DETROIT
-- Thursday
was the last day for the press to have a preview of
the latest vehicles at the 2011 North American International
Auto Show, which was around the same time that the
Westin Book Cadillac hosted the first annual Multicultural
Media Luncheon. Speaker Earvin "Magic" Johnson
said don't think about business, but think about brand,
freelance writer Marcus Amick quoted him during an
interview one time.
Brands,
Magic stated, have to speak to us, but they have to
do business with corporations. "Over the next
15-20 years, half of America are going to minorities,"
he said. Though the climate is changing, the brand
of Magic Johnson has been built on urban America.
Why? "Because they know what the customers want;
they're minorities," he answered.
The
leading brand in America, Magic built his on the basketball
court, where his long-time rivalry with future Boston
Celtic Larry Bird began at college when Magic played
with the Michigan State Spartans and Larry with Indiana
State. In 1979, both teams made it to the NCAA Finals,
and MSU won 75-64, and Magic was named Most Outstanding
Player. That same year, Magic was drafted to the Los
Angeles Lakers, where he helped led the team to five
championships in the 1980s.
Sadly,
in 1991, the world was shocked when Magic announced
he was HIV-positive, leading to his retirement from
the NBA. However, he joined Bird, Michael "Air"
Jordan, "Sir" Charles Barkley, Karl "The
Mailman" Malone, David "The Admiral"
Robinson, and other NBA players to form "The
Dream Team" for the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Now
a successful businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist,
and motivational speaker, Magic knows how to take
care of business, pass on his wealth to his children,
stay disciplined, and protect his brand and enhance
it as well as add value it, for he is a worker, 24-7.
"I
made my business about the customers, not myself.
The theme of the conference is to know your customers
and speak to them everyday," he goes on. "In
urban America, the demand is there. I built my business
on common sense.
"I
don't lend my name to anything. I'm committed to urban
America, my brand, the people I work with. You must
be involved. You got to be into it. I took my ego
out of it. The business is always about the customers."
Related
Story: Magic
Johnson speaks at Michigan State University fall commencement
ceremony
|
