Optics

Persuasion is a tricky thing. What we see Trumps what we hear trumps what we think.

The reverse is true about how we explain ourselves. What we think comes before what we say comes before how we present ourselves. Two sides of the same coin. You might be thinking right now, "that's not entirely true Pete, I think..."

Pause. Think about what's about to happen as you explain yourself. We think, we say, we present because we saw, we heard, then we thought. In a sense it's just a bit of science, light travels faster than sound and sound travels faster than comprehension.

You might also have be thinking all along, "there's a typo in your first sentence." That's not a typo.

Optics are powerful.

As you go back and look at that typo your imagination and associations flair up deep and wide regardless of if they are positive or negative.

We live in a world where optics rule and where we are encouraged to fill in the blanks of the images being pushed on us: Instagram, TickTok, VSCO, Tinder and to a certain extend Twitter where just 'seeing' the tweet is strangely as powerful as thinking about what it means sometimes.

In managing brands, or even our own personal brand, optics are the output of what we think about what we are hearing. Our job is to sit on the other side as often as possible and attempt to see it in the mirror.

Paragraph breaks are a form of optic that change the way you hear me thinking.

Made you look. :-)

Lunch With Peter

In the spirit of my own advice to 'productize' and name generic services in order to galvanize a brand culture and guide a more unified sales approach, I've decided to give my blog a name. I'm giving it a name that invokes the feeling you can expect after spending time here.

BACKGROUND: I am flattered and grateful that I've heard people say--on more than one occasion-- "I had lunch with Peter the other day" and fill in the blank they go on to explain a revelation or new idea or new perspective on an old idea.

The goal of this blog is to inspire feelings like that. It's just lunch. Quick and inspiring with no further expectations.

Silence & Forgiveness

Imagine looking a person you admire in the eye and staying in that mutual gaze for a comfortable few seconds in total silence. How would that feel? What would their eyes be saying to yours? If they wronged you in any way, what would be the parameters required for you to forgive them? What part of your relationship would you draw on to welcome them back? Silence and forgiveness are inseparable.

Now flip your imagination to a person who you do not particularly care for and imagine yourself in a mutual gaze for a uncomfortable few seconds in total silence. How would that feel? What would their eyes be saying to yours? If they wronged you in any way, what would be the parameters required for you to forgive them? What part of your unsuccessful relationship would have to be retracted or repaired in order for you to even consider welcoming them back?

These are primal scenarios between humans to which most of us can relate. As simple as it may seem, these are the same primal feelings that keep employees engaged or disengaged with the brand culture within your company.

The silences and and forgiveness of any relationship tell us all we need to know. Whether between employees and employers or people and brands, relationships, good or bad, can be observed, measured and adjusted by going in through these two portals.

Imagine two people, a customer and a brand (personified) or two employees, any two employees, looking into the eyes of one another silently. Are their eyes loving or judging? Are their eyes sharing or taking? Are their eyes anxious or composed? Regardless, their silent gazes scream volumes.

Silence and active listening require patience and forgiveness requires empathy, character, understanding, and trust. People who are capable of active listening and forgiveness are more often beloved than not.

While brands are not people per se, it can be helpful to think of them as such and vice versa.