Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Agency Culture, Attitude & Aptitude, China, Colenso, Comment, Corporate Evil, Creativity, Culture, Distinction, Emotion, Empathy, Management, Nike, Otis, Perspective, Relevance, Resonance, Wieden+Kennedy
Lot’s of companies talk about doing good.
Sadly, of those who do, many have both eyes fixed on what’s in it for them.
A headline.
An award.
A chance to win favour with someone they want to connect with.
An opportunity to distract attention from all the bad stuff they’re doing.
Now there are some companies who mean it.
Who have a set of values that truly is reflected in a set of behaviours.
However, in my experience, I’ve found it’s often more to do with the character of an individual within the organisation rather than the organisation.
Not always, but often.
What I’ve found is the best way to identify the real motivation behind an act of generosity is to see how inconvenient it is for them to execute.
The more inconvenient, the more they care.
I’ve seen some amazing examples of people going out of their way …
There was the time Simon Pestridge – when he was CMO at NIKE – got me a signed Wayne Rooney, Manchester United shirt so I could give it to a random taxi driver I’d met in Atlanta. Or the time San – also from Nike – humoured me by getting me green M&M’s [my attempt at reliving the Van Halen ‘brown M&M trick‘] when they asked me to pull a global preso together at the last second.
That’s proof of people who give a shit about others.
But I’ve seen the other side.
The food brand who ‘donated’ $100 to a group collecting food for victims of an earthquake.
Or the travel company who gave schools a 3% discount for train tickets so city kids could see a beach.
Or the international conglomerate who talk about purpose and their desire to help humanity but continue to profit from cultural exploitation and acts of prejudice.
But where you would normally expect me to leave the post there – with a bad taste in your mouth – I’m not going to.
I know, who the fuck am I?
You see a while back I got asked by Coca-Cola if I’d give a presentation to their Asia-Pac marketing team.
I decided a while back, that I’m going to start ‘exploiting’ my so-called position by trying to do things that can positively change things for more people.
So I told them I’d do it if they agreed to hire a young woman [full-time or a long-term paid internship] who hadn’t gone to university and came from a more humble background.
Then – proving I’m still a selfish, blagging bastard – I said I’d also like some Coke Zero for me.
Amazingly … brilliantly … awesomely they agreed and were nothing but kind and open about making it happen – which also helps explain the photo at the top of this page showing Otis with an outdoor furniture set made of Coke Zero supplies.
They didn’t have to do it.
They could have just asked someone else to do the talk.
But they did … and while there are many things people could throw stones at them for, this was more than many and more valuable than most.
Which leaves me with this …
If you’re asked to do a presentation or a talk or even a panel for someone, maybe you could consider doing a similar thing to me.
Let’s face it, if they would do it for me, they’ll DEFINITELY do it for you.
And if they say no, then you’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with.
But maybe they’ll say yes.
Maybe it won’t be an internship, but it could be something else.
A partnership with a school.
An introduction to one of their partner companies.
Some mentorship.
A donation.
And while it might not change millions of lives, it could change one.
And that is most definitely better than none.
Just a thought.
Thank you Coca-Cola..
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Rob Campbell in a word. Freebies.
Comment by DH December 8, 2021 @ 8:10 amlots of fucking one word possibilities to sum campbell up but freebie is one of them.
Comment by andy@cynic December 8, 2021 @ 8:44 amGuilty as charged.
Comment by Rob December 8, 2021 @ 9:20 amI love everything about this Robert. What a wonderful thing to do. Well done.
Comment by Mary Bryant December 8, 2021 @ 8:18 amsometimes hes not a total prick. but he did ask for free coke so dont think hes a fucking saint. hes still satans spawn.
Comment by andy@cynic December 8, 2021 @ 8:45 amThanks Mary …
It’s not enough.
It’s too late.
But I am committed to trying to make up for lost time.
Especially – as Andy so kindly pointed out – if I can get a freebie out of it, hahahaha.
Comment by Rob December 8, 2021 @ 9:21 amHow long did it take you to drink it all?
Comment by Billy Whizz December 8, 2021 @ 8:24 amless than a week.
Comment by andy@cynic December 8, 2021 @ 8:44 amNot quite, but we have gone through a lot of it at a very alarming rate. Proving that having it on ‘tap’ demolishes any attempt to have balance in my life.
Comment by Rob December 8, 2021 @ 9:23 amWill the recipient of this lovely idea be known as the Campbell Intern or will they have a less alarming title?
Comment by John December 8, 2021 @ 10:11 amHopefully they demand to maintain their anonymity.
Comment by DH December 8, 2021 @ 11:45 am