Comments on: Stuck in the Trenches

By: Доигкисса

Доигкисса — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:00:33 +0000

Спасибо. То, что нужно ))

By: Rudy

Rudy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:37:44 +0000

Very insightful post, Chris.

It does remind me that the necessary result of, say, an impending recession (like that will ever happen…) is re-evaluation of purpose and direction. If you are unable to innovate and stay relevant, then you fail.

It’s a pity that we don’t maintain this mindset when things are going well.

By: Michele Parrish

Michele Parrish — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:38:27 +0000

There are an enormous number of American “knowledge” workers, companies and MBA programs whose work and whose professional standing is based solely on the agreed-upon script. They have long since stopped thinking, responding, understanding, questioning and interpreting. They can’t improvise to save their lives. What we need are critical thinkers. We need innovators. We need improvisers. We need fearless visionaries. We need business leaders. Our current crises will not be solved by trying to reconstruct the old paradigms and by reciting the same script on PowerPoint.

Here’s a video that I think every marketer should think about as they approach 2009: http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/8823/52/

By: olivier blanchard

olivier blanchard — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:47:01 +0000

Everyone always goes into the new year with great expectations of change. “I’ll do this.” “I’ll do that.” “I’ll lose weight.” “I’ll change my ways.” Yeah… It’s nice. By mid-February, all that talk of change is completely gone.

Fact: Most people won’t make any changes in 2009, no matter how certain they are of the opposite right now. No matter how great an idea, there will always be an excuse why it can’t be done, a reason why it shouldn’t be done, or a tomorrow when maybe they’ll get to it.

Those of us who embrace change don’t really have that problem… but we still have to live in a world populated with people who only TALK about change.

Anyone who wants to have an amazing 2009, come on board. Hop on our train. There’s room. Everyone else… well, I guess we’ll see you next year.

By: Angela Connor

Angela Connor — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:44:33 +0000

I’m doing new things. I just wrote my first ebook and have gotten great response. It somehow landed in the hands of my very first assistant news director in Cleveland who e-mailed me about it today. And someone blogged about it yesterday. The biggest thing I’m doing and will continue doing is working to always be more than “Angela who works for Company X.” I need and have created an identity outside of that. So while i will always kick butt and take names at my paying job, I am committed to doing some of that for myself as well. 2009 will be the year I wirk this plan like never before. Thanks for being a great inspiration, Chris.

By: Brett Tilford

Brett Tilford — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:24:29 +0000

Great reminder Chris. It’s easy to simply do the same thing you did yesterday but the path to excellence requires us to move outside our comfort zones.

By: Zaskoda

Zaskoda — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:14:47 +0000

Definitely exploring new ground… but not really finding the right vector at the moment…

By: Dan Sorensen

Dan Sorensen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:21:25 +0000

I think everyone has spent some time in the trenches now and again. As life becomes monotonous sticking in the trenches where the ground is well trodden is the EASY thing to do.

What I like to do when I find my self dug in deep is rally the troops to a brainstorm or just let your mind wander from the day-to-day tasks. Break the cycle and be original! That’s what makes great business.

By: Tim (@Twalk) Walker

Tim (@Twalk) Walker — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:16:04 +0000

Love this, Chris. It resonates with a GREAT article I just read — by Geoff Colvin, in Fortune, about “deliberate practice.” Here’s the link:

http://is.gd/4xYr

Deliberate practitioners (think Tiger Woods) go out of their way to get external, unemotional perspectives on the work they’re doing and the effects that it is creating. Then they *design* practice regimes for themselves that will address shortcomings and capitalize on strengths, keeping these non-trench-bound perspectives in mind. Lots more good ideas in this vein in the Colvin article.

(I’ve opined much more on this — see the link in my signature here if you’re interested.)

By: Joanne Tolkoff

Joanne Tolkoff — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:07:22 +0000

Thanks for getting me started early. I am actually in the process of trying to shift everyone in my department into new ways of thinking. Sometimes I get down because it is so slow and expecting clear results may not be what is in order. I have to learn to let things bake for a while.