One of my favorite Sunday New York Times simple pleasures is when they highlight business leaaders from whom we can all learn from their collective experience. Recently, the CEO of Guidepost Solutions, Julie Myers Wood, was interviewed. When it came time to give advice to college students, she had this to say:
One thing I always say is “eat the sushi.” When I had just graduated from college, I went with my mom to Japan. We had a wonderful time, but I refused to eat the sushi. Later, when I moved to New York, I tried some sushi and loved it. The point is to be willing to try things that are unfamiliar.
And these days, we would all benefit from “eating the sushi” – trying new things, experiencing some beta testing, and taking on something that initially seems foreign or uncomfortable.
Apart from the raw fish, this is a common topic in strategy sessions, personality reviews, mobile assessment exercises, and social media analyses here at Jacobs Media – the ability to open’s one eyes to new moments, experiences, and comments. And that’s because they often help us perform better and more creatively in our core business.
So we started putting together an “Eat The Sushi” checklist – things to do that are a bit outside the transmitter (as Bob Rivers might say) that might help round us out and open our minds to new and different things. Think of it as a “bucket list” that makes you feel a little squishy and uncomfortable at first, but ultimately adds perspective. Here’s our list:
- Sign up for a social network you cannot imagine enjoying – So if you’re on Facebook, try Twitter. If you’re on both of those, consider Pinterest or Snapchat. In fact, use our Techsurvey10 format profile data to go to a site your audience frequents but you’ve never experienced.
- Drive a connected car – It’s time, because more and more of your audience are buying or leasing vehicles that have a lot more in the dash than two knobs, 12 presets, and a CD player. And if money’s an issue or it’s just not the time, take one out for a long test drive at one of your local dealers.
- Attend a non-radio conference – It could be a convention for gardening or ComicCon, but get away from the radio crowd for a couple of days, and learn how other businesses solve and approach their problems and challenges. And of course, there’s always DASH.
- Listen to a radio station in town you never listen to – Amazing, isn’t it, how there are some stations in the metro that you spend no time with. So see how the other half lives. If you work in rock, find a hip-hop station. If you’re in Hot AC, see what the sports station is doing in the very same market.
- Listen to public radio for a day (or if you’re in public radio, try the rest of the dial for a day) – Both “worlds” can learn from each other. The ongoing strength of AM/FM radio will be tied to successful stations from both sides of the aisle.
- Download a couple of apps you’d never consider – If you don’t play games on your phones, try “Words With Friends” or “Ruzzle.” If you never download news-type apps, try one of them. Experience what other mobile users are enjoying on their phones, and think about why these apps work (or don’t).
- Listen to a podcast on a topic that is outside your boundaries – You might learn something about how to stage and produce your own podcasts, and you might get turned onto a field, hobby, or avocation you know nothing about.
- Read a newspaper or a real book (assuming you don’t already).
- Visit a city (or country) you’ve never been to before.
- Do someone else’s job for an hour (but make sure yours is done first).
- Go into Best Buy or the Apple Store and purchase something you could never imagine owning.
- ????
Of course, we’re missing many things, so let us know what would make a great suggestion for this list.
And make sure you try the tekka-maki.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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This is a great bucket list for radio’s CEOs andf Presidents!
I would hope others, too. But yes, it’s a great mind-expander. Thanks, Bob.
Another one is lend a hand with a local charity. Get involved…host an event or start one of your own on a local cause. Look at how the ALS bucket challenge took off. Think of something out of the box you can do that will benefit others …in a good way to give back to your community.
~screamin
Love it, Scott. Thanks!