Citigroup is spending $400-Million over 20-years to put their name on the New York Mets new stadium!

 

Naming, and Naming Rights are an expensive proposition!   

 

Citigroup thinks this is a good investment.  Name’s and Titles are powerful.  But what happens if the mix is toxic?  What happens if you put your name on the wrong asset; or a new title on the wrong candidate?

 

Bundini Brown, trainer of Muhammad Ali, was once asked in an interview, “What man could beat Ali?”  Bundini replied; “Cassius Clay would kick Ali’s butt!”  

 

My good friend Naval Commander Drew Brown, Bundini’s son has shared this story with me often.  Drew is not only my friend; he is also an excellent speaker (www.DrewBrown.net) and something of a philosopher and adviser of mine.  He often tells me stories about his father and Ali to make a point; and more importantly to make a point memorable.  Bundini felt that Ali had lost some of what had made him great; and that his name change was like putting a new title on an old product (this added reference is mine) and the result is the old product no longer existed.

 

It became a circular argument.  Did the man change his name (title) or did the new name (title) change the man?

 

In their article, Leaders in Transition:  Stepping Up, Not Off, Matt Paese, Ph.D. and Richard S. Wellins, Ph.D., of Development Dimensions International report that roughly eighteen percent of people said their latest promotion had a NEGATIVE impact on their life and nineteen percent said “making a leadership transition at work” was their “most challenging life event.”   (Contact me at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com for a link to this report).

 

So, it is no guarantee that a new title or a new name is going to result in the desired outcome whether it is for Citigroup, the New York Mets, or “the Greatest of All Time!” Muhammad Ali, aka, Cassius Clay.

 

* * *

 

Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com