All Consuming: Jason Toney

In the very first paragraph of the prologue, Nina Simone reflects on a statement James Baldwin – Jimmy, to her – had directed to her, “This is the life that you have made, Nina. Now, you have to live in it.” She doesn’t come back to acknowledge that simple but important truth until the end of her tale but it is the one that stuck with me throughout my reading.

To be quite frank, Ms. Simone is much less effective with prose than lyrics and melody. This is not about insight into her psyche or much reflection on the challenges and triumphs of her life. If you’re looking for that, if you’re interested in her passions and emotions, stick with the music. You’ll find no new access here. If you want to know about her life’s loves, her relationship with her family, and her near constant lack of business acumen, well, this is for you.

This is not what I was hoping for. I wanted her to delve deeper into her connection with the civil rights movement. A good portion of the middle passages deal with this part of her life but only anecdotally. I yearned for a stronger discussion of her politics and how she reconciled that with her music and her career and her station. I wanted less about how her relationships with men dominated her emotional state and effected her movements.

What we do get, however, are glimpses into her genius and how, despite suggesting up and down at the opening of the book that she wasn’t proud of her skill as a musician, her awareness of her own genius gave her a unique point of view. Wealth was not really a concern for her but respect – for her celebrity, her craft, and her skin – were incredibly important to her. This ego—a hallmark of her career, her performances, her relationship with her audiences – rears it’s head often. I found these glimpses into how she saw herself most fascinating. We could all learn to demand to be treated with the kind of respect Ms. Simone often required.

As Jimmy noted, “We are the creators of the worlds we live in.” If that’s the case, might as well make it a world where our own brilliance is acknowledged.

Mildly recommended but, really, I’d just recommend picking up as much of her catalogue as you can. The recent re-issues Nina Simone Sings The Blues, Forever Young Gifted & Black, and Silk & Soul are great starts.

Consuming "Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg"

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:53:38 GMT

Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg

by Various Artists

Tagged: eccentric soul, funk, numero group, r&b, rare grooves, soul

Why I recommend "BE OUR GUEST: Perfecting the art of customer service"

nobody@www.allconsuming.net (Jason Toney) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:26:36 GMT

BE OUR GUEST: Perfecting the art of customer service

by Disney Institute

As Carrie noted on our trip to Disneyland a couple weekends ago, I’ve moved from just drinking the Kool-Aid to making it. It’s true. I make few apologies about it. Since the day I started at the mouse, I’ve been challenged by my job in interesting and enjoyable (and frustrating) ways. I’ve also been rewarded for how I handle these every day struggles. Plus, there are those days when we’re just doing stuff that is so fun and cool, I’m a bit overwhelmed with what I get to call a job. Like The Muppets and Phineas & Ferb and Here Come The 123s.

Be Our Guest is all about what we do “backstage” to make the Disney magic happen. Online, just as in the parks, you don’t get to see what goes on behind the curtain. You’re never aware of our process, our heated discussions around guest experience and quality of content and everything else that goes into our show. You just see the pixie dust.

I won’t dig too deeply into this here. I know there is only so much Disney crap people can take before they want to smack me around but the most significant part of this book for me was the discussion around communication and specifically about how Cast Members at the park are taught to deal with what, on the surface, seems like one of the silliest questions ever to be asked: “What time does the 3 o’clock parade start?”

This is one of the most common questions asked in the parks. The answer, however, is about engagement and understanding that guests aren’t really asking about the time. They are probably asking about where they should stand, what the route is, what time it will be at this specific location or a whole host of possibilities. Rather than give a glib response or even one that answers the question (but not the guest’s need) like a bubbly “Why, 3 o’clock!” it is an opportunity to make someone’s day with special attention and empathy.

I need to remember this at work. I need to remember this in life.

As the unfrozen head of Walt might say, “Never forget, the magic always begins with you.”

Recommended.