What Makes A Seminar Work?

Yesterday I attended the "Switch" bootcamp on the campus of UNC in Chapel Hill.  Switch is a book written by brothers Chip and Dan Health about how to make positive changes in your life.

The seminar was from 9-5 in a large room.  5 people at a table.  Awkward introductions, strained conversation until things kick off.

The secret to this seminar was...

1) We were asked to read the book before attending - This meant that Dan did not have to spend any time teaching us the Switch Framework.  We just started learning how to put it into use.

2) We had numerous exercises throughout the day that helped us understand and utilize the framework.  Dan didn't just lecture about the framework, he introduced a section and then we did an exercise.

3) Controlled Discussion - Just enough so we could learn from each other, but no one was allowed to dominate.

4) Just enough handouts and other materials to help but not to overwhelm.  Dan used 5 in total.

5) Dan had an easy relaxed style.  I didn't feel that there was going to be a big pitch for additional products on the way out the door.  It felt like I was in college again, only I was going to get an "A" in the class.

6) My attitude was correct.  I read the book, I liked it, I wanted to learn more.  That made a major difference in how I utilized the day.

"So Mamma, don't take my Kodachrome away" Paul Simon

In 1917 two friends went to the movies to see a new color film called "Our Navy".  They walked out feeling cheated as the Prizma Color system didn't do a great job representing all colors equally.  Rather than just complain, the two friends went to work and in 1935 invented Kodachrome film.

Kodachrome film was the first successful mass-market film.  It's 74 year product run was due to several factors.  First, the color process allowed the major color groups the ability to produce warm, stunning photographs.  In September 1949, National Geographic used the film to photograph a small basin in Utah.  This basin was later named Kodachrome Basin Stake Park as people came in droves to visit a place that literally leaped off the magazines pages at them.

The second reason for the film's popularity was it's archival longevity.  "It has been calculated that the yellow dye, the least stable, would suffer a 20% loss of dye in 185 years."

The third reason was that until 1954 the price of the film, included processing by the Eastman Kodak company.

Film sales started to decline in the 1980's with the invention of digital camera's.  As sales slid so did the number of labs that processed Kodachrome film.  In 2010 only one processing location remained: Dwayne's Photo in Parsons Kansas.

On December 23, 2010 the last roll of film (shot by the owner, Dwayne Steinle) was processed and Kodachrome film was retired.

How To Use This Story

This is a hero story.  As you read it pick out the elements that might match up with your situation.

• The friends saw something that was billed as amazing, and were not satisfied.  
• They decided to do something about it.
• They found a big company that could help them produce, develop and market their invention.
• Because of the attributes of the film it was in use for 74 years - A tremendous product cycle.
• Newer technology forced it into obsolesce.

Learn to see what elements of a story can help you with your situation.  Spend some time researching the story, and asking yourself questions so you are well prepared to answer most questions that might come up.  Compare the above story with your situation and show how, just like in the story, certain things must take place in order for your group to be successful long-term.

Sources:

Breed, Jack . "First Motor Sortie Into Escalante Land." National Geographic Sep. 1949: 369-404. Print.

"Kodachrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. .

"Kodachrome Basin State Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. .

Sulzberger, A.G.. "For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas." New York Times [New York City ] 29 Dec. 2010: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 4 Jan. 2011.

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Isn't That Obvious?

I recently attended a meeting where the individuals involved were presenting best practices.  One of these was the idea that knowing something about the client before talking to them, is very helpful in building rapport.

I about passed out.  In a sales environment isn’t that a given?  Isn’t that the foundation for ANY sales interaction?  Don’t you learn this in the very first minute of your sales training?

As I thought about this I recognized an important truth.  The world is so specialized today that we can’t think that anything is so basic it’s obvious.  Let me give you an example.

I was in Denver recently and was heading out to dinner with some of my colleagues.  I wanted to make sure I knew where the restaurant was, so I stopped by the concierge to confirm the directions.  They were busy so I asked a bellmen.  He said, “It’s on 15th street, eight blocks south of us.”  I said, “So the hotel is on 17th and I just need to go over two blocks and down eight blocks?” He gave me the “you are an idiot” look and said s l o w l y, “No, we are on 15th and you need to go 8 blocks south of the hotel.  Just to give you an idea, this hotel is a city block so you will need to walk 8 blocks south.”  The information was correct but the way it was presented left me with a very bad impression of that individual.  The directions were obvious to the bellman because he worked in that location everyday and had probably given those exact directions hundreds of times.  However, for me, it was all new.

So instead of being shocked, I paid attention to what piece of client data was selected and how it proved the best connection to the client.

Rather then judge, listen to understand.