Jumpmaster Profile
Douglas is the Creator and Executive Producer of ESPN’S “1927: THE DIARY OF MYLES THOMAS,”a multi-platform presentation that can be experienced on ESPN.com/1927. As a television programmer, producer, writer and director, Douglas has won 3 Emmy Awards and received 12 Emmy nominations. He began his television career in 1979 with ABC News and moved on to cover the sports world as Dick Schaap’s producer and production partner for the next two decades before co-founding the Classic Sports Network. Douglas made the Jump into the digital world as EVP of Marketing & Sales for Interactive Video Technologies (IVT), and in 2005 he co-founded Motionbox.com, a personal video-sharing. The company was sold to HP in 2010.
Much of his work—print, video and radio—along with his musings about media theories and their practical applications, can be read at AldenCurve.com.
HAVE YOU IN THE PAST HAD OR DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A PROCESS TO THAT HELPS GUIDE YOUR DECISION MAKING? SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU OR HAVE YOU USED A PROCESS TO DEFINE CLEAR, REALISTIC AND ACTIONABLE GOALS AND TRACK YOUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THEM? YES/NO IF YES, PLEASE EXPLAIN:
My goal is always to come up with new creative thoughts.
I have a circle of a dozen media executives and creatives, and I have a breakfast or lunch with each of them once or twice a year, to exchange thoughts and points of view on what’s going on in the media and creative worlds.
I consume a great deal of research about media consumption and related consumer behaviors and passions, which is great prep for my meetings (and I prep like crazy for all my meetings, no matter how social they may be).
I’m constantly looking to meet new people who are creatively talented, and talk to them about their passions and views of creativity and the media world.
I keep myself open to new ideas and opinions—I’m not the least bit scared to change my mind, even about core beliefs.
I’m not the least bit scared of looking stupid or being wrong with anyone, whether they’re my kids or the CEO of the largest media company in the world.
I work very hard not to censure myself and to think as freely as possible. It’s b.s. to say that there’s no such thing as a bad idea, but bad ideas can lead to really great ideas.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHEN YOU FIRST HAD CAREER GOALS THAT WERE CLEAR AND ACTIONABLE AND WITH REALISTIC OBJECTIVES?
25-29YR
COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE: I’ve used process/practices to accomplish specific
WHICH 3 PERSONAL VALUES/ QUALITIES HAVE YOU RELIED ON MOST MAKE YOUR FIRST BIG CAREER JUMP?
- CLARITY
- FOCUS
- DISCIPLINE, PLANNING
- VISION
- PURPOSE
- GRIT / RESILIENCE / TENACITY
Clarity, Vision and Purpose.
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:
I believe in clear, concise, uncensored and brutally honest communications around the task required.
CAN YOU DEFINE A TIME/ POINT WHEN SENSE OF PURPOSE BECAME A PART OF YOUR GOALS AND PLAN?
In 1985 when I decided to go back to college after a 6 year break from school
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES YOUR APPROACH TO HELPING OTHERS COACH AND SUPPORT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THEIR PEERS?
- I HAVE A DISCIPLINED AND THOROUGH APPROACH TO ENSURING PEER COACHING BY LEADERS
- NATURAL LEADERS WILL RISE- IDENTIFYING AND RETAINING THEM IS ESSENTIAL
- I FOCUS ON HIGH LEVEL MESSAGING TO PROVIDE BETTER ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION
Definitely 1.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS DO YOU USE MOST OFTEN TO BROADEN YOUR OWN INSIGHTS AND CHALLENGE YOUR MENTAL MODELS?
- ASKING QUESTIONS OF OTHERS AND RECEIVING CANDID FEEDBACK
- READING LEADERSHIP BOOKS AND ARTICLES
- ENGAGING IN FORUM STYLE DISCUSSION WITH MY PEERS
- NONE OF THE ABOVE / DESCRIBE
It’s A. And it’s not even close. I believe hard questions and open minded, focused listening are key to evolving both technically and creatively.
DO YOU CITE FAILURES OR SETBACKS AS A PART OF YOUR LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEAMS? YES / NO
YES. (HELL YES.)
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO SHARING STORIES OF YOUR FAILURES:
- I OPENLY DISCUSS MY FAILURES WITH MY TEAM
- I FOCUS ON DISCUSSION ON SUCCESS AND CITE THE FAILURES WHEN IT SUITS MY NEEDS
- I RARELY DISCUSS MY FAILURE
A – is the only way for me to mentor/coach. It provides fuller context and builds up credibility.
WHICH OF THE BELOW BEST DESCRIBES WHY YOU THINK YOU FAILED OR HAVE SETBACKS:
- LACK OF CLARITY SELF-AWARENESS
- LACK OF FOCUS
- LACK OF DISCIPLINE / PLAN
- LACK OF VISION OR SKILLS
- LACK OF PURPOSE
Lack of control of the vision. Engaging in ventures with partners who, at the time, did not trust and share the same vision with regard to where technology and human behavior would meet.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES HOW YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS REGARDING BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS:
- NOT AT ALL
- VERY LITTLE
- A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT
Very Little. In my mid-30s I found my voice as a creative and business lead, thanks to a lot of help from an amazing mentor. I’ve tried to stay consistent (while always being open to new ideas about how to communicate with those around and above me).
DO YOU HAVE A METHOD OR PROCESS TO CHALLENGE YOUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS AND DETERMINE YOUR FLAWS AND NEEDS? I DON’T / I DO
My method is that I work hard to constantly challenge my assumptions. I take a very skeptical view of myself, and I work hard to fight the confirmation bias so that I’m not just looking for information to support my own point of view.
IF YES – DOES IT REGULARLY HELP GUIDE YOUR LEARNING?
- SOMEWHAT TRUE
- VERY TRUE
- NOT TRUE
- VERY TRUE
Very true
DO YOU HAVE OR HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SAFE/PRIVATE ENVIRONMENT (FORUM OR COACH) WHERE YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONAL WEAKNESSES AND GET SUPPORT TO BETTER ASSESS AND IMPROVE THEM? YES / NO
Yes
IF YES, HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR FORUM AT REDUCING ANY ANXIETIES YOU MAY HAVE RELATED TO EMERGING PROBLEMS OR SUDDEN OPPORTUNITIES?
I have a great shrink who understands creativity and “creatives.” (Honest)!
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE BIG DECISIONS THAT LED TO YOUR HABITUAL SUCCESSES, YOU ARE YOU ABLE TO IDENTIFY, EXPLAIN OR DESCRIBE A THOUGHT PROCESS THAT YOU USE TO ASSESS, INFLUENCE AND EXPEDITE YOUR DECISION MAKING?
