19,560 minutes
My final workshop for the year last Thursday. A wonderful half day (part two) on presentations skills.
Out of interest, I thought I'd tally up my virtual training hours this year. Since April, I've run:
• 8 x one-hour sessions
• 50 x three-hour sessions
• 4 x six-hour sessions
• 18 x eight-hour sessions.
A total of 326 hours of training, over 37 weeks. That's the equivalent of 40 solid eight-hour days. Or 19,560 minutes.
And every one of those minutes has been surprisingly enjoyable.
If I look at the positives, it's great that people can dial into a session from anywhere.
It's not unusual to have Perth, Brisbane, Wollongong, Orange, Melbourne and Sydney. All on one session.
I even had someone dial in from London for a six-hour training session.
I also like the fact that I hear dogs barking in the background, see partners wandering across the back of the screen. And, generally, people are casually dressed.
We're real people. Flawed. Human. Not putting up a front. I like that a lot.
Heading into 2021, I've already got a load of bookings. All virtual. So it looks like I'll be talking to that green light for a while longer.
Onto the articles that caught my attention this week.
Give 2020 the elbow
It's not marketing. But an amusing piece from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Things we want to see the back of in 2021.
The elbow for greetings, and pushing buttons.
Zoom. WFH/home schooling. Pete Evans.
Donald Trump.
Suits: 'We have nothing against the suit as a sartorial choice, but the idea that you can’t play the part unless you dress the part is just so last season.'
Toilet paper wars.
The daily Dan. The instant TikTok superstar.
Move over 2020: time for 2021.
Blob Opera
A bit of fun, but with a serious side.
It's Google's machine-learning experiment, the Blob Opera.
I've spent far too much time on this. You drag the blobs (shapes) and decide what pitch they should sing in.
Down the bottom right of the screen, click the Christmas tree to choose some festive songs.
The blobs sing what an algorithm thinks the songs sound like.
It's an awesome sound. Amazing harmonies. Even if I don't really understand the technology. Or the point, actually.
Way to lose an hour or so of your pre-Christmas shopping time.
Chillax
Getting your playlist ready for Christmas?
This might help: from Great Bean Bags, a list of the most relaxing songs. All time, 2020 and Christmas.
All time - Passenger: Let Her Go, Colbie Caillat: Bubbly, James Arthur: Can I Be Him, Norah Jones: Come Away With Me.
Nope. Not heard of most of those.
For 2020 - Lewis Capaldi: Someone You Loved, Doja Cat: Say So, Dua Lipa: Break My Heart, Lewis Capaldi: Before You Go.
For Christmas, it's Boney M's 'Mary's Boy Child', Band Aid ‘14’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ and Michael Buble’s ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’.
That should keep you busy. And chilled.
Webinars
Remote learning: copywriting courses, by remote. Got an internet connection? You can learn. Pick your topic, then contact me Nice idea, Jon ... >
QotW
Quote of the week:
'You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.' Martin Luther King, Jr
Next workshops
• Maximum Copy: online and in-house
• Copy Ninja: the craft via Zoom, Webex, Teams, GoTo
• Writing for Digital: about the web, over the web
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