As I read about the lives of those who have been blessed with abundance giving away their many possessions, my inner cynicism rears its ugly head. But what gives me the right to be judgmental? Any attempt to be more conscious of our environmental impact is a step in a positive direction.

In an attempt to simplify my own life, I have been trying out a kind of Sabbath day. It is a day when I attempt not to buy anything. For the past several weeks, that day has been Sunday. I got the idea after reading Michael Pollan’s New York Times Magazine article, Why Bother?

The first Sunday I paid $10 for a dance class and I justified that was ok, as it was not a consumer good. And then came the invitation to lunch afterwards, which I could not turn down as the sun was shining in San Francisco. After a sandwich and coffee ($11.45), I bicycled home and shut the door feeling guilty. Then came the invitation to a friend’s to dinner. I couldn’t show up empty handed, so I bought some wine ($12.99). I was bummed by the time I reached my friend’s door. The only Sunday I truly fulfilled my money-free Sabbath was the Sunday I threw out my back. It took being totally incapacitated for me not to spend a dime.

Although the days are rare when I do not purchase anything, I have become more of a critical consumer. Thinking twice before I buy. Asking questions like, ‘do I really need this?’ Often the answer is no. I recognize desire plays more of a role than necessity. What gives me hope is that more people with means (at varying levels) are becoming more aware of how their consumer habits impact the environment. Whatever the reasons behind the trend towards simplicity (out of virtuousness or necessity), the point is that more and more of us are raising our consciousness and making changes.

For an interesting and informative look at consumption habits, check out: http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Bookmark This

Clarity.

Thanks to the web, we get a consistent stream of information blasted to us 24/7. Some sources are credible, some far from it. Bloggers convey their thoughts, proclivities, aversions—some effectively, and some not so much. Ads scream at us to buy certain products. We are told that we need this, that, and the other.

Some methods of communication are far more effective than others.

I believe that the key to effective communication lies in simplicity. Many individuals and businesses always insist on taking the hard way, utilizing a number of contradictory messages and methods to get a point across. My goal—and the goal of tcg—is to simplify the complicated, identify immediate solutions to a problem, and create a unified solution through clarity.

This works on a number of different scales, from simplifying the marketing strategies of clients to the way I act at work. In terms of the latter, I’m well known for my candidness in the office. I believe that one of the problems that hold businesses back is the lack of the “JDI” mindset. JDI? It stands for Just Do It, which is, quite simply, the only way things get done. Some companies are made up of a lot of TI’s (Talk about Its) and while you can discuss and dissect an issue for hours, the simplest thing to do is to just go ahead and take action. It makes life, and business, a lot more effective.

People communicate in so many different ways and business issues can get complicated quickly. Just doing it—taking action—is a united goal among the complex, creative group we have at tcg. Inspiring people to just do it requires really listening, being compassionate and treating others with respect. It’s a crazy, mixed up world, and tcg is no different—we’re truly a spontaneous melting pot of raw talent. Things could get confusing fast if we let it. But having a team with a united goal to keep communication simple has resulted in some of the most innovative and inventive work I’ve ever come across.

If it’s results you want in your business, I suggest you start by simplifying communication. You’ll be surprised by how much clarity can get things done.

Bookmark This