Fred du Plessis EMCCC Alumni Event September 2018 LEARNING FROM “What do you want to do when you grow up?” “Rule the World” Dick Clark to Madonna on American Bandstand 1983 1 2 3 4 Childhood and Adolescence Born 16 August 1958 3rd child of 8 Was very close to her mother who died when she was 5 years old Felt she lost the affection of her father when he married their housekeeper Her words “Betrayed and angry…” “…I am going to be really strong if I can’t have my mother. I am going to take care of myself” Became a rebel to get the attention she craved …a strategy that has served her well Strict Catholic upbringing – strict father who enforced strict homework and chores Gifted, excelled at school and loved showing off 5 Madonna the determined rebel • Arrived in New York in July 1978 wearing her winter coat with $35 in her pocket • First reinvention from a dancer to singer- song-writer • Learned to play the guitar Realises that • Actively promoted her fledgling band to managers. dancing will not Starting bring the agents, record companies Out success she • Quickly developed a package of music, lyrics, singing Dance craves and dancing • Breakthrough to win a recording contract comes after promoting her songs with videos to the big club Recording Contract DJs Realises that the DJs Music and a complete act are Scene keys to success 6 7 After Success – A Turning Point Like a Prayer Album Sex The Late Show Pepsi Video Book David Blonde Ambition Tour Erotica Letterman Like a Virgin Song Justify my Love Video Despite the negative publicity and Starting Shanghai Surprise back-lash fromD her fans – business Out Who’s that Girl remained sound – released 6 albums Dance between 1986 and 1990 moving from new wave rock to disco to dance to Erotic Thriller pop “Body of “that was a time of my life Recording Evidence when I was extremely angry – Contract & angry with the way I was The Girlie Show brought up. Angry about how World Tour Music sexist this society that we live in Scene is…angry with the people who assumed that because I had sexuality that I couldn’t also be talented” (interview 2008) 8 9 Her great reinvention - Evita Andrew Alan Parker Lloyd Webber Carlos Menem • “Shrewd – Seductiveness” – uses her sexuality • Became an opera singer • Battled her identity crisis – her new softer image • Absorbed the spirit of Eva Peron – Casa Rosada Gate triumph “America’s smartest business-women” Forbes 10 11 12 Artist, Activist, Philanthropist When asked about her art: “ I think it depends on what I am making. I like to push the envelope. But I don’t like to doit just for the sake of doing it. I don’t like to be provocative for the sake of being provocative. I like to be provocative. I like to make people think. I like to touch people’s hearts. And if I can do all of those Andrew things in one fell-swoop, then I feel lie I’ve Alan Parker Lloyd Webberreally accomplishedCarlos something..” Menem • Children’s books • Art for Freedom • Political activity – Hilary Clinton – Women’s March • “along with age comes the freedom to be authentic” • Fashion, cosmetics and accessories – MDNA brand 13 14 Your views What is her approach to reinvention, and how does she go about this? What went wrong in her “Angry” years? 15 What I discovered • Madonna employs deliberate reinvention strategies • In-particular: • “lean-out” and • “step-out” strategies • In all of her successful reinventions she combined strategic intelligence with understanding her personal attributes, combined learning agility to discern that career shift is needed (“Career Shift Imperative”) • Her “Angry” years is the major exception where she: • Misread what personal attributes were required • Failed to grasp and accept the strategic intelligence • Failed to pay significant attention to her identity transition 16 For Executives – The Career Shift Imperative Changing World of Work Changing Demographic Nature of forces Organizations Turbulent VUCA World How do we remain Relevant to ensure Career Success & Life Satisfaction? Erik Erikson Strategic Learning Personal Psycho-social Intelligence Agility Attributes Stages V-VIII Self Identity How do we sustain Career Success in the long term? Persona Career Career advancement extension Strategies Develop and Lean-out Step-out continue Transition to a New Identity Rejection? Test Acceptance Fred du Plessis© 17 Erickson’s Life Stages - Madonna Madonna’s Career Reinvention Time-Line – Critical Junctures Erik Erickson Psychosocial Stage Stage V – Stage VI – Stage VI – Stage VII – Stage VII – Stage VIII – Late Adolescence Young Adulthood Young Adulthood - Adulthood Adulthood Mature Age 1978-1981 1982-1986 1986-1994 1992 1994-1996 1997-2008 2008-2017 New York Stardom Failure Business- Evita Remaining Artist, Activist, • Realises she is • Harness strategic • Misreading woman • Admit and relevant Philanthropist not good enough intelligence antecedents for • Know what you reflect on failure • Refine strategic • Align career • Courage to • Recognize success must control • Utilise adversity intelligence focus with your transform weaknesses of • Failed strategic • Know your value as a springboard • Differentiate life stage • Strategic her support base intelligence and brand • Assess the type through lean-out • Pursue passions thinking • Know when to • Insufficient • Guard your of reinvention diversifications • Build on proven • Understanding move on attention to know-how required – step- • Innovation lean-out success the external • Understand transition • Position yourself out vs. lean-out • Strengthen core • Integrate and world lean-out • Not assessing to compete • Create a new audience build on past • Translating this strategies implications of • Master new skills “self” for the • Build a new experience in into action • Work on step- moving away • Develop highest new role audience new areas out strategies from core quality network • Master new skills • Leverage • Stay connected working identity • Build strong • Remain resilient personal brand with your relationships • Demonstrate to make a audience authenticity difference Fred du Plessis – Executive Master in Consulting and Coaching for Change Thesis Fred du Plessis© Erickson’s Life Stages - Executives Executive Careers – Periodic Reinvention to Remain Relevant- Enhanced Erik Erickson Psychosocial Stage Stage VI – Stage VI – Stage VII – Stage VII – VIII Stage VIII – Young Adulthood Young Adulthood - Adulthood Adulthood – Mature Age Mature Age 0-3 years 3-12 years Crises Recovery 12-20 years 20-35 years 35+ years Starting Out Building Failure Reinvention Positioning for Zenith Authenticity • Understand the • Harness strategic • Misreading • Admit and Success • Refine strategic • Align career with external world intelligence personal reflect on failure • Know what you intelligence life stage • Strategic • Know how much attributes • Utilise adversity must control • Differentiate • Pursues passions thinking to rely on • Failed strategic as a springboard • Know your value through lean-out • Builds on proven • Know your support base intelligence • Assess the type and brand diversifications lean-out success limitations • Know when to • Insufficient of reinvention • Guard your • Continue to • Integrate and • Courage to learn move on attention to required – step- know-how Innovate build on past and transform • Understand transition out vs. lean-out • Position yourself • Strengthen experience in • Learn new skills lean-out • Neglecting • Create a new to compete relationship with new areas • Build networks strategies implications of “self” for the • Innovate core decision- • Leverage • Translating this • Work on step- moving away new role • Master new skills makers personal brand into action out strategies from core • Master new skills • Develop highest • Build new to make a • Cultivate self- • Stay connected working identity • Remain resilient quality network relationships difference awareness with decision- • Impatience • Demonstrate • Build strong with key • Learn to deal makers • Disrupting family authenticity relationships decision-makers with liminality Fred du Plessis – Executive Master in Consulting and Coaching for Change Thesis Fred du Plessis© Thank You! 20.