One of our company's expertise is photo studio management and equipment. Also, from the client's side, efficient execution. I spent eight years, traveling the globe on photo shoots for consumer product campaigns. I had strict protocol on-set/location, defined roles and responsibilities and restricted personnel.
It amazes me, the number of people clients allow to attend shoots. Especially, considering 2/3 of them just spend time on their Blackberrys or iPhones, without regard to the task at hand. Yes, there is a lot of downtime and these tools can help productivity. Just peer over the shoulder of one or two people and it's not their work on the screen, but FaceBook and Twitter. Now define productivity.
Professional photography is very expensive and time dependent. My advice is to define accountability for each member of the client's team attending the shoot. Convey these roles to the studio/agency team. Reducing the number of people on-set with reduce your costs. I guarantee it! Right off the bat, fewer people traveling and less people to feed by the craft service. Oh, you thought lunch was free? "There's no such thing as a free lunch." It's all part of the day rate, if not broken out on the quote.
How many people does it take to accomplish a shot? Just one less.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Would you hire this company?
Recently, I was in discussion with an advertising agency, ready to double in size. They professed on their website, they only handle clients that are willing to change. Great start, I thought, as I am a "change agent" for marketing and advertising agencies, whether corporate in-house or external.
After a few weeks into how I can bring a lot to their company operationally, they leaped forward, and hired a lead person. Without further details, to protect the agency, this quick decision represents a business model that is 60 years old in the advertising industry.
Would you hire a company that wants you to change and operates their own company under an antiquated business model? I speak with authority, as I have never seen this operational structure succeed.
My favorite line in the movie Wayne's World, is when Garth says, "I fear change." Does anyone see a contradiction in this scenario? I want to say, "practice what you preach" or "lead by example". Remember all is exposed in the 21st Century www world.
The lesson.
Be careful what you say verses how you act and as exciting as explosive growth may be, proceed with calculated progress. Look before you leap.
After a few weeks into how I can bring a lot to their company operationally, they leaped forward, and hired a lead person. Without further details, to protect the agency, this quick decision represents a business model that is 60 years old in the advertising industry.
Would you hire a company that wants you to change and operates their own company under an antiquated business model? I speak with authority, as I have never seen this operational structure succeed.
My favorite line in the movie Wayne's World, is when Garth says, "I fear change." Does anyone see a contradiction in this scenario? I want to say, "practice what you preach" or "lead by example". Remember all is exposed in the 21st Century www world.
The lesson.
Be careful what you say verses how you act and as exciting as explosive growth may be, proceed with calculated progress. Look before you leap.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
FIRE
Formula for decision making:
F - collect facts
I - use intuition
R - assess risks
E - base on experience
A good executive will assess all four areas.
F - collect facts
I - use intuition
R - assess risks
E - base on experience
A good executive will assess all four areas.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The 21st Century–New Economic Drivers
20th Century – General Motors, Ford, Chrysler
21 Century – Google, Amazon, Apple
Think about it.
21 Century – Google, Amazon, Apple
Think about it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Communication and Empowerment
When you speak with someone, can you look them in the eye? Are you a "crackberry" head? Are you addicted to power? Can you leave your job for more than two seconds, without being connected?
I love technology and guilty of being a geek (but a creative one) myself, so don't get me wrong about communication tools. The point is iPhones, and the like, are just that, tools.
While eating at a Waffle House, I noticed a nearby young couple sitting across from each other. For those not familiar with this restaurant chain, the place and tables are small. Each person, at this table, was on their respective devices. No verbal or visual communication. You see this scenario at the theater, in church, meetings, in the grocery store, everywhere. What was the point of being together?
Next, can work survive without you for an hour? A day? God forbid, a week? Think about this, a week's vacation. If the answer is no, you haven't done a good job of preparing and empowering your people or you're a candidate for a heart attack, because you're addicted to the power. Or both.
My management philosophy has proved to be valid and I share it with you.
I do not get upset if a manager makes the wrong decision, as much as if they don't make a decision at all.
Mr. Whitacre, the General Motors' CEO, became upset when highly compensated executives came to him for a decision. I read, he sent them out of his office and told them they were paid to make those decisions. I applaud him. If managers can't make appropriate decisions, in their area of expertise or responsibility, the wrong people are in these positions.
When I'm not connected via technology, I find myself creatively thinking. When your mind is at rest, great things come to the surface. This is a psychological truth, too deep to cover in a blog. Here's a simple example. When you lay down to sleep (assuming you do sleep), have you noticed your mind remembers things or new ideas pop into your head? If you haven't experienced this feeling, seek help.
Morals to this blog:
I love technology and guilty of being a geek (but a creative one) myself, so don't get me wrong about communication tools. The point is iPhones, and the like, are just that, tools.
While eating at a Waffle House, I noticed a nearby young couple sitting across from each other. For those not familiar with this restaurant chain, the place and tables are small. Each person, at this table, was on their respective devices. No verbal or visual communication. You see this scenario at the theater, in church, meetings, in the grocery store, everywhere. What was the point of being together?
Next, can work survive without you for an hour? A day? God forbid, a week? Think about this, a week's vacation. If the answer is no, you haven't done a good job of preparing and empowering your people or you're a candidate for a heart attack, because you're addicted to the power. Or both.
My management philosophy has proved to be valid and I share it with you.
I do not get upset if a manager makes the wrong decision, as much as if they don't make a decision at all.
Mr. Whitacre, the General Motors' CEO, became upset when highly compensated executives came to him for a decision. I read, he sent them out of his office and told them they were paid to make those decisions. I applaud him. If managers can't make appropriate decisions, in their area of expertise or responsibility, the wrong people are in these positions.
When I'm not connected via technology, I find myself creatively thinking. When your mind is at rest, great things come to the surface. This is a psychological truth, too deep to cover in a blog. Here's a simple example. When you lay down to sleep (assuming you do sleep), have you noticed your mind remembers things or new ideas pop into your head? If you haven't experienced this feeling, seek help.
Morals to this blog:
- Talk with people. Practice with someone nearby, right now. Look them in the eye. This is called respect.
- Review your management team, empower them as a subject matter expert. This is called respect. If you're a manager, seek empowerment.
- Finally, turn off your device. First for 5 minutes, then 10; work up to a whole day and beyond.
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