Tip: Let George do it!
Tip of the Week
01/28/13
Tip: Let George do it!
I grew up in the small town of Griffin, Georgia in the 1950’s and 60’s. Anything out of the ordinary that happened back then was exciting, but whenever an election was held, it was especially exciting.
I remember once that a man by the name of Marvin Griffin ran a successful campaign to be the governor of Georgia. His signs were everywhere and since his last name was also the name of our home town of Griffin, I went to his campaign office and asked for a couple of the signs. I took them home and cut out the letters spelling Griffin and then posted them on my wall, door, and locker at school. I thought it was a clever idea!
From 1946 to 1954 there was a drama series on the radio about a detective for hire by the name of George. Often during the program someone would say, “Let George do it!” indicating that a person should hire George for the detective services he offered. (I know that some of you are probably wondering why in the world I am telling you about a radio series that happened in the 1940’s and ‘50’s and wondering what it has to do with this. Just bear with me for a minute; this is actually going somewhere!)
About the same time I was growing up, George Wallace was the Governor of Alabama. One of the slogans that he used in his campaign was, “Let George do it!” His hope was that whenever voting age people heard his slogan, they would fondly remember listening to that show and make an emotional connection with “George” and elect him. You know what? It worked! The saying also stuck with many of us in school. Whenever a teacher would ask someone in class to do something, the student would often say, “Can we just let George do it?” That would always get a good laugh. We used that slogan for many years until finally we all outgrew it and people forgot about George, the radio detective series, and political races as well.
Then when I was in junior high school, I ran for office myself – for president of the student body. My “campaign manager” was my next door neighbor, Patsy Brownlee. She was in high school and was able to give me tips on how to run successfully for student body president. She created a large poster that had a 45 rpm record on it and underneath it said, “Make it a big hit! Vote for Robert Rohm for President!” One day she told me, “You need to have a slogan so people will remember your name and vote for you and I know exactly what it should be! ‘Don’t go home…vote for Rohm!’” I remember saying, “Patsy, that makes no sense.” She said, “It doesn’t have to make sense; it just has to get you votes!” It’s Political Science 101. And, you know the amazing thing? I won! Even more amazing is that to this day, when I run into old friends from that time of my life, they look at me and say, “Don’t go home…vote for Rohm!” The slogan worked. It stuck. People remembered my name at voting time and fortunately I won that election!
The reason I have shared all this with you is because sometimes a slogan helps us to make connections and stay focused on whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. In a word, it helps us to make our point. If we have a simple, catchy phrase to help us remember what we are trying to do it will always help keep us on track. Defense Attorney Johnny Cochran understood this concept when he was defending O.J. Simpson. He said, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” Regardless of what you think about that situation, O.J. Simpson walked out of that courtroom with the verdict of “Not Guilty”. Do you think that phrase, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” was remembered by any of the jury members during deliberations?
The circumstances surrounding the previously mentioned slogans are not really the point and I do not want you to get sidetracked by them. I just want to encourage you to do one thing: create a slogan for your life for this year. In a matter of five or six catchy words that rhyme, what would you say you are all about for this upcoming year? If someone said, “Tell me in one phrase what you are trying to accomplish or what your life is all about,” could you do it? I want to challenge you to focus on being able to succinctly and clearly summarize what your life, your dreams, your goals and your future are all about in just one easy, simple, catchy phrase. Will you do it? Here is mine: “Be proactive and lean in 2013!” I will resist explaining it in detail, but I can do it!
I hope that you will not only do this, but that you will also feel free to respond and tell me what you have come up with as a slogan. I hope you will have a phrase that captures the essence of what your life and future are all about for this coming year. I promise you that this exercise will be worth the effort! It is already working wonders for me!
Tip: Let George do it!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
