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. 

• How does that affect how you look at the world around you? 
• What kind of products and services are thriving? Which ones are history? 
• How do these trends affect you personally and professionally? 
• How about your current job and your job description? 
• How about the team dynamics: how and where you work with others. 
• How about your company culture and brand values? 
• How about the way you + your Co. can prepare for and embrace the brand-new 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 Covid – after which the world isn’t the same.

In hindsight I can add another major global game changing event that has changed the way you’ll look back on 2023 and how you’ll navigate 2024 and beyond; ChatGPT(4), as well as all other L.L.M.

About 1,900 km from where I'm posting this blog entry there’s a narrow forest road that meanders through our northern boreal forest. At the very end of this road there's a little village. Look closely and you'll see that this little village has stores, homes, cars, a bank; all of the amenities that you can image the local forest fairies might need on a day-to-day basis. It's wonderful.

Of all of the things that I’ve discovered on my forest walks this year, this is by far the most significant one. 

It shows me that love, kindness, environmental consideration and imagination are not just welcome here, they have a home here. 

This village inspires me to believe that the parents who have helped their children imagine and create this village are raising inquisitive, sensitive and imaginative children who are FAR more likely to grow up to be considerate, responsible, inclusive and visionary leaders. 

PEACE.  LOVE.  UNDERSTANDING.

Recently Linked In asked me the following question: “How can you build and maintain brand authenticity in the age of artificial intelligence?”

Here's my perspective:

Regardless of where I go or which channel I communicate through, I am Frank (by name and nature).

Some people \ clients \ brands really like and respect my approach to MARCOM while others don't. That is as it should be; as an individual, and as a brand, I can't please all of the people all of the time. 

POSITIVE:

Ai can help me find more people who like my approach to MARCOM. 

NEGATIVE:

Ai should NOT be used to create 25 shades of "Frank" to artificially expand my audience because all I'll get is a short-term pop in sales - until my brand-fraud is revealed and all of my brand equity is lost.

Across North America everybody wants more for less – plus a lifetime guarantee. To satisfy this insane and insatiable desire for more cheap food, goods and services, we’ve sent millions of jobs to Asia and India. We’ve also done a wonderful job of teaching our kids that many jobs are not worth doing or having. This mentality has shut down industries and laid waste to cities, towns and individuals all across America and Canada. Where will this end?

When companies do not earn decent profit margins their foundations crumble.

• They no longer can afford to do research and development.
• Without leading edge research and development their managers blindly follow the “best practices” of their competitors, and fail.
• They cut back on staff training and development.
• They cut back on benefits.
• Full time staff is rehired as part-time staff with no benefits.
• Part time staff juggle two, sometimes three, jobs just to make ends meet. No holiday pay, no pension plan, no medical support.
• Because they are just making ends meet, time and money they can't afford to "support" the arts and those who are less fortunate. 
• It impacts time at home and time with family and friends - life in general.
• And on and on it goes - in a giant downward spiral.

A client of mine had his website designed and built in the Philippines to save money. They charge 75% less than I do. Some of the money he'd paid me went back to his car dealership when I needed auto parts or service. The money he paid to the company in the Philippines left Canada and will not be used to buy any of his vehicles, parts or services on Black Friday, or on any other day of the year.

He thought he was smart . . . 

He taught his customers to look for "Fast & Cheap" - not for "Good and long lasting".

He's no longer in business . . . 

He couldn't make up in volume what he lost on margin.

When you charge a fair price and invest the profits in our people, our communities, and industries, we all grow stonger, better and smarter.