I found quite the opposite in my latest read: WINNING by Jack Welch, retired chairman and CEO of General Electric. Regardless his forty-year career and renowned corporate success at GE, Welch addresses people at every level and companies both large and small. His call-it-like-it-is style is fresh, easy to follow and stuffed full of meaningful insights that will immediately make a difference in the way you think about your company and your personal career.

Welch gets down to business by addressing questions on a wide range of topics, compiled from thousands of speaking engagements globally - but all centered on “What does it take to win?” The three sections which were most significant and powerful to my own experience focused on internal culture; leadership and people management; and external competition.

Some of my favorite snippets include:

“Winning leaders invest where the payback is highest. They cut their losses everywhere else.”

“… every day is about growing people.”

“If you want people to live and breathe the vision, show them the money when they do …”

“There were times I talked about the company’s direction so many times in one day that I was completely sick of hearing it myself.”

“Strategy means making clear-cut choices about how to compete. You cannot be everything to everybody, no matter the size of your business or how deep its pockets.”

Whether you are a business manager, salesman or factory worker – Welch seems genuinely interested in your success through sharing details from his own. So if you’re ready for some no-nonsense, from-the-gut talk about how to carefully craft your business and become the leader you’ve always wanted to be, you won’t be disappointed with the Welch approach.

That’s why I thought it was a great idea when our business manager, Kevin Gehrer, suggested we participate in the Wichita Corporate Challenge this year. It meant that several of us would participate in activities that in distant memory displayed our athletic prowess, but now require ice packs and Ben-Gay. So, we dusted off our sneakers and made sure our affairs were in order. And we did things that were good for our bodies and that was exciting.

We competed — and I use that term loosely — in about half the events which were both athletic and recreational. Volleyball, basketball, foot races and a bike race as well as mini golf, bowling, billiards and a long walk. By the aforementioned creative director’s measure, our work is outstanding. In fact, it’s the best our city has to offer. We weren’t greatly successful in every event but we created something I’d hoped for: camaraderie and lots of fun.

It’s possible to compare a company our size to a family. Each of us have different personalities, roles and motivations but we all have a common goal: success for ourselves and the group. I was able to get to know each Jajomie a little better after our two-week challenge and our experience reminds me of the adage: The family that plays together stays together. Not only are we successful advertisers but we were successful as a team because we learned some things about ourselves that will allow us to be better for our clients. And that’s success where I come from.

But next year, we’re winning it all.

2010 Wichita Corporate Challenge from Jajo Inc. on Vimeo.

We declared Cox Business Day at Jajo on September 1, 2010. And celebrated our relationship with this key client.

Early in the day, leadership addressed our team and reinforced the significance of the CB business to our agency. The Jajo team donned blue threads for the day and posters of CB creative work were hung throughout the office. Sloppy Jajoes, our agency signature dish, was served at an employee lunch.

Our client recognition began more than a week earlier when a custom cake invited the CB marketing team to a wine and cheese social at the agency – held at the end of Cox Business Day. At the social, the agency presented them with a commemorative scrapbook of our work together.

In the current business climate and economy, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day challenges and the next fire drill without taking time to celebrate wins. This was our opportunity to applaud the accomplishments of our client partners and team. And those shared moments are really the secret ingredient to great relationships, after all.

As Ryan and I have traversed the valleys of  words and rhyme and climbed the peaks of rhythm and cadence, I have gotten to know this young scribbler and have become convinced that as a junior copywriter at Jajo, there could be no one better.

Besides his ability to break into song or Shakespearean verse upon command, he also possesses the necessary equipment and ability to pick locks in under thirty seconds. All needed skills to write exceptional copy.

We have taken the necessary steps to ensure his success at Jajo. Dave Hahn, a fellow Phi-Delt brother, implemented a rigorous and thorough process of hazing and belittlement guaranteeing that as a junior copywriter, he will know his place in the organization and never slow a stride or bat an eye when asked to fetch coffee.

I could further elucidate on the positive attributes that this young writer possesses; like his extraordinary fondness for yard darts or the kindness he has shown to out-of-work equestrian masseurs, but I don’t believe it’s needed.

I will, however, leave you with a story young Ryan told us one evening while playing basketball in the design dungeon, deep in the bowels of Jajo. It went something like this:

“When I was a wee lad of 11, I played intramural basketball at my school. Being vertically challenged, to shoot a basket, I had to rainbow the shot. And my teammates began calling me Rainbow.”

And as the saying goes, the rest is history. By the time Ryan pulled his foot out of his pie-hole, the damage was done and he was going to be known at Jajo as“Rainbow,” forever.

So not only do I endorse Ryan Schafer. I truly hope there is gold at the end of his rainbow.

Young Rainbow announces his candidacy for Junior Copywriter

Ryan Schafer for Junior Copywriter Facebook fan page

Behind the scenes spot 1

Actual trailer spot 1

Behind the scenes spot 2

Actual trailer spot 2

Numana Million Meal Packaging Event
To benefit the victims of Haiti earthquake
Jan 23 8am-6pm; Jan 24 1-7pm
Kansas Coliseum
Donations: numanainc.com

The scene: Connie is doing something with her hair while I’m shaving. Out of nowhere she started to softly sing:

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to buy the world a Coke
And keep it company.

I looked at her through the mirror and asked, “Where’d that come from?”
She said, “Whatya mean?”
I said, “That song. Coke. The Coke song. Where’d it come from?”
She said it started with her just saying, “Hmmm.”
That reminded her of the melody which compelled her to sing the chorus which made me write this post about Coca-Cola.

I want a Coke. Good advertising works—good.

2009 was a tough year for a lot of communities, Wichita being one of them. It seemed that no one could escape completely. It touched everyone. Families. Friends. Strangers. We were all in it together.

As the year closed the stories started to roll in. People with the heart to give to those who were in need stepped up and did what they felt needed to be done. Mother in London gave $10,000 to any person who would respond to their suspiciously-written email. Local businesses banded together to encourage giving and doing good deeds. An organization provided an opportunity for people to make an impact in the life of starving people in Haiti. And many more equally compelling stories.

But that was a month ago. Now we’re on our way to making 2010 better than 2009. Our focus is on strengthening existing relationships while building new ones. My fear is that the more days we put between now and then, we’ll become numb to the ever existing challenge of helping our neighbor and we’ll forget what it’s like to help our brothers and sisters along the path. Let’s all commit to never forget.

Being a senior in college, I have decided that it might be a good idea to figure out my post-graduation plans. So in between class and playing an intense game of slow pitch softball, I decided to go back to the beginning, to my first job, to where it all started, to Barn’rds restaurant! As I sat there, eating my Supreme sandwich, reminiscing about how good I looked in plaid,  I began to think about my other jobs that led me to where I am today, the people I met and the different culture’s provided by each one.

Barn’rds was homey and comforting, Mirada Management Group was just…there and United Way was all about professionalism and caring. Every business has culture. It’s their personality, their values, their aura, their essence, their pizzazz, their flavor, their swagga.

This is no different at Jajo. In fact, the culture here is what sets us apart from everyone else. Our personality is unique and unmatched, because it’s the people, not the organization, that makes Jajo what it is.

Where else could you find Amy Frazee, chronic hummer/singer/whistler who also dabbles in graphic design? Or Steve Randa, a managing partner who gets caught buying a Barbie tricycle at Target by you and says its “for his daughter?” Or David Hahn, a graphic design genius and alumnus of your fraternity who forces you to bong your first beer in front of the whole office? Or Jason Townsend, a car-loving web developer who is too afraid to bong a beer because he knows you just dominated your inaugural one and doesn’t want to be shown up by the intern? Or Jolynn Berk and Angie Plummer, account service executives to the stars who constantly prove that they are probably the hippest moms this side of the Mississippi? Or 13 other employees who make coming to work everyday a dream and an adventure?

For the sake of the power of rhetorical questions, I will let you come up with your own conclusion of where this awesome place is. All I’m going to say is it rhymes with Play-Doh®.

So thanks Jajo… I mean Play-Doh. Thanks for housing the true foundation of great friendships and great advertising.

Blog-Invoking Questions:
What are your feelings toward your past and current employment? What job was your favorite? What was your worst? And why? Let’s hear it!