062: Shel Israel, Cross-Disciplinary Communicator

A Superstorm of Change Shel’s latest book, Lethal Generosity, borrows its name from the concept that when a company is incredibly generous to their customers, competitors’ efforts to hijack the customer are preempted. Customers have more power than ever. Technology has put customers “in their rightful place at the heart of an organization, rather than on the outside”, and has created, as Shel puts it, a “superstorm of change”. Social media has empowered consumers to demand the experiences they desire. What does this mean for the future—of companies, communication, and the world? The future belongs to millennials, says Shel, and it is in their hands to make reparations and "fix the world." They are the first generation of ‘digital natives’ coming of age to a planet that has a lot of problems, and the technology at their fingertips will be the tool they use to network and solve problems. Shifting Business Models This limitless power of connectivity and communication offers millennials seemingly infinite resources for collaboration. Shel introduces the topic of Keiretsu, a Japanese practice of forming and sharing networks and resources to gather power and problem-solve. Many companies around the world are now building keiretsus, and these teams are going on to shift the traditional business model to a newer, more sustainable format. This phenomenon is evident in cause-marketing efforts from brands like TOMs, Warby Parker, and more. Shel Israel, Cross-Disciplinary Communicator Shel Israel is a best-selling author concerned with technology and the impact it has on business and life. He has been a keynote speaker “on all continents not covered by ice” and a contributor to Forbes, Fast Company, Business Weekly, and Business Insider. He began his extensive career as a newspaper reporter, then moved on to become a PR executive in Silicon Valley; he rounded out his career by working as a publicist. He currently writes and speaks full time. He brings his cross-disciplinary viewpoint to the podcast today to discuss the future of company identity and branding. Connect with ShelLinkedInTwitterwww.shelisrael.comRelated ContentAdam's blog post, Age of Context, Future of ExperienceLethal GenerosityAge of Context Naked ConversationsKeiretsuBe Your Customer’s Hero: Real-World Tips and Techniques for the Service Front Lines is a one-stop training guide for anyone who works with customers. Be Your Customers Hero covers customer service from beginning to end. In HERO, you will learn some of Adam’s favorite tips and tricks for winning the mental game of service, for communicating in ways that set you up for success, and of course, for working with difficult customers. Get a copy for yourself or for your whole team. Bulk discounts are available. Learn more here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices