Boundless Blog
October 23, 2008 by Boundless Network
POLITICS AND PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS
Musings by Jason Black | CEO, Boundless Network
I have to admit: I am enamored with this political
season. I love the gamesmanship of the
candidates, watching the debates and arguing (soft debating) with my friends
and co-workers. Candidly, I don’t have a
dog in this year’s presidential race, as it’s my personal opinion that neither
of the candidates are very good and that the entire system is broken and quasi
corrupt. I won’t go into more detail for now, but if you see me at a show and you
want to talk politics, we can rant and rave about the election with a couple of
cold ones.
As I lay awake in bed last night at 3 a.m., my
sleep-deprived brain started taking the race in some interesting directions. I began
to wonder: if I was putting together a company and could only hire prominent
members of the political arena, who would I pick, and for which roles? And,
most importantly, would they survive in my company?
My picks are as follows:
- Mitt Romney, CEO. He has real world experience. He knows how to manage cash. He knows how to make strategic
investments. And he speaks in English rather
than political sound bytes.
- Barack Obama, CMO. This guy could sell ice to an Eskimo. He is highly
intuitive and knows how to read/react to situations. He embraces technology and
has an appetite for innovation.
- Ron Paul, CFO. Ron is the man. His people skills leave something to be desired, and he has the
personality of a monkey, but he is a stud when it comes to money. He would run
a cash efficient business, and would know how to survive in any financial
situation.
- Al Gore, VP HR. Al thrives on political correctness, so he’s a
natural match for HR. He would be great at leading eco initiatives and could
keep his eyes off the ladies and on the trees.
- Bill Clinton, VP of Sales. Bill has charm and knows how to work the system. He
knows when to give and when to take. And occasionally, he knows how to
eliminate the competition. He’s not afraid to get dirty (and be dirty) to get
what he wants. And most importantly, his team loves working for him.
- Sarah Palin, Event Coordinator. Sarah is a chummy lady
who would charm clients with a wink and a smile. The dudes would think she is
attractive, especially when she talks about huntin’ and fishin’. She’d win them
over, “you betcha.”
And then there are those politicians you couldn’t pay
me a million dollars to hire. People like Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and even
good ol’ George W. make the list of folks I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot
pole.
What does this have to do with promotional products? A
business lives or dies by hiring the right people, so make sure you only invite
the best to “get on the bus.” Over the next 18 months, your company will be
tested; surrounding yourself with people you can count on will help ensure you
ride out the downturn and come out on top.
-JB
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