I want it when I want it…..

…and not when you want me to have it.
I was writing this week’s ezine earlier today – and reflecting (as you will see) on television series in box sets.
The box-set has been one of the ways in which I can enjoy media, given my travel schedule and zany lifestyle.
It got me thinking about how much of my media I now take “on-demand” – in other words, when I want it and not when “they” want me to see it.

  • Sky+ to record special programming and sport
  • Box sets to watch my favourite series
    • Band of Brothers
    • Heroes
    • Life on Mars
    • Ashes to Ashes
    • The Wire
    • Dexter
    • Battlestar Galactica (when I travel)
  • RSS feeds to read my favourite blogs
    • Seth Godin
    • Mashable
    • Wired magazine
    • Apple news
    • and the best of other coaches (and a few dentists)

and nowadays

  • podcasts to listen on my iPhone when I’m travelling – in the car and on public transport
    • BBC History Magazine
    • Claudia Winkleman’s arts programme
    • The Harvard Business Review
    • David Maister on Business
    • Friday night comedy on BBC Radio 4
    • Paul Oakenfold’s weekly music show
    • The Ricky Gervais Podcast

My reflection is the extent to which I have become the “controller” of when I access this material – in addition to choosing when I visit the cinema, read a book or a subscription magazine (I take Wired and Intelligent Life) and when I listen to the (currently) 2889 music tracks on the iPhone.
A far cry from my single-childhood in the 60’s, when perhaps the most important purchase of the week were the TV and Radio Times, so that my parents could organise our viewing schedule for the week. I grew up in a generation of TV watchers – it kept us out of the rain and out of the pub.
I further ponder over other examples of businesses that suffer from the reluctance of the contemporary public to do things when they are “told”.
All of which has me wondering about two businesses:

  • coaching and
  • dentistry

and the extent to which they can be created as on-demand services.I can see the first quite easily – and I’m already working on it.
The second – on-demand dentistry – that’s more of a challenge – its like on-demand life assurance – everybody needs it but nobody wants to talk about it.
Here’s a challenge – how do we create on-demand dentistry?

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Chris Barrow

Chris Barrow has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 20 years. As a writer, his blog enjoys a strong following and he is a regular contributor to the dental press. Naturally direct, assertive and determined, he has the ability to reach conclusions quickly, as well as the sharp reflexes and lightness of touch to innovate, change tack and push boundaries. In 2014 he appeared as a “castaway” in the first season of the popular reality TV show “The Island with Bear Grylls”. His main professional focus is as Coach Barrow, providing coaching and mentorship to independent dentistry.