NORTHERN PLANNER

Two interesting viewpoints on understanding people.

The first from Richardon planning from within, looking for universals in your own feelings and behaviour (in particular the problems with segmentation).

The second from Rob on the need to actually get off your backside and talk to people that are not like you.

It's tempting to ask which is right? But I think questions like that are part of the problem with agencies and the people that work in them – their process, technique or shtick is right and everyone else's is wrong.

What I like personally about the way these two people (isn't it funny to use the word 'personally' about two people you've never met? Blogs etc are funny like that) talk about their work isn't about having one way of doing things, rather various tools to get to something good.

On that note, Richard's slideshare on different planning styles. Of course,  you always develop your own, but mostly the best planning style in my view is one that manages to stay fluid and open.

It doesn't say 'this is the right way' is says, 'this is the right way for right now'. People, companies, whatever, don't survive by just being the strongest or the cleverest, they survive by constantly adapting to change or innovating to stay ahead of it.