All we are singing, is give peace a chance
Banksy is here!
Attention Brand Builders
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My grandfather fought in WW1 from 1914-1918. Life in Germany after WW1 was never the same. My father fought in WW2 from 1939-1945. Life in Germany after WW2 was never the same. He came to Canada in 1954 (rather than the U.S.) because Canada didn’t draft soldiers - so his four sons would not be pulled into the Vietnam War (1955-1975). In high-school I had two teachers who were “draft- dodgers”. Life in America after that war was never the same. So now we have the Global Covid-19 epidemic. Around the Globe epidemiologists, economists and political leaders all have different perspectives. But all agree life will never be the same.
Instead of lamenting the past, maybe we should prepare to embrace and explore the future because this is a rare, once in a generation chance to REALLY step back and away from the numbers you typically run your business with and develop a multi-dimensional perspective on a new way forward using your whole team to look at things from a broader perspective to identify what (still) makes sense, what needs work, what has to go and what needs to be replaced. We all have a choice: defend the status quo, or explore new paths that are better suited to the post-CV-19 era. You, dear reader, fall into one of these three groups: You make things happen, watch what’s happening or wonder what happened. Only those in the 1st group - the ones with a bias for action who make things happen, embrace these turbulent times because “where there’s turmoil, there’s also opportunity.” Enjoy your day + your journey - Frank Wehrmann Post Script: I wrote this article to challenge myself and my readers to act insightfully, rather than react emotionally to the turmoil brought on by the Global Covid Pandemic – after which the world wasn’t the same. In hindsight I can add three more major global game changing events that will change the way you navigate 2026 and beyond; Chinease and American Large Language Models, the Canadian \ U.S. trade war, the American revolution directed by D. Trump.
Change is the constant.
A message from the very honourable Jean Chrétien
This is a very important message from the very honourable Jean Chrétien, lawyer and former politician who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. He also served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 2003 and as the leader of the Official Opposition from 1990 to 1993. In his own words.
Today is my 91st birthday. It’s an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends. To look back on the life I’ve had the privilege to lead. And to reflect on how much this country we all love so much has grown and changed over the course of the nine decades I’ve been on this Earth. This year, I’ve also decided to give myself a birthday present. I’m going to do something in this article that I don’t do very often anymore, and sound off on a big issue affecting the state of the nation and profoundly bothering me and so many other Canadians: The totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats to our very sovereignty from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. I have two very clear and simple messages. To Donald Trump, from one old guy to another: Give your head a shake! What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world – and make no mistake, that is what we are – to join the United States? I can tell you Canadians prize our independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world – when it comes to compassion, understanding, tolerance and finding a way for people of different backgrounds and faiths to live together in harmony. We’ve also built a strong social safety net – especially with public health care – that we are very proud of. It’s not perfect, but it’s based on the principle that the most vulnerable among us should be protected. This may not be the “American Way” or “the Trump Way.” But it is the reality I have witnessed and lived my whole long life. If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to win us over, you really don’t know a thing about us. You don’t know that when it came to fighting in two world wars for freedom, we signed up – both times – years before your country did. We fought and we sacrificed well beyond our numbers. We also had the guts to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a completely unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq. We built a nation across the most rugged, challenging geography imaginable. And we did it against the odds. We may look easy-going. Mild-mannered. But make no mistake, we have spine and toughness. And that leads me to my second message, to all our leaders, federal and provincial, as well as those who are aspiring to lead our country: Start showing that spine and toughness. That’s what Canadians want to see – what they need to see. It’s called leadership. You need to lead. Canadians are ready to follow. I know the spirit is there. Ever since Mr. Trump’s attacks, every political party is speaking out in favour of Canada. In fact, it is to my great satisfaction that even the Bloc Québécois is defending Canada. But you don’t win a hockey game by only playing defence. We all know that even when we satisfy one demand, Mr. Trump will come back with another, bigger demand. That’s not diplomacy; it’s blackmail. We need another approach – one that will break this cycle. Mr. Trump has accomplished one thing: He has unified Canadians more than we have been ever before! All leaders across our country have united in resolve to defend Canadian interests. When I came into office as prime minister, Canada faced a national unity crisis. The threat of Quebec separation was very real. We took action to deal with this existential threat in a manner that made Canadians, including Quebeckers, stronger, more united and even prouder of Canadian values. Now there is another existential threat. And we once again need to reduce our vulnerability. That is the challenge for this generation of political leaders. And you won’t accomplish it by using the same old approaches. Just like we did 30 years ago, we need a Plan B for 2025. Yes, telling the Americans we are their best friends and closest trading partner is good. So is lobbying hard in Washington and the state capitals, pointing out that tariffs will hurt the American economy too. So are retaliatory tariffs – when you are attacked, you have to defend yourself. But we also have to play offence. Let’s tell Mr. Trump that we too have border issues with the United States. Canada has tough gun control legislation, but illegal guns are pouring in from the U.S. We need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of guns crossing into Canada. We also want to protect the Arctic. But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage, insisting that it is an international waterway, even though it flows through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as being Canadian waters. We also need to reduce Canada’s vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States. Let’s launch a national project to get rid of those barriers! And let’s strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together through projects such as real national energy grid. We also have to understand that Mr. Trump isn’t just threatening us; he’s also targeting a growing list of other countries, as well as the European Union itself, and he is just getting started. Canada should quickly convene a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to formulate a plan for fighting back these threats. Every time that Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. So let’s get organized! To fight back against a big, powerful bully, you need strength in numbers. The whole point is not to wait in dread for Donald Trump’s next blow. It’s to build a country and an international community that can withstand those blows. Canadians know me. They know I am an optimist. That I am practical. And that I always speak my mind. I made my share of mistakes over a long career, but I never for a moment doubted the decency of my fellow Canadians – or of my political opponents. The current and future generations of political leaders should remember they are not each other’s enemies – they are opponents. Nobody ever loved the cut-and-thrust of politics more than me, but I always understood that each of us was trying to make a positive contribution to make our community or country a better place. That spirit is more important now than ever, as we address this new challenge. Our leaders should keep that in mind. I am 91 today and blessed with good health. I am ready at the ramparts to help defend the independence of our country as I have done all my life.
Vive le Canada!
When the heart and mind dance together
I was listening to the CBC recently and listened to a fellow talk about how his work needs to be; scrutinized by the lens of reason and the filter of faith.
Beautiful!
Years ago Tony Miller, then President of MacLaren Advertising in Canada, taught me that; a great ad compels the heart and gives the mind permission to believe.
At Ogilvy & Mather Toronto, one of my mentors taught me the following sales strategy that refines Tony's:
The ad must be a logical aregument, emotionally delivered by a voice that is admired and respected by the audience.
It’s taken me decades to learn how to create ads like that; to tell stories that are accepted and embraced by the heart and the mind.
Needless to say I don't do many retail ads.
I’m good with that.
Why Brand Continuity Matters
For years I’ve argued that brand continuity is important, and for years franchisees have told me it isn’t. Here are two recent examples that illustrate why brand continuity matters.
Example #1 :: Sobeys
I lived in Winnipeg for two years and shopped at Sobeys because; 1. I could walk there, 2. It was a clean bright store, 3. My father-in-law recommended it, and 4. It also had a pharmacy. I came to look forward to my frequent but small shopping trips. Better yet they had a number of products that I came to love. While I’m not a foodie, Sobeys did it’s best to make me one. So now I’m back in Toronto – missing my local Sobeys and some of those special treats. I drove to the nearest one, only to find it small, dingy, unfriendly and worst of all – the treats that I loved to buy in Winnipeg were nowhere to be found in the Toronto store. Result: I will not go back to Sobey’s - Toronto and I’ll share my brand disappointment with others.
Example #2 :: Days Inn
Charlie (my dog) and I used to drive to Winnipeg and back a few times a year and made it a road-vacation. My wife and I set a leisurely pace and overnighted 3-4 times enroute. Over the years and miles we found that some hotels and motels had no-dog policies, others charged Charlie as much as a 3rd human occupant, and others put us up in their smoking rooms. Then there was Days Inn. So far, no matter what route we have taken from Toronto to Winnipeg and back, Days Inn was always happy to put up Michelle, Charlie and me for a $20.00 premium in a fresh, clean non-smoking room. Given the rooms are large, comfortable and equipped with wireless internet and a desk, they’ll continue to get our business and referrals.
As Holiday Inn used to say and should continue to in their ads: “The best surprise is no surprise”.