Posts tagged book recommendations
burger mcsausage unoriginal smarts
Jul 21st
so. This television advertisement introducing the Burger King breakfast sausage biscuit (the one where the creepy king breaks into McDonald’s headquarters to steal the mcmuffin recipe):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF86Rb-uFNE
The execution doesn’t confuse me but the effort makes me pause and scratch my head a little.
But I guess if you have more money then you know what to do with and you see research numbers that show “people consider McDonalds for breakfast and not Burger King” and you already know what McDonalds best breakfast seller is then you spend some of that money saying “hey we have the same thing just in case you didn’t know.”
There are several things I do like about this:
Competitive but not competitive. It’s odd but they are going for the competitor jugular in an interesting way. They state that they are going to offer an unoriginal product (in that they are simply stealing someone else’s ‘good idea’). But. That also implies that it’s not rocket science stuff. That maybe the original McD’s breakfast biscuit just isn’t that “unique.” (clever guys those Crispin fellows – Crispin is burger kings’ agency of record).
No superiority. Simply “hey, if you like us <burger king> and you want exactly what you could get if you stopped at the bastards down the street here you go. We have it for you. We are willing to copy if it makes you happy.” Kind of shows you like your customers and will do whatever it takes to make them happy (even steal I guess).
And then the creepy king. Here is where I give Crispin the highest marks of all.
For years while brilliant the agency has been “one-off” brilliant. One great brilliant idea. Non campaignable. Lose client after one brilliant idea because they didn’t really have a great follow-up.
(Look. The BMW mini campaign the agency built their main reputation on was not a creative messaging brilliance idea it was a tactical brilliance concept … which I give them kudos for just don’t want to oversell their brilliance … or misidentify it).
Anyway. Back to the creepy king. Alex Bogusky is our generation’s Bill Bernbach. And he has matured (in my humble opinion) to a point where he is truly earning that pedestal. The Burger King creepy king is a great showcase for why I believe it to be so. The young Bogusky would probably have shoved a brand/company mnemonic device sustaining multiple campaigns over time so far up a client’s ass a proctologist would have been envious. But. He (or at least he encouraged his teams) stepped up and said “well, let’s make the best of it and I want to do it my way …. creatively and interestingly and sometimes creepy when we are wrong in the execution but sticking with it and getting it right.” They have made it work. And made it work over time. They have a sustainable mnemonic device (or branding element or whatever you want to call it).
Anyway.
I slam people but I also want to give some credit where credit is due.
Cannot wait to see what the creepy king does next.
Célébrons ! bastille day, baguettes & vel’ d’Hiv
Jul 14th
Bastille Day
So. Today, July 14th, France celebrates its national holiday in commemoration of the storming of the Bastille prison. Oh. Everyone should also note that if you want anything done in France today forget it. I flew through De Gaulle airport one 14th only to find out about 50% of the workers didn’t show up that day. Needless to say there were some delays.
Anyway. Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution marked the end of absolute monarchy, the birth of the sovereign Nation, and, eventually, the creation of the (First) Republic, in 1792.
The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th’s Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.
Although the Bastille only held seven prisoners at the time of its capture, the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens. The other symbol remains the French Tricolore flag. It symbolizes the Republic’s three ideals: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity for all French citizens.
What English speakers call Bastille Day the French call le 14 juillet. If you want to wish French speaker a happy Bastille Day “Bonne Bastille !” is the simplest. But say Joyeux Quatorze Juillet ! and a Frenchman will smile.
“Une baguette de tradition, s’il vous plaît.”
Nothing beats a Parisian baguette which you can pick up at almost every corner in Paris as you walk. Oh. The “de tradition” part is important, because a traditional baguette tastes a whole lot better than a regular baguette. It’s usually slightly more expensive but worth it (a good baguette only costs around €1.20).
So. Ever wonder why the streets of Paris almost smell so nice (the fresh smell of bread and baking). An authentic baguette has a shelf life of only four hours so bakeries churn out fresh loaves throughout the day.
Oh, some other baguette protocols. If there’s a line, as there is at almost every boulangerie with excellent baguettes better have exact change ready (no fumbling at the counter or you can quickly uncover the surliness of the French). And say “Bonjour Madame/Monsieur” when it’s your turn, ask for your baguette (hesitating makes them move on to the next person in line) and put down the exact change when you get your baguette. With it, you are likely to hear the French word “Parfait!” and get a smile.
rue de Saintonge and Marais district and Vel’ d’Hiv
Famous for its 17th-century mansions, its Jewish heritage, a vibrant contemporary gay scene and edgy art galleries, the Marais district is also filled with quirky, unique boutiques specializing in the coolest fashion, the hottest design and the trendiest beauty products. The Marais is the labyrinth of streets stretching south from Boulevard du Temple in the 3rd arrondissement stretching into the 4th arrondissement. The Marais is interesting, sometimes not for the faint of heart and unlike walking the more touristy areas this Paris district is chockfull of a vivid mix of characters. Stroll its medieval lanes and you’ll rub shoulders with muscle-shirted gays and feather-boa transvestites and long-bearded rabbis and scruffy rock musicians and West African restaurateurs and Eastern European bakers.
Rue de Saintonge is in the 4th arrondissement near the center of the Marais (I think). This is one of my favorite neighborhoods as it is lively, eclectic and contains several of the oldest sections of the city as well as lots of trendy bars, shops, and restaurants. The rue des Rosiers is a centerpiece of Jewish lifestyle in Paris and the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité are the oldest parts of Paris.
A moment about rue de Saintonge
What makes this even more interesting is that I just finished reading a book called Sarah’s Key which centers its historical fiction story around an apartment on rue de Saintonge. The book’s back story revolves around a relatively unknown event during WW2 in occupied France involved with the Holocaust. An event, Vel’ d’Hiv, whose anniversary is on July 16th.
Vel’ d’Hiv (commonly called the Rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv – “Vel’ d’Hiv Police Roundup” – from the nickname for the Velodrome d’Hiver -”Winter Velodrome” cycle track) was a Nazi decreed raid in Paris on July 16 and 17, 1942, code named Operation Spring Breeze (Opération Vent printanier).
The roundup was one of several aimed at reducing the Jewish population in Occupied France. According to records 13,152 victims were arrested and held at the Vélodrome d’Hiver and the Drancy internment camp nearby, then shipped by rail to Auschwitz (of which almost 100% perished. The roundup, which was part of a continentwide plan to intern and kill Europe’s Jewish population, was a joint operation between the Germans and French leaders. The Vel’ d’Hiv roundup wasn’t the first. Nearly 4,000 Jewish men were arrested on 10 May 1941 and taken to Gare d’Austerlitz and then to internment camps and then to the “death” camps. Women and families followed in July 1942.
Roundups were conducted throughout France but public outrage was greatest in Paris because of the numbers involved in a concentrated area. The Roman Catholic church, which had not always been quick to condemn the Germans, even spoke out in protest. Public reaction obliged French leadership in occupied France to ask the Germans on 2 September not to demand more Jews.
The roundup accounted for more than a quarter of the 42,000 Jews sent from France to Auschwitz in 1942, of whom only 811 came home at the end of the war. I believe French Jews represented about 80,000 of the total 6 million Jewish people who died during the Holocaust.
Do I say this to diminish this event?
Nope.
I mention it to remind people that if you solely focus on 6 million you forget the smaller horrible events that took place in every country occupied by the Nazis during World War 2 that contributed to an incomprehensible number.
Everyone was accountable for the Holocaust. And it is very easy for us to suggest all those who did nothing to stop it should be shamed (and I believe all do feel it) but unless you were there, unless you know what it is like to be under the thumb of ferocious dictatorship it is simpler to just say “we were all accountable and a brave few knew how to have the courage to stand up.”
And while it may be easy to also focus on the complicity of the French police and government in this event (as well as any government in occupied Germany during this time) I will note to complete this particular section that 3,158 persons were awarded the Righteous among the Nations honor (of which 160 received a Legion of Honor).
- note: Righteous among the Nations (Chassidey Umot HaOlam, more literally: righteous men of the world’s nations, also translated as “Righteous Gentiles”) is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis.
The French, as do many countries, refer to the days of WW2 occupation and the holocaust as “their darkest hour.”
So.
On Bastille Day I would ask that they remember the few (of probably many) who were recognized for standing up to evil.
And on the 16th they remember that evil is difficult to face.
Célébrons ! Bastille Day.
boy scouts part 2
Jul 13th
So. A friend of mine sent me the following link with the Boy Scouts advertising announcement.
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/boy_scouts_of_america_prepared
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ….
Well. Here’s the deal. And I admit. I may not be the best person to be providing a point of view here because I care about the Boy Scouts (therefore I may be biased toward being critical). But. I have a couple of problems … oops .. issues with this effort.
1. No one cares if you (or your company) are 100 years old if that is all you say. If you are waiting to let people arrive at their own conclusion (and you are hoping against hope that they believe it means “hey, I am reliable and you can count on me”), you are screwed. Because most people will suggest 100 years old means you are … well … old … and not relevant. (hmmmmmmmmm … I believe that would be the existing issue the Boy Scouts are dealing with so maybe the intent of this advertising is to support and encourage that belief? Ok. If that is the intent they nailed it).
2. I don’t really see why I would choose to either be a Boy Scout or have my son (if I had one) become a Boy Scout. (ok. what I am saying is leveraging off a 100 year heritage is not compelling enough to make me choose)
3. I would be fine with leveraging a message from 100 years if it were buttressed with some unexpected possibly contradictory thought (anyone surprised here?) that made people think about Boy Scouts differently. (best example I can think of continues to be the Girl Scouts ad I posted once).
Girl Scout example:
Ok. That is the Girl Scouts.
But. In the end I would suggest the Boy Scouts truly missed an opportunity.
The Boy Scouts don’t do a lot of advertising. Therefore missing opportunities like this one means they had better be prepared to continue dealing with the relevancy issues they have already been dealing with.
Be prepared to be called old (or maybe better said “continue to be called old).
Be prepared to explain why the heck they spend money to say nothing like this.
Oh.
And be prepared to do something else.
I do love the decision on the production style. It looks beautiful and classic.
The truly missed opportunity is that if they had put a non classic looking evocative message on that production style they would have had the opportunity to suggest that Boy Scouts actually has both those characteristics – classic & contemporary.
For example (harkening back to my point 3 above) imagine if they used one of these images with a headline that says something like “100 years of values in every One of our scouts”:
Are they exactly right?
Nope.
Would people take a look?
Yup.
Would people start thinking that maybe the Boy Scouts were changing? Maybe.
Instead?
The Boy Scout just look classically old and dated.
Awesome organization. Poor communications execution.
unhealthy eating Part 3: the campaign idea
Jul 12th
(foreword note) Ok. This has been a long time coming. My fault. I hadn’t mastered the link placement in post thing. Hang in there and maybe go back and peruse 1 &2 and 4 is actually now on its way.
Assuming you have read Parts 1 & 2 of this diatribe you are tagging along to see where I take the “unhealthy eating is an addiction” thought.
Suffice it to say it is counterproductive to continue pouring money and effort into attempts to make everyone slim, especially when this results in side effects that are disastrous for mental and physical health (widespread body dissatisfaction and poor self-image, eating disorders, appearance based prejudice, discrimination, stigmatization). We’ve had advice, admonition, instruction, rebuke, counsel and guidance through food columns, health columns, TV programs, government initiatives, and local campaigns. There have been guidelines, targets, programs and agendas, plans of action and series of measures.
None have worked.
Yet, as I read USAToday and other publications it seems we are doomed to experience more government anti-obesity campaigns and policies that have little effect on our collective health (or weight) but will make them feel good they are “doing something to solve the problem.
The demand for weight loss fueled by the notion that everyone has a moral obligation to achieve a slim body will continue to eat up more and more of individuals’ budgets and energy (only to fail again and again in their efforts and simply go back to existing behavior).
This is what awaits us (or worse), if we don’t change direction and stop trying to follow the ‘one objective’ (be slim) method.
Look. We are going to have to do something different because it’s not as if we hadn’t heard it all before. For the last 20 years we’ve been lectured, browbeaten, chided and scolded over weight issues.
And let me be clear. We may have the programs available to help resolve the issue but the majority of these programs marketing campaigns (and intent) are appealing to people’s vanity and avoiding a key emotional trigger to inspire ongoing behavior (because vanity isn’t it).
In fact these programs go after the “be slim” concept which is wrong, wrong, wrong.
But I have an idea.
I believe the most recent UK anti-obesity campaign comes close.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2009/jan/02/change4life-ad-campaign
By close I mean they wrap a story around what I would consider the idea that would get adults to really really care.
Almost hidden in the middle of the execution they show and say (basically) that obesity, or being overweight, kills. By the way, the reason they can say that (truthfully) is that there are numbers showing the current generation of kids are believed to be destined to live a shorter lifespan than prior generations (the first downward trend in a long time).
So. The campaign is leveraging an adult’s worst nightmare – they outlive their child.
But they soften the blow in a nice story.
On how to ‘unsoften the blow’ we should look to anti-smoking initiatives and attack this problem exactly like they did.
Now. Let’s be careful with this thought. A bunch of people are gonna start talking about the existing anti smoking programs and “how smoke affects other people” and “not scaring people to motivate them to act.” All those things are correct, and smart, but not what needs to be done now.
We need to go back to learnings from initial anti-smoking campaigns. We need to scare the bejesus out of people so they sit up and take notice.
This is “black lung” type of messaging time.
This is time to tie Unhealthy Eating with dire consequences.
I was recently at an agency where we developed a pro bono “Obesity Kills” campaign. Awesome idea. Well articulated. Made people gasp when we presented it. Half the room loved it. The entire room was scared of it. That made us feel like we had hit the nail on the head.
No one had the cahones to use it. (That didn’t make us feel as good.)
Anyway.
Similar to the UK campaign I would use the fact that Unhealthy Eating can affect the lifespan of children. I would highlight the fact Unhealthy Eating is an addiction.
I do believe a campaign can highlight the effects of an unhealthy eating addiction in children to change adult behavior (and therefore create a circular behavior effect – “I need to change my child’s eating behavior so they won’t die so I need to change my behavior as an example for them – and ultimately I will be healthier also).” It may sound indirect but adults do amazing things to protect kids.
Look. We hear a lot about “childhood obesity campaigns.” That’s stupid. A marketing campaign directed to children won’t address the issue. We can try and make sure the right things are available to them. But kids aren’t stupid. What kid doesn’t look to their mother and father or favorite aunt or uncle as an example of behavior? So. This behavior shift isn’t really about kids. Kids are kids. We can tell them about unhealthy eating until we are blue in the face. As soon as on their own they will grab the snickers bar over the apple. (cause that is pretty much what adults do).
So. In the end I believe we need to change adult behavior (and ultimately that will change children’s behavior).
Unhealthy Eating is an addiction that Kills.
The role of this umbrella campaign is to get people stimulated to do something. Get in a “quit program.”
Once in program we should be encouraging a practical systematic approach to healthy eating (that was in Part 2).
To me we should be driving people into an HAES system so “kicking the addiction” isn’t about getting slimmer it is about achievable ways to optimize health for each individual regardless of size or shape. Once again, HAES emphasizes the benefits of sound nutrition, active living and body confidence as ends in themselves, not as a route to weight management.
Bottom line. Weight control is NOT about being fat or obese or skinny or any body image word you want to write here. It is about being healthy or unhealthy in the body you have. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Let them come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s address how we treat those bodies. Unhealthy eating is an addiction. Treat is as such.
speaking & silence
Jun 17th
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
- teen blogger Taychyka
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
- Winston Churchill
I have an upcoming post on ‘effective communication’ or maybe better said ‘the art of rhetoric.’ But that is one side of the equation in communication. The actual speaking and what to say.
The other side of the equation is silence.
And I wanted to begin my thinking with a 16 year old quote and a Winston Churchill quote. Huh? Yup. Sometimes teens really do get it.
The funny thing is I believe all of us know, especially when we are younger, that there is a time to ‘not talk.’ Then.
School makes “filling space with words” a competitive arena and starts making us believe it is a way of life.
And in the business world this competition for words and ‘speaking your ideas to get credit’ goes to an entirely new level … it’s on steroids.
It takes courage to not speak.
It is often leaving something unsaid that is the most difficult thing to do in conversations and dialogue.
Silence is a funky thing to most of us.
Most young speakers appear to have a deadly fear of silence. And as they proceed into ‘not so young’ their behavior continues and become aggravating non stop talking machines.
Unless someone says “pause and think.”
But. It seems we are becoming a people who if for even a fraction of a second nothing is coming out of their mouth they feel that something is wrong.
The result? Well.
Actually two things:
1. The ever aggravating “uh,” “um,” “eh”, “ah”, “you know” and other useless things that dot the monologue (all barriers to an actual dialogue by the way).
We employ these unnecessary noises seemingly because we dread the “sound of silence.” It’s as if someone has told us that that something must always be coming out of their mouth, at all times, under all conditions, no matter what.
We all know, in fact, that is not true. Even the non stop talking machines understand this (in whatever quiet moments they may have with themselves assuming they aren’t talking to themselves in the mirror). We all know that silence is a natural and necessary part of any good presentation of whatever you are talking about.
2. The wrong thing. It is quite possible we all need a lesson in what saying the wrong thing means versus silence. I often believe we forget that (thanks for reminding us teen blogger).
Saying the wrong thing, especially at the wrong time, kills ideas, kills conversation, kills relationships … it just kills. I just don’t believe we teach this enough. I just don’t believe we think about this enough. And, this may be funny in this post, I just don’t think we speak about this enough. We discuss “silence versus missed opportunity to say the right thing” all the time. “Speak up if you have something to say” is the message we start teaching early on in life. Balance. We need to teach balance.
Anyway.
I try and keep it simple in my own head. “Don’t fill empty space simply because it is empty.”
In a non-stop world, we have become non-stop speakers. For this reason alone, silence is a powerful tool. Think about beginning a presentation with silence. It takes courage. But it gives your audience time to breathe as well. We live in a crazy world where silence is not easy to find. And, frankly, it’s just not that easy to use either.
Silence. Don’t shun silence. Embrace it.
One of the most poetic thoughtful thoughts I can think of with regard to silence comes from lyrical wordsmiths Simon and Garfunkel:
- “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening. No one dared disturb the sound of silence. Hear my words that I might teach you, take my arms that I might reach you. My words like silent raindrops, fell and echoed in the wells of silence.”
Oh.
One last, kind of odd, thought on speaking and silence.
Think about this. This is a legal thing.
Legally you must speak out in order to benefit from your right to remain silent.
No shit.
So. In a narrowly split decision the Supreme Court recently expanded the Miranda rights limits. The decision reflects that suspects must break their silence and tell police they are going to remain quiet to stop an interrogation (just as I guess they must actually speak out to tell police they want a lawyer).
What this means is you still have the right to remain silent, but if you want questioning to stop you need to invoke it by first speaking. The goal here is not to protect the constitutional right to silence, but to tell the police when questioning must stop.
I am not sure what to do with this information but maybe if you get arrested silence isn’t such a good thing (I think).
Global Generation 4: role of an education plan
Jun 13th
So. This Global Generation I keep talking about. These kids some of whom haven’t even been born. I have been struggling a bit to explain the implementation of the education platform. And then I opened up the new Economist and there were two articles back to back on Human Rights. The key article to me was a short article discussing how Amnesty International, UN Human Rights Council and Human Rights Watch are unaligned on advocacy of civil liberties and the rising issue that several key Western governments (including America) are giving less priority to Human Rights. 
But what really hit me square between the eyes was how focused these organizations are on intervention. Setting up a legal process to deal with people who abuse Human Rights and highlighting existing problems (abuse). And when that hit me it was a good thing I was on an exercise bike reading The Economist because I began a pretty vigorous rant in my head.
If I had these people in front of me I would ask them:
- Have you not learned anything about the power of people?
- Have you learned nothing about the power of grassroots programs?
- Have you learned nothing from historical revolutions?
- Have you learned nothing about managing human behavior?
- Haven’t you gotten tired of running around putting out fires?
- Wouldn’t it be better to maybe teach people it is better to not start the fire?
Look. I have the utmost respect for the results and intent of these organizations.
But.
At its most basic level my Global Generation idea is about human rights. About the fact education or understanding choices is the foundation for a values system (within individuals) ultimately creating societal (within varying cultures) value underpinnings.
It made me realize that this global education program for a Global Generation is actually a discussion of preventative versus intervention attitude.
And, to be honest, we need both.
However it appears most human rights organizations focus on intervention (and that’s not bad) which is half the equation … maybe even less than half if you look at it from a long term vision standpoint. In the business world this would be considered ‘long term death to a business’ by running around trying to stop problems (and gaining credit for them) rather than isolating why they happen and coming up with a plan to stop them from even occurring.
So. Isn’t this idea I am discussing really a long term grassroots human rights initiative?
And if I think about it that way then describing implantation is a lot easier.
The premise? Let’s just say human rights are about righting wrongs as well as having and claiming a right or rights. While there is certainly a place for say “a UN declaration of human rights” (which we have actually had since 1948 but has no “teeth”) ultimately it comes down to people’s choices (and that means education). Therefore the vision of Human Rights advocates shouldn’t be to run around pointing at adults and trying to change their behavior but rather try to affect behavior by educating your core target.
Youth. And from birth if you want to truly affect a generational attitude.
This kind of thinking takes vision and fortitude. And media and investors will come ‘a gunnin’ for it year in and year out because you won’t see results (or major ones) for 10 years. Heck. Maybe 20 years.
Why did I say major? Because even though you are aiming at youth invariably some other older age groups will be affected (let’s say a smaller group of like minded young adults an existing advocates who you hope are influential in some way).
This is a plan where the world will not see its complete benefits until maybe 2035. Let’s say even 2045 (and that date becomes more important later in this post) Uh. That is what grassroots is about. Building a groundswell of attitudinal underpinnings which encourage desired behavior patterns.
Oh. And also. This is what revolutionary behavior is about. The great revolutions took a generation to come to fruition. First. Adults became unhappy with status quo (but are unempowered by the majority to do anything). Second. Their children learned attitude and behavior aspects growing up. Third. And when rose to adulthood shed the status quo when assuming leadership & decision making roles.
(note: yes. That was a simplistic description but a relatively true generalization)
Let me be clear. In the Global Generation I am not talking about a revolution level of conflict. But rather a revolution of global enlightenment (or conflict with societal/behavioral rules).
I am talking about implementing a grassroots anti ignorance campaign.
But. While I ranted about the existing Human Rights initiatives truly the best way to impact global human rights behavior is probably a bookend strategy.
But. One without the other is wasted effort (in my eyes).
One bookend is these existing organizations. With an emphasis on the UN human rights Council (this is where 2045 becomes relevant).
There is a UN human rights declaration (a global initiative) developed in 1948 after the atrocities of WW2. Yes. It exists. It has no teeth and needs support. And there is an interesting book I happened across at the local bookstore that suggest by 2048 we could have the legal system in place to actually have a viable global UN backed human rights high level sanctioned program. And I am all for it. And it is needed.
I have not read the entire book yet (just scanned it) but it outlines a systematic process to establish the global legal bookend. However, the author speaks about the process as a ‘grassroots’ program and I would debate with him whether it is grassroots (but that would be another post). to me it is simply a nice systematic approach to building a necessary legal foundation for human rights (a superior intervention program & process).
Anyway. That is one bookend. Ultimately it empowers PEOPLE to stand up for human rights (although some bonehead is going to argue its intent is to be able to sanction those who don’t meet human rights standards. Uh. But that is using conflict to resolve conflict).
No.
This first bookend is really only effective if you are building an opposite bookend at the exact same time. Create a Global Generation of people who are willing to point to the declaration (and what it says and stands for) as important. I do not mean global leaders to point at it and say it is important (although influencers are always good). But rather a generation of people. Working people. Everyday people. Farmers. Villagers. Factory workers. Town mayors and spokespeople.
People who in their heart of hearts understand the choices that could lead to abuse of human rights (and say “no”).
This is a program where the attitudes of a generation rise INTO leadership (instead of challenging existing leaders) positions and are empowered by the other bookend to steady the shelf of nations and their actions in (what I am calling) enlightened actions. Less ignorant actions. Less human rights abused conflict. Ultimately enlightened conflict.
So I would tell these folks at these high falutin’ initiatives. You are going to fail unless you invest in the other bookend. You are ignoring basic human behavior aspects. You are firefighters in dire need of a fight fire campaign (Smokey the Bear was embed
ded in a generation of children who understood forest fires).
I would tell them they have a fairly unique human generational opportunity in front of them.
I would tell them to stop and think and with their vision in mind course correct actions for a longer term effect (who in Amnesty International forefathers foresaw a global web based platform when they constructed their vision? They couldn’t).
I would tell them remember effective grassroots programs. And remember human behavior, real human behavior and belief system changes, occur thru generations and not in 5 year plans.
I admit. I read an article like this in the Economist and it drives me a little nuts.
Organizations with great intent and more money than a good smart business person could ever spend and bureaucracy and in fighting and media attacking “lack of results” and possibly some people who can’t see the forest for the trees and it comes to wasted effort. Ok. That was harsh. Inefficient long term effort. Kills me.
But. Maybe I am biased. I am the guy who believes we can impact the behavior of the Global Generation. I am the guy who believes we can build a global education foundation. So. Maybe I am the guy who is nuts.
Well my site. Nuts for everyone.
an interesting company and idea
May 27th
the company is Telaffects
Ok. I don’t write about specific companies and products/services often because, well, I am not really in the endorsement business. But. every once in awhile you run into something you kind of just have to share because it is one of those smaller companies (that always seem to be very very good) and they just need a break and they have a really good idea (or product). This is one of those times (and I actually have another one coming up which is more tightly tied to my desire to build a global children education initiative).
Anyway. With this company idea think the ultimate in creating business through existing customer base. Think appointments, acquisition, acknowledge (with a focus on knowledge). All through an existing list. I would imagine direct marketers would call it list management. These guys aren’t just managing a list. They manage knowledge – one customer at a time (and accumulate, assimilate and develop action plans). Yeah. Someone is going to use the ‘telemarketing’ word. Well. Not so much here. But I am not gonna haggle over the word and focus on what they can do:
- Increased quantity and quality appointments between your sales team and your prospect (quality appointments translate to higher closure/more sales)
- Shortened sales cycles by allowing your sales team to focus on closing qualified business rather than prospecting for potential qualified candidates (although this company could do sales if an organization could suck it up and get over the psychological “they could never do it as well as our own people”)
Ultimately they have a nice system for the development and capture of account specific business intelligence designed to educate and prepare your sales personnel prior to engagement with the account decision maker (and this includes all that decision maker contact information that becomes handy in b2b sales and service) with the additional (if not more important) benefit of a centralized customer/prospect knowledge base.
So. While they could certainly build a business from scratch in their system the reality is they have turned the traditional funnel upside down (and I love ideas that turn the traditional upside down).
note: I did not create this funnel and I cannot remember who made it but I found it when writing this and it fit for visual purposes.
So. This company is called TelAffects. (www.telaffects.com)
The company describes themselves as bridging the gap between sales & marketing (although any CFO would salivate over the business management information he/she could use to manage the balance sheet). I expect they use this phrasing to protect their ass from fearful/insecure sales or marketing executives but the reality is that (when done correctly) this is the b2b customer relationship (management, acquisition, marketing, sales, whatever you want to call it) department of the future.
It is faster, less qualitative, just as human as, and more efficient than a typical existing sales & marketing siloed organization construct.
Before I forget.
Their specific competency statement (on their website): TelAffects combines a consultative selling discipline with operations engineering intelligence to build sales solutions that yield predictable results.
(note: it doesn’t say marketing in there anywhere but trust me it is in what they actually do)
Ultimately this business model (idea) is the hybrid marketing/sales group solution for an organization (which will send the “specialist” lovers in the world through the roof).
But. While this debate, sales & marketing specialists versus sales/marketing hybrid, has raged for years I kind of believe its time is now. Especially in the b2b business.
What I really like about this business concept (well. there are several things actually) is the business “flow” management.
I cannot tell you how many companies I run into with cyclical/seasonal sales cycles that constantly have angst driven discussions on ‘how can I even out my sales’ (which evens out production which evens out inventory which evens out expenses which … well .. you get it).
Well. This Telaffects system not only isolates the ‘truth’ behind the cycles (or maybe better said the pistons in the engine that drive the cycles) it uncovers some customer aspects that could possibly shift some customers in a different sales/decisionmaking cycle. Even better their system truly gathers the information that could possibly help you find new customers (and know what to say and refer to specific examples) to fill out downward portions of the typical annual sales cycle.
The real underlying benefit to this design (the true life blood of any organization) is innovation. Every company knows that their customers are probably the best innovation ideators they have access to. Yet, in a traditional marketing & sales construct the interface people (those most likely to be able to gather the innovation fodder) often aren’t the best people to recognize the best knowledge. So. Telaffects taps into a user-centered innovation design. (which most companies only dream of)
Look. The problem (or maybe better said … the risk) in traditional sales & marketing scenarios is that they have a product which they need to sell and market (regardless of whether it actually has true value or maybe, even worse, the value that is being sold is not the value the customer wants). In fact, in this Telaffects model it is close to the opposite – they understand the market knowledge in as close to a quantitative methodology as you can get and then the company has the opportunity to develop the product or service based on this understanding.
The sad news for marketing groups is that if it is done this way the actual marketing becomes a piece of cake, as products and services are conceived from end-user identified value. Oh. Why is this sad? A company will need less $’s spent on marketing. Uh oh. (hey. and I am a marketing guy)
Ok. So I pointed out all the underlying strategic and infrastructure benefits. And mostly because I believe the long term benefits of the business idea is the real value I have focused on that.
But in today’s short term mentality the idea looks so good it would have been really tempting to focus solely on the short term benefit (ok. because the short term burst of appointments and raw customer data is hard to ignore). Sure. Look at the short term (if you check them out) but the long term benefits if I were managing a company would like one of the best capital expenditures I could ever invest in.
Oh. They have proof. (as I mention short term burst).
They have a bunch of case studies but suffice it to say “Established 152 sales appointments from 2,400 potential accounts” in 1st 6 months. Yeah. That was 1st 6 months. Oh. In the same 6 months. Captured current situation, vendor and competitor intelligence from 400 contacts. Identified actual decision process and timing for 400 accounts (this one is kinda huge and any CFO would drool over this information if accurate).
Beyond the 6 months? Once data normalized you could have accurate (or as accurate as possible) sales forecasting, production forecasting and a slew of cost management ROI type information. These guys would pay out in so many ways I cannot think of a reason I wouldn’t do it if I were in the b2b business (and possibly some ‘to consumer’ segments that have b2b feel … like large private investment in the financial world as an example).
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So. Why did I write about these guys?
- Immediate response. In today’s world I would have quick sales and quick market/customer information (so if I were in a new C level position this would have me rockin’ in 6 months)
- Addressing the budget. B2B has always been the battleground for marketing spending (i.e., why waste money on marketing versus sales). And direct marketing has always claimed it has eliminated the “I just don’t know which half of my advertising is working.” (yeah. right.)
But the TelAffects concept more closely addresses what Joe Kennedy supposedly said to his son (JFK) ‘Dear Jack: Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll help you win this election, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide!’”
This model does about as good a job as you can find that matches up budget to results in a business model.
- The long long term. If it works why do you need a full marketing and sales department? Staffing becomes easier. You don’t need facilitators you need experts in responding to information. You already have the most efficient facilitator group (and you can actually know what they are doing) with these guys. So at the end of say 2 years you could minimize your direct marketing and advertising and limit sales to solely tactical usage (say whatever you need to do to support a specific trade show/event or any investor relations needs and specific meetings).
- Organization efficiency. One of the biggest struggles in organizational alignment (therefore costing efficiency) is the relationship, or the lack thereof, between sales and marketing. it just is not possible for every sales and marketing effort to be combined and in larger companies they call for regular meetings at higher level between sales and marketing heads where plans can be mapped out and then discarded as each function tries to meet their specific P&L goals.
TelAffects is a possible solution to the lack of camaraderie and spirit of ‘in it togetherness’ between the sales and marketing departments. They can facilitate the dialogue and interaction (if not eliminate most of sales vs. marketing at some point) and, at minimum, minimize internal competition.
So. One last thought. You have it in your head as you have read this. Telemarketing. (ouch. Hurts to even type it). yeah. Well. Overcome this thought lingering in the back of your head and give ‘em a call:
“Your one time experience 8 years ago with a telemarketing company is not meaningful.”
I think their biggest issue won’t be their business model but rather that people will want to throw them into the telemarketing garbage disposal. But they are different. Certainly worth a look if you are in the b2b business and want to increases sales (at minimum).
In the end I would guess their best fits are:
Financial organizations.
Business services organizations.
Technology support organizations.
But. I seriously cannot think of a b2b business they wouldn’t be good for. It’s a neat business idea.
lets tell people to trust us
May 21st
As most people know I don’t really like business help books. To me they are mostly like trying to read a People magazine to catch up on the world news. Sound bites. Lots of entertainment. Some great gossip and you either feel like you want to be one of them or glad you will never be like them.
But. I needed help one time. A client said to me (with a straight face). “We need to tell people we are trusted. Research shows we are trusted. Let’s tell everyone. Let’s do a trust campaign.”
Me. (crickets)
Them: “what do you think?”
Me: (to myself) “gosh. I hope they cannot see the thought bubble above my head.”
Me: (aloud) “what do you say if we explore what we could tell people about us, without ever saying trust, that we make them think we are trustworthy? Kind of let them get there on their own.”
Them: “wouldn’t it be simpler if we just told them?”
Me: “well, they may be more likely to believe it if we didn’t actually say it to them.”
Anyway. You get the point.
In the end I was able to get up from the table knowing I had to work backwards and develop a strategy that would create a consumer response of “hey, they seem trustworthy’ (or the actual words would have been “I would trust them to advise me”).
I had a whole bunch of strategy writing tricks up my sleeve but ultimately I had to hit the business bookshelf for some source I could throw on the table and say “hey, look at this, they say if we say something like ‘x’ and continuously do ‘y’ over a period of time people will truly play back ‘trust’ in association with you guys.”
There is a book I found (which of course I cannot remember the name of and all my business books are in a box in storage but I do have page 202 copied to be able to write this). It’s actually not a bad book for a business book. It did give me something to buy for all the clients so they could become experts on building trust and we didn’t have to build a “hey, trust me” campaign.
In the end though I actually found something that I have copied and given to many young employees (as well as parceled out the advice to senior people particularly in a new business situation where inevitably even the smartest people seem to lose all sense of what they really should do).
On page 202 I came across this little checklist of “top Things to Remind Yourself.” I use it all the time (as I said in the previous paragraph).
- I don’t have to prove myself every ten seconds.
- I have a right to be here in his room; I can add value without worrying about it.
- Shut up and repeat again and again: “really, and then what happened?”
- Also again and again: “gee, what’s behind that.”
- Is my pulse racing? Why? Why not say so, and say why, out loud?
- Have I earned the right yet to give an answer?
- Am I trying in any way to won an argument? Turn it back into a conversation.
- Emulate Columbo: “I may be a little slow here. Maybe it’s just me, but …. “
- Take responsibility for the emotional outcome.
- Don’t blame anybody for anything anytime.
- More value is added through problem definition than through problem answer.
- Just because the client asks a question doesn’t mean that’s the right question to answer.
- Don’t be insecure. Say to yourself: “hey, if I don’t know the answer, and I’m a pro, then this is a really neat question, let’s get into it.”
- Is my stomach telling me something’s wrong? My stomach’s right. Let’s talk about it.
Good advice.
Unfortunately this great find has screwed me because now I still have to pick up business help books to see if any have a little great tasting truffle like this hidden amongst the mud.
Global Generation part 2: a look at millennials
May 11th
This is a continuation of my thoughts on the Global Generation given there was an excellent new study about the Millennial Generation (sometimes referred to as Gen Y) issued several weeks ago (and the fact I continue to argue that the Millennials cannot be the Global Generation). 
As the millennials emerge into adulthood their experience will lead to a transfer of some positive aspects (additional learning) to the Global Generation.
With that said. This Pew Research study is the most detailed to date of the Millennial generation (say about 15+ to about 29). If you can’t remember a time when the world was not wired, you are a member of the 33 million American in the Millennial Generation. You feel you are special. You feel you are different. The fate of the planet is on your shoulders (or at least you think you are per the research). Millennials will probably be the most educated in American history (but they are also saddled with unemployment and debt and other issues proving education alone doesn’t solve all issues).
Before Millennials, perhaps the largest, richest and most influential – although that last is debatable – generation in American history were Millennial parents, the Baby Boom Generation, the some 78 million Americans born to G.I. Dads and Lindy dancing Moms in the years after the end of World War II. Succeeding them, born between 1964 and 1977, was Generation X, clocking in much smaller, at 37 million. But with over 80 million Americans born after 1977, the Millennial generation is the new large and in charge generation (it includes Echo Boomers – loosely defined as the children of the Boomers born after 1977). Like their Boomer parents before them, the opposite ends of the Millennial generation are vastly different from each other. And Millennials, say experts Strauss and Howe, “are unlike any other youths in living memory: More numerous, more affluent, better educated and more ethnically diverse than those who came before.” (source: social scientists who coined the term “millennial” – LifeCourse Associates, March ’06).
So. Although there is no one-size-fits-all description of individuals within a generation, Pew says its findings show clear, distinctive traits for the Millennials group, particularly in certain areas. The following sections showcase excerpts from the study followed by my thoughts on the impact for the Global Generation:
Technology & Media
Perhaps the most outstanding detail that distinguishes this generation — from even those born just a couple of years earlier — is their level of media consumption, particularly online. Today, the average teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using electronic media — cell phones, internet, television, music and video games — according to a 2006 study. 41% (and growing) have no landline just a cellphone. Because of their upbringing, life events and the advent of the internet The Millennial generation is moving forward as a group with an intense focus on openness, sharing information, as both an ideal and a practical strategy to get things done.
What this means to the Global Generation idea:
While Millenials are on course to become the “open, information sharing enabling generation.” Unfortunately, due to existing “local” circumstances and a desire to strengthen community, they will be stuck focusing on community (or national if you want to call that a large community) issues. They are an emerging power in this subject of media and technology. Let’s call them the “ice breaker ship” generation. What the heck. With all the glaciers melting and breaking up it seems an appropriate nom de plume. The Millennials are at the forefront of the enlightenment mindset. As they proceed into adulthood and start dealing with the adult issues they have been avoiding (and if Strauss & Howe are correct they will be facing some crisis type event that will solidify their legacy) attitudinally they will pass the openness torch onto the next generation (the global generation) where it should flourish. Functionally (with the web and technology) this generation is fine tuning the early adopters of technology, standardizing practices and usage, so that the Global generation will be empowered to maximize the technology (and probably enhance it in their own way).
Attitude.
Millennials think that the world owes them something. These are the offspring of helicopter parents, t-ball, and soccer games that have no winner and no loser. They’ve gone through the educational system without the benefit of constructive criticism for their work and in the workplace, can’t grasp the concept that they actually must perform and do it well. There are exceptions but often “just showing up” becomes a personal standard of “I am doing well.”
However, Overall, Pew says, Millennials are confident, upbeat and open to change. They’re more ethnically and racially diverse than their elders and also less religious.
Interestingly the Millennials legacy, attitudinally, may end up being how their collective non-conflict “whatever” personality deals with a crisis and an increasingly conflict world (how do they resolve the desire for community sense and manage conflict slowing the spread of sense of community).
What this means to the Global Generation idea:
The Millennials openness to a diversity of thinking, beliefs and attitudes will provide the platform for the Global Generation to enable that attitude. Millennials acquired this attitude “on their own” without the assistance of parents while the Global generation will gets ‘hands-on’ encouragement for enabling diverse attitudes. The Global Generation will further benefit as Millennials mature and recognize life is about winners and losers and their grayish attitudes on life begin to start taking on clearer colors (not always black & white). Attitudinally the Global Generation will doubly benefit as GenXers fully mature from the “Me” attitude to a fuller understanding of “we” and will encourage this combination of me/we attitude to younger generations.
Social.
Because the recession has someway shattered the world Millennials thought they knew they talk more about having autonomy and freedom, and in so doing, not being as enslaved to material goals that they perceived their parents being caught up in. They do talk about life happiness not based on economic success or achievement as much. Millennials are reordering their values and attitudes. They volunteer at higher rates than previous generations. “Civic trends have always risen with age. This generation is now emerging as being much more involved at a much younger age,” says Pew.
What this means to the Global Generation idea:
This Millennial sense of community, and civic duty, on a local level will start clashing with the Global Generations’ experiences via the internet on what is happening in “other local areas” globally. It sets the stage for individual empowerment to make a difference in communities worldwide (not just local community). The Global Generation will become the communicator of this “power of the community to
make a difference” globally helping begin the creation of a global community made up of distinct local communities. Having shed the burden of solely seeking material goals (encouraged by Millennials) global communication becomes easier as conversations evolve to values and aspirational alignment versus “haves and have nots” materially. This, combined with individuality (driven by the next topic – family), will create the social foundation for the Global Generation.
Family.
From the way they were raised to their views on marriage, Pew found, Millennials are a world apart from their elders. For example, only 61% grew up in a two parent household, a smaller percentage than the three previous generations. And just 21% are married (half the percentage of their parents’ generation at the same ages) and 34% are parents.
What this means to the Global Generation idea:
The Millennial experience simply strengthens the Global Generation’s social capabilities (understanding the value of an extended family). Family will always be valued but the Global Generation will have firsthand knowledge of the fragility of the belief and the strength of extended family ties. In addition, the Global Generation will be impacted by their parents, the first “divorce driven” generations the GenXers/Boomers, as well as the family value but materialistic generation of maturing Boomers. As with many other things this convergence of conflicting experiences will create a strong sense of Individual Empowerment (or the belief that the only thing you can count on is ‘yourself’). The recession’s impact on families will assist in strengthening the Global Generation’s resolve with hard work and the value of simple camaraderie (rather than cutthroat competitiveness).
Mindset.
From what I have seen, the Millennial generation is institutionally-minded, has a “we can fix it” attitude despite a libertarian bent, is community-focused, materialistic, upbeat, and usually is respectful and cheerful. Millennials are socially liberal (and so were the GIs by the standards of their days). But. Keep in mind this is not really a radical type thought for a generation (as noted by Winston Churchill):
“Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”
What this means to the Global Generation idea:
Boomers as they reach senior leader status are going to be stretched to learn to stop judging generations according to 1950s era education preferences, when knowing what nation & ideology last mattered. Borders may be less important because of internet yet I also see a new stronger stance on the importance of country (an extension of community) with the Global Generation. This in part will be formed by the extent of whatever Crisis the Millennials will have to deal with. Regardless the Global generation, seeking some construct in their lives and living through the internet the aspects of communities globally, will recognize the importance (and distinctness) of country. So while the borders may be less important the national attitude will become stronger. Because of many of the factors listed above (recession, family, technology, information access, etc.) I believe the Global Generation will also acquire parts of the preceding attitudes and be an “optimistic realist” generation. Gathering up the upbeat community of Millennials, GenXer ‘me cynicism’ and Boomer optimistic no boundaries the pieces will converge within the Global Generation creating a unique understanding of Individual and Community and Optimism and Realism.
How it all fits together (with this whole Global generation idea I have)
This study continues to confirm not only my hypothesis but also furthers Strauss & Howe’s 4th Turning construct. A snapshot of 4th Turning ‘turnings’ as they lead into the Global Generation:
From the Arthurian Generation through today’s Millennial Generation children, there have been 24 generations in the Anglo-American lineage. The first six were purely English. The next four were colonial, yet still heavily influenced by English society and politics. The eleventh (Awakeners, born 1701-1723) became the first distinctively American generation—the first whose name, birth years, and persona diverge significantly from peers in the United Kingdom. The Awakeners were also the first generation to be comprised mostly of native-born Americans and—late in life—the first to know the U.S. nation and flag. So although today’s Millennial children are the 24th in our full lineage of post-medieval generations, they are 14th in the American line. The Global Generation will be the 15th.
Where we are today (and tomorrow):
- The Hero archetype is born in an Unraveling, enters young adulthood in a Crisis, midlife in a High, and elder hood in an Awakening. (this is the Millennial Generation)
- The Artist archetype is born in a Crisis, enters young adulthood in a High, midlife in an Awakening, and elderhood in an Unraveling. (this is what I call The Global Generation)
In 4th Turning terms we are currently living at the tail end of what they call an “Unraveling” (and if you read my site at all it is easy to believe it is so).
Associated with Unravelings in the past are the same generational (people) divisiveness and spiritual wanderings we see today. In addition this also means we are at the cusp of a Crisis (yet to be determined) that will inevitably realign us on a variety of issues.
A brief overview of the entire lifecycle so you can possibly go back and reassess some words and thoughts):
- As ARTISTS replace Heroes in childhood during a Crisis, they are overprotected at a time of political convulsion and adult self-sacrifice.
- As conformist ARTISTS replace Heroes in young adulthood during a High, they become sensitive helpmates, lending their expertise and cooperation to an era of growing social calm.
- As indecisive ARTISTS replace Heroes in midlife during an Awakening, they apply expertise and process to improve society while calming the passions of the young.
- As empathic ARTISTS replace Heroes in elderhood during an Unraveling, they quicken the pace of social change, shunning the old order in favor of complexity and sensitivity
Conclusion:
While the Millennial Generation is highly educated they, of all generations in recent (possibly anytime) history, are unprepared for the crisis or catastrophe they will be faced with (that doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out just that it will be challenging). Strauss & Howe suggest they will be the next Hero generation. All signs are that they have all the characteristics, if not capabilities, to assist us in dealing with the inevitable crisis we will have to deal with (Straus & Howe suggest that ‘crisis’ will occur sometime within the next 5 to 10 years).
“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”
H. G. Wells
This crisis will further define many things for our future. Yet. As with historical cycles there are certain aspects that will inevitably evolve. The Global Generation will be in one of the most unique situations of any prior generation (I ma
y do another post to identify similar generations and how they responded).
My biggest concern, or fear, is not the Crisis but rather remains with the “enabler.” The generation of people is happening and evolving attitudinally. It is a convergence of everything necessary to create the global generation. A generation which will combine a community attitude diverse and open to attitudes as well as individual empowerment (the strength of individuals to make an impact). But the enabler, the internet, remains the wild card. I do not believe there is any doubt the internet will become available worldwide (I believe cellphones will take it to the next level to access developing countries to become a true global platform – there is a brilliant study on cell phone technology printed in The Economist late last year). On the internet it is the accuracy of the information and the even handedness of the information that needs to be resolved. The web continues to be a megaphone for divisiveness and biased opinions. At some point someone needs to offer an altruistic open factual information platform. Google certainly has the opportunity but other organizations or an unbiased philanthropic group could step up.
Part 3 will be specifically about the Global Generation and thoughts on how they to impact them and how they will impact the Globe (and America).
deciding what you want to be
Apr 23rd
“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s 
around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff – I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”
J.D. Salinger (The Catcher in the Rye)
I have noted earlier on my site I loved the book “Catcher in the Rye”.
And many argue it’s out of touch with today’s world. I say they are silly (if not wrong).
This quote from Catcher is one of my favorites as proof.
For is not every parent a catcher in the rye?
Is not every teacher a catcher in the rye?
Is not every good business leader a catcher in the rye?
Some of us choose to be the catcher. Some of us, like me, love the responsibility and embraces being a catcher in the rye in business.
Sure. A little part of me dies a little when I miss someone who mistakenly goes off the edge of that crazy cliff. 
But, on the other hand, I become a better person for everyone I get to steer clear of the crazy cliff.
There are some of us who don’t really sign up to be the catcher and yet are put in that role. Many parents are that way. Not because they didn’t want to be but rather before you have a child it’s a little difficult to understand that crazy cliff is always there and you always have to keep at least a little eye on it. That is one reason I respect great parents.
And then teachers. Some begin a career as a teacher because they just love to teach. But as time goes on they realize a part of their responsibility is to watch those in the fields of rye to insure those who wander to close to the cliff that they at least know someone is paying attention (and parents should recognize that teachers fulfill that role sometimes).
And then there are business leaders who go, go go. Always forward focused. And yet, over time, they realize to be the best leader a part of their role is to see the crazy cliff and catch people before they go over.
Ok. Maybe I’m nuts for seeing all this in the catcher in the rye but that is what I see.
And maybe that’s why I loved the book even when I was young. A part of me wanted to be the catcher in the rye. I am sure some guidance counselor would have had me put in some institution if I had answered “be a catcher in the rye” when asked “so what do you want to be.”
But. Now that I am here, i.e., no longer that young?
Being the catcher in the rye may be the best job in the world.
