Unconventional Genius

It is quite common these days to hear people talking about the creative process. Anyone from graphic designers to app designers legitimately use the phrase to describe what it takes to be successful at what they do. But a long-time area of fascination for me has been the creative process that goes into making timeless music. And when that process is done in the context of a group of people - a band - it's nothing short of amazing. I'm immensely honored to be able to present you with this conversation I recorded with Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. formerly of the bands Jellyfish and Imperial Drag. He's been one of the songwriters I've respected the most and I was thrilled to have this chat with him. You'll hear Roger describe what's going on under the surface of the creative process for most artists as well as his description of the path he's walked to become an in-demand musician who's requested to play on albums for well-known artists and unknown hopefuls alike. Topics Featured In This Episode [2:31] The first instrument Roger learned to play - from pots and pans to today [5:18] Hearing all kinds of music and expanding his musical horizons [9:10] Roger's first jazz lessons and instruction [11:51] Trying to write a song and the drive to become a better songwriter [16:35] Roger's self-education in experimenting with musical palettes (arranging) [24:40] Did Roger know he was creating something special on past albums? [36:40] The pain behind the creative process for many artists, including him [46:55] Artists Roger would love to play with Writing songs that endure: The goal of every songwriter When Roger speaks about songwriting, his eyes instantly light up. You can tell that it's a topic that still captivates him 30 years after the formation of his first band, Jellyfish. As he recounts the first time he tried to write an original song of his own, he admits that it was amateur and awful. He was embarrassed even to ask for constructive criticism. But that didn't deter him from trying again. Something inside told him that he'd have to fail a lot to find success, and he was willing to put in his reps. Fast forward to today and the music he created with his Jellyfish bandmates are some of the most timeless songs I know. The heart and soul of the music and the way it connects with the human condition are testaments to the benefit of all those years of hard work. In this conversation, Roger shares openly about his journey into music across the years, and to a deeper knowledge of himself as an artist and a human being. I hope you take the time to listen. What do AC/DC and the Beatles have in common? Outstanding musical arrangements One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation I had with Roger about his creative process had to do with the issue of arranging. You'll hear me bring up AC/DC as an example of straightforward rock and roll, and the comment set Roger up to educate me on the intricacies and nuances of arranging songs in ways that connect with listeners on a deep level. We walk through the styles of the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, and more as Roger uncovers the details behind what makes a song truly good. It was a delightful journey I'd go on again anytime. At the time, did Roger realize he was making timeless music? Roger is quick to say that during the creative process you never know if what you're after is even going to materialize, much less whether or not it's going to become one of those timeless melodies that connect with people across generations (Think, "Yesterday" by the Beatles). It's a process of discovery, one that takes the songwriter and artists as much by surprise as it does anyone else. But he also says that sometimes, after you've finished a song project, you just know it's right, it's the way it's supposed to be. There's a sense of finality and confidence that flow out of the process and into the way you feel about it after it's done. Listen to hear Roger explain it as only a skilled and experienced songwriter can. Timeless songs connect with people on a deeper level The songs that endure are the ones that connect with us deeply. They speak to our experience, providing us an opportunity to hear an expression that represents what we would have said - or written - if we could have. If you've ever heard a song that made you feel that way, you know what I mean. I find Roger's music to be those kinds of songs for me. They guide me along my journey, helping me to express my own thoughts and feelings about the pains and joys I've experienced along the way. He's one of the musical greats I have long looked up to and this conversation was something I'll never forget. I hope you listen. Resources & People Mentioned Roger's solo EP: Glamping Band Roger was in: Imperial Drag Imperial Drag song: "Are you a boy, or are you a girl?" Roger's previous Band: Jellyfish Jellyfish Album: Spilt Milk Jellyfish Album: Bellybutton Jellyfish song: New Mistake Eric Dover former Jellyfish Bandmate Tim Smith former Jellyfish Bandmate Band: Yes Band: Genesis Band: Mahavishnu Orchestra Artist: Jan Yanhammer Band: Return to Forever Artist: Chick Corea Band: Weather Report Band: XTC Band: Wings Band: 10cc Band: Echo & The Bunnymen Band: The Smiths Band: Devo Band: Thomas Dolby Band: The Beatles Band: The Beach Boys Andy Sturmer - Jellyfish bandmate Artist: Sting Band: The Hollies Band: AC/DC Band: Van Halen Band: Queen Band: Cheap Trick Band: Black Sabbath Band: The Rolling Stones Artist: Duke Ellington Artist: Marvin Gaye Artist: Aretha Franklin Artist: Prince Band: Sly and the Family Stone Artist: Beck Artist: Elvis Costello Artist: Andy Partridge Artist: Morrisey Artist: Pharrell Williams Connect with Roger Joseph Manning Roger on Instagram: @RogerJManningJr Roger on Twitter: @RogerJManningJr "Beautiful Things" with Donnie Vie Connect With Max Borges www.MaxBorgesAgency.com LinkedIn Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify

If you were to do a quick Google search for the phrase "stress relief products," you'd find all kinds of things to help you deal with stress after the fact. That's because we humans get ourselves into situations that induce stress and then we look for a way to deal with what we've created. It's normal. It's everyday life as we know it. But does it have to be? What if a product existed that could help you avoid many of the stressful situations common to every day? Would that be a stress relief product worth having? Nate Kelly leads the team at Adero - a company that has created a technology solution that organizes your things so you can save time, reduce stress, and simplify your busy life. It sounds too good to be true, but once you hear how it works you'll wonder why someone hasn't created it before now. Listen to learn more about Adero and to hear how Nate's path has formed him into the exact leader needed in order to make it happen. What if we could help people never get into stress-inducing situations in the first place? We've all been in situations that instantly produce anxiety or stress. Nate Kelly calls them "chaos" situations. Some examples: You've forgotten your wallet. The car keys have been misplaced. You arrive at work and realize your cell phone is on your bathroom counter. Everyday situations. Nothing to worry about, right? Not to Nate Kelly. When Nate took over as the CEO of Tracker, the company was developing a product to help people find things that were already lost. But he had a bigger vision. He wondered if his team could create a tool to keep things from getting lost in the first place. What if the chaos that ensues from situations of this nature could be eliminated altogether? Listen to hear how Nate's questions led to answers like you've never imagined - and how Adero's technology is making a difference by releasing people from the burdens of small oversights. "Try hard to remember not to screw that up" is NOT a good plan Prior to the advent of the kind of technology Nate's team is implementing, the main way to ensure you didn't forget things was to create a list. But what happens when you forget to make the list? What happens when you lose it? Smart tags and taglets are the answer Adero provides. These tiny A.I. powered devices are attached to the important items in your life so they can be managed for you. The system can prepare itself according to your schedule to enable your items to remember what you need for you. It's a system that requires the use of IoT, machine learning, and other elements of the very best of tech - and it's amazing how it works. You really should hear Nate's explanation and vision for how Adero will change the world. There's no need to blame yourself for forgetting things anymore How many times have you gone on an important business trip, or even just a drive across town and discovered that you forgot to bring what you needed? Our tendency is to chastise ourselves for being such a dummy. But what if a piece of technology could prevent that situation from ever happening? Nate envisions a day - coming very soon - when the items you need are able to remind you that you will need them in the near future. Can you picture it? Never having to make a list again? Never forgetting important items - because the items themselves remind you to take them? More importantly, can you imagine never feeling the panic associated with a high consequence mistake - because the mistake never happened? Nate's team is making it possible. Find out more by listening to this episode. Overcoming the anxiety of things through technology Forgetting to take important items with you seems like a small problem. But look beyond the temporary inconvenience of not having a needed resource to the emotional toll it takes on you. Nate calls it "the anxiety of things," and ironically, his team is coupling technology WITH things to prevent the anxiety from happening at all. Nate foresees the Adero platform becoming one that allows every THING in your life to worry about YOU, preparing everything in your life for your use and convenience. Your things will be taking care of you, instead of you having to care for them. It's an incredible solution to everyday problems, and it's on the horizon. Nate's team is making sure that's the case. If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com. Topics Featured In This Episode [1:14] Who is Nate Kelly and how the Adero path has been unpredictable [3:40] Helping people never get into unprepared moments [10:25] How the Adero system works using smart tags and intelligent containers [14:28] The most common uses for the Adero solution - 4 personas [18:01] Taking over the company a week before natural disasters hit [21:59] Big changes in a new organization and how Nate rallied the troops [24:18] Instilling the feeling of ownership into the Adero team [30:50] Nate's unconventional path: from a religious cult to leading a tech company [36:10] Recalibrating his life to help others optimize mental health and manage stress [38:41] The structure of Nate's day that enables him to do the job he does [42:28] Adero's future as Nate sees it Resources & People Mentioned Tesla Sonos BOOK: Principles - http://a.co/d/1uuzdpO BOOK: The Hard Thing About Hard Things : http://a.co/d/9yiqCsu Sony Ericsson Microsoft The Move Cult Connect with Nate Kelly Adero Adero on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adero Connect With Max Borges www.MaxBorgesAgency.com LinkedIn Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

As human beings, we drastically underestimate the power of change. It's because we derive comfort from routine and habit. It feels safe, secure, and comfortable. Change is the exact opposite, it DEMANDS that we step outside of what is normal for us and do different things. My guest on this episode of Unconventional Genius is Beth Comstock. She's one of the most powerful women in the business world right now and has recently released an amazing book that recounts her transformation from a shy publicist to the first woman Vice-Chair at General Electric. Beth knows about the power of change because she's leaned into it all her life. In fact, her mother used to ask her, "Why do you always have to make things so hard?" Beth says it was because she wanted to take on her own weaknesses and fears to become something more. Beth is truly one of the most impressive people I've ever spoken with. I spoke with Beth at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles and she shared her insights on courage, overcoming the status quo, encouraging creativity, the power of change, and the results that come from true organizational change. I hope you'll listen to this engaging conversation. We are taught NOT to be creative - but Beth says we must learn to overcome it In her own words, Beth Comstock says she grew up as a classic "good girl," but when she stepped into the working world a rebel emerged - but not in the classic "buck the system" way you might think of. She simply believed there was a better way of doing things and she couldn't hold it in. Looking back, she can see that the typical educational system as well as the way society has been structured has made us dependent on knowing things so that we can feel like we are in control of them. To move into a context of change causes us to feel untethered, like we have no firm footing. Beth says it's important that we learn to develop the belief that we can figure it out - whatever "it" may be. It's that attitude that harnesses the power of change. It moves us beyond convention to unlock the unconventional genius that resides in all of us. Courage comes from making yourself take small, everyday steps forward From the time she was young, Beth pushed herself. She wanted to be stronger than the things she was afraid of. But first, she had to admit that it WAS her fear that was holding her back. None of us like to admit we are afraid, but she says it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's natural - but it's equally natural for human beings to want to overcome fear. As an adult, Beth has seen the benefit of conquering her fears step by step throughout life. It's the resolve to face fear, question it, and push into it instead of retreating from it. She calls it "everyday courage." She's taken this life lesson into her leadership. Applying her "small-steps" approach to teams has empowered many people to find the courage to unleash their own creativity. Listen to hear how Beth has led ground-breaking initiatives, pioneered new ways of approaching problems, and has fostered creativity in teams that goes beyond the normal "creative sessions" often touted in business circles. The power of change is yours when you think into the future and take action In her book, "Imagine It Forward," Beth outlines what she refers to as her "Imagine It Forward" framework - a way individuals and teams can systematically address barriers to creativity, innovation, and obstacles to scaling. I particularly enjoyed a number of the strategies she outlines in the framework. They themselves are creative ways of thinking about problems or challenges to enable new insights and perspectives. The overall framework is based on the belief that looking into the future, imaging what it could be, is one of the most powerful ways of opening minds to possibilities. She points out that transforming the mindset and culture of a company is messy and without any kind of easy checklist. She believes the challenge calls for the courage to defy convention, go around corporate gatekeepers when necessary, and reinvent what is possible. If you're also tired of being told "it can't be done," you'll enjoy Beth's book and this conversation. If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com. Topics Featured In This Episode [0:35] Beth Comstock, one of the most impressive people I've ever talked with [2:38] How we are trained to NOT be creative, and how we can overcome it [6:30] How Beth teaches people to break out of their shell and become more imaginative [14:32] Getting into the habit of overcoming fear and building courage [22:05] The purpose of Beth's "Imagine It Forward" creative problem solving strategy [29:41] Overcoming the power of fear - in herself, team members, and customers [32:40] Beth's hopes for the impact of the book [35:20] Advice for parents who are raising daughters: instill confidence in them Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: Great By Choice - http://a.co/d/7RMKo6c Ecomagination : GE's Cleantech effort - https://www.ge.com/reports/ecomagination-ten-years-later-proving-efficiency-economics-go-hand-hand/ Uber : https://www.uber.com/ Connect with Beth Comstock Beth's website: https://www.bethcomstock.info/ Connect with Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjcomstock/ Follow Beth on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethcomstock Follow Beth on Instagram: https://www.bethcomstock.info/ Beth's book: Imagine It Forward - http://a.co/d/eX99PwW Connect With Max Borges www.MaxBorgesAgency.com LinkedIn Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

On this episode of Unconventional Genius, I talk with Andrew Yang about The Freedom Dividend and the future of America. Andrew is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Venture for America, a national entrepreneurship fellowship that has helped create over 3,000 jobs in major cities across the United States. He is also running for president in 2020, with a key component of his platform being the creation of a universal basic income. During our conversation, Andrew shares his vision for the future and I ask questions submitted by the Unconventional Genius community through Facebook. How the freedom dividend could help people Andrew explains that his plan for providing a universal basic income, known as The Freedom Dividend, was born out of the inability of the U.S. job market to keep up with technology. He says that robots are taking jobs from people at an alarming rate and our ability to adapt hasn't kept pace. Rather than demotivating people to work, Andrew argues that The Freedom Dividend will provide a jumpstart to those working underpaying jobs. He also says it will give people the opportunity to save more. He believes that this solution is a more viable option than trying to retrain workers. Getting to know Andrew Yang through your questions During this episode, I do something I've never done before. I let you ask the questions. Listeners submitted questions for Andrew on Facebook. He tackles these challenging questions and shares his platform and ideologies. Many of the questions submitted dealt with Andrew's policy and platform. He is running as a Democrat with very different views and policies than the current administration. He says, "Our goal is to try to get (Trump) out of office as fast as possible while we still have a functional government." Andrew Yang's proposed Presidential platform and policies Andrew Yang is running for President because he believes he can unite the country and bring about positive change. He argues that he isn't a lifetime politician, but rather an entrepreneur who understands business and the economy. During our conversation, Andrew shares how he plans to fund The Freedom Dividend. One concern is that taxes might increase. How do you pay for everyone to get $1,000 a month? Listen to this episode to find out how he intends to pay for a universal basic income. The plan to help people adapt to the future Andrew proposes a radical shift in both mindset and action that he feels is critical for the country to move forward. His approach is formed from the belief that job creation will not outpace the massive impending job loss due to automation. Andrew discusses the ways he would address the nation's challenges during this interview. Can Andrew change the mindset of people quickly enough to adapt to the times? Andrew says, "That is the challenge. Things are changing very quickly. We have to rise to that challenge. If we fail in that, then we will witness the disintegration of our country." If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com. Topics Featured In This Episode [0:51] Introduction of 2020 Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang [2:00] Why Andrew Yang thinks that the job market can't keep up with technology [5:21] Does the Freedom Dividend demotivate people to work hard and earn their own money? [7:04] Educating people to learn how to save money and adapt in a changing world [11:49] What is the singular change needed in the government in order to unite our country? [13:04] Andrew Yang talks about his foreign policy [14:05] What is his biggest strength and greatest challenge? [15:06] Where is the $1,000 per month for The Freedom Dividend coming from? Will taxes go up? [15:55] How can Andrew get better results than the current administration? [17:44] Is creating basic income for everyone the same things as socialism? [18:55] How would Andrew Yang handle voter suppression? [20:10] What would the regulatory environment look like under Andrew's presidency? [20:57] The positives and negatives of the future of AI and how it has and will affect the job market [23:15] How to help people change their minds and prepare for the future Connect with Guest Name Andrew Yang Connect With Max Borges www.MaxBorgesAgency.com LinkedIn Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

The Unconventional Genius podcast welcomes guest Inbal Etgar, Creative Director at frog Design, to discuss the importance of design. Inbal leads the product development team of mechanical engineers and industrial designers at frog, which has been in business for over 50 years. During our conversation, Inbal talks about her role at frog, how they help companies succeed and what she sees for the future of design. frog Design has played an instrumental role in many well-known companies and products. They have worked with companies like GE, Google, and Heatworks. Most notably, frog helped strategize and create Apple's design language called Snow White for their line of computers. Hear Inbal recount the opportunities she has had to leverage the importance of design with these major companies. The benefit of design for Heatworks During our conversation, Inbal details the work that she and her team has done for Heatworks. Heatworks is also a client that I have worked with and I know firsthand that they are an innovative company with beautiful design. frog helped Heatworks design one of the most unique countertop dishwashers on the market today. The Model 3 by Heatworks is a countertop dishwasher that uses a completely new way to heat water. By developing this type of technology, Heatworks was able to use their water-heating method in different applications, including the dishwasher. During our interview, Inbal shares her experience working with Heatworks to not only help with product design, but also with their overall branding. Inbal Etgar's journey into industrial design Inbal shares with me her journey to becoming the creative director at frog. Starting out as a painter and sculptor, she had a passion to shape her environment. A family friend, who was an industrial engineer, invited her to help build some models which opened her eyes to the professional opportunities that industrial design held. Inbal says that industrial design is the intersection of engineering and plastic arts. She appreciates the constraints of the discipline and the opportunity to redefine visual norms. Inbal has traveled through Europe and China and experienced the different aspects of industrial design. She landed in the United States just before the release of the first iPhone and Fitbit. Inbal has achieved the rare privilege of experiencing the confluence of passion and skill. The acceleration of progress and how it is impacting design. Is design experiencing benefit from the acceleration of progress? Inbal says design is a key factor in progress and innovation but is only successful when a company has a solid foundation. She suggests that companies can over-index on design and fail to actually solve a problem for businesses and consumers. Inbal says, "Design starts in the boardroom." You can have a really beautiful design but if you don't have clarity about how you are going to ensure longevity, you will struggle to deliver over time. Hear more insight from Inbal's unique experience and perspective during this episode of Unconventional Genius. The importance of design and its connection to failure "Success lives where tolerance for failure exists." Inbal stresses the importance of being willing to fail. Data and research help you better understand how to solve problems, but sometimes you have to follow intuition. Inbal cites Steve Jobs as a great example of someone who took risks and failed but who bounced back to experience unprecedented success. During this interview, Inbal shares her vision for the future of design. She believes that the importance of design is understood better than ever before. She believes that companies gain an advantage in creating a product and solving a problem by having a designer at the table. Listen to this episode of the Unconventional Podcast to hear more from Inbal Etgar. If you are with a consumer technology company planning to launch a new product at CES or are even looking ahead to CES 2019, the Max Borges Agency can help you succeed. To learn more, check out: www.maxborgesagency.com. Topics Featured In This Episode [1:02] Inbal Etgar explains how frog Design helps companies overcome business challenges [4:37] How design can be a really powerful tool in helping a company achieve their goals [8:11] Inbal explains how they helped Heatworks design their brand [11:08] Thinking outside the box in designing a dishwasher for Heatworks [14:17] The background and experience that led Inbal Etgar to become a designer [20:20] How the acceleration of progress and growth impacts the industrial design industry [25:50] The balance of solving obvious problems with educating consumers about problems they didn't know they even had [30:00] How design and development help uncover truth for companies [32:09] What bad design drives Inbal Etgar [36:38] Are chopsticks better than forks? Considering history and culture in design. [41:40] Applying lean method prototyping approaches to design [43:47] The future and the role of design according to Inbal Etgar Resources & People Mentioned Heatworks Connect with Inbal Etgar Inbal Etgar Connect With Max Borges www.MaxBorgesAgency.com LinkedIn Subscribe to Unconventional Genius onApple Podcasts, Otto Radio, Player FM, Soundcloud, or Spotify