Russell Davies

This week in references: war, powerpoint technique (ego)

Show The People

I've often found myself working on things where it's hard to know what you show. Software, services, ideas. There's nothing visual, it can be tricky. Which is why people get tempted by stock images and clip art. Apart from Showing The Thing my favourite answer is to Show The People, but that's often hard. People don't always like doing it, and you're making editorial, stylistic decisions as soon as you start, it's hard for it not to turn into another ton of distracting decisions. Carrie's solution is genius. What a brilliant thing to do and what a smart way to do it. 

This week in references: wind, coal, acid

I'd like to praise you

The newsletter that goes out today:

Already it's been two weeks since the last newsletter and I've been busy at work and short of inspiration. I've not blogged at all since last we spoke, I've barely scribbled any notes in my notebook.

Then, the day before yesterday, while I was sat in the queue at the barbers, reading the paper, someone leaned over and rather apologetically and politely said "are you Russell Davies?" I confessed that I was and he said he wanted to thank me for something I wrote in Campaign more than 10 years ago; this piece in praise of the traffic and production departments in agencies. 

It completely made my day. If you're out there, thank you Jim.

It reminded me of the best decision I ever wrote in the 10+ years of writing that column; to never just snark about stuff. OK, I snarked for the first year or so, and it probably snuck in a lot after that, but the intention was always to find good things that I liked and write about why they were good. That's always been the stuff I've enjoyed writing most. This is a hard thing to remember; especially when blogging is such a great vehicle for ranting and raving, for service-complaining, for producing lists of Things That Are Wrong. But here I am remembering it; writing a newsletter in praise of writing in praise of things.

I will do that when I'm stuck.

You're all marvellous. Peace out.

(There are currently 192 of you. 192 is the atomic number of an element temporarily called uennbium, it's the medical emergency number in Brazil and the fire emergency number in Ghana. It is the sum of ten consecutive primes.)

You can sign up if you like.

Five Years Ago

As genuine as circumstances permit

Somewhere in here I imagine there'll be exactly me. I imagine seeing yourself as a 'type' is quite disconcerting.

It's certainly spooky and odd to read Paul Ford absolutely perfectly nailing my presentation style in describing his own:

"And, finally, bring the thinkfluence: Click the clicker and give them that historical-factual razzle and that synergistic “what if this, but this” dazzle, and self-deprecate the audience into empathy while slyly demonstrating your very handy cognitive framework. Give it some heart too, because what the hell, life is meaningful. Be as genuine as circumstances permit!"

It's a brilliant piece. You should read it.

 

June 2017

June 2017 from russelldavies on Vimeo.