I finished my first sci-fi book of the year and when I learned it was made into a movie I watched it right away. This 2010 movie, Never Let Me Go (which is actually also a song), just didn't live up to the book. There seemed to be so much left out, implied, or communicated in different ways that it was almost distracting. But then I realized, it was very similar to business in items you turn from report to presentation, proposal to pitch. Converting something written to something visual can take concentration and grace. What makes it so difficult to communicate the same content in a different medium?

1. Time investment
• It only takes 2 hours or less to watch a movie, but many weekends to finish a book. The same is true for presentations in the compressed time of hours to minutes. Our interest in the ending is built over time, drawn by clues leading us to answers. An fast action-packed film doesn't let us look away, but a poetic mystery may keep us on the edge of our seat when reading. And presentations? Something that doesn't make us crave a nap within 20 minutes is what I call success.
2. Pictures mean 1000 words
• When you look at a farmer in a field of dead corn, or a president at a podium with a stern face, or a , you notice little things that set the mood. Cloud cover can bring you down, or a chatty audience can perk you up. With words, such a scene would need pages to describe the detail and set the stage. Color, art, handouts, and gestures can keep people watching you.
3. Speed of listening
• Have you ever read a book out loud to someone? It is a very different experience. The speed at which we speak is much slower than the speed in which we listen and think. Influenced only by vocal tones of the reader, your imagination runs wild bringing the story to life in your own perspective. A balance of control, the best listeners take an active role in the story or presentation.

It is hard to ignore the winter storm that Colorado had this weekend. My house got over a foot with some drifts closer to two. It is amazing how snow can bring out the cuddle bunny in all of us: reading, hot tea, family movie time, snowman building, and lots of baking. The white that covers everything seems to put everything to sleep and everyone seems to put busy things away and relax with it. Isn't it wonderful?

1. Abnormal time for normal results
• When it snows, you have to shovel the walk, warm up your car, and bundle up before going anywhere. It take an extra 10-20 minutes to just get out the door! But we all do it; we prepare more than usual and we make accommodations without much complaining. Why? I think we just don't let a little obstacle stand in our way!
2. Overly cautious and slow
• No, you aren't sure if there is black ice under you or not! All you can do is know your physics and have experience with walking/driving in this stuff to avoid causing a scene. Locals and non-locals alike can possess poor judgment rushing into the unknown. The speed of our actions drastically changes when we approach something we aren't sure about or are scared of.
3. Quickly acknowledge the unfortunate situation
• Everyone happily accepts a snow day from school/work. Even knowing the consequences of how much make-up effort will be needed, the weather conditions aren't something you can change. So, somehow, we take it in stride and relax. We sleep in, sip our tea, and enjoy the extra bit of weekend before the inevitable and hectic week begins.

So I guess I feel sorry for those that pick the beach over the mountains... you are missing out! Haha.

I finally finished Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer and the story of the Busch family, politics, commerce, and more. It was interesting because this truely "American" company is a very strong brand that has evolved over 100+ years before its monarchy ended in 2009 with the InBev partnership. What I enjoyed about the book is the factors that made the company great and their leaders so iconic.

1. Influence of popularity
• When your name is synonymous with a brand, you flaunt your money in ways that sometimes seem unethical. Popularity causes crowds of people to flock to you and as a result you feel obligated to keep them there. The Busch family threw parties, built theme parks, and gave away free beer.
2. Quality above Quantity
• Beer and other perishable goods must meet very strict demands to taste good and stay fresh. Busch never changed their formula to meet demand and instead stayed true to the fermentation processes and would inspect distributors for old beer past its shelf life. They never compromised on their recipe and it helped them gain loyal drinkers. This enabled Busch to hold a majority market share in the competitive market of beer for years and years.
3. Trends Come and Go
• As the company grew and supply chain sped up, Busch branched out to some but not all "comparable" markets like food, baseball, and merchandise. They stuck through Prohibition by lobbying. They didn't join the light beer party until well after it was established. They did make an Australian style lager and hard alcohol options when tastes changed. Knowing your market strategy can guide you to making the best decisions for you and whether or not you should participate in certain trends.