Baltimore in Feb 2010.

I can’t think of how many clients and colleagues I’ve watch suffer from this awful gift of idea generation. I’m not saying idea generation isn’t a great thing, it certainly has its time and place. Without it we’d still be living in caves grunting over the excitement of fire. But sadly, I’ve watched the “Idea Generation Trap” bankrupt multiple companies, large and small. That’s how dangerous falling into this pattern can be. How about you? After watching the video below, have you seen it happen? Are you guilty?

Thankfully Belsky provides some great explanatory visuals and insightful work-arounds for keeping big idea projects on track. Making this possibly one of the most valuable ten minute videos you may ever watch.





After reviewing this video at least 15 times, and giving this topic some serious thought; it occurred to me that most people only make a few excuses on why they don’t or won’t see a good idea through to fruition. It pretty much always boils down to budget or time. If you don’t believe me check this out #99excuses.

And while those sound like reasonable explanations I’m positive the roots run much deeper than that psychologically; almost to the point of being too scary to acknowledge for most.

Here’s a brutally honest opinion on what makes the idea generation trap an easy deflection tool. All four items below feed off of each other to create the perfect opportunity for idea failure:

1. Poor Planning: The idea was the easy part, and the old saying – failing to plan is planning to fail still rings true. Failing to plan is generally combination of the following three factors.
2. Fear: Understandably nobody likes to fail, but the fear of unknown risks, from lack of planning, kills great ideas by the minute before they have a chance to blossom. Second, fear from personal insecurities can also manifest repeatedly through out the creative process causing delayed decision making or loss of focus that will likely spell doom for the idea. Pushing past the fear with knowledge, planning, and organization gives an idea a fighting chance to come to life.
3. Focus: This is where the less ideas come in. If you believe in your idea and have the research and vision to back it up, you should have the confidence to say NO. NO to the thousands of forces that will try to demolish the idea and project before completion.
4. Knowledge: Ideas derail during the creative process because inevitably you find roadblocks, hundreds of them. Questions left unanswered by brainstorming session. Questions so hard, it’s easier to give up because they can’t be solved in a single days work. Posh. Do your homework. Plan for those roadblocks. Hire the professionals with the tools to make the action happen. Listen to them. Trust them. Understand their processes. Understand the whole picture of getting your idea from point A to point B. Map it out. Have fun along the way, and celebrate the little victories. It was your idea… own it… never stop learning!

On that note I’m going to keep digging deeper into what Scott Belsky and www.the99percent.com have to say. Looks like I’ve barely scratched the surface by finding their 10min video. Belsky is also the author of Wall Street Journal Best Seller: Making Ideas Happen. I think these guys might be on to something.
Never Give Up!

The other thing that made this project enjoyable was the strong foundation of key elements. A very iconic and interesting logo coupled with fantastic food photography made it a cinch to incorporate their restaurant decor into their online personality.

Already known in SoCal for their everyday half price sushi menu and huge selection of beautifully artistic sushi rolls, the decision to go online for this local restaurateur was solidified by the addition of sushi catering for private and corporate events to their menu.

If your in Los Angeles be sure to stop by and tell Mr. An I sent you. You’ll be in for a culinary treat! I’d like to give a special shout out to Haekyung An for giving me the opportunity to work on this project. Without her it would not have been possible. Cheers- AW

Click an image to visit that location directly.

All online strategy, graphic styling, photo editing, copy writing, and the postioning statement for SUMO Japanese Restaurant’s online assets was executed by Adam Walker Marketing + Design Solutions.

If that’s the case just email over the project scope, and in same day you can expect a reply with either a list of questions or an estimate for services rendered. You will be guaranteed an honest, no non-sense, professional assessment of the task at hand; from there the decision is yours.

If were good to go, a deposit for 50% of the estimated amount will be needed to start, unless otherwise arranged. The balance will be due on completion. Payments can be made via credit card on Pay Pal. For a full list of rates and services please visit http://adamwalker.biz/services

Have a great day, and let’s make some magic happen!

Best Regards- AW

Click over to www.horizonfuelcell.com and get the full rundown; even buy a science kit for your family’s next Earth Day Difference Maker and become better energy stewards together. www.horizonfuelcell.com/store

Thanks for all your doing to preserve our planet, and keep up the great work Horizon Team!

Leslie has been courageously battling breast cancer the past two years. During the past several months, her doctors were hopeful she was in remission, but on April 9th they discovered cancerous lesions on her brain. She and her husband Jeff have traveled back to Houston, Texas where Leslie undergoes daily radiation at MD Anderson Cancer Center to shrink the tumors they found. Her three boys ages 5, 7 and 10 are still in school and living in the Springfield, MO area with immediate family.

For more information about Leslie and her quest, please visit her blog at http://theleslieupdate.blogspot.com. While the blog does not have information specific to this raffle it will give you a good idea of the person, family and faith you are supporting with your raffle ticket purchase.

Please contact my cousin, Anita Zimmerman [Leslie's Sister] from the information below if interested. She will send you tickets upon your request and receipt of payment. You can also check back to this page to see if you won.

Thank you so much for your support! It so important that Leslie and the kids have the resources to spend as much time together as possible as they get over this bump in the road.

To Purchase Tickets Send Check or Contact:

Anita Zimmerman
Phone: 417.861.3456
Email: anitazim@hotmail.com
Mail: 4 Century Farm Road – Rogersville, MO 65742

Give it a shot. Drop me a note if you find another way Sivers’ insight is applicable. I’d be interested to know. Cheers!

The image in this post was remixed with permission from the following creator under a Creative Commons license.

The tragedy of child abuse and neglect afflicts millions of children annually physically, sexually, or emotionally. Sadly, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in America. Worse, statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before adulthood. This is senseless and can be prevented in many cases. Ultimately all of adults are responsible for protecting children. Not the child.

As we take this month to emphasize and reflect on the importance of understanding child abuse and the need for all Americans to help families overcome this devastating problem; below are a few recommended steps and helpful organizations that will minimize this destructive behavior. Take this opportunity to keep kids safe by making a donation or volunteering your time to one of the charities below today because no child should ever have to suffer from abuse.

If You Suspect The Abuse Of A Child Or Have Been Abused

• Contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. They are there to help and protect
• Contact the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child
• Contact a Child Advocacy Center near you by visiting the National Children’s Alliance website [click here]

If You Are A Caring Parent Of A Child Or Teenager

• Never stop educating yourself to recognize warning signs, how it occurs, and the effects of child abuse
• Begin age appropriate dialogs with your children about the potential for abuse
• If you suspect abuse trust your instincts and take appropriate action.

If You Are A Relative, Care Taker, Or Teacher of Children

• Be conscious. Know the warning signs and trust your instincts
• Assess the situation and take appropriate legal action

If You Were Sexually Abused As A Child And Are Silently Suffering

• Success is not just measured in victories but in every loss that doesn’t defeat you. NEVER GIVE UP.
• Report your abuse and perpetrator to law enforcement where the abusive actions occurred
• Consider getting involved and joining a SNAP Support Group [click here]

Click Any of The Logos Below To Make A Donation To Prevent Child Abuse

Watch the the video below; regardless if you’re a business owner, employee, or a privateer you can absorb that the Patagonia business model is worthy of study and emulation on many fronts. Rarely do companies revel in their focus and unwavering honesty like Mr. Chouinard’s.

Take another step and read the company history. You’ll learn the guy ate cat food to fulfill his vision, and not even premium cat-food, we’re talking damaged freight cat-food, bought from salvage. Now I’m not advocating that people of vision start chowing down on smelly mush to make their wildest dreams come true, but the lesson here is real reward will come in many forms if you are true and honest in your endeavors and to yourself.

It’s proof that you can grow a successful business and be a responsible corporate citizen at the same time. [even if it means looking beyond the short term financial indicators.] It confirms that it OK to be proud of your actions, so long as they are genuine. And this message serves as a brilliant reminder that it’s not necessary to own a huge corporation to move the needle in the favor of good. It’s a simple process according to Mr. Chouinard, “to do good, you actually have to do something.” And that makes sense. So what are we going to do? I know, do you?

**To be clear, though I consider my self an experienced outdoors-man that has spent his fair share on high end technical gear; I have never bought one stitch of Patagonia product. I have known the brand for many years, but never bit. So to question if inspiring message making works… let just say Mr. Chouinard and the Patagonia Team has spawned another Patagoniac. I see a SST Fly Fishing Jacket in my future. As for American Express and takepart.com – well they gained another loyal do-er. So Win, Win, Win.

**To the team that gave this story to the masses in such an eloquent way – Thank You. Keep Doing. Never Give Up.

**All proceeds that Yvon receives from the commercial will be divided between five of environmental groups of his choice: Conservacion Patagonica, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Freedom to Roam Coalition, Native Fish Society and Save our Wild Salmon.

Accept

I humbly admit for 5 years I owned and operated a full service marketing and advertising agency that employed a stellar team of talented individuals that never had an online web presence and rarely promoted our accomplishments. It wasn’t that we didn’t know how, or didn’t want to, or didn’t try, but it was never a priority. The clients always came first. Times were good. Our work was great, projects kept coming, and the business grew. That was until the market crashed. Like many others, myself and the staff paid the high price. For that I am truly sorry, but understanding that you can’t change the past, only the future, is where the acceptance takes roots.

Adapt

Naturally when past choices have presented you with limited options there is really only one decision to be made, a real decision that defines your true character… Do you give up, or do you adapt?  For me the decision was simple. I love the creative business, the spirit of great collaboration, helping others find success while contributing to your own, clients and colleagues, watching an idea grow beyond your greatest expectations.

Facing the worst career economy in decades where ad budgets were being slashed faster than Zorro could draw his sword, I chose to face the demons of my past, re-invent, and adapt. Not only professionally, but personally. That’s what new AdamWalker.Biz is all about.  It’s the product of learning from the past, formulating that new plan, consciously adapting to a changing environment by the day, by the hour, by the minute,  moving forward clearer, wiser, and bolder than ever before.

Evolve

Having scaled the agency back to a one man, lean, bare knuckled marketing machine, this site was built not only to promote my latest creative assignments, but to serve as a platform for sharing. The sharing in a constant quest for knowledge and personal growth. The sharing and celebrating of great ideas, insights, and creativity. At its core AdamWalker.Biz is the very example of the evolutionary process. AdamWalker.Biz will evolve in time. I will continue evolve for the better because of it; as an artist, as a marketer, a communicator, and a human being. Evolution here will be inescapable because AdamWalker.Biz has been built on four simple principles:

1. Be Honest
2. Be Helpful
3. Be Interesting
4. Be Inspiring

Hopefully, you find an insight, idea or response at AdamWalker.biz that will allow you or a friend to evolve as well. Maybe you will challenge me to embrace a fresh perspective, which I hope is the case. But the bottom line is this: Lets evolve together because only the fittest survive.

Special thanks to Ashley Mulligan for some code work magic that help me get this site launched. http://ashleymulligan.info/