Why Fab Lab & The Golden Circle

One of our board members shared this with me last week.  It was a transformational Ted Talk by Simon Sinek on messaging, be it for products or missions, etc.  The focus was on how leaders can inspire followers and clearly communicate objectives.  The talk is about 20 minutes and well worth your time.

Here's a link:  http://blog.ted.com/2010/05/04/how_great_leade/

The gist of it was that people don't buy what you have, they buy what you are and why you do what you do.  The thing they buy or do is evidence that they believe what you believe.  Simon refers to this pattern as the Golden Circle.

At the center is Why, radiating out to How and finally to What.  His point is that many leaders or organizations start their message or vision or sales pitch on the outer circle and with the What of their message.

For a product, the What is what it does or features it has or things it can do.  The typical message then communicates the How.  The How is how it accomplishes those features or activities.  Finally, the Why is answered or in many cases is not answered at all.  The Why is why the organization exists or the vision was created or why the leader leads.  Often the case is that the Why is left to the listener or consumer to figure out on their own...the Why is implicit, instead of explicit.  Ambiguity about Why can be the disasterous.

Simon points out a number of examples of companies or organization or products which use the What-How-Why process, including TiVo.  TiVo, by the way, is not particularly successful despite the fact that it's practically a verb.  They failed to communicate the Why, lost market leadership and became commoditized.  Commodities are cheap and ordinary.  Is that what you want?

The successful leaders start their message or vision with Why, then proceed to How and What...in that order.  Apple is a classic example, Simon notes.  People buy Apple products first and foremost because they believe in the Apple vision...a more creative, energetic and individualized life.  They believe in this vision and are compelled to buy Apple products as evidence of their belief.  Apple products will probably never be commodities.

So how does this apply to Fab Lab Tulsa?  Good question...here's my answer:

Why Fab Lab?

• I believe in Fab Lab because it's a movement dedicated to the next industrial revolution, except that it won't be industrial, it will be personal. 
• I believe in the Fab Lab movement because it's a step-change in the practice of creation, fabrication and production. 
• I believe in Fab Lab because it is the leading global concept in empowering people to improve their lives through technology.
• I believe in Fab Lab because it is collaborative, cooperative, creative, friendly and revolutionary.
• I believe in Fab Lab because our children deserve better access to mentors, experimentation, positive learning environments, and technology.

How does Fab Lab realize these beliefs?

• Fab Lab Tulsa provides public access to industrial grade computer controlled machines, electronics and open source design software.
• Fab Lab Tulsa offers access to artists, students, teachers, inventors, businesses, entrepreneurs and the wider community.

What does Fab Lab Tulsa do?

• Fab Lab Tulsa offers training on the machines and software.
• Fab Lab Tulsa is available to the public through memberships and limited free public hours.
• Fab Lab Tulsa provides a limited selection of free plastic and wood raw materials which people can use responsibly to build things they want or need.

Now, answer me this...Do you believe in Fab Lab Tulsa?

If so...then help us achieve our Why...our vision for a more visionary, independent and creative future.

Contribute to Fab Lab Tulsa.  Your contribution matters.

Sincerely,
Matt Norris

Board President
Fab Lab Tulsa, Inc.
Tulsa, OK USA

Some Post Halloween thoughts

We've got a DONATE button now!  We're still in fundraising mode.  Your tax deductible contributions are welcome.

http://www.fablabtulsa.com/donate

If I didn't say it before, October was a super busy month at Fab Lab Tulsa.  It was a great month but busy.  October was our first full month for operations, and there are some good things to report:

• We have over $8000 in pledges from the general public to support the lab.  These are in the form of Jumpstart class registrations.  If you have registered, please pay and attend the class because we need the money =)  And thank you for your support!
• Start-up Weekend was a huge success.  Many thanks to Scott Philips, our entrpreneurship expert and Tulsa focal for Start-up Weekend.  He brought the concept to Tulsa and really gives it great attention.
• Start-up Weekend experienced several great ideas but I wanted to brag about two in particular...first, a team developed a super portable ear clip mounted pulse-oxygen monitor.  You've seen these in hospitals clipped onto a patient's finger tip.  This one is more mobile and could be integrated into a bluetooth device and smart phone app.  Second, another team developed an adapter for the Apple Magic Mouse...look for this one on Kickstarter I'm told.
• Our biggest supporter, Michelle Hardesty, hosted a Funder's Roundtable for us at the lab on October 27.  It was a great success and we are so lucky to have such an enthusiastic fan.  Many thanks to Michelle for her dedication.
• Phase II of the San Miguel Middle School educational program is underway.  These kids and teachers are great; and many thanks to our dedicated education committee including Diama Norris.  The really great news is that our curriculum is the first of it's kind in a Fab Lab.  We're breaking new ground with this innovative approach to education.
• Lt. Governor Todd Lamb visited the lab on October 13.  He was very excited, interested and asked great questions.  We made Fab Lab name tags for him and Governor Mary Fallin.  I'm so proud of our little lab...we're making a splash statewide!
• We're finalizing the membership program right now.  Stay tuned!
• The MIT Fab Director, Sherry Lassiter, visited us on Oct 20 for an evening speaking event.  It was great.  We had a nice crowd, about 35, which is excellent considering the short notice.  My favorite part of that night was that we met a couple from Dallas who drove all the way up to hear Sherry speak and to see the lab.  I'm humbled and excited at the same time to see such enthusiasm.
• Sherry gave us some amazing compliments.  The jist was that Fab Lab Tulsa is the model she'll use when she talks about new Fab Labs.  She was impressed with the facility and our team.  Good work everyone!

I'm sure I've forgotten something.  Oh, yes...we now have a part time lab technician who's a real asset.  We will probably hire another part-timer early next year.  On the hiring front too...we are looking for an Executive Director.  Keep posted for details on that job search.  Hiring an E.D. will make our Board's job so much easier and mean better programming and services from the lab.

That's all for now!

Creativity Summit a success + fundraising

Congrats and many thanks to our fine former Mayor of Tulsa, the honorable Rodger Randle.  The day which he and his comrades (Kevin O'Connor and Philbrook notably) organized was a great success with over 150 registrants and a day of stimulating conversation.  The topics ranged from art to theatre to education to business.

My talk on Fab Lab's was well received.  Our panel on rating Tulsa's creativity involved an artist, a journalist, a poet and myself.  Being one of the few technology guys in the room was a bit daunting but altogether exciting.

I can't say enough good things...the keynote speaker Nate Bliss, the lunch speaker Robert Sternberg, and the afternoon speaker Randall Suffolk were fantastic.  I was really struck by a statement by Randall, which was this "If you dislike change, you're going to hate irrelevance."

This really struck a nerve with me in my life, especially launching a new organization and plowing new ground in Tulsa.  It's all about relevance, and one of the chief motivations of our Fab Lab Tulsa team is to make our fair city and state more relevant in the days and years to come.

In closing, the event was great and I was honored to participate in the first one.  For a great audio piece, here's a link to a radio story on the event here.  Note that I can't control this audio link and I don't know how long it will be available.

Oh, yeah...if you want to come visit Fab Lab Tulsa, contact me.  My digits and email are on our website.  I'm always happy to give tours, especially if you're interested in making a donation!