Projects: The COMIC-CON experience.
Attracting more than 130, 000 people to the San Diego Convention Center, this massive event impacts every business within a 3 block radius.
Starting out 50 years ago, as a comic book convention, it is now an epicenter of brand activation and sensory overload, where elaborately outfitted enthusiasts mingle to meet graphic artists and movie stars.
This is a truly unique project.
At Comic-Con 2022 GDX studios morphed the Hard Rock Hotel into a custom display for the TV show Severance.
The complexity of this project is more than the creative wrap of the building. It involves a diverse stakeholder group from heavy machinery operators through to the property owners. The hotel is wrapped to attract attention and engage existing guests; the project faces the added challenge of creating an experience that appeals to the imaginations of the Faithful without disrupting the conveniences of the Casual. The trust contract between project owners and stakeholders is underpinned by the competency of delivery.
The total cost of ownership of Comic-Con is not clear, (the signage projects budgets alone are estimated at several million dollars), but the convention sells out annually and is a primary marketing opportunity for television, film and character producers.
"Projects are Everywhere."
See the "Severance Wrap Project" highlights here.
See the interview with GDX President Seth Bardake here: True AF Podcast Ep 104 - GDX Studios on Vimeo
People: Leaders who serve vs. servant leaders.
I admire the Queen and am saddened by her departure.
For many she was the representation of a system that justified derision and disdain; it seemed necessary for them to voice this at the point she died.
Take a look, however, at global leadership today. China and Russia driven by narcissistic autocracy; the U.S. sporadically resembling a feudal democracy; U.K. governments lacking any vision since Brexit and the web of politics all interwoven with global economics.
So, the Queen?
Folks who have served, understand that the uniform and "the system" can be emotionally magnetizing, manifesting a range of responses. Humans tend to be hardwired to negativity and it is easier to critique than commend.
Yet, few people endure the rigors of leadership for so long with the same kind of public scrutiny.
The Queen to me, was a manifestation of "The Man in the Arena" speech by Theodore Roosevelt. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. he credit belongs to the man who spends himself in a worthy cause; ...so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (Formally "Citizenship in a Republic" - the irony is not lost on me. Go here for the full transcript)
The embodiment of matriarchal authority the Queen exemplifies stoic leadership and, if you can remove political bias, is a really hard act to follow.
Persevering: No energy. Who left the lights on?
Doing without is a resiliency test, particularly with things we take for granted.
Like energy.
Hurricane Ian has hit Florida leaving 800,000 people without power; it has wiped out power in Cuba. Recently, Southern California was warned of rolling blackouts thanks to the heatwave and now, European populations will soon be facing a winter of discontent thanks to the Ukraine issue.
This piqued my interest. How will the energy abundant cope with disrupted energy supply. (Read to the bottom to see the 2017 NASA light map. Who left the lights on?)
I have served project owners, with no empathy of "going without", from distressed locations. Projects in environments with guaranteed energy disruption, (sporadic brown-outs spanning weeks). I learned to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
We learned to pool resources, create action plans and engage support groups. When the caca hits the aerator, emergency action plans and rapid response become the status quo.
These days, I like some comforts and still practice being uncomfortable; at the time of writing the aircon is broken and the gym is at 83F / 28C; I am the only person training.
The comfortable mindset is not a creative one.
I expect that energy will go down and have learned to persevere with lapses in luxury
The magic of disruption is in the beauty of silence.
SISU MOMENTS: I love mindset challenges. Creating an "impossible" task to test mental, emotional and physical boundaries. When you set your mind to a challenge you will succeed.
This is not about performance, it is about achievement and is a good way to build resilience.
Fundamentally, as you train your brain to support your cause, the collaboration between mind and body manifests achievements. In this challenge, Big Marc and I complete an ocean swim with 3 rules: no training, no tech, no complaining.
Enjoy the video.
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