August 2008 – greenandprofitable.com

Sarah Palin: Analyzing McCain's Choice for VP

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 30, 2008 Posted in Politics

Things are certainly getting interesting!

First the young Obama picks old-guard Joe Biden, with foreign policy experience and working-class appeal. And then just one day after Obama accepts the nomination, McCain taps Sarah Palin–with just two years experience as governor of a very sparsely populated state. Before that, she was mayor of the small Anchorage suburb where she lives, population just 6500.

Add to that the weird economy of Alaska, where oil revenues are actually partially socialized: yes, the same sort of direct-to-the-people benefit for which McCain and Bush criticize Hugo Chavez. In 2007, every person who had lived in Alaska at least a year got $1654 from the oil fund; the amount varies from year to year, but the wealth redistribution program has been paying out since 1982.

In short, it’s hard to see the relevance of managing Alaska, with its hefty oil surplus and sparse population of 670,053 (about the size of in-city-limits Boston or Washington) spread out over an area more than twice the size of Texas to potentially being president of the United States of America.

My 15-year-old son commented, “There goes the argument about more experience!”

And he hadn’t seen the AP story, which noted,

She has more experience catching fish than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.

Palin, born in 1964, is younger than Obama; McCain, at 72, is older than Biden. She’s a former beauty queen who last year posed for Vogue. She likes guns, mooseburgers, and attacking corruption, and she has a history of taking on–and beating–much more seasoned politicians.

On the one hand, picking a woman could make significant inroads among the former Hillary voters, despite Hillary’s strong and enthusiastic endorsement of Obama at the DNC. However, any Hillary supporter who looks at policy is not going to like the anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-family, pro-big-money positions of McCain and the Republicans, so I doubt that gambit will be successful–except for those who want a woman, and don’t care about anything else. And they sure didn’t do much for Geraldine Ferraro back in 1984.

On the other hand, I get the impression that perhaps McCain picked someone he sees as weak enough on foreign policy to not give him any guff. If he’d wanted a policy wonk, he could have chosen Condi Rice–though I could see at least three reasons why he wouldn’t go there: too tied to the Bush administration, loses him whatever racist backlash vote there might be against Obama (yes, I’m cynical enough to go there), and has said she doesn’t want the job.

And if I can grow a third hand for a moment: Palin may not be all that easy to push around. She seems to prize her independence. In fact, she’s far more of a “maverick” than McCain has been lately. Obama pointed out last night just how often McCain has voted with Bush.

If McCain were elected and served two full terms, he’d be 80. Many, many leaders have died before that age, so the prospect of Palin assuming the presidency needs to be looked at closely. she’s got spunk–but her experience is very limited.

UPDATE: About an hour after I posted this, I received this blistering criticism of the nomination from Defenders of Wildlife–definitely not encouraging:

F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 0 8
Shocking Choice by John McCain

WASHINGTON– Senator John McCain just announced his choice for running mate: Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. To follow is a statement by Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”

Obama's Speech: Style AND Substance

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 29, 2008 Posted in Marketing Techniques and Philosophies, Politics, Social and Economic Justice

Barack Obama’s acceptance speech tonight showed me why he is electable–and actually got me excited enough to stay up late and blog about it.

As rhetoric, it was superbly crafted:

Attacking the Bush/McCain policies (and their tendency to attack those who disagree) while honoring McCain’s patriotism and sincerity–never trashing the man, only his politics and policies; positioning him as out of touch and unqualified to lead, of having a vision of America’s greatness that was incompatible with the majority of Americans, and contrasting his own vision of America’s greatness, as a champion of the poor and oppressed, as a catalyst for improving the lives of others, and as a country ready to reclaim its fallen standing–and he said, once again, that the campign was “not about me. It’s about you.”

Unifying Democrats who did or didn’t vote for him, by paying tribute very early to the others who sought the nomination, and especially Hillary Clinton

Bringing in the ghosts of major Democratic Party heroes like Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Also honoring the working people of this country: teachers, soldiers, veterans, factory workers

Using some of the most effective rhetorical devices honed by oratorical sharpshooters from Ronald Reagan to Jesse Jackson (an area where McCain, a remarkably insipid speaker, can’t touch him)

Showing the failure of Bush’s policies around the war, foreign policy in general, and the dismal response to Katrina, among other areas, and linking McCain to these failures

Building on the months-long campaign talking points of hope and change and unity–but adding at least a few specifics, especially on energy, terrorism, and education

On those specifics–I endorsed Obama last winter (after Kucinich dropped out), and I found myself agreeing with about 80 percent. I have issues with his energy policy, which relies too heavily on big, scary technologies such as nuclear and coal–but I thoroughly applaud his commitment to get us off imported oil within ten years (something that should have started in the Carter administration, or even the Nixon). I have issues with his foreign policy, which strikes me as unnecessarily hawkish, though light-years ahead of McCain’s. But I commend him for consistently opposing the Iraq debacle at the beginning and putting forth a timetable, even a slow one, for withdrawal.

And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.

So Obama is real progress. Not anywhere near as far as I’d like, but that may actually be to his advantage–because I think when the American people listen, they will find a genuinely likable and sincere individual who is of the people, despite the GOP’s absurdist attempts to paint him as an elitist or as a dangerous radical. He’s not very radical at all, and he comes from a broken home, worked as a community organizer, and talked quite a bit tonight about the economic hardships he faced, and how they reinforce his commitment to make sure every American can afford a college education and decent health care. In language that the typical red state voter (if not blinded by racism) can see and hear.

Random House: Are You Moral Enough to Write children's Lit?

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 24, 2008 Posted in Ethics: General, Publishing

Joan Druett, my New Zealand pirate historian friend, blogged about Random House UK’s contract clause regulating the morality of its children’s authors (It’s the second post on august 21. There’s also a very interesting post on August 23 about politicians and the books they [in many cases] purport to write. Obama, apparently, actually writes his own–unlike JFK and many others.)

Anyway, Joan found this on Galleycat, which in turn found it on a Guardian blog by Sian Pettenden:

“If you act or behave in a way which damages your reputation as a person suitable to work with or be associated with children, and consequently the market for or value of the work is seriously diminished … we may (at our option) take any of the following actions: Delay publication / Renegotiate advance / Terminate the agreement.”

Well, this raises a host of questions–and no, I don’t have the answers (maybe you do–oplease make a comment, below).

First of all, who decides? Does a pacifist say that a decorated war hero is immoral due to violence? Does a fundamentalist reject out-of-hand a book by a gay or lesbian author such as my much-published children’s author friend Lesléa Newman whose long-ago book Heather Has Two Mommies has become a classic?

Second, what do we do about the inescapable record of brilliant children’s writing from the pens of those who–in the eyes of some others–would not be considered moral? Would the world have lost such classics as Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain, the gambler, smoker, and hanger-on with a very rough crowd), Alice in wonderland (Lewis Carroll is widely rumored to have been at least a closet pederast), and Harry Potter (JK Rowling was a single mom on public assistance)?

Third, what is the appropriate role of a publisher dealing with a morally corrupt author–whether writing for adults or children? What do you do with an outright fraud like James Frey (published by Random House, interestingly enough)? Or someone who does a tell-all in a salacious murder case? (I think you can guess which former football star I’m referring to.) Should those books be published? And if so, who should profit form them?

And fourth, how do we protect children from those who should not be near them?

If you have ideas, please comment here. These are important questions for the future of publishing, and for ethics in general.

Makepeace: Emotion + Rational = Sale

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 22, 2008 Posted in Copywriting, Marketing Techniques and Philosophies

I’ve long been an advocate of writing marketing copy that uses both emotional and rational appeals.

Here’s a specific example: my all-time favorite of the hundreds of press releases I’ve written. I did it back in 1999 when a client hired me to write a press release for a new book on electronic privacy.

Most PR books would tell you to do a press release with a headlne like “Electronic Privacy Expert Releases New Book.” But I say they are wrong! Over 1000 books were released in the US alone every single day of 2007. There’s no news in that headline. So this is what I did instead.

Below is exactly what I produced, except that I’ve changed the author’s name/identifying data/book titles and removed contact info. (Note that had this been a more recent book, I would have brought identity theft into the mix.)

It’s 10 O’Clock—Do You Know Where Your Credit History Is?

ST. PAUL, MN: It’s 10 O’clock—Do you know where your credit history is? How about your employment records? Your confidential medical information?

How would you feel if you found out this sensitive and should-be-private material is “vacationing” in computer databanks around the world—accessible to corporate interests who can afford to track down and purchase it, but not necessarily open to your own inspection?

According to electronic privacy journalist and technology consultant Mortimer Gaines, this scenario is all-too-common. In a groundbreaking but highly readable new book, Information Attack: Privacy at Risk, Gaines explores the twin issues of privacy in an ever-more-wired world, and citizen access to crucial information that governments or corporate conglomerates might prefer to keep hidden.

Gaines, author of over 20 previous books including the acclaimed Internet Guide series (Windows Press, 1993-94), is not a rabid privacy nut. He recognizes that consumers often gain value by sharing personal information, in order to take advantage of express car rentals or frequent flier programs, for instance. But Gaines suggests the transaction should be voluntary, freely given in exchange for a clear benefit.

When, for example, America Online mines data from its customer records and combines it with outside market research to create—and sell—precise demographics with specific identifying information (p. 143), Gaines feels the transaction exploits the consumer, who sacrifices privacy and gets nothing in return. Gaines is equally cogent on issues of citizen access to government and corporate records.

Information Attack: Privacy at Risk, ISBN 0-00000-00-X, includes detailed references to specific websites, a comprehensive index, and a six-page bibliography. The 336-page 6×9″ trade paperback is available directly from the publisher for $25 plus shipping at (phone), https://www.domain.com, or at your favorite bookstore.

Journalists: to obtain a review copy and/or interview the author, please contact (e-mail and phone).

Notice how I started in the realm of emotion, then transitioned to credentials and facts.

In his blog today, master copywriter Clayton Makepeace credits his success to his ability to create precisely that union of right- and left-brained processing–that inexorably leads to action.

Clayton’s better at this than I am, and the post includes a fabulous example. Of course, Clayton also charges orders of magnitude more than I do. He does direct-mail copywriting and has made himself and his clients very wealthy. I suspect he’d not want to get involved with anything as humble and affordable as a press release. But he’s one of a very few copywriters who has a whole lot to teach me, and whose posts I read regularly. Because reading his stuff makes me a better copywriter–and could have the same effect on you.

Congratulations, Rachel Maddow!

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 20, 2008 Posted in media-general

Some good news in the world of mainstream television. As noted in Huffington Post, MSNBC president Phil Griffin was quoted in the New York Times:

Just in time for the closing rush of the presidential election, MSNBC is shaking up its prime-time programming lineup, removing the long-time host — and one-time general manager of the network — Dan Abrams from his 9 p.m. program and replacing him with Rachel Maddow, who has emerged as a favored political commentator for the all-news cable channel.

I’m lucky enough to live in the Northampton, Massachusetts area, where Maddow got her broadcasting start years ago, as the offbeat news anchor/sidekick on the Dave in the Morning show, on WRNX-FM. I still listened when she did her own morning show on WRSI, also in Northampton, and occasionally caught her show on Air America. She still lives in the area on weekends.

Maddow is smart, sasy, and porogressive, amaziingly well-informed, and has an authoritative voice. Best of luck and congrats, Rachel!

Will Tomorrow's Green MBAs Avoid Today's Criminal Behavior?

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 18, 2008 Posted in Business Ethics, Energy & Sustainability, People Helping People

Found both of these links in the How Online blog–found the juxtaposition quite telling:

First, an inspiring (and long-overdue) article on MarketWatch about how people are seeking MBAs not just to acquire personal wealth but to make a difference in the world. I could quote many parts of this terrific article, but I’ll pick just one:

“The New Green Focus for Future MBAs” headlines Greenbiz.com. And, it’s the most popular story on the site. At the same time, a new poll by Experience Inc. shows more students are hoping for a job with a green-minded company. The poll says 81% of students believe there is value in working for an environmentally aware company, while 79% would likely accept a job at an eco-friendly company over a conventional one.

“In a few short years, eco-friendly practices have gone from being new-fangled selling points to becoming essential requirements, with states vying with each other to offer incentives and legislation that promote green technology and business. While the corporate world is scrambling to devise strategies to address sustainability, business schools across the country have been incorporating it into their curriculum for the past several years, both in response to student demand and in line with industry trends,” Greenbiz says.

But the same page of the same blog links to another story (International Herald-Tribune) that shows, once again, the same-old-same-old of too many giant corporations just doesn’t work. and deceptive business practices have cost General Motors, and its auditor, Deloitte & Touche, over $300 million combined:

Under the settlement, GM would pay $277 million to investors, while its auditor, Deloitte & Touche LLP, would pay $26 million, pending approval from U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen in Detroit.

The two-year-old class-action lawsuit claimed that GM misstated and mischaracterized its revenue, earnings and cash flow, artificially inflating the company’s stock price and debt securities.

Let’s hope those green and ethical MBAs of tomorrow remember that they know better when they’re presented with opportunities for fraud.

Master Salesman at Work

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 16, 2008 Posted in Marketing Techniques and Philosophies

I found this link on Guy Kawasaki’s blog: a fellow named Mitchell Weisburgh describes how he had absolutely no intention of buying, yet is now the owner of a handmade Turkish wool rug as the result of a casual encounter on the streets of Istanbul.

Weisburgh puts it in the context of a lesson in marketing and sales, using the principles of Robert Cialdini’s Influence as a guide. I’ve known about Cialdini’s book for years, and it’s been on my to-read list. Certainly, as a copywriter and marketing consultant, I use his principles even without studying them directly (along with several others who write about influence).

Interestingly, I happen to own a small rug that I bought in the Old City of Jerusalem. Nothing as fancy as Weisburgh’s, but again, a rug I had no intention of buying. Of course, at $15 versus Weisburg’s four-figure price, it was a lot easier to let myself be loosened up to buy.

Zen and the Art of "It's All Good"

By Shel Horowitz—Green/Ethical Business Expert Posted on August 14, 2008 Posted in Abundance and Prosperity, Shel's Personal Life

Business lessons in adversity. Yesterday was a day that should have driven me up the wall:

I watched every photo I had taken from the fall of 2005 through the fall of 2007 permanently disappear in a computer failure, while I was trying to copy them to an external drive

A squabble on a discussion list turned ugly in a way that could have serious repercussions for the future of my business

I left yet another voicemail with the editor at a big NY publishing house who should have had a revised contract on my desk in June and has not been answering phone calls or e-mails

Oh yes, and I not only got to walk my dog in the pouring rain (it was only raining at the hiking trail, not at my house half a mile away) and get attacked by mosquitoes, but actually got stung by a bee–in my own kitchen–when I returned

And yet, somehow, I found the Zen of it all, and stayed remarkably calm while my life appeared to be falling apart. A few years ago, I don’t think I could have handled that so smoothly. The loss of the photos alone (including our whole trip to Mexico) would have made me insane.

I thought about the time a few years ago when i was driving a rental car in San Francisco, didn’t have the mirror adjusted properly, and accidentally cut off another driver. With true California class, he leaned out his window and called out, “It’s all good!” I apologized and explained that because it was an unfamiliar car, I had misaligned the mirror, and he was cool with it.

But I’ve often reflected on that. And on the way my friend and mentor Bob Burg is able to deflect conflict, defuse angry people, and accomplish his agenda. He has a newsletter and book called Winning Without Intimidation. I finally got to meet Bob last week when he came to this area for a speech; we’ve been friends online for maybe eight years, and I include a section on him in my award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First.

Applying it to the day I had yesterday, I won’t try to analyze how I stayed so calm. But I will try to draw some business lessons from it.

First of all, back up your files offsite. Duh! I’ll be exploring the best places to do this.

Second, showing anger in public is always counterproductive, no matter how “right” you think you are. I have to go re-read that chapter I wrote about Bob Burg. I played a part in turning that list discussion ugly, and I regret it. And I’ll have to deal with the consequences. I will of course try to do better next time.

And third, be patient because you don’t now what the world has in store for you. If I’m feeling frustrated because the editor isn’t returning my call, or because the Business Ethics Pledge is not getting signatures as quickly as I’d like, or because the six-legged critters are apparently out to get me, I just have to remember the guy in California. “It’s all good,” even if I don’t know exactly how, yet.

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Month: August 2008