Why is it tough to keep the integrity of a business? Probably...

Why is it tough to keep the integrity of a business? Probably because we live in a world that changes. A business is like a living organism–constantly reacting to and adjusting itself in resonse to it’s environment. And sometimes, with all of that adjustment and adaptation, the different parts of the business get out of balance. 

The problem many business leaders encounter is that, when you’re in the midst of the fray of running that business, you probably can’t see that it is losing it’s integrity. You’re inside and involved. This is why we have consultants–people who might be able to understand the business, but aren’t ensconced inside it. They are able to see it from an outside perspective, and provide that perspective–and the tools needed to make the changes necessary to get the business back on track.

Of course, at the Wizard Venture, we specialize in helping you to particularly innovative ways of seeing your situation, and a set of tools to resolve them that are a bit different from what you might get from the typical MBA trained consultants. We’re here for you, if that sounds like what you might need.

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People seldom change because someone else tells them they...

People seldom change because someone else tells them they should. Instead, we change because of experiences we have. So if you really want to change someone–or a large group of someone’s–you need to give them experiences. This is why, at The Wizard Venture, we provide, and teach others to provide, experiences designed to help them to change.

How have we learned to do this? We’ve been trained and produced entertainment experiences for several decades–experiences in the form of plays, magic shows, classes, workshops, and more. So…if you need to create change for yourself, or for others, we can help!

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You’ve probably heard it a thousand times. “First define your...

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times. “First define your purpose.”

If I had to name one simple key to success, it would be learning to define your purpose, or mission. Do you have one? If you don’t, you’re not in control of your life. If your business doesn’t have one, their marketing and branding will be all over the place, and is unlikely to succeed.

Defining a purpose is one of those things that seems like it should be simple…but it’s hardly ever easy. I work with lots of magicians, and their “purpose” is often that “I want to awaken a sense of wonder,” or “I want to make people laugh.” Those both sound noble–but neither one is either clear enough or actionable. Here’s one that is:

“I want to use magic to inspire young people to take social action against racial injustice.” That’s actionable. It defines a market–young people–and how you want to change their lives. When defining your purpose, think of whose lives you want to affect, and how they will change as a result of your efforts.

“I want to make sure no human being is without easy access to drinkable water.” That’s a noble purpose, and one that assumes you’ll be working for those who do not currently have that access. Even something that noble sounding might need refining, though. “We make sure no tribe in South Africa is without drinking water by providing them with a technology that draws moisture from the air everyday, and by teaching them to maintain that technology. We fund this project through donations solicited over social media, government grants, and…” Well…you’re beginning to get the picture. This is a “purpose” that inspires particular actions.

So…what is your purpose? State it to yourself now. Then ask, “why?” Then ask “how.” Then ask “for whom.” And then, again, “why?” Now you’re probably getting close to a useful statement of purpose!

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One of the prime axioms of the wizard is to “Question...

One of the prime axioms of the wizard is to “Question Everything.” Most of us question NOTHING, unless it is someone asking us to do something we don’t want to. Our culture teaches us our beliefs…and we accept them. When the culture changes, the young tend to go along, because their beliefs aren’t so deeply ingrained–but most older folks resist. My 90 year old mother won’t use video-phone apps. I have my own hangups. Teens engage in lots of behaviors–especially using their smartphonesn and social media–that make me uncomfortable. The culture has, and will continue to change.

However–a real wizard will go out of his or her way to question as many beliefs as possible. Am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing…or are there elements I’m missing? There usually are. Is that really a –whatever?–or is my brain simply jumping to conclusions? We all understand that retailers “mark up” the things we buy from them–but I remember feeling really cheated when I discovered how much some of those mark-ups really were (looking at you, Apple).

Here’s a fun little thought exercise that might help you understand just what I mean: Imagine you see a man or woman walking down the street, only half dressed. What’s your reaction? “That’s disgusting,” maybe. Or, “that poor homeless person.” Or something else. Where did that response come from? What assumptions did your mind make that led you to that response? Were there psychological triggers involved? How much acculturation was involved?

Now, imagine yourself lost in the Amazon rain forest, and you encounter the same person, dressed in the same manner. Now how do you feel about them? They haven’t changed…but your situation has. You’re seeing them from a different perspective. You’ll still probably be jumping to conclusions based on your assumptions–many of them mistaken–but you’ll have a completely different reaction.

Have fun applying this kind of thinking to other aspects of your life. You might just find there are many things you thought impossible that become quite possible–even easy–as you learn to question your assumptions, and view those things from different perspectives!

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