… the ultimate moment of truth in customer experience.

This past week, someone suggested on boards.ie that Perfectpints.com might be worth a look in a thread about finding the best pint of Guinness being served in Limerick City. The reaction was anything but perfect …

Time to take my own medicine.

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Update: Sign-up for this year’s challenge by November 1st. Application Form (Word, 48k). Team Member Pack (Word, 64k).

This past November, Dublin hosted its first 24-Hour Universal Design Challenge. It would be impossible to capture the experience without taking part yourself, though Fiona Ashe just posted a video documenting the event.

Five teams were tasked with creating a new product or service along with a design partner who had a specific disability. Our team had the pleasure of working with Genny, a self-described “venetian blind”. Working through the night and collaborating on a superbly-talented team, MY WAY was created. MY WAY is a portable device and service designed to help anyone with a specific need find the path best traveled through the city. Our team garnered the People’s Choice Award.

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Best wishes to all the other fathers out there.

We LOVE carving pumpkins at Halloween. Working left to right is mine, Gabe’s and Lisa’s.

Time to roast the seeds for tomorrow night’s “horror” triple feature. Mothman Prophecies (which none of us have seen), Alien and Nightmare on Elm Street.

Last evening, Sean Gallagher spoke in the IT Sligo Innovation Centre to a packed room. He had many wise things to say, but the biggest impression was the positivity that exuded from the man, and his belief in the “resilience of the Irish entrepreneurial spirit.” That was infectious. My summarised notes, his quotes:

• Success leaves clues.
• You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with
• You are not your business
• A customer acknowledge is a customer half served. Service is about feeling valued.
• In year one you CAN’T control your revenues, but you CAN control your costs
• Action. You can’t plow a field by turning it in your mind.
• The only thing you have is your effective energy. (Sean only concentrates on five things in relation to his business and ignores all other activity.)
• Be brave if you don’t know know the answer
• I’m not a fan of advertising but I love PR.

One nice aside from the Q&A session was the advice to always say your name and your company when asking a question in an audience. Take advantage of every opportunity.