One of the fun responsibilities I have working for a company like ours is knowing when to challenge the status quo -- or take a sledgehammer to something that once worked but might need massive change.  As a design thinker, I tend to think in terms of creating an "addictive" on-line, in-person or in-print customer experience.  A challenge, to be sure... as in our massively networked day and age, how quickly we leap from story to story, new to newer in search of the next big client, conversation or company!

So how to engage one's attention long enough that they don't bounce from us to someone else?  One of the areas I'm most bullish on has thrown our team for the biggest curveball: the monetization of online videos. Now, I know I'm not the only one who's trying to figure out how to create a sustainable business.  In fact, TechCrunch shared a piece "The State of Online Video: Getting Paid for Content" that addresses many of the business challenges we have as we move to a more digital state of sharing.  I'll let you hop over to read the piece in full.  Just know the cynical line that caught my eye was this: Old media and video: Those who can won’t, those who want can’t.

Fortunately for us, we've been moving in this direction for almost a year -- driven in large part by an entrepreneurial chairman and exceptionally talented VP of Digital Strategy.  While we haven't figured it totally out, let me share a recent example of a video our team produced and just posted to BankDirector.com (it features John Duffy, the Vice Chairman of Keefe, Bruyette and Woods -- one of the most knowledgeable and plugged in investment bankers when it comes to financial services companies) 

If you don't have time to view this, John shares his perspectives on the good, the bad and the ugly state of the financial services industry.  In short order, he touches on bank profitability forecasts, improving bank valuations and jump starting M&A activity.  All tremendously valuable and timely information that benefits the officers & directors we count as core to our business.

So as we continue to consider how companies that want to gain access to this group might sign on to sponsor video series (think TED) or produce for their own marketing purposes (to take advantage of significant cost savings), I'm excited to keep sharing great information like this.  And yes, I very much welcome thoughts for how we might improve/enhance this experience for viewers and potential sponsors alike.  Feel free to share an idea below.

Over the last few months, I've found myself thinking about how + why certain companies are so much better at innovating new products and services.  As technology flattens the field of competition, organizational revitalization and innovation are key to creating and maintaining a dominant position (and yes, I know that is a mouthful).  So for all you intrapreneurs out there -- think entrepreneurs within a larger/established organization -- take a look at this "Business Model Toolbox" for your iPad.  True, its pricier than most apps I've added ($40); nonetheless, as a systems and design thinker, a great tool to test new business ideas with.  I've been using it for the last few weeks while on paternity leave from Bank Director; I've found it a handy app to sketch, test and forecast a number of ideas at any hour of the day.  Worth a look if you're in the business of developing new ideas and relationships.

So I spent the day at the Reagan building here in D.C. -- captivated by the conversations and presentations sparked by the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business' annual CIO Forum.  What a day! Crowd sourcing... systems thinking... transformational leadership.  Not sure if you could ask for a better day -- at least, without getting back in the classroom.

From the first presentation (by Federal CIO Vivek Kundra) to the last (by Paul de Sa, the Chief Strategist at the FCC), the day proved enlightening + inspiring.  In between, during a panel discussion on "Business Models and Sector Transformation," Premal Shah (the President of Kiva) shared three Web 2.0 principles that guides his company's online direction.  At the risk of being labeled at leming, I'm seriously contemplating how to adopt the micro-lending non-profit's online strategy as my own:

• Create an "addictive" user experience;
• Make your actions radically transparent; and 
• Crowd source against constraints.