WhatTheyDontTeachYouAtStanfordBusinessSchool

By Larry Chiang

Supermodels can teach NFL quarterbacks about calling audibles in the real world.

Supermodels are super street smart because we do not have a lot of book knowledge clogging up our brain. At fashion shows (and conferences like SXSW), we can teach NFL play callers a thing or two about last minute play-changes (audibles).

This pattern is engineered to solve the common occurrence we VCs face. We VCs know that plans are useless but planning is critical. Pattern replicate this. As my boxing mentor Mike Tyson insightfully said, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit”.

Let’s learn to call audibles as well as a 6′ 5″ Shanghainese supermodel that coattails all things International Management Group (IMG, the agency).

-1- There is no Defense

In the NFL, you might think you see the middle line backer, Brian Erlacher lined up in one spot. But after the snap, that freak of nature is everywhere defending three of your guys.

In the real world, there is no defense.

What I mean is that you can be at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week or SXSW. You can be at Specialty Foods show or Venture Capital Summit at Half Moon Bay. You can be at Superbowl week festivities or AlwaysOn’s OnMedia event in NYC.

There is no defense to my hacking into a conference… Crashing it… And the hijacking it in a value added manner.

Don’t be impressed by my pattern recognition and pattern iteration. Pattern replicate me and this blog post.

-2- Calling Audibles to Leverage Parades

On site, an uber tall male supermodel can see a conference version of a parade. Most parades are pretty clear. They come in the form of two to five pre-event blog posts, 2-5 pre-conference events and pre-event social media.

For example, in NYC, there is a Superbowl of Fashion called New York Fashion Week. My friend Adam chipped in Mercedes Benz money and now it’s called ‘Mercedes Benz Fashion Week’. There is a parade there called Fashion Night Out. It is always the day before MBFW.

The Fashion Night Out parade can be
- pre-paraded
- post paraded
- afterparty-ed
- pre-workshopped

-3- Buying Out Options

Here is a dirty little insight that only sales catering managers, event planners and venue booking agents know… Many corporate events are pre-paid and pre-booked but don’t execute, engage or actually take place. It’s an opportunity to buy-out that option.

Taking over a party that is about to go defunct is incredibly street smart.

For example, on day 3 of SXSW, this large firm that will go un-named had execs that were not in any shape to attend their own event (let alone host it). The Hotel W space was booked.

I bought out their option on the promise to throw some goodwill their way down the road and to not blog it or them in vivid tactical detail.

-4- The Actual Superbowl Bores

Every celebrity (including many non-playing NFL athletes) knows that the Superbowl week is where all the action is. Superbowl week starts the Sunday before Superbowl Sunday February 5, 2012.

- Nike is hosting a party Thursday night, February 2nd in Indianapolis at the Westin. – Maxim is hosting it’s annual Superbowl party Friday night January 3 – Moves Magazine is hosting something too. Probably Tuesday
- Under Armour. Maybe Monday
- Fiji Water party is Saturday
- IMG’s party of parties is Saturday night
- NFL Owners Party is something that I’m banned from because I have crashed it the last three years. If I hope to again attend, I’m not disclosing location.

DISCLOSURE: I financially benefit from many of the above entities from sponsorship, appearance fees, access, comps, etc

Disclosure: I make about $30,000 appearing in print ads as a male model for Westin Hotels

Industry insiders work the week before the Superbowl. The actual Superbowl is for the general public.

-5- Never Bang On the Road

As a 6′ 5″ male Supermodel that is heterosexual and a VC, I get my fair share of offers to bang.

But I read something in chapter 7 of my favorite book. No not the Bible. But I am hosting a breakfast that Campus Crusade for Christ is doing Saturday, Feb 4 for the Bart Star Award.

No, it is the book, “What They Will NEVER Teach You at Stanford Business School”. It said to never bang on the road because “We can lose money chasing ass. But we can’t lose ass chasing money”.

Disclosure: I wrote that NY Times bestseller.

Also, calling audibles from bed is impossible. Even if it’s a Westin Heavenly Bed ™. You have to be vertical and on the front lines of SXSW to do your best calling audibles.

Join me Jan 16 at Slim’s for a pre-Austin SXSW-themed party –RSVP here http://www.facebook.com/events/213851905370135/

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Editor of the BusinessWeek Channel “What They Don’t Teach at Business School” http://whattheydontteachyouatstanfordbusinessschool.com/blog CNN Video Channel: http://ireport.cnn.com/people/larrychiang

Read my last 10 tweets at http://www.Twitter.com/LarryChiang

Author, NY Times Bestseller
http://whattheydontteachyouatstanfordbusinessschool.com/blog/?s=Ny+times+bestseller

“What They Will NEVER Teach You at Stanford Business School” comes out 11-11-12

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