I wrote a while back about David Foster and his gratuitous use of “F-bombs” in his memoir. At the time I indicated I had thoughts on people who have this propensity and would comment soon. But I quickly lost my mojo and didn’t follow through.
Well I got my mojo back. I took the family to see Nickelback, the popular Canadian rock group, last Friday night and the “F-bombs” were flying. The crowd erupted in a veritable frenzy every time Chad Kroeger (lead singer and Laurie’s musical crush) spake the sacred word. Believe me, it was early and often.
There must be serious power in that word. I remember hearing it for the first time when I was about 4 years old. I asked my mother what it meant and she smacked me. Pretty powerful.
So I began to wonder how much more powerful some of the all time great communicators could have been with a few strategic “F-bombs”:
“The “F’n” British are coming!”
—Paul Revere
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this “F’n” wall!”
—President Ronald Reagan
“Speak softly and carry a big “F’n” stick; you will go far.”
—President Theodore Roosevelt
Okay. I don’t believe it would have made any of these moments any more historic. Nor does it make any movie more watchable (save maybe Die Hard: “Yippe-ki-yay Hanz!” doesn’t quite have the impact), any novel more readable, any rock star more famous, any stand-up comedian more funny, any golf shot fly straighter or any casual conversation more enjoyable.
So do all your friends and family a favor and remove the word from your repertoire. And if you just can’t seem to help yourself, call me and I’ll send mom over.
Cheers!
I’m a huge American Idol fan. I love watching how potential is coaxed to life. I was so stimulated by last night’s surprise value lessons I lost sleep. Usher was the Idol mentor for this week’s R&B-inspired show. He did a phenomenal job of coaching the idol “10” to take the stage. He seemed to nail the issues that are barriers to winning for each of the contestants and directly call them to action to overcome them. He was immensely likeable. But the thing that captivated me was how outside of himself he was in his approach. Usher was completely focused on each contestant, completely in the moment with them. His personal confidence and sense of identity are apparently so strong that he is able to actively press himself into building up others. The contestants were his agenda, not the camera or upholding his image and reputation before millions of viewers or winning more raving fans to himself.
The second value lesson came from Simon Cowell, who spoke directly to Lee Dewyze, a contestant with huge potential for commercial success who gave a banner performance. This young man apparently struggles with small confidence. Cowell called it (the confidence issue) out again, spoke to his difficulty making eye contact, suggested his lack of self assurance is perhaps due to something that happened in his past, and then affirmed him. He said Lee Dewyze would realize in watching back the tape that his world had just changed. Like Usher, he was an agent unafraid to challenge the barriers to potential and give a reason for hope (success).
So here’s the value lesson: those of us in positions of leadership have an opportunity to unleash the best in those around us. But we can’t do that effectively if we can’t get past or outside ourselves. How’s your confidence factor? Are you doing the right things to quell your own insecurities or bring down personal barriers so you can actively press yourself into the lives around you? Are you an Usher who’s over instead of all about yourself? Are you bold enough to mentor a friend, family member or client, calling out the barriers to potential and authentically investing in and cheering success? Are you ushering talent?
I’ve thought a lot over the past 24 hours about what drives an agency and the people who work within its walls. We were asked to spend two hours with a group of students from Northeast Magnet High School in Wichita. Jeffrey asked Scott Light and Jo Tomson, art directors here, to prepare for and direct how those two hours would be spent.
From the inception of The Strategy Group, we have said we would be teachable. We would display a servant’s heart toward our clients. We would go above and beyond through work ethic and creative stretch to move the needle for them. We would give our best work to every client, regardless of budget. Do those values show up outside the agency/client relationship?
High school students have a lot of highway to travel. Their career decisions aren’t imminent. Jo and Scott have a lot of work to do. We’re in the middle of a very busy first quarter. But they poured their hearts and time into giving their best thinking and sharing their best experiences with these students (pictured here/ Jo is on the left and Scott is far right). They didn’t marginalize the opportunity by making a quick decision to not cut into too much billable time. They didn’t decide they could easily wing it with a bunch of uniformed kids. These kids got two hours of solid content, full-out enthusiasm from Jo and Scott, a sign at the entry and take-home promotional items from a printer because Jo stopped and asked for them on her way in to work.
Watching two art directors and six kids, everyone here got a value lesson. Here’s what I’ve asked myself: How often do I wing it?
I was doing some client billing the other day and stumbled across an email conversation between a client and Alan, one of our account executives. In short, the email volley pertained to the possibility of conflicting logos on a small brochure we were designing. The client told us to just do it and not worry about it. Alan’s response was direct, “Sorry, but that’s my job.”
We are brand gatekeepers. Without gatekeepers, brands crumble. Every single thing we do, every single thing we say and every single dollar we spend either builds equity in a brand or contributes to its dilution.
Right now we are witnessing the total annihilation of one of the world’s dominant brands. Make no mistake. Tiger Woods is not just a person. Tiger Woods is a brand. So I’m left to wonder, who was the gatekeeper of the Tiger Woods brand?
Sometimes our job is not easy. Sometimes we’re the bad guys. Sometimes “just do it” is just plain wrong. Wherever you go from this point forward Tiger, make certain you have an Alan in your life.
Cheers.
