I Know What You're Doing on Zoom

You probably already know what I'm talking about, because you do it and your co-workers do it and I'm ashamed to admit that I do it too.

I was having drinks with a good friend and client, and we were talking about remote work and how he manages his team. The talk went to Zoom, and he told a story about calling out one of his team members for not paying attention. This person reacted with a kind of shock: "How did you know?"

"How did I know? Everyone knows. Everyone can see your eyes moving around looking at things on your screen. We can see how the brightness changes on your face when you change screens."

Everyone can see.

And yet we still do it.

I could throw out some suggestions like "close your email and Slack before jumping on a Zoom," but I have a different suggestion that works more with the creative brain.

Take notes. I'm not talking about the very similar problem of people who bring laptops into in-person meetings, ostensibly to "take notes," but let's be honest: really to read and respond to email and messages while the meeting is going on. Incredibly rude.

I mean pen or pencil and paper. I mean listen to what is being said and write it down, write down what you think is important.

In this same conversation with my friend/client, I mentioned that I had just been on a Zoom when the client talked about a film's release date. I didn't hear her and asked her to repeat it so I could write it down. Now the reality is, the client was going to send an email with all the important points after the call. Someone on my team, definitely wrote it down themselves. I could probably even just look it up! But the act of listening and writing down important facts is a skill and discipline all its own.

A key part of creativity is the art of observing. I have over a dozen notebooks from my entire career in entertainment marketing. I never refer to them, and good luck trying to read my scrawl, because the important part isn't about referring back to them; it's about listening and selecting what you think is important.

Are you a note taker? More importantly, are you a pen person or a pencil person? Let me know. (I'm a solid Blackwing guy.)

love,

jpp

You may have seen the news that David Lynch's compound is on the market for $15 million. I feel very conflicted, even more so after Jennifer Lynch posted that while it was her father's wish to sell the place immediate she and her siblings hope that it goes to a person interested in preserving that sacred space. I actually talked to the real estate agent about buying the property for RAVE Collective offices, but unsurprisingly I don't have $15 million. Still, a dream to behold.

Sad news from the Pascoe household: our beloved Siamese named Pearl has left us for Kittyland. We keep seeing shadows in the corners and thinking it’s her. So allow me to revel in the beauty of some amazing cat photography by Tim Flach, who has a new book FELINE coming out soon with Abrams.

Speaking of animals, fans of my series Cottons know that I love images of animals seen through a fantasy lens. Laura Catherwood's paintings and drawings are a wonder labyrinth to get lost in. Here are only a couple of ones I love, but definitely worth exploring her work more.

I love weird public installation art. So bring on the giant inflatable and colorful spikes of Steve Messam!

Cottons Update. I can't thank my friends and fans enough for your patience with the slow progress of book 3. So I am incredibly pleased to announced that all of the interior art for Cottons is now complete. Expect a publication announcement soon!

Do YOU have a cool project you would like me to share with my readers? Hit me up and maybe we’ll see you in an upcoming Playbook.