WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:04.559 This show is produced and hosted by Mark Webber. The show is sponsored by 2 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:07.919 G three of Parow. The views expressed in the following program are those of 3 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:15.400 the sponsor and not necessarily the opinion of seven tenor or iHeartMedia. Who is 4 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:19.879 Mark Weber. He's a self made business executive here to help you find your 5 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.559 success, from the New York City projects to the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. 6 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:30.000 His global success story in the luxury world of fashion is inspirational. He's gone 7 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:36.520 from clerk to CEO twice. Mark is classic proof that the American dream is 8 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:41.359 alive. And well, here's your host of Always in Fashion, Mark Weber. 9 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:47.000 Mark Weber Corporate Politics. If I was better at it, I probably 10 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:52.640 would have had a different career. I can't say better, but maybe corporate 11 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:58.359 politics. Hold that thought. I've spent this year talking, realizing, admitting, 12 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:03.719 and accepting that I'm no longer important. Now I've gotten reactions to that 13 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.680 statement the cover of the spectrum, from get over It to you know different 14 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:14.480 from anyone else. Everyone experiences that situation when they retire. You're not retired. 15 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:19.760 I wait every weekend to hear your show. Don't ever retire to Daddy, 16 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:23.280 you're still important to me, to us. What should I think about 17 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:27.840 these opinions? Hmmm, simple as the answer, I could say, when 18 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:33.040 I want your opinion, I'll give it to you. But with older respect, 19 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:36.120 I really don't care what anyone thinks. I only care what I think 20 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:40.000 if I finish the night. Maybe that's an important lesson for everyone. If 21 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.640 we stop this show right now, you have to believe in what you think. 22 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:47.519 Anyway, The reality is, I know how I feel. I'm convinced 23 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:55.239 I'm no longer important. Until this week something broke through to me, something 24 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:59.519 reminiscent of the past. It was almost like dejuvous. You see, I 25 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:05.719 was four to step out of myself and recognize I'm still contributing. I have 26 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:10.000 something to contribute. I've also been called out. If you don't think what 27 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:14.800 you have to say on the radio show or on your podcast is important, 28 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:19.159 get off the air. Hmm. Yeah. I've been thinking, this is 29 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:22.400 not a day, or if not a week, that someone reaches out and 30 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.919 tells me they listen closely to the show and they learn something that I helped 31 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:32.439 them. And then I received a call that changed everything for me from one 32 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:37.879 of my closest friends. Not just a close friend, a lifelong friend, 33 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.000 Mark, I need your help. My son is in Corporate America and he 34 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.280 wants to leave this company. I can't get through to him. Maybe it's 35 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.800 not that I can't get through to them. Maybe Corporate America just isn't my 36 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:52.840 thing and I don't understand it the way you do. He's been recruited. 37 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.800 And actually, aside from whether he should leave or not, if he chooses 38 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:59.599 to leave, he needs to know what to ask for, and now we 39 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:02.240 can himself. If he leaves the company and starts with a new one, 40 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:07.120 he needs help. He needs your guidance. Can you help him? Of 41 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.719 course, But immediately my mind went into gear. First thing I thought of, 42 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:14.879 I don't know if I'm smart. All others be the judge, but 43 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:20.199 I do know I'm well trained. Sure I could help. Sometimes in life 44 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.280 you need to be reminded. Sometimes we take for granted. What is nature 45 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:28.400 or second nature? Breathing, blinking, You don't think about it. Well, 46 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.319 that's when I am in business. That's who I am. I don't 47 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:35.479 need to think about it. I know what the answers are before the questions 48 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:40.560 of finished being asked. That affect us. My superpower, I've been trained, 49 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:46.719 mentored by the best, and I paid attention and learned. Now that 50 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:51.479 doesn't mean I haven't contended with self doubt, but you still have to remember 51 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:55.719 who you are. I'm human. I've failed. I was fired almost twenty 52 00:03:55.800 --> 00:04:00.479 years ago. Long time, but even to this day. It's so the 53 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.919 disappointment, the embarrassment, the self doubt, the pain going from a big 54 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:10.759 shot to a no shot in a minute. I was financially set, but 55 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:16.399 I was career lost. Finding a job is a science into itself. But 56 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:19.120 that's for another night. I'll come back and talk to you about that. 57 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:24.480 But there I was, for the first time in my career lost, going 58 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:28.439 on interviews or even call them auditions and not getting the job and not getting 59 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:32.120 the part. Those are life lessons. You find out who your friends are 60 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:36.800 who are not your friends. One such friend was a major player at Herban 61 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:42.079 Mines recruiting. I went to see him after I got let go and he 62 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:46.319 told me I was radioactive. Come back in six months. No one will 63 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.519 talk to me about you. I can't recommend you right now. But I 64 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:54.680 said I didn't do anything wrong. Sc filed a statement. There was no 65 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:59.199 wrongdoing. I don't care. Mark six months then call me so much for 66 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:04.160 Friends. One of the world's global search firms was looking for a CEO for 67 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:08.560 one of the industry's most successful brands. It was a job I could do 68 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:11.560 in my sleep, and would it got me out of my doldrums in a 69 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:14.319 minute. I thought, how great it would be out one day and in 70 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:16.800 back the next. So I reached out to Spencer Stewart, who was doing 71 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:21.360 the recruiting. Again, I had a relationship with the recruiter. I sat 72 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:26.360 in front of her. She was one of their principles, not just the 73 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:31.560 recruiter. And in my life I was never more disrespected. Under the guise 74 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:35.720 of mark, you're an interesting candidate for the position. She sat there, 75 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:42.120 mildly interested, mostly distracted on her smartphone, taking calls, sending texts, 76 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:46.079 going through the motions. I never felt so small. I was never in 77 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:51.279 such doubt. I couldn't see the forest through the trees. And yet Shakespeare 78 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:57.800 said, sometimes the brightest day hath a cloud. I was having cloudy days 79 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:01.160 in spite of thirty years of sunshine. And then one day I was in 80 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:05.399 an interview with a private equity guy. They're group, they're the money people, 81 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.800 the investors and some one gave them my name, and I was touted 82 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.079 as a player that they should meet and be interested in it, and they 83 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.439 wanted to talk with me. And once again, a senior guy, a 84 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.920 Master of the universe, sat across from me in a club chair. I 85 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:23.800 too was in a club chair. We were face to face, Mono Tomano. 86 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:28.199 We're in a room that was old money, leather smelled from it, 87 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:31.480 wood, patrician paintings, just the two of us, the Master of the 88 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:35.959 Universe with a former Master of the Universe. And I looked back at myself 89 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:41.120 and I wondered why I felt so strong that day. I just felt comfortable, 90 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:46.639 and then I felt the earth change and it shifted for me. The 91 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:53.519 niceties, the introductions over, the questions began. How do you know when 92 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:58.240 you have a product that will change the tenure of your offerings? Well, 93 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:01.319 it's part science, after have the data and their knowledge, but it's also 94 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:05.560 art and that's talent, and that's who I am. Mark. The world 95 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:10.759 is complex, shifting alliances, changing trade agreements. How do you develop a 96 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:15.759 manufacturing plan by country with a great deal of foresight and a great deal of 97 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:19.480 planning. What is your philosophy on margins. Would you take orders at lower 98 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:24.879 prices to increase sales? No, it will never work out, will cannibalize 99 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:29.199 your existing business. You'll get the same sales with less profit. However, 100 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:34.639 if you can demonstrate to me that lower margins in this case are incremental sales, 101 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:39.360 and you can prove it, I would consider it. Mark. If 102 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.120 I'm on your board, What could I expect to hear from you? The 103 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:46.839 truth? The dialogue was high level, the questions high level. I had 104 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.279 the answers. I didn't even need to think through the process, no hesitation. 105 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.519 My answers were automatic. Yeah, I don't know if I'm smart, 106 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.120 but I know I'm well trained. But in this dynamic, I felt the 107 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:03.120 earth move in spite of my my prior condescending feelings, my disappointments, my 108 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:07.639 self doubt. I realized, then, right then and there, I'm going 109 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:13.959 to be okay. Why the key I realized? I remembered and reminded myself. 110 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:16.839 I knew who I was. They can take my job, but they 111 00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:20.720 can't take my education. They could take away my job, but not my 112 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:26.439 skill sets. It's still me and I was, and I am. And 113 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:31.559 I realized sitting there, I had something to offer to any company, And 114 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:35.559 of course it happened to me in chapter two of my career, with General 115 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:39.639 Patton whispering in my ear, It's not how far you fall, it's how 116 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:45.240 high you've bounced back. And I bounced back to LVMH, the greatest and 117 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:48.679 largest luxury company in the world. But back to the present. My friend 118 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:52.320 called me up, a lifelong friend, and asked me to help his son. 119 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:56.799 And I did, and I was Mark Weber at his best, mentoring 120 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:03.279 and teaching and preparing that kid for life's challenges in corporate America, and I 121 00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:07.159 felt great about it. I also woke up the other night and I was 122 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.679 dreaming, dreaming careers. Now it's not the first time I've done a series 123 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:13.279 of shows I dream working. This time I awoke and thought, I may 124 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:18.159 feel I'm not important, but that doesn't mean what you have to say. 125 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:24.600 Isn't this week strong accolades, acknowledgments, securing stable and new sponsors, my 126 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.519 friend asking for help, And in spite of this year's negativity on myself, 127 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.600 I once again remembered who is Mark Weber? Who is it? It's still 128 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:37.200 me? And yes, if I had nothing to say, I would leave 129 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.559 the radio and stop podcasting with this in mind, tonight, I have a 130 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:46.240 gift for you speaking gifts first, for myself, my lawyer, co host 131 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:50.720 and son Jesse Weber. That's a very nice thing to say. I like 132 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:54.519 calling me a gift. That's very very nice. I do have to say, 133 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:56.799 though, you're a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you. You 134 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.360 know what I'm going to say. You know how much I hate when you 135 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.840 always say I used to be important. I used to be important. I 136 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:07.639 can't stand it. Well, it's important to understand who you are. But 137 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:11.000 I'm ready to reboot for tonight. How's that all right? Well, with 138 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:15.000 that in mind, Actually, I got a good story for you. I 139 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:18.120 got something that might make you feel good. You're ready, okay? So 140 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:22.360 I was how should I say this? I was shopping in a store. 141 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:24.720 I can't tell you what store it was, but I was shopping in a 142 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.440 store. Why can't you tell me? You don't need to know. Put 143 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.799 it this way, we're talking about what's the theme of the show. What's 144 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:31.399 the theme of the show tonight? My gift for you? All right, 145 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:35.639 So just you don't have to know. But anyway, I'm in a store 146 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:39.159 and I mention your name I say Mark Weber, and the guy the sales 147 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:43.679 associate his name's Kyle says to me, without breaking a beat, oh, 148 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:48.039 Mark Webber from the radio show. You're kidding. I was looking down and 149 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.240 I look up. I go, what's just say? He goes, yeah, 150 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.840 Mark Webber. My mom listens to the show all the time. I 151 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.399 know exactly who he is. I know exactly what the show's about. And 152 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.320 I go, no way, and she goes, I'm not trying to like 153 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.600 oversell it. She is the biggest fan. I said to him, what's 154 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:07.720 your mom's name? And he goes why. I was like, maybe I'll 155 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:11.679 mention the name on the next show, and he goes, if you were 156 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:16.360 to do that, oh my gosh. Well with that in mind, this 157 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:20.000 is a shout out to Isabelle birth Thank you so much for listening to the 158 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:24.039 show. And Isabelle is a very big fan of you. Well, this 159 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.919 is Mark Weber. Hi Isabelle, and thank you. You made my day 160 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:30.919 or the evening with if you will. How great is that? So you 161 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.320 never know who listens to the show, but you got a big follower, 162 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:37.480 you know. On that note, last week's Saturday night, we went to 163 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.039 a birthday party for a friend of ours, Paul Rosengard. I've known her 164 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:46.080 for many years. He's a solid citizen, an industry icon. And his 165 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:52.000 wife, Chrissy made a birthday party for him and it was an extraordinary event. 166 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.320 She looked amazing, address was great. He needs a makeover for me, 167 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:01.759 but that's another Storybably won't be invited to the next birthday party, okay, 168 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:07.840 okay, okay. And their speeches and the guest list was a who's 169 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.360 who, a who's who. I was impressed just to be in the room 170 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.440 with all of them, and I was amazed by it. But I'll tell 171 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:18.639 you what really made me happy. At least ten people came over to me 172 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.240 during the night and told me their advent listeners of the show made my day. 173 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:26.720 So all this talk about me being unimportant to me having nothing to say, 174 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:31.480 you know, I'm gonna accept tonight that I'm a little hysterical on this 175 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:35.519 subject. And I was very proud, and I'm glad you got to see 176 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:37.039 it near it as well. It was great. I loved it. It 177 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.759 was such a nice event. And you know, look, it's holiday season. 178 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.840 The stars are aligned. It seems you're in the right frame of mind, 179 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.240 which is always nice to see. So what's the plan for the show? 180 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.000 Oh, as I said, I woke up in the middle of the 181 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:52.519 night and realized I had some ideas and in this case gifts to give the 182 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:56.200 audience, and tonight I have a gift for you. But what's in it 183 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:00.960 for you? How about just feeling good about myself? Well? You happy 184 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:05.759 is always a gift to me, so the gift to everybody priceless. Anyway, 185 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:09.799 the first gift I want to give is wrapped in an always in fashion 186 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:15.039 box. I want to talk corporate politics in America. Let me be clear, 187 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:18.200 everything in life is politics. I'm not talking the government. The way 188 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:22.759 you greet your dorman, the way you make a reservation at your favorite restaurant. 189 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.320 Sense the reason it's huge when it comes to your company, and company 190 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:31.720 politics falls easy under my banner of packaging yourself is as important as the products 191 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.759 you package. I want to talk about my first day in the office. 192 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.240 He's a gift for you. I was recruited. I went in this is 193 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:45.039 my first job, and the vice president and general manager interviewed me and said, 194 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:48.120 you're hired. Come in on Monday, Mark, I'll introduce you to 195 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.840 the fellow you're going to be working for that monday. I was introduced to 196 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.120 this fella. I'm not sure he likes mentioning his name, but him and 197 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.600 I were words and music for a long time. He looked me up and 198 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:03.639 down. I was in a European three piece navy blue suit, white shirt, 199 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:07.440 navy tied, black tassel loafers. I looked apart, even though I 200 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.279 just got out of school. I spent my time in college working in a 201 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.799 clothing store, so I had clothes and I knew how to dressed. He 202 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:16.919 looks me up and down. He says, you'll do. I can't believe 203 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:22.600 they didn't give me the opportunity to interview my own first assistant, but you'll 204 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:26.440 do. I didn't give much thought to that at the time, but it 205 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:33.679 did hit me. Nine months later my first lesson in corporate politics, I 206 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:37.399 mentioned my lifelong friend before. Where did I meet him? I met him 207 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.919 in the first company, the van using company I was working. After nine 208 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:46.360 months, I went from an assistant to be called a stylist. A stylist 209 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:50.000 was the designer product manager of an area, and I was one of the 210 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:54.360 youngest or shortest times ever to reach that pinnacle. In that company, if 211 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.840 not at the time, and it was an amazing experience. And one day 212 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:01.200 this young guy comes over to me. He's dressed cool, had long hair, 213 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:05.600 he looked apart, starts talking to me. I love what you're doing, 214 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:07.919 you know, I see it. I go in the showrooms. You 215 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.039 really got a talent and I appreciate that. And I said, what do 216 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:13.039 you do and he put his head down and he kind of smiled and said, 217 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.960 well, I'm in the operations. I'm in all the planning and follow 218 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:20.080 up work. So that's great. No, I have no interest in it. 219 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.600 I want to do what you're doing. I don't know what to do, 220 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:26.080 you know. He became friends. He was learning what he was learning. 221 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.360 I was learning what I was learning. A short time later, call 222 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:33.519 it two months, I'm going to hire an assistant, and I said to 223 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.600 myself, I need an assistant. I had a boss, a vice president, 224 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.919 general manager, and I know he was going to recruit to get my 225 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:43.480 assistant. I said, I'm looking for assistant. If I can get you 226 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.440 that job, do you want He said, you'd save my life. So 227 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:48.879 I said, okay, great, stay tuned, I'm going to try. 228 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:54.360 I went to my boss at the time who was for want of another word, 229 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.360 I hated him. He was impossible to like. And I wasn't the 230 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.960 only one. A lot of people hated him, but I was the term 231 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:02.720 and to survive him, work through him, and do whatever it took to 232 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:06.559 be successful. I knew hard work and talent would went over. And if 233 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:10.759 I only had the aptitude and the wherewithal and the intensity to deal with his 234 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:15.159 angriness and his meanness and it's impossibleness, I would be okay someday. So 235 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.000 anyway, I said, look, we're hiring an assistant for me. There's 236 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:22.000 someone in the company I know. I'd like to hire him. He says, 237 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.120 no, I have someone else in mind. I said, but it's 238 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:26.759 my assistant. And he looked at me like I was an idiot, and 239 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:30.360 he goes, you work for me. I remember walking out of his office 240 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:36.240 and being very discouraged. I've proven to the company that I have worth. 241 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:38.919 I've proven to the company then I'm good at what I do. They promoted 242 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:42.879 me. They like me. If I'm hiring an assistant, shouldn't I be 243 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:48.600 able to hire my own assistant someone I think will make me successful? And 244 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:52.240 it bothered me. And this is where politics came into play again for a 245 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:59.360 lesson. My boss was an incredible guy. The day he showed up the 246 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:03.600 company, everyone knew someday he'd be the president. It was just a matter 247 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:07.079 of him having the time to learn what he needed to learn. He also 248 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.200 told me on the first day I met him, he says, I need 249 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.519 you to learn everything I do. Come in the morning early, come in 250 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.480 late, do your work whenever you want, but you're gonna follow me around 251 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:18.200 all day long until you learn everything I know, because I can't get him 252 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:22.680 promoted until you know what I know and you can move into that job. 253 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:25.000 You want to talk about lucky, that was lucky. You want to talk 254 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:29.880 about politics, that's politics. But he was connected to the senior merchant in 255 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:33.319 the company, senior vice president of merchant ing, Robert J. Solomon. 256 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.519 But because he was connected, I was connected, and I knew him. 257 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.680 I knew him on a first name basis. He was part of the group 258 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:45.640 that decided to promote me. He liked me. We had a great relationship. 259 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:48.240 I had nothing but the highest regard for him, and I went down 260 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:53.400 to see Robert J. Solomon, senior vice president of merchandising in PVH mister 261 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:57.640 Solomon, it was agreed that I would be getting assistant, and I have 262 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:02.079 a fellow in the company gotten to know who I think would be a great 263 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:06.160 assistant for me, and I'd like him to be my assistant. I went 264 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:10.119 to my boss and I told him, and he refuses to let me have 265 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:14.039 this guy here, someone else in mind. And he looked at me and 266 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:18.240 he was quiet for a second, and he said, well, he is 267 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:22.400 your boss, and technically he's responsible for everything. I said, mister Solomon, 268 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:27.160 look, you and everyone else here has made it clear that you like 269 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:32.559 what I'm doing, that you respect what I'm doing. Shouldn't I be able 270 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.960 to hire and pick my own assistant. We're not talking about hiring the president 271 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:38.680 company right now. We're talking about an assistant. And he put his head 272 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.480 down. He said, yes, you're right, you should be able to 273 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:44.559 do it. I said, well, I have someone I want to hire, 274 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.440 and I can't accept being told who I'm going to hire. It's a 275 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:51.440 problem for me, especially this person's in the company. Once again, he 276 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.759 put his head down. He said, Mark, do you understand what you're 277 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:57.920 asking me to do? This is corporate politics. You've gone to your boss. 278 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:02.079 Your boss has told you, now, you're coming to me to ask 279 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.240 me to override your boss because of what you believe is the right decision to 280 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.480 be made. And I said, yeah, I believe it's the right decision 281 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:11.519 to be made. And frankly, I can't imagine for the life of me 282 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:17.000 that you guys won't support my request. Mark, I have a hard time 283 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:21.000 arguing with the logic. I do know it's a problem, and I do 284 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:25.519 know that if I went to your boss and I told him you came to 285 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:29.039 me and you want to hire your own assistant, you don't agree with his 286 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:33.000 decision, it's going to be a problem for you. You sure you want 287 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:36.720 to do this? And I said, right then, in their corporate politics, 288 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:40.200 he's the guy. He's right for this job, and I'll take my 289 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:45.559 chances. And mister Solomon looked at me and said, you understand what you're 290 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.680 asking for? Yes, then I will do it. I will speak to 291 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:52.720 them and see where we go. What happened, they allowed me to hire 292 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.640 my assistant. What also happened is three weeks later I left the company. 293 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:02.400 I left my friend dangling in the wind. What did he say? Did 294 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.519 he know about that? No? I didn't tell anyone it kind of happened 295 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:10.559 quickly. Somebody recommended to me to another company who came in big company doubled 296 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:15.960 my salary. The point is there is corporate politics in everything we do, 297 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:21.079 and that's a lesson you ought to think about tonight. That's the first gift 298 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.400 I have for you, a little bit about corporate politics. Back in a 299 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:30.400 minute. Always in fashions, I've been shopping for fun lately, and while 300 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:33.200 I'm out, I always look at men's and I look at women's what's going 301 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:37.000 on? And I was particularly interested in dk Y because of their sponsorship of 302 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:41.400 the show. I went downstairs at Macy's thirty fourth Street to look around and 303 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:45.880 I saw dk Y active Wear, and I promise you, ladies, it 304 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.799 is sensational. From the sports spras to the crop tops, to the leggings 305 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:53.279 and the sweats, it really is a great look. And dk Y had 306 00:20:53.359 --> 00:21:00.039 begun as an all American brand dressing casual clothes, engines and the stuff it 307 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:04.000 looks incredible and right now, the colors and the styles is so exciting that 308 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:07.680 I feel great about the company. I always do. I wear the men's 309 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:11.839 who are all the time. I've had situations where I've gone to big events 310 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:15.680 and been interviewed and TV or the radio, and someone comes up to me 311 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.119 in the microphone and like they always do, who you're wearing. And here 312 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:22.480 I am, this big shot with big company and they say, well, 313 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.400 I'm wearing a DKY and they laugh and say, no, you're not. 314 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:27.759 I actually have one on the internet where you could see me. They ask 315 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:30.359 me what suit I'm wearing, and I say d and why and open it 316 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:34.279 up and there's the DKY label. Great fashion, it fits well, it 317 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:38.880 looks right. It's designed to make you comfortable in the city, goes from 318 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.119 day and tonight. You could wear it in the morning, you wear it 319 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.519 in the afternoon, and you look cool at night as well. It's great 320 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:47.400 for the office, it's a great for leisure. But I'm talking about the 321 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.279 DKY activewear. The first time I really became aware of that, Jesse and 322 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:55.599 I were up at Sirius Radio. He was doing a job for Serious He 323 00:21:55.680 --> 00:22:00.359 does Dan Abrams show, he fills in on the Potus Network and we're in 324 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:06.279 the lobby and this hip hop group came up with this really great looking Latino 325 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:11.599 singer girl Young Beautiful. She was wearing a DKY sports bar and I said 326 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:14.759 to myself, this is amazing. Actually went to Macy's to see it, 327 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.200 and I'm excited about the brand. And I tell you what, Ladies, 328 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:22.400 dk Y always has great fashion for work, always wonderful dresses and things that 329 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:26.440 you'd wear. Their accessories are great, the shoes are always very cool. 330 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:30.920 But active wear in particular right now looks sensational and being that everyone's at leisure 331 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:34.559 in active where, it's a great time DKY go take a look. Been 332 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:40.119 a lifetime of my career building the van Usen brand, and I am so 333 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:45.519 pleased that they're back with us now talking about suits. Men were dressing up 334 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:49.359 again and it's become cool to wear a suit. Suits can be won on 335 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:53.880 multiple occasions in multiple ways. You could wear a suit formally to go out 336 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:56.839 at night or to an event. You could wear a suit to the office 337 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.559 with or without a tie. If you look closely, now fashion trends, 338 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:07.640 suits are being worn with turtlenecks or mack next. The choices are endless and 339 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:11.519 every one of them looks right. You could really really look the part. 340 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:17.440 I believe that packaging yourself this is important. Does the products you package and 341 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:21.559 wearing a suit is one of those things that make men look their best. 342 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:26.640 Venues In invented a new idea. It's called the cool Flex suit. It's 343 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:30.680 been engineered with stretched technology, giving you the most comfortable fit and mobility. 344 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:36.759 Its wrinkle resistant fabric, it's cool moisture WICKI it makes it perfect for all 345 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:41.960 occasions. As we discussed just now, this new style of looking sharp while 346 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:45.839 feeling cool and comfortable is amazing, and I'm so excited that the ven Using 347 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:52.319 company is involved in this new technology and is embracing the whole idea of dressing 348 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:56.480 up. Let's not forget Venues and made its name with dress shirts. It's 349 00:23:56.640 --> 00:24:00.759 only proper that the suit business follows strongly in its way. You can find 350 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:07.599 van Us and cool Flex Men's stretch suits at jcpenny or online at jcpenny dot 351 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:11.880 com. Guys, they're great. You should go look at them. Welcome 352 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:15.759 back to Always in Fashion. Here's your host, Mark Webber. I'm giving 353 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:21.079 my gift to you. I've thought about all the lessons I've learned along the 354 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:23.240 way. I should point out right now, if those of you have been 355 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:27.519 listening to us for seven years, some of what I'm about to talk about 356 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:32.839 you might have heard already having said it, they're good to be reminded sometimes 357 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:38.240 because the lessons are priceless, they're universal and the last the test of time. 358 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:45.960 Under the heading of corporate politics in America can never forget we have egos. 359 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:52.880 Bosses have egos. Sometimes bosses egos need to be stroked. Being in 360 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.759 corporate America or anywhere for that matter, everything we do has politics associated. 361 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.559 From the way you talk to your family to the way you talk to your 362 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:04.599 bartender. You have to do it in such a way that people will either 363 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:10.279 like you, respect you, and most important, execute for you. I 364 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:14.279 have said, and I want to remind everyone Jesse, what's my favorite word? 365 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:18.279 No? Why? Because it opens up so much opportunity. Thank you 366 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:25.119 for that. I learned in corporate America the word no was invaluable. When 367 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:30.920 someone tells me no, it spurs me on. You can't tell me no. 368 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:33.759 You can't tell me something can't be done. It's too hard, it's 369 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:37.920 too difficult, it's too complicated. Someone's done this before. There's a million 370 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:42.759 reasons why you're told no. Look, in life, we need rules. 371 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:48.200 Where in this world will be without rules of behavior in trouble, we'd be 372 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:53.480 barbarians again. So rules and the word no are relevant. But in business 373 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:59.359 no such word as no. Not to me anyway. And I learned this 374 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:02.920 from one of my early mentors. You want to talk about corporate politics, 375 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:07.160 I'm going to talk about it. I work for a great guy and he 376 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:11.119 taught me that you cannot accept no. And one of my favorite expressions in 377 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:17.599 life I came up with, behind anyone with vision, there are fifty well 378 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:22.799 intentioned people undermining that vision. The keywords there are well intentioned. They're not 379 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:26.160 saying no, they're not getting in your way because they're bad people. They 380 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:30.000 just don't agree or they have a different point of view, and all subjects 381 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:33.880 of change and leadership comes into play. I don't care. The word no 382 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:40.039 is incredible great example. I got a question for you, Jesse. You 383 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:42.640 drive a Defender? Yes, I do. What color is your Defender? 384 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:48.920 Silver? Okay? What if I said to you, you know range Rover 385 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:55.000 makes Defender. What if I told you that because the range Rover comes in 386 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:59.680 silver, you can't get a Defender in silver? Well, it makes absolutely 387 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.640 no sense to me. It's a different car, it's a different model. 388 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:06.920 Why would I if I that one has no connection to the car that I 389 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.960 want. It makes no sense exactly. You know. I was in the 390 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:15.200 shirt business my whole life, and there are always new entrants into business. 391 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:18.759 I had one of the largest selling dress shirts in the world. When we 392 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:22.920 owned van Usen, we started a designer shirt company called dkn Y, and 393 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:29.880 everyone in DKY recognized that in order for Designer DKY to be memorable, it 394 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:33.000 had to be different. And what they did was they came up this remarkable 395 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:38.759 fabric that was iridescent. The navy had blue black in it, and it 396 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:44.480 shone and had to shine to it and made it just that much more especial. 397 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:47.480 And they did the same thing with the ties. It wasn't pure blue, 398 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.880 it wasn't black. It was a combination of the two, and it 399 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.039 has a certain sheen to it. It was amazing. During the course of 400 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:56.720 this action and the range of colors, someone said we were not doing white. 401 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:00.119 I remember, what do you mean, you're not doing white? Well, 402 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:02.759 well, everyone else has white. We're not gonna do white. I 403 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:07.279 said, you listened to me. Fifty percent of the men's shirt businesses in 404 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:12.119 white. You can't tell me because van Usen has white, or Calvin Klein 405 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:15.839 has white, or any of the other one hundred brands that are out there 406 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:18.359 have white. You're going to leave white out because you want to be different. 407 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:25.599 No. My whole career was based on no. You can't make this 408 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:29.400 here, you can't do this there, you can't do that. No became 409 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:34.799 my favorite word because in corporate America, it challenges you to think. I'll 410 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:38.559 give you a simple term that you all know outside the box. When you're 411 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:41.759 told no, you have to figure out a new way to make it happen. 412 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:48.359 You can never take no for an answer because there are ways around it, 413 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:52.880 There are ways to prove it, there are ways to become intellectually more 414 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:57.599 exciting with this is regard and back to bosses with egos. Early on in 415 00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:04.839 my career, I was involved in design approvals. When you think about big 416 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:12.200 businesses, you think about let's think pick a big brand, Zara or The 417 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:18.039 Gap. When the Gap or Zara puts a product in the store, they 418 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:21.279 put a pair of jeans in a wash color for want of better or anything 419 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.920 else, and they decided it's a slim fit. You want to guess how 420 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.160 many pair of those jeans they buy to put in a store. Jesse At 421 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:30.039 like, give me a range. I don't even know, like, well, 422 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:33.880 let's say the GAP has five hundred stores. Uh huh. Now, 423 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:38.799 let's think of it this way. They have thirty inch waiste, thirty inch 424 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:41.799 bottoms, thirty one inch wage, thirty two inch ways, thirty three all 425 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:45.559 these sizes and different lens. How many pairs do you think they buy to 426 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:48.119 put in their stores. I don't know, ten thousand, I don't know. 427 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:52.319 I would say probably two hundred thousand units of that item at least. 428 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:57.279 The point is it's a huge, huge investment. So when you're making decisions 429 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:02.160 in a company and that's just one style you walk through the GAP, they 430 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:07.000 must have thousands of styles. There is a process that is involved with how 431 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:12.119 you determine whether something makes it to the collection where it's approved and how much 432 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:18.279 to buy. And very often there's a management hierarchy that people present to from 433 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:23.440 the designers and the ops persons to their boss, and there's a collective agreement, 434 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:27.519 probably up to the CEO of someone showing him the product, explaining it, 435 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:32.599 and he's signing off because the stakes are so high. I got involved 436 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:37.240 in that when I first started working. It's a tremendous fail safe when people 437 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:42.880 are forced to explain their ideas to a group of people in cur information and 438 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:47.759 input, make them better, give them lessons, talk through the details, 439 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:52.519 and make it better. My first week working, because I was connected, 440 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.079 I worked for the right guy, because I was in a good company that 441 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:57.519 was open, because they wanted to train their people, because not only the 442 00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:03.039 new entrants their interns. A group of people met with management and they presented 443 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:07.759 their ideas for the following season's collection. It was called the bull session, 444 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:12.039 where everyone came in and presented to the senior most merchant in the company their 445 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:19.279 ideas, their concepts, and their wherewithal and like the Emperor back in the 446 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:25.519 Roman days, the colosseum proverbially put their thumb up or down, either approving 447 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:29.559 or avoiding approving, and you'll make it to the collection of putting their thumb 448 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:32.240 down and saying Nope, I don't like it. I don't think it'll sell, 449 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.559 I don't like the price points, I don't think it will work. 450 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:37.039 We have something similar. It doesn't make sense. We all presented, we 451 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:41.519 all had to deal with this, And I'm sitting there my first week in 452 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:45.559 business, and they're presenting their merchandising. I'm still too young to present, 453 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:52.160 but it was an eye opening experience. I thought about the courageousness of these 454 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:56.599 people presenting to these senior most executives, and then I thought about the expertise 455 00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:01.200 and what I was hearing the senior most excusive say. There were so many 456 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:06.759 inputs, many variables, and all comes into this input on what makes it 457 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.960 or doesn't make it, or what adjustments need to be made, and it's 458 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:13.839 brilliant. And I remember them going around the room. The senior most executive 459 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:17.039 on one particular issue, started asking people their opinions. There were varying in 460 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:22.000 wide ranging opinions on whether this should or should not be part of the collection. 461 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:24.319 I could tell from the look on the face of the senior most merchant 462 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:29.359 that he had made up his mind. I was always good at reading people, 463 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.400 and you can tell by the way they asked these questions. He might 464 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:35.440 simply say, I think that makes a lot of sense. What do you 465 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.640 think? I'm not sure I like it in all those colors, but I 466 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:42.319 do like it. What do you think? He's basically telling you what he 467 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:45.559 thinks, and he's looking for sign off or something he doesn't know or hasn't 468 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:51.200 considered. And I remember going around the room and he's getting these various different 469 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.480 opinions. And he came to me and I was shocked at even asked me, 470 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:57.279 but I did have an opinion. And I looked at him and said, 471 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:00.799 I see what it is you like, but I don't agree with you. 472 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:04.880 I don't think it's right. There's something about it that doesn't excite me, 473 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.720 and I don't think it should be part of the collection. He said, 474 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:10.160 thank you, Mark, and we went around the room and everybody was 475 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:14.920 dealing with all this stuff. He calls the meeting to adjournment, says, 476 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:17.480 everyone, thank you for coming. Your input was valuable finalized in the next 477 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:21.880 couple of days. I really appreciate you being here. It was a great 478 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.960 time. Thank you all. I hope you all learn something. Everybody gets 479 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:28.759 up to leave, and as you get up to leave, he looks at 480 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.559 me and says to me, Mark, stick around a minute, and I 481 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:35.079 said, I see you have a lot of opinions. Mark. I said 482 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:37.640 yeah. I said, yeah, you seem to know a lot about fashion. 483 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:39.519 I said, well, I always had a taste level. I have 484 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:43.240 a good feel for it. He says, you know what, you might 485 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:45.480 have a good feel for fashion, but your corporate politics. You don't understand 486 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:51.079 now he's saying this, and I got to tell you there is a quote, 487 00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:53.599 I think it's from the same James Bible where it says, Yay, 488 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:58.599 though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I shall fear 489 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:02.400 no evil. Behind his desk, he had a tapestry I'll never forget, 490 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:07.279 and it said, Yea, though I walk through the shadow of the Valley 491 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:10.239 of Death, I shall fear no evil because I am the meanest son of 492 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:15.360 in the valley. And he looks at me and he says, Mark, 493 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:21.360 I might not always be right, but I'm never wrong. Why don't you 494 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:23.840 go think about it? You need to learn. With that as a backdrop, 495 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:29.119 I'm giving you a gift tonight in corporate of politics back in a minute. 496 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:35.280 Always in fashion, fall is now upon us, spring is gone, 497 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:38.559 summer is over, and I'm tending to be a little upset, except the 498 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:44.119 four brings new challenges and new differences and a great new environment for us to 499 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:47.559 thrive and enjoy. I, for one, love the change of the seasons 500 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:53.320 because of the new fashion, and I am excited about my favorite brand, 501 00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:58.119 Isa and what they bring to the party. When I used to work at 502 00:34:58.119 --> 00:35:01.280 the company and we were reinvent ing Izard, which had always been a golf 503 00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:06.000 and tennis brand. We brought it to new heights, new dimensions. I 504 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:09.760 thought Isaac would be practical in skiing, not necessarily for on the slopes, 505 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:14.760 but for eproski. What do people wear when they're relaxing, when they're in 506 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.840 those hotels? What are you doing when you're at home? What are you 507 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:20.880 wearing to the movies? What are you wearing to go out at night when 508 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.719 you're no longer wearing your spring clothes? And here we are in full and 509 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:27.719 I can tell you what it is. Polar flees, French dairy, different 510 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:32.159 kinds of fleeces, color block, colors, sweaters, great, great long 511 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:36.960 sleeve items come into play. And with Isaza, they were always about color 512 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:42.320 and being colorful. I love what the brand represents, whether we're talking about 513 00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:46.199 color block or solid colors. Always with the logo, Isaac brings a dimension 514 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:52.440 to sportswear fashion at affordable prices that you can't find anywhere. And at the 515 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:57.320 same time, it's all color related, from the woven shirts, from the 516 00:35:57.400 --> 00:36:01.119 knit shirts to the matching sweaters or the sweaters that look great layering over these 517 00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:07.280 shirts. Always matching pants, beginning with the core color of khaki, working 518 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:13.880 into the navies and the blacks. ISOD is a spectacular brand all about colors 519 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:16.920 and launching in full of the new fall shades you'll see in the stores. 520 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:22.320 Listen, guys, Isod's a great brand. It's energetic, it's fun to 521 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:28.519 be around, and it makes you feel and look your best. And now 522 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:31.639 there's a color palette change and you get to change with it. ISAOD. 523 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:38.400 Come take a look JC, Penny Cohal's and online ISID. What a history. 524 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:44.320 How much I enjoy this brand. Welcome back to Always in Fashion. 525 00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:51.159 Here's your host, Mark Webber. I have come to the realization that I'm 526 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:53.400 not important anymore. At least I spent the year talking to you about I 527 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:58.559 used to be important. But I have to admit this week a series of 528 00:36:58.599 --> 00:37:04.079 things came up that reminded me that maybe I still have something to contribute. 529 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:07.400 That friend who called me and asked me to help their son going through some 530 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:12.679 life in corporate American and I agreed, and I was incredibly helpful, mentoring 531 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:17.760 and helping them position themselves corporately for their next decision in their job. And 532 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:22.599 I started to appreciate, and I started to remember and if nothing else, 533 00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:25.519 if I have nothing to say and I'm not important, why am I on 534 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:29.880 the radio? Why am I doing podcasts? If I didn't, I should 535 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:34.119 leave. And I won't leave because I know, in spite of my self 536 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:37.400 deprecation, I still have something to contribute and I'm proud of that and I'm 537 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:42.519 happy about it. So with this in mind, I have some things to 538 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:45.199 impart to you, and my holiday gift to you, I want to start 539 00:37:45.239 --> 00:37:51.880 with lessons in corporate globally the French. When I first started with LVMH, 540 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:55.000 I was interviewing with the managing director OFMH in New York. He came from 541 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.800 Paris to meet me, and let's just say he was very interested in hiring 542 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:02.880 me. I made it clear that I wanted a corporate responsibility. He said, 543 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.719 in order to do that, yet, there are other people that you 544 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:07.960 would need to meet. Would you be willing to fly to Paris? A 545 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:10.239 week later, I'm there, got up really early. My first meeting was 546 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:15.199 with a woman named Madame Conchetta. She was the head of human resources for 547 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:20.800 LVMH. Now just take a moment to think what that means. Sixty two 548 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:24.480 brands at the time in one hundred and twenty countries and god knows how many 549 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:30.159 cities, more stores than you can imagine, over many different breaths and goals 550 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:35.639 and types of stores. It was an extraordinary organization and the finest and largest 551 00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:38.360 luxury company in the world. She was head of human resources and during the 552 00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:42.480 course of my time we had an interview. She was very strong, very 553 00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:45.719 tough for English was good enough for me, certainly better than my French. 554 00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:49.239 I met with Bernard Ornau, the chairman and CEO and founder elvim H, 555 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:52.000 had a great meeting, went back to New York and was pretty much hired. 556 00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:55.639 But over the course of time I had to interview with Donna Karen. 557 00:38:57.039 --> 00:39:00.960 I flew to Parrot k I spent two days there with Donna with the managing 558 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:07.280 director of LVMH, talking about everything and anything from swimming pools to different locations 559 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:10.519 within the islands, and it was a great time and Donna and I really 560 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:14.840 hit her off well, so much so at the end when she was taking 561 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:17.280 me to the boat to leave Parrot Kay and the Turks and Kekos, she 562 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:20.639 looked at me and said, Mark, you're a great guy. I think 563 00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:24.079 you'd be great for Dior. She didn't want me to work in her company 564 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:30.119 anyway. I was leaving for vacation. I took the boat into Miami and 565 00:39:30.199 --> 00:39:34.840 from there I flew to Las Vegas, five hour, six hour flight whatever 566 00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:37.360 it was, and I landed. When I landed, about two hours later, 567 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:39.960 I get a phone call. And the first thing on the phone call, 568 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:45.039 my friend Madame Conchetta, is screaming at me, how dare you? 569 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:49.440 When you hear that, the first thing that goes through your mind is you 570 00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:52.199 better keep your mouth shut. And she starts screaming, who do you think 571 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:58.320 you are? How dare you leak to the press that you met with Donna 572 00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:00.960 Karen? And I was sitting listening and she just went on and on, 573 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:06.679 and she says the cover of Women's Wear Daily, there is an article about 574 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:08.920 you meeting with Donna Karen and Paraquet and that you're not joining the company. 575 00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:13.639 And I was taken aback. I didn't know what to say in the article. 576 00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:19.000 I eventually said said, dunno Donna Karen, dunno Donna Karen. And 577 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:22.400 what they wrote in the article is if they don't hire me at Donna Karen 578 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:24.480 to be their CEO, they don't know where it's going to because there are 579 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:30.280 nobody other candidates, and it was really ugly, and she continued to give 580 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:32.239 me crap and yell at me, and I was defenseless because I didn't really 581 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:37.519 know. I s Amaticumchetta in a very calm and professional voice. I said, 582 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:39.400 I hear you. I don't know where this is coming from. I've 583 00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:44.199 been on a plane all this time, and it hit me Donna Karen had 584 00:40:44.199 --> 00:40:47.039 a publicity network the likes of which you wouldn't believe, so many people and 585 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:51.400 so connected to the press. So I said to her, you know, 586 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:54.239 I know, I didn't speak to anyone. I've been in the air. 587 00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:58.679 I just landed in Las Vegas. I'm on vacation. I have nothing to 588 00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:01.719 do with this. I suggest you in with Donna Karen. Two hours later, 589 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:07.679 I get a phone call from out of Conchetta apologizing to me profusely that 590 00:41:07.760 --> 00:41:10.320 it turns out that Donna Karen leaked the story and her team leaked the story 591 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:15.760 and she didn't want you and that's how she dealt with it. I apologize, 592 00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:17.880 Mark, I can't believe it that we did this. I'm so sorry. 593 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:21.320 I want you to know I'm very much in favor of you as a 594 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:29.320 candidate. We'll talk again soon. Make a long story short. A couple 595 00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:32.880 of months later, I got the job and working at Donna Karen, and 596 00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:36.800 over the next three four and five months, I made a name for myself 597 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:40.119 and the company. Then one fateful day, I'm sitting in my office in 598 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:45.320 New York. I'm reading Women's War Daily and on the front cover, Madame 599 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:52.920 Conchetta is leaving LVMH. I was shocked and I was angry. I said, 600 00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:55.639 all this time I've spent there, all the hand holding, all the 601 00:41:55.679 --> 00:42:00.920 times that LVMH has made it clear to me how important I am to them 602 00:42:00.920 --> 00:42:06.239 and how much they appreciated me. I'm reading in the paper that Matti Coucetto, 603 00:42:06.239 --> 00:42:08.400 who had this relationship. Well, I'm on the executive committee in Paris 604 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:13.159 and the CEO of the Americas. Nobody tells me that the head of human 605 00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:17.000 resources that is involved with us as leaving the company. I was really taken 606 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:22.239 aback. I couldn't believe that I didn't have the standing or the respect that 607 00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:25.639 I would get a phone call at least or a private note saying this is 608 00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:30.719 going to happen, or after it happened, tell me privately, and time 609 00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:32.840 passed. Another couple of months. The managing director of the guy I reported 610 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:37.159 to is in New York. We were going to travel that day. We're 611 00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:40.440 going to Woodbury Commons and we're talking about Mary of subjects, and we're talking 612 00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:44.079 about what we saw and it's all well and fine. And I leaned to 613 00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:45.440 him and I said, by the way, I have to ask you something 614 00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:47.960 I say, maybe i'd ask you. I want to tell you that how 615 00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:54.599 disappointed I was to read in the newspaper that Madam Conchetta left had a relationship 616 00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:59.079 with her. That's not the way I should have found out about it. 617 00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:04.880 Really disappointed that you or someone didn't call me in advance and explained to me 618 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:07.880 what was going on. I don't think it's appropriate that if I am important 619 00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:12.320 to the company and I have these titles, I think I should have been 620 00:43:12.360 --> 00:43:16.239 told. And he looked at me and he said, Mark, you work 621 00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:22.000 for a European company. We are different from American companies. We have a 622 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:27.559 different culture, we have a different mindset, we think differently, we do 623 00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:30.480 things differently. One of the reasons we like you is you bring your style 624 00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:36.760 and your approach to the company which makes us richer. But you can't ask 625 00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:40.280 us, a European company, to change for you. And if you want 626 00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:45.239 to be successful here, if you want to have a future here, you 627 00:43:45.400 --> 00:43:51.679 have to learn our ways and we're not learning yours. Okay, I understand 628 00:43:52.280 --> 00:43:57.719 that's fair. And then he said, by the way I read about it 629 00:43:57.760 --> 00:44:06.000 in the paper as well, I was always fascinated, amused and amazed by 630 00:44:06.519 --> 00:44:12.079 the differences that took place around the world. Yeah, politics is important. 631 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:15.679 Take a break. I'm giving you some gifts back in a moment. Always 632 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:22.039 in fashion. As one of the world's most celebrated fashion designers, Carl Lagafeld 633 00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:25.800 was renowned for his aspirational and cutting edge approach to style. His unique vision 634 00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:31.440 of Parisian shit comes to America through Carlagofeld Paris. He has women's collections, 635 00:44:31.480 --> 00:44:36.039 men's collections, ready to wear, accessory, shoes and bags. The fashion 636 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:39.519 house Carlagofeld also offers a range of watches, I wear and premium fragrances. 637 00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:45.920 You can explore the car Lagovil collection at car Lagofelparis dot com. But it's 638 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:47.920 more than that. I have for one, love to shop. I love 639 00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:52.840 going around and seeing what's happening and what catches my attention, what would make 640 00:44:52.920 --> 00:44:55.639 me feel good to wear now. I don't wear the women's wear obviously, 641 00:44:55.719 --> 00:45:00.000 but I can appreciate it and they look amazing, look right. You want 642 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.400 to have clothes that fits you well. You want to look like you're wearing 643 00:45:04.480 --> 00:45:09.280 something that's very expensive, that's exclusive for you and yours. You can find 644 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:15.960 it at very affordable prices at Macy's Orcarlagofel dot com Paris. The women's ready 645 00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:19.280 to wear fashion is extraordinary, as well as the handbigs and the shoes. 646 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:23.760 I, for one, wear men's clothes, unlike my appreciation of women's clothes. 647 00:45:24.159 --> 00:45:28.000 I'm a modern guy. I want to look current. I want to 648 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:30.639 look the way I want to feel. I go out at night, I'm 649 00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:35.119 in black and carlagafeldt is my buddy. Clothes are great, they fit great, 650 00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:37.800 and they have little tweaks and touches, whether it's a stripe on the 651 00:45:37.840 --> 00:45:40.239 sleeve or button at the neck or on the shoulder. There's a lot of 652 00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:45.159 details that go into Carlagafel because he's always been, he always had been one 653 00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:49.840 of the world's great designers, and this legacy and goes on and on. 654 00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:52.920 I can't speak enough about it except to say to you, you want to 655 00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:55.119 feel good about yourself. You want to know that you're dressing properly. You 656 00:45:55.159 --> 00:46:01.079 want to clothes that fits you well. Carl Lagafeld Paris at Macy's Orcarl Lagafel 657 00:46:01.320 --> 00:46:07.960 dot com. This is Mark Webber. I remember so clearly when Donna Karen 658 00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:12.679 hit the scene. It was explosive. She was one of the most dynamic 659 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:16.519 designers in the history of the world, and how product was very, very 660 00:46:16.519 --> 00:46:22.280 different from anything anyone in America had ever seen. She was modern, she 661 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:25.039 was New York. She was vibrant. When you looked at the business in 662 00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:30.519 those days, there are companies like Ralph Polo or Tommy Hill, Figure or 663 00:46:30.599 --> 00:46:36.440 Nordica, great traditional American brands, but no one identified modern. You wanted 664 00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:39.880 modern, you had to find Georgia Armani. Black was the basis of his 665 00:46:40.239 --> 00:46:45.800 presentation, and everything about it had a European sheek to it, but not 666 00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:51.320 in America until Donna came. Donna was a New York life resident, understood 667 00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:53.599 the pace of the city, understood what it was like to live in the 668 00:46:53.639 --> 00:46:59.920 city that never sleeps, that goes twenty four to seven, Donna invented Decay 669 00:47:00.360 --> 00:47:02.199 Done a Care in New York. I'll never forget the first time I saw 670 00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:07.079 it. I was in London and they had built at a magnificent four floory 671 00:47:07.239 --> 00:47:10.440 store in a building with an open roof, a glass ceiling, glass ceiling, 672 00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:15.159 I suppose, representing we're changing the way things are done. DK and 673 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:21.320 Y was frankly nothing short of extraordinary, both men and both for women. 674 00:47:21.679 --> 00:47:24.320 Black was the basis of the brand, although there are many colors played off 675 00:47:24.320 --> 00:47:29.960 the palette and they all look good against black. Let's face it, we 676 00:47:30.039 --> 00:47:34.159 live active lifestyles. We get up in the morning, we do different things, 677 00:47:34.320 --> 00:47:38.639 we work, we play evenings. Is about entertaining and seeing the best 678 00:47:38.639 --> 00:47:43.280 that New York has to offer. TKY offers a collection a men's wearing, 679 00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:47.920 women's wearing, but footwear, accessories, suits, shirts, ties, women's 680 00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:52.880 sportswear, women's active wear that speaks to the lifestyle that goes with you wherever 681 00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:58.639 you want to go. And it's always modern, it's always contemporary. It's 682 00:47:58.679 --> 00:48:01.639 always at the forefront of of what fashion should be. With the New York 683 00:48:01.719 --> 00:48:06.960 lifestyle in mind, I've lived the life. I was the chairman and CEO 684 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:09.599 of Donna Karen I understood what that brand meant, and I can tell you 685 00:48:09.920 --> 00:48:14.920 if you want to step out, you want to walk away from your traditional 686 00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:16.719 roots. If you want to be modern, you want to make a statement 687 00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:22.719 of elegance, but in a New York kind of way, with the sophistication 688 00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:27.840 of New York. As a person who understands all the city has to offer 689 00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:31.599 and all the modern lifestyle in America is about. You find it everywhere people 690 00:48:31.639 --> 00:48:37.880 are forcing themselves, urging themselves to get out and be special and live this 691 00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:44.320 lifestyle. DCN Why you can find dkn why at DCNY dot com or in 692 00:48:44.440 --> 00:48:47.079 Macy's. I'm telling you, guys, and I'm telling you ladies, you 693 00:48:47.119 --> 00:48:52.760 can look chic, you could look special. You look right, DCN why 694 00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:58.400 welcome back to Always in Fashion. Here's your host, Mark Webber. Then 695 00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:01.280 a year saying I'm not real of it, I'm spending tonight to tell you, 696 00:49:01.360 --> 00:49:04.719 well, Mark, if you're not relevant, why are you on the 697 00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:07.360 radio and why you on podcast? Why you're wasting everyone's time. So I've 698 00:49:07.360 --> 00:49:12.039 had to back off and say maybe I do have something to say, and 699 00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:15.679 tonight this show is my gift to you with that in mind. We're talking 700 00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:19.000 politics, politics and business. Jesse. I got to ask you, you're 701 00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:22.519 the new coming to this group, how are you dealing with politics. It's 702 00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:27.159 an interesting question because one of the things that I do talk about gifts. 703 00:49:27.599 --> 00:49:30.920 I have the gift of filling in for some very big personalities on radio. 704 00:49:31.159 --> 00:49:35.599 So, for example, I fill in for Dan Abrams on Serious XM, 705 00:49:35.599 --> 00:49:38.199 the Potus Channel, and Dan Schaeffer, those of you who don't know, 706 00:49:38.559 --> 00:49:42.559 is more of a middle of the road approach. He tries to give a 707 00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:45.800 balanced take. It doesn't mean that he's always down the line. I mean, 708 00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:49.320 he'll sometimes favor someone on the left, he'll favor someone on the right. 709 00:49:49.320 --> 00:49:51.760 But he gives a balanced approach, and when I fill in for him, 710 00:49:51.760 --> 00:49:54.960 I'm very cognizant of that. I'm very aware of that. This past 711 00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:58.880 week I filled in for him, and I got to ask you about it. 712 00:49:59.280 --> 00:50:01.519 I took a matter. I came up with this idea and I thought 713 00:50:01.559 --> 00:50:07.360 it was kind of an interesting subject. What I didn't realize was the absolute 714 00:50:07.559 --> 00:50:12.679 fallout from me doing this. How much people would hate me. You tell 715 00:50:12.679 --> 00:50:15.719 me if I'm crazy here. Okay, So the topic that I picked was 716 00:50:15.519 --> 00:50:20.280 everything in the news right now is talking about if Donald Trump gets a second 717 00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:22.599 term, it's gonna be the end of the republic, It's gonna be the 718 00:50:22.639 --> 00:50:24.920 end of democracy. Oh yeah, what happened to check some balances. So 719 00:50:25.079 --> 00:50:29.800 a lot of this is also based on Trump's words. People are very worried 720 00:50:29.840 --> 00:50:32.039 that he's his second term is gonna be unhinged. Okay, and you know 721 00:50:32.119 --> 00:50:36.840 what bab I said. Look, he's saying some really scary things. I 722 00:50:36.880 --> 00:50:42.920 don't blame people for thinking that way, but are we maybe overblowing this a 723 00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:47.039 little bit? So I'm not convinced that it's gonna be as dire as people 724 00:50:47.079 --> 00:50:51.000 say. Could it be? Maybe? But I was of the opinion I'm 725 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:54.159 just not one hundred percent convinced. The minute I said that, everybody called 726 00:50:54.199 --> 00:50:59.639 in Jesse or you're so naive, Jesse. What is wrong with you? 727 00:50:59.639 --> 00:51:01.320 You know, oh what he's doing, He's telling you what he's going to 728 00:51:01.400 --> 00:51:05.119 do. How could you believe this? What's wrong with you? So then 729 00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:07.159 I fire back and I go, wait, wait a minute, So you're 730 00:51:07.199 --> 00:51:10.360 telling me to take Trumpet face value? Don't you call him a liar? 731 00:51:10.400 --> 00:51:14.159 And you can't believe anything that he says? So now you want to believe 732 00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:16.440 everything that he says. Oh my gosh, So the amount of hate mail 733 00:51:16.719 --> 00:51:21.639 I got was just incredible. Well, with that in mind, I think 734 00:51:21.719 --> 00:51:24.719 that it just goes to show it doesn't matter whether you're in the corporate America 735 00:51:24.840 --> 00:51:30.519 or in the entertainment business or the news business. This politics and we all 736 00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:32.760 have to deal with it. And my advice to you, if you don't 737 00:51:32.800 --> 00:51:37.559 know what to say, keep your mouth closed. Number two. If you 738 00:51:37.599 --> 00:51:42.639 don't know what to say, take a moment, take a pregnant pause and 739 00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:49.239 think about what you say before you say it. Recognize that not everyone is 740 00:51:49.280 --> 00:51:52.000 the same in this world. Everyone has a different point of view. Everyone's 741 00:51:52.039 --> 00:51:55.760 point of view needs to be respected, and you need to learn how to 742 00:51:55.880 --> 00:52:00.960 navigate through that. With this in mind, to eat show. There's my 743 00:52:01.079 --> 00:52:05.000 gift to you. I hope you've enjoyed it. Good Night,