I had an incredible weekend riding the Katy Trail from Clinton, Mo to St. Charles. It was only 231 miles. 😀 Big thanks to all of my wonderful colleagues Sunpointe Investments for always cheering us on.
Don’t ever underestimate the power of a vintage Pepsi machine outside of the Peers Store. The store was originally built in 1896 for the arrival of the KATY Railroad. Unfortunately, I don’t know when this glorious Pepsi machine was added but it keeps those cans chilled. Cash only.
Keep riding. The good times won’t last long. Until next time…
Professional Reducer. Planning and Investing for Legacy Builders + Legacy Preservers at Sunpointe Investments. Personal Archive Advocate at Cultish Creative.
Sounds like a fantastic experience. I got tired just reading this post! 🚴
Thanks for all you do for Sunpointe Investments and our clients. You deserve the break (if you can call it that when riding 231 miles)!
Leonard vs. PepsiCo: The Hilarious Tale of a Harrier Jet
It's a feast for my MBA-loving heart when the two disciplines I love and adore-marketing and law, intersect in the wildest ways. Enter Leonard vs. PepsiCo, a legal comedy that carbonates my two loves into one fizzy delight.
Pepsi Points: The Gateway to Glory
In the mid-90s, Pepsi, in an attempt to out-cool Coca-Cola, launched a points-for-prizes scheme. Collect Pepsi points, and you could snag a T-shirt for 75 points or a leather jacket for 1,450 points. It was a classic marketing ploy to boost sales among the youth. But Pepsi went a step too far—or should I say, a Harrier jet too far. In a commercial aimed at teenagers, Pepsi joked that seven million Pepsi points could get you a McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier II fighter jet. Their tagline- "Sure beats the bus!"; indeed, it does.
Enter John Leonard: Dreamer and a Schemer
John Leonard, a 20-year-old Seattle student with Spielbergian optimism, saw the commercial and thought a Harrier jet for $700,000 worth of Pepsi points was a steal compared to the actual price tag of $32 million. Leonard, armed with youthful audacity and the backing of five investors, raised the money and sent Pepsi the requisite points, expecting his very own fighter jet to be delivered. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.
Pepsi's Oh-So-Hilarious Joke
Pepsi, probably choking on their own soda, refused to comply, stating the jet offer was a jest. Undeterred, Leonard and his band of dreamers filed a lawsuit against Pepsi for breach of contract and fraud. The case was transferred to a federal court in Manhattan, where Senior Judge Kimba Wood ruled in favour of Pepsi, stating, "No objective person could reasonably have concluded that the commercial offered consumers a Harrier jet."
Netflix Documentary: "Pepsi, Where's My Jet?"
Imagine my glee when I stumbled upon the Netflix documentary "Pepsi, Where's My Jet?" while researching this case. The series, directed by Andrew Renzi, takes you on a wild ride, chronicling Leonard's quest for the jet. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good laugh at corporate blunders and legal antics.
The Dynamic Duo: Leonard and Hoffman
The documentary also introduces Todd Hoffman, a charismatic millionaire who backed Leonard's scheme. Their partnership, as quirky as it sounds, highlights the unexpected bond between a young dreamer and a seasoned adventurer. Hoffman describes Leonard as "the math that Pepsi didn't do!".
The Final Sip
In the end, Leonard didn't get his jet, but he got a story that entertained millions. And Pepsi? They learned a costly lesson in the power of small print. This case is a sparkling example of how marketing can collide with the law in the most unexpected and humorous ways. So, here's to Leonard vs. PepsiCo, bringing a little joy and humour to MBA students and legal aficionados alike!
Documentary: https://lnkd.in/gRAsdsBq
Advertisement: https://lnkd.in/gPZNaQWy#Pepsi#Harrier#law#MBA#Marketing#Advertisement
In my latest for Sightlines, I examine how EIGHT Brewing Co.'s methodical, even hyperlocal approach is different from what we might expect from a celeb-backed brand.
EIGHT co-founder Ruchi Desai says that in the brand's third year on shelves, honing in on small wins has been key to growth. After starting in Texas, where co-founder Troy Aikman rose to fame as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, EIGHT has taken a granular approach and waited two years to open its second state, Oklahoma, in February. So far in 2024, the brand is up +51% following the Oklahoma launch while maintaining flat growth in Texas.
Learn more about how granular, local data helped EIGHT make the statewide pitch to the biggest retailer of them all, Walmart: https://lnkd.in/girna5qm
This is great advice from the owner of the world famous Savannah Bananas!
🍌⚾️
I think failing is the greatest tool to eventually finding success.
Failing provides an opportunity to learn which in turn, provides an opportunity to grow.
A lack of failure can lead to a sense of complacency but constant growth will lead to success.
So from someone who doesn’t play or follow baseball, I urge you to step up to the metaphorical plate, aim for the fences, and swing with all your might at any challenges that come your way. And it’s ok if you strike out.
#baseball#sport#lifelessons#failure#life#law#business#success#growth#inspiration#advice#wordsofwisdom
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
I can’t get enough of what Jesse Cole is saying about his journey creating and improving the Savannah Bananas fan experience.
His perspective – If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough. Be fearless.
My perspective – He owns his mistakes as a leader, as a business owner, as a person and learns and grows from his mistakes.
We’re human. We make mistakes.
It’s not about the mistakes. It’s how you own the mistake, learn, correct, be better from your mistakes. I’ve been following Jesse from a business perspective and the story and journey is fascinating. Jesse is compelled to make the customer experience the best he possibly can. Then improve on it. Jesse is playing the long-game.
I contacted what was a small local business that sold to a bigger company (in North Carolina) and shared my experiences. Purpose – I WAS doing business with them frequently until their quality plummeted. They were charging for services they were not providing and they knew it. I asked the employees and they told me (the services provided required equipment) the equipment had not worked for months. So, I asked, why do you keep upselling for services you aren’t providing? Response – We are required to by corporate. Front line gal/guy and not going to bust their chops for… well, fraud.
I emailed corporate. Summary of the response – Sorry about that.
What I expected, maybe a brief explanation of how they we're going to improve... replace the equipment or... whatever.
I will take their response as, “I don’t care” and I’m good with that response. I will take my business elsewhere.
There is an old restaurant industry saying. It’s not about getting customers to dine at our restaurants. It’s about getting them to come back again and again. That’s playing the long-game.
Today is today so give 110% but there will always be a tomorrow to do better and be better. Play the long-game.
Do better. Be better. Be great. Play the long-game.
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
The Savannah Bananas exemplify resilience and innovation, showcasing how setbacks can lead to growth and success. Their journey serves as a reminder that embracing challenges can spark creativity and new opportunities.
What obstacles have inspired you to think differently and seize new possibilities?
#SavannahBananas#Resilience#Innovation#GrowthMindset#Leadership
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
"Failure doesn't scare us, it's part of what we do."
I have loved watching the Savannah Bananas from afar. The marketing, leadership, and business lessons abound - the number of times I've heard them used as a case study.
→ They've made baseball fun.
→ They've made in-person sporting events way better than watching on TV.
→ Is it an exaggeration to say they've made FUN more fun?
It's too easy to see the highs and ignore the lows. We all want to be the overnight success story or simply the version of the story where we don't have weaknesses.
^ That's not just me, right?
I believe in "failing fast"... for others. If you try something big and fail, I'll be your biggest cheerleader helping you problem-solve and try again.
But I still struggle to embrace the failure myself.
^This does not mean I'm awesome at everything. It means that my first instinct when I'm not good at something is to hide or quit, not learn and go again.
So here's to getting more comfortable being uncomfortable, and trying big things.
Thanks - again - Bananas for the lesson.
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
Pop Culture Friday! Watch this video of Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas.
Fail, and fail often. Be brave to continue to fail. It's the best way to learn!
Be brave enough to suck at something new.
I'm launching new things this year. And I am sure we will stumble. But I'm going to act as if, and keep testing and iterating.
Am I afraid it's going to fail? Sure. But I'm going to be more pissed off if I don't try.
Hint: I'm using the DANO method on myself. Discovering a new niche, Applying my transferable skills, Nourishing the passion with grit, and Overcoming my fears to get after it.
How are you using the DANO method for your own life?
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
Chief Marketing Officer passionate about AI, first-party data, brand trust, and customer privacy. Endlessly captivated by the evolving world of media. IG: dawnd2
"If we’re not failing, we’re not trying big enough things."
I believe in pushing boundaries and taking bold steps. Jesse Cole is so right that growth doesn't happen in the comfort zone—it happens when we embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and inspire our teams to innovate.
Let’s keep striving for big wins, and when we stumble, let’s stumble forward.
#Leadership#GrowthMindset#Innovation#CMO#MarketingLeadership
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
Almost every company I have worked for was afraid of failure. We would over due diligence everything to avoid failure at all costs (still couldn’t avoid it). Ready, Fire, Aim is a much better strategy than Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim, Fire.
#StrategySaturday
Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
With the Savannah Bananas we've failed every step of the way. But it's our willingness to keep coming to bat, even after failing, that has driven our success.
From our first shipment of t-shirts having too many n's in Bananas, to our first All You Can Eat night in Savannah where fans had to wait over two hours for food, to our first ticket launch shutting down our system, to our first game on prime time television blacking out, we've failed over and over again.
But it's our ability to get through the messy to get to the great that keeps us moving forward.
We succeed because we fail and we're not afraid of failure. It's just part of our scar tissue and what has built us into who we are today.
If we are not failing, we are not trying big enough things.
Professional Reducer. Planning and Investing for Legacy Builders + Legacy Preservers at Sunpointe Investments. Personal Archive Advocate at Cultish Creative.
1mohaha - I'm hoping you get to 231 "only 231 miles" comments on this. Also, did they have a payphone there by chance? I need to make some calls...