Cruising Alvin Jett

"Guys like you and me; they strike oil under our gardens and all we get is dead tomatoes".

                                                                         Eddie Wilson- Eddie and the Cruisers

Not necessarily the case with Alvin Jett; artistic endeavor at the root, like in the movie Eddie and the Cruisers.  Let's sub out the greed theme that was portrayed in the the 1983 movie for, social demand perhaps?  Spin it just right and it fits.

I was able to talk to one of my favorite "missing" musicians, Alvin Jett, recently.  Nobody has heard from him in a couple years and, to this day, I still get people asking almost weekly about what might have happened to him, and what became of him?  "Like Eddie and the Cruisers, he just up and disappeared", is what I tell folks.  I think it's sexy put like that, good story telling like that.  Perhaps we should shuttle him in for a night, then whisk him a way, like that. 

Now, I know that he didn't drive his car off a bridge under duress over his artistic integrity not measuring up to record label needs.  I am not even sure his car would have started.  It was no secret that Alvin needed to get out of town and get it together.  Nobody was surprised by his exit.  And it was also no secret that there were and still are a lot of people who genuinely care about him, and want him to get stable once and for all, and return to his roots. 

This local rise to fame story; he who was awarded the top blues act in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times in 2010, the man and myth once relied upon by this promoter, on many occasions, to fill the room as well as other larger stages at local festivals, had to leave or risk, well, whatever he was running from. I will leave it at that. 

Alvin and his band, Phat noiZ, made up of Alvin Jett on vocals and guitar, Marlin Harris on drums and Nephew Davis on bass, were part of the Soulard musicianhood--those local blues players good enough to have earned the stage at joints like Hammerstones, BB's, 1860 and other clubs requiring a "standard" of excellence measured by how well you fill the house.  "The boys", as I called them handled my blues jam every Wednesday for a couple years, at the Wolf Public House.  They took over after my band, Jimmyleg and the Browndogs had run its course.  Since I owned the joint, I learned a lot by jumping in with these guys, and the other blues musicians trekking out to West County, each Wednesday, until Alvin bailed. 

Yes, it was good to hear from ole Alvin Jett.  He was energised and working hard to invent and/or re-invent himself in a major market somewhere far away. That big smile of his will inventively get him in the door, as he always has, and he will deliver.  I asked him what I could do to help get him back to the Lou and he said it was complicated, but doable.  I might have been the one who said it was doable.  I am working on it, ifyouknowhatimtalkinbout.

On a street in New Jersey a crowd gathers to look into a store window.  It's the end of the movie, and "A Season in Hell", produced from a rescued master is finally released and premiered for the first time, and as the lights from the television dim, the crowd walks away, leaving only one person standing at the window. The reflection appears in the store window, revealing it to be a much-older and long-lost (insert Alvin) Eddie Wilson. He smiles serenely, proud to know that his work, misunderstood all those years ago, is finally being heard, and he disappears into the night.

Unplug your Function and Focus

A couple important things to reflect upon just after my most recent business group meeting.  I belong to a group called Vistage, which is a pretty high level entrepreneurial group of folks who act as board members for each others businesses.  It's really a good format and I enjoy it.  We work through lots of things and, as business owners, most of us have the same problems.  This group genuinely likes each other, so we have a wonderful time drilling down, helping each other where needed; usually the "been there, done that" reminders of similar situations that we can all relate.  I find this group most helpful, and am thankful and feel fortunate that I can participate.

Lately I have been centering myself on "unplugging".  Not in the sense that you would think, based on any of my previous musings; in the past I would tout the necessary reasons for getting the hell out of the business to recover outdoors; gain control of that which brought you to the point of near collapse.  I have been there so many times I can't even count.  But I didn't really benifit because of what was missing.  What I have learned in this past year in this group and with the help of my new partnership, I need to unplug in a different mannor.



Wapiti Adventure Entrepreneurs in Tucson, AZ

I spent a bunch of years advocating the "getting out" of the business to renew, re-charge, re-invent, re-animate.  We even started a business called Wapiti Adventures (just before the recession mind you).  This businesses catered to the needs of business owners, burnt toast folks, needing some "oxygen inspired thinking" (this was actually our tag line).  We had a great time with this and I hear that it is moving forward soon.  From a marketing perspective Wapiti was great.  And at the time, the company had cash to do all sorts of crazy entrepreneurial stuff. I am in the process of selling that business for virtually zero; the second in a year that I have shaken off of my shirt-tail.  I won't be putting another dime in to anything like that in the future.  Staying focused is a whole other topic.

Nope, the un-plugging that I am referring to is a much broader, more meaningful thing to me now that I have been exposed to some practical concepts with my new partnership and with my new group of fellow business owners.   Should I choose to adhere, I will join an elite group of folks who are just that much more successful in their businesses than the standard.  If I am successful, I will have performed for the two most important things in my work life; my clients and my employees. 

I will not work "in" the business.  I will work (and this is so cliche) "on" the business.  If  plugged-in to a function, whether it be Field Operations, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Finance or whatever, if I take a functional role in any of these areas, I will lose perspective.  Not to mention the fact that I am not really proficient in any of them to the extent that I can make a difference after years of doing whatever it is that I do. 

What I am proficient and/or need to be proficient in, is managing the continued improvement of these functional areas, and the relationship by which they interact with each other.   My "functional" role is to establish the appropriate partitions and perpetuate a transparent culture of priority  and continuous improvement.  It helps if you have a basic framework of performance management delivered by your HR department.  I am not smart enough to do that, so I surround myself with the best in this and all the functional areas.

This isn't new stuff, and certainly not considered ground breaking material.  But there is a real moment of clarity after a couple months forcing yourself to stay on the periphery--staying out there long enough to gain the perspective--that little dashboard in your head that visualizes a harmonious interaction of productivity--information flowing upward versus downward from you.  You must start a communication process necessary for everyone to understand their role and why the roles would likely change, evolve and or in some instances go away.  These concepts are found in the Rockefeller Habits and the Great Game of Business.  Google!

For me, I wasn't doing a very good job of communicating any thing other than the need to keep motivated, stay positive and good things would happen.  This worked for quite a while but we never broke out and got to the next level. For 13 years our company rose out of basically nothing into a business with credibility and poise.  But we all know that if we are not growing, not continuously improving, we are moving backwards, and that erodes capability and sustainability. 

If you are interested in more of this stuff, I'd be happy to share, simply drop me a line. 

Cheers!

R

 

January Birthday Tribute

THIS JUST IN!  A late cancellation at the Wolf prompted fellow adventurer/triathlete Chuck Omelson (ChuckO), to ask me to play for his birthday gathering.  So we will recognize Chuck on his special day, as well as anyone else who might find it appropriate to join us.  Don't be surprised if a couple other musicians show.  Looks to be a good time. 

6-9 PM at the Wolf.  Get there for the Chair.

Ozark Trail Association Steps Out

I get inspired by interesting stories of interesting people and things.  Interesting being the key word here.  Interesting meaning those stories and the people in them centered on things a little off the beaten path, a little less conventional and, perhaps, a little misunderstood.  I am that way in part.  I prefer to apply myself in areas outside of the normal sequence of popular culture.  Because it's better.  But rather than get in to a discussion on that, I wanted to share something really cool that will more than likely take front stage for me in the upcoming years.

I was introduced to the Ozark Trail Association a couple of years ago when my buddy Jim Davis aka Team Trail Monster (TTM), and his wife, endurance Mountain Bike Champion, Wendy Davis, started blasting social media stuff about their involvement.  Jim and Wendy?--nope, not your typical folks.  They subscribe to a lifestyle centered on the outdoors, active living and in my opinion, the real pleasures of the outdoor experience.  They both have been members of Team Seagal and Jim an active member of GORC (Gateway Off-road Cyclists), that amazing trail building/access advocacy  responsible for the amazing multi-use trails all over St. Louis.  Missouri has some wonderful trails and GORC has been responsible for their renaissance.


From left to right
Steve Coats, Greg Echele, Ralph Pfrermmer, Matt Atnip and Jim Davis
 

Wendy is a writer, and I have hired her to do a couple things here and there.  So when she told her readers on her blog  about doing a story for the Ozark Trail Connector, an annual magazine of the association, I took interest.  After reading it I became a little more interested in what has now become an obsession, The OTA!

I had heard of the trail and the association, but never embarked on what the history the mission of the organization was.  Like others I know, I took for granted that it was a state agency or something, a trail funded by the State or Department of Natural Resources and that it was simply part of the Mark Twain National Forest trail system. It hadn't occurred to me the importance of this self supported non-profit organization and Natural Resource, until now.

Last night I met with some members of the board of the OTA including Steve Coates, President, Matt Atnip, Vice President, and board member, Greg Echelle.  Jim Davis felt it necessary to set things up because, on a recent day trip to the trail, my fifth in less than two weeks, I kept asking questions about the organization.  Questions about the history and how it started, what was most significant about it, what the mission was, where it was going, what the plan was to connect other parts of Missouri.  With every answer came another question.  I had more questions than he had the patience for, so Jim set up a meeting at The Wolf Public House in Ballwin.  The Wolf, known for its allegiance to outdoor activity and advocacy for active living, is where I hang out for good food, beverage and people of the like.

So I wanted to share this with you; what seems to be a new journey in the making, with a whole new topic to pontificate about.  I am so inspired by these people and the good work that they do, I have decided to get involved and help promote that which I think is Missouri's most incredible natural resource.  I'm jumping in with both feet with these folks, the board, the volunteers, the culture of outdoors people whose lives are enriched by the mission and story of a guy named John Roth.

John Roth (1959 - 2009)
Founder Ozark Trail Association

Take the time to read the story at the link provided.  And watch this video too.  You will hear much more from me on this.  Please feel free to get involved.  The TTM and I will be hosting a handful of hikes and rides, #getchasum.

**As I come to the end of my term as Chairman of the Board of the Endangered Wolf Center, it appears obvious the need to use my skills learned there to help another eco-focused non-profit organizations meet their goals.  The Endangered Wolf Center now sits on firm ground after some very tough years. In 2010 there was the possibility that the center would close.  I was helpful in providing a style of leadership necessary to stabilize and eventually attain sustainability.  Managing the crisis and persevering through this crisis has been a lesson in life that I won't forget.  And I am thankful for my colleagues in choosing me to help provide perspective. 

 

Lewis Greenberg Makes History

I ran into Lewis Greenberg the other day.  That's always a treat.  I was killing some time at the new Schnucks, the controversial Schnucks, in Ballwin.  It's a nice store, with lots of nice people, lots of Stepford wife looking women, that's what I was thinking anyway.  They shopped with their carts, while there husbands busily plotted to turn the west county scenery in to robots.  I grabbed a V8 and went upstairs where a meeting room and some tables are handy for doing what I was doing.  I brought a book with me, Breakfast with Bhuda. 

Now, that's one hell of a paragraph if you ask me.  Lewis, Schnucks for some chill time, Stepford wives and a book on Buddhism?  Needless to say I didn't open the book.  Lewis appeared from the stairwell and shouted my name from across the room.  No filter, never a filter with Lewis, remember.  I was happy to see him, noticed that he looked good, was in good spirits, cantankerous, but in good spirits. I smiled and motioned him over.  Lewis has always been respectful of my time. We got at it. 

I recommend that you follow the link above to get the Lewis Greenberg story. There are lots of stories that I have chronicled along the way. 

I prepared myself for what I knew was our protocol for having a conversation.  And that's all it took, a memory of what works best with Lewis, a process that anyone must go through in order to have a meaningful conversation.  A process that anyone must go through, if you want to extract the goodness out of a person so filled with the desire to do some major ass kickin stuff. 

I love that about him, to be quite honest.  He is in ass kicking mode 24/7 and once he decides to go for the jugular, he turns on the super turbo ass kicking laser bomb.  There is no filter, you better have your act together.  And if you don't, he will tell you, in the way that everyone understands, that you are an idiot.  He is 100% authentic, all of the time.

I miss knowing Lewis like I once did.  Back when I had the restaurant over on Clayton.  It wasn't really all that long ago.  What I remember taking most from our friendship was the influence on the way I appreciate art and culture.  He gave me that gift.  Lewis taught me everything I know about it.  So much so that I incorporate art and culture in to everything I do now.  Everything has storytelling, everything has a connection to something else.  I learned this from him.  He convinced me that people in my (our) town suffered from what he calls, cultural depravity, and that his calling was to express himself with the Holocaust Revisited display and with his 1st amendment rights.  I think everyone is hip to Lewis's calling. 

As a student, or a friend, or an apprentice, if you will, I went about carving out a space for him in the restaurant--a random spillage of art and images, photos, streamers and artifacts.  My stuff was on the theme of active living, but it was purposed a little bit like Lewis's house.  It was a journey equipping the Wolf with cool stuff.  I put pictures of Lewis up too, paintings that he has from his collection.  Because I was once asked by my neighbor:  "Why do you even let him in the place?"  I said: "You know, I not only let him in the place, but he is memorialized and, he is the only one who may bring his bicycle inside".  I hung a sticker covered Kestrel in the window for 4 years in his honor of being a cyclist.   

I didn't expect people to understand, nor did I care.  Lewis brought joy to the way I went about expressing myself to the customers. And the customers liked the place.  It's less interesting to have less interesting things around you.  I have a bit of a  track record of doing interesting things, and meeting and hosting interesting people. It got a little sticky from time to time.  Once Lewis interrupted a group of business men in prayer.  Lewis says he is an atheist Jew.  So something set him off and I had to shuttle him out.  This happened from time to time, but I didn't mind. 

The Wolf has changed, Bob Biribin and family are making it theirs now and I am really happy about that.  I am still there just about every day.  Because I love the people there.  Bob has amazing food and I eat healthier because he and his wife have a great eye for "real food" and better beer.  Less about me, the Wolf now is, and all of the Lewis artifacts are gone.  But the spirit and history of expression will always be there in my opinion.  And even though we changed the name of the place to The Wolf Public House from Lone Wolf.  People still call the place Lone Wolf.  Tell that to the Isle of Capri.

So why did I highlight Lewis Greenberg, the one so controversial, the one often jailed, the one often casted out from businesses and events throughout the city, for just being him?  Why did I choose to dedicate space in the restaurant to his art?-- which, if you haven't seen it, you should?

It's pretty simple, the dude has been running from the torch bearers for quite a while now and I wanted to give him some room to breathe.  I also wanted to let him know that he is appreciated as a human being, not some sort of side show hunchback.  I wanted to show the community, those with the slightest sliver of open mind to get to meet him.  I wanted to show them exactly what they were missing or sure what they did not want.  Because there was a percentage of people who "get Lewis", and I wanted to make sure that those friendships were kindled. 

No, mot everyone adores Lewis.  I would bet that  the local police draw straws when getting the calls from folks who think he is out of hand, dangerous, troubled.  One thing for sure, the more they come, the more the art evolves.  The closer the torches get, the brighter the glow upon his rooftop.  This has been what is most interesting to me.  You see, the community, by way of their own involvement, by way of their dislike and mis-understanding of things, by way of their own cultural depravity, have contributed to his art.  And Lewis, who's canvas appears each morning when he opens his eyes, begins another day by being him in a community that, like it or not, is enriched by his presence. At least some folks think so.

Lewis mentioned that his son was set to come and visit soon with his grandchildren.  This was quite the sparkle. 

He has a new piece on his garage door, in case anyone disputes the fact that his theme is Holocaust related.  Its a massive Auschwitz image.  You cannot miss it and there is no chance of not figuring it out.  The photo is also on his business card.  I recommend you go over there after patronizing the Schuncks store in Ballwin, the one that filled the auditorium at city hall in opposition with the same folks who want him jailed for his art.

ifyouknowhatimtalkinbout.     

From Crisis to Sustainability: The Story of the Endangered Wolf Center Recovery-Part 1

Part 1--Advancemet by Association

If you know me, or have read this blog, you might guess that I get pulled into all sorts of projects that have to do with somebody else's business or organizational endeavor, particularly in the non-profit world.  That's what's fun about being entrepreneurial. And I am always flattered when asked to help on any project, even though I approach things lately with a kind of  "careful hand I dole" philosophy, in light of my recent journey.  This in relationship to my resources, influence and yes, money, from time to time.  While I have never professed to have great knowledge of how non-profit organizations work, I have recently gained perspective on how they struggle to find and maintain sustainability.  This is a story of my education on the topic, and the use of common business acumen necessary to gain a perspective, make adjustments and deploy a crisis strategy.  Please enjoy...

For several years I have been involved with and supported a myriad of local charities ranging from the MS Society, Trailnet, the Arthritis Foundation, The YMCA, The Boy Scouts, multiple Higher Education and Private High Schools and their functions. I really cannot remember all but there have been many.  My connection to all of them?--food, beverage, event management and logistics pertaining to active living and cultural events. I have experience in all that stuff by way of the business that I started back in 2000, Pfoodman.

To come clean on how we got Pfoodman on the map (reference able by assorted business journal articles positioned through google and social media) is to say that it was our shtick to guerrilla market" the company into prominence.  It made sense, especially in the early years, for lack of any other means to promote the vision and the brand, Pfoodman. Guerrilla marketing was an early and cheap means of promotion. I first immersed myself in it, then later became an expert.  Along side this I embraced the early days of social media to try and get an edge on things.  I got started in the mid 90's with planting images and active living results from my competitive cycling days on the Internet, started posting on message boards, relevant information leading back to a commodity.  It would be four years before I would introduce Pfoodman to the market place as an on-site catering management business with significant social platforming; wellness, active living and community stewardship. 

It wasn't easy, and there really was no road map, template or safety net.  For lack of any other storytelling, I used these platforms as a means to get in front of people, to connect to tribes of people with healthier mindsets, like minded people with good jobs at influential business and institutions.   I plotted to get my company name and logo next to other significant logos of substance.  Businesses like Anheuser Busch, Charter, THF Realty, Emerson, Bank of America (insert big St. Louis blue-blood type companies here).  My silver bullet:  the in-kind donations of catering for bike rides, walks, runs, races and music events.  Since I sell food and wanted to develop relationships in the community as being a community steward, it worked.  Food is easy to give away.  By giving "real food" away, it was as if we were speaking the language to these groups.

Through the years, and with an unsteady hand of choosing the right organizations to align with, Pfoodman was able to forge deep relationships with significant clients who understand the need to resonate quality, in our case, the "real food" services that helped our clients create their own distinction.   A residual take away was the fact that there were indeed individuals and businesses outside of our market that would think of us as "good partners" in community stewardship, because we have always been there for what the community thinks is important.  It's one big popularity contest.  That's all.

In a perfect world, this sort of marketing would need to have a proven ROI from time time; a measurable advancement of the business with key performance indicators.  But its really isn't measurable.   Perhaps it is not meant to be, when in the tribal relationship building business.  It is a broadcast of goodwill that implants the goodness of the platform within a consumer who may or may not be ever be a customer.  It's later, much later, that good things come.

This was the essence of my charitable marketing strategy at Pfoodman and the supporting businesses that we founded, including The Wolf Public House--Its "cause marketing", or "strategic philanthropy" as my blue blood friends call it. It's nothing new.

Please enjoy a quote that I think appropriately captures my experience with this sort of thing.   It is probably important to realize that I really didn't have a clue as to where it would take me, nor whether or not I had the money to play in the sandbox...

"I am not sure I want to be called a strategic philanthropist any more than I want to be called broke"--Ralph Pfremmer.

Cont.