"Everything to Everyone" – Sounds of Marketing

“Everything to Everyone,” So Much for the Afterglow (1997) by Everclear

I was surprised to see ‘90’ alt-rockband Everclear at the South Park Ribfest Labor Day Weekend. Then I remembered that their best days were a while ago. The show was enjoyable and since it’s time for a Sounds of Marketing, (cue DJ voice) here’s some Everclear…

You put yourself in stupid places
Yes I think you know it’s true
Situations where it’s easy to look down on you

How many of your most painful experiences were self-induced due to poor decision making?

I think you like to be the victim
I think you like to be in pain
I think you make yourself a victim almost every single day

Do you blame your frustrations at work and with the status quo on others?

You do what you do
You say what you say
You try to be everything to everyone

Do you spend too much time trying to fit in and do things the way they’ve always been done? Do you say what you think people want to hear?

You know all the right people
You play all the right games

The good news, though, is you know so and so, right?

I think you like to be their simple toy
I think you love to play the clown
I think you are blind to the fact that the hand you hold is the hand that holds you down

And they like you…when it serves their purposes.

Yeah you jump through the big hoop
You play all the right games

Wait. Did they really just do that?

Spin around and fall down
Do it again
You stumble and you fall

You rationally know you don’t gain much by blaming others and thinking they are always out to get you. You also know you have to play the game a little bit.

The challenge is to focus on your core values. Invest the time to identify what really drives you and what you truly do well. You might find it’s not what you’ve always done or been trained to do. Be willing to change and get results in new ways.

Communicate up, down and around the organization. The “Just Say Yes” approach actually doesn’t get you what or where you want. It’s a path to regret.

I wonder if you will ever learn

You can. Do the honest self-assessment. Communicate what you think. Be willing to change.