For those of us of a certain age, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and others seem like a shadowy mystery figure in a 1940’s film noir classic. So it was for me, until cryptocurrency came home. A quick story: A few years back, my son invested $100 in a cryptocurrency exchange, Mt. Gox, at the time, the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange and wallet provider. His investment … [Read more...]
Jerry Lewis, banks and the power of testimonials
The passing of Jerry Lewis at 91 a few weeks back set us to thinking about the power of testimonials. For Lewis, comedian, actor, singer and star of stage, screen film and nightclubs, testimonials came in the form of laughter and applause from an audience, or in the case of his work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, billions of dollars for charity. Lewis was honored … [Read more...]
Six decades, one store and countless lessons on business, banking and life.
Bernard’s Store for Men has stood in the heart of downtown Jasper, Ala., for nearly 70 years, the retail anchor of a town built on coal. Located on the town square in the shadow of Walker County’s historic court house, Bernard’s is a place to find timeless men’s fashion –crisp button-down dress shirts, suits, blue blazers with brass buttons, colorful ties and shoes shined to a … [Read more...]
United Airlines, a public relations multiple engine failure.
If we had to pick the public relations flub of the first four months of 2017, try United Airlines. Calling United’s fiasco, a flub is an extreme understatement. For the airline, this is a public relations multiple engine failure, a public image crash and burn. The bare facts: United personnel physically removed a Chinese passenger from an overbooked Chicago-to-Louisville … [Read more...]
5 lessons for bankers from Augusta National.
Traditionally, at least, banking and golf go together like sweet tea and cornbread. And this week – for weekend duffers like me – marks golf’s high holy days. The Masters tournament begins today. Think of it, the coveted green jacket, the resplendent azaleas painted every color in God’s palate. Green grass my wife would kill for. Bobby Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, Watson, … [Read more...]