You Are Officially Entitled
When I co-founded Idea Champions in 1986, I had two business cards made. One said "President." The other said "Archduke." Whenever I gave clients a choice of which card they wanted, they always asked for the Archduke card. (After all, there are millions of Presidents running around, but how many Archdukes?)
In time, I ran out of Archduke cards and never re-ordered them -- in a pitiful attempt, I think, to seem more professional.
Fortunately, everything comes full circle. Last night, while enjoying a wonderful concert in my hometown of Woodstock, NY, my next title was suddenly revealed.
Director of Public Elations (and, no, I did not forget the "R".)
In a flash, not only did I get some major insight into what my focus is likely to be for the next few years, I also discovered an entirely new field -- one that business schools, no doubt, will soon be adding to their curriculum. Indeed, many forward thinking business have already understood this.
Cirque du Soleil is a perfect example. Gracefully walking the high wire of the Experience Economy, they know their success is intimately connected to their willingness and ability to elate the public -- to uplift, inspire, and activate joy. Southwest Airlines also understands this.
Theirs is a corporate culture founded on fun and play and delight. Even Starbucks and Barnes & Noble have gotten into the act. Both of them know their product needs to be more than coffee and books, but a feeling -- a sense of well-being, ease, and community. In a word, elation.
And so... I decided to share my title-changing revelation with some of my esteemed colleagues -- the "Senior Consultant," the "Webmaster," the "Chief Technology Officer," and the "Director of Operations."
I asked them each to tell me what new title they'd like for themselves -- something that not only delighted them, but better communicated to the world what their contribution really was.
Here is what they told me:
Chief Enlightenment Officer
Princess of Possibility
Head of Lettuce
Webmaster of My Domain
Director of Whatever Needs Directing
Duke of URL
Head of Steam
How about YOU?
What new title do YOU want to see on your next business card? What name more creatively describes what you really do at work? And when you think of this new title (like NOW, for example), please let us know. After we collect 10 cool ones, we'll post them here for your... elation.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at April 28, 2008 02:30 AM
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