Common Craft Blog
15 Lessons Learned in 2007
By leelefever on January 02, 2008 - 11:04am
What a year. I can say with ultimate confidence that we never would have guessed, one year ago, that 2007 would be so transformative for Common Craft. Here are some things we learned:
OUR WORK
Video works. Text, graphics, audio, they all have a place. But video is a different animal. Nothing engages people like the dynamics of a video. Ever read about a car chase? It's not as fun.
Simple is better. Approach an explanation by removing information instead of adding it. Remember Occam's Razor.
Production values and ideas are often at odds. Flashy graphics and cool music are sometimes a poor replacement for a good idea. Spend time focusing on the message.
Constraints facilitate creativity. Jazz great Charles Mingus once said, "You can't improvise on nothing, man." Bring focus to your work by creating rules or constraints that give your creativity a starting point.
It's not always about how it works - it's about why anyone should care. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference (Elie Weisel). The path to a solid explanation is making people care as a first priority.
We all need a little more levity. Unstuff your shirt and make people laugh. Look foolish. Defy convention and do not take yourself too seriously.
"Viral video" should never be the goal - it's a by-product. The best you can do is to fill a knowledge gap and make it easy for others to share the love.
Solve problems when they need to be solved. If you have a big idea, don't try to research and plan everything from the start. Instead, do what you can today and tomorrow's problems will be revealed in due time and in a manageable way.
Don't assume. You are part of a tiny group that knows what you know. It may seem like everyone knows, but they don't - it's an illusion created by a consistent group of contacts.
OUR BUSINESS
Small is beautiful. You don't have to grow just because you can. Look for ways to work in the most lightweight ways possible. Beware having too much momentum going in a single direction.
You're never too small to build a brand. Give your company a name and logo and make it a part of everything you do. The best time to plant an oak tree was 80 years ago - the second best time is today.
Give it away. Find something you love to do and give it away. If people love it, it may become your business.
Lifestyle is what matters. If you're independent, remember why. Look closely at how your business impacts your life. Step back and remember that you have a choice in how you live. You don't have to do it all.
Be Authentic, genuine and legitimate. There are far too many hucksters out there. Be yourself and orient your business around integrity as a priority.
Always tinker and experiment. There is no such thing as a finished product - always push for the next big idea.
Thanks for the Lessons
Lee - Thanks for your lessons from 2007. I particularly appreciate the tip that you are never too small to build a brand. Also, the reminder to be authentic, genuine and legitimate. These are great tips and applicable in a lot of different environments. Thanks!
Let 2008 Be Great
All the best Lee. Thanks for the lessons learned. It's been a year of learning from you. Many thanks.
Very insightful.
I like what you're doing! Best of luck in 2008.
Thanks for the good work and
Thanks for the good work and the simple approach.
Beautiful
Dear Sachi and Lee - as I read this, I could see your beautiful smiling faces and feel the love that you have generated in your work this year. That is a rare and beautiful thing in business. You are flagbearers for the culture of love!
Happy New Year
Nancy
Lessons from the Lessons
Not to be cute, but perhaps the best lesson of them all is that we should, all as Lee has done, stop for a moment and consider what might the fifteen things we have learned in our own enterprises, relationships, and journeys be... and simply get them down in front of us on paper or on a screen or on a blog or site. In the relentless pursuit of creative solutions, we sometimes forget that reflection is really good healing!
Your 15 Lessons
As usual, you provide much wisdom in a compact form. Thanks for sharing these and for challenging us all to be simple and authentic!
Inspiring
I enjoy visiting your site, it is a learning experience. What your sharing is inspiring. Thanks.
Inspiring 2007
Our teammembers frequently visit your website, and we hope that you will continue your work in 2008. It;s been inspiring to us.
Good stuff
Wowza, great list man, great list!
Congratulations on a great year!
Well done ...not just the lessons but the usefulness and simplicity of what you have achieved in 2007 - great humour - great presentations - good jumping off point!
Have an equally great year if not better in 2008 - I will certainly be visiting often.
Cheers
15 Lessons
Good list with the lessons learned about your work and your business. Well done!
Lessons for us to learn
Dear Sachi and Lee,
Inspired by your "Show" we are trying to bring social media to a main stream audience in Austria. Therefore since October 2007 we are organising monthly workshops called "Digitalks" in real life in Vienna, Austria.
Through "common craft show" also we learned a lot for our work and as I read now in your post there is much to learn for us in the future.
Thanks a lot for your guidance!
This should be the guiding video for 2008
Dear Lee, thanks for the inspiration.
Your words of wisdom are the guiding principles for any new venture. This is the Zen of 'People Loving Business'. Please create a papervideo presentation of "15 Lessons". I believe it will help greatly reduce the success pressure and inspire countless ambitious minds.
I wish you a prosperous new year.
Guiding video 2008
[...]Please create a papervideo presentation of "15 Lessons". I believe it will help greatly reduce the success pressure and inspire countless ambitious minds[...] @Praneel: I agree with you that that can help a lot of people!
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Lesson number 16
From my perspective, I like these two most:
* Lifestyle is what matters.
and
* Be Authentic, genuine and legitimate
@Michael Hicks: I do agree with what you wrote [... stop for a moment and consider what might the fifteen things we have learned in our own enterprises, relationships, and journeys...]
and also
[...we sometimes forget that reflection is really good healing]
On our website many volunteers create and share knowledge for free. E.g. about geld lenen (in dutch). I will make a suggestion to our volunteers to write an article about the topic discussed here.