Rothacker Reviews

Beyond Trend

Beyond Trend by Matt Mattus

Beyond Trend is laced with a passion for design.  It is sooooo inspiring!  Like little kids grow up and want to be police and firemen, after reading Matt's book (three times now), I want to be a designer!  If I were involved in an association for designers, I'd make Beyond Trend required reading for members.  If I owned a company that used designers and caught them reading Beyond Trend, I'd promote them.  Okay, that last one's a stretch.  But their value in my eyes sure would increase.

The business world today is paying attention to the wink of design leaders.  "Pssst guys!  Get on board.  Good design will capture your customer's heart and soul."  Whether you have companies that truly get the benefits of design or companies led by CEO's who have a vague idea of what design is: "Bob, I think there is something to this design thing.  Create a design department.  Stick it between the mailroom and accounting."...the field is opening wide up.  While more people are filling creative roles, the creative work-output is growing exponentially and growing exponentially vanilla.  An overabundance of design and an overabundance of sameness.  Matt:

...it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell a Target TV ad from a Sears ad.

Moving beyond trend is Matt's answer to his own question: "In an over-designed world, how does a designer design?"  How one gets there is what this book is all about.

Basically, Matt's book is written to and for designers, those in the trenches trying to crank out new and creative work.  But he sneaks in a chapter devoted to their bosses.  It is pure gold.  In very clear and concise terms, Matt delineates between the two styles of companies I reference above. 

There is one really strong theme that courses through Matt's work.  It is the foundation and framework for moving beyond trend.  It begins with a passion for design.  And it ends with the ability to explain your output.  What informed us?  Why did it?  And where did this influence come from?  Matt asks:

How can you problem solve, or create "new," or "get it" (and help others "get it") if you never did in the first place?

The ability of a designer to move beyond trend is directly related to the work that they put in between the passion part and the explanation part.  Matt guides the student of design here with a carefully created map on how to get there and how to become a culture creator at the same time.

Matt designed this book himself and infuses brilliant pictures, illustration and art to help tell his story. 

I smoked-n-signed Beyond Trend.  It is one of the best books I've ever read!

"Jeepers dave, that's a pretty strong statement!"

You know why I feel so strongly about this book?  Because I think it's not only a recipe for designers to elevate their game above status-quo, but it will also help other creatives like artists and writers!!

One Small Step Can Change Your Life

One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer.

Motivated by the questions, How do people succeed?  and How do successful people stay successful? Robert writes a book about change utilizing Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement.

Robert's mantra is to perform small steps of continuous improvement.  One gaze at the chapters in his book and you will begin to get a feel:

Why Kaizen Works

Ask Small Questions

Think Small Thoughts

Take Small Actions

Solve Small Problems

Bestow Small Rewards

Identify Small Moments

Kaizen For Life

I like this book!  It is small, portable, digestible, believable and most importantly, doable.  You can crack it open, read five minutes and actually start to put it to work.  Really.

Rothacker Reviews has been going through some change.  I created a journal for guidance.  One thing that I try to write in it each day is...one thing.  What one thing can I do today that moves me into the direction of accomplishing my goal?  Thank you Robert for providing that one thing thing that has helped...your book.

Why Listen to dave?

About dave:  From the tag line underneath my site's name you can see I write reviews on books, businesses and folks.  You can also see that I am neither a celebrity, leader or expert.  Why then should you read my stuff and take action on my recommendations?

I like to think that I have an eye and ear for people who are sincere, authentic and want to succeed. I am attracted to people or things who travel in the opposite direction of status-quo.  In a world of change, status-quo was yesterday.  And in a world of change, status-quo is a greased rope that survivors do not trust.  The opposite?  Those are people who are constantly learning and evolving.  They walk about in the world eyes wide open.  They observe, they listen, they synthesize and then they produce (or try to with all of their might), stuff that makes the world a better place.

As a dad, husband and Baby Boomer, I care very deeply about this:  I passionately want the younger generations to succeed and the older generation to be valued!  To know and understand me then, is to know the lens in which I view the world. 

Escape from Corporate America

Escape from Corporate America by Pamela Skillings

Do you get the Sunday-night blues?  For me the metamorphosis began around three o'clock in the afternoon and developed into a full blown stomach ache by six.  I was impossible to be around.  The Monday march to work was a march into the gas chamber. 

Jeeze dave, tell us how you really feel!

Sorry.  Raw nerves on this topic.  The title of Pamela's book was good enough to make me look inside.  Once I did, I never came up for air!  The first word that came to mind as I put Pamela's book down was PROLIFIC!  As in a ton of useful information and insight.  My mind's measuring stick: "Does this person, place or thing add value?  Am I better off for having crossed their / its path?  Have I learned something?"  In Pamela's case, yes, yes and yes!

Pamela provides a foolproof method to determine whether or not her book is for you.  Take a minute, visit Pamela's site and take this quiz.  The lower the score, the more you need her book.

Around interesting testimonials and case studies throughout her work, Pamela leads not only with the quiz, but a methodical discussion on whether or not escape is best for you.  Ok, after you return from the tattoo parlor with "I MUST ESCAPE" tattooed on your forehead, the transition into Pamela's various methods of escape provide quite an enjoyable read.  Pamela finishes with advice on obstacles that you will encounter following the jailbreak.  Finally, Pamela provides a resource guide at the end that is also available and updated here.

This book was smoked-n-signed.

Writers: How to Create

Ms. Writer, in a world of sameness, how can your work stand out; how can it be different?  According to Matt Mattus, Senior Director/Creative - Intellectual Development Property at Hasbro, you need to become a culture creator.

Matt recently wrote an article in the December isssue of HOW magazine titled: Become a Cultural Creator.  There is no available link to the article at this time, but I will say, this is one article worth the price of the magazine, which is available at most chain bookstores. 

To wet your appetite, I'll list Matt's top ten ways to become a cultural creator:

Have endless curiosity

Do research

Develop intellect

Be respectful

Gravitate to excellence

Develop expertise

Be interested in validity

Create fearlessly

Respect rarity

Be original

If as a writer, you would like people to connect with the meaning of your work, you should embrace Matt's guidelines!

According to Wikipedia the word culture comes from the latin word cultura, stemming from the word colere, and means to cultivate.

If you look at Matt's list, every single item takes hold of the verb cultivate and envelops it.  Take for instance curiosity.  If as a writer, you do not ooze curiosity, you are going through the motions.  As a matter of fact, you should lay your body down in a puddle so those who pack their lives to the brim with curiosity don't have to get their feet wet. To be curious is to take the gas cap off of the tank.  To cultivate is to fill er up...with the discovery of new things. 

With each different picture taken; with each different experienced lived; with each different entry in your writer's journal, you are nurturing, growing, improving, tending and fostering the grist for your creative mill. 

Even if someone were able to stoke their creative mill with exactly the same stuff as yours, the product would never be the same.  You know why...there isn't another you.  (my wife would leave the planet if there was another me :)  What comes out will always be different.  The key however, is to get the stuff into your mill and then give yourself a chance to be different.

Okay, put down your keyboard and slowly back away from the computer.  Good.  Now go out and pick up a copy of this magazine today!

Here is a little inexpensive something to help you in the process of cultivating:

Jack's Notebook

Jack's Notebook by Gregg Fraley

Do you remember when the World Series games were played in the afternoon?  Do you know what a young teenage boy did with a hollowed out book......on one of those October afternoons......while at school?  Why listened to the ballgame of course.  I, errrrr he had to trick the teachers into thinking he was studying.

Do you know what Gregg Fraley does by writing Jack's Notebook?  He spins a tale about Jack, a young man who is tired of the daily grind.  He wants a job that has meaning, that makes him jump out of bed and look forward to the day ahead.  Jack joins forces with Dreadlocks girl - Molly, and together they set forth upon a page-turning adventure in search of a new job for Jack.  One key to Jack's success is that he carries a notebook around and journals the journey.  Mr. Fraley however, does something else.  He tricks us. Just when we think we're being held spellbound by an interesting story, we're really being taught how to creatively solve problems.

CPS (Creative Problem Solving) was developed by master creative guru Alex Osborn and now retired professor, Dr. Sidney J. Parnes.  Gregg weaves his own version of CPS throughout Jack's adventure.  He also provides a reference guide to the process in the back of the book.

Gregg says to not get too up tight about processes and methods.  He breaks it down into basics.  Make a list and then make a choice.  One part about this I really, really like.  Do not judge your ideas while making your list.  This will stifle creativity and imagination.  Instead just get the ideas out of your head. I have found that once you've created your list, it's best to let it simmer and brew for a day before beginning to make choices.

This book was Smoked-n-Signed!

Pick up a copy of Jack's Notebook, pick up a notebook for yourself --- and let the journey begin!

Tampa Romance Authors / Writing

Do you have a soft and warm spot in your heart for Romance?  Can you, dear Tampa Bay neighbor, envision cuddling up with a good Romance novel in front of the fireplace...even though you only get to actually use that fireplace once a year?  Sure you can!  Can you envision yourself as the leading female character in that book?  You can do that too!  And why not?  Fantasy is therapy for the challenges we face in everyday life.

Girl yearns for guy.  But girl plays hard to get.  Guy starts suddenly slipping away.  Girl concocts mad scheme to win guy.  Girl gets taste of guy.  Sex involved.  Exquisite amenities cloak every scene. Guy begins to really dig girl.  More sex.  Guy suddenly kidnapped by bad guys.  Conflict sets in.  Girl saves Guy.  Mad, passionate sex involved.  Guy and Girl marry.  Happy ending. (my wife tells me in the real world of romance writing there is probably a little more sex involved :)

Did you ever wonder who writes these heart-throbbing, page-turning tales of love?  How would you like to meet Virginia, C.L., Elissa, Ann and LInnea?...a few accomplished and very successful authors.  You can.  And they'll even autograph one of their books for you!  Stop out Saturday, November 8th between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., to the Barnes & Noble located in the Carrollwood neighborhood.

But that's not all!

If you buy a book at Barnes and Noble that day, you'll help the folks who help our sick children.  You'll be helping All Children's Hospital - Tampa Guild.  All that you have to do is mention this number to the cashier when you buy your books that day:  376236

Why not nurture that warm spot in your heart and help kids in need at the same time!!  See you there!

To the rest of my friends throughout the United States: Shop at ANY Barnes and Noble Nov.5 - Nov. 10 and a portion of your sale will be donated to All Children's Hospital Tampa Branch!  Just mention this number to the cashier that day:  376236 and you will be helping kids in need!

Their Eyes Were Watching God

The National Endowment for the Arts has a program called The Big Read.  The purpose of The Big Read is to restore reading to the center of American culture.  The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.  The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

I first heard about The Big Read in a St Petersberg Times Newspaper in Education insert.  In the past I had gotten a little goofy and sappy over another publication by the St Pete Times called tbt*.  The tbt* is a free, daily publication that has a witty, articulate and humerous voice that is most soothing.  I have to tell you though, the NIE brings on a whole nuther level of goofiness!  Here is a description in their own words:

Beyond newsprint. In the know. Online. Plugged in. In The Times.

The Times Newspaper in Education program offers students and teachers a world of free learning resources including classroom newspapers and supplements, multimedia reports, podcasting and blogging opportunities.

A newspaper that truly cares about education within the community!  And another thing, an association with the NIE speaks volumes about their sponsors.  The sponsors are listed on the right hand side page of the Web site.

Sorry, got a little side tracked.  The book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is why I started writing here today in the first place.  This book was written by Zora Neale Hurston and published in 1937.  This is a touching, powerful, humerous and scary trek through early twentieth century, rural Florida that takes Janie Crawford, a southern black girl who clashes with the values others impose on her, on a journey to find herself.

If you read and write about non fiction business topics, you must read this book.  Zora's brilliant use of metpahors combined with oscilating narrative and southern black dialogue will shake the business cobwebs from your head and provide much needed humanism to infiltrate your subconscious.

Visit here to learn more about Zora Neale Hurston. 

Do You Matter?

Do You Matter? by Robert Brunner and Stewart Emery with Russ Hall

Why yes Virginia, you do!

Does your company matter?

Well Virginia, we're not sure about that!

Here is what this book is all about.  I've read the book twice and the authors do a nice, succinct job in describing it themselves.

I have already read somewhere someone whining about the author's excessive use of Apple as an example.  It did not bother me one bit.  As a matter of fact, it helps to enhance the book's main point. 

Here is a visual that I had twice through Do You Matter?  Robert and Stewart standing in front of an auditorium filled with CEO's from the world's top companies presenting a seminar on what the book is about.  The CEO's then leave the seminar, book in hand.  Back at their office, they shelve the book and go back to business as usual. 

It certainly is not that Robert and Stewart's message isn't compelling enough.  Delivered on the great white horse of Design powerhouse Pentagram, it's actually quite piercing.  The problem is that the CEO's minds are shelled in titanium.

If you work for a company that does not holistically embrace this concept of design, (read: titanium shelled cranium), I suggest you use this book as a What Color is Your Parachute? guide to escape.

The greatest value in my opinion, of Do You Matter? can be found in applying the question to You, Inc.  It could be You as a writer, You as a student, You as a worker, You as a sole proprietor or You as a mom.  In addition to the customer experience, do you matter to those with whom you interact?  Can you put yourself in their shoes?  Do you provide value?  If so, consistently?  In a consistent manner?

You can have a lot of fun using the complete, holistic design that the lads talk about here, to build a better sparkling You, Inc.  Tom would be most proud! 

This book was smoked-n-signed.  ...and I am recommending it to anyone who will listen!

A Lifetime of Secrets

A Lifetime of Secrets, is the fourth Post Secret book in a series by by Frank Warren.

I have a couple of different processes that I go through while writing a post.  Sometimes I aim for polish.  Other times I'll polish after I've launched.  I always however, strive to get beyond a point of raw work - words that need attention before the polish stage.  For my thoughts here on A Lifetime of Secrets, I choose raw.

And it feels really good to do so...

Did you ever use the term, "you can't do that in Russia."

Well, the absolutely exhilarating feeling here is, "you can't write like this in a newspaper or magazine."

Imagine holding a thought inside that terrified you so much, you couldn't mention it to one other human being.  Or some little kernel of knowledge about your company - if you were to mention - would get you fired.  Or feeling such utter despair about something.  Or wanting to retaliate for an injustice that someone caused you.  Or declaring to the world that you were about to do something.  Or sharing with at least one other human being the pain another caused.  Or of not being able to tell another about a deep sexual belief. 

A Lifetime of Secrets is like a message that one puts in a bottle and casts it adrift, with one exception.  Lots of people can read the message in a bottle.  And for the writer that liberation is exhilarating. 

A Lifetime of Secrets is like writing in your own diary, with one exception.  The entire world can read it.

A Lifetime of Secrets is like taking pain pills.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of hope delivered in a sparkling brass and wood carriage of artwork.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of despair draped in cloak and dagger works of art.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of love shot across the ship's bow in arrows of beauty.

A Lifetime of Secrets are soul-releasing messages drawn in crayons from the heart.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of desire saddled on a Clydesdale of prestige.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of desire laced in brown paper and bowed in pink.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of fear cloaked in crayon and charcoal.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of truth journaled on cardboard canvass.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of truth etched on postcards from the soul.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of truth released from the mind's dungeon.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages to one's self, told to the world.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of hope scribed tickets, receipts and napkins.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of hope told to the world and aimed for one.

A Lifetime of Secrets are messages of hope, hoping to be understood.

It's a cold winter day when the door bell rings.  You sign for the package and head back to the den.  You look at the delivery.  It's wrapped in brown paper and bound in string.  The return address is in red and the address is in blue.  You gaze into the fireplace as your soul warms.  Your best friend has sent you a gift and you whisper thanks - as if she is sitting right next to you.  You untie the string and carefully remove the brown paper.  It's a message in a bottle labeled A Lifetime of Secrets.