Trudeau 'Mania in Canada'
Every decade a Head of State, and often with their spouse, captures the attention and fascination of the world. Princess Grace of Monaco, The Kennedy's, Trudeau Mania, Princess Di, the Obama's, William and Kate and now The Trudeau's.
They arrive with 'Hollywood' looks, youth, unbridled passion and a fresh point of view. With their 'Je nais se quois' their status step changes from political to pop culture. Mainstream media goes in overdrive to feed the public's appetite for personal over policy details. What are you wearing becomes as important as what are you planning?
Is This Right or Wrong?
It all depends on how they invest the equity in their brand.
Kennedy used his persona to challenge Americans. "Don't ask what our country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He shifted their moral compass on civil rights while launching a space race that has kept America at the forefront of innovation, engineering, and technology. Princess Di revitalized British Fashion on the red carpets while casting the world's eyes on the looming AIDS crisis in Africa, or the aftermath of a war-torn country littered with land mines. Pierre Elliot Trudeau was a nationalist who stared down a restless Quebec and Western oil barons. President Obama, on the other hand, seemed to spend much of his first term on Letterman versus fighting for a progressive legislature.
My hope is that the Trudeau's will leverage their brand for the benefit of all Canadians. It's easy lifting to grab a headline by writing a check for humanitarian efforts or to capture the lens of the camera when walking the red carpet or gracing a magazine with the international stature of Vogue. We do benefit from their ability to draw attention to Canada and to help shape our identity but there is so much more they can do with their international stature.
Harry Truman once said that 'Humans make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.'
My hope is that the Trudeau's will seize this opportunity to open up global markets and global opportunities for Canadians. We need a new economy for Canada, powered by purpose and purposeful jobs where Disruptors, Content Creators, Technologists, Scientists and Philosophers reinvent and reimagine a better world. A Made and Invented in Canada economy that can pay for the promises that have been made versus simply borrowing on the back of future generations.
So let's hope that the Trudeau's borrow from the playbook of Kennedy, and Lady Di and keep their spotlight on solving real issues, and realizing opportunities versus simply chasing the spotlight. If that becomes their legacy then I will gladly follow and support our Prime 'Time' Minister.
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