I’m familiar with the phrase, “Armchair Quarterback,” but I can’t recall ever hearing anyone use the phrase, “Armchair CEO.” I was thinking that if the phrase didn’t exist, it should be introduced because I’m constantly second-guessing corporate decisions and policies.
Just for fun, I decided to do a search on Google to see what came up for Armchair CEO. The first result was from the popular site Urban Dictionary. I thought to myself, “Oh boy, this is going to be good.”
When I read their definition of an Armchair CEO, I almost fell out of my chair because of all the foul language that was used. (I’m sorry, but I won’t even try to censor it!)
Funnily enough, the foul language wasn’t the thing that made me laugh. It was the fact that I was being an Armchair CEO over of an issue with foul language. Too funny!
A few months back, The Walt Disney Company made two very bold moves (in my opinion). Here’s an executive summary for all my fellow Armchair CEOs:
1 – Choosing to use the song “Good Life” by OneRepublic in their television ad campaign.
2 – Choosing to use the song “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green to be covered by Camilla and Friends in the 2011 movie The Muppets.
What’s the big deal with the OneRepublic song “Good Life”?
Although I loved that television ad campaign (click here for proof), if I were Bob Iger, I would have told the marketing team to choose another song.
Why?
Let’s say you see that ad campaign, and you decide to go on iTunes and buy that song because it invokes a positive Disney vibe in your mind when you hear it. (That’s exactly what I did!)
When you listen to the iTunes version of the song, it has a swear word used twice throughout the song. It’s a word that I definitely wouldn’t want my children to recite while singing along with the song.
My children are at the age where I’m trying to shield them from foul language. I’d love to let them listen to this song with me so we could think about strolling around Disney World and Disneyland while making memories that last a lifetime (like the commercial). However, I don’t see that happening for a long while.
What’s the big deal with Camilla and Friends covering “Forget You”?
Although I love anything to do with the Muppets, if I were Bob Iger, I would have told the production team to choose another song.
Why?
This song has made some waves since it was first released, not as “Forget You,” but as….I’m not even going to try to censor it. You’ll have to use your imagination if you don’t already know what the original title of the song is.
For me, that’s just too edgy of a song to be associated with a franchise like the Muppets. Now, if we were talking about The Simpsons or Family Guy, then I could see how it would work.
Post-Game Coverage
While I would have made different choices as an Armchair CEO, I can’t argue with the results those two songs achieved.
Both the OneRepublic ad campaign and The Muppets movie were a huge hits.
Connect the Dots
I guarantee you that nothing goes on behind the scenes at The Walt Disney Company without careful consideration and due diligence.
As an Armchair CEO, my knee jerk reaction on both of those songs was unfavorable. However, they must have known that the risks paled in comparison to the potential for rewards for those decisions.
In business, hasty rejections can halt rewards. Resist the urge to shoot down an idea at first sight. (Click Here to Tweet This)
So, I’ll keep that good Disney vibe flowing through my mind when I hear “Good Life” on the radio and I’ll still enjoy the hilarious musical numbers put together by the Muppets. Rock on!
