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Leadership is Acting by Doing

Okay, are you as confused by the title as I am?

There is a television advertisement running several times at night. I don't know if it runs much during the day, because my television viewing experiences take place after 10:00 PM. The company advertising is Tanner Transmissions (yes, once again I am using the actual name to protect the innocent).

As much as I am plugging companies and placing their website links to my blog, I think these companies should start paying me commissions. Good or bad publicity is still publicity, eh?

I don't think Tanner Transmissions hires actors for their commercials. I don't think they even consider hiring a marketing firm to generate ideas. I imagine a few of the guys in the shop just pull out a Karaoke machine during their lunch breaks, pull the microphone close to their lips and crank out ideas of what would be great in attracting new business to the company.

The guy in the corner with a voice like Kevin Eubank (or Mickey Mouse for those of you not familiar with our local celebrities), and the stature of Danny DeVito probably has the best idea for marketing. In any given situation, except for this shop full of testosterone filled men, his marketing idea would be used. But, of course, an arm wrestle breaks out and the person who eats 15 bowls of Fruit Loops in the morning wins out, along with his ideas for the television spot.

The commercial currently running begins by showing the profile of a man wearing a service shirt; staring off into oblivion. To you and me, he is staring at the pictures on your wall to the left of your television set. In the background is a panoramic of trees and rolling hills. This man, who has a face for radio, begins to speak. He speaks an octave lower than his normal speaking ability, and as he does so he rotates his head 90 degrees. He looks deeply into the camera. His look makes me uncomfortable. He says, "Leadership is Acting by Doing."

I don't remember the rest of the commercial. Every time I hear him say this, I stop and run that sentence through my head over-and-over trying to figure out what it means. I am dumbfounded.

So, tell me: What does that mean? And, what does that have to do with a transmission?
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Comments

  1. ScottMarch 26, 2008 at 11:58 PM

    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing
    leadership is acting by doing

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CurtisMarch 27, 2008 at 8:08 AM

    I love the fact that he "has a face for radio." Hahaha! You obviously have no sense at all if you don't know what "leadership is acting by doing" means! Of course it means.... uh.... er.... you know-- acting stuff by doing... uh... leadership-- er, I mean, leading is doing acting... or something like that. Obviously. Duh.

    ReplyDelete

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