jan de man

New context emerging

A number of weeks ago I hinted at some new plans in the making. As things have developed they are starting to look mighty interesting. It all started out with a few blokes kicking around a few ideas about future collaboration. This produced a number of potential new offerings to buyers of smart strategically oriented services such as leadership development, change processes and strategic development - all set in the context of a new world of work and organization. 

Then the idea of taking over my father's publishing company Bookhouse emerged into the process and made things very interesting. And to make a long story short we have arrived at the idea of creating a new type of platform for knowledge creation, production and distribution. Obviously there is a lot to be thought about around publishing and digitalization. But we also believe there has to be much more focus on the interactions and conversations between storytellers and readers/listeners/viewers. And if this is to happen Bookhouse as a publisher needs a clearer mission than producing specific content on paper. 

And yes, this new mission includes serving very good coffee in a very conversation friendly environment.

Anyway, crafting this new mission is part of what is going on now. And also negotiating terms with my father for the acquisition of the firm. If all goes well me and my partners will be in the publishing business at the turn of the year. Publishing from here on to be seen upon very broadly. More on that in a coming post.

//jan

Longing for time to consolidate

The down sides of being a free agent are relatively few I'd say. But the last couple of days have become quite frustrating. The reason is in essence really doubly or triply good. But it becomes frustrating and ultimately a little bad. On the one hand I have lots of interesting work to do. A variety of projects that bring in income to support me and my family. Which is good. 

New projects are incoming at a pace which is engouraging. Also good. 

At the same time I have this entrepreneurial thing that is in the making which brings together so much of what I've done in recent years with old and new ideas and old and new business partners. That is even awesome. 

The frustrating bit is that this entrepreneurial thing is coming together in my head and in practice, but I'm so locked up in deliveries that I can't get my shit together and produce a business plan. The business plan is the necessary next step. It is what I need to move ahead with ideas, partners, etc. It is what I really want to do now, but delivery gets in the way. This is not good.

I'm already using as much of my spare time as I allow myself. Not good.

Luxury problem you might say. I agree. But also the curse of being a free agent with an entrepreneurial drive. This happens once in a while. No way around it, only deal with it. And I find that just expressing the frustration is the best way for me to deal with it.

Thanks for "listening" to my gripe.

//jan

Tales from Berlin, part 1

I spent of couple of days in Berlin last week with some network collegues. It was an awesome experience in several ways. Berlin in itself is a wonderful city. A lot had happened since my list visit, 14 years ago. Lots of new amazing buildings. A vibrant creative community. The contrast between the old West and East is still there, but has faded some. On top of this, nice and warm weather. Made hanging out at cafés and bars even easier...

My friends and I gave ourselves the task to observe and explore the city. We roamed around different parts of the city. And we met people. Two meetings stand out afterwards - meeting Felcitas at Active Philanthropy and meeting Wiebke at The Hub Berlin.

More on these visits and my "take homes" from Berlin in my next post.

//jan

Alan Webber in Stockholm Sep 30

If this hot news hasn't reached you I'd like to inform you that I'm involved in setting up a cool event with Alan Webber, author of Rules of Thumb, here in Stockholm on September 30.

The occasion is that Bookhouse Publishing is releasing the Swedish translation called Tumregler. There will be a launch reception at 17.30 on Sep 30, but the big event is the leadership seminar at 15.00 - 17.30.

Just follow this link to Bookhouse's web site for more information and to reserve a space at the events.

Alan is also in Stockholm on Oct 1. Please let me know if you'd like to book him for other events on that day.

//jan

Why, oh why?

Why can't organizations be more humane?

Why are we humans unwilling to adapt to the feedback the planet is giving us?

Why do so many people accept to live without exploring their full potential?

Why is poverty so wide-spread when we have more than enough for everyone?

Why are greedy, self-centered managers allowed to be promoted?

Why is school so out of tune of the developments in the world?

Why do book publishers think so conservatively about their customers?

Why is service so bad in so many places?

Why is creativity genuinely not sought after in most organizations?

Why don't we ask why more often?

--

Asking why is a good way to find opportunity and new energy to create and change stuff.

//jan

30/9-1/10 -- Alan Webber i Stockholm

Jag är och min nätverkskollega Mikael Brander planerar med Bookhouse Publishing ett antal aktiviteter med Alan Webber 30/9 - 1/10. Hoppa in på den här sidan för mer info och intresseanmälan.

Det här kommer bli grymt bra och kul!

//jan

Two tracks getting integrated

Work after summer vacation has me on two different tracks. One is the "business as usual" track with my ongoing consulting work - designing leadership seminars, running workshops, facilitating change processes. The other track is business development, of which I have hinted a little here on the blog. This has always been part of my work strategy. I don't profit maximize consulting, instead I try to strike a balance between that kind of work and more entrepreneurial stuff. 

I've always been a somewhat reluctant consultant, and I've never really had the passion to become "the world's best consultant in area XXX". No 10,000 hours here (read Outliers).

What does drive me is developing new projects, concepts and businesses. Always small scale, always networked. I guess what makes me like these processes so much is that I get to work with smart people that CHOSE for themselves to get involved. Like I do myself. This creates a totally different dynamic, a dynamic that I have yet to experience in my client work.

My current business development "portfolio" is probably the most exciting in many many years. One super exciting leadership develpment product in the making, one awesome seminar and a small company with amazing potential that me and a couple of friends are setting up to buy. And they are all magically connected - through people and content. I would love to say more, but it'll have to wait a little.

The beauty of these three projects is that they allow me to integrate my two tracks. And the common denominator is the exploration of and practical experimentation in a new world of work and organization. Now, here I believe I've put in my 10,000 hours. I just haven't looked at it that way before.

I'm hoping this autumn marks a whole new level of work for me. Yes, yes.

//jan

Being creative on demand

For a couple of days I've been trying to absorb the right energy for a creative spree I need for a business development project. I've actively tried to put myself into the right mode, but it just won't happen. I've given myself time so I don't have to press myself on demand.

Well, now it has become time to deliver. Tomorrow this fluffy stuff comes to an end. Instead I'll just force myself into it. Get working on it, get frustrated, start over, get more frustrated, etc before the breakthrough comes. Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually.

Once again I experience that being creative (for me) is hard work. No devine inspiration. No magical help from the gods. 

But the dream never seems to go away. 

Darn.  

//jan

Ungdomsarbetslösheten

Ungdomsarbetslösheten är provocerande hög, uppåt 30% hörde jag på radion idag. Jag har här på bloggen tidigare framfört tankar om att utbildningssystemet också har en uppgift att hålla ungdomar borta från arbetsmarknaden. Våra makthavare vet att det inte finns plats för våra unga, både pga rationaliseringar och lagstiftningen på arbetsmarknaden. 

En fantasi jag har att våra politiker, medvetet eller omedvetet, satsat hårt på att hålla så många ungdomar som möjligt borta från arbetsmarknaden så länge som möjligt. För att de stora pensionsavgångarna skall hinna bli av. Och för att en expansion på arbetsmarknaden skall kunna ske. Det är så jag "hör" aktuella utspel om att öka antalet studieplatser och höja studiemedlen.

Som det ser ut håller den strategin på att gå i baklås. Vi har inte en ekonomi som sväljer tonvis med högskoleutbildade. Vi är inte ett högteknologiskt och innovationsdrivande land, även om vi gärna vill tro det. Vi är Nordens japaner - förfina och förbättra. Kvalitet och effektivitet. 

Det är alldeles förfärligt att unga med fel förutsättningar uppmuntras att gå högskola, dra på sig studieskulder, och sedan möter arbetslöshet. Särskilt provocerande är det att många invandrarungdomar står med nitlott. 

Jag sökt lite, men inte hittat statistik som kan påvisa att fler högskolestuderande också resulterar i fler ungdomar i arbete - jämfört med andra typer av insatser.

Vad som förvånar mig mest mitt i allt detta är ändå att samhället inte jobbar mer med att etablera en svensk entreprenörskapskultur. Ungdomarna möter arbetslöshet, men har inget med sig i bagaget som gör att de själva kan generera sin försörjning. Det här är förstås en ganska grov generalisering, det finns givetvis lysande undantag. Men undantagen belyser också min poäng. Jag vågar sätta en rejäl slant på att de ungdomar som aktivt tar tag i sin situation har fått med sig de förutsättningarna från hemmet, inte från utbildningssystemet.

Jag undrar om inte vi framöver kommer att tala om en förlorad generation. För när pensionsavgångarna är klara är det snarare generationen efter som kniper de jobb som blir lediga - om det blir några att tala om. Få arbetsgivare kommer vilja engagera passiva människor som inte haft kontakt med arbetslivet på lång tid. Bördan på samhället ökar, vilket är dubbelt olyckligt. Vi är redan för få som skall betala för 40-talisternas pensioner och överkonsumtion.

Det här är en bister verklighet, som jag innerligt hoppas jag får helt fel i att förutspå.

//jan

Fall season

I'm back at work after a long and very energizing vacation. Hopefully this fall will bring out some new interesting projects alongside with the work that is already booked. 

During August, September and October I'll be running quite a few client workshops/seminars. They have a wide range with regard to content. My role is to provide meeting and process design, facilitation and some "friendly troublemaking" so groups can move forward in their thinking and practice. I'll be working with a government agency, two local governments, and a privately held company.

As for development I'm involved in building a small tribe of like-minded Swedish management, leadership and strategy thinkers. We'll be heading to Copenhagen early September for a conference on management innovation and later in September to Berlin for an mini-exploration-tour.

Lastly I'll be exploring two new business opportunities. I hope to reveal a little more about them in the coming weeks.

//jan