Hey,
I hope you are doing safe and well. It’s busy here at Lambert HQ as we gear up for the drama that is our house build. I’ve got a few promo podcasts and videos lined up to promote the “Take A Day Off” book. I’m also nearing completion of the posters - so the photo book should be available some time…..this year. (I’m getting better with my commitments).
In this week’s newsletter:
Extended solo waffle
The Sunset Review - story
Interesting Links
I’m also heading to Cornwall next week to present at a company event about Thriving in your career. You can join the event remotely if you’re interested!
It’s good to get back into the realm of presenting again - something I have sorely missed recently. I’ve had to turn down a number of talks this year, as I promised myself I would get another book done and more videos!
I few weeks back I mentioned I was launching a sub-newsletter on here called “A cultivated life”. Well, I’ve cancelled that plan as I felt I would be too constrained by the “cultivated management” brand.
As such, I will instead be posting behind the scenes, ideas and the process of being a “creative soul in a corporate role” over on the Parent Brain newsletter. This feels like the right place to explore a more personal side to my life. I aim to have my first “creative soul” post out this Friday! I do hope you will consider joining me as I explore what it takes to live a creative life.
I’m also recording the next season of the podcast, all about creativity in work, so that should be landing soon. I am aiming for around 15-20 episodes. I will also be filming them and putting them on the YouTube channel too - that should be interesting.
I figure, for those who like techie behind the scenes stuff, that I will simply edit the video to remove the mistakes, and then extract the audio and upload as a podcast. This sounds logical but I expect it won’t go to plan!
I thought for this week’s newsletter, I would inject a little light heartedness into the newsletter and share a little story about the dreaded sunset review (or drains up, or retro as they now like to call them).
You know, that meeting at the end of a program of work where everyone blames everyone else, and everyone agrees to not work in the same way again. And they take a few days off and come back and repeat the same process. And on and on.
And a big thanks to the many people who responded about potential topics for a seminar later in the year, and wished me well, and picked my brains, and got in touch about the book. Much appreciated - thank you. Don’t hesitate to hit reply and say Hi. I’m not great at email but I do respond to each one.
The Sunset Review
The Sunset Review. Oh the joys. That ridiculous meeting that happens at the end of the tedious project with the same tedious people.
These meetings are organized with the best intentions. The problem is very few projects run smoothly, and in Sunset Reviews, tempers are running high. A blame culture ensues and after 10 minutes the air is so thick you could cut hit it with a tennis racket.
After a couple of lose comments and finger pointing a fight breaks out which leaves you dazed and confused. In a scene that wouldn't be out of place in Fight Club you wander around the edge of the room absorbing the scene and making notes ready for the police.
Not knowing whether to join in, run away or call the police, you do the next logical thing and grab your camera to take some video for social media. This video will absolutely go viral.
Then you get hit by flying debris. You stagger around watching grown people fighting over work. It's ridiculous.
It all climaxes with an elbow drop by the Vice President onto the Delivery Lead.
After much huffing and puffing everyone is exhausted and they decide enough is enough. They sit and regain composure whilst waiting for the police to turn up.
Overall though, this has been one of the most successful Sunset Reviews the company has ever held.
And although everyone has promised to work better together and to start the next project in a different way (agile maybe?), you know deep down inside that they’ll repeat what they did this year. And yes, they’ll get the same results. Isn’t that the definition of insanity?
Interesting Links
Good conversations have lots of doornobs. Good article on the giving and taking in conversations. As I explore in the Communication Workshop, our goal is always to move towards the other person’s style - and if they do the same - great communication happens.
Enjoyed this brief article about the history of data visualisation. If you’re communicating at work then visuals can work really well. But of course, those visuals need to be effective - some good food for thought in this article.
I always advise to avoid gossip when you can. Even more important when remote - and there is a record of it all!
Writing routine of Nir Eyal - and how he found time to write two books.
The new way of work - good, short article, by Seth Godin.
And if you have time - this podcast / video by Cal Newport on smart phones and kids is interesting for sure - certainly for anyone with kids.
Until next week.
Rob..