Make more mistakes

Here’s my goal for this year – Make more mistakes.

Yes, you read that right. For most of my life I have played it safe. Too safe.  Maybe that made me a good engineer. Then again, maybe not.

The more I go along in building my business, the more I realize and appreciate the value of making mistakes. Lots of them.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not out to waste vast amounts of money. I’m still eager to avoid making huge and costly blunders.  But, I am working hard to train myself that it’s OK to be less than perfect.  And write the cost of the mistakes off as education.

In launching my business, I studied people who have gone before me. I have made it a point to try to avoid the mistakes they have made. This has been helpful – to a point. What I’ve come to realize, though, is that by trying so hard to avoid other people’s mistakes, I’ve been unwilling to make enough of my own mistakes.

My degree is in electrical engineering. In my first job, I did both hardware and software design. I found out quickly that I was much better at software than hardware.  Why?  Because I made lots of mistakes and fixing mistakes in software is much easier than in hardware.  Hardware is a one-shot deal. You design the whole thing, review it as much as possible, commit it to production, and hope you got it right. (We did not have fancy hardware simulation tools that most good engineering shops use now.)

Over many years, I became a very good software engineer (it’s not bragging if it’s true). I favored the iterative approach to writing code. Write some, test it, fix the bugs, write some more, repeat.  The key was to test frequently and avoid getting in so deep that you had to rewrite huge amounts of code.

That’s what I’m trying to recapture as an approach in my business. Do a little at a time, test it, see if it’s working, adjust and move ahead.

This can only work if I allow myself to make mistakes along the way. By doing things a little at a time, I hope those mistakes are not catastrophic.

As I look back on my life and the choices I’ve made, I find it interesting that writing software is the only place where I truly took this iterative approach. And it is the thing I was the best at doing.  (I only stopped because I had to due to a physical injury – a long story for another time.)

Wish me luck. Now go make some mistakes of your own.

Therapy

Have you ever been to a therapist?  You know, one of those people who asks you annoying questions that are supposed to somehow make you feel better. Or, maybe they give you wise words of encouragement that leave you ready to take on your next challenge. (And then you get the bill.)

How about a coach? A life coach, or a business coach, or any other kind of personal coach? Basically the same thing, minus the degree. (Go ahead, bash me for that.)  Oh, and the pricing structure is a bit different. Note I didn’t say it was less expensive, just different. A therapist typically charges by the session (30 minutes, 60 minutes…)  Coaches typically sign you up for some length of time (1 month, 3 months, a year…)  You’re on the hook, whether you make use of their service or not.

Both coaches and therapists provide the same basic service. They help you through your tough times and push you to move ahead in your life. Yea, I know, that’s a grand simplification. Too bad.  Both can provide a great service if you hook up with the right one. But, don’t stop there.

When you are launching and running your own business, it is important to have people you can bounce ideas off of. Some people can get this from their families. Most of us can’t – especially those of us in the entertainment industry. You can try your regular set of friends, but more likely than not, they’re just not going to understand. Most of them probably have “real” jobs. They won’t be able to understand how hard this can really be. After all, when you’re on stage and people are falling out of their seats laughing, it all looks so easy.

I rely heavily on a small set of people who are also in this industry. BTW, I include comedians, magicians, jugglers, and public speakers here, not just ventriloquists. Some of my group are local, some are not. The one common thing between us all is that we support each other without question and without any exchange of money. Some days I’m drawing heavily on my support group, sucking all of the strength I can get. Some days it’s my turn to give. Some days it’s time to turn on the firehose and spray someone extra heavily.

One of my local groups actually calls our times together “therapy”. We get together on a semi-regular basis over coffee or lunch or whatever. We share our status, our fears, our successes, and our dreams. We pat each other on the back, kick each other in the rear end, or whatever is needed.

Another of my friends lives several states away. We mostly communicate via email. He’s been in the business much longer than I have and he’s provided me with incredible support and encouragement. Lately he’s been struggling with a particular long-running gig. It’s my turn to send hope and encouragement his way. Were he to share his complaints with someone outside the industry, he’d most likely hear comments like, “Hey, you’re working aren’t you?”, “What’s your problem?”, or “Suck it up!”  Only a fellow traveler in this space can relate to the inner demons that come out to play.

The point I’m trying to make here is whatever you’re doing, don’t go it alone. Reach out to others in your field. Find people who are at a similar point on the journey. Find those who are farther along. And as you progress, offer your time to those who are following behind.

Go out and create your own therapy group.

What water?

The January 2009 edition of Golf Digest just arrived on my doorstep last week.  There is an article about Tiger Woods.  (Big surprise…)

Like many people, I love to watch Tiger play golf.  When he is in his zone, it seems as though nothing can stop him.  It is fascinating to me to watch anyone who is such a master at their craft.

If you play golf, then you are familiar with the common psych-out strategy of saying to your opponent, “Watch out for the water on your left.”  This simple comment, given as if it were a helpful suggestion, implants in the mind the one place where you DON’T want your ball to go.  So, what happens?  That’s exactly where it goes.  Plop!

Tiger’s dad taught him a different question to ask himself.  “Where do you want the ball to go?”  Well, obviously, right down the middle of the fairway.  OK, then think about that.

How many times do we psych ourselves out by thinking of what we do NOT want to happen, rather than concentrating on that which we DO?  We focus on what we fear rather than on what we desire.

Focus your energies on the path you wish to follow.  Envision the ball soaring ahead, landing with a gentle roll on the middle of the fairway.

Water?  What water?

Resume

A while back I talked about updating my resume and the possibility of returning to a “real” job.  That process is very much under way, even as I continue my marketing efforts in the hopes of not needing to complete that effort.  I am actively putting together a marketing plan and working with someone to assist in revising my resume for some targeted jobs.  In the meantime, I thought I’d post my current version of the resume here, just for grins.

Part of my long-term strategy for my own business is to segue into educational/motivational presentations where the entertainment portion is one part of the overall package.  Deliver a message in a fun and engaging way.  I already do that some now.  Many of my shows are built around a theme or incorporate a message as dictated by the client.  But, I have not yet created the keynote level of “wow!” presentation I hope to have someday.  So, my primary target in the day job search is corporate training.  If I can’t do it all on my own (yet), might as well do what I really want to do under someone else’s umbrella for a while.

Here ya’ go.  And, yes, I was a muckity-muck.

David J. Crone

[home address]

[home and cell phone]

[email address]

Highly regarded leader, mentor and coach with a passion for helping others achieve their goals. Uniquely able to engage executives and staff at all levels. Adept at building cohesive teams from scratch and providing renewed focus to existing ones.

Professional Experience

I’m No Dummy Productions LLC – Columbus, Ohio June 2005 – Present

Blending comedy, ventriloquism and magic to deliver a message or just for fun at corporate events around the country. Major themes include: “Work should be fun!”, “Change is good” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” See more at http://www.ImNoDummy.com

AOL and CompuServe – Columbus, Ohio January, 1992 to June 2007

Sr. Technical Director & Operations Architect

Network Engineering and Operations

Led the operation, engineering and architecture teams for all AOL data center networks worldwide with annual capital budget in excess of $15 million. Integrated multiple network operations teams. Standardized best practices across the teams. Directly managed directors and managers.

· Significantly reduced maintenance-induced network outages by applying software engineering practices to network operations. Reduced staffing needs by 10% through organizational restructuring and improved work-flow.

· Managed relationships with multiple network equipment vendors (Cisco, Juniper, Foundry). Negotiated contracts. Ensured compliance with Servlce Level Agreements (SLAs).

· Led deployment of AOL across TimeWarner cable systems nationwide. Directly oversaw network design, evaluated vendors, and negotiated contract for equipment. Worked across departments within AOL and TimeWarner Cable to ensure smooth execution. Repeated the process for deployment across DSL systems nationwide.

· Led cross-department tiger team to address system stability issues at Netscape. Directed 15 people over 5 days to rebuild netscape.com.

Operations Leadership

· Evangelized adoption of a holistic approach to system deployment. Worked closely with application developers, system administrators, network engineers and their managers, directors and VPs to improve operation and efficiency. Broke new ground in cross-team cooperation.

· Created Network Analysis department to investigate the most difficult technical problems spanning organizational boundaries. Defined team structure, set goals, presented findings to senior leadership (VP and above), crossed organizational boundaries to develop solutions.

· Launched CompuServe’s initial Internet presence. Managed server deployment and capacity planning for www.compuserve.com. Wrote software to connect CompuServe’s traditional systems with the Internet.

· Acted as liaison between software development and operations groups. Managed vendor relationships for servers and network equipment. Ensured appropriate server capacity. Led cross-department architecture team.

· Provided guidance and insight to CTO during time of senior leadership upheaval.

Information Systems Security

Led the purchase of a centralized system to detect and provide notification of security incidents across entire AOL system. Researched vendors. Drove the RFP (Request For Proposal) process. Formed cross-department team to conduct evaluations. Made final selection of vendor. Negotiated price and service levels.

Software Development

· Managed team of software engineers. Mentored new hires and college interns.

· Supported UNIX and Windows NT operating systems at the kernel level.

· Developed X.25 device driver suite for UNIX and Windows NT.

Cross Department Leadership

· Member of AOL Patent Committee. Reviewed submissions to determine patent worthiness and determine in which countries to file.

· Member of team that developed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for separation of company when CompuServe was divided and sold to WorldCom and AOL.

· Executive lead for United Way campaign on AOL Columbus campus.

· Liaison to TechColumbus (formerly Columbus Technology Council) for AOL Columbus.

· Sponsored formation of onsite Toastmasters club.

· Mentored up-and-coming leaders.

· Winner of multiple awards for innovation and service excellence.

Display Automation Group – Dublin, Ohio July, 1989 – November, 1991

Chief Software Engineer for this startup company. Developed coding standards and wrote the majority of the software. Projects included BIOS level software for PC hardware device, device driver software for MS-DOS/Windows and PC-MOS operating systems and hardware test suite. Worked in Assembly Language and C.

Combustion Engineering – Columbus, Ohio July, 1988 – June 1989

Software Engineer – Developed process automation software for use in paper manufacturing and the processing of rubber for the automobile tire industry. Specialized in communications interfaces to sensors and external processing systems. Worked in Assembly Language.

American Auto-Matrix – Export, Pennsylvania July 1985 – June 1988

Software Engineer – Developed software for use in building automation systems which controlled heating and ventilation for industrial complexes. Collaborated on development of embedded real time operating system kernel. Wrote peer-to-peer communications protocol for use by these systems. Worked in Assembly Language.

Quasitronics – Houston, Pennsylvania November, 1983 – June, 1985

Hardware and Software Engineer – Developed embedded systems software for custom-built laboratory control systems. Designed analog interface to microprocessor system to allow connection and measurement of laboratory instruments. Wrote BASIC interpreter for use in embedded systems. Worked in Assembly Language and BASIC.

Education

· BS Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh

· Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), 2006

Other

· Member of The National Speakers Association (NSA)

· US Patent #5,680,303 – Communication Device Sharing on a Local Area Network

Reach out and touch someone

I went to see Jeff Dunham’s show in Columbus, OH, last night.  I went with my wife and two good friends.  Funny as hell, as always.  The really cool part was the VIP package.  Here’s us before the show:

Me and friends with Jeff

Jeff is such a gracious guy.  This big star, and he still makes time for people he’s run across along the way.  I’m just some guy he’s met a bunch of times at the Venthaven convention.  OK, so I’m one of the official photographers there, and we’ve exchanged random emails for years, but still.  It’s not like I have his cell phone number or anything like that.

I shot Jeff an email several months back when I heard he’d be in Columbus.  All I asked was whether he’d have time to say hello after the show.  He didn’t stop there.  He arranged for 4 seats on the floor and back stage passes.  How cool is that?

The point of this post is not to brag.  I am still quite humbled by the whole experience.  The point is to encourage you to reach out to people who inspire you.  Don’t be shy.  Be respectful, but put yourself out there.  I have come in contact with a number of big name performers over the years.  With very few exceptions they have been terrific to talk to.

Among the big names I’ve met are (in no particular order) Jeff Dunham (duh!), Terry Fator, Jimmy Nelson, Jay Johnson, Ronn Lucas, Willie Tyler (and Lester), The Amazing Kreskin, Grover Washington Jr, Noel Paul Stookey and many others.  All of these were gracious, kind, and overall just normal people once you get up close and talk with them.  There are many others who I’ve left off.  And I won’t bother mentioning the very few snots I’ve run across.

At a certain level, I can appreciate where they’re coming from.  After one of the bigger shows I was a part of recently (Miracles & Magic), we went out to the lobby afterward to be among the crowd.  A number of kids were going around asking for our autographs in the program.  That was pretty cool.  To them, I was some big star from the stage.  In my mind, I’m still just li’l ol’ me.  I like it when people come talk to me after the show.  The audience is why I’m in this business.

Every performer is different.  Some prefer to talk to people before the show (apparently Jeff is like that, based on last night).  Some (like me) prefer to talk to people after the show.  Be respectful, give them their space, but don’t be afraid to approach people just because they’re a big name (which I’m not.)

Who inspires you?  Who would you like to meet in person?  Take advantage of the next opportunity when they’ll be in your area to reach out to them and make contact.  You just might be surprised.

BTW, this applies within a company structure as well.  Don’t be afraid to reach out several levels above your pay grade to talk with leaders of the company where you work.  Authentic leaders welcome this kind of interaction.  The snots who don’t?  They don’t deserve your time or attention.

Performer Liability Insurance

I finally got official liability insurance for performers.  Up till now I’ve been riding on a general personal liability policy that is attached to our homeowners policy.  That rider covered me personally, but did not provide the more complete coverage that is required by many venues.

I’ll admit I don’t fully appreciate all the nuances here.  All I know for sure is that some venues require proof of “comprehensive general liability” coverage.  A specific policy is required for that.  One thing I know the performer insurance provides that my personal policy did not is coverage for damage to the venue.  Since I don’t use fire, bowling balls or any other items that are likely to damage the facility, I doubt I’ll never need this part of the policy.  But, I understand why venues require it.

I’m still working on general business insurance to cover my business assets in excess of what my homeowners policy covers.  The limits on my homeowner policy for property used in the course of a business are so low as to be almost pointless.  It’s a risk I’ve accepted up till now.  Drawing up an inventory of my business assets has been an interesting exercise.  It’s amazing how much equipment I’ve amassed over the past few years.  Good thing I had a day job when I was buying most of the gear.

For those interested, here is a link to the insurance agency I am using for performer insurance.  From the checking I did, it’s a really good deal.  My regular insurance agent told me he couldn’t even come close to the coverage for the price.

What I miss from the day job

It’s quickly approaching one year since I left the day job. June 15, 2007, was my last day in the office. Here are some things I miss and don’t about having a “normal” job:

What I miss:

• The camaraderie of the office. I miss the people more than anything else. In my case, most of my good friends from that job are also no longer there. Numerous lay-offs, voluntary separations, etc. So, even if I were still there, I’d be missing the daily contact of friends in that facility. I try to stay in contact with people, but it’s hard now that we’ve all scattered.
• The noise. As much as I like the silence at home, sometimes it is deafening. I find myself putting on music just to fill the void. Sometimes I pack up my laptop, notepads and books and head off to a local coffee shop just to be around other people and some noise.
• Steady paycheck. I’m sure that seems obvious, but had to mention it. And in my case, those handcuffs were 14k gold.
• Finding the work being somebody else’s job.
• Group health benefits provided by the company.

What I don’t miss:

• Lawn service and cleaning lady. We got rid of both when I gave up the steady paycheck. I actually get a certain satisfaction out of mowing the lawn myself. And I don’t mind running the vacuum cleaner (my part of the household chores). My wife still misses the cleaning lady. I love that I don’t have to vacate my own house on cleaning day.
• Office politics. Ugh.
• Arbitrary goals and deadlines set by others. Now all the arbitrary deadlines are self-imposed.
• General malaise over the declining state of the company. Ever been at a company when it feels like a sinking ship? It literally sucks the life out of you.
• The idiots. If you’ve ever worked for a big company (or maybe even a not so big one), you know what I’m talking about. I’m sure there were those who included me in that bucket.
• Asking for permission to take time off. The absolute best part of being self-employed in the field that I’m in is the flexible time schedule. Actually, the total lack of any kind of schedule whatsoever. Every day, every week, every month is different. If it’s a beautiful day and I feel like going for a long walk or bike ride I just do it. Getting to the bank during the hours they’re actually open is no longer a major undertaking.
• Spending most of my day doing what somebody else decided is important, squeezing in time for my own interests on the side.

Underwear is not deductible

Silly me.  I thought deducting the cost of clothes I wear in the course of doing business would be deductible just like any other item.  If it’s used 100% for business, it should be deductible.  Apparently not so with clothing.  Office equipment used 100% for business?  Yes.  An iPod I use 100% for business?  Yes.  But a business suit?  Nope.  Well, OK, in my case, the suit is deductible because mine happens to be modified for specific magic effects (sorry, that’s all I’m saying on that subject).  But, the rest of the wardrobe?  Nope.  It doesn’t matter that I religiously separate out in my closet every stitch of clothing that I wear for performances and never wear them for anything other than performing.  The IRS rules for clothing state that if it can be worn for non-business use, then it can’t be deducted.  Sure glad I’m not a clown.  Imagine the reactions I’d get if I wore that uniform to buy groceries.

My accountant pointed out a famous case with Stevie Nicks.  Here’s an old article that talks about that case.

Once again I am thankful that I have an accountant.

As a way of introducing Wilmer during my act, my elderly guy and retired CPA, I talk about how I hired an accountant so that I would avoid the tax pitfalls of other performers such as Willie Nelson.  It’s supposed to be a joke.  Little did I know when I started doing that how true it is.

Also, by way of follow up to an earlier post on reciprocal taxes…  I stopped by my local city offices to discuss with them the issue of filing multiple local tax returns.  I figured it was safe to discuss this openly with them since they would have keeping my taxes local in their best interest.  Unfortunately, my accountant is not just making more work for himself (as some who wrote to me have accused).  The city financial guy did say that in my case I could be a bit pragmatic.  If I do a single show in a given community, I would probably fly under the radar.  It’s the big name entertainers their really after.   (Ha!  He obviously doesn’t know what I charge!)

Of special interest to entertainers in Ohio, there is an exception in the law concerning local taxes.  If you do less than 12 days of business in a community the need for reciprocal tax filings is waived.  However, there is a further exclusion to this that makes entertainers not eligible for that 12-day exception.  Again, that is targeted at the big name entertainers who come in for one performance.  Personally, I think the exception should be based on dollar amounts, not number of days.  Gee, maybe now I have a reason to write to my state representative.

Wear the Uniform

I love getting dressed for a performance.  I have a whole ritual I go through as part of my preparations for a show.  This ritual is all part of getting psyched up for a show.

I imagine it is much like an athlete putting on their uniform for a game.  As I change into my uniform my mindset shifts, I get my game face on.  The problems of the day get pushed aside.  I become focused on the audience, the show, the material.  I picture in my mind the audience laughing, having a great time.  I picture how I will walk onto the stage, exactly where each footstep will fall.  I think through (again!) the staging of my props, the lighting, the sound system.  I scan through the program in my mind, thinking in big chunks the overall flow of the show that I have planned.  I contemplate new jokes to toss in at the last minute that are specific to the event, or brand new topical material.

I’ve heard stories of a famous entertainer who would stand backstage, bouncing up and down, repeating to himself, “I love this audience, I love this audience.”  I think similar thoughts.

What is your uniform?  Do you just put on any old pair of pants and some random shirt from the closet?  Do you even bother changing out of what you’ve been wearing all day?  My uniform is extremely detailed, all the way down to my underwear.  Really.  Every piece of clothing I wear for a performance is worn only for performing.  I have a variety of uniforms that I select from depending on the audience.  They are kept in a specific section of my closet and dresser.  When I wear “that” T-shirt, it means I’m getting ready for a show.  When “that” suit goes on, I become transformed from David Crone, some guy on the street, into David Crone of I’m No Dummy Productions.

Even if you are not a performer, an entertainer, what is your uniform?  When you go off to work each day, do you feel different?  Are you ready to make a difference?  Find your uniform.  Wear it with pride.