Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 03/22/2021
We all love rooting for the “underdog,” right? Despite the true talents of the favored team, unless it’s our home team, we love for the underdog to prevail. The current NCAA “March Madness” basketball tournament demonstrates that. You have to be awfully good just to get into the tournament, but still we love a 12th seed defeating a first seed even if we never heard of the lower-ranked school. (Grand Canyon University? Really? Do you take a mule between classes?) And we love see the haruspicators made wrong.
My alma mater is Rutgers, which has inexplicably chosen to play in the Big Ten, so it is always an underdog—we’re talking Michigan State, University of Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State—you get the idea. But we beat Clemson in the first round and now we play the Houston Cougars who are seeded 2nd (25-3) to our 10th seed (16-11). (The game was last night but after I’m writing this.) The Rutgers fight song is “Nobody Ever Dies for Dear Old Rutgers.” I am not making that up.
The “miracle on ice” celebrated the US hockey victory in the 1980 winter Olympics when our truly amateur team beat the Russian pros. Buster Douglas defeated Mike Tyson and the ’69 Mets actually won the World Series. We love it when an unknown actor steals the show or a fledgling company wins a big contract.
Of course, the underdog victories are so notable because they’re such exceptions. I’m going to keep focusing my growth on being the top dog. David would have lost to Goliath two out of three.
The fight isn’t always to the strong nor the race to the swift. But that’s the way to bet. —Damon Runyon
God is on the side of the heaviest battalions. —Voltaire
Emergent Development Opportunities That’s not a light at the end of the tunnel, we’re out of the tunnel.
BSL: Business As A Second Language: May, 410AM – 11:30AM Eastern US Time (good for Europe, West Coast US can get up early). This is for: Tech experts, consultants, and advisors •People launching second careers in consulting •Consultants and experts who can’t convert prospects to clients •Those who think “first in, first out” (FIFO) means how you want to visit the dentist. •Those who think EBIDA stands for Every Body Is Distinctly Afraid
We will deal with these provocative issues: Why the CIO is probably not your buyer •How to move technology and methodology from delivery enablement to strategic input •How to hide the fact that your strength is technology •How to learn to speak “business” fluently, or at least with barely a tech accent •How to cure the OCD disease of defaulting to methodology https://alanweiss.
Master Class: A 2.5-day “PhD” in professional services and entrepreneurialism. We’ll discuss new markets, remote best practices, concierge trusted advisors, scaling your business, client evangelism, and much, much more. At a world-class property, Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI, Nov. 2-4. Maximum 16 people, 12 slots are filled. Fee ($15,500) includes lodging and meals. https://alanweiss.com/
The Fishbowl: Watch me coach two individuals, each for 45 minutes, in real time (or you may watch the recording). Afterwards, we’ll engage in conversation about what happened and why, the techniques, and the next steps. This is a four-week experience, once a week, with a man and a woman at different levels of experience and needs. Observer participation, including the interactive discussions, is $1,500. Apply the learning to your own coaching endeavors. We begin early April Write me to apply: alan@summitconsulting.
Sentient Strategy Certification: Over 40 people certified on three continents to deliver this radical, simplified approach to strategy for SMEs, divisions of large organizations, non-profits, and government agencies. The program can be delivered virtually or in person, looks only one year out, and requires two mornings or a full day. The certification is over two mornings via Zoom. The single and sole fee is $12,000. I recommend charging a fee of $35,000-$50,000 to clients. NO pre-pandemic strategy can possibly be effective today. Next certification: April 20-21. I support you for 90 days thereafter. Write me to apply: alan@summitconsulting.
By Invitation Only: My classic, elite experience returns, this time to the elegant Four Seasons in Palm Beach, FL. Over 2.5 days we spend each morning discussing my latest IP and approaches to new markets and offerings, as well as key challenges for each person attending. There are world class dinners and optional experiences. I usually have these around the world and I will again in 2022, and the participants in the current sessions have priority for next year. Limit of 14 people, 8 seats remain open. Partners are welcome at social events. $15,000 includes lodging and meals. This is my “invitation” to apply. Write me for a discussion and appointment at [email protected] (
Building Dynamic Communities: People and boutique firms which had existing communities (NOT tribes!) of clients and recommenders have done far better over the past year than those who did not. Over two mornings, virtually, I’ll explain how you can create new communities or enhance existing ones both virtually and in person. Communities permit evangelism to sell for you, eliminating costs of acquisition. Next session is April 13-14, $3,800. I support you for 60 days thereafter. https://alanweiss.
MacKay CEO Forums: My long-time client and colleague, Nancy MacKay, is seeking additional Chairs for her vast network which provides virtual peer meetings for over 1200 business owners and executives around the world. She helps experienced coaches and consultants get off the income roller-coaster and add 50-300k in recurring annual revenue by using a guaranteed, proven system for success. You can register here for a 90-minute Building a Predictable Revenue Business workshop lead by Nancy. The Chairs, while continuing to run their own businesses, also facilitate these meetings periodically, and gain exposure to potential clients by also addressing the groups and becoming known within the network. Here’s a video conversation with me and Nancy and more information at Mackay Certified Chairs. You can reach Nancy for further discussions here: nancy@mackayceoforums.
