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Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, don’t mess with Mr. Inbetween
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, based on the preaching of Father Divine

You get to the 67th slide in a brand health presentation where you score 7,2 on yet one more essential aspect versus 7,3 a year ago. The tenacious presenter tells you why this matters; an assistant brand manager makes copious notes; you slide into oblivion. “We paid an arm and half a leg for all this”, your internal affairs voice reminds you, but the stream of numbers numbs sensibility.

In a world where everything can be measured, everything is. We know too much, take note of too little, act on less. Numbers, however rigorously achieved, are only an indication of perceptions & beliefs. Too many numbers, like cooks, blur into hell’s kitchen on a bad day. Keep it simple. People are attracted by the high ground that you hold, repelled by the sinkholes.

So focus on just two things. One: what’s your high ground? Know it, guard it zealously. Two: what are your sinkholes? know them; do something about the biggest ones. Start with just one, and don’t lose any sleep about 7,3 becoming 7,2.

Father Divine & Johnny Mercer know the score:

You gotta spread joy up to the maximum, bring gloom down to the minimum…

If you’d like to explore high ground and sinkholes, in culture and brand, you may need a guide.

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