Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 01/15/2024
In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first Black manager in the history of Major League Baseball, as a player/manager of the Cleveland Indians. This was believed to be a great sign of diversity in baseball, second only to Jackie Robinson playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers beginning in 1947.
Nearly three decades were required between Jackie’s breakthrough and Frank’s. Both men are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But as columnist George Will has pointed out, diversity began when Frank Robinson was fired, not when Jackie Robinson was hired. When Frank’s managing record was mediocre and a manager change was needed, he wasn’t kept on because he was Black. He was let go because he was failing.
This is why former Harvard President Claudine Gay’s claim of “racial animus” is so blatantly disingenuous and reveals her refusal to accept accountability. If a White man or woman were in that position, with not one independently written book, a paper-thin academic résumé, a disgraceful and inarticulate performance in front of Congress and a national audience, and a blind eye to anti-Semitism—that person would have been fired as well. (A group of Harvard students and professors recently claimed Harvard is a “bastion of anti-Semitism.”)
The National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, among others, put their best players in the game, because their goal is to succeed, not to portray themselves as some kind of social policy experiment. There’s no question that both Robinsons were men of extraordinary character and talent. It shouldn’t have taken that long for them and others to be recognized, but such character and talent are far more readily recognized and rewarded today.
Frank Robinson never claimed he was fired as a coach because he was Black. Ms. Gay ought to stop hiding behind her contrived shield of “racial animus” and confront her weaknesses and insufficiency for the job.
I’m reminded of a line in the never-ending series “Suits,” said by the firm’s managing partner to a troubled attorney: “Funny that you’re almost entirely unself-aware, yet when I hold up a mirror you can see all your flaws.”
Ms. Gay hasn’t really gazed into that mirror as yet.
Self-awareness is not self-centeredness, and spirituality is not narcissism. “Know thyself” is not a narcissistic pursuit. —Marianne Williamson
The successful entrepreneurs that I see have two characteristics: self-awareness and persistence. They’re able to see problems in their companies through their self-awareness and be persistent enough to solve them. —Alan Schaaf
He was terminally unself-aware. He thought “social cues” were lines for the buffet at picnics. —Alan Weiss
Just Created: Using Contemporary Events to Generate Uniqueness and Extreme Value to Buyers
One day I was forced by my buyer at a St. Louis hospital to attend a board reception before my speech. I simply could not get out of it, so I began to “mingle.” I met a man who owned the largest trucking firm in Missouri and the eighth largest in the nation. I said to him, “How does the bankruptcy of consolidate freight affect you?” (I had read that in the Wall Street Journal on the plane.) He spoke for 15 minutes and asked if we could talk again later. He became a client.
Are you aware that supply chains are being “shrunk” in order to be less dependent on foreign sources and intervention? Do you appreciate the fact that use of telehealth has increased by a factor of 38 since the pandemic and is expected to grow almost 25% annually from its current $100 billion in revenues? There are 32 million small businesses in the US, small business comprise 99.9% of all global businesses, and 50% of all of them fail in the first five years due to clearly preventable factors.
Two bad service experiences prompt about half of your customers to quit the brand.
This will run on March 4 at 10:30 US eastern time, on Zoom, and will be recorded for distribution later. My birthday is the prior day, Sunday, March 3, and so your gift to me is $900. Includes recording Bring your own coffee. https://alanweiss.com/
NEW: The Maximally Productive Week: God didn’t rest enough—He rushed things in six days You arise Monday morning with great energy and vision to accomplish a vast amount of things. You take a deep breath, shut your eyes…..and it’s Friday afternoon and you haven’t done a damn thing. The week has been absorbed with unexpected requests, failure work, presumed “opportunities” that didn’t pan out, family issues, writer’s block, and the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse: guilt, fear, stress, and obligation.
Join me for 90 minutes which will change your life view and expand your business results immediately:
- Learn the techniques for setting priority amid tumult in the No Normal®
- Master methods to create “instant IP”
- Move from “to do” lists to “results” lists
- Drop the unimportant without guilt or shame
- Adopt Alan’s rare self-disciplinary approaches
- Enlarge meaningful discretiona
ry time
January 30, 10:30 US Eastern Fee: $695 https://alanweiss.com/growth-
NEW: Alan’s five keys to guaranteed consulting success for the next two years It’s not easy being green, but it IS easy pulling down the green if you know where to look
There are huge opportunities created by the turmoil of our times, the No Normal®. I call these the “New Realities.” But how do you know which are best for you? Is your expertise sufficient? Should you develop additional expertise? Are you in the right market? Do you possess the correct resources? We are moving toward a society and business culture where competence will trump credentials and results will rule. Sample key: Key #1: Transitioning is vital to survival.
Join me on February 13, 10:30 US Eastern $450 https://alanweiss.com/st
If you join both of the above you can do so for $1,000 in total, over a 12% savings: https://alanweiss.com
Speaking with Alan I’ve been asked to run one of my most all-time successful workshops once again, in the area that petrifies too many people: Delivering a dynamic speech.
- Create a speech of 45-90 minutes, including examples, visuals, and exercises.
- Practice delivering the salient parts of the speech, making a minimum of three presentations of various parts.
- Record both the speaking and the colleague (and my) feedback.
- Learn and apply the ideal creation of a “demo tape.”
- Learn and apply the proper marketing of the speech.
- Boston, 2.5 days, January 23-25.
https://alanweiss.com/growth-e
Master Master Class III
The first two were sold out, hence this third one, with all new material, past “grads” are welcome back. Maximum 12 people. Learn and apply key marketing and creative techniques to reduce your labor and improve your profits. This is a live program but you may attend remotely, as well. This will be in Newport, RI March 19-21. The fee is $6,000, $5,000 for past attendees. Breakfast, lunch and favorable room rates are included. https://alanweiss.co
