'Ben Thinking' for the week of 12.16
Welcome back to ‘Ben Thinking’, the ongoing share space for all things communications-related in today’s dynamic business world. I know you’re busy. So the least I can do is take one thing off your plate and serve up all the news that I think you’ll find interesting or will need to know.
Nothing says you’re getting older than when you start a sentence by saying “As I get older…”
But you know…as I get older, I’m finding that it’s the little things at the holidays that I enjoy the most. Looking at the tree on a rare quiet night. Driving around looking at lights with my wife and kids. Debating the best holiday song. The early morning cup of coffee on Christmas morning before everyone is up. That moment when someone arrives to the party. The first sip of Christmas Ale on Christmas Eve.
Mike Lawrence/Midjourney
As I was winding down my first high school job, the manager told me ‘don’t go chasing moments’. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant at the time. I’m glad I do now.
This is the last ‘Ben Thinking’ of the year and my simple holiday wish for you is that you don’t go chasing moments. Because you’ll miss the one in front of you.
Thanks for another year of reading – all the comments, support, subscribes. I did my best this year to bring you content to reflect the trends and state of the industry we’re in. And next year I’ll be back here trying to do the same. I look forward to seeing you in on the other side of the calendar!
Cheers! Now, on to what "I’ve Ben thinking about…"
We are overdoing everything. But mostly meetings.
As in a 192% increase in weekly meetings since the pandemic.
Are we busy? Or are we productive. Turns out there’s a difference. Those HBR people…so smart with their well-timed end of year article…
“We are over-meeting, over-looping, and over-collaborating — one of the worst work habits brought on by the pandemic. Despite the longstanding perception that more hours worked means higher productivity, data and research are finding otherwise.” -HBR
Tariffs: We can talk or we can do.
There is a lot of chatter around potential tariffs on imports. I’m guilty of this. I have been asking a lot of questions about this. Reading and listening to pretty much anything about it. (It’s just this little thing I have about being prepared and knowledgeable about those items that may be a challenge for my clients’ business.)
I thought this article in Business Insider was a solid piece on what one company is doing to prepare. The opening is bold and immediately puts us, as the reader, in the right mindset:
“We have been a global economy for a long time, and we don't have a culture of manufacturing anymore. Everyone told their kids to go to college instead. Now we're in a position where political leaders want to increase manufacturing, but we first have to create a workforce.”
-Karla Trotman, president and CEO, Electro Soft
Never underestimate the power of showing up
The best capability is availability.
It’s simple to say you’ll do something. Send that article. Reply to that text. Give you dates. Follow-up. Do you know how 93% of holiday gatherings end? By someone saying ‘I’ll text you…let’s not wait so long to do this again.’
And did you know, only 17% of those people actually do that. (Note: I made all of these numbers up.)
Think about that in your professional life though. Showing up. Doing what you say you’re going to do. Being reliable. Being consistent. This ‘skill’ is always valued--but rarely appreciated. As is the case with most leadership skills, you hardly notice it when someone is doing it…but you sure as shit will when someone isn’t.
In the blog linked in the headline, Greg McKeown, in his infinite ability to simply things, talks about this and challenges all of us to make sure we’re ‘showing-up’.
Since 2018 ransomware has cost manufacturers $17B in downtime
Recent studies show that the average downtime due to a ransomware attack is 11.6 days. And a bunch of other scary stats in here. (Story from Infosecurity; report from Comparitech)
There is an alternative to being scared: you can be prepared.
Turns out…Yoda was right.
Want to succeed in the future of work? You will need to control your feelings. This according to every Jedi master ever…and the author of this article featured on CNBC’s ‘make it’
Google releases top search trends of 2024.
Not seen on the list: ‘what are the top search trends of 2024’. (Social Media Today)
The 3-item to-do list: does it work?
The author of this story on CNBC’s ‘make it’ tried a brain expert’s 3-item to-do list. (Yes, to confirm – your daily to do list only has three things on it.)
My question is…how will people know how important we are if we’re only putting three things on our list?!?
Test your holiday movie knowledge: Hallmark v. AI
There are 478 Hallmark holiday movies. And I think my dad has seen them all. But what about you? Think you know your Hallmark movies? Listed below are 10 movie titles…which are Hallmark and which are “AI-named in the spirit of Hallmark movies”?
“Deck the Walls”
“The Nutcracker’s Daughter”
“Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story”
“Jingle Bell Bistro”
“Three Wiser Men and a Boy”
“Tinsel and Trouble”
“Christmas at Candy Cane Cottage”
“Snow Bride”
“Christmas Under Wraps”
“Snow Globe Sweethearts”
(Answer key after the 'pod squad' story)
For the pod squad: 10% Happier with Dan Harris
You know I’m digging this. For those of you who remember the Akhia walking challenges…I endeared myself to several members of our team by taking every meeting (in the sweltering hot days of August) as a walking meeting. Hey, we won…so….worth it.
Turns out I was ahead of my time!
Answer key:
Hallmark: “Deck the Walls”
AI: “The Nutcracker’s Daughter”
True: “Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story”
AI: “Jingle Bell Bistro”
Hallmark: “Three Wiser Men and a Boy”
AI: “Tinsel and Trouble”
AI: “Christmas at Candy Cane Cottage”
Hallmark: “Snow Bride”
Hallmark: “Christmas Under Wraps”
AI: “Snow Globe Sweethearts”
Thank you for reading everyone. I hope you have a nice holiday break -- see you in 2025!
-Ben