Because I am a freak of nature, I can’t remember what happened yesterday afternoon, but I do remember the name of Marsha Brady’s first boyfriend (Harvey). For the uninitiated, Marsha Brady was the stuck-up, know-it-all character from the early 70s sitcom, The Brady Bunch.
This, along with Gilligan’s Island, Mr. Rogers, The Electric Company (incredibly starring Morgan Freeman, and Rita Moreno), The Partridge Family and Sesame Street, formed the basis of some fundamental lessons that guide me in business and in life to this day.
Here’s what I know:
Gilligan’s Island: In a survival situation, where life and death are at stake, people will still revert back to comfortable roles. Gilligan was always an idiot, Mary-Ann bakes Coconut Cream Pies (when she wasn’t busy getting baked herself – google Dawn Wells), and Ginger could easily manipulate anyone with a Y chromosome to get her own way.
Mr. Rogers: Most importantly, he liked me just the way I am, but also, interestingly the only civil servant (the mail man) had a two-decade old problem balancing his meds.
The Electric Company: Who knew reading could be so much fun? And… always treat those around you with respect. You never know when one of your co-workers is going to win an Oscar, Grammy, or Tony award (see the stars listed above).
The Partridge Family: Sometimes you can fake it till you make it. For evidence ask Susan Dey to sing, or watch Danny Bonaduce strum a bass guitar. For those who don’t know – The Partridge Family managed to knock the Beatles off the number 1 Billboard Chart, even though they were lip-syncing to the work of studio musicians.
Sesame Street: I’m not sure about this one – even as a five-year-old, I had a hard time accepting life-advice from a six-foot tall, ambiguously gay canary. Perhaps the lesson from Sesame Street is that it is always, all about marketing.
Enjoy