Open Sauce Surgery

Johnnie Moore put a note on his blog this week about the next Open Sauce Surgery which he and James Cherkoff will be holding on 5 July. They are also taking it to Reboot in Copenhagen in June.

This time last week I went along to what was apparently the very first Open Sauce Surgery and it was a fascinating few hours.

I won't go into too much detail about what actually happens because I suspect there is no fixed format but, whatever else it did, it prompted me to actually start this blog. It was also a pleasure to meet Johnnie, who I had been reading (as a "lurker") for a long time now, and James, who really "gets it".

What I would say is that I found the experience very enjoyable, which is always a bonus, but it was also interesting, provocative and stimulating. As I said to them immediately afterwards, I had a sense that I needed to digest it a little to understand what impact it had had on me and I've now had a bit of time to reflect.

Clearly, it was slightly unconventional (which should not be taken as a criticism) and I think it is significant that there is no specific agenda. When I told my partner (as in the lady I live with) that I had really enjoyed it she asked: "but what was it about?" And I didn't feel able to explain. On reflection I don't think it is intended to be expressly "about" anything. It is what it is.

Anyway, in answer to that question I got her to draw a face with me. Seemed to sum it up for me, and I didn't get too many more questions.

So, whilst on the one hand, I was unable to provide a clear definition of what it was all "about", I was able to use it to confirm some of the suspicions I have had for a while.

I think it clarified the idea that whether or not "openness" is a good thing (and the Open Sauce boys clearly think it is) it is a fact of life and the sooner people get used to that, the better. That there are loads more opportunities than threats with openness. That it is worth experimenting with it, even if you are wary.  That you meet interesting people that you wouldn't necessarily meet if you just sat in your office all day. And that there's no need to have an agenda to get value out of a meeting.

I suspect that to an extent Johnnie and James were preaching to the converted with me and I was always going to buy into it. It would be interesting to know what sort of impact it would have on a number-cruncher. The sort of person who expects a return on their investment out of a seminar. Of course, Open Sauce may not attract that sort of person, but you would have to come to "Open Sauce" with a certain openness of mind.

Anyway, I wish then both luck with the Surgeries and look forward to hearing what happens in Denmark next month.