Josue Sierra

I’ll be talking about Obama’s Miami Herald op-ed, the Univision debate and other political subjects. Read more here.

Update: Great time talking with Michelle, as always! You can read Michelle’s Tell Me More blog right here.

You can listen to the audio clip of the segment of Tell Me More.

Stop the Presses blogged about the Johnson & Johnson lawsuit against the Red Cross, and the PR mess they are creating for themselves.

The two most storied brands in pharmaceuticals and rescue & relief are going toe-to-toe. Johnson & Johnson and the Red Cross have peacefully shared the iconic red cross symbol for more than 100 years–until now. J&J is suing the Red Cross for trademark infringement, claiming that the charity has violated their original agreement of 1895 by licensing use of the red cross logo on products in direct competition with the drug giants’.

Johnson & Johnson is right in protecting its brand, as the blog post affirms, but they certainly seem to be going to far. I’m not sure they are making a smart move, but I guess only time will tell.

The lesson is basic, though:

When it comes to your company’s decision to litigate against a sympathetic and valuable adversary, make sure that the lawyers work with marketing, public relations, and other communications and brand professionals so that every possible consequence is considered.

Ejovi has another interesting post on mentoring as part of his “Lessons in poverty” blog post series.

So how do I get someone to become my mentor? I say “I bet I could really learn a lot from you.” Said early in the relationship, this defines how you want to interact with them. If you seem bright and curious and willing to learn people will go out of their way to help you. If you seem like a know it all, no one will. I don’t ask for mentors anymore, I ask for permission to learn. Doesn’t that sound silly? Who could say no?

A pastor friend of mine gave me the exact same advice in regards to spiritual development.

One habit I have found to be effective is to communicate specifics about areas I want to grow in with those who have emotionally committed to seeing you succeed. For example, I told the President on a board I’m on that I wanted to develop my speaking skills and was seeking opportunities to practice. As a result, she has gone out of her way to get me invited to speak at seminars, provide training workshops and speak at various events.

I totally agree with Ejovi — there has to be an emotional investment.

Eating crabs, originally uploaded by josuesierra.

Here is me enjoying fresh boiled crabs during our weekend family picnic with all the cousins, uncles and grandparents. Notice me in my traditional Cuba Guayabera.

Some of these ideas are so basic, yet so many leaders completly miss it. Mostly, I think its viral — one leader builds up and mentors another leader, never having taken the intentional effort to teach the importance and value of trust and respect.

Here is the slideshare presentation transcript.

Slide 2: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” —Dale Carnegie

Slide 3: “It was much later that I realized Dad’s secret. He gained respect by giving it. He talked and listened to the fourth-grade kids in Spring Valley who shined shoes the same way he talked and listened to a He was bishop or a college president. seriously interested in who you were and what you had to say.” —Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Respect

Slide 4: “What creates trust, in the end, is the leader’s manifest respect for the followers.” — Jim O’Toole, Leading Change

Slide 4 was particularly compelling. There a couple leaders I know that have demonstrated such respect for me, I would follow them gladly–even though I’m not under their leadership.

Slide 5: True “Empowerment” = Trust — Source: Barry Gibbons

Slide 6: “If you don’t listen, you don’t sell anything.” — Carolyn Marland, Managing Director

Slide 7: “Everyone lives by selling something.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

Here is a Power Point for a presentation I gave to a group of aspiring UK conservative politicos. You can also see it over at SlideShare.net and vote on it.