Ernest Gallo, co-founder with his brother Julio of the Gallo wine empire, died last week at age 97. He was a tough businessman — old school through and through.
I read the following story in Gallo's obit in the Wall Street Journal.
In an early 1970s exchange with Michael Mondavi, son of the famous vintner Robert Mondavi, Ernest Gallo suggested that size was not his biggest priority.
"Do you know what I do?" Mr. Mondavi recalls Mr. Gallo asked him when they first met.
"Yes, you run the largest winery in the country," recalls Mr. Mondavi, then in his mid-20s.
"No," Ernest corrected him. "I go out and visit customers in stores."
What a great perspective, and also a telling reason for the success of Gallo's business. Ernest Gallo was first and foremost a marketing and distribution man. And the mindset he displayed in the above story shows how he got his marketing ideas and pushed product.
But the story made me think how would I answer the question, "What do you do?"
Well, this past weekend I worked on the writing and design of the new, fourth edition of my book, A Whack on the Side of the Head (it will be published by Warner Books early next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first publication).
If I were thinking like Ernest Gallo, and you asked me what I was doing on Saturday, I would have replied,
"Well, I'm stimulating the minds of three different people: a college honors student in 2011, a designer/entrepreneur in 2014, and a minister in 2016."
That thought gave me inspiration.
What do you do?
What do I do? I'm not trying to do anything... I just try to BE.... to be the change... just as Gandhi put it: you should BE the change you want to see in the world!
So I try to smile more, love more, be more open and try to help more... Sometimes I succeed sometimes I don't... it doesn't matter... I will keep trying to BE.
Posted by: Peter | 13 March 2007 at 02:08 AM
What I do? I make people happy. And myself :o)
Your story of Gallo reminds me of Craig Newmark (the founder of Craigslist) who holds on to the title Customer Service Rep and still spends most of his time doing customer support.
Peter: Remember, there can be no being without doing. And vice versa :o)
Posted by: Alexander Kjerulf | 13 March 2007 at 06:40 AM
Alexander,
That's why I focus on BE. I found out that I end up doing a heck lot more focusing on being than focusing on doing.
Posted by: Peter | 14 March 2007 at 02:17 AM
this comment actually belongs w/ the previous post of "ask why?"... but I assume everyone is moving along into the present
the INTERNAL BLOG
do some of you have – like I do – an Internal Blog… an internal forum for conversations between various aspects, personalities, parts, contacts (or whatever) of your “self”?
my internal blog has been discussing Roger’s “Ask Why?” post…
and the consensus recommendation is now:
better to ask: “WHY NOT?”
apparently this format of questioning is preferable because it focuses upon finding the hidden limiting factors.. the hidden assumptions of containment ... when these are located and "overthrown".. many other things may be possible
Posted by: David Anderson | 14 March 2007 at 07:32 AM