Yes, I know the stock markets had their worst day in two years. Yes, I know the US economy is in trouble. Yes, I know that most international currencies plummeted. Yes, I know Tiger Woods is back playing on the PGA Tour. But it is only one day. The sun will rise again today (actually, I already checked and the sun is up). Today is a new day and things will get better. Don't panic!

Don't let the stock market determine how you run your business or how you run your life. Businesses are doing well, customers are feeling good and this too shall pass.

Many business executives are feeling good about their businesses depsite all of this. You must also remember that even if there is a slow-down in the economy, there are lots of industries that thrive in those times, so things are not going to be all that bad.

Look for opportunities, take advantage of them and go about your business. Try not to worry what others are doing. That is how you can be successful in uncertain times.

Miller's Monday Morning Message
presented by ACM Consulting Inc.

Andrew Miller on strategy, operations, life balance and everything in between

Toronto - June 20, 2011 – 22-year-old Rory McIlroy won golf's prestigious U.S. Open major title yesterday. What was amazing about his victory is how many scoring records he broke and who held those records. Tiger Woods has been golf's phenomenon for more than a decade and it was hard to believe we might see someone exceed his talents and abilities. Then comes McIlroy, shattering Tiger's record for lowest score at a U.S Open and winning the tournament at a younger age than both Tiger and Jack Nicklaus. So what can we learn from this? That people with great abilities learn from their failures (McIlroy blew a lead at another major, the Masters, earlier this year). In order to succeed, you need to fail. If you are not failing then you are not trying anything new and not developing yourself both personally and professionally. When you fail, you learn something that will help you succeed next time around. If you remain status quo, then it is only a matter of time before you become obsolete. That is why golfers are always working on their swing and why successful companies are always developing new products and services for their customers.
 
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The recent Nike ad featuring Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers asking "what should I do?" solidifies a new age of marketing for sports figures. The ad addresses the fact (however indirectly) that Cleveland fans felt betrayed that Mr James chose to leave his hometown of Cleveland for the opportunity awaiting him in Miami Beach. This decision has been criticized by fans and players alike and Lebron wanted to respond. This is not the first time Nike has used a commercial to allow a sports figure to 'apologize.' You may remember the creepy Tiger Woods commercial from earlier this year where we just watch Tiger's somber face while his deceased father's voice scolds him in the voice-over. Why does Nike think this will work? But more importantly, why do the athletes agree to it? Why not just come out and apologize? "I am sorry for my infidelity," "I am sorry for leaving Cleveland, I felt it was the best thing for me and my family." What's so wrong with being honest?

Ego...that's what. We put these athletes on a pedestal so they want to immortalize themselves, what better way than through a creepy commercial? Tiger's commercial did nothing for his image, neither will Lebron's. If you want forgiveness from your fans, employees, family, whomever, then just ask for it. No gimmick or video or TV commercial will make up for a good old-fashioned apology and an ask for forgiveness. I wonder if our connected world is causing us to be more impersonal? It sure is causing us to look for different ways to interact by avoiding personal connections.

I don’t usually purport that we can learn good life lessons from most athletes, but I think we can learn something from Lebron James, the NBA’s best player and a free agent. With Lance Armstrong accused of doping, Tiger Woods an admitted adulterer and many other superstars convicted of gunplay, there are few elite athletes who have (or at least appear to have) no baggage or bad habits. Lebron seems to be one of those athletes. His handling of his current free agent situation has been admirable. While many of his peers are discussing how much money they are going to make, what celebrities they have met with and which billionaire is taking them to dinner, Lebron has gone about his business, meeting with a few different teams and quietly making his decision. One would not think a lesson in humility would come from the NBA’s best player and one who has the opportunity to turn the league upside down depending on with which team he signs. You get the feeling that this is a smart man who understands the magnitude of this decision on him as well as others and also realizes that only he can make this decision. Lessons in humility come from strange places and it is nice to see them coming from a 25-year-old athlete about to make $120m. Some of our politicians and business leaders could take a page out of Lebron’s playbook on how to handle success.