Last time I introduced you to Daniel Pink’s book A Whole New Mind.
I told you how good design and a good story can help, basically, to build a viable brand, for individuals or for organizations. I also told you the importance of symphony; having the view from 10,000 feet, as well as the view from the landing strip.
For many of us, super-speedy computers, cheap overseas labor and large supplies of stuff will change the way business is done and the way we live and work. The Conceptual Age will cause a shift in what employers and consumers want. The following right-brained skill sets will be heavily sought-after.
1. Design- form meets function. Beautiful and useful.
2. Story- a compelling, persuasive narrative that is relatable to an audience.
3. Symphony- synthesizing lots of pieces to see a complete puzzle.
4. Empathy- the ability to understand people and build relationships
5. Play-not taking work so seriously
6. Meaning- the need for self-actualization. Being fulfilled and having a purpose.
We’ve already talked about the first three. Today I’m going to tell you about the others.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to sense what it would be like to be someone else. Research and development depends on empathy. If I can’t understand what it’s like to sit on a chair, use a computer, wash dishes, drive a car, take public transportation, or go to court; how in the world can I make each (or any) of those experiences better?
I would not have a hard time creating a banging design if I couldn’t tell what the people really want? Even if I’ve had no experience doing any of those things, with empathy, I’d be able to understand the frustrations, challenges, and good points of doing them.
In my internship, this summer, I’m helping to revise the performance measurement system. I’ve been tasked with making a complicated tool simpler to use. Upon receiving the task, the second thing I did was talk with the people that would be using the tool so that they could tell me what they thought about it. The first thing I did was try to use the tool myself, so I could see for myself what made it so hard to use.
Had I not done talked to folks about their concerns, it is likely that I would have been shooting in the dark, and may have completely failed at my task. I had to see the tool from the view of the user. (I rock at this right-brained thing).
Play
Work is hard, and we spend a lot of time working. What would happen if we made work fun? Stress levels would probably decrease, workers would be happier; they’d be more productive and might stay longer in their jobs. Having more fun time would improve working life.
The Ford company way back in the day fired people for laughing on the job. If I don’t laugh at work, it’s a really bad fucking day. I swear, I’d dig ditches for a living if my co-workers were funny. If fact, I was a garbage lady for a day this summer on my internship and it was one of my favorite days. Wanna know why? The guy that I did my ride-along with was a comedian. He kept me in stitches, in spite of the maggots, rodents and stinky-ness of the task.
Meaning
I was at a conference last semester and heard a speaker talk about green practices and how Gen Y and Millennial students are coming out of school eager to work for companies that believe in sustainability and the triple bottom line; even if it means taking a pay cut. Newer generations of workers are more interested in having a full and purposeful live rather than working for the big bucks. Not that we don’t want big bucks, we just want to do good and do well. In fact, we want to change the world.
I read blogs every day about how to achieve work/life balance, about how women can have it all, about doing more in less time, etc. In the new American economy, success will mean moving beyond “self” and making a larger difference in the community, for a cause, whatever.
An example of meaning being embedded in our consumer habits is the Code(Red) products. Not only do you get the Ipod, or other cool thing that you would have bought anyway, you get bonus happy points because you know that your purchase is giving money to a good cause (we hope, anyway.)
Why this is my new favorite book
I found this book to be enlightening. It pointed me in the right direction and has helped me find my stride in the workplace. This book highlights aptitudes that have been underrepresented and/or suppressed in the workplace.
I have met the members of the management team in D-town during my summer internship, and they fall into two basic categories; those that are good at their specialty and those who are more inter-departmental. Some are markedly more left or right brained and it is clear that this has an effect on their departments, responsibilities and favored job duties. This book reminds me that I have to strike a balance. I have to work on my logical self, while staying true to my natural right-brain tendencies (they will come in handy, lol).
The thing that I love most about A Whole New Mind, is that at the end of each chapter, Pink gives examples of things that you can do to help you increase your right-braininess. (So that all you left-brainers can still be cool 
) I’m pretty right-brained, but I’ve still found these portfolios to be helpful in discovering new things.
I’m currently giving the finger to all the haters who said that my Philosophy degree was useless. I’m taking over, baby! 
