Letterboxd’s Post

Title: "The Musical Viking: A Humorous Journey of Transformation". I created this piece with both pencil and digital techniques: "The Musical Viking" presents a whimsical exploration of profound themes, delving into the transformative power that lies within every individual. This fun piece humorously depicts a shift from the rigidity of a warrior's ethos to the fluidity of a musician's soul, symbolizing a profound metamorphosis from the pursuit of destruction to the embrace of creativity. It serves as a poignant reminder that it is never too late for anyone, even the most battle-hardened warrior, to lay down their arms and embark on a journey of self-discovery, wielding the instruments of harmony and creativity with newfound vigor. While this transition may require patience and perseverance, as one adapts to their evolving identity, it ultimately leads to a harmonious fusion of strength and artistry, embodying the essence of personal growth and transformation. "The Musical Viking" invites viewers to contemplate the boundless potential for reinvention that resides within each of us, celebrating the beauty of embracing change and embracing the power of creativity. Follow my work on Instagram: Http://https://lnkd.in/gaM-DdXp #digital #creativity #digitalart #digitalartwork #characterdesign #digitalillustration #characterdesign

One of my favorite lines from the musical Hamilton is when Burr says to Hamilton “talk less, smile more.” So many of us have a tendency to overexplain, to give more information than is necessary, and to talk to fill what we think will be an awkward silence. Next time you’re in a conversation, try Burr’s advice - talk less and smile more. State your case, and then stop. Give the other party time to process. Don’t rush to fill in the conversation.The silence always seems longer to us than to them. #ProTip #EffectiveCommunication #SayLess #SitWithTheSilence #LeadershipSkills #ExecutiveCoaching #ProfessionalGrowth

"Stormy Weather" This great creative musical, which premiered on July 21, 1943, showcased an all African-American cast, including Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Cab Calloway. The plot is a conventional Hollywood boy meets girl; boy loses girl; boy finds girl affair. In addition, the movie, produced by white studio executives, suffers from some racial stereotyping. After all, it was produced during a time of considerable racial intolerance. The fact the movie was produced at all is remarkable. But the musical numbers are pure joy. You can watch the whole movie at no cost and enjoy such great songs as "Ain't Misbehavin", "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" and, of course, "Stormy Weather" at the link. As the website 4 Star Films observes, "Stormy Weather takes ... a vast collection of talent from vaudeville and Broadway to Hollywood and lets it shine. Despite its share of flaws, what remains is a phenomenal array of artists, performers, and visionaries. Stormy Weather is an important remembrance and historical document, lest we forget how diverse and rich American culture really is." The Library of Congress selected "Stormy Weather" for preservation in the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."  Creativity happens every day. There will always be obstacles, like prejudice and ignorance, and your efforts may not result in perfection, but never allow these to stop you from acting creatively. https://lnkd.in/eBU985vV

“We’re all showing up for music-making together.” If you’re not familiar with Jacob Collier, he’s a musical phenom who took the world by storm after his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" went viral on YouTube 10 years ago. Like many others, I find his curiosity and playful approach to the creative process inspiring and original. A couple of weeks ago I saw him perform for the first time at the Greek Theatre in LA. Jacob is well known for his energetic live performances where he often conducts the audience like a choir. I’ve seen many videos of him doing this online. As an audience member, I was not sure how he was going to pull it off. I talked to a number of strangers before the show and most of them, like me, were seeing him for the first time. Nevertheless, somewhere in the middle of the show he silently asked thousands of people to sing together in harmony. I’m not a singer, but when you let sound come out and adjust your pitch to find harmony with others, it’s fun. You can’t help but smile and feel a sense of wonder. How is this possible? How are we all doing this? It gave me the “goosies” as JLo would say on our NBC World of Dance show. Harmonizing with others is about as joyful as anything I can think of. Wouldn’t you agree? Since that concert, I’ve thought a lot about how we harmonize with others in life. There are often underlying patterns and structures at work. But how intentional are we in creating harmony? Within our organizations, there is a system of interrelated people and processes coming together to achieve an aim. There can be harmony or discord. Sadly, a lot of organizations just make noise. What I saw at Jacob’s concert was leadership and a spirit of cooperation and common understanding. People showed up and gave voice to the musician within them. What a blast. Isn't that what we all aspire to be part of? #jacobcollier #creativeprocess #systemsthinking #thegoodcfo

“We’re all showing up for music-making together.” If you’re not familiar with Jacob Collier, he’s a musical phenom who took the world by storm after his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" went viral on YouTube 10 years ago. Like many others, I find his curiosity and playful approach to the creative process inspiring and original. A couple of weeks ago I saw him perform for the first time at the Greek Theatre in LA. Jacob is well known for his energetic live performances where he often conducts the audience like a choir. I’ve seen many videos of him doing this online. As an audience member, I was not sure how he was going to pull it off. I talked to a number of strangers before the show and most of them, like me, were seeing him for the first time. Nevertheless, somewhere in the middle of the show he silently asked thousands of people to sing together in harmony. I’m not a singer, but when you let sound come out and adjust your pitch to find harmony with others, it’s fun. You can’t help but smile and feel a sense of wonder. How is this possible? How are we all doing this? It gave me the “goosies” as JLo would say on our NBC World of Dance show. Harmonizing with others is about as joyful as anything I can think of. Wouldn’t you agree? Since that concert, I’ve thought a lot about how we harmonize with others in life. There are often underlying patterns and structures at work. But how intentional are we in creating harmony? Within our organizations, there is a system of interrelated people and processes coming together to achieve an aim. There can be harmony or discord. Sadly, a lot of organizations just make noise. What I saw at Jacob’s concert was leadership and a spirit of cooperation and common understanding. People showed up and gave voice to the musician within them. What a blast. Isn't that what we all aspire to be part of? #jacobcollier #creativeprocess #systemsthinking #thegoodcfo

Here's another trend to watch for... A lot of optimism exists about the effects of Generative AI. But it'll take time. In the short term, many SaaS-embedded PS organizations (what some call ESOs) will struggle to fully realize the AI-driven innovations they hope for. Lots of reasons for this, but among them: - lack of defined governance strategies and usage guidelines - a lack of relevant underlying data and structure to leverage AI efficiently - lack of technical expertise The above are fairly generic. For ESOs specifically, I think it'll be the age-old balancing act between utilization & revenue recognition goals. Successful ESOs will have the discipline and sponsorship to invest the non-billable hours required to enable and implement AI solutions and practices that will serve PS resources so they can serve their customers.

Miss these trends, and your team might get left behind in 2025. 💫 Big thanks to Steve Beckley for including me in this conversation and bringing together insights from industry voices on the key shifts reshaping Professional Services. Here's what some of the top minds are saying: 📈 PS & CS will merge to become a revenue-driven growth engine for businesses. 💰 PS will shift to profit centers focused on contributing to company margins. ⚙️ Efficiency through technology will streamline processes with AI and automation. 📉 Budgets will tighten, making direct customer value quantification essential. 📊 Outcome-based KPIs will ensure every engagement delivers measurable results. 🚀 Speed will be key in sales, with pre-defined services and pricing. 💡 Innovation will drive new pricing models focused on subscription and outcomes. Which of these trends resonates with you most? What other changes do you see shaping Professional Services in 2025? Kudos to Martin Roxby, Doug Baxter, Charles Rattray, Mitchell Palsson, Robert Haukenberry, Mark Sloan, Kyle Enman, Jens Harder

When we imagine the ‘perfect presenter’, society tells us to think: - Zero filler words - Perfect pauses - Musical melodies - Unwavering confidence But, that isn’t what makes you engaging. The best speakers: - Have conversations - Share personal stories - Express unbridled passion - Listen as they speak and adjust The former has its place, but is minor in comparison. The latter is not easy, though the first step? Remember, connection over perfection. Then channel your talk from there. PS) Who do you know that embodies that latter list?

Huge problem with innovation - there are 2 models - a company that imprisons a customer (sells something people need) or a company that liberates a customer (makes something available that improves the quality of life for people without asking for anything in return) eg respectively - Tesla cars (huge cost involved) vs Google (no charge to use their search engine). The core problem is that Capitalism's Innovation favours companies that imprisons rather than liberates people. Particularly so in Materialism vs Idealism/Informationism ie the Tesla car vs eg google translate. So - I could go through the religious texts and help people to understand them - people will benefit from it but I won't be able to survive despite doing the right thing. And therein lies the problem with Innovation - within Capitalism, it's close to impossible to do the right thing and to drive innovation in areas which liberate rather than imprison people. If you love someone (the basic message of religion is to love) - then set them free... ... not force them to buy your product and then service your bottome line after having being trapped in your ecosystem.

Just posted on DCTA, my review of the new musical on the life and legacy of the Old Testament king DAVID at AMT: