At a recent Sotheby’s art auction in London, L’Homme qui marche I (Walking Man I), an iconic Alberto Giacometti sculpture, sold for more than $104 million. At more than six foot, this imposing bronze certainly commands visual as well as substantial fiscal attention. It is not, however, the auction value that I’d like to comment on, although that record breaking bid is worthy of reflection. Rather, I’d like to mention my personal attraction to this artist’s bronze sculptures.

There is something disconcerting yet viscerally compelling about Giacometti’s pieces. They provoke such an immediate sense of the present; dynamically entering our here and now consciousness, but also presenting a cold, distant personality through shape and bronze material. That is an emotional reaction. What I really want, though, is to get my hands on every ridge, dimple, curve and protuberance. My overwhelming desire is to indulge in a physically palpable sensory experience, exploring every element of the artist’s molded expression.

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I might have to whisper this amidst the hyperbole around Apple’s iPad, but I just don’t buy it. Don’t misunderstand me; the iPad will likely be a huge success and will change the industry. I just cannot quite see how this fills the gap between my iPhone and my MacBook. Actually, I can’t see the gap. What I see is a gray area of overlap between my iPhone and MacBook.

I’m no technology geek, so I won’t address the technological wonder or disappointment (what, still no Flash?) of the iPad. What I am struggling with is the whole purpose of this device. When I consider my lifestyle, I don’t see a place for the iPad. Its main appeal seems to lie in the category of technology use that could be called entertainment. But when am I going to indulge in that via an iPad? When I am working (and maybe goofing off a little), whether in the office, at home or a coffee shop or other “third place”, my MacBook serves my needs excellently. During social time, my iPhone provides more than enough connectivity, entertainment and flexible communication to fill those periods. As for other moments “in between”, such as hanging around at airports, laying on the beach or relaxing on a casual Sunday afternoon at home, I’m able to enjoy life absent technology, hard as that might be to believe.

My thoughts are heretical around here, where Apple is loved with a religious fervor. I’m sure a colleague or two may respond on this blog. What I really need, though, is a single device that merges the convenience, connectivity and flexibility of an iPhone with the power and utility of a MacBook, all spruced up with the entertaining delights that might be found on an iPad. Something like an iEverything.

What do you think? How do you live? What do you need?

One affair suggests private relationship issues. Several alleged affairs is a public debacle for Tiger Woods and his sponsors. It begs the question, why do businesses choose to tie themselves to the cult of celebrity? The answer is because there is such a cult of celebrity.

Society has obsessed over recognition of personality for centuries, although the context has altered over time. Recent decades has witnessed the shift away from notability for achievement or exalted position and more towards fame for fame itself. Those recently seeking fame/infamy as the intended outcome include the “Balloon Boy” and the White House trespassing Salahis. It’s Warhol’s 15 minutes on steroids.

The reason why companies tie themselves to particular celebrities is more nuanced than that, of course, especially for the stewards of those corporate brands that sponsor a particular personality. Brands need to communicate their core archetypal attributes, being those characteristics, attitudes, behaviors and, indeed, that personality that those companies wish their consumers to associate with and perceive in their brand. It is easier for a brand to express those traits by illustrating them through something or someone iconic, within which or whom those brand traits are readily witnessed. Read the rest of this entry »

Listening is an obligatory activity, perhaps even a mandatory innate mindset or behavior for any business and especially for brand consultants counseling their clients. Whether that listening is to clients, employees, peers or even competitors, essential insight is gained first by listening and then by responding accordingly. The benefits of listening for your business are sometimes overlooked or only lip service is paid to its practice. Friday November 27 is the National Day of Listening. Perhaps the act of listening in its social context can remind us of the power, beauty and heartfelt engagement that comes with truly hearing someone.

Listening to a spouse, family member or friend is to honor their story, to learn about perspectives, to reveal hidden emotional connections and to open the door to understanding our common humanity. It is a celebration of life.

The National Day of Listening is a project inspired by StoryCorps and is an initiative that is itself inspiring. A couple of years ago, I took part in this StoryCorps interview with Ky-Antre, a fantastic young man I mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the resulting interview was edited for public broadcast. You can hear it here (after the brief NPR plug!):

Are You Listening?

Omaha’s local NPR affiliate, KIOS, is recognizing Friday’s National Day of Listening during this entire Thanksgiving week. It has been humbling and delightful to listen in as the participants from our community listened to each other. Will you be listening this Friday? Who will you converse with? What could you learn? Will you truly engage? Will you take this chance to celebrate life?

You don’t want to know about my romantic past. Indeed, it would be unseemly to discuss the time that my wife and I courted each other. But it is relevant to observe that it may have been during that time particular and long honeymoon period that I fell in love with Bauhaus. During our time living in Aspen we were surrounded by tangible environmental references to Herbert Bayer’s Bauhaus sensibilities. This included not only Bayer’s Aspen Meadows facility, but even the headstone of his Aspen benefactor, Walter Paepcke.

So I am thrilled to see that New York’s MoMa is presenting this significant Bauhaus exhibition from November 11 through January 25. Bauhaus represents a comprehensive conversation between artists, architects and designers, as well as cultural, social and philosophical thinkers. Its attention to the integration of art and form within life continues to be potent and relevant. An interesting feature appeared recently in the New York Times Style Magazine adding some context to the history of Bauhaus and the first MoMa exhibition in 1938.

We have had some creative enjoyment around our office either designing work for clients that has a Bauhaus flair, or otherwise, well, just sitting in Bauhaus derived furniture. Now all I have to do is organize my flights to NYC …