Social Media – making lemonade out of lemons
On September 17, 2009, former Merrill Lynch & Co, CEO John Thain gave a speech to a group at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.
Why the ousted leader of one of our nations great business collapse was talking to future business leaders is beyond me, but maybe he was telling them how not to run a business.
During this speech, Mr. Thain spoke to the issue he is most remembered,, after the collapse of a leading investment institution, the redecorating of his office and conference rooms at a cost of $1.2 million. In an comment to lighten the discussion, he suggested that if he had to do it again he furnish it in Ikea. While the comment brought laughs and chuckles from the audience, Ikea spokes person said “John, stop by Ikea anytime”.
But what could Ikea do to leverage this gift of gab from Mr. Thain? Here are a couple of quick thoughts I had:
1. Find successful CEO who did furnish their office with Ikea and promote the hell out of their smart business sense and style – I mean really who needs a $25,000 chest of drawers?
2. Promote executive office designs, that is functional and stylish with out breaking the budget
3. Start a contest to find the best design and use of Ikea products in the exec. suite.
This is one of the rare moments when a company was give a public lemons and should make sweet satisfying lemonade to toast their success!
What’s your lemon, how can we help you make lemonade? 
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