March 4, 2009

Five fingers. One lesson.

Posted by Michael Baxter

March 4 always makes us think of creative guru and former Mad Ave Adman Joey Reiman.

It’s been 17 years since Reiman published his “Success Handbook,” a motivational tome that sold 2 million copies. In the book, he uses his hand as a roadmap for achieving success. We’ll paraphrase from memory:

• Thumb – keep a positive attitude (thumbs up!); after all, optimists outlive pessimists
  
  
• Index finger – point the way forward, because without direction, you’ll never reach your goals
  
  
• Middle finger – give the finger to fear, which too often is the driving force behind our actions
  
  
• Pinky finger – attend to the details, for they are key to your ability to execute your plans

And then there’s the lesson from the ring finger, the fourth finger on the hand. It’s march forth. As in stop procrastinating. Take action. Just do it.

At his agency, Reiman used to give all employees the day off on March 4 every year. (And he might still.) The reward came with a catch: All employees must do something that day that they have never done before, perhaps because they’ve simply been putting it off.

Beyond the five points from the five fingers, we take away one other lesson from Reiman.

It’s a reminder that building your point of view around a simple framework can make it memorable. A little structure will help people remember your thoughts, even years later.

By contrast, a complex manifesto is easily forgotten.

So ask yourself: What’s the point of view of your organization? How developed is it? And can everyone remember it?