I’m excited to share this podcast episode with you. An episode exploring collaboration; what it means and does for projects, innovation and building projects. In today’s episode in our creative conversation segment: the episode titled: “The Power of People, The Power of Collaboration” I riff with three awesome dudes; Jay Nova, Patrick Straus and David Webster on thoughts and conversations on collaborating with people.

We talk about things such as what does collaboration mean to you, the strength and beauty behind collaboration, how to best present risky ideas, our thinking on it as a concept and how it relates to how collaboration shapes the world and realizes shared goals/ deep vision and more.

Jay Nova; a smooth and forward thinking rnb artist. Along with Patrick Straus and David Webster are recent college grads who work together in a young urban non-profit called; Feed The Streets USA;  a young urban energized non-profit working to make differences in the space of homeless support, food, nutrition and innovative education.

I recently fell in love with the podcast format because of the parallels between in film in how  I tell stories with them and the raw traits of human expression found in the format. Me being a creative producer of visuals, sound and movement I live for the ways art forms relate and inspire/draw from one another and I see a lot similarities for I how I look at a piece or stories are created in both podcasts and in film. Check out the show notes for more info and links and we’ll see you in the next episode.

Create & inspire,

Alex Gomes

Take a listen to Podcast #4:

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• Instagram: @alexgomeswgp
• Facebook: @AlexGomesWGP

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Outline/Timing:

• Episode Intro: 00:00 -1:41
• Introductions; row call: 1:42 – 4:59
• Giving more context to the main theme and speakers in this episode: 5:00 – 6:04
• What do you think of when you hear the word collaboration; what does collaboration mean to you? (thoughts and ideas regarding the fabric of collaboration): 6:04 – 8:00
• Diversity: 8:01-9:35
• Considering someone’s perspective: 9:35-10:21
• What are some the personality types or traits that you enjoy the most in people you collaborate with?: 10:21-14:22
• Meeting new people is a beautiful gift: 14:22-14:53
• Positivity always wins and being consistent: 14:54-16:18
• What do you think is the best approach to presenting good ideas that might met with push back or tension because it’s different, risky, challenging, hard to explain or will/might ruffle some feathers?: 16:20-17:47
• Using failure as a learning tool: 17:47-19:35
• How would you best dismiss a bad or unwanted idea that you are certain won’t help the collaboration?: 19:37-21:37
• Having conviction in your vision: 21:38-22:43
• Walk me through a story of a recent collaborative project or a current one; Feed The Streets USA: 22:45-31:26
• Walk me through a story of a recent collaborative project or a current one; Jay Nova: 31:27-32:51
• What do people do in the collaborative process that make you feel good/excited things about a project?: 32:51-34:30
• Why is collaboration is powerful?: 34:30-35:32
• Closing thoughts: 35:32-37:19
• Outro: 37:20-38:17

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Excerpts and Highlights From Show:

Highlights from speakers in this episode;

Alex Gomes:

• I think of possibilities, excitement. When your bringing together more than one person..Two heads are better one..a lot of possibilities can come about. I think of growth..each new project you learn about how you work with people..which in turn with those insights you’ll use the next time you do something collaborative
• Work with people who have convictions, have clear vision. Who have these boundaries and values that they hold to. They have a way that work with people and they stick to it and make it happen.
• I like people who are blunt and to the point, don’t sugar coat things. Being able to express yourself emotionally. Clear communication, honesty, no wasting time (On good traits for collaboration)
• Know your working with the right people. That’s powerful when people who are supposed to be working together..work together. That’s part of the beauty of collaboration, as do you projects They are people who want to work with again because it went great

Outtakes:

• Set boundaries to make things clear and build strong collaborative relationships
• Keep everyone in mind when collaborating..the well being and the impact it will have on the team (On genuinely caring about the success of people involved)
• Be present..your present in that moment. Which what allows amazing things to happen and ideas to surface
• More people will start to adapt to technology that allows for communication and collaboration; which will hopeful show people being less distracted (On avoid distractions from unwanted biding time and technology). Excited to what industries can connect through new collaborative innovations

 

Patrick Straus:

• Where I found my greatest success was not focusing on myself but rather by focusing on others
• Practice what you preach. Exhibit what your learning. People don’t know what they don’t know. (On modeling knowledge, setting examples to inspire action)
• Applied knowledge is power
• Meeting new people is a exceptional gift that we all have in ourselves. I think meeting new people is like reading a good book. You never know what page you’re going to turn and that next page could be an awesome story. In collaborating with people, get out there and network, you never know who you’re going pass in the streets
• Create a lifestyle of change..creating a culture of people helping people. I think that’s important in collaboration

•  A Give and take; that sense of the law return. Working with one another and sharing particular talents and coming together for the end goal.
• It’s important to allow the creativity to truly flow, empower people, Go in their shoes, hear them out and go from there (On bouncing off ideas)
• People will take more action rather than listening people voice their opinions or problems. Not just talking the talk but walking the walking. (On future innovations impacted by technology)

 

 

David Webster:

• Having the ability to identify someone else’s way of thinking; their point of view. I think it’s almost a skill. It’s an important part of collaboration. To be able to understand to why a person is saying that, why does that person feel that way; and be able say well..this is why and I understand that but I still feel this way. (On being able to express your ideas and while also considering another person’s thinking and ideas even if they clash)
• Be good at being able to identity who will grow with you and those who will not
• Surround yourself who do things better than you, who are smarter than you. (On improving yourself by surrounding yourself with great people)
• The first day is always the easiest and you feel good. It’s that third and fourth day and your starting to get tired (on consistency)
• Don’t make excuses. Take accountability for your what you do. Make a mistake..own it up
• You can find the bits that work or possibly reconstruct. An idea even if not the best will usually have good intention behind it somewhere, finding it and making something better; a better plan or idea would be more constructive. (on riffing on ideas)

• Good information and research will be easier to sort through and will spread fast (On technology innovations on collaboration)

 

 

Jay Nova:

• There is so much excitement behinds things you would never expect to get together. It’s an eye opener. It’s beautiful to me..collaboration..and when you take it to a certain level..a certain scale and you’re not afraid and get out and do something different
• I need to fail so that I can succeed (On failure as a learning tool to improve)
• If your negative, no..I can’t do that. I’m a firm believer in the words you say, the words you pronounce into reality, it has the power to take you to where your going go
• Hard work is everything to me
• Go out your comfort zone. Do something you haven’t done before

• In order to make a difference we have to use what we have, stick together and attach meaning to what we do (On being resourceful and finding purpose)
• Have a vision that is clear and strong enough that it seems physically tangible (On vision inspiring action and motivation)’

 

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