Failure Coach XVII

Confluence of Coaches 

“So why did you go to Miami? Was it business or pleasure?” Alan finally managed to get this question into the conversation with Coach Siena over coffee in the hotel lobby at the Doubletree Lakeside in Cleveland. The Coach was the same disarming self at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame event on Wednesday afternoon and the Ambrosia team managed to wrangle him into a few quotable quotes about the Alan Edgewater Failure First Scholarship Fund. Siena was not willing to share anything about this year’s winner of that award, however.  

“Well I’ll tell you what, that trip was too short but a nice break. 72 degrees and sunny. Not too hot. It was short and sweet. It was mostly pleasure but I did manage a little business too. I wanted to get some insights from a colleague in Miami about the market success they’ve had with Sazerac Rye Whiskey distribution. I was hoping to catch up with Johnny Appleseed at the U too. And so I did. We met for breakfast at the Bagel Emporium on U.S. 1, the South Dixie Highway, practically across the street from campus in Coral Gables. That boy is a gem I tell you.”

“Did you happen to bump into Bluestone? He was in Miami too. “

“No. I did get a phone message and a text from him but we never managed to connect. Where is he anyway? I thought he was going to be here.”

“Bluestone was invited but he decided to stay away. He wasn’t able to work out an arrangement with Ambrosia to be an adviser on this mini tour so he decided to keep his distance initially. We might do some things on a contract basis. In fact, he was going to try to get some information on Johnny Appleseed at the University of Miami. So far, nothing.”

“Well I can tell you Johnny Appleseed is doing just fine. He’s still undecided but he’s looking at majoring in Art or English. I think that is fine. A four-year liberal arts degree will serve him well. It will make him into a well-rounded adult. I offered to pay his way if he wanted to fly into Cleveland Hopkins Airport and go to the Football Hall of Fame event in Canton as my guest. He said he was tempted but the timing was not good with his school schedule.”

Alan with a refill on his coffee ripped open a Sweet 'N Low packet and stirred it in. Black coffee with Sweet 'N Low. “ Coach, I’m going to walk over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to get another look as I didn’t get around much yesterday with all the activity. Wanna join me?”.

“Well I guess I don’t mind if I do."

Alan read from his laptop. “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exists to collect, preserve and interpret the impact rock has made on our world. The evolving story of rock can be found on the Rock Hall's blog and feature pages, in addition to videos and galleries that capture the moments that matter in Rock and Roll. Here you'll find rock and roll news, artist interviews, performance notes, the latest event and exhibit happenings, and more. Consider this your backstage pass. - See more at: http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock...” Alan did a quick scan of inductees by year beginning in 1986 with the pride of St. Louis, Chuck Berry. Elvis Presley, Bo Didley, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Ike and Tina Turner, The Jim Hendrix Experience, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, AC/DC, Prince, U2, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Halen, Dave Clark Five, Metallica, ABBA, Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Guns & Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Cat Stevens, Nirvana… A lot of stories in this group right Coach?”

“You bet. A lot of stories indeed.”   

"And the list goes on an on... Note to self: Rock and Roll Hall of Famers rate of failure...Hmmmm. What if you applied statistical analysis to inductees like Tom Peters did to companies in Good to Great or Gladstone's analysis of Outliers?"