jordanpfowler

A link to the article I wrote on the Miller Public Relations’ blog reacting to the news that Walmart is desiring to be a giant in the primary healthcare provider game.

It so often happens to the best of us. The fog of business confuses us, makes decision making difficult and slows us to a crawl. Even the President of the United States is not exempt. In their recent Washington Post article, Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake write:

On the verge of his 2012 reelection race, however, Obama’s continued lack of clear definition is hurting his political prospects, according to longtime Democratic pollster Peter Hart.

They continue to quote Hart:

Hart notes that the core of most recent presidents could be summed in a few words; “strength and optimism” for Ronald Reagan, “compassion and determination” for Bill Clinton and “conviction” for George W. Bush.

“The challenge here is not whether a specific element is wrong with Barack Obama’s image, but that he does not have one single image,” writes Hart. “He is everyone and no one.”

The Solution? A single word focus.

One of my heroes, Bobb Biehl, often encouraged us to have a one word focus, for life and for each year. I would add you can have a one word focus for month or even a day. This word provides incredible clarity and cuts through the fog. For example,  if you have a group of uncompleted tasks and projects, your word might be “complete.” In that case you would push aside everything new and emerging and set a laser light focus on finishing as many half-completed tasks as possible. You one focus will probably be tied to your one word what-you-do-best word. One of the words I most often hear used of me is “simplifier.” I seem to have been blessed with the innate ability to take a complex set of ideas or concepts and boil them down to a simple deliverable and communicable  process. This plays out well for my roles in business development and marketing just as it did in preaching. I keep my do-best word in mind as I do my yearly, monthly or daily focus word.  Things go best when they are aligned.

If Obama could sum up the goal of his next term in one simple word, it could aide him greatly in the campaign. One Republican candidate has a very clear single word focus–Ron Paul. Limit. As a Libertarian-oriented Republican, he wants to severely limit the federal powers back to what he feels are their constitutional boundaries. Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 resonates in similar ways.

So what would is your single word (or short phrase) focus for life, the year, month or day?

I have finally met an Occupy Movement (OWS) person who desires to see an action plan occur. His comment to me:

. . .unfortunately you need to think about who would be passing those laws. The people who they affect the most. I don’t think there’s any way in hell that any of those laws would get passed by the current members in Congress. That’s one reason I can see for not even bothering dealing with specific goals. Why set a goal if there’s no chance of it getting passed?

This young man just created an Occupy Movement actionable step. Finally!

Recruit, enlist and promote a potential congressional candidate who would represent Occupy values.

So some of you should pack up your tents and get busy at this.

(Disclaimer: This is solely generic movement development advice. It does not imply that I, Jordan P. Fowler, or jordanpfowler consulting does or does not endorse any actions or values of the Occupy Movement. This advise was provided in a purely advisory role and the aforementioned parties cannot be held liable if it succeeds and results in the demolition of every corporation known to mankind. Nor can the aforementioned parties be held liable if the Occupy Movement takes this advice and their bid for congressional seats fails. Just covering my assets).

I understand what The Occupy Movement is against. I am all for civil dialogue in the public square. Os Guinness has influenced me heavily in this area. But I continue to ask this question (for months) with no answer:

What are the actionable steps the Occupy Movement desires to see going forward?

This is the type answer I consistently receive:

That’s the problem, there isn’t really a solution… short of pulling the world’s longest thread on the giant sweater that is our corrupt government and economy. And that will never happen.

Unless you want to throw violent revolution into the mix, which I don’t think most of us do, I think the best course of action is loud, visible, but non-violent anger. Take to the streets, make voices heard, and sure… block traders from getting to the NYSE. I won’t argue with that.

I also understand that the disruption of the current system you desire to see ended is part of the deconstruction process you desire. However, my contention is

Disruption without Construction = Destruction.

Rather than only telling me what you are against, tell me what you are for! Otherwise, the current system would be deconstructed with what in its place? Chaos? Anarchy? Put together some sort of 9-9-9 Plan of the Occupy Movement. A clear, actionable way forward. It is as this point that those who see you merely as a modern manifestation of angry, disgruntled youth would at least be open to considering you as a viable solution provider. So who will undertake this from the Movement? Put forward your best and brightest in this effort.

I am always open to listen to any point of view and engage in civil dialogue, but I ask you to come to that conversation with a way forward, not merely a disruption and destruction of the current.

Grading the GOP candidates’ performance not in regard to policy, but as to how well they communicated their message and how they might have clarity going forward. (Reagan Library, September 7, 2011, msnbc) (going stage left to right).

Huntsman D- Polished to the point of coming across as a bit cheesy. Seemed like a plastic person, which he is not. No real clarity of plan given, and seemed to never drop below 100,000 feet

Way forward: Communicate clear middle of the road plans (3 or less) that sets yourself as more the moderate of choice than Romney who is leaning right for primary votes. Dangerous, but makes you more general election and moderate=independent friendly. This positioning clearly sets you apart.

Cain A Best communicator of the night. His clear plan statements are pointed, sharp, and memorable (ex 9-9-9 plan).

Way forward: Get more message time and communicate how you have real world executive experience, just not in the bog of government. Build off his “How’s that working for you?” line from the last debate. Continue to eschew typical political language and keep driving to solution based answers.

Paul C- Too philosophical for his own good. Suffers from being offered minimal time in debates, thus, he tries to squeeze too much into each answer. Bumbles. Needs to move philosophy (as important as it is) to the background and present the solutions which lie on top of his libertarian philosophy more clearly.

Way forward: More pointed answers with less philosophy unless you wants to become a Presidential advisor instead of  President. Those long answers might have worked in decades past, but not in a Twitter world. Only one message per answer.

Perry B++ (Almost A-)  Loves the role of being the contrarian. Stood by some bold statements such as Social Security being a ponzi scheme . Took some right crosses from others without totally evading them. Lots of Texas colloquialisms. Communication that had hard right draw.

Way forward: Continue to be the contrarian and yet the front runner (a difficult tightrope to walk). Make sure you continue to communicate that you are  the more conservative and practical of the bunch.  As you bring up your record in Texas (and you should), figure out how to block and not become a punching bag regarding the under-insured, low graduate rate, and other Texas statistics that his ‘opponents’ are using. Shore up your answers to the the latter questions as you were not nearly as pointed then.)

Romney A- Polished, poised and stately. His answers are controlled but passionate. Stayed on message and appeared Presidential in tone.

Way forward: You are seen as the most Presidential. Throw enough ammunition at Perry to stay even, but present how you are the most viable candidate to beat Obama in the general election. Though people vote on more conservative and liberal ends of the spectrum in primaries, no one wants to throw their vote away. Emphasize how you have the ability to beat the incumbent, work with both sides of the aisle in congress,  and how Perry will have more difficulty with this with his ‘divisive’ Ponzi scheme language.

Bachmann B-  Generally well spoken. Didn’t get nearly the time she thought, nothing that set herself apart but did no self-harm either. Unfortunately for her, Perry seems to have stolen her Tea Party wind, dropping her into the background.

Way forward: If  you want to climb back up the mountain, you must throw caution to the wind regarding the general election and show why she is way more Tea Party than Perry. You are running out of time and beginning to fade, otherwise. Do this by showing where Perry’s policies are incongruent with Tea Party values, but do not forget to clearly present your future policies that identify you most with the GOP conservative base.  

Newt B  Newt is Newt. This night he was the oil in the Republican cogs stating that the media isn’t going to breed GOP infighting. He applauded many of his fellow candidates efforts and views. It was almost as if the Republican party paid him to be there to keep the message clear that the opponent is Obama, not other GOP members.

Way forward: You are currently perceived as brilliantly smart and more of an author and wise news pundit than Presidential material. Narrow your message points and though you have one million ideas running through your brain at all times, pick three and stick with them. Set yourself as the elder political statesman of the bunch who has been through the most storms and brought solutions that can actually work in a bi-partisan America. 

Santorum B  Consistent answers, but like Bachman did nothing that set himself apart. His best moment might have been when he spoke of welfare reform being about helping the poor versus saving money.

Way forward: You best communicate your social conservatism and compassion for people. Punch these up much higher on the frequency meter.

Thoughts or disagreements?

Was in Cabela’s getting a gift for someone and saw this….

I know it includes a rangefinder, but wow…..I had just seen a pair with similar magnification for $350 and thought, “Wow, you need to see something really well and up close for 300 plus bucks.” Boy, did I ever underestimate the need.

We all know about the Axis of Evil coined by George Bush. I am officially declaring some new members effective immediately. Warn your children….

Large injection needles, cancer, Chelsea, Manchester United, Barbara Streisand, Philadelphia Eagles, NY Yankees, anything Sooner, and Aggies (okay the Aggies can be on the Axis of Semi-Evil).

Any others I am missing?

Watched a great ESPN program in their 30 for 30 series called Pony Excess. As a kid, I remember walking into the great open roofed shrine to watch the Mr. Peppermint clad band, the wealthy parents and boosters (seated much lower than me), and most importantly the galloping duo of James and Dickerson.  S.M.U. looked unstoppable and Mustang fever was pervasive. Then it all came crashing down. Trouble began and by my senior year in High School, the newly initiated “death penalty”  got dropped on them.

So what is clanging around in my head after watching it? I would love to sit down with Dale Hansen. At the time, I wasn’t aware that he was so key to the unfolding story though my family was and I still am a faithful WFAA news watcher. Hansen busted the secrets of S.M.U wide open when he interviewed a disgruntled player who had been paid by the boosters with official knowledge of the payments by the administration. What was it like for him from the time he found out that he had the interview of a lifetime? Was he excited to be in the middle of such a huge story? Was he fearful? Did he get any threats? Was he saddened to have to report such news as surely he was aware it would cause havoc? Watching the short shot of his face that they gave during the press conference with the NCAA official announcing the death penalty, it was hard to read what he was thinking.

So Dale, if you are available, I’ll be happy to take you out to lunch and we can talk all this over. Or you can just leave a comment as I am sure you are a reader of my blog.

Liam Neeson (fine actor and voice of Aslan in the Narnia movie)

“Aslan symbolizes a Christlike figure, but he also symbolizes for me Mohammed, Buddha and all the great spiritual leaders and prophets over the centuries.”

C.S. Lewis (fine author)

“The whole Narnian story is about Christ,” Lewis once wrote. He said he “pictured him becoming a lion” because it’s the king of beasts and because Christ is called “The Lion of Judah” in the Bible.

Mark Johnson (Narnia Dawn Treader movie producer)

The resurrection exists in so many different religions in one form or another, so it’s hardly exclusively Christian.

Winner = C.S. Lewis. Author’s intent when expressed clearly and openly always trumps interpretative comments by characters within the story or those who present them in voice, or those who organize and deal with finances of a film.

So it looks like the Rangers might have to roll out $23 million a year over 7 years to keep Cliff Lee. Here are my questions Ranger fans:

• Are you all in for that amount with the thought that “now is the time to grab the bull by the horns” because the magic is currently here and I am willing to go all in for a single World Series win even if it means for the last 4 years of his contract we are hamstrung financially and thus non-competitive?

• Or would you rather pass and have a chance to be at the table at least more consistently every year for the next 7 (if that is even in a Ranger’s fan’s reality)?

• Or would winning a single World Series or two give you enough of an income boost to overcome that ridiculous amount of money and the fact that his arm will be like a rag doll the last couple of years of that contract?

Ehhh?