“Bask not in the glow of all you have accomplished; Enjoy the light just beginning to rise around you as well.” – me ?
I was sitting on this early Saturday morning looking at our beautiful tree and thinking how lucky we are to have what we have here in our little spot in New Jersey and this came upon me. Maybe it’s because I’m reading Patrick Stewart’s bio…maybe because who knows. Anyway I probably stole it from somewhere…regardless I hope it finds anyone who reads it in a good place, or makes a dark place a little lighter.
Doing things the right way. In a year of continued change, two glasses raised to longtime friends on to new things. First John Ourand moving from SBJ to a new challenge at Puck, and to Chris LaPlaca leaving ESPN for greener pastures after 43 years. Read the piece about Chris here. There are significant accolades for what these two colleagues have accomplished in work, but more for what they have done as people. Their impact, their ability to bring joy and thoughtful leadership to those around them personally and professionally, and the joy that came back to them with their news, is what makes these changes in their professional lives impactful and worthy of tribute. Are they both amazing at what they do? Yes. More importantly they are positive people who have touched and inspired literally thousands, and that impact is far more important than what goes on in the job.
One other note of importance. In a world where most organizations look outside for what’s next…a new voice, a fresh perspective, a disruption…it is worth a high five to Jimmy Pitaro and the leadership at ESPN to recognize at least from a communications standpoint that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. There were probably hundreds of capable people who could have come in to take the torch from Chris LaPlaca. What did ESPN do? Promoted one of Chris’ longtime lieutenants, Josh Krulewitz, to the top spot. Just like CBS did on a somewhat higher level with having David Berson taking Sean McManus’ head spot, sending a message of consistency to the world is important…as is doing the right thing. Then there is another intangible. Institutional knowledge. We have written about its value before, both CBS and ESPN obviously value it more than many others. Fare thee well John and Chris, and thanks for being good citizens of our world.
DeVito stuff. First, kudos to Giants QB Tommy DeVito for finding his way to Maxx Lepselter and team for marketing representation and counsel going forward. There was a quick pivot this week righting some perceived wrongs, and making sure that those who may hire him in the future saw him for what he is…a smart, young, capable, leader…fixed a great deal of nonsense and quickly pivoted him to a capable and smart place on the business side while he deals with the volatility of the NFL.
One interesting comparison that has come up was to Linsanity and Jeremy Lin’s rise during that crazy stretch with the Knicks. Sure there are a few similarities….feel good stories around downtrodden teams in the biggest marketplace in the world…and it would be great for DeVito’s run to mirror much of Lin’s for years to come. However there is one element to this of note, that was pointed out in this story in North jersey.com this week. The Italian stereotype rising up again. It was worth mentioning more than a few people pointed out that when a young Italian rises, the reference to mafia and the underworld seem to pop up as a default and are accepted. In Lin’s case, most reference to stereotypes of Asian culture were dealt with severely and properly. Why Italians just accept the Mafioso refences and the garish suits etc. is a quandary. For me, I see it as a fun opportunity not a hindrance in popularity. But it does get old fast folks. I’m looking forward to seeing Tommy DeVito ride his fame to lift Italians in Jersey not drive them backwards, and I do think that can happen. Big picture here? It’s a fun ride for all on his team, and he has the right people with him to pave the future now, not some knucklehead who made it about his work, not his clients.
Lastly, eight years of listens. This marks the eighth anniversary of our podcast at Columbia, the CUSP Show. Since day one my colleague Tom Richardson have enjoyed listening and learning from our guests, and each one has built on the next. We just recorded episode number 351 this week, which will be out after the holidays and all can be heard here. What did we learn this week? Our upcoming guest veteran sales, marketing, licensing and storytelling genius John Sohigian (now at the PBR) has not just the protype from the original XFL football, he has the model of the one that came in second, from his days there and at the WWE. It’s going to be a new segment we add going forward…what’s on your shelf? Should be fun.
Falalalalalala
New Year, New Titles…Revisiting “Encourager In Chief” And the Use of The Hammer…