This is my interview with Neil Cavuto on FOX News, talking about the Buy Arizona! Initiative. This has grown into the Buy Arizona! Now Weekend. It's incredible what happens when people work together.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
All Business, but maybe some Bad Business
If you didn't know, I'm a football fan. In specific, I'm a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, due to my years of living there, and the entire town being Bucs crazy. There are no football teams in LA, so no one is fighting for my loyalty. And, at this point, I doubt that any team could - in so much as you can have loyalty to a football team.
The Buccaneers are having a terrible season. They are 3-12. Admittedly, they did just beat NFC powerhouse New Orleans Saints the other day, in overtime. However impressive that may be, it is also incredibly inconsequential. This is a team looking towards draft day 2010, and beyond.
This season, they took on a new head coach, Raheem Morris. He took over for Jon Gruden, who was fired for the collapse of the team at the end of 2008. Morris had no head coaching experience, and was 32 years old when he got the gig - ridiculously young for a head coach. Morris, in the earliest days of his career, fired assistants who had more experience. It's a bold move, perhaps a brash move, maybe a terrible move if it doesn't lead to wins. It didn't lead to wins. It was a terrible move.
Yet, for all of this, the Glazers (who own the Buccaneers) decided to make him their coach. And now, that's in jeopardy because Bill Cowher is back on the market.
Bill Cowher, who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons, leading them to eight division titles, six AFC Championship appearances, 2 AFC Championship wins and one Super Bowl Victory in 2006. Cowher is a legend. Cowher is living deity in Pittsburgh. He has the aura of a great coach, and has the pedigree to back it up. Cowher can coach anywhere he wants. He might want Tampa Bay. It is obvious that Tampa Bay wants him.
And that's where I have an issue. No one has to tell me business is business. That the focus of the organization is to win, to sell tickets, merchandise, etc., all the while being an asset to their community. And, with a 3-12 record, Raheem Morris has no real claim to being a coach who can get it done. However, it's been one season. A football team takes more than one season to go through changes in coaches (and quarterbacks, as Tampa Bay has - to rookie Josh Freeman.) Gruden took over after the long career of Tony Dungy. That very first season, Gruden won the SuperBowl, and the team slowly deteriorated from there. Dungy went to Indianapolis, and not only won a Super Bowl, but left the team in brilliant shape for current coach Jim Caldwell (the Colts are 14-1.) It's impossible to know, at this moment, how Morris will pan out as a coach. We certainly will never know if the Bucs don't give him the chance.
I think the Bucs owe him that chance. Coaches need to develop. Teams need to develop. All is fair in love and war, and I won't be surprised if Cowher is the coach next year, and Morris is coaching elsewhere - as a head coach, or as an assistant. But I can't help thinking it is, in the end, bad business. A bad practice of not sticking with something for the long haul (or the medium haul.) The Bucs are 3-12, but two of their three wins have come in the last two games, at the end of the season. Maybe things have started to come together? Maybe it wasn't such a terrible move after all?
Either way, Morris should have suitcases at the ready. This is the NFL. What's bad business to some, is good business to others.
The Buccaneers are having a terrible season. They are 3-12. Admittedly, they did just beat NFC powerhouse New Orleans Saints the other day, in overtime. However impressive that may be, it is also incredibly inconsequential. This is a team looking towards draft day 2010, and beyond.
This season, they took on a new head coach, Raheem Morris. He took over for Jon Gruden, who was fired for the collapse of the team at the end of 2008. Morris had no head coaching experience, and was 32 years old when he got the gig - ridiculously young for a head coach. Morris, in the earliest days of his career, fired assistants who had more experience. It's a bold move, perhaps a brash move, maybe a terrible move if it doesn't lead to wins. It didn't lead to wins. It was a terrible move.
Yet, for all of this, the Glazers (who own the Buccaneers) decided to make him their coach. And now, that's in jeopardy because Bill Cowher is back on the market.
Bill Cowher, who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons, leading them to eight division titles, six AFC Championship appearances, 2 AFC Championship wins and one Super Bowl Victory in 2006. Cowher is a legend. Cowher is living deity in Pittsburgh. He has the aura of a great coach, and has the pedigree to back it up. Cowher can coach anywhere he wants. He might want Tampa Bay. It is obvious that Tampa Bay wants him.
And that's where I have an issue. No one has to tell me business is business. That the focus of the organization is to win, to sell tickets, merchandise, etc., all the while being an asset to their community. And, with a 3-12 record, Raheem Morris has no real claim to being a coach who can get it done. However, it's been one season. A football team takes more than one season to go through changes in coaches (and quarterbacks, as Tampa Bay has - to rookie Josh Freeman.) Gruden took over after the long career of Tony Dungy. That very first season, Gruden won the SuperBowl, and the team slowly deteriorated from there. Dungy went to Indianapolis, and not only won a Super Bowl, but left the team in brilliant shape for current coach Jim Caldwell (the Colts are 14-1.) It's impossible to know, at this moment, how Morris will pan out as a coach. We certainly will never know if the Bucs don't give him the chance.
I think the Bucs owe him that chance. Coaches need to develop. Teams need to develop. All is fair in love and war, and I won't be surprised if Cowher is the coach next year, and Morris is coaching elsewhere - as a head coach, or as an assistant. But I can't help thinking it is, in the end, bad business. A bad practice of not sticking with something for the long haul (or the medium haul.) The Bucs are 3-12, but two of their three wins have come in the last two games, at the end of the season. Maybe things have started to come together? Maybe it wasn't such a terrible move after all?
Either way, Morris should have suitcases at the ready. This is the NFL. What's bad business to some, is good business to others.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The New Year, The New Thinking
Wow....has it been that long since my last post here?
Just a quick word about the economy, and the future. Admittedly, this economy has made me re-focus, re-think multiple business decisions, and look for opportunities.
Admittedly, not enough people do this, and they need to. You need to survive now, in order to survive at all.
I think, now, more than ever, that it is important to focus on that concept - survival - and recognize that it is temporary. That, often times, plans don't work out the way you wish they would. And, as the dominoes fall, you have to make sure they don't fall directly on your head.
If you're in that position, or about to be in that position, remember that it is just temporary. What didn't work today is nothing more than a learning lesson for what might work tomorrow. Rethink your parameters, as they need to be restructured. What are you doing to survive? Eating out less, or not at all? Working with your cell phone carrier to lower your bill? Clipping coupons? Have you redone your business plan for 2010? Have you examined new ways of advertising your product or service? Have you discussed with your family your economic situation, and how everyone will have to help make it better this coming year? Have you been honest with yourself about your situation?
If you believe in your abilities, and depend on your own brains to make your situation better, than I wish you a very Happy New Year. Otherwise, you'll end up repeating 2009, and learning nothing.
Just a quick word about the economy, and the future. Admittedly, this economy has made me re-focus, re-think multiple business decisions, and look for opportunities.
Admittedly, not enough people do this, and they need to. You need to survive now, in order to survive at all.
I think, now, more than ever, that it is important to focus on that concept - survival - and recognize that it is temporary. That, often times, plans don't work out the way you wish they would. And, as the dominoes fall, you have to make sure they don't fall directly on your head.
If you're in that position, or about to be in that position, remember that it is just temporary. What didn't work today is nothing more than a learning lesson for what might work tomorrow. Rethink your parameters, as they need to be restructured. What are you doing to survive? Eating out less, or not at all? Working with your cell phone carrier to lower your bill? Clipping coupons? Have you redone your business plan for 2010? Have you examined new ways of advertising your product or service? Have you discussed with your family your economic situation, and how everyone will have to help make it better this coming year? Have you been honest with yourself about your situation?
If you believe in your abilities, and depend on your own brains to make your situation better, than I wish you a very Happy New Year. Otherwise, you'll end up repeating 2009, and learning nothing.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Speaking at the Tea Parties
Across America, citizens are getting ready for the Tax Day Tea Parties. Large scale, nationwide demonstrations to show both state and the federal government their displeasure with higher taxes, out of control spending, bailouts and the unbridled growth of government as a whole.
I do a lot with the tea parties in Los Angeles. I am the host of TCOT Radio, and blog about my weekly show here. I am also one of the organizers and the host of the original LA Tea Party in February at the Santa Monica Pier.
This tax day, I will be pulling double duty. First, I will be speaking at the Tea Party in Santa Monica (At the pier, 3pm). From there, I will be heading to Van Nuys for the big show at 7pm. I am the emcee, as well as speaking at the event. You can use this link to find out more information on it. You can also get information about Tea Parties in your town or city by going to Tax Day Tea Party.com.
Also, there has been a lot of mis-information in the main stream press. These tea parties are not about political party. Everyone, anyone, all are welcome (unless your plan is to cause a violent commotion - then just stay home!). This is about how to best see the country forward, how to best provide for our children and their children by not leaving them a mountain of debt so large that they will spend multiple generations paying it back, how to return to the basics of the constitution, the mandated, limited role of government, and the rights of the people.
I hope you'll join us. If you're in Santa Monica or Van Nuys, say hello.
- Tony
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Been Busy...Being Happy
Wow, it's amazing how much time flies when you are busy being happy. For me, it's been both. I've been incredibly busy with new projects and renewed energy. Those projects include:
Neon Chicken - our new iPhone app design studio. It started as a lark, as something fun to do when you just need to clear your head and get some other creative juices moving. Then it got really fun, and we started sketching out some really fascinating ideas. Then, word got out and we have been consulting with others about their iPhone concepts and providing proposals for individuals and companies. Now, it's just amazing. I think we may be on to something.
AdGrinder - our online video ad creation toolset. Once we made the decision to offer the tool not only as a way to build ads for small- and mid-sized companies who want to reach their customers online, but also as a complete turnkey white-label solution, things got interesting quickly. We have stuck a nerve with content creators - both online and offline. Even in this awful economy, we are seeing the great opportunities.
TCOT Radio - the official radio show of Top Conservatives On Twitter. I have enjoyed this a lot. Every Tuesday at 1pm PST, I have been on the air talking about important issues with great people. You can catch the show by going to our site here. Don't forget to subscribe, and get all the past episodes.
Tony Katz.com - my official site. It used to be that TonyKatz.com was only for my political blogging, as well as having links to my former radio show in Tampa and my first video blog, Talk Show On The Go. Now, with all the things I post on Twitter, I don't blog as often as I used to. However, I'll be changing that soon.
Oh, and there is Twitter. My Twitter feed is now available on this site, and feel free to follow me. I'll follow back, and help you in anyway I can. If you don't know about Twitter, or want to learn, email me and I'll be happy to teach you all about it. I've been doing a lot of that lately.
That's a lot of what I've been up to, and I can't tell you how enjoyable it is. I look forward to posting more, conversing more, learning more and quite possibly doing more. What have you been up to?
- Tony
Monday, November 3, 2008
Join Me at Social Media Club LA on Wednesday, November 5th
Where is the intersection of politics and social media, how has it affected this election and how will it affect future contests? Come join us on Wednesday, November 5th at Mahalo HQ in Santa Monica, CA. I will be speaking on a panel with a lot of smart people to discuss these (and I’m sure other) topics.
For more information, click here. If you don’t yet belong to SMC LA and you are in the LA area, you should. If not in the LA area, go to Social Media Club and find the group in your neighborhood. Thanks to Jackie Peters and Brooks Bayne for inviting me to participate.
And for those who are wondering - this is not a political debate. Far from it (I truly hope!) This is about the technology, the candidates, the process and the people. Social media, the ability for everyone to get near instant information, the ability for everyone to get near instant feedback, will play a massive role in future elections. This panel will discuss how, and how not, to best engage. What the potential results can be, what the potential drawbacks can be, and how we minimize the drawbacks.
At least, those are some of my topics. Come by on Wednesday night and join the group. I look forward to seeing you there.
For more information, click here. If you don’t yet belong to SMC LA and you are in the LA area, you should. If not in the LA area, go to Social Media Club and find the group in your neighborhood. Thanks to Jackie Peters and Brooks Bayne for inviting me to participate.
And for those who are wondering - this is not a political debate. Far from it (I truly hope!) This is about the technology, the candidates, the process and the people. Social media, the ability for everyone to get near instant information, the ability for everyone to get near instant feedback, will play a massive role in future elections. This panel will discuss how, and how not, to best engage. What the potential results can be, what the potential drawbacks can be, and how we minimize the drawbacks.
At least, those are some of my topics. Come by on Wednesday night and join the group. I look forward to seeing you there.
Tony
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Vote in the AMEX Members Project
American Express is currently running the Members Project, which has people nominating and voting for programs that are for the betterment of all of us.
One of those is called Project Brain Child, which is solely focused on ending childhood cancer. I have learned from a friend of mine, whose daughter has a brain tumor (a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), that pediatric cancer does not get the money, the time or the attention in the cancer world. Kids with cancer are left to fend for themselves.
We can all do something about this. Go to Members Project and vote for Project Brain Child. You do have to be an AMEX card holder to vote. Once you have voted, pass this blog post on to everyone you know. Everyone in your address book, on your own blog and throughout your social networks.
Do it today.
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