Tag Archives: business thinking

July 31, 2008 · 8:26 am

Get Real

One of my favorite movies is Barry Levinson’s Tin Men.  Made in 1987 about 1963, it’s the second in his trilogy about Baltimore (Diner and Avalon are the bookends) and it’s my favorite of the three, though all are terrific.  Great cast, great music, great cars!

Given that it’s all about sales and integrity, there are dozens of business lessons (I’m sure that was exactly what Mr. Levinson had in mind) in this picture.  One of my favorites comes as Tilley (played by Danny DeVito) and Sam (the inimitable Jackie Gayle) are driving around and Sam speaks of an epiphany he had:

Sam: You know when I saw ‘Bonanza’ the other day, something occurred to me.
Ernest Tilley: Eh?
Sam: Ya got these four guys living on the Ponderosa and ya never hear them say anything about wanting to get laid.
Ernest Tilley: Huh.
Sam: They don’t talk about broads – nothing. Ya never hear Little Joe say, “Hey, Hoss, I went to Virginia City and I saw a girl with the greatest ass I’ve ever seen in my life.” They just walk around the Ponderosa: “Yes, Pa, where’s Little Joe?” Nothin’ about broads. I don’t think I’m being too picky. But, if at least once, they talked about getting horny. I don’t care if you live on the Ponderosa or right here in Baltimore, guys talk about getting laid. I’m beginning to think that show doesn’t have too much realism.

What Sam is really talking about is the need to be authentic.  Every business needs to resonate with its consumers.  In Authentic Leadership, Bill George defined the concept as understanding your purpose, practicing solid values, leading with your heart, establishing connected relationships, and demonstrating self-discipline. In other words, not presenting a false corporate image or trying to emulate the leadership style or characteristics of others.  I think of it as passing the BS-sniffer test that our readers, fans, consumers, or clients put us through.

Get Sam in your head – is your ranch real?

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July 18, 2008 · 10:20 am

Another for the Old Guys

This is NOT going to become a golf blog, I promise.  I can hear the coughing and snickering from those of you who know of my love for …OK, obsession with…the game, but this is actually going to be about the value of experience.

My friend Joe in England wrote that “the fairest way to describe the English Summer is it sucks!”  If you’ve read yesterday’s piece, you’ll know that the weather has replaced Tiger as the factor to beat this weekend.

And who is atop the Open leader-board at this writing?  A guy six months older than I am.  Greg Norman, course designer, wine maker, etc. reverted to Greg Norman, Champion Golfer for at least two days.  While the young guys are having trouble with the English Summer, Norman, and a couple of old guys about whom you may have read, Rocco Mediate and Tom Watson, are doing quite nicely, thank you.  Sure, young stud Villegas finished with 5 straight birdies, but let’s see where he is tomorrow.

Of course, I have a business thought.  Often a young person has a great idea and, coupled with their almost boundless energy, brings it to fruition in a flash.  Just as often, we older guys get overlooked because in general we’re not about flash any more – it’s about substance, experience, and knowing how to play in the wind and rain.  No one puts your name on the Trophy if you’re leading after the third round.  The trick is to endure and persist through the changing conditions, the bad shots, and the lousy breaks.  Many young people aren’t there yet (the notable golf exception being the Woods kid, who is as mentally tough as a 50 year old).

Hopefully in your business there is enough respect for the people who can’t hit it 325 anymore.  We know how to avoid the trouble and what to do if we get into it, and that’s something only experience brings.  In the words of Toby Keith, “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”  You go, Greg.

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July 17, 2008 · 9:53 am

Changing Conditions

The Open Championship begins at Royal Birkdale today.  Whilst we call it The British Open over here, for the last almost 150 years, it has been the premiere test of golf worldwide.  Is that because of the courses, which generally have few trees and not a lot of water?  No, I don’t think so.  Really, it’s such a great test because of the ever-changing conditions.  Teeing off, it may be sunny and warm.  By the turn, it can be in the 50’s and rainy.  The wind may come up – gale force winds at that – and just as quickly go away.

This morning, the conditions there are terrible.  Rain.  Wind.  Chilly.  Two golfers – each of whom has won a major championship before – quit at the turn because their scores were so bad they couldn’t take it any more.  Now THAT’S a test!

How equipped are you and your company to deal with changing conditions?  What happens when things turn to..um…British Open weather?  I’ve found that many folks are not ready – they’ve packed for sunny and warm and have neither a plan nor the resources to deal with the change.

Thinking you can hit a 7-iron on the 165 yard hole today because you did so yesterday never works in golf.  The wind, the heat, the humidity, your mindset – all have an effect on how you hit the ball and how far it carries.  If you don’t pay attention to the changing conditions and have a plan to deal with them, you’re pretty much never going to win, no matter if it’s golf or business.

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