Running Next to the Bicycle? What's up with that?

I'm busy working on and with a few start-ups and also some rather more established brands and companies and even though the nature of the beasts is fundamentally different, there is one very striking similarity, they seem to like running next to the bicycle. I borrowed this saying, the title for this blog, from a facilitator at a workshop I attended. He was busy explaining to staff that how what he was proposing could add oodles of efficiency to what they were delivering, but the more he tried to drive the point home the more the attendees pointed out that they did not have the time to implement or manage the system. Finally, exasperated, he said: 'So you guys are just happy to run next to the bicycle?' - I like it, because its powerful, but also because it conjures up such a silly picture of this person running next to a bicycle not realising that by hopping on you could make your life easier.


People have got their heads down and are working very hard but to the point that they're now almost working with blinkers on and are not exploring anything new that could be helping them deliver what they need to. Take for example an internal brainstorming session that could create new ideas, most staff would say no to this because it would be seen as a waste of time while there is a distinct possibility that a discussion of this nature could yield results that provide you a with that much needed idea/concept (bicycle).The stumbling block, in my humble opinion, is in the implementation. Individuals and by extension companies are scared to implement (hop on the bike) as it takes time from business as usual and will negatively impact productivity. But this is far too shortsighted, of course there will be short term losses but the long term gains will outweigh them.


Ok, so here's how to do it. Plan your day religiously and in that plan include some time to look for your bicycle (how to find the right one will be my next blog). Once you've found it you need to provide proof to your bosses why it would be a good idea to hop on. The investigating does not have to be a complete cost benefit analysis, just some notes on improved cycle times (no pun intended here) or reductions in costs because the two easiest selling points are efficiency improvements or overall cost reductions, if you can lay claim to one of those then you're already won most of the battle to convince your boss about your new bike.

Classically Trained Vs Playing by Ear

This is almost like shooting myself in the foot since most of what I do is playing by ear but I know in my gut that this blog needs publishing. I attended a Jazz Jam session recently, where musicians are allowed to pitch up with their instruments and then 'jam' along. Its was really great to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What stood out most for me was the difference between guys that were classically trained and those that were self-taught or played by ear. The guys who played by ear were very good but the classically trained guys were in different class. Without going into too much detail I'm defining classically trained people as those that can read sheet music and have sat for both theory and practical exams. They have been given all the skills needed to deal with anything the world of music can throw at them.

While watching them I picked up one very important difference and that difference was about the number of gears available to the musicians. While most of the 'play by ear' brigade were fast approaching the end of their gears (or had even reached overdrive) the classically trained saxophonist was coasting along waiting for someone to throw something at him. The scary thing was that even when they did throw something at him he hit it out of the park. There seemed to be no end to the number of gears he could go through. You see a fundamental difference between the two musicians is that classically trained guys can play both down and up comfortably. This means that they could drop their 'standards' and play in a jazz jam session or they could join an orchestra and fit in just as naturally. The 'play by ear' guys are limited by there lack of formal training, and if pushed hard enough will fail badly. This is not to say that they are not good musicians but they are limited because they are not classically trained.

Ever since the session I have been playing around with this 'classically trained concept'. My wife is an ardent watcher of the reality dance show called:'So you think you can dance', and on the show more often than not (there are exceptions but they're limited) the people who have received formal training prevail since their repertoire is so much bigger. Even in instances where they attempt a style that is not their own they manage to get through it reasonably unscathed. This is because they have been taught the first principles of dance and can almost in a bio-mechanical way understand what is required from them and their bodies. People who have not been trained will have lots of difficulty shifting gears and moving into a different genre.

My suggestion, to people is that if you are considering doing something full time and professionally, then you must have formal training in the area. Learning the first principles and understanding why methodologies are used is critical to making you better at what you do. By way of an example, markets are routinely segmented and those in the industry will refer to the LSM's that they will be working with. Now unless you understand the rationale and process of segmentation you will never be able to develop a suitable campaign. Yes, I know lots of 'players by ear' will give me examples of campaigns that have worked but I will argue that it was by luck rather than by design (hey its my blog so its only my opinion that counts). This approach applies across all disciplines, including, believe it or not, soccer. The Barcelona team is classically trained. They have been given all the skills necessary to be consummate footballers and will be able to play any formation of tactics that you throw at them. 

So if you're really truly passionate about what you do and want to play with the big boys then go and study. I dedicate this blog to Andrew Spitz, my one time interaction design partner who will be leaving me to study a course overseas so that when he returns he will be classically trained and rock the world of interaction design. Good luck Andrew.