Who blew my Trumpet?

Who blew my Trumpet?

The last time I wrote something was when Steve jobs bid adieu to this world prematurely. He still lives in our heart.

Now let me do that again on this occasion when Trump triumphs the world by getting into the echelons of the White house as an outsider - as a pure businessman rather than a senator or a military person.

I’m part of the media industry for several years and keenly follow all major and important happenings around the world. Press celebrated his victory by pulling in more pages as specials in their daily. Press had plenty to write on Trump than senator Hilary except that she would have been the first women president if got elected.

I’ve searched in most Indian dailies to find out the takeaways for the business community from this election. Many wrote about how he won, his strategies, his wealth, family, controversies etc. but very few wrote on the lessons we could learn from his election sweep from a marketing and business perspective.

AMERICA FIRST

This is the most important among all ideas Trump has put forth in his election campaign. America and its citizens are second to none. Country first and all others come after that. His campaign slogan ‘Making America Great Again’ (MAGA) & ‘Making America safe again’ (MASA) created waves. Though democrats have ridiculed this at the beginning but soon found it difficult to cope with the spread of this message in the country. Clinton countered this by telling “America is already great” didn’t go well  with the voters.

In a corporate environment if an employee treat his work as paramount and has an ‘ORGANISATION FIRST’ attitude, the results will be tremendous. All successful people understand that and are implied in their approach and culture.

BLUE COLLAR

His opinion and stand on the blue-collar workers, minorities, gays, Hispanics, religions, immigration and all other sensitive topics all were crisp and clear.  Many felt that it was more from his heart than from the head. I correct that - it was from his gut.

White-collar people were eagerly watching on how his policies are going to affect the blue collar rather than them. When they found it’s not going to affect them, they didn’t make an issue.  It was a reverse approach by Trump.

These days’ people are smart and look for the benefits others get so that they can adjust their demands. Trump sensed this and Hilary missed it.

Strategy is more important than process.

WHITE WASH

Trump didn’t expressly try to please Blacks or other minorities in US but kept them at par with the whites. Whereas Clinton deliberately tired to give her an image of a pro black and minority messiah. This has upset the white majority in America and later she fall on her face. America is meant for the Americans as India is for Indians.

Trump knew the basic principle in business that he can’t please all. Clinton once again bite the dust.  

STRAIGHT FROM THE GUT

Very few understand this statement well. Jack Welsh, Iconic GE man, is the propounder of this great belief. If your gut instinct is right you seldom fails.

Trump was a man of ‘real’. He had his opinion on everything and that was his own. He never asked anyone to subscribe to it. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. So is he. Trump always expressed his opinion straight and upfront. He ended up in several controversies. All short range. People sensed it. Trump presented himself to his voters as he is. In the same way as he is a human being, husband, father, son, divorcee, business man, billionaire, tax evader (legal), womanizer (who is not?) and what not every kind of avatars. Hilary’s was a canned life and sounded artificial in her approach.

Americans live in a most advanced society. They know what is right or wrong in a defined context and also know to take decisions in any adversities or otherwise. They were looking for a true American and didn’t care if he had any flaws. They know that as long as it’s not impacting their country and citizens it’s perfectly fine. Clinton miserably failed to understand that as she was under a false belief that one should always be 100% perfect to rule America. May be her experience from her own husband while he was the president might have made her to take such a stand.

Corporate world has no place to accommodate personal feelings or allegations of anyone. As long as an employee steer clear of this head wind and continue contributing towards the growth of the company he or she should be declared as a winner.

SING & SWING

This is the most difficult thing to do. Virtually impossible to do both simultaneously especially if it’s on a long rope swing and at that too at a good pace. Trump knew it well in advance. He preempted his competition and focused on the core areas. Swing states like Florida, Ohio, Virginia and couple of other states were under Trump’s radar from the very beginning. All his campaign efforts were focused on these Swing States. He knows if at least 3 of the swing states decide to vote for him he will win the elections. He practiced well on how to sing while on a swing. Most of those swing states went for Trump and he tasted victory. Clinton failed to understand the pain points and she focused on other majority states ignoring swing states hoping that they will go all out and vote for her - Mistake # 5.

In business it’s better to have a fall back plan from the beginning. Your existing customers might change their mind anytime and shift loyalty to your competition. Don’t ignore your customers or depend too much on your prospects.

  

WINNING AGAINST THE ODDS

Clinton had the best of the advantage against Trump on various parameters. Had she won, she would have been the first women president and the past ‘First Lady’ becoming the president in the history of America. Backing of his husband as a former president, backing of the outgoing president, experience as a former secretary of state, senator – Some how all didn’t work.

I read somewhere “Donald Trump is a reminder that you should just apply for that job you want even if you don’t have the experience”.

He is an outlier - a true outsider with no backing even from his own party and without any military or diplomatic experience. He was neither a Senator nor an ardent party worker. But he is a businessman – one who understands what a country/company needs and what keeps him on his toes.

Come and blow the Trumpet and let the party begin!

Antony Konnoth