Comments on: Sexual Selection and Business Contacts http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/10/sexual-selection-and-business-contacts/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:59:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: oblagon http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/10/sexual-selection-and-business-contacts/comment-page-1/#comment-292 oblagon Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:48:03 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=618#comment-292 Fascinating subject. I will be celebrating 40 years with my eponymous company, Syd Mead, Incorporated, next year. I’ve never had a business plan. My career started by sending car drawings to <a href="http://www.fomoconews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3407" rel="nofollow">Mr. John Reinhart</a> while I was in the Army on Okinawa in 1955. He recommended the Art Center School, then in Los Angeles. On discharge, I applied, was accepted and after three years graduated and was hired by Ford’s Advanced Design Studio, a job that lasted 26 months. My graduation work on display in the studio triggered a re-linking with John Reinhart who, after leaving Ford as head of design was the executive in charge of United States Steel Automotive Marketing Group. I designed, produced all the illustrations for the first ‘steel book’ and after that went world-wide, quit Ford and went to work for the next six years for a small Chicago group that produced collateral material for major U.S. Corporations. I started my own company in October of 1970 with no clients, has just turned down studio management positions at Chrysler and GM; just pure, blind naivete combined with very large cojones! My first corporate client through a visibility link to the Steel Book series landed a twelve-year consultant contract with Philips N.V., Eindhoven, Holland. In ensuing years, always by referral (I never had a sales force, resume or other deliberate P.R. activity). I’m still fulfilling professional design commissions at 76 and am approached by groups as diverse as architectural interiors designers, super yacht yards, the movie business and multi-national corporate groups in addition to doing from four to six presentations a year to university, professional and design society associations. It has always been extended visibility, a non-linear career that now spans 50 years since graduating from Art Center. I appreciate much the quote by Seneca: Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Fascinating subject. I will be celebrating 40 years with my eponymous company, Syd Mead, Incorporated, next year. I’ve never had a business plan. My career started by sending car drawings to Mr. John Reinhart while I was in the Army on Okinawa in 1955. He recommended the Art Center School, then in Los Angeles. On discharge, I applied, was accepted and after three years graduated and was hired by Ford’s Advanced Design Studio, a job that lasted 26 months. My graduation work on display in the studio triggered a re-linking with John Reinhart who, after leaving Ford as head of design was the executive in charge of United States Steel Automotive Marketing Group. I designed, produced all the illustrations for the first ‘steel book’ and after that went world-wide, quit Ford and went to work for the next six years for a small Chicago group that produced collateral material for major U.S. Corporations. I started my own company in October of 1970 with no clients, has just turned down studio management positions at Chrysler and GM; just pure, blind naivete combined with very large cojones! My first corporate client through a visibility link to the Steel Book series landed a twelve-year consultant contract with Philips N.V., Eindhoven, Holland. In ensuing years, always by referral (I never had a sales force, resume or other deliberate P.R. activity). I’m still fulfilling professional design commissions at 76 and am approached by groups as diverse as architectural interiors designers, super yacht yards, the movie business and multi-national corporate groups in addition to doing from four to six presentations a year to university, professional and design society associations. It has always been extended visibility, a non-linear career that now spans 50 years since graduating from Art Center.

I appreciate much the quote by Seneca: Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

]]> By: Marshall Thompson http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/10/sexual-selection-and-business-contacts/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Marshall Thompson Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:57:42 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=618#comment-290 Good one. Lucky me! Good one. Lucky me!

]]> By: Alfred Schneider http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/10/sexual-selection-and-business-contacts/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Alfred Schneider Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:10:35 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=618#comment-289 good piece. lots of truth to it. chance plays an important part. good piece. lots of truth to it. chance plays an important part.

]]> By: Bob Ellal http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/10/sexual-selection-and-business-contacts/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Bob Ellal Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:03:46 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=618#comment-288 Lee, I'm not sure how I ended up where I am--probably as a result of some very bad luck. I think as humans we have "control" issues: We want to believe that someone or something is pulling the strings--either a conscious universe, God, or even ourselves. The thought that we are helmless--an evolutionary quirk--is frightening. Which brings up luck: Is it just blind chance or synchronicity? I think I agree with Seneca. And Jefferson, who said something to the effect that "the harder I work, the luckier I get." Bob Lee,

I’m not sure how I ended up where I am–probably as a result of some very bad luck. I think as humans we have “control” issues: We want to believe that someone or something is pulling the strings–either a conscious universe, God, or even ourselves. The thought that we are helmless–an evolutionary quirk–is frightening.

Which brings up luck: Is it just blind chance or synchronicity? I think I agree with Seneca. And Jefferson, who said something to the effect that “the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

Bob

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