Michael Goldberg

We all have been living through a (hopefully) once-in-our-lifetime experience of bunkering down and protecting ourselves from the global pandemic. And because experience is the best source of learning, we all now know that as the masks went on, lipstick went south, wine went north, Amazon became even more frightening and we’ve all learned about the beautiful flexibility of stretchy pants and working from home. As much as we should have been held down, we progressed in many ways beyond just digital adoption which accelerated by almost a decade in just over a year. This is merely the surface of our new normal.

Look deeper at our lives.

When we can’t connect with others, we connect more with ourselves. Many of us utilized these important moments to take stock of our lives and of those around us which resulted in a re-orderingof life and priorities. More people retired. More moved to places they wanted to live. Many decided the culture where they worked was as important as the work itself. Others switched out of jobs they didn’t want, habits they weren’t proud of and relationships that were unhealthy. There was more progress on human equality and people standing up for their own mental health than any year I can remember. The importance of health, connection and love reigns supreme and we continue to see signs that the experience economy that was once thriving has balanced with an emotional economy that was once lacking. These may be the greatest silver linings of all.

Look at the people around us.

As the masks come off in our professional lives and the return to a more office-centric environment isimminent, the same re-ordering is happening. Companies have re-committed to missions beyond sales. They realize that convenience and pay is not enough to keep good talent and brands – and, more than ever – they face the reality that some of their marketing partners and agencies need to be re-ordered as well. In fact, according to a recent AdAge survey, one in three brands will change agencies in the next six months. Intuitive math suggests that  actual agency reviews could impact a staggering 50% of brands in the next 12 months.  

Look at getting it right.

With so much at stake and many competitors arming up, it is more critical than ever to get it right. In a marketing industry that has never been more complex, It is more important than ever to use an Agency Search Consultant. Yes, ROJEK has been doing it for over 30 years and would love to help you, but the value of any search consultant will be beneficial in helping you create the right roster for this new normal. ROJEK offers advertising industry subject expertise with validated sourcing processes, proprietary data and in-market knowledge. We add strategic value to advertisers and CMO’s seeking to hire their top choice agencies to bring their re-ordered visions to life.  This includes finding and recruiting ideal partners, accelerating go-to-market campaign development, maximizing value/benchmarking costs and reducing the risk in making a change, false starts and team friction – all of which are critical to faster brand success.

Look inside before outside.

Getting it right with agency, marketing and media partners starts with getting it right within your own walls. The first, and most critical step in ROJEK’s CultureFit™ process is leveraging real-time cultural assessment data to understand your cultural values and ambitions, growth triggers and the potential headwinds.  We modeled this proprietary process from a platform created to aid the M&A sector. We can help you set up a culture-first program inside your organization or use your culture and values data to align with those of potential agency contenders – all before either side is asked to invest in a relationships that was never wired for success.  

A week ago, we witnessed Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers become NFL champions. While anyone can read the box score, the real storyline for the game is as valuable a lesson for marketers as it is for football teams and following the principles of the playbook will help any team win more often.

Let me start out by upsetting most of my New England friends by saying Tom Brady should not have been the MVP. My vote goes to Bruce Arians, the Head Coach who has never held the trophy, but knew the exact road to get there.  Talent is necessary.  Playing as a team is critical. Being hyped for the game is what you’d expect for a Super Bowl, but Arians did more.  He committed to building a culture of winning before the first game which became his greatest asset going into the last game. In a year when the pandemic has removed so much of the “infrastructure” of business, culture is more important than ever. Below are a few principles of Bruce Arian’s plan and ways it could help your team as well.

First, he had a pace setter.  Many have heard the story about Roger Bannister breaking the elusive 4 minute mile barrier at Oxford in May of 1954, something that nobody thought would ever be possible. As amazing as that was, more amazing was that another runner broke it 46 days later. A few years later, three runners did it in the same race and now almost 1,500 runners have done the impossible. Why? They actually realized it was possible. Arians helped a group of talented players from different backgrounds without a traditional training camp believe they could.

Second, he deprogrammed a Robot.  Sure, Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T, but he is also a bit of a R.O.B.O.T. Having won more Super Bowl’s than any player in history, Arian knew he needed someone that knew the road and could bring winning experience inside the locker room.  At the same time, experience does not always inspire, and Arians is more about enthusiasm over fear, which is a far cry from Brady’s previous locker room experience. While Tom’s game is always serious, Arians seemed to soften his off-field demeanor and remind Brady to make work fun. 

Third, he brought in a cultural enforcer.  Nobody knows how to have a good time more than Gronk. He put the city at ease, the other players at ease and was there to make sure Tom was surrounded with reminders that this final leg of his storied career could actually be his most fun. There was no better expression of this than the “Tommy & Gronky” web series that appeared between the games. It was hard not to like the Bucs when they liked each other so much. Arians knew that culture is intentional and most powerful when aligned.

Fourth, he shined a bright light.  Bruce Arians created a culture of winning with a light bright enough to attract those who needed it most. Fans gave up on Fournette. Doctors gave up on Pierre-Paul, Owners gave up on Brown,  Multiple teams gave up on Suh and every draft expert gave up on Succop. Yet, not one of these players ever gave up on themselves or the will to be part of something special. Arians beloved that culture is the most powerful recruiting tool.

Lastly, he motivated the play for today.  We all know it’s the Chief’s league from here on, but nobody seemed to tell Devin White (#45) that Mahomes had been unstoppable in all of his 53 previous games. He ran faster, hit harder and was never far from the ball. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the one below is worth just 5 – “No touchdowns in my house.” Arians never let doubt into the locker room that was reaching for undeniable.

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My new tech watch shows me I’ve walked almost 3,500,000 steps since the pandemic started.  Because I take just a few paths, I tend to pass the same buildings, the same coffee shops, the same joggers, the same dogs and the same decisions at all the intersections. It has become a routine for the new normal and quite predictable.

This morning, though, I passed by pretty umbrellas I don't think I ever saw before. Even with an overcast sky, the sharp khaki and white color caught my eye as if it were perfectly placed by J Crew.  I quickly snapped the above picture and immediately looked down again at my watch making sure I didn't lose my pace.  

Why hadn't I seen them before? Or had I seen them hundreds of times, but failed to really take notice? It reminded me Alice Walker’s quote from The Color Purple, “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.” 

On this, the first Monday of the new year we’ve all been looking forward to, I am inspired by these pretty umbrellas to take notice of the many things we’ve walked through in 2020 that weren't bad at all.  We learned to live-in a bit more while really appreciating the breaths we get to take outside. We’ve learned that health is vital, living is a gift, exercise is good, balance is necessary and that culture has less to do with walls and more to do with hearts.

I will personally work harder to live in gratitude, to cherish the moments that let us connect to people more deeply, to helping whenever I can and appreciate the millions of little things that make big differences. 

DIVORCE IS HARD ON THE KIDS

Somedays it seems easier to just stay together. In times like these, when so much is already unpredictable, the risk of change can feel daunting and the impact of uncoupling falls greatest on those that surround partnerships. In families, it’s the kids. In business, it is the team and the continuity of normal.

I know first-hand…Although I am personally still married to my college sweetheart, I have spent my career surrounded by professional divorce, as every new business win for one Agency comes at an uncoupling cost for another. And now, as a Principal of ROJEK, one of the most established and accomplished Agency search consultancies, the core of our business thrives on Client/Agency divorces. And while it is it’s easy to say it is business, not personal, just ask anyone on either side of a pitch to separate how personal it feels.

A challenge of consciousness.

Professional divorce is often the right decision, as it often leads to a better fit and brighter future..but it does challenge our corporate mission of helping navigate more positive change for the industry at large at times. While our business prospers with instigating more Agency divorces, we recognize the industry is healthier with more healthy agency marriages.

How, then, can we use our talents save marriages instead of just supporting the ones that end?

Most partnerships don’t end because of a lack of talent, interest or ill intent. Instead, it is the influence of new people and a cultural gap created over time. Like any relationships, cultural alignment and open communication is the most powerful adhesive bond. With our experience in using cultural data to form new relationships, we re-purposed our proprietary CultureFit™ data to help find a fix to current relationships. Culture is a powerful thing.

Partnerships can heal from the inside out

Our model leverages our proprietary cultural technology so that everyone has a clearer path to partnerships that should grow in value over time. We can conduct a custom cultural assessment report for you on your agency partner to outline your current connection as sell as steps necessary to evolve that cultural connection to a more desired state. It will include the triggers that accelerate growth and even help define the potential cultural disconnects that often serve as hurdles for growth. Just check out Rojekconsulting.com for more info.

As many eyes are glued to media outlets reporting the confusing election results, it is most alarming how this is not just a decision on issues or policy, but rather one of character and culture. We are voting for who we want to be and how we want to go forward and if the character of the human fits the culture of our National ambitions.

Culture. It’s a powerful thing - for the nation, for individuals and even for business. Culture doesn’t just feel good. But it is the driving force that you can actually take to the bank.  So much so that cultural capital is now valued as one of the most critical assets of some of the world’s most admired brands. While talent is foundational, culture is the glue that connects the team. While tools are essential, culture purposes how they are used. While vision is critical, culture guides it to become inspired navigation for others.

                                                            Cultural improvement is not a topical solution

When people provide evidence of their cultural health, they often mention things that surround people more than the internal navigation of the people. For example, we all know today’s workforce wants to feel fulfilled, yet the most talked about provisions are things like coffee bars, ping-pong tables, flexible days off and unlimited cold cereal snacks. I mean, I like Cap’n Crunch as much as anyone, but a fulfilling meal it’s not. Building true cultural capital goes much deeper.

Does it take near catastrophe to start a revolution?

It shouldn’t, but circumstances have the power to create opportunity. The respect for culture, and building cultural capital, has been especially salient during the pandemic because it has suddenly become visible in many ways. Think about it, the office walls that enclosed us have been removed. The proverbial water cooler where we discussed the night before and day ahead have been replaced by Zoom boxes.  The white boards of collaboration are significantly altered by a lack of time, focus and interaction.  When you remove all of the things that seem to “connect” us, we are left with simply the appreciation and need to be truly connected – to people who are bound by things they can’t touch or lean on.  It is this moment that we understand how culture is what we have left.  

Culture is an unlocking mechanism.

In a world filled with too much divisive behaviors and separation, a healthy culture has the power to unlock the potential of true leadership to rise above the mess and around the obstacles. That, in itself, is the greatest super power of all. In the brand business, an open culture opens the mind and widens the perspective which can have a profound impact on creativity, human intuition and driving more purposeful messages in our world.  Brands have a significant opportunity to help shape the culture of our times and, when authentic, it can be a dramatic driver of unlocking growth.

Cultural quotient - CQ helps brands grow from the inside out.

Understanding and harnessing your cultural values magnify the effectiveness of leaders by helping them recognize their true cultural impact and embrace a values-driven leadership style. They also help create a high-performing, cohesive leadership team tapping into the strengths of each member of the group.

Cultural Assessment helps:

1.       MAKING THE INTANGIBLE TANGIBLE Find out what is important to your people, how they experience the culture, and how they would like to improve it.

2.       SHADOWS/LIMITATIONS Learn what factors are limiting the performance of your group and preventing it from reaching its full potential.

3.       VALUES JUMPS Learn which values are most important to the members of your group.

4.       EXPAND PERSPECTIVES Review the data from different angles to deepen the exploration and understanding of your culture.

5.       BUILD COHISION/GROWTH When people are open to sharing, getting individual reports can help create a deeper dialogue and build cohesion.

ROJEK is certified in cultural value assessment and building solutions in increasing cultural capital, which starts with building the right connections through the company’s teams of marketing resources using cultural assessment data as a means to hire the right marketing partners. Cultural due diligence maximizes cultural fit, revealing a shared lens of growth that will build value over time.

I don't care.

I don't care what side of the fence you are on, I really don't. 

I don't care if your politics are filled with hate, love or hope. Whatever works for you. 

I don't care if you come at this from an economic lens or a medical lens. You are right either way. 

Today, I don't care about anything other than the energy that separates us. We face this crazy crisis together. We will emerge together, so why not go through it together? If you've got the ability, pick up an oar and row. Row hard. Row fast. Row in the same direction. Keep rowing. 

Everyone wants to grow, especially during times like this. Most have ambition. Many have growth plans. Some understand the sweat equity and grit it takes.  So with all that intention, and despite what people showcase on their websites, why is real growth so rare?

It can’t be that people are not working hard enough - just look at the social posts touting working from everywhere, always on; losing sight of day versus night. It can’t be that there is not enough pressure – just look the labor challenges for most every business that wasn’t deemed “essential” over the last six months. It can’t be because remote working has caused a natural slow down – just look at our Outlook calendars and Zoom call logs.

Perhaps we are making too much of pushing ourselves– and too little of knowing ourselves. It is the difference between trying to grow on the outside versus really growing from the inside.

Culture matters.  And that can be taken to the bank. A Deloitte study confirms 94% of executives see a direct line between distinct culture and distinctively better results. A Hewitt study of 160 companies identified that firms with better cultural alignment achieve 3X the revenue growth over those who don’t.  Entrepreneur Magazine showcased 10 of the most valuable brands in the world who state that culture matters most – more than products, services, marketing or operations.

It matters to set vision. It also matters in selecting partners, which is why it always matters to ROJEK. As the leading certified marketing consulting firm specializing in advertising agency review services, our proprietary CultureFit™ Model uses organizational data science to help advertisers forms the right partnerships that are engineered to last and create even more value over time.

To learn more about how a cultural fit can help your brand grow inside out, reach out to me directly at [email protected]

I remember writing a post that counted down the precious time before my Daughters would ultimately go off to college. They were only 12 and it was called “Daughter Math.”  Fast forward a decade and imagine that same keypad trying to capture the feelings the morning after two glorious college graduations witnessing them leaving the nest to navigate their own lives. How did it all happen? I need to take a breath.

While everyone may have their own recipe for parenting, here are a few pages from our cookbook that produced the most kind, ambitious, creative, clever and the most amazing human beings we could have ever hoped for:

Step 1: Birth   In a world of co-parenting, I’ve got to give Barbara way more credit for this step. I giggled, distracted and did my share of sympathy eating, but she pushed like a Mother (literally). The key for Fathers is to be there, no matter what, no matter when and no matter how.  

Step 2: Love   Embrace the feeling of pure, limitless and unconditional love, as there is nothing else like it in the world. It is important to learn to give without getting and to set a standard for them of how love is supposed to feel. There may not ever be a more important responsibility than this.

Step 3: Show   Show them the way. While this certainly includes eating, sleeping and potty training, it is much bigger than that. Show them what goodness and kindness looks like. Remember, they will emulate you no matter what, so make your motions worth watching.

Step 4: Talk   If you want your kids to talk to you, you have to talk to them. Respect works the very same way. Critical conversations will happen whether you are involved or not, but invitations are earned by trust, not granted by authority.

Step 5: Water   Sometimes the best way to foster growth is to just provide water (and a little space and time). Be patient with your Daughters and give them the tools to find their way. They usually do.

Step 6: Notice   Notice everything about them and help them find their light because what comes with it is comfort and confidence. Help remind them to see the good, the inner beauty and the kindness of soul.

Step 7: Like   Loving them is easy. Like them. Like them more. Like being with them. Liking the people you love is pure magic.

Step 8: Hope   Some things are simply out of our hands. Don’t be too proud to add a generous dose of hoping, praying, laughing and crying. Parents can use all the help they can get which teaches other good lessons.

Step 9: Watch   There are times to be over protective, but this is not one of those times. Stand back. Give them space to take off and watch them soar knowing we all get to enjoy the amazing view.

So fly, my Daughters, fly.

Three elephants walk into a bar…

It sounds like the start of a joke, but there is nothing funny about the impact that a few elephants can have on the retail landscape. While there are many, let’s start with the three named Google, Amazon and Walmart. But… here is the punchline. Google can put Amazon out of business. Amazon can put Walmart out of business. And, when the smart and resourceful folks in Bentonville are pressed, they can take a swing at any and every specialty retailer in the world. There is not a retail company that hasn’t written "WTF?" on a boardroom white board.

This is not new news, but it is happening at an even more accelerated pace than most anyone’s predictions. Consider these facts: 40%+ of discretionary holiday spending went through Amazon alone this past holiday. Retail traffic is reducing by a rate of 5-6% each year, every year. Approximately 10,000 retail doors will close within the next 12-18 months. Walmart is testing a frictionless, retroactive price matching that will make high-low pricing models extinct. Post Offices are being sold to real estate firms, Otto offers self-driving distribution trucks and I’m pretty sure I just saw a pig fly outside my window.

Yet, I am bullish on retail. Sure, people are buying more things in more ways and are more digitally entrenched and socially influenced than ever before, but there is reason to be bullish on actual retail stores, as well. Shopping is one of people’s favorite pastimes. For everyone who states that this is a dramatic time of change for retail, I would remind them that this is merely one more step in a history of dramatic changes from urban independent merchants to department stores to suburban chains to malls to specialty to big box category killers to omni-channel —  oh my! As e-commerce sales increase dramatically, the role for stores will change, but they will be even more necessary.

Success through dramatic change goes back to a different elephant theory… one of never forgetting. That is, never losing sight of the core retail and merchandising dynamics that have built the most exciting sectors of all time. To some, shopping is a pastime and they want retail therapy. To some, shopping is a sport and they crave the hunt for deals. To some, shopping is a chore and they value frictionless service and speed. To some, shopping is an adventure and they need a curated experience. To all, retail IS needed and the art of aligning merchandise with interest and promotional motivation will never go out of style.

We’ve built a multi-billion dollar, retail growth machine focused solely on garnering an unfair share of business every hour of every quarter in the face of dramatic change and competitive pressures that would make even the circus seem uneventful.

Look Up

I recently had the honor and pleasure of being asked to give the commencement speech at my Alma Mater, Florida State University. It was a moment that I will always remember and wanted to summarize the content in order to be able to smile when I look back… or "Look Up,” as the case may be.

(6/6/17)

I am thrilled to be here with you, as I sat in those very seats not that many years ago. I won’t mention the exact year, but I’ll just say that outside of Tallahassee there was still trouble in the Middle East, Politicians still promised “no new taxes” and Bill Cosby was in the news for completely different reasons. Inside Tallahassee though, it was the “Neon Deion Sanders” era. #GoNoles! Let me see that tomahawk chop…

Okay, using the same chop: Who couldn’t wait for this day to come? Who needs to find a great job and make a bunch of money? Who wants to find love?Who wants to live a life that is fun and fantastic? Who has goals they want to crush?

I hear you. In fact, I was you. I had similar goals and similar dreams. Allow me to explain. For the past 25 years, I’ve made my career in advertising and marketing, helping people to build the largest retail ad agency in the world. I’ve had the chance to work with some of the most talented people, the most famous brands and have been a part of some of the commercials you can’t get out of your head even if you tried. The truth is, I’ve reached my goals and now I have returned to tell you the secret to helping you achieve all of your goals much faster. Interestingly, It’s been right in front of you for the past four years, but you’ve probably never realized it. I know I didn’t… until much later.

The clue was in the chop. That’s right…the FSU tomahawk chop. Let it guide you. Seriously, just follow your arm watch where it points you. Just Look Up. That’s it. Seriously, that’s the secret. Look up. This simple ritual we use to cheer our team also has a deeper meaning to guide our life. It’s the little secret for how you can make your next 25 years as amazing as you want. Our very own chop can be a lasting reminder for us all to look up.

Look up - Look up on life. Look up from your phone. Look up for love. Look up to yourself.

Look up on life.

I am an optimistic, half-full kind of person. I really don’t believe there will be a World War III. I don’t believe that gas prices will ever hit $20 and I don’t believe that the stock market will ever crash again to Depression levels. As you can tell, I must not be watching Fox News lately! Why must some people always be wrong for others to be right? Why must there be a red state and a blue state? Why is there so much bloodshed because of what someone has faith in? It doesn’t really make sense. It’s never made sense. I get that much of it is out of our hands, but why add to the craziness? Why not be a more positive force in the world when you can? The world needs to laugh more — a lot more. Like “pee in your pants” laugh more.  Because when that happens – in those special moments – there are suddenly fumbles inside the red zone, Alabama loses once in a while, there are no wars, no hunger, no crazy politics and no hatred. Just the need to change underwear and I’m totally good with that.

Look up from your phone.

Don’t get me wrong – this is not a lecture against technology. I love technology. It makes life amazing in a million new ways every day. And, ask any one of my friends, I post more bulldog pictures on Facebook than most want, I Insta more #foodporn than you'd ever want to order and I am actually having this speech live tweeted as we speak (or check out #LookupFSU2017 on Instagram).  I know you get it. I even know you’ve heard it all before, but still what changes? Our society has become focused on connectivity, but blind to real connections.

It is about how you want to live your life. For me, I wanted to live a life where, in the end, I am not just missed, but people actually felt I was missing. Think about it. There is a difference. It isn’t about making people sad. It is about working hard to know that I constantly offered something – with every relationship, in every job, in any room, in any conversation – to make a point, a mark… and maybe even a dent in things that needed change. It all starts by looking up.

You see, when you look up, something special happens. It doesn’t just lift your head. It lifts your eyes, it lifts your body, your spirit and your outlook. It lets you live life in person to connect with people that will be your base, your glue, your #squad. Look up to hear what they really have to say. Look up to see what is really in their eyes. And think of it this way, your phone isn’t going away. It probably needs charging anyway.

Look up for love.  

Who you pick to surround you in your life will always be the most important decision you make. I was so lucky to meet my soulmate when I was your age and we’ve been married for almost 27 years. We have three amazing daughters who are our oxygen. In a world of “what” I do, they are the “why” I do it. Fairytales teach us the importance of love, but I actually think it is easy to love. Of course I love them, but I also like them. I can’t wait to be with them. They are my favorite people in the world. I play for their laugh. I work for their applause. To actually like the people you love… that is magic – human, mortal magic.

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz had to go far from home to realize that there is no place like home. It takes nearly two hours and a chase scene for Disney characters to realize the power was inside them the whole time. Come on, we’ve all read the stories about people that used darkness to see the light, a loss to see gain, death to appreciate life, a broken heart to be heartfelt and losing it all to know that they once had it all… what a pile of crap… a pile of unfortunate crap. Those are not happy stories to me, they are the sad ones. They all waited too long. They made it harder than it had to be. Why? Many people are in an endless quest for what might be more perfect rather than looking up to the love they have and making it the most perfect thing in the world. Look up to the love around you and never take it for granted.

Look up to yourself.

If you can’t imagine your own possibilities, nobody else will either. Lean forward and never stop seeing yourself successful. I think too much is made of the phrases “find your passion” and “seek fulfillment” because most people live their entire lives doubting if they’ve achieved them. Don’t get me wrong, I want you to feel passionate and fulfilled, but those things can be byproducts of finding out what you are really good at… what you can be “best at” in fact. That is the path to greatest value and success.

When it came to success, I always wanted enough money to have, but still want. There are times I made a little and times I made much more, but the amount is not the part that matters. Sure we all need money to make our lives easier, to balance how hard we work, to have something to show for it all. I am no different, but for me the real balance was never wanting to lose sight of the struggle of it all. The being hungry part. The need to plan, save, stretch and scrap together parts that reminds us of the true value of the things we want.

Think less and do more. Don’t ever allow yourself to be paralyzed by the fear of being wrong. Don’t worry about making bad decisions – we have all made bad decisions – just be brave enough to make new decisions that get you closer to your destination. Believe you can. Believe you deserve it. When you look up in the mirror, make sure you like what you see.

Looking up worked for me – for every goal and dream. I have followed that chop in every way I just mentioned.  But, I believe it can work for you too.  Just two words - Look up. If you embrace them, it will help you find what you seek, whatever that is. That job you need, the money you want, the love you crave, the joy you deserve and, all of us together, will continue the legacy of pride from graduating from this great institution of Florida State University.

So… Congratulations. Go Noles!

I don’t like Donald Trump. I don’t like his tactics. I don’t like his antics. I don’t like his hair. I don’t agree with his statements, side with his stance against immigration nor support his criticism of John McCain’s service to our country. There, I said it. But before you give me a fist bump, I also believe that someone with Trump’s leadership wiring may be exactly what our country needs next.  

You can say what you want about him, but he is a leader that is not afraid to express his opinion or make tough decisions. Isn’t it about time we followed a leader of real business instead of someone whose business is politics? Let’s face it, government is a business and good business would make better government. Better financials. Better support. Better leadership. Look no further than Bloomberg’s New York for proof. While you may not like the image of Trump on a postal stamp, a president with his type of background makes the economy stronger, helps the makers make more, the middle class would have more and we would be less reliant on (and scared of) other nations. Consumer confidence would, once again, prevail.

But it doesn’t matter what I think or you think, because despite his DNA, The Donald will not be the president. Not because he couldn’t win, but because he won’t run. As good of a leader as he may be, he is a more amazing marketer. The “Trump Inc” brand is currently holding the GOP lead and is at the center of more conversations than ever. But citizens, we are being Trumped. I predict he will pull out of the race, while on top, before the dirty details of politics reveal the many truths that he doesn’t want us knowing. Like the art behind his deals. Like the enemies he has created. Like the people he’s fired. Or maybe that he isn’t nearly as powerful or rich as he boasts.  

Leaders exist because people follow. Brilliance is revealed in the presence of average. Heroes are exalted because they defeat villains.  

While I don’t support the notion of enemies between people and countries, I do believe a little strategic hate can be an advantage in business. In fact, if you don’t detest your competition, you need to spear a scarier fish. And if your agency doesn’t share your contempt for the competition, then you deserve another agency.

Let’s face it, any white paper can rationalize the way for a brand to grow, but the actual will to grow comes from the heart of the people who lead the brand. Those brave and most poised for growth understand that emotion is stirred most by the tension that surrounds envy, ambition, frustration, anger, paranoia and yes, even hate. There’s a reason Steve Jobs served up Microsoft as big brother. Or why Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King went after Tesco. Or why even blood feuds erupt as in the case of Adi and Rudi Dassler who founded bitter rivals Adidas and Puma. That’s the way it goes when somebody wants to eat your lunch.

Retail always requires stealing share, so you must be prepared to conquer the very same people who are currently trying to conquer you. Some just play defense, but lose every time. Others find a way to fight. Those are the ones who win. Not because they have more money, they win because they have more fight. It means being open to re-think and re-mix everything for process improvement. It means testing everything — always. It means working with something to prove, regardless of previous success. It means being more impatient, relentless, frustrated and hungry. 

It means keeping score.

Today is morning two of the Restaurant Leadership Conference, the annual meeting that attracts more restaurant leaders in one place than anyplace on the planet. I joined to be surrounded by smart people engaged in debate about consumer metrics, consumption trends and what the food business will look like five and ten years from now. Instead, I have been surrounded by envy, excuses and intoxication of the burrito. More specifically, the industry’s fascination with Chipotle.

Please don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing essentially wrong with getting 'naked in a bowl.' And a little extra protein and a dollop of guac can make any day better. And as a marketer, I respect their commitment to quality, their willingness to ignore research on what is important to their target’s wallet, and yet really listen to what is important to their target’s heart. Their growth is earned and they deserve respect.

Interestingly, it is not respect I hear in the hallway chatter; I just hear excuses. Everyone has a reason why they can’t have that kind of growth, how their customers are different, how their operations are tougher, how their food costs are bigger obstacles and the like. Can we stop the parade for a moment? The fine folks at Chipotle did not invent electricity. They did not walk on the moon. And despite their end line, I don’t buy that they have any more integrity than any other good company. They did not pioneer Fast Casual as Boston Market did. They don’t face the competitive pricing pressure as Firehouse Subs does. They do not get outspent in the manner Little Caesars does. And yet all of these concepts are growing quickly as well.

What they do exceptionally well is think and behave like a leader. They did not wait for others to show them it can be done before they had the courage to try. To me, that is the greatest lesson for these restaurant leaders – or any business leaders – to learn.

An empty stage is a magical place. It can be transformed into anything you can imagine. A dramatic opera. A Broadway opening. A symphony. A ballet. The loudest rock band. The quietest mime. A child’s first recital. A declaration that changes history.

The stage is simply a metaphor for life. You can make it anything you want. It’s yours to create and produce, but breaking a leg on this stage is not about what you do or what you have. Rather, it is about what you find.

First, find your character. After all, you are in every single scene of your show. Be honest with yourself about what you want and what you do well. Think less and do more. Don’t ever allow yourself to be paralyzed by the fear of being wrong. Trust your gut, as a bit of overconfidence can go a long way. For me, breaking a leg for my character was about accomplishing three things. Two I will share now and one I’ll come back to:

Having enough money to have, but still want.

Raising kids that blur the line between parents and friends.

Next, find your ensemble. They are your co-stars. Your base. Your glue. Your best friends. In a world of what you do, they are the why. Look up from your phone. Live life in person and invest in building critical relationships. Be aware that love is easy and overrated. Like your co-stars—really like them—because liking the people you love is pure magic.

Then, find your light. This is the way you tackle the plot twists, because there will be plot twists. Life is way too short for darkness. Learn to laugh - A lot. Laugh at yourself so you don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh at situations to remove eggshells. When I can get my girls to laugh so hard that they pee in their pants (just a little bit) there are suddenly no wars, no hunger, no hatred. All seems right with the world.

Finally, find your direction. Don’t ever be afraid to change scenes. If you are comfortable in the life you are leading, get yourself uncomfortable. Change location. Change traffic patterns. Change social media feeds. Someone once said, “everyone should move at least three times in your life.” I’ve done that and it is amazing how life re-awakens. You notice things you never would have before. What is most important is to always run to things, not away from them and know where you want to end up.

I mentioned two of my three goals before: To make enough money to have but still want and to blur the line of friendship with my kids. The third goal has always been to live a life “TED worthy.” Not in a climb a mountain, lose a limb or swim with sharks kind of way. Just in a finding extraordinary in the ordinary kind of way through the lens of the people I love.

This post is an edit of a talk I was asked to give at TEDxTU in February of 2015 after being nominated by my daughter. It was the day my leg, indeed, broke.

Unless you are living in North Korea, where they are apparently caught up in other things, you have probably heard that Ron Johnson has been released from his post of CEO of JC Penney.   Some will say his vision was not given the time it deserved while many others would say that the Board did not act soon enough.  I actually thought his vision had merit, but the reason for his firing had less to do with time and more to do with respect — or the lack there of.

Ron took the position, but never re-located to the Plano HQ.  That was disrespectful to the charge he was tasked to lead.

  Ron traveled by private jet and stayed in lavish hotels.  That was disrespectful to the investors.

  Ron changed the voice of the company without understanding the conversation.  That was disrespectful to the customers.

  Ron eliminated the sales incentive in favor of simple pricing.  That was disrespectful to the complex world of retail.

  Ron insisted on working on a Mac when the JCP infrastructure was PC.  That was disrespectful to internal culture.

  Lastly, and the most strange to me, Ron built an office closet to hang all of the JCP clothes he had to wear, but would not wear outside.  That was disrespectful to the very core of what the JCP brand has meant to the center of this country for over 100 years.

  With the Oscars around the corner, it is hard not to get caught up in the magic of film and how the making of them stirs people in different ways.  Some will see Daniel Day Lewis's portrayal of Lincoln as a default history film like Spielberg accomplished with Schindler's List while others may still be breathless from how Ang Lee's vision manifested on screen in Life of Pi.   Some may have been taken by the armed forces synchronicity of Zero Dark Thirty while others debate if Les Miserables really belongs to Victor Hugo, Cameron Mackintosh or, now, Tom Hooper.   Such is life in the cinema. 

  I was personally captured most that it took 2:38:00 to tell the tale of a fugitive who stole a loaf of bread, 2:37:00 to recap a military mission that originally took less than 16 minutes to execute and 2:05:00 to close a story of a boy on a boat with a hungry tiger which would have only lasted a few seconds in real life.

  I have nothing against long films.  I am just amazed by what the advertising industry does every, single day without ever being able to thank the Academy.  We create pieces of film that have deep story lines, heroes, villains, tension and strike emotional chords - all while also selling a product or a brand point of view — typically in not much more than 30 seconds. Think about this year's Milk ad in the SuperBowl – There was a big celebrity, a chase scene with a car crash, a bank robbery, a clown, a lion on the loose and even an alien attack within a 30 second spot that also sold the virtues and health benefits of a glass of milk.  Even more kudos to the Creative Directors, Writers, Producers, Editors, et al.  

  Why must it be this way?   I am not looking for more time, I just believe the art of advertising deserves more recognition beyond the walls of our industry.  The Oscar is given out for features films, foreign films and documentaries.   Now, they even have live-action and animated short films that can be up to 40 minutes in length.  What about the films that are shorter still?     

  I propose we unite as a creative industry to work with the Academy to open a new category called Extreme Shorts.  An Oscar for ads would be a magnate for even more creative people, inspire even better work and create a needed respect halo that could help us realize the golden age of the industry we are lucky enough to work in.