T. Boone Pickens
Pickens is all about reducing US dependence on foreign oil. He believes so strongly in this cause, he has invested $62 million of his own money to create and promote The Pickens Plan. Yes, he stands to make most (all? more?) of that back should The Pickens Plan actually come to fruition, but Pickens says his plan is not about making him rich, and I'm inclined to believe him.
Pickens has a relaxed, folksy manner that seems to radiate the power of simplicity and common sense. He was engaging, funny and pragmatic. The man who interviewed him, Alan Murray, on the other hand, was insufferably smarmy. Murray, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, never missed an opportunity to belittle anyone or anything having to do with the environment. Pickens, to his credit, didn't let Murray get away with it, and gently smacked him down when he did.
"I am an environmentalist," Pickens said when Murray made a condescending comment on the topic. Pickens had a similar reaction when Murray smugly brought up Al Gore, noting that he (Pickens) and Gore have a good relationship and have reached an agreement about the roles battery technology and natural gas should play in the future
Natural gas. Pickens is all about natural gas. He's working in Washington to get some big natural gas legislation passed, and says it's about to happen. And yes, he will make some serious cake when it does.
I think the most interesting point Pickens made concerned his influence in Washington. In the old days, he said, he would go to Washington as some guy with a lot of money. The Congress members he met with were very nice, but he would make suggestions, and nothing would ever happen. Today he goes to Washington not just as some guy with a lot of money, but as a guy with 1.6 million online supporters (people who have signed on to support The Pickens Plan). Now, with what some Congress members refer to as his "army," Pickens gets treated nicely, AND he's getting things done.
Pickens said one thing at the end of his talk that I found disturbing. He believes that because the US has invested the lives of over 4,000 military personnel and $1.5 trillion, we have the right to get first shot at purchasing—at full market value—the oil in Iraq. Pickens was very upset that China has been able to "get a call" in Iraq, and the US has not. He said he approached President Bush on the topic, and was told such a policy would make it look like oil acquisition was the true reason for the invasion of Iraq. "Five years ago that might have been true," replied Pickens, "but today we've invested over 4,000 lives. We owe it to the 4,000 dead in Iraq to have a call on Iraqi oil."
Discuss amongst yourselves.
Kevin Roberts
The CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, a native New Zealander, began his presentation with a series of Australia jokes, and a clip of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team's pre-game ritual (which is based on an aboriginal war chant, and quite impressive) as featured in Saatchi's advertising for Adidas.
In a highly energetic and entertaining presentation, Roberts talked about "the Participation Economy," and how important it is, especially today, to engage consumers emotionally. He called on everyone present to use their businesses as a way to make the world a better place. He cited Saatchi's DOT (Do One Thing) program, in which every employee agrees to do one thing to make the world a better place. This is an exact replica of Walmart's PSP program, but still an admirable idea if followed through on.
Roberts had the best one-liner of the day, "Al Gore, the only person to win a Nobel Prize for PowerPoint."
George Lucas
The original Jedi Master quietly and calmly (a sharp contrast to Roberts) told the story of how he "accidentally found his way into the film business."
He spoke of the role of technology in art, noting that except for spoken word and dance, all forms of art involve some form of technology. His approaching to movie-making is very pragmatic. "Movies are doing the best you can with the resources and circumstances you have at the time."
Lucas talked about his philanthropic endeavor, the George Lucas Education Foundation, and how it is employing the same storytelling techniques Lucas uses in his movies to help kids learn.
Most memorable quote, "I believe in myself, but not recklessly."
Come back tomorrow for my thoughts from Day Two.
- Hank Stewart
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