Hey, its Friday. My favorite day to catch up on publications, e-mails and the occasional meeting with a business person that inspires me.
Coca Cola just released a new commercial that makes you feel good. This add has gone viral, so I am probably fueling the fire. Please note, I don’t receive any money for this promo. Although donations are always welcome!
Why do I post a link to a sugar drink? Well, because in my day-to-day visits to businesses, I realize that in South Africa the business people are starved of good news. This is not the fault of the media, they report on the mood. The constant stream of bad news is caused by poor leadership, both in business and government. Actually, the business mood here is much worse than some of the other countries where I work, despite the general framework conditions here being much better. The reality is that the current absence of value or principle based leadership is sucking the batteries of business dry. This then affects their investment outlook, their innovation priorities, even their willingness to appoint more staff. Poor leadership that is visible sends the wrong signal, it creates an atmosphere were people hold back, they wait and see. Good leadership that is visible and clear inspires action, it inspires taking risk, exploring new opportunities for growth. It creates incentives to go out and do something, like create new markets, new models.
Why do I bother with this message? Am I not just making matters worse?
Listen, out there. Business needs some good news. There are so many good things happening in this country. So many breakthroughs in the social, business and government sectors. We have businesses inventing new things, entrepreneurs creating new markets, we have hidden global champions (like Naspers) and we have some excellent public officials serving here and internationally. But we don’t celebrate enough. Even when we beat the English in rugby we celebrate quickly and then switch to complaining about something else.
So here is the add. Watch it and feel good. Then go and invest in creating something new.
According to Coca Cola, the add insists that people look at the world a little differently. The clip offers some funny, some silly, some moving and inspiring clips from CCTVs around the world. The new ad is made up of all the “sweet, everyday moments” that people miss, and not the usual footage one would associate with security camera footage like burglaries, fights and accidents. The soundtrack to the add is the 1977 hit Give a Little Bit by Supertramp.
Come on Nandos, give us some good news about South Africa. Seems government and business is generally too busy complaining to inspire us!
This video from Coca-Cola really touched my heart. What better song than Roger Hodgson’s “Give A Little Bit”, a song with a powerful & eternal message that we should always give our love to others whenever we can. The song has helped the bond of humanity through the tougher times as well as helped to recognize & celebrate the love between all of us. For those who are curious, it is a Roger Hodgson recording, not a Supertramp recording. It is truly magical to hear this song live, this is Roger’s largest USA & European tour this summer & fall in 30 years, details at RogerHodgson(dot)com or visit his store at RogerHodgsonStore(dot)com. For up-to-date info see here: facebook(dot)com/RogerHodgsonOfficial
The stronger the deadlock, the higher the likelihood that an altruistic deed will have catalytic effect. Also the reason behind the add going viral I would argue. Great post Shawn!