Marketing Update
| by Austin Gamble
Where Marketing
Minds Meet
The Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) has for decades been
the pre-eminent marketing institution in southern Africa, and has been
driving innovative marketing thought and shaping business leaders
since 1948. An integral part of this process is the regular IMM Friday
sessions held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, whereby
relevant and focused presentations are delivered by industry experts.
M
arketing minds certainly met
on Friday 29 August 2014
at the Zone in Rosebank,
Johannesburg, with three thought
provoking presentations by Reg Lascaris,
Peter Cowan and Professor Andy Andrews
(see attached blocks).
These creative presentations are important
extra curricula events, lending weight to
what is learnt at the IMM Graduate School
of Marketing and the IMM School of
Business Science. A wide range of courses
are offered by these institutions, and the
new trend is online customised corporate
and skills development programmes to
suit the business environment, as well as
courses on digital media and social media.
For more information, please
contact corporate@edegree.co.za or
teresa@edegree.co.za
If you’re middle of the road, you’re going to get run over both ways – Reg La scaris,
founder of TWBA Hunt Lascaris, and chairman of TWBA Africa
9.
The Concerns of the Nation are the
Concerns of All of Us – don’t be a
spectator, be an actor
10. A Good Leader has a Sense of
Humour – be serious, but always
see the funny side of a situation
11. Be Aware of Hubris – arrogance
will always bite you in the
backside
12. Be Paranoid – not everyone is out
to get you, but always be aware of
the threat
Reg Lascaris, whose book
Lessons from the Boot of a Car
got the thumbs up from deputy
president Cyril Ramaphosa, has
had a stellar career, both locally
and internationally, in marketing
and advertising, and he passed
on his secret of success,
packaged into 12 key points
(because of space constraints,
I have taken the liberty of doing
my own little editing):
1.
2.
3.
4.
Set Big Bold Goals – mediocre
doesn’t cut it
Most Solutions are Simple – don’t
complicate things
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
– culture is many things, but the
most important pillars are creativity,
respect, passion, profitability, and
fulfilment – and don’t forget to
laugh a lot, especially at yourself
Be a Passionate Leader – and walk
the talk
5.
6.
7.
8.
Be a Tough Minded Optimist –
accept the ups and downs that
come with the job
Silent and Listen contain the
same letters – take time to
meditate, and listen to what is
being said
Employ the Orphans of Life – go
for hungry people with something
to prove; don’t employ spoilt
people who have never had to
fight for anything
Always attack the issue, not the
person – if you make this issue
personal you will get nowhere
| words in action
84
october 2014
These points were interspersed
with some great examples, and
Lascaris concluded with the
observation that in the end it
is how you live your life, and
he used nursery school rules
to get the point across: clean
up your mess, say sorry when
you’ve hurt someone, don’t
take other people’s stuff, take
time for a nap, play a lot, and
most importantly, be aware of
wonder!