Why Epiphanies Never Occur to Couch Potatoes

Radio Daze - two interviews on 12/20

I did two interviews today - both loads of fun. Well - technically three - I record my own show on Thursday and I interviewed Debbie Weil (The Corporate Blogging Book www.DebbieWeil.com ) and Alice Marshall of Presto Vivace PR ( www.perstovivace.biz ). Topic: blogs, wikis and social networks. The show airs tomorrow (Fri) at 2 PM and is simulcast and archived at www.FederalNewsRadio.com . These were fun women to interview and they are both knowledgable on this subject.

My first radio interview in Alaska!! - KTKN in Ketchikan with Blake Messmer. Blake is a gracious host and a good interviewer. My ten year old son infomed me that Alaska has a population density of 1 person per square mile...but I know Ketchikan is a fair-sized city of over 14,000. I also know they do good talk radio there!

The second interview was on KNZR in Bakersfield CA with Preston Nash (filling in for Ralph Bailey). If Preston is the fill-in guy, Ralph must be really good. I listened to Preston for about 45 minutes before my interview and it was really good talk radio - it kept moving and held my interest the entire time.

My next scheduled interview will be my third appearance on KXYL in Brownwood TX on Christmas eve (530PM Central time). And yes, I checked with my wife to make sure it was OK to do an interview on Christmas eve... KXYL has a stable (not a TX pun) of really good hosts, including JR and Mike. I am looking forward to my first Christmas eve interview.

If you have heard me on any of these shows - drop me a line and let me know how I did!

Epiphany Man

www.EpiphanyBook.com

Weigh in time -and I'm back!

Now that Why Epiphanies Never Occur to Couch Potatoes is FINALLY OUT - order at www.EpiphanyBook.com - I will have more time to blog.

Let's start with the weigh-in: still heading down, but have slowed considerably. I am down to 236 (from a start at 263) and have gone back to some old pants (fortunately still in the closet!)  - so the waist size 40s are now in the back of the closet and the waist size 38s are back in the front. The goal is 205.

I was interviewed on a couple more shows recently, too:

November 26-27 I was in Atlanta for three interviews on the Profitability Channel  - www.profitabilitychannel.com  - with Ruth King. This is web TV, and although there is some free content, it is a member site that is worth the freight. They interview some really good people here.

On November 30, I did the first (unofficial) book signing at the offices of the Federal Business Council (www.fbcinc.com). My friend David Powell purchased 50 copies so I delivered them (their offices are 20 minutes away from me) and it turned into a fun time. David made a poster-size copy of the cover (which he also did for Government Makreting Best Practices - www.governmentmarketingbestpractices.com ) so as I signed books, FBC folks signed my poster. I have a 2nd poster for my next - and the first official - signing at the annual ASBC holiday party, Dec 12 at the Tower Club  next to Tysons Mall in Northern Virginia.

See www.theasbc.org for details.

On December 4, I was on with Louie Free  on WGFT 1330 in central Ohio. Louis is a great host and the show was lots of fun.

On Friday, December 7, I was on KXYL with JR and Mike (Brownwood, TX, near Abilene) - a short interview but fun (it was short because I couldn't find the call in # on my desk!).

And last night I was on with Anthony Vultaggio on KRLA in Los Angeles - again, a relatively short (10 minutes or so) interview, but lots of fun. Check out Anthony's site - www.ResultsDrivenRadio.com

This coming week I will be on on “The Joe White Show,” heard on the Colorado Radio Network in Denver, Colorado Springs and Vail.

Stay tuned - and if you catch any of the interviews - let me know how I do!

Weigh-In Time

Alright - for those keeping track, I started keeping track of this process when I tapped in at about 262 lbs at the beginning of August....almost could not see my feet when I looked down...so...

In August and Sept I did some yard work, stacked some wood and the like, started drinking more water, and did not have anything to eat after dinner. Same routine applies now, but with less outside activity than I need.

Results thus far - down to 240 - another 6 pounds down. And my new target is lower: ultimate goal of 210 with the next step being 235. I am also wearing pants from the back of my closet that I have not worn in a couple years - down from 40" waist to 38". Not a bad start.

Stay tuned!

Headlines that distress

In the Washington Post (10/5/07) - front page headline: "Track Star Jones Admits to Using Steroids". Marion Jones, the 2000 Olympic star, used streiods for two years while training.

On the front of the Post Business section, same day, "High Cout's Fraud Case Widely Seen as Stand-in for Enron." - The first paragraph is worth quoting: "The largest corporate frauds in recent history could not have happened without the brainpower of accountants, bankers and lawyers who partnered with executives at the troubled firms. Often, these third party businesses are the only wealthy sources left for investors to tap after such schemes unravel and in massive collapse."

We are not talking about ethical "gray" areas here - we are talking major fraud, collusion among and between major firms who are, with full awareness, swindling investors and employees, people they have a duty to, a duty they knowing and with malice aforethought push aside for their own personal greed.

How do these people look at the morror in the morning? What can they possibly say to their families when the truth comes out?

It is little wonder that many younger people using the web to exchange a variety of things see nothing wrong with copyright violation (music swapping). When they see headlines like these they figure it is "business as usual" and it is only a problem if you get caught.

Remember the commercial that used to ask: Do you know where your child is tonight?

Here is my question: do you know how your child views these issues? Have you spoken to them about "right and wrong" recently (oh Dad, that's so hokey)?

At LinkdIn the other day my friend Wei Luo of Austin  posed this question: "Is intgrity really important?"

Yes - it is a matter of who we are. If you are not a person of intgrity, you are certainly not someone I want or need to know.

Weigh In Time....

If you have been reading these, you know 7 weeks ago I held my first Epiphany weigh in and tapped in at 262 pounds - way too big.

7 weeks alter i am down to 246. First major goal is 225 - so 16 down and 21 to go!

EpiphanyMan

www.EpiphanyBook.com

In the News: Follow-Up

I posed this question to my network on LinkedIn:

"How do headlines like the NE Patriots coach using illegal video affect how you think about professional sports?" This is a blatant example of cheating at a very high level, and apparently little will be done about it. The New England coach said the rules were ambiguous - they were not. He was using live video to give his quarterback the defensive signals - and win championships worth many millions in the process. What kind of lessons does this teach the children - and adults - about ethics and cheating? A very bad lesson. If you start children off with a situational view of Ethics and Morality they essentially have no "fixed star" to guide them now and later in life as to what is right and what is wrong. Would we want courses such as "Looking for ethical loopholes" as part of our school curricula?

My long-time rfiend Phil Kiviat replied:
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A very bad lesson. If you start children off with a situational view of Ethics and Morality they essentially have no "fixed star" to guide them now and later in life as to what is right and what is wrong. Would we want courses such as "Looking for ethical loopholes" as part of our school curricula?

And a few other people were in sync with the direction that I was going - or wanted to go.

But, when you ask questions, you also find out more about people you think you know. One response came back and said basically that it didn't matter, that this sort of thing was part of the sport.

I understand this is their opinion, and they have a right to it. But do I have a right to be disappointed in that person for this answer?

According to my own rules, as espoused in Why Epiphanies Mever Occur to Couch Potatoes, probably not. I write in the book that each of us must determine the boundaries that we choose to operate within, then proceed. Only then do we have a basis from which to determine our goals: "We cannot live our lives on our own terms unless and until we know what those terms are."

So my friend has different rules than me. So where does that leave me? We have different expectations and different rules of conduct. But I would be telling a lie if i said I was not disappointed in the answer.

But my only recourse is not to pass judgement, but to determine where this person fits in my business life.

EpiphanyMan

www.EpiphanyBook.com

In the News

Two newspaper items recently really got my attention over the last week or so.

The first involved the law office of a high profile/high ticket lawyer who is pleading guilty to paying people to invest in companies. Then he gets them to sue the company and he represents them on a percentage basis. Apparently several partners at this high profile law firm were knowledgeable about this. No wonder lawyers are not very high on the popularity meter...

The second item involved the NE Patriots football coach, caught filming opposing defenses and sending the signals to the quarterback - live during the game.

In instance #1 we have a lawyer who is going to face hard time. But what about the companies he sued, and the legitimate shareholders of those companies. What is their recourse? Apparently this guy felt he wasn't making enough, so he literally put it all on the line to go for more. I hope he gets the maximum penalty.

In the second instance we have something that is more far-reaching, because sports is such a high profile part of American culture, especially for younger people. What did the NFL do? Fine this guy a half-million bucks, which is pocket change at that level. His team wins 3 Super Bowls, and with every possibility that he was cheating the entire time, and they fine him $500,000.  This is akin to getting off. he doesn't even have a one game suspension.

What lesson does this teach our chidlren - that it's OK to cheat, even if you get caught, because the penalty won't be that bad?

What this coach did was at least as bad as what Pete Rose did, so throw him out of the game. Toss his butt out of the stadium for life.

The lawyer would have to explain his behavior to his family, and do time. That's punishment.

The football coach is being defended by some fans, and got the equivalent of a slap on the hand.

If I were a New England fan, how would I explain this to my children? "Oh well, that's life kid?" - that is not good enough for me.

EpiphanyMan

www.EpiphanyBook.com

Style vs Substance or Style with Substance

On the cover of the current Fast Company there is a headline that reads "Succeed with Style" - and the cover photo is a very handsome young man.

That got me thinking about my Epiphany book and what I could/should have used for the sub-title. I wanted to use "or, the Dunkin Donut Diet," but was advised that DD might take legal umbrage.

A better sub-title would have been "Success with Substance."

Too many poeple put style over substance. A few years back a major (think REAL big) electronics company sent a senior VP to meet with me to see if there was going to be synergy between them and me - could we work together? They knew of my work with a major computer manufacturer and the biggest VAR, and they were interested.

They outlined a plan and potential partners. One of the partners had style, but absolutely no substance, true blingmasters. This partner they wanted to use did not have a track record of selling, but they could garner attention - and lots of it, but with a big price tag

I explained that for my clients I perferred the monetization of publicity, indeed of any marketing activity. The electronics company VP was already sold on this tag-team of glitz without substance. She even had a cute name for it: "the frick and frack show" (names changed to protect the innocent - me!).

I indicated in my usual subtle fashion that the synergy between big far-east owned electronics firm and Amtower was not to be. Mr Subtle, that would be me. I was not rude, but I think I did laugh when they mentioned the Abbott & Costello route they were going to take.

The upshot: I am still here, advising winners. Big electronics firm has not penetrated the government market, preferring to enter with style, not substance.

Substance is not always stylish. But it is easier to make substance mor stylish than to add substance to pure style.

Better to start with the entree, then add the garnish.

EpiphanyMan

www.EpiphanyBook.com

Customer "Experience" conferences

I received a snail mail package today from a major business conference producer for an upcoming (2008) event on turning the "customer experience into profitability and market leadership."

Alright.

Then I looked at the descriptions of the sessions and the speakers. Some of the speakers I could accept as brand and customer experience leaders. Coca cola, yes, they make the cut.

There were others that I did not know.

And then there was a bank I knew. A big bank. A bank I had tried to call for customer service on multiple occasions. Whose phone system had a perpetual loop of options (you've heard it, the annoyingly soothing voice that says something like "please pay attention as our options have changed to better suit your needs"), but has no way to speak to a human being. A bank I no longer do business with because the only time I spoke with human beings was then called me to try to get me to use more of their crappy stuff. And when I told these people my problem, they gave a number which invariably led to "please pay attention as our options have changed to better suit your needs."

Alright.

Maybe these guys were there to be the "bad" example and do a mea culpa.

But NOooo... they are there to instruct others on phone etiquette -how long can that annoying message be. They aren't really talking about phone etiquette, but i didn't understand the title of their session.

I read on and found a major IT manufacturer on the agenda as well, speaking on synergies between the customer experience, reference and loyalty. This is a company that is widely known to abuse its business partners by selling to its partners clients directly, by offering poor delivery and pricing and they are talking about "synergy."

Alright.

At least it is only a 45 minute session in the middle of the afternoon. The right time for a nap.

Social network Scam - Avoid Quechup

Quechup is a social networking site. I received an invitation to join today from a business magazine editor I have an email relationship with. When I clicked on the invitation, and started to click on the web site, McAfee warned me that this was a "very spammy" site. So I emailed the editor an alternative - to join me on LinkedIn.

He emailed back and said that Quechup has stolen his email address book and was sending out invitations in his name. Anti-social networking.

Avoid Quechup like the plaque it seems to be.

Epiphany Man

www.EpiphanyBook.com