The brothers Morris, together again

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Jay Morris

Here we are about to climb Mount Marcy, the highest peak in the Adirondacks at 5,344 feet. I’m on the left and 2-½ years older. Photo courtesy of Bam-man-photoman.

When my brother and I were younger, we sometimes were mistaken for each other, as if we were twins. Then I became incredibly distinguished-looking with my gray temples, and he lost his hair on top.

At U.Va., we were both in the Pep Band, which caused some confusion. When I visited him at Princeton, where he earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, I’d be walking on campus, and someone would call me Barry. At first I thought it was funny, but then I wondered, hmm, what if I actually became Dr. Barry Morris, famous research scientist? Nah, as soon as someone asked me to do a calculation, I’d be dead in the water.

Over the years, he has become an expert on plastic extrusion and packaging, and I’ve gone on with my career in PR and communications. But we both share a love for music and the outdoors.

Barry plays trombone and is in a jazz band and a community orchestra. I used to play the trumpet and now mess around on the guitar, but I probably couldn’t make it into any real band. He’s precise, and I’m lyrical.

Two weeks ago, we went backpacking in the Adirondacks with two of Barry’s fellow band members. What incredible views! And what rugged terrain! I’ve done a lot of hiking over the years but none quite as strenuous as these so-called trails of rocks and mud that either go straight up or straight down 5,000-foot peaks.

I had to laugh, despite feeling like I was on the verge of a heart attack, when Barry announced at the conclusion of one of our hikes that he had burned more than 3,000 calories.

“How do you know?” I asked. We all were panting and drenched in sweat, but he pulled off his shirt to reveal a heart monitor strapped across his chest. That and a special watch he wore combined to give him a reading of calories burned along our route that day.

So typical, I thought.

While we don’t see each other that often any more, it’s always good when we can spend some time together. Plus, it reminds me of how much we are alike and not alike. Sometimes having a human mirror helps to see what you admire and don’t admire in yourself. For example, people say I can be self-absorbed. But have you met my brother? People say I can be pedantic. Have you met my brother? That I’m too meticulous. Again, have you met my brother?

Traits that we find commendable (or at least tolerable) in ourselves always seem annoying in siblings, don’t they?

Of course, Barry has many admirable qualities that I seem to lack. He is super-organized; I am not. He exercises regularly; I do not. He is a good cook; I stay out of the kitchen. He sticks with things; I lose interest after awhile…

And so the list goes on. This trip reminded me that brothers are meant to complement one another—where one is weak, the other is strong. And that wisdom comes from accepting who you are and accepting others for who they are. The sooner you learn that, the sooner you can enjoy each other’s company…and take a brisk walk to the top of the mountain.

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On the threshold of a dream…

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Jay Morris

Have you ever felt that you’re standing on the threshold of a dream? Maybe you’ve gotten in on the ground floor of the “next big thing.” Or you’re part of something that just might change history.

I’d say most of my life experiences have not been cutting-edge, trend-setting or at the intersection of change.

I wasn’t the first man on the moon. I wasn’t there when Wozniak and Jobs built the original Apple computer. I haven’t written a best-selling book or launched a political movement.

And yet, I am largely content with the small place in the universe I have occupied this last half-century or so.

The Center of Hope in Chicuque facilitates much-needed community and public health outreach in rural Mozambique.

But last month when I was in Africa—in Cambine, Mozambique, to be specific—I felt, I wondered, could this be “it”? Everything I saw, despite poverty, an AIDS epidemic and the constant struggle to eke out a daily existence, made me think: These people really ARE on the threshold of something big, and I’m a witness (and perhaps a bit player) to it all.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the economists tell us, is growing topsy-turvy. It’s the fastest-growing economy behind China. Mozambique has a B+/B rating by the credit-rating agencies. We’re talking about a country that is still recovering from a 16-year civil war.

What makes it go? What makes its people get up in the morning, despite huge odds, and go out there and make a difference?

I met two men in Mozambique who are emblematic of its future. Julio and Jeremias both grew up in the bush country near Cambine but went away to school. Jeremias studied public health in Texas. Julio went to African University to become a Methodist minister. Both men came back to Mozambique to help rebuild their war-torn country. Jeremias runs the hospital and Center of Hope in Chicuque. Julio runs the Cambine mission station and directs the seminary.

Both are passionate about their work and have a vision for the future. I feel blessed to have spent time with each of these men. They are quiet and soft-spoken, yet strong and steadfast in their love of God and their country.

To listen to them describe what it is they must do, the steps they need to take, the calling they feel compelled to follow and live, that is to be truly on the threshold of a dream.

There are fearless captains of industry, winning coaches, nimble managers and shrewd politicians, and then there are Leaders with a capital L. I don’t know that you can aspire to be one, study to become one or even be aware of it when you are a Leader. That kind of leadership is self-effacing and unassuming. It doesn’t brag or boast. It’s never flashy; instead, it shines with a purpose, strength and wisdom that guides, inspires and transforms.

It’s ironic that I traveled half-way around the world to see inspired leadership in action, but great leadership doesn’t reveal itself to us very often. And when it does, you hope that you have enough sense to recognize it…and to honor, respect and cherish it.

I do hope to return to Mozambique again, if only to be a witness to the birth of something wonderful and new. In the meantime, we would do well to watch Africa. Something is definitely happening there.

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Dealing with uncertainty

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Jay Morris

In these economic times, you can’t really escape uncertainty. Even Warren Buffett, I would guess, lies awake some nights wondering if he invested in the right companies.

There’s even a film called “Uncertainty.”

We try our hardest to insulate ourselves from the shocks and vicissitudes of this “down” economy. But as an independent consultant, I can tell you that doubt and uncertainty tend to creep in on almost a daily basis. “Will I get the business I’m bidding on?” “Will my new client be happy with my work?” “Will I even get paid?” And more long-term: “Can I really make this a going concern?” “Do I really I like this new career path I’ve chosen, or would I be better off taking a full-time job?”

Of course, we always think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Two events from this past week caused me to put my “uncertainty” into prospective and realize that things could be worse and that no one is immune from life’s ups and downs.

The point of contact for one of my current projects just lost his job through a reorganization. As he explained to me on the phone what had happened, I have to say I felt relief that I am no longer exposed to these kinds of corporate upheavals. I remembered how terrible it felt in the late ’90s when the organization I worked for had a major downsizing. How we all sweated in the awful anticipation that something bad was about to happen, but no one was quite sure how extensive the damage would be. I survived those layoffs, but the organization was never the same again.

When you’re on your own, you can lose a client. Not all of your eggs are in one basket, or at least they shouldn’t be. Hopefully, you are nimble and resourceful enough to quickly replace that lost stream of income. But if your whole career is tied to one organization, and suddenly that ends, well, that is a horse of a different color.

At a workshop I organized for PR professionals this past Tuesday, a group of my colleagues from the Independent Public Relations Alliance talked about how they made the transition to a solo career, how they set up their practice, how they get their clients and how they stay motivated.

One of our panelists, Robert Deigh, noted that he has never been laid off as a PR consultant. He always has business coming in and other clients he can fall back on. Vicki Robb, another long-time independent, talked about reinventing herself multiple times in order to stay ahead of the curve. As she put it, “There are times when I’ve been under-employed and over-employed, but I’ve never been unemployed.”

It occurred to me as they were talking that perhaps the independent model is more stable and seaworthy than I had thought. I imagined myself a few years into my solo practice and doing reasonably well. Wow, I thought, this thing could actually work!

Thanks, Robb and Vicki, for making my day!

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Do you suffer from passive-aggressive neatness?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Jay Morris

I seem to go through these phases: One day I’m a lazy, disorganized slob; the next I’m a super-charged neatnik who absolutely must control his environment—at least that small bit of space I call my home office.

Now that’s a messy office!

When I worked at my last association job, I would periodically get into these uber-cleaning frenzies. The piles on my desk would disappear. Layers of dust would vanish. Junk hidden behind my desk would get tossed. Swag from conferences would be given away. There was such a transformation in my space that my staff would ask if I was feeling okay or had found a new job.

During those short periods when I obsessively kept my office spotless, I would make a conscious effort not to start new piles, to distribute periodicals on a timely basis (not three months later) and keep paper OFF the mirror-like surface of my polished desk.

But that lasted, what, two weeks? There would be a crisis to manage, a conference to attend, a major project due, and I was right back to my slovenly ways.

Since returning from Mozambique, I am in the aggressive phase of my neatness cycle. Will it last? Well, I’m not taking any bets.

So here are some thoughts on how to sustain the neatness. Lessons that I’ve learned (but not been very good at executing) from my many cleanliness binges.

  1. Follow the Hippocratic oath: Do no harm to your work space! Don’t start a new pile. Don’t put the paper you just read back in your inbox. Eliminate clutter by not starting clutter.
  2. Make a habit of leaving each night with your desk cleared off. At my very first job out of college, I encountered a man who was the ultimate neatnik. I worked for a small community newspaper whose owner was obsessed with keeping his newsroom neat. He had a rule that we couldn’t go home until our desk was completely cleared off. Some nights I just opened the drawers to my desk and tossed everything in. But at least my desk was clean.
  3. Delegate. If you are fortunate enough to have staff, don’t be afraid to give them all of the stuff you don’t know what to do with! Chances are they will end up with it anyway, once you get off your butt and give them the project.
  4. Create a system for reviewing and tossing. You don’t have to hold onto everything forever. It’s okay to toss. Make a tickler system that forces you to go through files/piles every so often.
  5. Encourage your staff and colleagues to keep their OWN files. I often was the “answer man” because, believe it or not, I could usually find all those things I squirreled away. So people would make a beeline to my office when they couldn’t find the e-mail or file they needed. I spent way too much of my own time finding other people’s stuff. Don’t let it happen to you.
  6. Use mobile devices and computer time judiciously. Emails probably eat up most of my workday, but only when I let them. Too many books have been written about time management. Suffice it to say, you need to prioritize and take control of what occupies your time—or it will take control of you. Come up with a system that works for you and then follow it.

Finally, a word of caution: Don’t be too neat. There are two extremes that make people uneasy when they visit an office: too much junk or too little junk. Just as it’s not cool to have an office so cluttered that even the guest chairs are covered with boxes and files, it’s also not too cool to be overly neat. Don’t make your office so clean that it becomes sterile. It’s okay to have some personal items on the credenza and desk. You can be human, just not a slob like me.

Photo by Scott Lituchy
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Marketing is dead. Long live marketing!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Jay Morris

Here’s how to get a few extra hits on your blog or website: Declare something that is obviously not dead (yet) “dead,” as in: “The Internet is dead. TV is dead. Print is dead. Blogging is dead.” Then write a post that, in fact, demonstrates what you’ve declared “dead” is really alive and kicking but just in a new and different way.

Is traditional marketing really dead?

A couple of weeks ago, Bill Lee, writing on the Harvard Business Review Blog, announced that “Marketing is Dead.” Over 500 people left comments on his post, and rebuttals (or variations on the theme of “deadness”) cropped up all over the blogosphere. What got my goat is that not only did Lee proclaim that traditional marketing is dead but all of the other things I do for a living as well—public relations, corporate communications, advertising, etc.

Interestingly, one of my clients is in the process of hiring a new marketing director. Should I tell him to stop? I think not.

I have no problem with commentators making points about how traditional disciplines have radically changed (or need to change) in the digital age. After all, I no longer bang out copy on an IBM Selectric typewriter. And it would be laughable to “snail-mail” hard-copy press releases to reporters as was once common practice.

But…has the life of the PR or marketing professional really changed THAT much? Not if your objective is to engage your reader, viewer, customer or stakeholder. What’s changed, of course, are the tools and techniques, perhaps the methodology, but not so much the purpose.

A marketer’s goal is still to move products off the shelves and into the consumer’s hands. The last time I checked, companies still sell goods and services. Traditional marketing, which Lee and others say is “dead,” can still do that pretty effectively most of the time. Radio still works, as does TV, postcards and even billboards. Heck, I still see airplanes at the beach with banners telling me to check out the specials at Grotto Pizza.

Announcing the death of marketing is not new. In January, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts also proclaimed traditional marketing dead. He said that marketing is now about creating movements and ROI should be known as “return on involvement.”

Marketing gurus talk about “disrupting” markets, “interacting with” vs. “interrupting” customers, creating brand advocates and building cultural movements (see Scott Goodson’s post at Forbes: “Marketing is dead. Now what?”). All big talk, but the clients I’ve been fortunate to work for don’t care about creating a movement as much as just getting more business or recognition for their cause.

To paraphrase one commenter in response to Roberts: “It’s easy to exploit basic ad ideas that younger generations never new existed…throw them on the web, add some CRM, Twitter and Google+ tracking and call it something different. Then viola, I’m a genius!”

I’m always more fascinated by examples of organizations that are walking the walk instead of just talking the talk.

One good marketing case study comes to us courtesy of an Aug. 15 Forbes interview with Eddie Combs, the CMO of Sears Appliances. He’s the one who is responsible for “The Beach” ad that aired during the Olympics and has been injecting new life into a 125-year-old brand that many had nearly written off a few years ago.

As the Forbes post notes, Combs and his team have helped boost market share in a down economy for four consecutive quarters. What’s refreshing is that Combs’ comments are remarkably free of jargon and doomsday pronouncements. I guess he didn’t get the memo that marketing is dead.

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Happy birthday, Augie!

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Jay Morris

Once upon a time, I had many obsessions. I was obsessed with money, success, work, clothes, my house and lawn—you name it, and I obsessed over it. But about four years ago, I began to consciously try to rid those obsessions from my life. With the exception of one—my beloved Acura TL. Augie (yes, he has a name) is six years old today. Happy birthday, Augie!

I like the styling on my TL much better than the newer models.

People still ask when they open Augie’s passenger doors, “Is this a new car?” For the longest time, I had a rule that no one could eat or drink anything in the car. I’ve since relaxed on that one—a bit. I’m also less fussy about hand-washing and polishing Augie all the time, although I still hate to see him dirty. And while the interior of my car is spotless, please do not look in the trunk!

In the early years, I paid a touch-up guy to remove any new scratch on Augie’s surface. I am a terrible parallel-parker, and so I am always scratching Augie’s wheel rims. A few years ago, I just had to take Augie to a body shop to have those scratches removed.

But since joining the ranks of the self-employed, I’ve had to cut back on these “excesses.” About two months ago, I elected for the first time not to get something fixed. The Bluetooth voice command system stopped working, something that I rarely used anyway. But it was really, really hard to tell the dealer that I wasn’t going to get it fixed. It was the first time I had ever denied Augie anything!

Augie seems to be taking it in stride, though. He is aging gracefully and is extremely tolerant of my now-less-than-fervent attitude towards his appearance. His exterior may be worn in a few places, but inside he’s still looking good! And he runs just as well as the day I bought him.

While I think I’ve made a great deal of progress in eliminating the many “obsessions” in my life, I allow Augie to remain a small exception. I suppose it is okay to be a tad obsessed with a few things, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand.

Augie was an exception from the beginning—a splurge for me when I hit 50. Up until then, I drove utilitarian vehicles, often purchased used and driven long past their prime. A brand-new TL was definitely an uncharacteristic move on my part. I guess that’s why I am so willing to baby him.

This week, to celebrate his birthday, I will take Augie in for a new set of Michelin tires. (Gosh, I’m a good dad.) I’m happy to say that I was able to get 60,000 miles from the originals. Let’s hope Augie will be around for the next 60,000!

Happy birthday, big guy!

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Become a missionary for your cause or company

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Jay Morris

Natural materials are often used to build homes in rural Mozambique.

On Saturday, I returned home from a mission trip to Mozambique where I had the privilege of working with a group of Methodist missionaries who are making a difference in rural Cambine. All I can say is: Wow! If everyone could live their life with just half the dedication and joy I saw there, then, as the song says, “what a wonderful world this would be.”

I know, not everyone can pick up and go half way around the world to help the less fortunate. But everyone can apply some of the principles I saw at work in Cambine and nearby Chicuque. We often talk about the need for passion and purpose in our work. I suggest that taking that one step further—becoming a missionary for your cause, startup or company—separates the truly engaged from those who are merely getting by.

So here are four traits worth aspiring to that I saw in abundance, both in our own team and in the missionaries we worked with:

Believe. It’s pretty simple, but if you don’t believe in your organization, and in its services and products, you can’t possibly be successful. Missionaries believe, period. They believe that what they do can make a difference and change lives. They start their day with that belief, and they end the day with it. Believe in yourself, your people and your products.

Amid poverty there is great beauty in Mozambique.

Connect. Missionaries know how to connect with others at the most basic, human level. This is not mere communication. This is true connection. In Mozambique, we were at a disadvantage because we didn’t speak the language. Luckily, our missionary friends were there to help. When they translated, they gave completely of themselves, speaking directly, earnestly and from the heart, so that everyone fully understood and embraced each other’s point of view. Don’t just communicate with your employees and customers, connect with them.

Serve. So much has been written about servant leadership, but it is extraordinary when you see it in action. The missionaries I worked with demonstrated time and again that serving is a purely unselfish act for the benefit of others. Service is grounded in doing, in the possible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t remarkable. When people see cheerful service in action, they respond accordingly. It spreads, multiplies and always comes back to reward you in innumerable ways. Give of yourself, and you will receive many times in return.

Transform. The best and brightest leaders don’t just lead; they are committed to transforming the world. Missionaries believe their organization is making a difference, and they are passionate about it. In fact, they believe more in the transformative power of their cause or product than they do in making money or pleasing investors. Work to transform the world.

P.S. Several years ago, I met a man at a conference who said he was the “chief evangelist” for his company. I wasn’t sure what that meant and decided a better title for him was “chief schmoozer.” I later discovered that evangelist had become a popular title at startups and technology companies for the person in charge of “evangelizing” (promoting) the company. My advice to entrepreneurs is to follow the model of the committed missionary who quietly and tirelessly works for change. Don’t become a hollow evangelist; instead, strive to be the person on the ground doing the real work that makes a difference in people’s lives.

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Happiness, Leadership | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The lessons I take to Mozambique

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Jay Morris

This Friday, I leave for Mozambique, part of an 11-member mission team that will spend two weeks in Africa. You can find out more about our trip by visiting our team’s website. We’ll be blogging daily, so I hope you will follow us.

Our team will be working at the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique.

So why, you might ask, would someone want to travel half way around the world to do volunteer work at a rural mission station in Cambine? After all, it’s an 18-hour plane ride just to get to Johannesburg. And that’s only the beginning of our journey.

My passion for mission work began four years ago when I went on my first mission trip to Girdwood, Alaska. That got me hooked. It renewed my faith in God and put me on a path to learn first-hand what I consider to be the great lessons of Christian mission. I’m not sure you will find these lessons on the Harvard Business Review blog, but nonetheless they are the “secret ingredients” of a life that is full and complete.

  1. Living and working in fellowship is the key to a meaningful life. In Girdwood, I discovered the power and joy of living in Christian community. Each day, I was reminded that there is nothing of substance we can accomplish on our own. Working with a group of people committed to serving as disciples of Christ opened my eyes and changed my life. Regardless of your beliefs, the takeaway is the same: You cannot do it by yourself. A mission trip demonstrates that in many marvelous and touching ways.
  2. We all have different skills and talents, and that’s okay. Paul writes that the church is like a body. There are individual parts, a hand or foot, but none is more important than the other, and each is necessary to the functioning of the body. And so it is on every mission trip. Each member of the team brings unique skills and is essential to its success. Imagine working for an organization where every member is honored and cherished, each is allowed to contribute to the best of his ability. Incredible, you say? Go on a mission trip.
  3. Love, love, love.  I’ve never been a touchy-feely kind of guy, but then I went on two mission trips to Brazil. I couldn’t help but feel an instant connection with the people. To love others unconditionally and with all of your heart, that is the greatest and hardest commandment. The kids we worked with in Brazil taught us how to do it in five seconds. What a blessing it is to realize that each day is a gift, custom-made for us to enjoy if we just open our hearts and love.
  4. Letting go allows you to realize your greatest potential. A mission trip teaches you that most of the things you thought were important really aren’t. Away from your daily routine, reduced to the bare necessities and ministering to people who have very little by U.S. standards, you are able to see more clearly than ever before. Talk about passion. Talk about living with purpose. People you meet on mission trips have it in spades, and they got it by learning what really counts in life.
  5. Mountain-top experiences need to be cultivated year-round. Mission trips end, people go back to work. You cannot stay on top of the mountain forever. True, but there is this thing called church. You go to church and get involved in its activities to feed and sustain what you experienced on the mountain. And that gradually changes your life, gives it new meaning and a purpose. I never much liked church before I got involved in mission work. That’s because I never understood that it was a corporate experience, designed to teach, foster and support a transformation that you can’t do by yourself. Now I actually like going to church. Amazing.

Letting go, loving and losing myself in a higher power to accomplish things that I know I couldn’t possibly do on my own. Those are some of the lessons I take to Mozambique.

Posted in Happiness, Leadership, Purpose | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

It makes no sense to have a plan if you don’t review it

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Jay Morris

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of having a written plan—whether that’s a business, financial or life plan—and the value of writing things down vs. just having them bounce around in your head.

I noted there is evidence that those who have written financial and business plans are more successful, and I cited reasons from Michael Hyatt for writing down your life plan.

I’ve since stumbled upon a great blog by Michael Nichols, associate vice president for enrollment and marketing at Southern Wesleyan University. Nichols blogs on leadership and self-development at michaelnichols.org. I like his intentional approach to career changes and personal growth.

The point Nichols makes is that it’s not enough to write down your plan. (You mean I have to do more?) You need to make sure you are staying on track by periodically reviewing and modifying your plan.

Nichols has a life plan and a business vision, and he reviews both weekly. Here are his tips:

1. Reconnect with the important

My life plan and business vision outline those things that I have identified as having the highest value in my life and work. Let’s face it – life happens. We get off track. The urgent replaces the important.

If I’ve strayed off track or my progress has slowed, my weekly review allows me to refocus and reset. It helps me reconnect with my highest-payoff disciplines.

2. Review progress

I’m naturally more attuned to areas that need improvement. It’s easy for me to be blind to progress. So it’s important for me to set a time to review where I’ve come from – and how far I’ve come.

All of us can benefit from celebrating progress more often – it provides energy and creates momentum to get to the next level.

3. Look ahead

It’s also critical for me to reconnect with where I’m headed – short-term and long-term. So I take a look at the next week or two in my calendar to see what’s coming. Reviewing my business plan helps me keep up with short-term projects and reviewing my business vision helps me keep 5, 10, 20-year goals in view.

4. Make updates

When I first wrote my life plan, business vision, business plans, ideal week, etc., they weren’t perfect. In fact, I found that there were a lot of things that just didn’t work in the early days. They were works in progress.

Michael Hyatt recommends that you view them as drafts which you will regularly revise as needed. I often make minor notes and updates on a weekly basis.

I schedule 1-2 days away for my quarterly review to make major improvements. I have also scheduled an annual review during the week between Christmas and New Years – another discipline I learned from Michael Hyatt. During my annual review I complete my annual time block for the coming year. This helps me look ahead 1-2 years to ensure that I set aside substantial time for those areas that I have identified as most important in my life.

Boy, do I have a lot of work to do!

Image from newslincolncounty.com.
Posted in Careers, Goal setting, Organization, Purpose | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments