Finding - The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything - Book Review

Ken Robinson is one smart and funny guy. Before you read this review you have to watch this TED video - he has gotten millions of views on the web. It was this video that inspired me to read his book.



In The Element Sir Ken Robinson explores how to find your Element. He draws on many sources and some extremely interesting interviews and research. This includes the fact that Paul McCartney did not even like music classes in school, although he loved making music. Can you even imagine what it must feel like to know you had Paul McCartney in your Music Class and you could not inspire him. He uses stories like this one to pull the reader in to his book and make a compelling discussion on how institutions like our school systems are leading our minds away from our own element and replacing it with conformity.

As a TEDalcoholic I must confess I enjoyed the book - I found many references to the TED talks that I have watched or listen to over the years. As well as many authors on the subject of creativity, flow and mind mapping like Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi or Tony Buzan. He both explores the micro and macro nature of learning the element as it relates to you and to the world. Do yourself a favor a find The Element first at the store then in yourself.

Repurposing Your Business

Last month, I described how Charles McCabe expanded his business based upon a simple question: "Why don't you sell your tax school to other independent tax firms?" In the process, he helped insulate himself and his business against ever-changing economic conditions and the competition.

This month, I'd like to continue in the flexible business vein. "Repurposing" has become a popular term and practice, especially for the Green Movement and those interested in reducing waste. Old New York subway cars, for instance, are now serving as breakwaters off the coast of Delaware--and have helped marine life flourish to boot.

As Managing Director of Wave Dispersion Technologies, Jonathan Smith's primary source of business was Floating Breakwaters, designed to stop beach erosion (much like the repurposed subway cars). Then the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) asked, "Can your barrier be repurposed as a floating security barrier (FSB)/line of demarcation (LOD)?"

Questions are often opportunities to grow (both personally and professionally), provided you're not too entrenched in your ideas, habits, and processes. Smith seized this opportunity for growth. Within twenty-four hours, Wave Technologies developed a prototype, photographed and video-ed it in the water, and delivered the details to NFESC, who dubbed it the "definitive, survivable line of demarcation."

Since that interaction with NFESC, 80% of Wave Dispersion Technologies' sales have been in the area of FSB's and LOD's!

Don't wait for NFESC (or its equivalent) to come to you. Ask your organization: How might we repurpose the products and services we offer?