Dan P. asked me to respond to his thread about a paper he is writing on GM...and specifically what GM means to me. I immediately thought about this advertisement written by Theodore MacManus in 1914 for Cadillac Motor Car Company.....it has always inspired me...and frankly, my response to Dan included many thoughts on Mr. MacManus's observations.
So.......thought I'd share it with all of you. It's been hanging in my various offices since 1977. (I was only 4 at the time........ )
THE PENALTY OF LEADERSHIP - by Theodore F. MacManus
In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man's work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be merely mediocre, he will be left severely alone - if he achieve a masterpiece it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass, or to slander you, unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius.
Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious continue to cry out that it can not be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountebank, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genious. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to see his boat steam by.
The leader is assailed because he is a leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy - but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as the human passions - envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains - the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live - lives.
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[ 10. December 2003, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Fbodfather ]
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
All of the Cadillacs that I have owned had a section in the owners manual titled "Penalty of Ownership". Maybe it was written by the same guy. Posted by DGOETZ (Member # 1846) on :
That is quite inspirational.
I would give to the GM of the Chevrolet Dealership I work for but I'm not sure he would understand it.
Posted by Mike2001SS (Member # 2088) on :
quote:Originally posted by DGOETZ: That is quite inspirational.
I would give to the GM of the Chevrolet Dealership I work for but I'm not sure he would understand it.
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Oh so true - and timeless. Thanks for the post!
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
Definitely one worth hanging in the office
Hey Scott, what's the history on Theodore MacManus? What role did he fill for GM? (I'll do a search, ...he's got some impressive words...)
...search turns up quite a bit, ...and another (of many) famous qoute...
quote: "I look upon the public as myself multiplied and have not yet reached the stage of diffidence and humility which permits me to write myself down as an Ass."
...very interesting guy...
[ 11. December 2003, 05:41 AM: Message edited by: RagSS ]
Posted by wickman43 (Member # 2003) on :
That was great! Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by RagSS: [QB] Definitely one worth hanging in the office
Hey Scott, what's the history on Theodore MacManus? What role did he fill for GM? (I'll do a search, ...he's got some impressive words...)
MacManus started the Theodore MacManus Advertising Agency.......and serviced, among others, Cadillac (for whom "the Penalty of Leadership" was written) and Buick. While he was closely associated with GM in the "Durant" Days...and later.....he never actually was a GM employee.
Cadillac revived this famous ad in the 1967 Model Year when it was reprinted and mailed to Cadillac Owners as a direct mail campaign....it was also mailed to all GM Dealers as well...and I can remember that my father proudly had his copy framed.
Mr. MacManus's Ad Agency at one point became "D'Arcy, MacManus, and Masius." -- It is now known as "DMB&B" -- D'Arcy, Masius, Benton, and Bowles...which is to me, unfortunate...that the MacManus name is no longer present....as Mr. MacManus was quite the character and certainly had the gift to write.
Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
Very cool. Interestingly enough, we're JUST starting studies on business-management leadership in the college course I'm taking. Very appropriate to our learnings. Thanks for sharing!
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