Allen Weiss President and Founder of MarketingProfs.com, published a post here titled Thought Leaders & Gurus: Too Big for Their Niches....
Allen wrote, "My sense is that all of this thought-leader stuff is really just for selling something. The same goes for the word 'guru.' That's fine, I guess, if you want to characterize yourself in some new age words in order to sell books. But I find it results in a lot of confusion–."
My friend Tom Asacker agreed:
"What does the word 'guru' mean, after all? According to Wikipedia... 'guru' is based on a metaphorical interplay between darkness and light, in which the guru is seen as the dispeller of darkness... A similar interpretation describes the guru as the one that 'removes the darkness of ignorance.'"
"In the world of business, who is closest to the source? Who can make everything clear? Who is the source of growth and profitability? Who is the ultimate teacher and arbiter of all things 'marketing'? You guessed it! The customer."
Tom has officially renounced the moniker "guru" (bestowed upon him by Tom Peters). What's more, he is launching a weekly, Web-based video program to "smoke out the spin doctors, debunk the buzz, and grill a few gurus" over an open flame.
He's calling it GuruBBQ, and it premiers today. I just watched the first episode, in which Tom take a light-hearted look at recent business news, Christmas before Halloween, the Kashi challenge, cell phone tattoos, Smart Cars, and more. My favorite link in the whole show: the dog confessions at www.doglitter.com (be sure to watch tough-guy Rocco and a nervous little Wally).
Tom is at his best here .... his delivery is sharp, punctuated by his dry sense of humor and enriched by his New England accent. Think Rocketboom meets marketing.
My only complaint: Some of the segments run a little long. I wish Tom had edited the show into bite-sized chunks, making it easier to navigate and, ultimately, consume. But as a first show, he gets an A for effort.
Take a look here.
Enjoy!
In Tom's words:
"I truly hope it lightens up your day. Heaven knows, we can all use it. For as the great G.K. Chesterton wrote, 'Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.'"
