the corporate ticKet marKetplace - ALSD

Editor’s noTE by Jared FrankKnocking on Opportunity’s DoorThere are seemingly infinite ways tocompartmentalize human beings. Ilike to debate with friends that themost telling categorization of ournature has three groups: the initiators and innovators,the complainers then forgetters, andthe apathists or don’t-give-a-shitters. What’sinteresting is each group believes it is entitledto the same promotions, the same accolades, thesame reputations. But it doesn’t work that way.Other ways to describe these three classificationsare the self-motivated, those who must bemotivated by others, and those who cannot bemotivated at all. Now ask yourself: Which oneam I? Which one do I want to be?In my high school statistics class, I learnedabout normal distribution – the famous bellcurve that magically maps data sets with remarkableprecision. Now, I have neither thememory to recall how it works, nor you thedesire to read about it, so this note isn’t a mathlesson. Quickly though, what I do remember tobe important from probability theory is if wetake a representative sample of an entire population,in embarrassingly simplistic terms, approximately70% of the set will fall within onestandard deviation from the mean, or average.And, again using the same generous rounding,the remaining 30% of the set falls equallywithin either tail of the curve.Now why the heck am I bringing any of thisup? Well, I don’t have any empirical evidenceto support the following claim other than myundocumented personal observations, but I seethe 70% bell curve majority of Americans asproblem ignorers – or status-quo maintainers ifyou require a slightly more positive spin. Thisassertion states bluntly that in any population(sportsbiz included), over three-quarters of usare NOT agents of change by ourselves. We requirethe poke of a cattle prod to initiate action.What separates the doers from the bystandersis frequently the willingness to take risks.Most people don’t take significant chances becausewith risk comes inevitable and recurrentmistakes. But keep in mind the depth of anymistake is matched by the potential height ofan action’s success. If you want to experiencegreat achievement, you have to risk tankinggreatly.Now more than ever, we – sportsbiz specificallyand across the board – need risk-takers.Leaders with initiative. Leaders who create.Leaders who listen to and observe a marketplace,identify its gaps, and deliver solutions.Leaders who dramatically pursue their instinctsand ideas with thoughtful confidence and withdecisive haste.Now, you don’t have to be Tim Leiweke tostrive for risk tolerance. We all can be leadersfor risk on relative scales. One of my personalgauges to distinguish calculated from recklessrisk starts with a simple question: Does this decisionhave the potential to cost the companysignificant money? If the answer is between “noway” and “not likely” (and many are), then I gofor it. I don’t need every action that I take to bevalidated, and neither do you. Don’t let perfectionbecome the enemy of completion.This approach is an overly-simplistic way toself-develop a comfort zone that accommodatesrisk. For all you managers out there, full disclosure:I have little management experience. ButI’ve produced my best work and achieved mygreatest success in environments that encouragerisk-taking and creative freedom, while showingclemency for minor mistakes.If you want to be a part of the leading 15%for positive change, you must be a person ofmotion. You must proactively go knocking onopportunity’s door rather than waiting for itto come to you. It is action that abuts success.The movers and shakers, not the onlookers, arethe ones who reach higher levels of prosperity.By doing more, trying more, innovating more,risking more, the doers inevitably make moremistakes. But because they also don’t stagnate,they generate more success as well.How does your team tolerate and encourage risk and creativity?Email me at jared@alsd.com.Connect with me onwww.linkedin.com/in/jaredfrank and follow meon Twitter @JChrstophrFrank.Here is a sampling of my tweets:University of Cincinnati hopes to add suites to NippertStadium. Premium seating and other stadiumimprovements are needed to sustainUC’s financial future.Graffiti art and suites? This mural in an executive boxat Liverpool’s Anfield is pretty gnarly.A new home for the Detroit Red Wings is pitched toState lawmakers. The new multipurpose events centerwould be part of a much largerentertainment district.Sketches of a new NBA/NHL arena in Seattle arereleased. The current building site is the SODOneighborhood south of Safeco Field.UNLV Now could add $400 Million into the Las Vegasarea. The project includes a proposed stadium thatcould attract 15-20 big events annually.The Phoenix Suns are having “Satisfaction GuaranteeNight” on December 6th against the Mavericks. If fansdon’t like the game experience,they can get their money back.Excited to connect with the Indians and ALSD memberRyan Robbins to discuss the new Premium Club atProgressive Field. Looks to be a great addition for theNortheast Ohio market.The seat-upgrade app space is getting crowded.Add Mascot Secret to the list.Legends is meeting with Sioux Falls-area businessesabout the new Denny Sanford Premier Center. Theinterviews will help determine the premium seatingdetails in the arena.14 | S E A T | www.alsd.com | #SEATWinter2013