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honestly misbehavingArchive for August, 2009
“Maybe He’s Right”
Years ago, in my advertising agency days, I carried around this Harry Beckwith book called Selling the Invisible. It is a great collection of anecdotes about marketing and idea pitching. One that stands out for me is a story about Jay Chiat, who crafted some of America’s most memorable advertising campaigns – American Express, Apple Computer, Nike, the Energizer Bunny and others.
Chiat said that one of the secrets to his success was this little card he carried with him, and broke out whenever he found himself at an impasse with someone. It said “Maybe he’s right.”
I’ve thought about that recently, as the debates over local politics have become increasingly heated. Property tax caps, LOIT, public safety cuts, etc. have all brought concerned citizens of our city into conflict with one another over what the status quo is, what needs to change, and how to change it. The only thing we can seem to agree on is that the conflicts and infighting have done nothing to move us forward; and now, I have come to believe that the wrangling, and the impasse that results, is actually the status quo that needs to change.
As a result, I’ve come around to Chiat’s way of thinking: Maybe the people I disagree with are right. That being said, I’m going to propose the idea that we as a community go along with the Mayor and the tax repeal advocates that support her.
