Incredible credibility
December 20, 2004 | 12:00am
I love Oprah.
OK, guys, before you confer me the title "queer guy," hear me out. C’mon, what’s not to like about Oprah? Just like Michael Jordan is for guys, Oprah has this very likable and inexplicably magnetic personality that makes you want to be close to her. She’s overflowing with moolah but she seems like one of us. She’s the host and executive producer of her own self-titled, multi-million dollar empire of a show – probably one of the most successful shows in the history of television. And who in the world can publish and distribute a best-selling magazine where the cover girl every month is the publisher herself? The only person who has graced O magazine is Oprah herself. That’s like Hugh Hefner having himself on the cover of Playboy every week.
Oprah is so much a part of American pop culture. When she sneezes or gains a few pounds, she’s on the cover of the National Enquirer. But it’s her generosity, common touch and credibility that set her apart. Her Angel Network regularly and generously rewards (and hails as heroes) ordinary people who go out of their way to help others. In one show, she actually gave her entire studio audience one car each! In this world where nastiness, bitchiness, and haughtiness sells, she somehow manages to sell (and how!) the values of kindness, goodness and generosity.
Only a chauvinistic macho-wannabe will have any reason to dislike her. Oprah, to me, has become some kind of hero. A lot of people can be generous but a lot of them come off as insincere, especially if their generosity is accompanied with blaring horns – and a huge press release. When she gives, people think she really means it. And that’s what sets her apart. The credibility factor.
When she endorses a book, it becomes a bestseller. When she features a certain plastic surgeon, the surgeon becomes one of the most sought-after doctors in America overnight.
In one of her episodes, Oprah talked about her favorite things – a watch that she claimed could relieve people from stress and actually improve their well-being. It was called the Philip Stein Teslar – a watch that was supposed to reinforce and protect the body’s own electromagnetic field against the possible negative effects of exposure to electromagnetic currents emitted by cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Oprah claimed that the Teslar mimics the earth’s natural frequency and encloses the body in it.
As unorthodox as that idea may sound, it does make sense. All these electromagnetic pollution in the air does exist. It powers our TV sets, our radios, and our cell phones. And we all take it for granted. After that show, the watch suddenly became the watch of choice of Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Kelly Osbourne, Barbara Walters, Pat Riley, P.Diddy, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Missy Elliot, Natalie Portman and Lennox Lewis.
A few weeks ago, I was called by Sunny Ku, publicist of Lucerne Jewelers. Sunny told me that Lucerne heads Ivan Yao and Emerson Yao were going to launch Philip Stein here in the country and they wanted me and some other media personalities to be part of a Philip Stein exhibit. Before Sunny can even say, "Ultra-electromagnetic watch!", I told Sunny, "Sure, pardner! It will be an honor!" The power of the credibility of Oprah and the resulting credibility of Philip Stein watches worked on me. Philip Stein got me at "tick tock."
And so it happened. Philippine Star columnist Mons Romulo-Tantoco, TV host TJ Manotoc, news anchor Pinky Webb, entertainment and lifestyle connoisseur and TV host Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and renowned photographer Raymund Isaac (who took the shots), and yours truly were tapped to be in the launch of Philip Stein Teslar photo exhibit at The Podium.
A friend of mine, Lito, called me last week and told me he saw me in the papers wearing a Philip Stein watch! "I am here in Lucerne and I’m about to buy for me and my wife!" he said. That, to me, was the ultimate compliment. Someone actually told me that I was a credible endorser! What a humbling experience!
In business, as in life, credibility is one of the biggest assets you can have. Once you lose credibility, you can lose almost everything. Kobe Bryant used to be one of the highest paid athlete endorsers in the world. Because of one single act, his credibility was shattered. And no matter what he does, in the back of people’s minds, the word "rape" or "sexual assault" will always be there. Martha Stewart’s empire may still be around and it could possibly make a turnaround, who knows? But her credibility is shattered forever when she divested from her own company. Remember President Nixon? He was a good president and a brilliant man, but because of Watergate, the words "cheater" and "dishonest" always come to mind whenever Nixon is mentioned. Bill Clinton was one heck of a president, but no matter what he achieves, people will always view him as a president who hanky-pankied while in the Oral, er, I mean, Oval Office.
It all boils down to earning trust. Credibility is the investment you put in – and trust is the fruit. And we all know that relationships, especially business relationships, are hinged on trust. You have to be believable. To be believable, you have to stick to the truth. I know it sounds cliche but yes, the truth will set you free. And it could earn you a pretty penny too!
So work on your credibility. Believe me, it will have incredible results!
Thanks for your letters! You may e-mail me at rodnepo@yahoo.com.
OK, guys, before you confer me the title "queer guy," hear me out. C’mon, what’s not to like about Oprah? Just like Michael Jordan is for guys, Oprah has this very likable and inexplicably magnetic personality that makes you want to be close to her. She’s overflowing with moolah but she seems like one of us. She’s the host and executive producer of her own self-titled, multi-million dollar empire of a show – probably one of the most successful shows in the history of television. And who in the world can publish and distribute a best-selling magazine where the cover girl every month is the publisher herself? The only person who has graced O magazine is Oprah herself. That’s like Hugh Hefner having himself on the cover of Playboy every week.
Oprah is so much a part of American pop culture. When she sneezes or gains a few pounds, she’s on the cover of the National Enquirer. But it’s her generosity, common touch and credibility that set her apart. Her Angel Network regularly and generously rewards (and hails as heroes) ordinary people who go out of their way to help others. In one show, she actually gave her entire studio audience one car each! In this world where nastiness, bitchiness, and haughtiness sells, she somehow manages to sell (and how!) the values of kindness, goodness and generosity.
Only a chauvinistic macho-wannabe will have any reason to dislike her. Oprah, to me, has become some kind of hero. A lot of people can be generous but a lot of them come off as insincere, especially if their generosity is accompanied with blaring horns – and a huge press release. When she gives, people think she really means it. And that’s what sets her apart. The credibility factor.
When she endorses a book, it becomes a bestseller. When she features a certain plastic surgeon, the surgeon becomes one of the most sought-after doctors in America overnight.
In one of her episodes, Oprah talked about her favorite things – a watch that she claimed could relieve people from stress and actually improve their well-being. It was called the Philip Stein Teslar – a watch that was supposed to reinforce and protect the body’s own electromagnetic field against the possible negative effects of exposure to electromagnetic currents emitted by cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Oprah claimed that the Teslar mimics the earth’s natural frequency and encloses the body in it.
As unorthodox as that idea may sound, it does make sense. All these electromagnetic pollution in the air does exist. It powers our TV sets, our radios, and our cell phones. And we all take it for granted. After that show, the watch suddenly became the watch of choice of Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Kelly Osbourne, Barbara Walters, Pat Riley, P.Diddy, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Missy Elliot, Natalie Portman and Lennox Lewis.
A few weeks ago, I was called by Sunny Ku, publicist of Lucerne Jewelers. Sunny told me that Lucerne heads Ivan Yao and Emerson Yao were going to launch Philip Stein here in the country and they wanted me and some other media personalities to be part of a Philip Stein exhibit. Before Sunny can even say, "Ultra-electromagnetic watch!", I told Sunny, "Sure, pardner! It will be an honor!" The power of the credibility of Oprah and the resulting credibility of Philip Stein watches worked on me. Philip Stein got me at "tick tock."
And so it happened. Philippine Star columnist Mons Romulo-Tantoco, TV host TJ Manotoc, news anchor Pinky Webb, entertainment and lifestyle connoisseur and TV host Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and renowned photographer Raymund Isaac (who took the shots), and yours truly were tapped to be in the launch of Philip Stein Teslar photo exhibit at The Podium.
A friend of mine, Lito, called me last week and told me he saw me in the papers wearing a Philip Stein watch! "I am here in Lucerne and I’m about to buy for me and my wife!" he said. That, to me, was the ultimate compliment. Someone actually told me that I was a credible endorser! What a humbling experience!
In business, as in life, credibility is one of the biggest assets you can have. Once you lose credibility, you can lose almost everything. Kobe Bryant used to be one of the highest paid athlete endorsers in the world. Because of one single act, his credibility was shattered. And no matter what he does, in the back of people’s minds, the word "rape" or "sexual assault" will always be there. Martha Stewart’s empire may still be around and it could possibly make a turnaround, who knows? But her credibility is shattered forever when she divested from her own company. Remember President Nixon? He was a good president and a brilliant man, but because of Watergate, the words "cheater" and "dishonest" always come to mind whenever Nixon is mentioned. Bill Clinton was one heck of a president, but no matter what he achieves, people will always view him as a president who hanky-pankied while in the Oral, er, I mean, Oval Office.
It all boils down to earning trust. Credibility is the investment you put in – and trust is the fruit. And we all know that relationships, especially business relationships, are hinged on trust. You have to be believable. To be believable, you have to stick to the truth. I know it sounds cliche but yes, the truth will set you free. And it could earn you a pretty penny too!
So work on your credibility. Believe me, it will have incredible results!
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