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: Michael Sprouse joined Epic Advertising as Chief Marketing Officer on June 1, 2007. His current responsibilities include overseeing all marketing strategy for the company, media buying, direct marketing programs, public relations strategy and outreach, internal communications, corporate development and cross-platform initiatives.

Prior to Epic Advertising, Sprouse served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Playboy Enterprises, Inc. In his time at Playboy, Sprouse helped to oversee a business transformation as the youngest senior executive in the company's 54 year history. His marketing leadership opened up many public speaking and PR opportunities including the Keynote presentation at ETail (twice) as well as numerous press mentions.

Lessons to Live by From Russert and Woods

Written on: June 20th 2008
Author: by Mike Sprouse |
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Every week after “Meet the Press” he would immediately ask what was on deck for the next week and then would spend that next seven days preparing for the next show. The lesson? That success in one’s craft is not an end game; it needs to constantly be refined and perfected week in and week out. This doesn’t mean executives or employees shouldn’t take vacations or time off; but when we’re “on,” we should all strive to be as “on” as Mr. Russert was each week.

Many of his past TV show guests spoke about his fairness and integrity, and how he would hold his guests accountable for their past actions or words, probably more so than any other journalist, but that he never sought a “Gotcha” moment from them.

You knew what you would get from him during an interview, and if you were prepared, there were no issues. This is a terrific lesson in how to manage and work with people – hold each accountable, let them know what is expected of them, ask questions to get to the truth, and never seek as your main goal to make your audience, or coworkers, look foolish. Too often, you hear stories about people “out to get someone” which is not only unproductive but destructive.

Let’s talk about enthusiasm in business: someone told me once that to do something great, you had to be passionate and enthusiastic about it. I believe Mr. Russert’s model shines through clearly in this case because in business, if you’re not passionate about what you do, you will not be paying attention to industry trends, what’s going on at your company and what needs to happen strategically and tactically.

More importantly, most senior executives provide examples to the rest of the workforce – and enthusiasm is contagious. This is why you heard those who worked most closely with Tim Russert offering equal enthusiasm about their trade as he did. You see, he helped others be as enthusiastic as he was, and that is largely why his show was the example for Sunday morning talk shows. In his ultimate leadership role, his actions and values were infectious. Success wasn’t a coincidence.

Finally, let’s consider commitment. This is all too often one I hear about nowadays from executives and employees who do not value commitment to their trade or their work environment. There are often people looking for a quick fix, or who have a 6-month exit plan, or who see a career only as the next 2 years. They erroneously equate commitment with complacency or standing still. I heard accounts that Mr. Russert constantly received questions about whether or not he himself should go into politics or to change jobs or networks.

In response, he never wavered from his post at NBC or in doing what he loved. He was the “temporary custodian of the national treasure called ‘Meet the Press’” and relished every minute of it, and was not going to jeopardize his devotion to his craft or those who depended on him to be their gatekeeper of insight and information simply for his own agenda. In his position, he had the opportunity to report the news and report politics and to allow people to depend on him consistently for it.

We could all learn a lesson from this, in an era of changing jobs, and looking for the next “big thing”. Not everyone sits in their dream job like Mr. Russert; however, I’d be willing to bet if most of us really thought about it, it’s likely we’d appreciate the positions we are in and the opportunities we have and would make the absolute most of them — just like he did.

Reader Comments.

Michael,

Appreciate your comments on Russert and Woods. Yes last week we learned again about the fruit of pain, perseverence, integrity and leadership. They have lived these values for their whole lives, and a lot of other ethical values as well that permeate a character shaping. We see the outworking of their public lives on “Sundays” in Russert and Woods, yet their inner lives are shaped 24/7 by years of ‘working it out’ and Dads/Moms and many others. Their inner spiritual life is also exposed like all of ours by how we live and choices make. So all is revealed. Tim and Tiger, a dicotomy of differences, are yet similar as they reveal an integrated surrendered identity that even with cracks is sustaining.. and worth emulating. It takes time, and even suffering for others to reach our purpose.

Posted by JohnPills | 12:52 pm on June 20, 2008.

Interesting comparison between Tim Russert and Tiger Woods.

Mr. Russert certainly lived up to the challenge put out by Ed Murrow during his famous “lights and wires in a box” speech.

Tiger is simply one of those rare athletes that come once in a generation. Regardless if you’re interested or not in their particular sport, they absolutely draw you in with their pure achievment and excellence.

In Tiger’s case there has been much discussion if he’s the best golpher ever, or was he a better athlete than Michael Jordan etc?

Who cares? Enjoy watching him do what he does.

And let’s remember just how good Tim Russert was at what he did. He set a high standard for others to follow. Just as Murrow did.

There’s a torch out there, hopefully someone plans on picking it up.

Brian Olson