Ask Your Clients for Ten Ways You Can be Better
Guy Kawasaki shares a study by Craig R. Fox (pdf) that compares two groups of students, each asked to evaluate an MBA course:
One group was asked for two ways to improve the course; the other wasasked for ten ways to improve the course. The group that was asked tolist ten ways showed a higher level of satisfaction with the course.
So, when will you start asking all of your clients for ten ways to improve your service?
Hand-y Advertising for DUI Lawyers
Check out this post from Ankesh Kothari about a Bombay nightclub that stamps a public service message on the hands of entering patrons. DUI lawyers, you've got to see the picture, and think about paying a bar to use a rubber stamp with your phone number on it to stamp the hands of everyone who enters the bar. When they get pulled over later that night, they'll know who to call. Not sure if ethics-safe, but inspiring nonetheless.
A Tip for Parents
Here's an absolutely brilliant tip for traveling with young children from Parent Hacks:
When we go to crazy places like amusement parks and fairs, we just use a Sharpieand write on the kids' stomachs "My mom's cell # is...." The kids areall drilled on what to do if they get lost, and we have photos of themat Disneyland and everywhere else, flashing their bellies with theemergency plan.
The 18 Percent Solution - January 23, 2007
I’ve been working with several great people to develop a small business seminar here in St. Louis on January 23rd called The 18 Percent Solution. It takes place at the amazing Gran Prix Speedway in Earth City.
The entire event is focused on sharing innovative tips and tricks that help small businesses thrive. I’ll have a lot more on the event over on my Idea Surplus Disorder Blog tomorrow, including a preview of the creativity and innovation portion of the program I’m running (think UnConference + LexThink + Idea Market + Go Cart Racing).
If you sign up at the link above and add “Homann” in the special instruction field, you’ll save $20 off the normal price ($95 before 1/3 and $125 after).
See you on the 23rd!
Resolutions III: December 1
Build a 2007 Resolution Wall.
Find a blank wall in your office where everyone can post as many firm-related “resolutions” as they want on 5x8 inch Post-It Notes.*
At the beginning of 2007, draw a line ( tape) down the middle of the wall. Label one side “Someday” and the other side “Now.”
Ask every staff member to pick JUST ONE resolution they personally commit to achieving and move that Post-It from the Someday side to the Now side.
Every week, review the resolutions and ask everyone for an update on their progress.
Once a resolution is achieved, place a huge checkmark (or big gold star) on it, and move another over from the Someday side to the Now side.
Repeat as necessary all year long.
* If you are feeling particularly brave, ask your clients to add their resolutions for your firm to the wall, and keep them up-to-date on your firm’s progress.
Blogging for Fortune, from Fortune
The Fortune Innovation Forum is about to get underway. I'm going to be immersing myself in the event today, and recapping as much as I can this evening. So far, it looks to be an amazing event.
Conference Hacks
I’ve been doing a series on my Idea Surplus Disorder blog titled “Conference Hacks” where I share some of the ideas we’ve used at LexThink! events and others I’d like to try. Here are my entries so far:
I’ve also written The Conferencing Manifesto. I’d encourage you to check it out.
Idiot-Proof Bread
Just had to share this. Here’s a great and incredibly easy way to make amazing bread. Four ingredients. No kneading. About ten minutes of actual work. Yummy.
Turkeys Don't Fly?
Just a few days late, but the funniest Thanksgiving episode from any sitcom. Ever.
Fortune Innovation Forum
I just got an invite to participate in the Fortune Innovation Forum as a guest blogger. Since I’ve now become a Yes Man, I agreed without hesitation. I’m still trying to get all the logistics figured out, but I will be in NYC from Tuesday, November 28th until Friday, December 1. If you are going to be at the Forum, or would like to get together, please let me know.
I’ll have a lot more on this in the next few days. And if anyone knows of a great place to stay near Lincoln Center that doesn’t cost $600 per night, please tell me about it.
I need another blender!
I don’t really need another blender, but I want one after seeing this: Will it Blend? One of the best viral marketing ideas I’ve seen in a long while.
LinkedIn for Lawyers?
From TechCrunch:
LinkedIn, a social networking website primarily focused on business connections has added a section to their site that allows users to recommend service providers — a yellow pages based on user referrals. From web designers to doctors, users rate service providers in a thumbs up, thumbs down voting system similar to Digg.
Here’s another article article with more:
In the case of LinkedIn's directory of service providers, users can search narrowly for services recommended by friends, or they can widen their search to friends of friends. Failing that, a global search capability is offered to allow users to search across the full LinkedIn network.
Making the system work will depend on whether LinkedIn users bother to write recommendations for other businesses, building on an existing feature within LinkedIn that encourages colleagues to recommend other colleagues.
It also could draw in new users. Most LinkedIn members currently are executives, professionals, sales people and other office workers. The new directory could attract trade workers.
Are you ready for this?
Idea Market III Reminder
Just a quick reminder: If you are in the St. Louis area and want to attend the next Idea Market on November 20th at the Lucas School House from 6:00 – 9:00 pm, you can sign up here.
Don't Be Later, Aligator
Joyce Wycoff shares an interesting strategy to keep employees from being late to work:
On Monday morning, my CEO and I stood at the company’s entrance lobby at 8:30 am sharp, the time employees were supposed to report for work. There was a constant stream of latecomers. As people strolled in, my CEO and I gave a warm smile and shook their hands, greeting them with a hearty ‘Good morning!’ ... then we handed each a slip of paper ... still smiling.
It read, "Thank you for coming to work today. I was here at 8:30 am to welcome you. Would I have the pleasure of greeting you tomorrow morning at the same time? Signed, CEO"
After a few days, there were no more latecomers. And we saved a big chunk in production costs.
This would be a lot harder in those law firms where 2000 billable hours is the norm. In those firms, the managing partner may need to stay in the firm’s lobby and keep people from going home. ;-)
Last Week on My Idea Surplus Disorder Blog
The Conference Bike Rocks!
Through a serendipitous series of events, I was able to hook up with Eric Staller, inventor of the Conference Bike. He just happened to be driving through St. Louis as part of his cross-country tour and I made arrangements to check out his invention. Eric arrived with his bike on the back of a special truck:
Within minutes, it was ready to go.
I rustled up several friends from my building and we went for a ride around the Soulard area of St. Louis. It was a blast. I cannot come close to describing not only the fun we had riding it on the streets around the Farmer’s Market, but the sheer joy and wonderment the sight of seven people facing one another while pedalling a bike caused on almost everyone we passed.
I don’t know yet how to incorporate this bike into my retreat and conference business, but I can’t imagine an easier (and more fun) way to do some quick team building and encourage collaboration. Very cool!
If Eric is coming through your town, you owe it to yourself to meet him and take a spin on the Conference Bike. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.
Thank you, Eric!
Conference Bike
I wrote about the Conference Bike the other day. As luck would have it, the inventor is doing a cross-country tour and just happens to be coming through St. Louis tomorrow (Saturday)! Anyone want to go for a ride? Call my cell at 618–407–3241 or e-mail me at Matt@LexThink.com if you want to join me. I’ll know more details on time/place tomorrow.
Introduction to Real BIG Thinking
I’ve been a bit light on the blogging lately. The primary reason is that I’ve been building another web site as a home for my Idea Markets as well as my fledgling personal retreat and consulting business. While Dennis Kennedy and I are working with the incomparable JoAnna Forshee on several future LexThink events (more on those next week), I felt it was easier to leave LexThink as a legal-focused company and move my other stuff under a different umbrella.
I’m calling that different umbrella real BIG thinking, and I’d love for you to take a look. The website is not quite done, and I’ll be tweaking the copy, mapping the domain name, adding new resources, and cleaning up the interface over the next few weeks.
I’m also blogging about facilitation, retreats, innovation and creativity on my new blog: Idea Surplus Disorder.
Let me know what you think.
Idea Market is Tomorrow
The second St. Louis Idea Market takes place tomorrow, October 17th. I expect between 30 and 50 people there, though there could be more. If you plan to come, please e-mail me and let me know. Thanks.
Could Your Law School Curriculum Do This?
Yale’s business school is experimenting with a new MBA curriculum:
The heart of the new first-year curriculum is a series of eight multidisciplinary courses, called Organizational Perspectives, that are structured around the organizational roles a manager must engage, motivate, and lead in order to solve problems — or make progress. These roles are both internal to the organization — the Innovator, the Operations Engine, the Employee, and Sourcing and Managing Funds (or CFO) — and external to the organization — the Investor, the Customer, the Competitor, and State and Society.
I can’t wait for the first law school to follow suit. What would the courses be? The Managing Partner, the Overworked Associate, the Out-of-Touch Professor, the Client Who Can’t Get a Call Returned, etc?
Add your suggestions in the comments. And for a slightly more serious take on law school curricula, check out this prior post: If Blawggers Ran Law Schools.