Dear Desperately

Under the nom de plume of Silence Dogood founding father Benjamin Franklin helped establish the modern advice column, a Dear Abby for soon-to-be revolutionaries.

Published in 1722 when he was just 16-years-old Dogood was a figment of Franklin’s imagination, a persona created to give standing to his letters.  Under a widow’s veil Franklin would submit questions to the New England Courant knowing his brother James, the newspaper’s publisher, would ask him to pen the reply.

Allowing Ben to circumvent his brother’s refusal to otherwise allow him to publish.      

Fifty-years before his appointment as the nation’s first Postmaster General, Franklin would slide “Dogood’s” missives under the Courant’s door at night.  Replying once each fortnight young Ben found his voice, and set the advice column genre on a path towards using mostly fictionalized submissions.

Shouldn’t it be Dearest? 

I have also considered publishing an advice column, as impatient as Ben I had my fiancéeic slide this under the door.

Dear Mark;

I was recently appointed chief executive officer of a paint manufacturer, accepting the job thinking “how hard could this be?”  Now two-months in I recognize my misjudgment.  It turns out that more than half of the company’s retail locations are unprofitable and worse our largest division seems almost superfluous.  We do make some money selling to independent retailers, but I fear they don’t trust us to fix our myriad problems. Did I mention we’re private equity? 

I’ve started reading your blog hoping for some pointers, and I check back frequently seeking updates! But while I have come to appreciate the acumen of your insights you still have not shared anything which aids in resolving my dilemma, so I thought I’d write and ask you myself. 

Desperately,

Brian C, Pittsburgh PA

Dear Desperately!

I understand how running a paint company might seem easy from afar but up close you should wear waders, because you’re in deep!  Since you didn’t mention your company’s name I can’t give you any specific advice.

Plus we don’t have a retainer in place. 

What I can share though is advice I have given to every paint manufacturer I’ve worked for.  Ignore it and risk learning why the party you purchased your paint company was In such a hurry to sell it!

When manufacturing for multiple distribution channels it’s crucial that each control their own brands, absent that any successes will likely be ephemeral. 

Beyond that I just keep reading, it seems you have THE link.    

I dropped a new podcast episode earlier this week click here for the video or here if you’d like to listen. 

It’s the fourth of a six-part series with paint veteran Steve Rice and our second discussing the paint dealer surveys I was performing at the time we recorded. Our last paint related topic before the series goes off the rails.

In the final two episodes I try something new, non-paint on my mind since last winter: An honest comparison of American and European cities based on my experiences this past year. Expect the same forthrightness, though you may not want to hear it.

Going Live in 3-2-1

I’ve oft considered doing a live event digitally but never came up with a theme I found worthy, plus my fiancéeic’s reminders that I already talk too much which further aided my procrastination.

But during sidebars while surveying dealers several expressed an aspiration for a gathering place, a water cooler to stand around and hear the state of our industry or ask even questions about their operations. 

From their comments I felt that a live Zoom might do, leaving only my fears that no one would show to stop me from planning the event. 

I could start the ball rolling with commentary on paint news of that day giving anyone with a question time to post it in the chat.  Then I’ll read the questions and we’ll see together what happens after that.

Participation would be encouraged, but voyeurism would be an allowable kink.  Lmk here if you like the idea.