Kenna Griffin’s Post

Somehow 'My Little Pony' communicated to my target audience clearer than I ever have.   Context is that the character feeding the pigs (Applejack) went to the spa with a friend but didn't end up relaxing due to the spa having long lines to get into the steam room. Turns out the spa staff were following processes that resulted in all the steam being used elsewhere and resulted in the room taking forever to warm up. She was quickly able to recognize the root cause and used her practical knowhow to resolve the problem then and there. In the meantime, Twilight offered to feed Applejacks pigs so that Applejack could relax without thinking about the farm. The pig feeding process got a little complicated…   Moral of the story for us in business (or even personally) is that it is incredibly easy to miss how we could be doing something seemingly innocuous from our perspective, but from the outside it can seem horrendously inefficient. This can be a mix of not knowing other options exist, simply losing sight of why we perform certain actions in the first place or even having some key people resistant to any change. This is far from an exhaustive list of reasons, but it does give a bit of an idea as to how this can happen at all.   If you think maybe it would be wise to get an outside perspective to check over your processes, don't hesitate to reach out to me. And if not me, get on the phone to a consultant you trust. A half hour chat over the phone might be all it takes to identify you could be saving many thousands of dollars, maybe even over a very short time frame.   Finally, if you have kids, I can't recommend this show enough. It's full of heart, has some great lessons to learn about being a genuinely good person and is surprisingly clever with the writing. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Lilith develop with this show helping develop her moral compass. https://lnkd.in/dPTUPcTH

Overheard recently on the Tube: Daughter: "Mum, when you were dating in the 70s, how did you dump someone without mobile phones?"  Mother: "We asked for our mixtape cassette back."  Daughter: "What’s that?"  Mother: "Music."  Daughter: "How weird! Did everyone know what that meant when you had your mixtape returned then?"  Mother: "Yes, of course!"  Daughter: "Very strange!"  Mother:"Happy times!" In a world where breakups were sealed with the return of a mixtape, there was something tangible—even poetic—about the way we communicated. A physical gesture spoke volumes. In our working world, where much of our communication happens virtually, the absence of clear, shared signifiers can create misunderstandings. Whether it’s the lack of visual cues on a video call or ambiguous wording in an email, clarity is key to maintaining strong relationships. Be intentional with your communication—whether that’s creating a clear project handover, a memorable team gesture, or a succinct message. Clarity is kindness.

SHUT UP ???? hmm….. To Get What You Want, Try Shutting Up Silence makes us feel awkward. Deploying it can be a superpower. To get what you want, try closing your mouth. A well-deployed silence can radiate confidence and connection. The trouble is, so many of us are awful at it. We struggle to sit in silence with others, and rush to fill the void during a pause in conversation. We want to prove we’re smart or get people to like us, solve the problem or just stop that deafening, awkward sound of nothing. The noise of social media and constant opinions have us convinced we must be louder to be heard. But do we?

Low budget, Sci-fi/Fantasy feature screenplay available. INCEPTION meets GHOST.   THE DREAMERS A Sleep Technologist, in a coma after being overdosed on an experimental lucid dream drug, must team up with her husband and a mysterious young man in the dreamworld to bring her power mad colleague to justice.  Black List Evaluation: "With its ability to build an imaginative world, THE DREAMERS skillfully plays around with elements of ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND while still creating something wholly its own, giving this a chance to resonate with a wide variety of audiences. First and foremost, the dream world is clearly our script's strongest component, providing us with creative backdrops that will translate to the screen beautifully, and infusing the material with an "anything can happen" type spirit that constantly keeps the audience on its toes. We also get a nicely defined set of rules here as the group works with limited time to retrace their steps ... there's a massive amount of potential here for unique visuals and in-depth character exploration, providing a lot to like for a potential buyer." No funding or attachments. A lower budget than my previous screenplay Dead Future, which got a 9 out of 10 on its first Black List evaluation. 

As I have observed and mentored younger voice teachers over the years, my most common feedback is “Don’t try to teach them everything you know in one lesson, especially the first lesson.” I see teachers trying to “fix” every perceived vocal fault in a lesson, instead of establishing trust and discovering the singer’s goals and desires for their voice. Start with what the singer is doing well and address one (maybe two) area of concern. Then you can begin to introduce and apply the science and strategies over the following weeks. If you offer one “trial lesson” or “initial fit lesson” it is tempting to try to prove your vast knowledge and worthiness in that first lesson. That can be overwhelming and confusing to the new student. Think of a one-off lesson as the Pilot episode of a TV series. If the lesson is engaging and sparks their curiosity, they’ll want to see what happens and stick around for the full series—not switch the channel.

How to have more fun at work, and everywhere else NOTE: This essay is more effective as audio or video for reasons that will be obvious. 🎧 Audio: https://lnkd.in/gttWrAWD... 📺 Video: https://lnkd.in/g7H7z6fp I was recently treated to an unexpected but very effective lesson in having fun at work. Here’s the scene… Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g4Wmpx6j

It's been a minute, but here's my latest Substack. Please read, comment and share!

Williams AV Pocketalker® Ultra System that amplifies sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noise. Ideal for one-on-one conversation, small-group and television listening, or conversing in the car. Use with or without hearing aids. Simply plug in your earpiece, position the microphone near the preferred sound, adjust volume to your comfort – and start listening. * One-on-one conversations * Small-group listening * Television listening * Conversations in the car

Can you use your voice for as long as you need to? Or does it get strained or hoarse when you have to use your voice for an extended amount of time? When we understand vocal function, we can make better choices about HOW we use our voice and avoid voice loss or vocal strain. Keen to know more? Get in touch, I'd love to kōrero about how I can make your vocal goals a reality.