Universal Agents
When I worked in ad agencies, some clients fancied themselves as Copywriters and Art Directors. As these dilettantes flawed each perfect work, we creative types used to mutter: ‘Why buy a dog and then bark yourself?’
This blog has made me realise I’ve been barking mad for years:
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My bookkeeper said I should learn my accounting software.
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A business associate told me to read Seth Godin.
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A respected reviewer recommended Twitter.
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My business coach begged me to give guarantees.
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He also went me on price (but that’s another story).
I had to hear each of these messages stridently, repeatedly and from multiple sources before goading myself to act.
When I ponder the time, money and tears I could’ve saved by trusting my advisers and universal agents immediately, my heart sinks.
Fortunately, I’ve taken Eckhart Tolle’s word that the past no longer exists.
So what now?
My latest challenge is Camtasia Studio. I’ve been told in frank terms that unless I get onto this youbeaut software NOW, something not nice is going to happen to me.
According to the brochure, this program lets you easily record and edit sound, video, computer and online activities into seamless audiovisual presentations.
Thus, instead of delivering my one-to-one copywriting and Twitter tutorials in person at Empire House, I can record and distribute them round the world to garner fame, fortune and free time.
So, though I can barely inveigle our VCR to tape Grey’s Anatomy when Fonnie works late, I’m currently watching TechSmith’s online tutorials and will shortly download a free 30-day trial.
Ergo: Old Dog + Less Bark = New Trick + More Bite.
The Universe says it’s time to let the dogs out.
Woof!
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, www.thefeistyempire.com
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I’m delighted to see, Paul, that you’ve decided to get Sirius.
Excellent post.
Yep! Just cracked a new Canister!
I think it is a great tool, but it is complicated and takes some playing around with to get a quality outcome. We did a video of a presentation and then posted it on YouTube for work. Looked OK but as I said you need to play with it a lot. I think it is great for teaching aids around software, so you can create tutorials and then place them online.
Thanks for dropping by, Arthur. It does look daunting, but the tutorial videos are demystifying the terminology. I’ve found every excuse not to hit the download button today. However, I’ve only got three tutorials left before I must take the plunge!
All the ’stuff’ we ‘could’ learn blows my mind a little…ok, a lot.
I find it all very overwhelming sometimes and a part of me wishes the whole world wasn’t on the web! I know it’s brilliant to have so much choice but I do yearn for simple times…and have them at times…
I hear you, Yvonne, from across the waves. I’d like to tow Empire House to King Island and collect storm-rent kelp for a living! Seth Godin’s got the right idea. He says to pick just a few channels that interest and inspire you and do those ones better than everyone else. Let all the other chips fall where they may. You’ll be right…
Hi Paul & Folks, :- )
I’m still catching up with the posts after nearly drowning in Bigpond last week.
I had a look at those Camtasia tutorials too Paul. It looks good…but I’m sure there are literally packs of dogs out there that can already bark fluently in ‘Camtasian’ aren’t there? Do you need to learn it all yourself? Or are you in a position to delegate as needed?
My old mate who lives and breathes databases (I think he puts a teaspoon of nanobots in his Milo), said to me years ago when I was beginning to learn about computers; ‘People see computers as ‘Universal’ machines, and arguably they are, but that doesn’t mean you can put the whole Universe in one computer’. I reckon the same can be said of people.
I’m a great one for getting swept-up by the seemingly seamless and limitless capabilities of software… so many times I have spent coffee-infused evenings learning new software, only to come across some astounding compilation done by a teenage refuge in war-torn Lebanon who has churned out a stirring account of their tribulations using a Floppy-Disk with Notepad and a 30 year old phone.
There are only 4 modes of communication on the web…writing, audio, images and video. People try so hard to get ‘their’ message to float to the top…the question is, are we becoming better communicators with higher quality messages or are we just building bigger ‘floaties’?
It has been my experience that when someone has a great message they can’t keep it secret if they try.
Cheers
Stephen G
Dear Stephen, I’ve tried most other things to get my message across so, as a completist, Camtasia Studio seems a logical step. I can’t sing its praises yet though. Winston Marsh and Terry Brock swear by it, so I’m taking their word for it.
I’ve been waiting for my ‘great message’ to be discovered for some years. Either I don’t have one, or I’m moving in the wrong circles. To avert despair, I’m working to improve the latter. Time will tell!
Love your word pictures, by the way. Very evocative. I suppose you’ve done radio shows before?
Nope! No radio show…not as a host anyway :- P
As far as your ‘great message’ being discovered?…’you know you’re soaking in it?’…or ‘It won’t happen over night’, but it is happening :- )
I’m not trying to talk you out of getting ‘Sirius’ though :- )…if you reckon it’ll help, you can afford it and are inclined towards using it, then I reckon go for it :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
PS I just had ‘THE CALL’…my new Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza Oven is ready :- )…going in to town to pick it up and take it to the ‘Tarp’ guy for fitting…it should be home on Wednesday…burn it in for 3 days and then I can start cooking trials…YAY! :- )
That is MOST exciting news, Stephen! Take a jerrycan of petrol with you, just in case…
Will you be breaking a bottle of bubbly over Burn-A-Debt’s lovely noggin?
Or will this oven have a different name to your built-in one?
Hehe! :- )…The car is ‘full as a goog’ mate…taking no chances and thanks for the reminder :- )
I don’t know about the bubbly breaking…might stain. I reckon it’d be tough to come up with a better name than ‘Burn-A-Debt’. :- P
Only one oven…it’s on the trailer.
Cheers
Stephen G
Oh, I thought you had two ovens, a’ la Thunderbirds 2 and 4. Just the one, then. When you go to fairs and such, what measures will prevent cruel folk from hitching up and driving away with your livelihood while you try your luck at the coconut shy? Will anything sharp and pointy shoot from the towbar if one grips it the wrong way?
Not yet…just one so far :- P
I’m the only security measure at this point…though I’ll be rather well fortified with my excellent handforged pizza tools currently being crafted by Peter & Tracy from Slow Food & Handforged Tools ( http://www.slowfoodandhandforgedtools.com.au/). Properly wielded, my dough-cutter will be capable of inflicting damage similar to that of a Klingon Bat’leth…bring it on~ :- )
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this somewhere within these hallowed annals: There are only 2 things in the world – Tools & Weapons. They differ only with the intent of the user. :- P
Most organised events have some measure of site security as a matter of course. Add to this that I will be in attendance at all times (except for loo breaks
), and both I and the insurance company consider such risks to be nominal to low. :- P
I reckon if I booby-trapped the trailer, I’d probably injure myself long before I nailed anyone more deserving :- P
Cheers
Stephen G
Fair enough! That link is fascinating. Nice to know there are still cratfspeople like that in the world.
Yeah! And they are really great people…nothing is too much trouble (I’m sure you can imagine what it must be like trying to deal with me :-p )…I said to Tracy the other day that I thought I was just ordering some nice tools…but with the level of service they provide, it’s more like commissioning artefacts…they make the purchase interesting and fun.
Can’t wait to get my new weapons…oops! I mean, Tools :- P
Cheers
Stephen G
Hi Paul
Great blog !
Yep I agree, time to throw away the VCR (?) and get a recordable DVD.!
Thank you, Ravi. I crave a TIVO to lose the ads, but I need to save up.