If you’ve ever been between jobs you’ve experienced it. The call that never comes. The email or text that never gets a response. The silence from former colleagues, people that perhaps you even considered friends. Unfortunately, with so many people looking for work this silence is a daily reality. It can be one of the … Continue reading The People You Never Hear From
Stop Marking Time
Once I get promoted to VP lots of doors will open for me. I need 3 more years until my pension kicks in. The job is just ok, but I’ve been here a long time and can pretty much coast for the next couple of vesting cycles until something else comes along. There are two … Continue reading Stop Marking Time
How To Measure Success
Do you consider yourself successful? My guess is yes. We all do to a certain extent. Just one look at our resumes or LinkedIn profiles confirms it. They are the tools most of use to market our success to the world. Good resumes and profiles demonstrate our success by providing specific examples of accomplishments and … Continue reading How To Measure Success
Talking Baseball and Corporate “Cancel” Culture
Three strikes and you’re out. Even those who have never picked up a baseball know this rule. Yet the game of baseball actually is hard to explain. The only way to really learn is to watch the game played with someone who knows it. That’s not true for a game like soccer where the rules … Continue reading Talking Baseball and Corporate “Cancel” Culture
The #1 Quality in a Professional
Talent, no. Education, definitely not. Experience, nope. Creativity, sorry. Integrity and leadership, very important but not it. All those qualities and many others I didn’t name are wonderful and certainly aspirational for all professionals, but they aren’t #1. The most important quality in a professional today is availability. Availability is the #1 quality in a … Continue reading The #1 Quality in a Professional
The Future of TV is Bright and Gray
The conventional wisdom in the media industry these days is that Covid 19 delivered the knock out blow to traditional television. For almost 20 years prognosticators have been predicting that the Internet revolution would ultimately disinter-mediate broadcast and cable television just as it did newspapers and magazines. Television held on longer because of the complex … Continue reading The Future of TV is Bright and Gray
Brady and Mahomes Have One. Why don’t you?
What's the one thing the greatest athletes have in common, no matter the sport? They have a coach. Or multiple coaches. It's a bit odd when you think about it. The men and women performing at the peak of their chosen profession seek advice and counsel from someone who clearly is not as good as … Continue reading Brady and Mahomes Have One. Why don’t you?
We Failed Our High School Seniors. They Will Do Better.
Today I’m venturing beyond the normal subject matter of my blog to share a more personal reflection. For those who prefer reading about marketing and media, my apologies for this deviation. For What It’s Worth will return to its regular programming with my next post. We let down our high school seniors and they have … Continue reading We Failed Our High School Seniors. They Will Do Better.
You Suck, It’s Ok
Lets' be honest, the first time any of us attempted to do something for the first time the results weren't great. The nature of being a beginner, to put it bluntly, is to suck. Going back to childhood, the first time we walked, rode a bike, wrote a sentence, swung a bat, swam, drew....you name … Continue reading You Suck, It’s Ok
Your Data or Your Life
There's a great old joke about a robber who sticks up a husband and wife on the street. The robber points the gun at the wife and says to the husband, "your money or your wife." After the husband doesn't respond for a few seconds, the robber says, "Well, what it's going to be?" And … Continue reading Your Data or Your Life
It’s Not Brain Surgery, but…
Perhaps you've heard the saying before about pencils: there are two sides and the one with the eraser is much easier to use. Pencils aren't used as much these days. But in a similar vein, maybe you noticed that the delete key on your keyboard is twice as big as the letter ones. Photo by meo from Pexels … Continue reading It’s Not Brain Surgery, but…
The Illusion of ROI
A marketer without a keen sense of the ROI (return on investment) of their campaigns and other business driving initiatives won't be employed very long. It's particularly important in our "Covid economy" where businesses are failing, revenue is down and operating budgets are constricted. Moreover, today's marketing technology and data collection resources have set an … Continue reading The Illusion of ROI
Your Elevator Pitch Won’t Work
"What's your elevator pitch?" It's a question practically anyone whose worked in sales or marketing has been challenged with at least once. But here's the deal: I've taken countless elevators during my professional career and have never sold a thing in one. Nor do I know anyone who ever has. Photo by Michael Morse from Pexels Fair enough, … Continue reading Your Elevator Pitch Won’t Work
Too White and Too Young
Following the tremendous number of layoffs and job eliminations in 2020 I am seeing signs that companies in our industry are looking to add staff in 2021. Admittedly my evidence is anecdotal, largely based on what I see in my network and the comments of friends around the industry, but after the wreckage of 2020 … Continue reading Too White and Too Young
Don’t Be A Name Caller
Labeling and branding. We see a lot of the former and not nearly enough of the latter. That's a problem, not just for marketers but for our society as a whole. Let's first get the definitions correct. Words matter. Language seems to evolve overnight in the digital age but if definitions becoming purely subjective we … Continue reading Don’t Be A Name Caller
Thought for the Week – Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Thought for Election Day – Susan B. Anthony
Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.
Thought for the Week – Lao Tzu
When I let go of who I am, I become what I might be.
Careers in 20/20 – Dave Roter
It’s hard to find a more well-liked, experienced and respected leader in digital sales than Dave Roter. Dave has a glittering resume, with experience at the leading digital media companies in the world. Currently he is VP, Global Agency & Brand Partnerships at Snap. Prior to joining Snap he was head of global revenue & … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Dave Roter
Thought for a Rainy Thursday
Forget all the reasons why your idea, project or relationship won't work. And believe in the one reason why it will.
Let’s Turn Around and Take the Hill
Marketing is in full retreat in 2020. As an industry we are on the run. On one level it is understandable. 2020, the year from hell, has thrust unexpected and unprecedented challenges on the entire world. Needless to say the impact of the pandemic on the state of marketing pales in comparison to the much … Continue reading Let’s Turn Around and Take the Hill
Thought for the Week – Peter Drucker
The number one difference between a Nobel prize winner and the others is not IQ or work ethic, but that they ask bigger questions.
Thought for the Week – Nelson Mandela
Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
Thought for the Week – Frank Zappa
Remember there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over.
Careers in 20/20 – Dave Rotem
Careers in 20/20 returns with Dave Rotem, one of the most beloved and well respected people in the business. Currently he's Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Nextstar Media Group where he oversees multimedia sales and marketing for WGN America, a national cable network available in 75mm homes. Prior to joining Nexstar, Dave spent … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Dave Rotem
Thought for the Week – Alice Walker
People who work hard often work too hard...May we learn to honor the hammock, the siesta, the nap and the pause in all its forms.
You Suck, It’s Ok
Lets' be honest, the first time any of us attempted to do something for the first time the results weren't great. The nature of being a beginner, to put it bluntly, is to suck. Going back to childhood, the first time we walked, rode a bike, wrote a sentence, swung a bat, swam, drew....you name … Continue reading You Suck, It’s Ok
Thought for the Week – Billie Jean King
Pressure is a privilege.
Careers in 20/20 – Tim Mickelborough
Tim Mickelborough joins this edition of Careers in 20/20. Originally from the UK, he's a veteran global marketing and media executive who has worked for some of the premier brands in the business both here and internationally. Currently Tim is the founder and CEO of the Global Marketing Exchange, a contemporary marketing apprenticeship program. Previously Tim … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Tim Mickelborough
Breeding Rats Is Not The Answer
No doubt some will find this post controversial. It is a complex topic that is better not reduced to provocative headlines like the one I chose. I'll admit I did so to get your attention as much as anything else. ok, enough set up, so what are we talking about? In an effort to control … Continue reading Breeding Rats Is Not The Answer
Thought for Labor Day
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thought for the Week – Jack Lemon
No matter how successful you get, always send the elevator back down.
How To Win By Not Playing
The boycotting of games this week, playoff games no less in some cases, in the NBA, WNBA and MLB is unprecedented in modern sports history. The players who instigated the boycott were justified in expressing their outrage and frustration and were appropriately supported by leagues, networks and sponsors. Another shooting of an unarmed African American … Continue reading How To Win By Not Playing
Careers in 20/20 – Jim Jones
Careers in 20/20 welcomes Jim Jones, a highly accomplished and well regarded thinker and strategist who helps companies and individuals with career development, organizational planning and inclusion. We are expanding the conversation with this episode, and hopefully others in the future, to address the urgent need for the industry to address the lack of diversity among … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Jim Jones
Careers in 20/20 – Eric Johnson
My friend and former colleague Eric Johnson joins Careers in 20/20. Eric has been operating at the forefront of the revolution in the sports and entertainment business for two decades. He is the Founder & CEO of WON Worldwide, a strategic revenue advisory firm dedicated to navigating the global sports and entertainment media landscape. He is … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Eric Johnson
Thought for the Week – George Carlin
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
Careers in 20/20 – Lee Ann Daly
Lee Ann Daly, one of the premier marketers in the business, joins me for this edition of Careers in 20/20. Currently an investor, board member and advisor to a number of start ups, Lee Ann has worked in a variety of businesses-- entertainment, tech, media, retail, luxury and sports, and at every stage from publicly traded … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Lee Ann Daly
Careers in 20/20 – Steven Binder
Steven Binder has been a force in sales, marketing and media for quite some time and today he joins me for Careers in 20/20. Currently he is the founder and leader of SFB Advisors Corp, a highly successful consultancy helps companies in need of brand positioning and direct digital marketing expertise. Prior to opening his own … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – Steven Binder
Thought for the Week – Maya Angelou
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Careers in 20/20 – David Rone
We're on a roll of terrific guests at Careers in 20/20. It continues today with David Rone, a highly prominent and respected media executive, with management, deal making and brand building expertise in sports and entertainment. As much as anything David's career is built on forging enduring, strategic relationships across TV, sports, film, digital and … Continue reading Careers in 20/20 – David Rone
For What It's Worth 