Note to Self: Have Business Class by Randall Kenneth Jones
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BEST PRACTICES Note to Self: Have Business Class by Randall Kenneth Jones hough few would follow my lead Johnson chucked—and it must be and business-savvy celebrities from a if given the chance to chat with said, no one chuckles with more warmth variety of industries nationwide. Tbasketball great Magic Johnson, I than Magic Johnson. The Magic Johnson interview was chose to deliberately throw myself under Such is a day in the life of a tenderfoot intended to support a column celebrating my own athletically-challenged bus: business columnist—one who is the career of Naples resident Jack “Well Mr. Johnson, at one time I intent on sharing lessons on success, McKinney, 1981 NBA Coach of the Year thought I was pretty good at basketball. professional courtesy, and professional and former head coach of the Los Angeles But in 7th grade, I was placed on the “C” development even if that requires the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers. McKinney team—and I don’t mean third string either.” occasional personally awkward under- also holds the honor of being Earvin Obviously confused by the unexpected the-bus scenario to elicit more compelling “Magic” Johnson’s first coach in the NBA. confession of my embarrassing lack of responses. Through the same McKinney athletic prowess, Johnson clearly did not First published in late July 2012 and affiliation, I also received a late-night know how to respond. now appearing bi-weekly in the Naples return phone call from basketball great Note to self: Daily News, “Business Class” is an and Pacific-time-zone resident, Bill Magic Johnson thinks I’m a fool.So I exploration of business principles selected Walton. An omnipresent hoops hero continued, “I’d like to thank you for from interviews with Southwest Florida’s during my teen years, the dynamic and picking up the mantle, having the career prolific full- and part-time residents, articulate Walton did not disappoint. Not I thought I was meant to have, and seasonal guests, and visitors. because he took a personal interest in my allowing me to live vicariously through Represented in “Business Class” are extremely limited free throw skills, but you.” high-level executives, business leaders, because he, like Johnson, enthusiastically Jack McKinney searches for Jones’s latent “magic” on the court. PHOTO CREDIT: PETER BEREC VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.NAPLESCHAMBER.ORG I BUSINESS CURRENTS™ I DECEMBER 2012 19 embraced the opportunity to celebrate the marketing communications company “Business Class”—a meeting that would great work of his former leader. from the Washington, DC to Naples ultimately represent a defining moment Like so many of us, I have been subject in late 2009, I noticed the existence of on my potential as a man “pushing 50.” to countless managerial claims of the what I now refer to as “the two Naples.” Widely recognized for her inestimable importance of teamwork. Therefore, it On one hand, there are those of us who contribution to the local arts community, seemed appropriate to speak to those who live and work here full time—dare I say, Myra Daniels spoke and I listened. have experienced teamwork in its original the backbone of the community. On the Upon discovering a shared belief athletic-team format. other hand, Southwest Florida is blessed regarding the respect owed our senior with another group whose astounding population, I innocently commented, “I Note to self: No team can exist without collective resumes have much to teach decisive leadership, clear communication, recall attending my great-grandmother’s the business community—not just in th defined expectations, individual respect, 100 birthday party. Thankfully, my Collier County but through viral internet relatives tend to live long and healthy and shared goals. Teamwork has to have exposure as well. mental focus. lives.” My first interview in Naples took Immediately upon relocating my With the knowledge that I sat before place two years ago, prior to the launch of her as a 47-year-old man with a somewhat eternal gene pool, she sensibly suggested. “Well then, you’ve got a long way to go— you better get busy.” FREE BUSINESS CHECKING Though many credit Oprah for any We’re giving BIG rewards to our small business clients! number of televised “ah-ha” moments, the one-time queen of the advertising world, Myra Daniels, provided me a wake-up call 500 that proved more thought provoking and transaction items inspirational than any in recent memory. per statement cycle* Note to Self: It’s never too late to learn and it’s never too late to make a difference. Without expecting the title, Myra Daniels became the unofficial Godmother of my next project, RediscoverCourtesy. org, and subsequently, “Business Class.” Launched in 2011, RediscoverCourtesy. org is a nationwide mission to promote an ongoing dialogue on professional courtesy in today’s somewhat thank-you- challenged workplace. All of our small business checking accounts offer free Online Banking Two years later, with with Bill Pay and IBERIABANK will waive the monthly service charge RediscoverCourtesy.org and “Business on two personal checking accounts for the business owner.* Class” now underway, Phil Beuth entered the picture. Beuth’s office wall reveals the Simply Better! remarkable tale of a man who rose to the Free Business Checking heights of the media and entertainment • No Monthly Service Charge industry as president of Good Morning • No Minimum Balance America (1986-1997) while maintaining • 500 transaction items per statement cycle* • No monthly or annual fees on debit cards active involvement at the highest levels of ABC-TV management. Though his “Ego Wall” is filled with photos of him alongside celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Bill Cosby, and Audrey Hepburn, “ego” had Seven convenient locations in Collier County to serve you. very little to do with Beuth’s success. *Any Free Business Checking account exceeding stated transactions or cash deposited/exchanged limits during any two He was, and still is, one of those rare statement cycles in a 12 month period may automatically be converted to Advanced Business Checking. Free Online Bill people who actually have a “magnetic Pay Service is intended for use by small business clients with annual sales less than $10 million. Commercial accounts must review online services with a Relationship Banker for a quote. Please refer to the Rate and Fee Schedule for more personality.” information. Public Fund, Brokerage or Institutional entities and IBERIABANK Corporation associates with businesses are not eligible for this offer. A consummate storyteller, Beuth and I spent five hours together in what 20 DECEMBER 2012 I BUSINESS CURRENTS™ I VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.NAPLESCHAMBER.ORG Phil Beuth shares his Emmy Award-winning success. PHOTO CREDIT: PETER BEREC ultimately became a profound professional mentoring session for me, the interviewer. Jessica Stark, former Beuth colleague and current Manager of Post Production at Anderson Live, astutely equates Phil’s influence to a line from the 1997 film, As Good as it Gets. “It’s like when Jack Nicholson said to Helen Hunt, ‘you make me want to be a better man,’ that’s how I felt working for Phil. I aspired to be as great as he was.” Note to Self: Work with people who make you want to be your best. It is often said that a man is measured by the company he keeps. Let it also be said, when you are on the receiving end of a phone call beginning with, “Hello Randy—Regis Philbin here,” it becomes difficult to measure the impact as the potential business lessons skyrocket. Philbin graciously called to comment on the prolific career of his friend, Phil Beuth. Of course, my experience with Myra Daniels had prepared me for the possibility of unexpected professional development lessons at every turn— provided I pay attention. Ladies and Mimi Gregory schools Jones in beginner’s savoir-faire. Gentlemen, Regis was on the phone and I PHOTO CREDIT: DEREK WAKEFIELD certainly had the good sense to listen. VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.NAPLESCHAMBER.ORG I BUSINESS CURRENTS™ I DECEMBER 2012 21 Celebrated television icon Regis Philbin treated our conversation as if it was the most important task of his day. Though I applaud Mr. Philbin for helping me honor the extraordinary career More “Class” of 2012-2013 of his friend, our chat evolved into an unpredicted tutorial on enthusiasm and focus. As a captive audience of one, I was on the receiving end of Phibin’s trademark charming wit and unexpected yet cherished personal attention. Clearly, to Philbin, we are not an audience of the masses; we are a mass of individuals. Note to Self: Always treat others as if they are the most important person in the room. Magic Johnson: After receiving the rank of Commander in France’s National Warm and affable Order of Merit, Mimi Chapin Gregory joined an illustrious group that included famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau and Queen Sonja of Norway. Presented in 2011 by France’s then-President Nicholas Sarkozy, the honor paid tribute in large part to Gregory’s decades of exceptional service to the Federation of Alliance Franciase USA — a national organization dedicated to the enduring friendship between France and America. The irony: Gregory isn’t French, she’s simply très passionné. Regis Philbin: Focused and witty Bill Walton: Dynamic and articulate 22 DECEMBER 2012 I BUSINESS CURRENTS™ I VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.NAPLESCHAMBER.ORG Although Gregory was once a has also emerged between Rediscover- Missouri native, Phil Lewis. “You need banking industry recruiter, her resume Courtesy.org’s professional-courtesy mis- to interview people who get you excited. ultimately reads like that of the hero of sion and those profiled in “Business Class” That’s the only way I will get your very an international political thriller.