Scott Levy

Ideas collected.

The Value of a Good Idea Compounds Over Time - Ode to a Brick

By 1954, a Denmark-based toy manufacturer called "The LEGO Company" had established a reputation for making high quality wooden toys. Some five years earlier they had introduced a plastic toy called “the automatic binding brick.”  It met a poor reception that spawned prophesies of failure in the industry press.  LEGO made good wooden toys; this brick just was not happening.

Then, something funny happened.  A junior managing director of the company, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, had an idea.   He had just spoken with a toy store buyer who lamented the fact that certain things were missing from toys of the day. Toys  didn't work together - there was no way for toys to interact with other toys. Toys did not provide a system of play. 

Kirk Christiansen's  The idea greaw into a new vision for LEGO products. Initially it was outlined in broad terms, without a specific product in mind.  Then, the entire LEGO product line - some 200 different toys - were scoured to see which had the best chance of measuring up to the   That vision was summarized, according to LEGO, like this:

  • Unlimited play potential
  • For girls and boys
  • Fun for every age
  • Year-round play
  • Healthful, quiet play
  • Long hours of play
  • Development/ imagination/ creativity
  • The more toys, the greater their value
  • Extra sets available
  • Quality in every detail

LEGO found one product with a real chance to live up to the vision.  The time of the automatic binding brick - a failure according to some -  had finally come.  

The brick was refined.  The company developed a precision mass production system around it.  The idea spread and grew. 

As of this writing,  5 billion hours per year are spent playing with LEGO bricks. The brick has twice won the award of "Toy of the Century." LEGO based video games are big sellers on systems like the Wii.  The bricks are featured in YouTube stop motion video remakes of Star Wars.  There are new character lines, and entire movies in an world of LEGO  There is LEGOland.

The LEGO brick may be the most  widely known -  and loved - toy in the world.  It is certainly the backbone of one the largest toy companies in the world.  The "binding brick" has become synonymous with the company itself.  I say "LEGO", you see a picture of the brick in your minds eye.

It's another example of the idea put forth in so many other disciplines and arts: that any given idea grow in value over time; that a good idea is worthy of refinement and development.   This doesn't mean EVERY idea is a good idea. It does mean that even simple ideas can have their value compound the way interest compounds on an investment.

When the time is right, those ideas can offer tremendous returns.  Just think about that little brick.

Collaboration Caught In the Wild: Whitley, Lanois and Blade

Daniel Lanois has had a hand in many recordings that were favorites when I was coming up.  He has been called on by artists like Bob Dylan,  U2, Peter Gabriel and a host of others.    Brian Blade seems to be intent on reminding about  everything I love about the drumset - he is one of my favorite drummers. This lady Trixie is new to  me.  

In any case, this creative process is fun to watch.  It offers insights into the recording process of one of the arts most prolific and respected producers.  He is working like a conductor and providing an additional set of ears and energy.  It reminds me: while the musicians here are top notch in their skill sets, recording, producing a record is its own set of skills involving management, leadership and creativity in addition to the various technical skills required.   It also reminds me that even the best stand to gain when interacting with other equally committed individuals.  Makes me miss music recording. Hope you enjoy. 

Wisdom from the Guy Who Brought You Daffy and Bugs...

In his autobiography, Chuck Amuck,  the creator of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and a host of other characters you remember,  offers some advice that has proven very useful.   In response to questions about how he got into art, and how to get kids in to art, Mr. Jones relates a story of sorts about his father.   It seems the elder Mr. Jones liked to start new businesses, and like any entrepeneur had his share of business failures.  One of the first steps for any of those businesses was to to buy stationary and writing tools...  As a result there were a lot of paper and pencils around the Jones household.  These conditions led young Chuck Jones to play with paper and pen and develop his own little characters.

Chuck's advice (abstracted and paraphrased) : if you want children to try and/or embrace creative arts or activities, make the materials available, easy to get to, and get out of the way.

As I listen to my kids make music, stories, and pictures, and watch the games recently created via MIT's Scratch project, I have to tip my hat once again to Chuck Jones. When I catch myself coaching or advising my kids frequently..I like to remember Chuck's advice.

By the way, If you want an entertaining read, check  out Chuck Amuck: The Life and Times of an Animated Cartoonist.  It's easy to loose perspective on just how creative Looney Tunes were when they came out.

 

Interesting Perspectives on What Matters Now

Guaranteed to get your mind going: download this free ebook to get takes on "What Matters Now" featuring thoughts from 70 influential authors. Collected/edited by Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.com).  Posterous's preview widget is slow with this file so  I recommend clicking the download button.

Click here to download:
what-matters-now-2.pdf (3 MB)
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Pattern Languages vs. Jargon: Musings

This week I got a rare treat when friend and client David Rolston came over and spent some time in my backyard. Dave is an acclaimed landscape architect whose work is regularly featured in magazines and TV. Watching him work and listening to him discuss his process I was reminded again and again of Christopher Alexander’s description of “pattern languages” in his book A Timeless Way of Building.

Pattern languages, as Alexander describes them, are the languages used by a given skill set or discipline to allow people not just to communicate but to conceptualize effectively. Yesterday I learned about creating a “terminus” for a path, the idea of borrowing the idea of asymmetry from nature to position plants, and creating various types of features and effects to design the overall landscape. While learning what Dave was sharing, I was reminded of my musician days. Back then, when a teacher explained a new technique, I often had the sensation of a light going off in my head or a door opening: simple concepts often provide huge leaps in ability and results.

In particular I remember once picking the brain of one of my favorite drummers and musicians, Brannen Temple. Listening to Brannen talk about where he “sat in the pocket” and evoking different feelings in the music was mind opening. It allowed me to listen to and play music with new insights.


This idea was also reinforced in my meeting this week with cause marketing expert Brian Powell of the Good Concepts Blog. As Brian explained to me the history and concepts involved in “cause marketing”, I found my thoughts focusing and new ideas emerging. What at first seemed to me to be jargon turned out to be words that helped focus thoughts and produce effective ideas – a pattern language.

Rewind further to my enjoyable lunch meeting with syndicated AP writer and author Jaime Aron. I wanted to grill Jaime a little bit about writing to find ways to improve. Again, I found myself listening to words and ideas that helped me focus my thoughts and generated new ideas. In this case, the words were a little more familiar since some of the ideas were introduced in my school days. Never the less, it is another example of language shaping thought and allowing people to efficiently discuss “how to” achieve a given goal.

In an example from the world of management consulting, spoke during the week Jim and Lisa from Thought Ensemble, a company that consults on IT strategy. Again, a specific language used – this time to discuss how strategy consulting engagements are structured.

I have been fortunate to study Tae Kwon Do under a world kickboxing champion and 9th degree Grand Master Abel Villareal. Again, in these studies, language is a powerful tool for learning and developing skills.

In all cases, language can help think, express and manifest ideas.

All of the above raises an interesting question for me: where is the line between pattern language and jargon? My intuition is that a pattern language focuses, improves communication and improves results. In contrast, jargon confuses or limits things.