Recently I joined Andy Wiedlin's "Backstage with the Brand" podcast to talk media, weather, sports and my book All The Lies We Believe. Thanks to Andy and the team at Magnet Media for having me. You can listen to the interview here.
“Looks Like I Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Drinking”
Steve McCroskey, a somewhat legendary air traffic control director at LAX in the 1970s, is never referenced in conversations about leadership and crisis management by MBA academics and executive coaches. There are very good reasons why this is so. First, in times of crisis, McCroskey allowed his personal demons to get the better of … Continue reading “Looks Like I Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Drinking”
In Defense of the Hare
One of the things that happens to empty nesters, at least in my case, is that occasionally you find yourself getting sentimental when coming across objects from the early days of parenting. I had this experience recently when I found a book of fables and short stories I used to read to our kids when … Continue reading In Defense of the Hare
Indiana Jones & The Lost Office
Ok, I admit, that’s a terrible name for a movie (maybe for a blog as well). Who would want to watch a film about the most famous archeologist in cinema history looking for an office? Indiana Jones has come to mind often lately as I’ve spent some time working in an actual office and thought … Continue reading Indiana Jones & The Lost Office
What Are You Thinking
All of us have a to do list. Whether we write it down or keep it in our heads, the to do list is pretty much standard operating procedure for any professional. But when was the last time you gave any thought to what you’re going to think about on a given day? I realize … Continue reading What Are You Thinking
Things That Go Bump In The Night
What were you doing at 3 a.m. last night? I read recently that more people than ever are dealing with anxiety-related sleep issues. Given the state of the world right now I guess this isn’t a surprise. Probably all of us remember being scared during the night at one time or another when we were … Continue reading Things That Go Bump In The Night
Why the PGA Can’t Compromise with LIV, Yet
What a mess. The PGA Tour and the Saudi backed LIV Golf are locked in a cage death match right now, for all the world to see. As a big fan of the sport, it’s depressing. As a marketer, it’s incredibly frustrating to watch the sport’s brand be so badly tarnished, perhaps in ways that … Continue reading Why the PGA Can’t Compromise with LIV, Yet
How Netflix Made the 2022 Upfront Completely Irrelevant
You probably saw the press announcements: Disney booked a record $9 billion. NBC Universal took home “its largest ever” upfront haul at $7 billion. WarnerMedia Discovery made a splash coming together as a combined company for the first time. They all boasted of record CPM increases and, most importantly, a massive shift of money to … Continue reading How Netflix Made the 2022 Upfront Completely Irrelevant
Showing Up Isn’t Enough
Woody Allen famously said “80% of success in life is just showing up.” Sometimes I wonder if he was talking about the conference rooms of corporate America. Show up in meetings. Show up in client presentations. Show up in 1:1s with employees. Get on a plane and show up at panels, events, and major industry … Continue reading Showing Up Isn’t Enough
The Walls We Build
“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,” wrote Robert Frost in his timeless poem Mending Wall. I’m not much one for poetry but I’m a fan of Frost and Mending Wall because it speaks to a fundamental truth of the human condition – we love walls. We build them in our work and in … Continue reading The Walls We Build
Roe v Wade, The NFL & The SEC
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, how would it impact the NFL and big-time college football? Before addressing this question, I want to make clear that I fully recognize that for millions of people, especially women, how football or sports in general would be impacted by a change in the country’s abortion policy is completely … Continue reading Roe v Wade, The NFL & The SEC
The Boss’s Job
Very often it’s the one we most covet. We look at the person immediately above us on the corporate ladder and think we could do that job. We want that job. This is especially true for the young and ambitious. Early in your career when you’re eager to take the next step, make more money, … Continue reading The Boss’s Job
Why CNN+ Failed
CNN+ met an ignominious end last week, canceled after barely a month in existence. Since then, the industry has been awash in epitaphs and explanations for the collapse. To me, it boils down to one simple reason. No, it’s not because Jeff Zucker, the architect and primary advocate for CNN+, got ousted. Nor is it … Continue reading Why CNN+ Failed
Reed Hastings – The Ultimate “Mad Man”
The headlines last week were head-spinning. Elon Musk is buying Twitter, CNN+ shuttered barely a month into its existence, and Netflix took a pounding after announcing its first loss of subscribers in more than a decade. Consuming media is our national pastime so it uniquely captures the attention of millions of consumers in ways no … Continue reading Reed Hastings – The Ultimate “Mad Man”
“Don’t Make Me Angry…”
I confess to being an enthusiastic Marvel fan. During the height of the lockdown my daughter Melissa and I watched every Marvel movie in order. While she’s away at college we’ve fallen behind on some of the new Marvel series and movies, but we will catch up this summer. My favorite Marvel character by far … Continue reading “Don’t Make Me Angry…”
“Take This Job And…”
How many times have each of us walked out of a bad meeting with our boss and dreamt of going full throated Johnny Paycheck and telling them what they could do with this job? If you work long enough, I think it’s inevitable. Everyone has a story or two to share. Complaining about bad bosses … Continue reading “Take This Job And…”
How Tall Are You?
“Do you have legs?” “Are you a real person or just a very convincing avatar?” Never could I have imagined a colleague asking me those questions, even in jest. But for the past 18 months it’s been the running joke at work. I’m one of the millions of people who started a new job, working … Continue reading How Tall Are You?
How Phil and Professional Golf Forgot About the Fan
Phil Mickelson has taken a beating the past month for his reckless and foolish comments about the Saudi-backed “Super Golf League.” The responses from other players, sponsors and the media are understandable – you can’t ignore or whitewash the things he said. The PGA Tour also came down hard on Phil. The officials at the … Continue reading How Phil and Professional Golf Forgot About the Fan
The Dumbest Person in the Room
It’s no one’s ambition. Who in their right mind would ever want to be the dumbest person in the room? My guess is however that there have been times in our careers when many of us have felt that way. Maybe when we were young and just starting out and realized we had no clue … Continue reading The Dumbest Person in the Room
Why Paul’s Genius Ended With The Beatles
Paul McCartney is undoubtedly one of the top five rock musicians of all time. Some may rank him #1. Yet no one can credibly make that statement if his recording career started after The Beatles. His solo work has been inconsistent and mostly average. I realize to say such a thing is nothing short of … Continue reading Why Paul’s Genius Ended With The Beatles
All The Zoom’s A Stage
Have you ever heard people say their work comes down to performing in meetings? Do you feel like that sometimes? It’s hard not to if your day consists of back-to-back-to-back meetings, interrupted only for a quick bite, bio breaks and rapid-fire scans of your message feeds. Events of the past two years have only exacerbated … Continue reading All The Zoom’s A Stage
Decks Make You Stupid
I read recently that one of the trends to emerge during the remote working revolution is the increased emphasis on writing. I’m not talking about the rapid-fire exchanges we see hundreds of times daily through emails, IMs, texts and Slack. The trend is towards good, old-fashioned long form memos. The kind of writing where you … Continue reading Decks Make You Stupid
Your Worst Mistake on the Front Page
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? The biggest mistake you’ve ever made. No matter what it is, regardless of how significant in the grand scheme of things, I’m sure it’s not something you like to think about, let alone discuss. Whatever it is, hopefully not many people know about it. Not everyone is so … Continue reading Your Worst Mistake on the Front Page
What’s Your Kryptonite?
It’s Superman’s greatest weakness in case you’ve forgotten. The mysterious alien mineral that robs him of all his superpowers. Kryptonite makes him a mere mortal, like the rest of us. I think the word has meaning even for those who haven’t read the comics or seen the movies. The dictionary defines it as “something that … Continue reading What’s Your Kryptonite?
The Streaming Wars – Return of the Aggregators
One of the fun parts of my current role as CMO at The Weather Group is it affords me a seat at the front line of the most contentious battle in the history of the media business – the race for market share in streaming television. If you’re in media or marketing you are bombarded … Continue reading The Streaming Wars – Return of the Aggregators
“We Live Our Lives in Chains…”
“And we never even know we have the key.” So sang the late, great Glenn Frey and The Eagles in their classic hit “Already Gone.” I love that song. It’s about a break-up. But don’t worry, no need to stop reading, I’m not about to share relationship advice. The Eagles Similar to my blog post … Continue reading “We Live Our Lives in Chains…”
Introducing My New Book – All The Lies We Believe
We are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the ones we cherish about ourselves. Thomas Merton October 2015 – Manhattan It was all there for the taking, the best the world had to offer, like it always had been his entire life. And tonight was no different to countless other nights. So, … Continue reading Introducing My New Book – All The Lies We Believe
My New Book
The community of readers who frequent this blog probably have noticed my lack of productivity recently. Earlier this year I was publishing twice a week consistently. The last few months, not so much. It’s not because of laziness or a lack of interest in writing, although at times, just like any other challenging job, it’s … Continue reading My New Book
Forget Passion, Be Curious
“Find your passion.” Sometimes it’s “follow your passion.” How many times have young people heard this piece of advice? The “find/follow your passion” mantra is not just for the young. It’s common advice for dissatisfied or uninspired professionals at any age looking for a better path. It’s so prevalent because it holds a lot of … Continue reading Forget Passion, Be Curious
“Scotty, beam me…to the office”
I had an interesting debate with a good friend over lunch recently about remote working. He is firm believer that working from an office is more preferable and productive than working remotely. Considering I haven’t set foot in my office ever, I started my current job in the summer of 2020, I take a different … Continue reading “Scotty, beam me…to the office”
In Praise of Small Ball
Game 6 of the World Series is tonight. As a Yankee fan I admit to having a chronic case of Northeast provincialism when it comes to baseball, and sports in general. Basically, that means I believe that no championship contest truly matters unless a New York team is participating. But you’re not here to read … Continue reading In Praise of Small Ball
What If You Were Mark Zuckerberg
Imagine for a moment you woke up this morning and found yourself the founder and CEO of Facebook. You are one of the richest people in the history of humanity. You are world famous. You have absolute control of the most powerful social media company on the planet. The decisions you make impact billions of … Continue reading What If You Were Mark Zuckerberg
Are You a Streaker?
Do you like to streak? If you’ve never done it before, you should try it. Streaking is very liberating. There’s no better way to enliven your spirits and get unstuck than letting it all hang out with a good streak. I’m not referring to the type of streak that has you running naked through the … Continue reading Are You a Streaker?
At the Crossroads
It’s a well-used metaphor for the points in our lives when we face a decision: the crossroads. Whether the decisions are big and weighty or seemly insignificant in the moment, once we make a choice at the crossroads our lives are never the same. This is why crossroads moments are popular subjects for artists. Blues … Continue reading At the Crossroads
Son, Can You Play Me A Memory
Seeing Billy Joel perform live at Madison Square Garden is one of the quintessential New York musical experiences. The highlight of the show is listening to 19,000 people sing along to “Piano Man.” Even if you’re not a huge Billy Joel fan, you have no pulse if you don’t get caught up in the moment. … Continue reading Son, Can You Play Me A Memory
Quit vs. Grit
For as long as I can remember one of the most prized attributes in professional athletes was the ability to tough it out. Play through pain. Overcome any obstacle. Do what it takes, no matter what, to get the win. There are countless examples: Michael Jordan leading the Bulls to a playoff win while fighting … Continue reading Quit vs. Grit
Don’t Judge Me
“Stop judging.” What parent hasn’t heard this line from their kid? Every time it comes up, I chuckle a little to myself. Do kids really expect parents not to judge? Rendering judgements on the behaviors and choices of our children is an inescapable part of parenting. So, yes (or as I’m more likely to say … Continue reading Don’t Judge Me
Your Career Will Self Destruct in 60 Seconds
10…9…8…7…it’s hard to beat the excitement of a good countdown sequence. One of my favorites (and I make no apologies for being a Star Trek fan) is the classic scene in the movie “The Search for Spock” when Captain Kirk initiates the self-destruct sequence on the Enterprise. It’s a dramatic, Hail Mary type of move, … Continue reading Your Career Will Self Destruct in 60 Seconds
When I Worked With Andrew Cuomo
My first employer after college was H.E.L.P., Inc, a not-for-profit organization that built and operated transitional housing facilities for the homeless in New York. I remember nervously sitting in the conference room at H.E.L.P.’s headquarters on 33rd Street for my interview with the organization’s founder and president, Andrew Cuomo. It was 1991. No one had … Continue reading When I Worked With Andrew Cuomo
How the SEC Can Be A Force…For Good
There’s been a lot written and said the past couple of weeks about the SEC. Already the dominant force in college football, the recruiting of Texas and Oklahoma has elevated the conference to even greater heights. I’ve seen a lot of hand wringing about what it means for the future of college football. Purists and … Continue reading How the SEC Can Be A Force…For Good
For What It's Worth 