Month 2: Project Management

Having entered this program as a successful project manager, having worked for the last 5 years in big business managing $2 billion international portfolios for some of the most iconic brands on the planet, I figured this course would be cake walk.... Then I met Yogi! As committed to being an outstanding teacher as he is to telling bad jokes, Yogi taught me somethings that I will take to board meetings with in the future. This course was no cake walk believe me.

For our LP assignment we were asked to seek out an NPO and assist them anyway possible as a team. Our team, all being lovers of rescue animals decided to assist the SPCA of Orlando. While it was a chore trying to meet with the powers that be we still were able to help out by creating a social networking site where locals could comment on the animals up for adoptions. We hope that our efforts got some furry friends some new homes. I know one puppy that is grateful for our efforts... my new best friend and roommate CODA, who can be seen at the top of the post with her short-lived hotdog toy.

Unfortunately, I do not have our group's presentation due to the fact that our classmate who possessed the file dropped the program shortly after. Below are our preliminary thoughts and work. Also below is a paper that I wrote in regards to another assignment. I am including it because I believe it to be a well written paper and sets the course for my academic mindset.

Non-Profit Proposal: Orlando SPCA

Team SPCA will be assisting the Orlando Humane Society: The Society of Prevention to Cruelty of Animals (SPCA). Our group consists of myself, Jarrad Stallone (Project Manager), Sean Odonnell (Communications Coordinator), John Cole and Christian Gregertsen (Production Managers).

Sean and I (Jarrad) had a conversation with the head of Marketing Relations, Jake White on Monday regarding volunteering our services to the Orlando SPCA. It was agreed upon by our team and Jake that the greatest asset we as a volunteers could give them would be a more modern and user friendly website. We proposed a Myspace page that was user friendly, and easily accessible and easily updatable by virtually anyone volunteering at the SPCA. We will include blogs to keep the public informed of any upcoming events or at risk animals, create an easily manageable picture gallery that can be accessed by “friends” of the SPCA to include photos and success stories of adopted pets. I believe this will be beneficial to not only the SPCA and the greater Orlando pet population but for our team as well.

I (Jarrad Stallone) will serve as Project Manager managing timelines and resources while being the key contact with the SPCA. Sean will oversee Cole and Christian to ensure that the clients needs are met from a visual stand point.

The Medium Is The Message

Upon every generation there comes a new technology that redefines traditional methods of accomplishing goals. These new technologies come in all different shapes and forms however usually attract similar if not the same distrust and discontent. They are often met with harsh criticism and vague skepticism from those incapable of accepting change, though progress is inevitable. Examples of such occurrences can be seen throughout history with the introduction of astronomy, Christianity, the discovery of explosives, the discovery of the Americas, guns versus swords, the invention of the printing press, the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, television… the list goes on and on.

In my generation we have seen an unprecedented amount of technology advance by leaps and bounds, seemingly every time we bat an eyelash. In my tenure on this great rock I have seen many new and extremely powerful technologies not only penetrate our culture, but revise old ways of thinking about world culture, and in many ways completely redefine “world culture.” The advent of the Internet and wireless communication has unarguably redefined not only regional or world cultures but also more importantly the core of our human nature. Our instinctual and intellectual need to communicate has been altered by the ease of accessibility to one another.

Much like the technologies that have come before it, wireless communications and the Internet are under scrutiny. Unsurprisingly, the song is the same. Whenever a new communication technology is invented (eg. The telephone or the television) the argument is not how this new tool will help but how it is hurting us, or dumbing us down as a people. Rather, we should consider such technology as an “extension of ourselves” as Marshal McLuhan professed back in the 60’s, stating that these new technologies assist us in conveying ourselves more efficiently and creatively. In McLuhan’s mass communication masterpiece Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, published in 1964, he also coined the phrase still revered as the basic principal of mass communication theory “The medium is the message.” Throughout the rest of this study we will examine the medium of instant messaging/ instant communication gratification as the primary message of my generation (http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/mcluhan.html).

The concern has been raised that with the rise of instant messaging/ instant communication gratification that sincerity and authenticity and subtlety has been lost among personal communication. This was a major concern with the invention of the telephone. Without physically seeing someone while communicating with them our personal inflections through body language and subtleties would be lost and all that would be heard was cold voices. This has been proven a silly misconception and to this day many relationships are formed and strengthened through the telephone. Instant messaging takes this concept to new heights. Now, without the use of body language and tonal inflections the concept of sending cold and seemingly sterile text messages has become the norm. While I agree that text messaging depersonalizes common interpersonal conversation (which I feel will always be necessary regardless of advances to communication technology) I feel that text messaging has great advantages.

The instant message is quick, concise and information loaded. It generally gives the recipient a clear message or informative tid-bit which do not require drawn out wordy conversations. The instant message usually alludes to a further in-depth interpersonal discussion to be had at a later date. The instant message is the medium of concise information gathering. The textual message is irrelevant.

This principal is not always true. Sometimes the textual message is very relevant. Speaking from personal experience, subtlety and wit are often misinterpreted when sending instant messages, which often leads to awkwardness and unnecessary tension. Carnegie hints that the best argument is the argument avoided (Carnegie 115). Attempting to use subtleties and sarcasm should always be avoided when using instant messaging. The fully explained and defensive joke is never funny. Another serious disadvantage of the instant communication gratification is the sense of anonymity and emotionlessness of both parties involved. Staring at my instant messaging “buddy list” I see several people who are no longer my “buddies” in real life, and some whom which I wish to never speak to again. Why do I keep them within instant messaging striking distance? I’m not entirely sure. I’m sure there are several subconscious reasons but the two that immediately jump to the forefront are both selfish. One, I hope one day to make trite amends with these people, or two, one day I may wish to dig into that person to remind them how they have wronged me. In both instances the level of effortlessness and physical anonymity make it easy to extend my two cents, where as, had I the opportunity to do so face to face I would most likely avoid confrontation. On this level there is a certain amount of disregard to the recipients feelings or desires to keep the communication doors closed. The repercussions of these “olive branches” are either beneficial or detrimental depending on how you look at it.

The other major concern is that with the rise of social networking sites the level of personal interaction through physical interaction and networking is quickly becoming a thing of the past. This I would argue is false. The popularity and accessibility of social networking sites such as Myspace.com, LinkedIn.com or Match.com, etc… assist oneself in the ease of developing a broad networking base of which to call on. It touches on the idea of not anonymity but of self proclaimed importance and worthiness of attention. This relates to Carnegie’s principal of “give a dog a good name” and how to interest people. You can “make yourself” whomever you need to be by hitting talking points on your profile to rise interest in other people. You make yourself agreeable to those you are trying to influence (Carnegie 90, 225).

Also, with the expansion of accessible video conferencing hardware and software it is now painfully easy to conduct personal networking calls via the Internet. A face-to-face meeting with anyone just about anywhere; the 3 martini lunch meeting has now become the 3 espresso Internet café morning meeting. Mobility in communications technology now makes it simple to share ideas and wickedly strong coffee with anyone around the world. Speed and agility in business networking from the subway to the office is now the new power luncheon. The medium is again the message.

Upon starting my business I will need to use many of the principals taught by Dale Carnegie. The success of my start-up will rely solely on the workings of interpersonal relationships and gaining trust with my artist and travel host, my network and record label executives, my program sponsors, my production crew and those people I meet while jet setting around the world. The first and foremost lesson that must be mastered is Principle 5 in Part 2 “Six Way to Get People To Like You” – Talk in terms of other people’s interests. So much will rely on my ability to convince my prospective counterparts that investing their time, money and careers is of benefit to them in the near term and the long term (Carnegie 93).

Another principle that will serve me well is Principle 11 in Part 3 “How To Win People to Your Way Of Thinking” – Dramatize your ideas. I need to sell my idea for a television show as more of an adventure than a grueling travel show, lugging heavy equipment to remote and far away places in perhaps not-so-nice of conditions. The crew as well as the host band needs to feel as though this show is not only an educational tool – but a must watch adventure show in which they are presented as the Indiana Jones’ of world music. Entice drama and intrigue and who can say no? (Carnegie 180)

Lastly and most importantly, Principal 1 in Part 2 “Six Ways to Get People to Like You” – Be Genuinely Interested In Other People.” Following this basic principal will open countless doors and create tremendous success not only for my personal and professional growth, but also for the content of the show. This above others is, in my opinion, the most universal truth in getting people to like you. Get them to talk about themselves, most likely they will not stop until they feel you know them completely. Many barriers can be broken down by getting people to talk about themselves. This in turn will open doors to unseen locations and shoot sites. This will get my host to feel comfortable letting his guard down on camera, and feel at home wherever we may be. This will allow me to maneuver through red tape and on the corporate and governmental levels. This alone will be the key to my success, if done sincerely.

Sources Materials:

Kappelman, T. (2001) Marshall McLuhan: The Medium Is The Message. Retrieved November 15^th, 2008 from (http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/mcluhan.html

Carnegie, D (1981) How To Win Friends And Influence People. New York: Simon and Shuster, Inc